Fun at the Tain Gala [Archive] - Wizards Community

Fun at the Tain Gala [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
shilsen
04-21-05, 09:11 AM Short introduction: The group of PCs in my campaign, called the Blades of Arakhain (they're ex-military who served there), have been making some waves in and around Sharn and gathered some notoriety. Recently, they did a favor for Baron Merrix d'Cannith and have been invited to accompany him to the Tain Gala.

I'm looking for ideas for (a) describing the Tain Gala itself, and (b) interesting things to happen there. I'm specifically not looking for anything combat-oriented. One thing I already have in mind is that the group, which includes two dragonmarked characters who don't work for their respective houses (Phiarlan and Medani) and are being wooed to do so, will find themselves being introduced loudly at the Gala as accompanying their "patron Baron Merrix", which should lead to more than a little consternation on the PCs' parts and feelings ranging from confusion to irritation to anger on certain NPCs.

Any ideas, folks? Thanks in advance.
taski
04-22-05, 01:33 AM Some people:

Lady Celyria ir'Tain chats at the center of a sizable group, wearing Clebdecher glamerweave that fits her form perfectly and glitters nearly as much as her cunning eyes. She bandies on about the latest operas, fashions, plays and concerts, often flirting with her adoring fans. Occationally, she glances accross the banquet hall toward her husband, Hass ir'Tain, laughing as she does so.

Baroness Elvinor Elorrenthi d'Phiarlan stands with Lady ir'Tain, skillfully competing for the attention of the group. Elaborate gestures dance from her slender hands, accompanied by shifting shadows on her elegant darkweave dress.

Baron Trelib d'Medani just happens to be attending tonight, dressed smartly in dark grey. His long cape is lined with rust-orange fur, presumably from an animal he killed while hunting with King Boranel. He sits away from the ladies, discussing politics in half-elven cant with Alais ir'Lantar.

Lord Hass ir'Tain, far away from his wife, savors a slice of Karrnathi cheese with a glass of Aundaran wine. He sits with Ruken ir'Clarn, who smokes a thin pipe, and Daphane d'Kundarak. Though he is accross the banquet hall from Lady ir'Tain, he winces every time he hears her laugh carry over.

That's all I can think of for now.
shilsen
04-22-05, 04:42 PM Thanks, Taski. I definitely want the PCs to have the sense of not just hobnobbing with powerful people whom they've only heard of or seen from a distance, but being small fish in a very large pond, as the interactions and machinations of the rich and powerful go on around them. I think it'll be especially disconcerting for them when they find how many of the bigwigs have some vested interest or other in them.

I've found that my players actually get more worried the more well-known they get. There was a brief moment of pleasure when they appeared on the front page of the Korranberg Chronicle, but that was quickly replaced with a sense of alarm as more and more people would recognize them based on the paper (didn't help that they were carrying copies as souvenirs when they got captured by the Lord of Blades :D).

By the way, Hass ir'Tain is Celyria's son. Her husband Dalian was lost years ago.

Anyone else?
taski
04-22-05, 08:36 PM By the way, Hass ir'Tain is Celyria's son. Her husband Dalian was lost years ago.

Crud. I couldn't find a part that eplained how they were related, I assumed too much. Well, the laughing and wincing can still go on, just with different implications.. especially if the men she flirts with are younger than Hass. Hmm, the possibilities..
shilsen
04-22-05, 08:54 PM Crud. I couldn't find a part that eplained how they were related, I assumed too much. Well, the laughing and wincing can still go on, just with different implications.. especially if the men she flirts with are younger than Hass. Hmm, the possibilities..

So, here's the million galifar question - Oedipus or Hamlet :D?
Darth Syntax
04-22-05, 09:42 PM I would go with Hamlet, if only because he has better soliloquies.
Solarious
04-23-05, 01:22 AM I would go with Hamlet, if only because he has better soliloquies.

Oh so very true. Most famous of all Shakespeare plays, if only for that one sentence.

Random tangent: creepy how so many people know that phrase, but don't know what it really means. They just automatically say it. And the entire thing is just so... morbid! Casually mentioning the first line of an entire soliloquay that is all about the possibility of suicide... the perverse nature of life... Hamlet's tragic flaw... THERE IS A WRONGNESS IN THIS THAT DOES NOT SLEEP!!! :eek:

*goes mad*
shilsen
04-23-05, 06:41 AM *looks around in horror*

I hijacked my own thread! Oh, what a rogue and peasant slave am I!
Jayj
04-23-05, 06:12 PM Getting the rogue Shadow-marked PC involved could be interesting. First you've got to pick something in his past that he thought was a secret, whether it's a secret family member or an embarassing event that he thought he'd left behind.

