Infinite Monkey@Work
First Post
The original thread about how to do a ball scene is here:
http://enworld.cyberstreet.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=19893
The session where I am hoping to run the ball scene is tomorrow, and I have a major case of writers block! ANy help that you wonderful lot can give on actually getting this together would be wonderful
My plans so far are:
The ball has been thrown by Lord Harold and Lady Melissa for two reasons. Main reason is that their friend, Lord John, suggested it. Second reason is that Lord Harold wants to spend time with his new lover, who Lady Melissa knows nothing about (she's not terribly bright).
Lord John suggested the ball because he knows that Azharadian is resisting the corrupting influence of the artifact, and he wants an opportunity to slip him a poison that will make him more susceptible to the artifacts influence. He also wants the opportunity to continue wooing Castella.
Major Players:
Lord Harold is large and loud and seems rather thick, but he is actually extremely intelligent and shrewd. He puts all his intelligence into the game (as he sees it) of catching which ever woman cathes his fancy. He is careful to keep such dalliances secret, not because he cares, but becuase of the challenge.
Lady Melissa is and aging beauty, wooed by Lord Harold when he was younger and less corrupted by the artifact at the capital. She spends vast sums of her husbands money on a series of (generally unsuccessful) beauty treatments and gathering gossip (and yet she knows nothing about her husbands infidelity).
Lord John is easily the most corrupted and evil person in the entire country. There is nothing he wouldn't do in the cause of evil. Despite this, he appears to be good and kind and wise for his age. If it wasn't for her inexpicable misgivings, he would be the ideal mate for Castella. As I said in the original post, he owns Castellas ancestral castle, which the PCs are currently clearing (she doesn't know he owns it), and is probably going to be the campaigns Big Bad guy. The PCs haven't met him before.
Lady Temah is also very corrupted by the artifact. She is extraordinarily beautiful and wears very low-cut and suggestive gowns. She is Lord Harolds current lover, but sees nothing worng with throwing herself at whichever man catches her fancy, generally causing that mans demise of Lord Harold finds out.
Beman Algarde is the male equivalent of Lady Temah. He isn't a noble, but is invited to all the parties (the ones arranged by woman at least). He is handsome and graceful, with a quick wit and deep voice.
Lady Sarah is a pretty young noble in a quiet and nervous kind of way. She is sheltered and also one of the few nobles that hasn't been corrupted by the artifact (as she doesn't spend much time at the court where it is stored). She is betrothed to Lord Andrew, which she doesn't like, as even she can see him for what he is. She doesn't like her life much, and I plan for her to run away after the PCs when they leave for the swamp.
Lord Andrew is a drunken fop. His father used the last little bit of the family fortune to secure his betrothal to the much richer Lady Sarah, which Andrew doesn't like, as he would rather spend the money on drink and clothes.
Other sundry nobles (wheres a good place to find more names?).
Before the ball, Azharadian will invite the players to the ball as his guests, seeing as they have now saved his city twice.
Mulligan (the priest) will then be met by Azharadian privately (actually it will be one of Lord Johns cronies, magically disguised) and told that he has heard of a plot to assassinate someone at the ball. He will be told that Azharadian cannot be seen to act, because of the political climate, so he wants Mulligan to do what he can to find the assassin.
Events I would like to have happen at the ball:
Introduction to the hosts.
Met Lord Andrew
Lady Sarah asks Anschlag to dance.
Lord Andrew challenges Anschalg to a duel for moving in on his fiancee.
Lady Temah seduces Jafula.
Lord Harold arranges for Jafula to meet a messy end for being seen with Lady Temah.
Beman seduces Pta-riri, earning her the hate of every other woman at the ball.
Lord John attempts to woo Castella.
Mulligan spots someone carrying a knife (all weapons were taken at the door, including hidden ones). As soon as he gives chase, a dozen similarly dressed people appear (like the scene in the Tomas Crown Affair). In the ensuing chaos, someone else entirely spikes Azharadians drink.
A noblewoman challenges Castella to solve some riddle or something (like figure out who Lord Harolds new Lover is). She makes it a bet, and manouvers Castella into it with a comment like 'of course, if you can't afford it' (Castellas family is rather poor, but very proud). Lord John will be watching this exchange closely from nearby. I have no idea how to run Castella actually trying to find out how the lover is though.
