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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Warrior Poet" data-source="post: 2610165" data-attributes="member: 1057">The first time I ever saw this painting:<a href="http://www.artrenewal.org/images/artists/g/Gerome_Jean-Leon/The_Grey_Cardinal.jpg" target="_blank">http://www.artrenewal.org/images/artists/g/Gerome_Jean-Leon/The_Grey_Cardinal.jpg</a>by Jéan-Léon Gerôme in the Boston Museum of Fine Arts, I was entranced, and wanted to know more about the story behind it.The figure on the right, descending the stairs, is François LeClerc de Tremblay, a 17th century Capuchin monk and agent of Cardinal Richelieu, one of the most powerful political figures in 17th century France (and Europe).  Depicted at left are various members of the court of Louis XIII.  de Tremblay (also called Pére Joseph) had been a soldier and baron, but in 1599 he renounced society and joined the Capuchins, becoming a very devout clergyman.  The exact nature of his power and connections to Richelieu are somewhat sketchy, but due to his connections and ambitious charisma, he was able to wield political influence.  He was called l’eminence grise (the gray eminence, or gray cardinal, even though he was never actually a cardinal as he died before appointment) due to the simple grey clothes he wore. The phrase l’eminence grise has come to be synonymous with “power behind the throne.”I was always fascinated by the obvious deference the members of court are showing to the “simple-looking” monk, knowing full-well that to be in his graces is to be, it is hoped, in the graces of king or cardinal (or both).  I always thought the image could have come straight out of a D&D campaign, perhaps at a moment when the PCs, invited to court, witness this event and begin to puzzle for themselves why the non-descript “monk” calmly and devoutly reading his missal would command such obeisance from the royalty.So who are (or were) you’re eminence grises, those figures that wield the true power and influence in your campaigns, and about which the PCs do not (or did not) suspect?Warrior Poet</blockquote>

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