Making Ciencia Iphegenia interesting?

[SJE]

So, i'm writing up a TravCon scenario involving PvP court intrigues amidst the Imperial Court on the even of Rebellion (1116). PC's are Strephon, Lucan, Norris Dulinor and the Grand Princess Ciencia Iphegenia.

I'm departing from MegaTraveller canon in 2 areas- that Empress Iolanthe died in 1112 and the Emperor summoned Duke Norris to Capital to appoint him Archduke of Deneb.

All of them have secrets and agenda's and a desire to steer the Imperium in one direction or another.

Where I'm struggling is with Ciencia Iphegenia - I've got her pegged as a doveish, pro-civilian, traditionalist who follows more her dead mothers Vilani heritage than her father. What I dont know is what dark secrets she might have, or what conflicts she as the future heir might have with her father. I've put a bit in where she opposes the Strephonian Reforms, but what can she do while she is still waiting to inherit that would be interesting/scandalous or otherwise put her at odds with the other PC's?

Any thoughts on making Ciencia interesting?

 

[LeperColony]

I did something very similar a few years ago, except it was based on the various dukes jockeying for the position of Archduke that Dulinor eventually gets.

In my game, Iphegenia was one of the engines of reform, which helps bring Dulinor's ideas to Strephon's attention (and so ultimately to the downfall of everyone and everything).

 

[Spinward Scout]

This might help.

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1098214072/kings-favor-a-game-of-courtly-intrigue

It's a Kickstarter, but it says you can download the rules if you back for the minimum. And the premise is oddly similar to the MegaTraveller Rebellion.

 

[rancke]

This might not work for your purpose, but I've had great success with these intrigue scenarios (I've run (and participate in) a lot of them) by occasionally including a character whose sole "task" was being intensely curious and wanting to know everything that's going on.


Hans

 

[Magnus von Thornwood]

Ah, yes, The Witness.

This might not work for your purpose, but I've had great success with these intrigue scenarios (I've run (and participate in) a lot of them) by occasionally including a character whose sole "task" was being intensely curious and wanting to know everything that's going on.


Hans

I totally love playing that person.

Magnus' Rules of Rulership.

Rule 1: Remember kids, never sit in the Big Chair!

That just makes you a target. Stand next to or better yet behind the Big Chair, that way you have a ready made meat shield for your escape of the angry mob.​

:devil:

 

[Nathan Brazil]

If I recall, in the alternate universe (GURPS), in later years, doesn't she make a tour/visit out to the Solomani Rim? Perhaps you can make something of her personality from that.

 

[Quint]

According to Traveller Digest #9, Ciencia is good friends with Isis (Dulinor's daughter) - they are the same age and share a birthday. That's the closest that we have to any real information we have for her from that source - though Isis is evidently considered to be one of the most beautiful women in the Imperium on her homeworld and has quite the fashion sense. In 1104 they are both 15 years old (not sure if they are turning 15 or turning 16 - the adventure is around their mutual birthday).

D.

 

[SJE]

Hmmm, I suppose Ciencia could be a star crossed lover of Isis, torn apart by the vicissitudes of politics, Montague and Capulet style, but the only real scandal you could have with a dynastic family is a refusal to bear an heir rather than being lesbian.

Actually thats a thought- what if Ciencia in 1115 (when she's 28 or so) has decided she never wants to bear a child - having a True-Daughter/Son doesnt seem to be an option for Imperials unlike other Nobles. Would that be scandalous enough?

SJE

 

[McPerth]

This might help.

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1098214072/kings-favor-a-game-of-courtly-intrigue

It's a Kickstarter, but it says you can download the rules if you back for the minimum. And the premise is oddly similar to the MegaTraveller Rebellion.

This reminds me of the Down with the King game...

According to Traveller Digest #9, Ciencia is good friends with Isis (Dulinor's daughter) - they are the same age and share a birthday. That's the closest that we have to any real information we have for her from that source - though Isis is evidently considered to be one of the most beautiful women in the Imperium on her homeworld and has quite the fashion sense. In 1104 they are both 15 years old (not sure if they are turning 15 or turning 16 - the adventure is around their mutual birthday).

D.

And in the adventure on it it said the referee should be cautious in not killing Isis, as it would have important part in future Imperium events, something never to come true... (That was one of the points that made me think the virus was not the intended ending of the Rebellion).

 

[Quint]

And in the adventure on it it said the referee should be cautious in not killing Isis, as it would have important part in future Imperium events, something never to come true... (That was one of the points that made me think the virus was not the intended ending of the Rebellion).

Yeah, in re-reading that I was just thinking the same thing. It has me thinking of what MT would have looked like if the Right of Assassination had been recognized and the Rebellion simply hadn't happened.

