"We have to speak to the queen!" [Advancement in Court]

[Ryltar]

Hi folks,

I've come up at a dead end while doing my prep work for the next sessions of my campaign, while working out long term developments. I decided to present you with this situation, and hopefully get some input from the creative community here . The problem is as follows:

Where I'm at

The party, adventuring in the planes, has discovered that an important artifact they are pursuing has been delivered into the palace of the Githzerai God-King. (The reason why they're after it: they're trying to figure out the BBEG's plot, and suspect this artifact may hold some clue as to what he is up to). One PC is githzerai himself, the rest are non-natives to the plane.

Where I want to go

What is supposed to happen, is: The PCs will try to get to the Gith capital, and into the palace. When they arrive at their destination (or shortly after), they will be confronted with a city that's in uproar: the king has just been murdered by an unknown assailant; the king's most trusted advisor will have taken over duties as monarch and spiritual leader of the gith. The palace will effectively be locked down for the next couple of days.

[Then, what happens?]

I'm currently planning for the PCs to, after maybe a day's wait or two, be able to enter the palace, being looked upon with distrust and all that. They will presumably try to gather information from (whoever they can get their hands on, which won't be met with any success), and probably will try to do some poking around as to what happened to the king, and then trying to get an audience with the newly appointed queen. In that audience, they will find out that the new queen was manipulated by (BBEG) into killing the king, and the story continues from there.

The problem is, just how are they supposed to do that? They, being complete strangers, can't just waltz in the door, especially at such a critical point of time that's ripe with political instability. What I'm looking for is some means to "earn the respect" of some councillor or noble who is at court, and who, after doing some sidequests for him, will plead with the queen for an audience. However, I've currently run out of ideas just as to:

a) who the PCs are supposed to meet at court who'll help them gain influence later on?
b) what they are supposed to do that will make them appear trustworthy enough that they will be granted an audience? Probably something gith-related, maybe some sort of test for the gith PC - but how do I tie the rest of the party in?

If you've got any idea as to how to solve this situation, I'd appreciate to hear it . Thanks a lot in advance.

 

[der_kluge]

Sounds like the time might be right for a political enemy of the king to attempt to take over the throne? Said PCs, if they are loyal to the original throne, might tempt to stop said opposer if said opposer is evil? Or has evil intentions?

Have the PCs done anything in the past that would warrent them making a name for themselves?

It could be a simple matter of them seeking an audience of the queen, and indicating that they seek information on this artifact. That could prove to be very useful for the queen, and she may want to hire the PCs for her own purposes, if she knows their intentions.

Though, I'm not sure how you went from "most trusted advisor" to the queen. Who is really in charge there?

 

[domino]

If I were the player, I'd probably just try to sneak in, stealthily, as soon as possible.

 

[MavrickWeirdo]

Succession Question

There are at least 3 possible "Heirs" to the king.

The "king's most trusted advisor" is actually trustworthy, and wants to hand over the crown, but until he can determin "who would be the best ruler" or "who murdered the king" he doesn't dare.

The various members of the court are evenly split between the Heirs, the only neutral party is "the king's most trusted advisor".

As "Outsiders" the players are the only ones we can be sure didn't kill the king. Once they make their presence known they are approched by a sevant who askes them to speak with "their employer".

"The advisor" could talk to them about investigating, because everyone else at court is biased.

Or

One of the heirs could ask them to find a peice of evidence against another heir to "narrow the field". The heir is concerned that "One of my people is a spy for another faction, but I'm not sure who."

 

[Kurotowa]

Tell us more about the Githzerai PC. To me, the most obvious solution is to have one of the people involved be a relation or childhood friend. Someone with some authority in the court, while not one of the central figures. Then when the party arrives you pull your "Help me [Githzerai PC], you're my only hope!" out. Beg them for help, hand out a signet ring giving them the right to poke around, and let them do what PC's do.

 

[Ryltar]

First of all, thanks for your input so far .

die_kluge: I think I may have confused you there.

- King rules (most trusted advisor (MTA) backing him up)
- MTA is dominated/blackmailed/whatever by BBEG and kills the king
- MTA becomes the new queen

Now, the PCs may have had some connection to the "old" king, but they are (as of yet) unaware of the happenings behind the scenes, and they will arrive too late to prevent the killing. They will be faced with a new ruler, and she may be their only way to get to the information about the artifact the PCs are looking for.

domino: I'll try to prevent that .