While he's talking with someone else, have Baroness Elvinor Elorrenthi d'Phiarlan step away from Lady ir'Tain and butt into the conversation with whoever the 'target' is talking to. Have her virtually ignore the 'target', making small talk with the other person, and somehow Baroness d'Phiarlan works in a mention of someone she once knew who did something embarassing that -just happens- to be the same as what happened to the 'target'. As she finishes the story, have her brush gazes -very briefly- with the 'target' and give a tiny smile. She wraps up her small talk with the other person and moves back to Lady ir'Tain, having successfully sent the message to the 'target' that "We own you, you just haven't admitted it yet."

Baron Trelib d'Medani is more oblique and more direct at the same time. Have him talk to the leader of the Blades of Arakhain and mention that he has a small matter he'd like them to attend to that might benefit from their gift for problem-solving. The point is to give them missions that depend on the Detection-marked character using his ability, getting him used to doing jobs for House Medani.

Other interesting things that might happen? Saiden Boromar's wife, the one from Jorasco whose name I can't remember off the top of my head, flirts with one of the male gnomes (maybe from Sivis) who's a known lady's man but also a craven coward. If the gnome flirts back, Saiden notices and becomes incensed, getting in his face. It's all carefully orchestrated; Saiden even goes so far as to challenge him to a contest (not necessarily a duel) to satisfy Saiden's honor that the gnome is very unlikely to win. The PCs see this happen; what they may not see happen is that as the party's wrapping down, or after the party, one of Saiden's lieutenants approaches the gnome and offers a plan to distract Saiden and get him out of the contest, but the gnome will owe the Boromar clan a favor. The gnome knows this (and he may even suspect, rightly so, that the whole thing was planned by Saiden and his wife for just this purpose) and casts about for another way to avoid getting publically humiliated (or worse) in a contest without getting in hock with the Boromars. Maybe the Blades of Arakhain can help?

- Jayj
shilsen
04-23-05, 08:31 PM Getting the rogue Shadow-marked PC involved could be interesting. First you've got to pick something in his past that he thought was a secret, whether it's a secret family member or an embarassing event that he thought he'd left behind.

While he's talking with someone else, have Baroness Elvinor Elorrenthi d'Phiarlan step away from Lady ir'Tain and butt into the conversation with whoever the 'target' is talking to. Have her virtually ignore the 'target', making small talk with the other person, and somehow Baroness d'Phiarlan works in a mention of someone she once knew who did something embarassing that -just happens- to be the same as what happened to the 'target'. As she finishes the story, have her brush gazes -very briefly- with the 'target' and give a tiny smile. She wraps up her small talk with the other person and moves back to Lady ir'Tain, having successfully sent the message to the 'target' that "We own you, you just haven't admitted it yet."

Nice idea. Actually, the Phiarlan character is a sorcerer. He ran off from home with a cousin to join the War, having delusions of being a war hero, and promptly got his cousin killed. He never quite worked up the nerve to go back to his family (who live in Wroat) ever since, only sending them a letter years ago that got no reply. Much to his surprise, only a couple days ago he was called to the Phiarlan enclave and handed a letter from his father (asking him to return and join the family and the House) and an invitation to return to House Phiarlan. The sorcerer is more than a little on the paranoid side and has been biting his nails ever since and trying to work out what to do. I was planning to have him get a small token of appreciation from the House the day before the Gala and figured he'd be especially horrified to have people (esp. his House) thinking that he's taken Cannith as a patron. Throwing in a bit with lady ir'Tain will definitely add to the paranoia :D

Other interesting things that might happen? Saiden Boromar's wife, the one from Jorasco whose name I can't remember off the top of my head, flirts with one of the male gnomes (maybe from Sivis) who's a known lady's man but also a craven coward. If the gnome flirts back, Saiden notices and becomes incensed, getting in his face. It's all carefully orchestrated; Saiden even goes so far as to challenge him to a contest (not necessarily a duel) to satisfy Saiden's honor that the gnome is very unlikely to win. The PCs see this happen; what they may not see happen is that as the party's wrapping down, or after the party, one of Saiden's lieutenants approaches the gnome and offers a plan to distract Saiden and get him out of the contest, but the gnome will owe the Boromar clan a favor. The gnome knows this (and he may even suspect, rightly so, that the whole thing was planned by Saiden and his wife for just this purpose) and casts about for another way to avoid getting publically humiliated (or worse) in a contest without getting in hock with the Boromars. Maybe the Blades of Arakhain can help?

- Jayj

I think I can get the halfling rogue in the party (not affiliated with any dragonmarked house) tied up in this. She's a good person but with a greedy streak, and I was planning to have Ilyra Boromar talk to her about finding a place for someone with her 'talents'. Your suggestion would be another way to tie her in with the Boromars, for good or - probably ;) - evil.

