I think I'll call this mini-campaign, "Please and Shank You," which was a quote tonight in regards to Amberites and their manners.
So far it's an odd little group. Two of the people haven't played before or read the books, and the other is a semester away from being a graduate of Minion University, if you know what I mean. Originally the plan was to make it a no-holds-barred Throne War, but instead I've actually got things like Plot and Development. (P&D, the ol' one-two. Erm.)
It took a while to make characters. I started doing my standard recitation of the books and decided I need to make it more interesting, so I skipped forward and punctuated some of the highlights. I need to develop a snappy patter for it.
I asked them if they wanted horror, adventure, light-hearted soap opera, or another mood to the game. We got one vote for fairly light-hearted, so I'm peppering it with silly innuendo and some odd NPCs. It's gotten plenty bloody so far, though less so than the horror scenario I had prepped to run.
The heir to the throne is the Princess Elaine, whose response when King Dad tried to marry her off for political influence was to blackmail him fairly successfully. She's human ranked in Warfare, but first in Endurance, so while she might not catch everything, she's at least awake and alert to handle it. Elaine got a reputation of being a bit of a fashion plate and flirt during the session, as well as having a great deal of eye candy hanging around her. (Lots of play on "pieces of art.") There's a political argument that says whoever she marries will be on the Throne, rather than her, and she seems to be ruining her father's chances for political prowess by playing outside the gentry.
Her brother Morombath ("Moro") is her dramatic opposite. First in Warfare, he's the sneaky sort with connections. If there's a shady deal in town, Moro knows about it and is probably making a profit from it, if not in cash it's pounds of flesh he's getting. King Dad knows a kingdom needs people like this, even if it's not what he's looking for in an heir. He was always chatting with one of his "spies," although he'd probably call them "friends," and they were giving him information. He was also quickly controlling the sources of information, many of them in very deadly fashion.
The other brother was Haven, the sorceror, and a bit of a pyromaniac. He started the game with a bad dream and a sorcerous attack, and it hasn't let up since for him. There's dark magic about, magic from the elements that seem to be protecting them, despite the rumours of goddesses at war, and more primitive magics, such as those of blood and bone. Someone is targeting Elaine and he's the only magician who can stop them.
I've cribbed a bit of shorthand from Imajica and the Darkover series so far, although the serial numbers are filed off pretty well. We've got at least three gems (matrices) of Power wandering around with different affinities, and some very dark deals being made. I want to remind them that promises are power, sometimes especially when they're broken.
A synopsis:
Upon the three of them waking up from disturbing dreams, Prince Moro was approached by a cultist who wished to trade an Artifact in exchange for Family power, while Prince Haven was attacked by sorcerous means. Word got around to a courtier that part of this power was directed at the Princess Elaine, and he lost a scuffle with the Guard trying to get through to warn her. An unusual gem was found in his belongings, and it was given to Prince Haven for investigation. After following up on some leads to other clues, including those of the feuding goddesses, Susuru and Sharra, the Princes and Princess returned to join the Rebman Baroness Calypso's fete, where upon the blue gem was stolen, and the place set upon by fire and water both. His things mostly destroyed, they were told that the lost words of Earth and Air were their only hope. In search of more answers, they greeted the Baroness with a gift of Prince Moro's that had cut Princess Elaine's fingers, and were given a sunlike gem in return that burned Prince Moro's hand. The gem was retrieved by Prince Haven, and Prince Moro was instead given some form of power in return, and a private audience with the Baroness. They returned home without incident, to pick the story up again next Thursday...
Funniest bit from GM's perspective: King Dad's monologue to his son, Prince Haven, about why to stay away from Rebman Women. He finally got to saying, "Just...think of vagina dentata. Don't go there. Stay away from even thinking about their pretty parts. They're poisonous."
Weakest bit from GM's perspective: Queen Mom & King Dad as NPCs. They're not intended to be on stage very long, but they ought to be real people.
I had a lot of fun. It's been a while, and we needed to warm up a bit, especially with the whole diceless idea, but I think this has some good potential and I expect next session to improve.