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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Al" data-source="post: 529003" data-attributes="member: 2486">If the setting is quasi-historical Byzantium, the centre of power stems from the Emperor principally (who would be regarded as virtually God), with two major routes for advancement: the military or the bureaucracy.The former, which I assume that the PCs belong to (in at least a semi-real sense) would be more meritocratic than the latter, but there is still a very strong element of patronage.  Advancement was at least strongly dependent on who you knew, not what you knew.  There was also a near fanatical religious fervour which led to vast religious buildings (e.g. Hagia Sophia) and an incredible dependence on daily ritual.Politics would likely revolve around trying to impress those people in power without upsetting others, and without building too many rivalries.  A single solid gesture could net a high office, a single panegyric could gather a senatorial post but conversely calamitous falls could occur.  The death of an emperor could sweep away all the old favourites (usually via execution).  At the lower-levels, the PCs would be mainly interested in getting a solid and reliable patron and then trying to advance with his help, without becoming too reliant upon him.  Through the middle-levels, the PCs will have to look both ways: both at seeking advancement and gaining more influential patrons, yet looking over their shoulder to prevent ambitious climbers from toppling them.  At the higher-levels, the PCs may deal with the Imperial Court directly, and would be more interested in gathering clients to propagate their power.  Just a few ideas.</blockquote>

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