Thanks.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
shilsen 04-21-05, 09:11 AM	Short introduction: The group of PCs in my campaign, called the Blades of Arakhain (they're ex-military who served there), have been making some waves in and around Sharn and gathered some notoriety. Recently, they did a favor for Baron Merrix d'Cannith and have been invited to accompany him to the Tain Gala. I'm looking for ideas for (a) describing the Tain Gala itself, and (b) interesting things to happen there. I'm specifically not looking for anything combat-oriented. One thing I already have in mind is that the group, which includes two dragonmarked characters who don't work for their respective houses (Phiarlan and Medani) and are being wooed to do so, will find themselves being introduced loudly at the Gala as accompanying their "patron Baron Merrix", which should lead to more than a little consternation on the PCs' parts and feelings ranging from confusion to irritation to anger on certain NPCs. Any ideas, folks? Thanks in advance.
taski 04-22-05, 01:33 AM	Some people: Lady Celyria ir'Tain chats at the center of a sizable group, wearing Clebdecher glamerweave that fits her form perfectly and glitters nearly as much as her cunning eyes. She bandies on about the latest operas, fashions, plays and concerts, often flirting with her adoring fans. Occationally, she glances accross the banquet hall toward her husband, Hass ir'Tain, laughing as she does so. Baroness Elvinor Elorrenthi d'Phiarlan stands with Lady ir'Tain, skillfully competing for the attention of the group. Elaborate gestures dance from her slender hands, accompanied by shifting shadows on her elegant darkweave dress. Baron Trelib d'Medani just happens to be attending tonight, dressed smartly in dark grey. His long cape is lined with rust-orange fur, presumably from an animal he killed while hunting with King Boranel. He sits away from the ladies, discussing politics in half-elven cant with Alais ir'Lantar. Lord Hass ir'Tain, far away from his wife, savors a slice of Karrnathi cheese with a glass of Aundaran wine. He sits with Ruken ir'Clarn, who smokes a thin pipe, and Daphane d'Kundarak. Though he is accross the banquet hall from Lady ir'Tain, he winces every time he hears her laugh carry over. That's all I can think of for now.
shilsen 04-22-05, 04:42 PM	Thanks, Taski. I definitely want the PCs to have the sense of not just hobnobbing with powerful people whom they've only heard of or seen from a distance, but being small fish in a very large pond, as the interactions and machinations of the rich and powerful go on around them. I think it'll be especially disconcerting for them when they find how many of the bigwigs have some vested interest or other in them. I've found that my players actually get more worried the more well-known they get. There was a brief moment of pleasure when they appeared on the front page of the Korranberg Chronicle, but that was quickly replaced with a sense of alarm as more and more people would recognize them based on the paper (didn't help that they were carrying copies as souvenirs when they got captured by the Lord of Blades :D). By the way, Hass ir'Tain is Celyria's son. Her husband Dalian was lost years ago. Anyone else?
taski 04-22-05, 08:36 PM	By the way, Hass ir'Tain is Celyria's son. Her husband Dalian was lost years ago. Crud. I couldn't find a part that eplained how they were related, I assumed too much. Well, the laughing and wincing can still go on, just with different implications.. especially if the men she flirts with are younger than Hass. Hmm, the possibilities..
shilsen 04-22-05, 08:54 PM	Crud. I couldn't find a part that eplained how they were related, I assumed too much. Well, the laughing and wincing can still go on, just with different implications.. especially if the men she flirts with are younger than Hass. Hmm, the possibilities.. So, here's the million galifar question - Oedipus or Hamlet :D?
Darth Syntax 04-22-05, 09:42 PM	I would go with Hamlet, if only because he has better soliloquies.
Solarious 04-23-05, 01:22 AM	I would go with Hamlet, if only because he has better soliloquies. Oh so very true. Most famous of all Shakespeare plays, if only for that one sentence. Random tangent: creepy how so many people know that phrase, but don't know what it really means. They just automatically say it. And the entire thing is just so... morbid! Casually mentioning the first line of an entire soliloquay that is all about the possibility of suicide... the perverse nature of life... Hamlet's tragic flaw... THERE IS A WRONGNESS IN THIS THAT DOES NOT SLEEP!!! :eek: goes mad
shilsen 04-23-05, 06:41 AM	looks around in horror I hijacked my own thread! Oh, what a rogue and peasant slave am I!
