Death(s) in the Family

The Main Cast

Prince Philoj- the young, lascivious prince, son of Lomuad.
King Lomuad- the doddering old king
Princess Ylemdra- the fair princess, Philoj's sister
Lady Heille- the stoic Lady of the Palace
Viscount Vethelic- the ambitious, dastardly Viscount. Husband to Ylemdra

When Prince Philoj of Vaskaama summons the PCs to his palace, they find it difficult to refuse. After all he is the Crown Prince, called the Peerless and the Light, and the Great Lover. Upon arrival, the PCs are ushered into the Princes halls. The Prince reclines on a throne of marble and malachite, shaped to resemble a lithe naked woman, herself reclining. Lush and opulent, the palace is a reflection of Philojs vanities and the wealth of the soon-to-be-his kingdom. After all, the old, doddering King Lomuad, Philojs and Ylemdras father is senile and practically on his deathbed, leaving his wise old counselor, confidante and First Speaker, her Ladyship Hielle as the proxy, day-to-day ruler of the land, until the time of Lomuads passing, and Philojs official coronation. A few days ago, the royal doctor has decreed that the good king had only a few days to live.

The Prince confides in the PCs. He informs them that his own sister, Ylemdra the fair, the pride and joy of the dynastic family, whose beauty is surpassed only by the sun, had recently come to visit her brother the Prince, from her own distant palace, bearing gifts and good wishes, and wishing to be near her father, the King, in his last hours, her new husband, the highly unsuitable Viscount Vethelic, a minor noble of a different line, in tow. Prince Philoj explains that he is highly suspicious of Viscount Vethelics intentions and ambitions, and quickly comes to the point. He wants the PCs, having heard of their capabilities over the years, to watch and keep an eye on the Viscount, gauge the mans morals and aspirations, and determine, whether or not the Viscount plans on having the Crown Prince assassinated. Oh yes, whispers have reached Prince Philojs ears, whispers of the Viscounts treachery. Rumors claim, that Vethelic was enacting a two-pronged approach in gaining the throne itself! The charismatic viscount not only seduced the fair and innocent Ylemdra, but he now planned on poisoning or otherwise insidiously slaying his perceived rival, Prince Philoj himself.

Possible Explanations:

1. The Viscount Vethelic is indeed so bold, brazen, and ambitious as to think that he could seize the throne itself with his patient, insidious plan. Over many months he has thoroughly seduced the Princess Ylemdra, even actually convincing her to marry him, and has now intends on somehow offing Philoj. Knowing the Kings death was at hand, Vethelic decided to commence his end-game. At some point during the next few days, either before or immediately after, the inevitable death of the King, Vethelic will try to assassinate Philoj, using subtle, but highly effective means. This scenario is fairly straightforward, though Vethelic would work best if role-played as a sly, scheming mastermind, a Professor Moriarty type.

2. The Viscount is a lucky boob. His naïve act isnt an act, as Philoj believes it to be. He is quite handsome though, and the Princess Ylemdra is smitten with him. The rumors have been spread by the real assassin, the Lady Heille, the widowed Kings oldest friend and lover, as well as being the Regent, during the Kings last days. It is she that wishes Philojs death, and is trying to cast blame elsewhere, for the woman truly believes that the incoherent King, wished her to succeed him, and despised his lecherous son, Philoj.

Alternately, Ylemdra herself can play the role of assassin, using her moron husband, whom she married for this same reason, as a sacrificial lamb, framing him, while she herself, not so fair of heart as face, is planning on killing her brother and taking the throne.

3. No one is getting killed. All is well. Philoj is paranoid, and the PCs spend a stressful week, investigating needlessly, red herrings flying at them from all directions. And perhaps, King Lomuad isnt even dying, just pretending.

Tales of Adventure are brief adventure plots or story elements, presented in a few paragraphs. What separates a Tale of Adventure from other plots is that it gives three different directions for the adventure to play out. They may be minor twists in how the original situation is presented, or they may turn the whole scenario upside down.