Aristocratic Factions

$name : WWON Aristocratic Court $author : Kalyptein $description : Automates WWON page 167, modified for The Apparatus setting $amount : 1 $picture : $button : "Generate"

$aristo_theme treachery, an air of suspicion and mistrust decadence, of excess and indulgence ennui, of exhaustion and loss of meaning ambition, of driving forward and upward resentment, bitter at their rivals’ crimes nobility, a sense of obligation to their people paralysis, trapped in some internal crisis luxury, abundant in wealth and possessions tyranny, cruelly oppressing those under them dissolution, falling apart from outside stress exoticism, following strange outside ways might, flexing its power in impressive ways

$aristo_people_major the Lord/Lady an Ornamental Spouse the Ruler’s Mistress the Heir Apparent a Spare Heir the Court Mage/Priest the Jester or Pet Artist the Chief Steward a Poor Relation a Senior Relative a Cadet Branch Lord the Lord’s Main Rival

$aristo_people_minor an Affiliated Merchant an Amusing Performer a Butler or Eunuch a Footman a Hanger-On the Heir’s Tutor a Hired Assassin a House Guard a Lady in Waiting a Pleasure Slave a Prying Servant a Spy for a Rival

$aristo_source_of_power They are the only legitimate heir to an important post They control a large chunk of the court’s income sources They are widely loved and admired by the members They have access to sinister sorceries or magic items The others fear violence or brutality from them They have a special relationship with the nation’s ruler They have blackmail on important members Everyone acknowledges their skill and brilliance They have a very effective spy ring in their service They provide intimate services to an important person They have innate magical powers or gifts They have the support of an important local faith

$aristo_internal_conflict Someone is pursuing someone else’s spouse or fiance Someone is facing financial ruin due to a mistake Two potential heirs to something are in bitter conflict An elder is making unreasonable demands on others A danger exists in or near the court’s own seat Someone is skimming off income due others in the court A court servant is blackmailing their employer A court resource or asset has been badly damaged Someone wants to make a very poor marriage choice Someone poisoned or cursed someone else in the court Someone got involved with a criminal organization A rebel in the court is scheming against the crown

$aristo_external_conflict The court somehow offended the nation’s ruler A royal advisor wants the court cut down to size A rival court has recently gotten much stronger Hostile forces have attacked and ruined a court asset A traitor to the court is helping a rival group’s attacks An important faith is angry with the court over something Tenants or merchants have been upset by the court The local ruler has levied a harsh “gift” on the court A rival has seized control of an important court asset A reckless member has incurred a group’s anger Doing something vital will infuriate another power A rival has laid a legal claim on a court asset

$tag Affliction's Mark Ancestral Obligation Awesome Legitimacy Awkward Birth Blandished Leadership Cadet Branches Capricious Orders Cultural Insignia Daring Ambition Dark Secret Decadent Court Devil's Bargain Diplomatic Demands Disputed Inheritance Excess Heirs False Prize Fatal Extravagance Forbidden Romance Foreign Ties Gate Keeper Hidden Blight Hopeless Rival Impure Blood Inadequate Tools Inept Ruler Iron Law Lost Purpose Magical Subversion Ministerial Capture New Generation New Opportunity Outside Debts Overextended Grasp Poisonous Cliques Priestly Influence Proxy Speaker Rampant Corruption Recent Brutality Regency Council Restive Lessers Rival Dreams Rival Power Ruling Regalia Runaway Rule Shining Successor Splendid Seat Sublime Skill Sudden Strength Threatened Violence Waning Wealth

$phrase The aristocratic court is characterized by [aristo_theme]. It has [tag] and [tag]. Two major figures are [aristo_people_major], who wields power because [aristo_source_of_power], and [aristo_people_major], who wields power because [aristo_source_of_power]. Two minor figures are [aristo_people_minor], who has influence because [aristo_source_of_power], and [aristo_people_minor], who has influence because [aristo_source_of_power]. The court is threatened from within because [aristo_internal_conflict], and from without because [aristo_external_conflict].