MavrickWeirdo: I like that a lot . Maybe I'll do just that, have a war of succession instead of a direct succession by the MTA - and she might just be manipulating the PCs the whole time .

Kurotowa: This is somewhat of a problem. The Gith PC grew up in a sheltered monastery outside of Limbo. He is "spiritually" and culturally connected to his people, but he hasn't really got anyone up his sleeve that he could use as a contact there.

Keep them coming!

 

[argo]

The problem is, just how are they supposed to do that? They, being complete strangers, can't just waltz in the door, especially at such a critical point of time that's ripe with political instability.

Why not? Many cultures with absolute rulers (kings, emperors, caliphs, etc) have a tradition of the ruler holding open court at certain specific times to hear grevances, decide matters of law, etc. If there is such a tradition then durring a time of political instability, with a new ruler on the throne the first thing the new ruler is going to want to do is hold such a court to reasure the people (s)he is in charge and things are running smoothly.

If that doesn't work for you then you could always have the PC's become local heroes! Let them catch wind of a conspiracy against the new queen and have them win favor by exposing it. Or maybe there is a long-standing bounty on a dangerous criminal or monster that once they bring its head back the queen will have to hand them rewards in person.

Remeber, being a ruler is as much about pompous (and frequently public) displays of ceremony as anything else. Even in a time of danger a queen cannot sequester herself in her chambers or she won't be queen much longer.

Hope that helps.

 

[MavrickWeirdo]

First of all, thanks for your input so far .

MavrickWeirdo: I like that a lot . Maybe I'll do just that, have a war of succession instead of a direct succession by the MTA - and she might just be manipulating the PCs the whole time .

Your welcome

Kurotowa: This is somewhat of a problem. The Gith PC grew up in a sheltered monastery outside of Limbo. He is "spiritually" and culturally connected to his people, but he hasn't really got anyone up his sleeve that he could use as a contact there.

The Gith PC, while waiting to talk to someone about getting an audience, looks up an says, "Sensei what are you doing here?"

(Ages ago, a member of Gith nobility decided he had enough of politics so goes to study at a remote monastery. In time he becomes a senior member of the monastery. There are hints/signs/premonitions of a coming crisis. The monastery decides to send a representative to the capital, and who better to send that a senior member who is from the capital.)

 

[Rystil Arden]

Maybe the githzerai PC goes to the ancient monastery to meditate on the Fourth Circle of Zerthimon (Zerthimon being the legendary founder of the githzerai). While he is there, the leader of the monastery enters a prophetic trance and declares that he will save the githzerai in their time of need. At this point, the monastery uses their political clout to get him an audience right away.

 

[MavrickWeirdo]

A suggested plotline, I decided to keep it simple.

3 factions (A, B, C)

“Head of Faction A" killed king (or had king killed).

“Faction A" left behind "evidence" to place the blame for the murder on the “Head of faction B".

(“The Head of faction B" is the "True Heir"" to the king)

A member of “faction B" discovers that the king is dead sees the "planted evidence" and removes the "planted evidence" before calling for the guard.

A member of “faction C", witnesses “faction B" removing the "evidence".

“Head of faction C" hears that there are newcomers (The PC’s) who wish to speak with someone in authority. He offers to “make inquiries” for them about “the artifact” they are looking for, if they will do something in return. He asks them to recover the "evidence" that proves “Head of faction B” murdered the king. It is being kept at “a remote location”.

He offers the job to them because he is sure that they are not spies for another faction. (Also, if they are caught he will deny he ever met them.)

If the players recover the "evidence" and turn it in to “Head of faction C", he tells them “an Item” similar to the one they describe, has recently been acquired by the “Head of Faction A”. He has arranged an audience with “Head of Faction A” for them tomorrow.

After the party leaves “Head of faction C", they “happen” to meet the “Sensei”. The PC’s inform him that they just recovered evidence that the “Head of faction B" is guilty. The “Sensei” informs the PC’s that the “Head of faction B" cannot be the murderer, because of “little known fact” about the “Head of faction B".

At this point the players are not sure if the murderer is “Head of Faction A" who has the artifact, or “Head of faction C" who hired them to steal the false evidence.