Julian and Romiette
Two young nobles, enmity between their families. Where have we seen this before?
See Julian: a knight of few years, yet strong arm, handsome with long flowing curly honey-colored hair, blue eyes watching the world for danger, always hunting or questing, sword drawn, and yet no scars mar his youthful face. His stride is self-assured and bearing noble, behaviour excellent, even if the depth of conversation leaves much to be desired for. A wizard-slayer and demon-hunter, he is known wide and far.
See Romiette: a slender young lady, long black hair flowing like waterfalls of onyx tears to her shoulders and then down her back, amber eyes with gold specks curiously eyeing the world, yet most of the time gliding over long-forgotten runes and passages in dusty tomes, silent, contemplative, a wizard in the making.
See the crone, staring at her cards laid out in front of her, at the dance of flames when burning sacred herbs, at the flight of birds.
See the heroes, seeking an answer, hardened adventurers with little to fear.
The heroes and the crone meet, and the wise woman speaks up: 'The balance is frail, and fail it will. Only a very special child will save the world like it is today, yet that child has to be born. Alas, this must happen before three winters pass, else all is lost!'
To whom must this child be born? To two nobles, Julian and Romiette. Is it a problem of fertility? Nay, it is far more complex.
The knight and the mage don't know each other, perhaps having exchanged a fleeting glance at some courtly celebration. And even if they knew each other, an union would be unlikely ... Julian has a mistress, and holds strong feeling towards her, while Romiette has not started caring about men yet - it is uncertain whether she will at all, given her many many other interests, and uncertain sexual orientation(she is not very certain about these things herself, and is afraid of starting any relationship).
Now, their fathers share and enmity of old, where during a joust they both fumbled up and killed each other's favourite steed with their lances, and they have not forgiven - if lord deVarra knew his son had an affection for the childe of lord vanSaar, he would mount his (new) steed at that instant and charge, sword drawn, while lord vanSaarwould just smirk, and then, at night, either stab a vax figurine with needles repeatedly, or issue orders to a few black-clad men.
Not that the two youngsters were not quite incompatible as well - if Julian met the young lady in her traditional attire - rune-covered robe, headband with a pentagram holding her hair together, silver and ebony stave by her side and the unnerving sparkle of her eyes, some of his knightly reflexes might take over and make him draw his blade, shouting: 'Die, spawn of evil!'
If Romiette was to see Julian jousting with his friends, drinking and hunting for sport, then listening to a bard singing about his deeds of valor, she would shake her head, smirk, and go off to watch the new potion boiling.
But the world has to be saved!
While the reward could be fabulous, the quest is not an easy one:
*The players must first convince one of the two young nobles that an union between the two is THE course to take.
*They have then to convince the other one to like his/hers partner to be, or remake the noble they have convinced to spark the interest of the other one.
*Of course, all while settling the fathers' enminty or hiding the whole matter from them.
Ant they thought killing that dragon was tough.
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? Responses (10)
I am well admused by this. It seems like such a cut and dry situation, implied by the names. But the twists of this particular scenario should keep the gamers guessing.
Yikes. Might just have to enjoy myself till the end of the world. :)
A honorable BUMP!
A nice plot that should not be forgotten.
Updated: re-cathegorized
This is exactly the sort of plot that my combat-maximized half-orc barbarian (whose strongest social skill is brute intimidation) is routinely forced to deal with. Because of that, I'm eager to inflict comparable heartburn upon my players! I love this sort of insanity!
It really could use a thorough going over and refurbishing, though.
I love this plot, so gald it came up from the depth of the citadel! So much can go horribly wrong: Romiette falls for one of the PCs, the fathers duel in the street, Julian gets abducted as retribution for the steed's death. So much goodness!
The PCs would have to work sooo hard to get these two together. Organising patries, encounters and introductions, all the while keeping this totally silent from the fathers, resulting absolute hilarity for the GM!
Mind you though, the PCs would become quite the socialites after this, and would be incredibly well armed against these situations...
Then again, the easiest solution is probably to abduct them, lock them in a room and let nature takes its course... Surely three years should be enough?
I'm reading this at work and I'm having to try VERY hard not to laugh out loud so the boss doesn't notice.
brilliant - great - wonderful
I'd like to add something, but dark dragon said it all
basic 4/5 + ½ for silly value = 4½ / 5
lol-trying to get a pair of opposites to fall in love.
And in the end, the prophesy is just some spirit trolling :)
Certainly a different challenge then normal, and one that can be reworked to fit in anywhere.
It does need some cleanup, but given its vintage that's not a big deal.