The politics of the Imperium would have taken an amazing turn, probably with a several generation upheaval of the status quo, Dulinor finding out the being Emperor isn't nearly as easy as he thought it would be - lots of infighting backstabbing, and perhaps more a "war of assassins"...

What a much better setting for a Traveller game than the Rebellion.

D.

 

[rancke]

Yeah, in re-reading that I was just thinking the same thing. It has me thinking of what MT would have looked like if the Right of Assassination had been recognized and the Rebellion simply hadn't happened.

The politics of the Imperium would have taken an amazing turn, probably with a several generation upheaval of the status quo, Dulinor finding out the being Emperor isn't nearly as easy as he thought it would be - lots of infighting backstabbing, and perhaps more a "war of assassins"...

If the Right of Assassination had been recognized, Dulinor wouldn't have been able to pull off the assassination, because he would have been under intense scrutiny by the Emperor's protective services. Dulinor scattered clues like confetti in his preparations for his coup (such as massive reorganization of the Ilelish Guard's duty roster) that the only explanation why no one spotted them is that no one was looking. And if anyone had dreamt that he could promote himself to emperor by assassinating Strephon, someone would have been looking.


Hans

 

[Quint]

If the Right of Assassination had been recognized, Dulinor wouldn't have been able to pull off the assassination, because he would have been under intense scrutiny by the Emperor's protective services. Dulinor scattered clues like confetti in his preparations for his coup (such as massive reorganization of the Ilelish Guard's duty roster) that the only explanation why no one spotted them is that no one was looking. And if anyone had dreamt that he could promote himself to emperor by assassinating Strephon, someone would have been looking.


Hans

Perhaps (and yes, I agree with the clues like confetti example but I'm putting that aside for the moment), but history is replete with examples of things that in hindsight could have been prevented either due to past historical examples or things that are insanely obvious in retrospect. Given that the Right of Assassination hadn't been exercised for centuries, given that Stephon wasn't acting like Cleon the Mad, given that Dulinor was evidently at least on some level a personal intimate of the Emperor (again, given their daughters relationship) it isn't unreasonable to posit that he could have done it.

D.

 

[rancke]

Given that the Right of Assassination hadn't been exercised for centuries...

Sure, given that everyone has forgotten about the Right of Assassination it's conceivable that Strephon's security didn't think of Dulinor as a threat. But the What If here is that, unlike in the OTU, the Right of Assassination is still considered legitimate. In such a case I submit that the professional paranoiacs of Strephon's security WOULD consider Dulinor¹ a threat and keep an eye on him as a matter of routine.

¹ And all the other archdukes too, of course.​

Hans

 

[selunatic2397]

I let my players try to save the Emperor...well...my lone player anyway.

He spent several weeks plotting, and in the end...to my surprise...succeeded.

The condensed version...he took seriously a misjumped scout he rescued who kept insisting she be told what year it was and then saying there wouldn't be enough time. He used a favor owed him to get her to Duke Norris.

Duke Norris listened to her claims of who would assassinate the emperor...his intelligence background and his psionc aide convinced him.

I dropped in a prototype hop/skip type drive from a naval source into his scout, and after over 10 days of checking his jump numbers got to Capitol...with the duke, 4 marines, the scout, himself...and that pesky imperial warrant from the Kininur...yes I know that is a sore point with this board...but my player was so determined/patriotic...I was so proud of him!

Norris, with the warrant ordered drop troops to surround the area...naval ships to stop Dulinors ships from intervening...and landed the players scout on a centuries old rose garden and then gave the scout her only order...

"Save the Emperor!"

He had learned she was a teleport on the flight to Capitol...

As his troops were being crushed by Imperial marines...his camera crew huddled in terror filming the last moments of his dream...Archduke Dulinor saw his last bodyguards drop from sniper fire...

From behind him a lone female voice..."Archduke Dulinor...Drop Your Weapon!"

Before him the Emperor standing defiantly saw his friend raise his revolver saying his last words...

"I've come to far Strephon..."

*KRACT-TOOM!*

The coup was over.

My player really was insistant the the scout be the one to save the Emperor, and that he wanted no rewards at all...really really!

As for the shot in the back?

My player said it was all Dulinor deserved.

Hope I have entertained you all with my players last session.

 

[aramis]

My players, the last two times I've run the Rebellion timeframe, supported Dulinor. In one case, they teleported in, assassinated Lucan, and teleported back out. After a year or two of Lucan, the remaining court were more than happy to have Dulinor back.

The other time, they were courtiers - and saw to it Windhook succeeded. Party of 3, all starting soc B, all nobles, all from Illellish.