Jayj 04-23-05, 06:12 PM	Getting the rogue Shadow-marked PC involved could be interesting. First you've got to pick something in his past that he thought was a secret, whether it's a secret family member or an embarassing event that he thought he'd left behind. While he's talking with someone else, have Baroness Elvinor Elorrenthi d'Phiarlan step away from Lady ir'Tain and butt into the conversation with whoever the 'target' is talking to. Have her virtually ignore the 'target', making small talk with the other person, and somehow Baroness d'Phiarlan works in a mention of someone she once knew who did something embarassing that -just happens- to be the same as what happened to the 'target'. As she finishes the story, have her brush gazes -very briefly- with the 'target' and give a tiny smile. She wraps up her small talk with the other person and moves back to Lady ir'Tain, having successfully sent the message to the 'target' that "We own you, you just haven't admitted it yet." Baron Trelib d'Medani is more oblique and more direct at the same time. Have him talk to the leader of the Blades of Arakhain and mention that he has a small matter he'd like them to attend to that might benefit from their gift for problem-solving. The point is to give them missions that depend on the Detection-marked character using his ability, getting him used to doing jobs for House Medani. Other interesting things that might happen? Saiden Boromar's wife, the one from Jorasco whose name I can't remember off the top of my head, flirts with one of the male gnomes (maybe from Sivis) who's a known lady's man but also a craven coward. If the gnome flirts back, Saiden notices and becomes incensed, getting in his face. It's all carefully orchestrated; Saiden even goes so far as to challenge him to a contest (not necessarily a duel) to satisfy Saiden's honor that the gnome is very unlikely to win. The PCs see this happen; what they may not see happen is that as the party's wrapping down, or after the party, one of Saiden's lieutenants approaches the gnome and offers a plan to distract Saiden and get him out of the contest, but the gnome will owe the Boromar clan a favor. The gnome knows this (and he may even suspect, rightly so, that the whole thing was planned by Saiden and his wife for just this purpose) and casts about for another way to avoid getting publically humiliated (or worse) in a contest without getting in hock with the Boromars. Maybe the Blades of Arakhain can help? - Jayj
shilsen 04-23-05, 08:31 PM	Getting the rogue Shadow-marked PC involved could be interesting. First you've got to pick something in his past that he thought was a secret, whether it's a secret family member or an embarassing event that he thought he'd left behind. While he's talking with someone else, have Baroness Elvinor Elorrenthi d'Phiarlan step away from Lady ir'Tain and butt into the conversation with whoever the 'target' is talking to. Have her virtually ignore the 'target', making small talk with the other person, and somehow Baroness d'Phiarlan works in a mention of someone she once knew who did something embarassing that -just happens- to be the same as what happened to the 'target'. As she finishes the story, have her brush gazes -very briefly- with the 'target' and give a tiny smile. She wraps up her small talk with the other person and moves back to Lady ir'Tain, having successfully sent the message to the 'target' that "We own you, you just haven't admitted it yet." Nice idea. Actually, the Phiarlan character is a sorcerer. He ran off from home with a cousin to join the War, having delusions of being a war hero, and promptly got his cousin killed. He never quite worked up the nerve to go back to his family (who live in Wroat) ever since, only sending them a letter years ago that got no reply. Much to his surprise, only a couple days ago he was called to the Phiarlan enclave and handed a letter from his father (asking him to return and join the family and the House) and an invitation to return to House Phiarlan. The sorcerer is more than a little on the paranoid side and has been biting his nails ever since and trying to work out what to do. I was planning to have him get a small token of appreciation from the House the day before the Gala and figured he'd be especially horrified to have people (esp. his House) thinking that he's taken Cannith as a patron. Throwing in a bit with lady ir'Tain will definitely add to the paranoia :D Other interesting things that might happen? Saiden Boromar's wife, the one from Jorasco whose name I can't remember off the top of my head, flirts with one of the male gnomes (maybe from Sivis) who's a known lady's man but also a craven coward. If the gnome flirts back, Saiden notices and becomes incensed, getting in his face. It's all carefully orchestrated; Saiden even goes so far as to challenge him to a contest (not necessarily a duel) to satisfy Saiden's honor that the gnome is very unlikely to win. The PCs see this happen; what they may not see happen is that as the party's wrapping down, or after the party, one of Saiden's lieutenants approaches the gnome and offers a plan to distract Saiden and get him out of the contest, but the gnome will owe the Boromar clan a favor. The gnome knows this (and he may even suspect, rightly so, that the whole thing was planned by Saiden and his wife for just this purpose) and casts about for another way to avoid getting publically humiliated (or worse) in a contest without getting in hock with the Boromars. Maybe the Blades of Arakhain can help? - Jayj I think I can get the halfling rogue in the party (not affiliated with any dragonmarked house) tied up in this. She's a good person but with a greedy streak, and I was planning to have Ilyra Boromar talk to her about finding a place for someone with her 'talents'. Your suggestion would be another way to tie her in with the Boromars, for good or - probably ;) - evil. Thanks.