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<blockquote data-quote="BriarMonkey" data-source="post: 5475648" data-attributes="member: 95387">&lt;deep breath&gt;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; Okay, this is all going to be off the top of my head (in so far as it took me a while to try to think through this), so please bear with me.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; Overall, we need a monster.&nbsp; This foul being runs the kingdom, but has only limited real power over the affairs of state - those powers being held by a small group of advisors and the kingdom's generals.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; So...&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; For as long as people can remember, King Skullfrost has guided the kingdom along a course of peace and prosperity.&nbsp; Seen as reclusive and a bit eccentric by the common folk, little ill will is shown in public.&nbsp; On rare occasion, the King may preside over a special night-time celebration, but for the most part, one of his few advisors tend to public events and matters of state.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; In private however, there are stirrings and rumors.&nbsp; It is said that undead occasionally walk the streets and make off with citizens - who are never to be seen again.&nbsp; And too, there are strange going's on, late at night, at the King's homes.&nbsp; Odd parties are said to be held, yet no one has ever seen anyone coming or going...&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; Away from public eyes, the nobility has reason to fear the king.&nbsp; In the past, a mere whisper of dissent would mean the noble disappeared, with no mention of them to be allowed across one's lips.&nbsp; Talks of usurping rule has always been found out and led more than a few down a dark path, from which entire families simply disappeared into the night.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; The King's few advisors know what is going on, yet are unable, or unwilling, to completely stop it.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; The advisors are able to play the King off of the nobility, and so, can keep the nobles in check - which affords them a relatively unopposed rule of the kingdom.&nbsp; With the King's degraded mental state, the advisors try their best to keep the King's attentions focused on matters other than law and policy.&nbsp; On occasion though, the King's will must be done, lest a bloodbath again occur at court.&nbsp; In these times, it is only for the grace of a short memory that the advisors are able to alter such decrees.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; Behind the curtain, things are hanging by a thread...&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; Scores of years ago, the King was enamored with a young maiden.&nbsp; Unfortunately, this maiden was a vampire who had designs on the throne.&nbsp; One thing led to another, and the King was turned, and the maiden slain.&nbsp; As the King transformed, his grip on reality failed.&nbsp; Too much was this curse to bear, and his mind retreated.&nbsp; Although powerful in form and physical ability, only rarely are glimpses of his former will seen - and at those times, the insanity that grips his mind can also be seen.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; Any more, the King idles away his time in frivolous pursuits - fancy dress balls; the arts; hunting; and of course, feeding.&nbsp; When presented with an issue, he is equally as apt to ignore it as he is to lash out and try to &quot;remove&quot; it.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; It is in this state that things currently reside.&nbsp; The King, a vampire with a failing grasp on reality, is king only in title - with little real power.&nbsp; The noble houses seethe at how they have been treated, always looking for any chance to claim the throne, especially as the King has no heir.&nbsp; Too, the noble houses view the advisors as a threat, and should the King ever present a weakness...&nbsp; As for the advisors' part, they want peace for their peoples.&nbsp; They know the nobles are a threat, and the King slaughters innocents to survive, but they also know the loss of the King would mean their own lives and the nobles would fight amongst themselves to gain the throne.Mind you, there are still some holes, but mayhaps there are enough ideas in there to help point you in a good direction.&nbsp; (As an aside, I've always liked morally ambiguous and politically scheming adventures.&nbsp; Gives players something to do besides smack stuff with a pointy stick.)</blockquote>

[QUOTE="BriarMonkey, post: 5475648, member: 95387"] <deep breath> Okay, this is all going to be off the top of my head (in so far as it took me a while to try to think through this), so please bear with me. Overall, we need a monster. This foul being runs the kingdom, but has only limited real power over the affairs of state - those powers being held by a small group of advisors and the kingdom's generals. So... For as long as people can remember, King Skullfrost has guided the kingdom along a course of peace and prosperity. Seen as reclusive and a bit eccentric by the common folk, little ill will is shown in public. On rare occasion, the King may preside over a special night-time celebration, but for the most part, one of his few advisors tend to public events and matters of state. In private however, there are stirrings and rumors. It is said that undead occasionally walk the streets and make off with citizens - who are never to be seen again. And too, there are strange going's on, late at night, at the King's homes. Odd parties are said to be held, yet no one has ever seen anyone coming or going... Away from public eyes, the nobility has reason to fear the king. In the past, a mere whisper of dissent would mean the noble disappeared, with no mention of them to be allowed across one's lips. Talks of usurping rule has always been found out and led more than a few down a dark path, from which entire families simply disappeared into the night. The King's few advisors know what is going on, yet are unable, or unwilling, to completely stop it. The advisors are able to play the King off of the nobility, and so, can keep the nobles in check - which affords them a relatively unopposed rule of the kingdom. With the King's degraded mental state, the advisors try their best to keep the King's attentions focused on matters other than law and policy. On occasion though, the King's will must be done, lest a bloodbath again occur at court. In these times, it is only for the grace of a short memory that the advisors are able to alter such decrees. Behind the curtain, things are hanging by a thread... Scores of years ago, the King was enamored with a young maiden. Unfortunately, this maiden was a vampire who had designs on the throne. One thing led to another, and the King was turned, and the maiden slain. As the King transformed, his grip on reality failed. Too much was this curse to bear, and his mind retreated. Although powerful in form and physical ability, only rarely are glimpses of his former will seen - and at those times, the insanity that grips his mind can also be seen. Any more, the King idles away his time in frivolous pursuits - fancy dress balls; the arts; hunting; and of course, feeding. When presented with an issue, he is equally as apt to ignore it as he is to lash out and try to "remove" it. It is in this state that things currently reside. The King, a vampire with a failing grasp on reality, is king only in title - with little real power. The noble houses seethe at how they have been treated, always looking for any chance to claim the throne, especially as the King has no heir. Too, the noble houses view the advisors as a threat, and should the King ever present a weakness... As for the advisors' part, they want peace for their peoples. They know the nobles are a threat, and the King slaughters innocents to survive, but they also know the loss of the King would mean their own lives and the nobles would fight amongst themselves to gain the throne. Mind you, there are still some holes, but mayhaps there are enough ideas in there to help point you in a good direction. (As an aside, I've always liked morally ambiguous and politically scheming adventures. Gives players something to do besides smack stuff with a pointy stick.) [/QUOTE]

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