Right, thats about as far as I have gotten. Any help in fleshing out any of these events would be greatly appreciated.
http://enworld.cyberstreet.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=19893
The session where I am hoping to run the ball scene is tomorrow, and I have a major case of writers block! ANy help that you wonderful lot can give on actually getting this together would be wonderful
My plans so far are:
The ball has been thrown by Lord Harold and Lady Melissa for two reasons. Main reason is that their friend, Lord John, suggested it. Second reason is that Lord Harold wants to spend time with his new lover, who Lady Melissa knows nothing about (she's not terribly bright).
Lord John suggested the ball because he knows that Azharadian is resisting the corrupting influence of the artifact, and he wants an opportunity to slip him a poison that will make him more susceptible to the artifacts influence. He also wants the opportunity to continue wooing Castella.
Major Players:
Lord Harold is large and loud and seems rather thick, but he is actually extremely intelligent and shrewd. He puts all his intelligence into the game (as he sees it) of catching which ever woman cathes his fancy. He is careful to keep such dalliances secret, not because he cares, but becuase of the challenge.
Lady Melissa is and aging beauty, wooed by Lord Harold when he was younger and less corrupted by the artifact at the capital. She spends vast sums of her husbands money on a series of (generally unsuccessful) beauty treatments and gathering gossip (and yet she knows nothing about her husbands infidelity).
Lord John is easily the most corrupted and evil person in the entire country. There is nothing he wouldn't do in the cause of evil. Despite this, he appears to be good and kind and wise for his age. If it wasn't for her inexpicable misgivings, he would be the ideal mate for Castella. As I said in the original post, he owns Castellas ancestral castle, which the PCs are currently clearing (she doesn't know he owns it), and is probably going to be the campaigns Big Bad guy. The PCs haven't met him before.
Lady Temah is also very corrupted by the artifact. She is extraordinarily beautiful and wears very low-cut and suggestive gowns. She is Lord Harolds current lover, but sees nothing worng with throwing herself at whichever man catches her fancy, generally causing that mans demise of Lord Harold finds out.
Beman Algarde is the male equivalent of Lady Temah. He isn't a noble, but is invited to all the parties (the ones arranged by woman at least). He is handsome and graceful, with a quick wit and deep voice.
Lady Sarah is a pretty young noble in a quiet and nervous kind of way. She is sheltered and also one of the few nobles that hasn't been corrupted by the artifact (as she doesn't spend much time at the court where it is stored). She is betrothed to Lord Andrew, which she doesn't like, as even she can see him for what he is. She doesn't like her life much, and I plan for her to run away after the PCs when they leave for the swamp.
Lord Andrew is a drunken fop. His father used the last little bit of the family fortune to secure his betrothal to the much richer Lady Sarah, which Andrew doesn't like, as he would rather spend the money on drink and clothes.
Other sundry nobles (wheres a good place to find more names?).
Before the ball, Azharadian will invite the players to the ball as his guests, seeing as they have now saved his city twice.
Mulligan (the priest) will then be met by Azharadian privately (actually it will be one of Lord Johns cronies, magically disguised) and told that he has heard of a plot to assassinate someone at the ball. He will be told that Azharadian cannot be seen to act, because of the political climate, so he wants Mulligan to do what he can to find the assassin.
Events I would like to have happen at the ball:
Introduction to the hosts.
Met Lord Andrew
Lady Sarah asks Anschlag to dance.
Lord Andrew challenges Anschalg to a duel for moving in on his fiancee.
Lady Temah seduces Jafula.
Lord Harold arranges for Jafula to meet a messy end for being seen with Lady Temah.
Beman seduces Pta-riri, earning her the hate of every other woman at the ball.
Lord John attempts to woo Castella.
Mulligan spots someone carrying a knife (all weapons were taken at the door, including hidden ones). As soon as he gives chase, a dozen similarly dressed people appear (like the scene in the Tomas Crown Affair). In the ensuing chaos, someone else entirely spikes Azharadians drink.
A noblewoman challenges Castella to solve some riddle or something (like figure out who Lord Harolds new Lover is). She makes it a bet, and manouvers Castella into it with a comment like 'of course, if you can't afford it' (Castellas family is rather poor, but very proud). Lord John will be watching this exchange closely from nearby. I have no idea how to run Castella actually trying to find out how the lover is though.
Right, thats about as far as I have gotten. Any help in fleshing out any of these events would be greatly appreciated.
, but consider this a Bump-in-disguise.
