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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Quickleaf" data-source="post: 6014513" data-attributes="member: 20323">I ran a campaign focused on royal intrigues around a succession crisis for a year and did lots of research on feudal medieval courts, mostly English & French. So I've got lots to draw from, but it's such a broad topic it! I'm not sure what you're looking for, so here are some general points of advice:* Basically, the PCs live or die at the monarchy's mercy, and even during what is essentially a congratulatory audience with the king, the PCs will probably be confronted with several "damned if you do..." type questions that monarchs love to ask. A great example would be for a noble with an agenda against the PCs to exclaim how these "common adventurers" could accomplish what the king could not. Then for the king to ask the PCs whether they are (a) extensions of his own hand or if (b) they seek only their own glory...and then if they answer (a) the king gives them a mission which they otherwise wouldn't take, while if they answer (b) it's a day in the stocks.* King's gifts often have a hidden message or compulsion on the bloody lining. For example, the king might gift the PCs with feudal titles or land (eg. Baronet/ess), but then that land turns out to have extreme tax collection problems and the main power figures are deeply in debt to the crown or perhaps a neighboring crown!* Monarch may switch to referring to themselves in third person when they want to invoke divine right, or simply the might of their office. Agree too quickly, and depending on the king, you may be given a place at royal court or waved aside as a brown-noses. Disagree too loudly and the king might order you expelled from court, reclaim control of your lands/properties, or have you killed.* In court the king is generally the only law, but consider how other figures in court play into governance of the kingdom. Is there a council of lords the king must answer to? After years suffering from the curse are the royal coffers depleted, making a banking knightly order the most powerful?* Consider if there are nobles present at court who might feel upstaged by the PCs...these make excellent rivals who can say things like "consider how eminent my lineage, I should be the one to blah blah blah". The king might invite the PCs to compete in an upcoming tournament normally restricted to nobility with his blessing, to either shut up the arrogant noble or test the PCs' mettle.Anyhow, just some thoughts about how to make courtly intrigue relevant to the average adventurer.</blockquote>

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