A Lawful Evil GM ([info]mygamethoughts) wrote,
@ 2005-12-08 13:29:00
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Current mood: blank
Current music:VAS - Apsara

Player Request for Ideas
So here's the deal - I'm in need of an idea for a game I'm a player in. I hope everyone who reads this journal responds.

The situation:
You're an elf in the middle of the human empire. You were raised by human gypsies, in a country no one trusts, though you do have dim memories of the elvish empire. You are a witch - you use folk magic and such to create charms and other spells. As such, you are marked and everyone who sees you knows you can do magic - in your case, because of a tie to the element of water, you have bright blue hair.

Since your current cultural attitude is gypsy, you figure if you can't carry it on yourself and one horse, you don't need it. You only have three items that you consider valuable and irreplaceable - a special Tarot deck that was made especially for you, a crystal ball you stole from someone that has proved especially useful in the past year, and a dagger you had made for yourself. Beyond that, everything else is just icing on the cake. But if you lose it - eh, you move on.

Anyway, recently you were part of a group that exposed a treasonous plot against the human empire, that came from one of the highest offices of power. This plot had/has the potential to put all of humanity back in the chains of slavery that their draconic racial enemies had them in over a thousand years ago. After the capture of the instigator and the resulting trial, you now will get a chance to approach the Imperial Prince (who is also the acting Emperor) and ask for a reward. A specific reward.

And here's where I'm stuck.

What would you ask for?

The only thing that bothers you is that people you've known for a while still don't trust you - you don't care about strangers. You don't expect or want instant respect, but feel in cases where you've earned it, it should be given. Because you are (a) of an alien race (so to speak), (b) from the global equivalent of Vodacce, Sicily, the Scorpion Clan, or the Tremere clan, and (c) you are a gypsy, you understand that those who just met you are highly suspicious of you.

Any help is good. I really need it.

Rich




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[info]random_girl
2005-12-08 09:45 pm UTC (link)
A travelling orphanage or school; funding and wagons and teachers and adults who will take lost children--magical children or elves or whatever--and give them a home that you never had, teach them things you had to learn. Maybe the home is a solid place and they roam for these kids, or maybe it's a school that gathers and teachers poor children what they need to know, or specifically seeks out the special and protects them. You don't need something else to carry on your back. A world full of more educated, more happy special/magic people seems like one in which your character would enjoy working/living and would give him/her a chance to make connections and spin off additional plots with your game master.

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[info]chadu
2005-12-08 10:05 pm UTC (link)
You've got to go with the classics:

Dec. 3, 1627

It is by my order and for the good of the state that the bearer of this has done what he has done.

"Richelieu"


The get out of jail free card.

CU



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[info]gaaneden
2005-12-08 10:11 pm UTC (link)
Some sort of mark/emblem that shows you are trusted by the empire?

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[info]baronlaw
2005-12-08 10:19 pm UTC (link)
The Monarchs official thanks.

A free pass, a letter of marque, "The bearer of this document has my special favor and woe be to harms him". Etc.

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[info]fax_celestis
2005-12-09 02:21 am UTC (link)
If you can't think of anything (or your character can't think of anything), you can always go the noble route and say that his thanks is more than enough.

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[info]renesq
2005-12-09 04:02 am UTC (link)
The only thing that bothers you is that people you've known for a while still don't trust you - you don't care about strangers. You don't expect or want instant respect, but feel in cases where you've earned it, it should be given.

I'm assuming that the other party members trust you. Anyway, respect or trust can't be bought with anything other than time and deeds. Your character doesn't sound like s/he would want anything material. I don't think temporal power is much of a prize, neither--that's responsibility, and responsibility means being tied down.

Still, being a gypsy doesn't mean you're flighty. Does your character have an ultimate goal in the game? Any one s/he cares about? Getting something material/political for them helps them, uses the reward, and it's not greedy. Asking for more magical knowledge isn't a bad route either, unless the monarch and/or humans would ostracize you more for being more powerful.

I don't think asking for acceptance is acceptable because it's not possible.

I like the Get Out Of Jail Free card, but I don't know if it's specific enough. But if you literally ask for one, make sure it says "For Crimes Against Humanity."

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if not for yourself....
[info]benliblit
2005-12-09 08:41 am UTC (link)
How about some kind of Imperial edict declaring the gypsy people to be not such a bad lot after all?

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[info]ivan23
2005-12-09 02:38 pm UTC (link)
I'd normally say a title or mark of Imperial Respect, but as you don't care about strangers I'd say that's not so important. If what you want is the respect of those you've known for a while, why not ask for a favor that benefits the group more than you personally?

- A wagon bearing the Imperial Seal that can carry the lot of you

- Imperial authority to do something normally beyond your collective status (like, say, collect and utilize a special tithe or tax)

- New horses for the entire party from the Imperial stables

Just a thought. You can't buy friends, but you don't buy for enemies, either.

Also ... and forgive me if this is too obvious - have you thought about asking the other players OOC as a group what it would take for your character to gain their trust? That gives you a goal to work towards and stakes to fight for both in and out of character.

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