Court of the Empress: An RPG Exercise

[mcroft]

A Game of Neel Krishnaswami's Court of the Empress. Rules are here.

Let us look upon the Empress's court.

It is a frosty winter's evening on the longest night of the year. The Empress Iphigenia has taken the court to her royal barge, locked in ice until the spring thaws. An orchestra performs quietly in the background and the court has been dancing, for her Imperial Majesty's pleasure, upon the surface of the frozen river. The courtiers can see each other's steamy breath and there are braziers of burning coals for heat and a bit of light. The full moon is low in the sky, behind the Empress's pedestal on her barge. A few honored servants are there with her, but most are a few steps down, on the surface of the wide, frozen river. Her Imperial Majesty is resplendent in a dazzling black gown with a stiff collar behind her. She carries the Scepter and there is a banner with the Imperial Seal behind her throne.

And now let us hear what may be said.

Comments

(frozen)

[mcroft.livejournal.com]

Let my servants be brought forth.

Firdausi

[libskrat]

This humble one, Firdausi Tousi, abases himself before the Imperial Majesty.

(frozen) Scamandius

[colomon.livejournal.com]

This humble one, Scamandius, abases himself before the Imperial Majesty.

[mrsitouh.livejournal.com]

This humble one, Benedict, abases himself before the Imperial Majesty.

(frozen)

[mcroft.livejournal.com]

Benedict has been called upon by the Empress. Good Luck!

Sallan

[sunday-courtier.livejournal.com]

This humble one, Sallan, abases himself before the Imperial Majesty

Re: Sallan

[mcroft.livejournal.com]

Erm! Ignore the last message. Sorry. She told me to kill Roland, not Sallan.

--Michael, Who would now get killed by the Empress himself...

[ptevis.livejournal.com]

This humble one, Roland, abases himself before the Imperial Majesty.

(frozen) Empress Iphigenia

[mcroft.livejournal.com]

Fyodor, you are a stranger to my court. Your dress is odd, your accent different, if not displeasing, and even your name does not fall easily from my tongue. It is my Imperial Command that you tell us what your people are best at, what feat or skill or learning they have that is superior to those of my other courtiers.

Tell us, then Fyodor, for the amusement and enlightenment of the court, what is so special about you?

(frozen) Firdausi Re: Fyodor

[libskrat]

And I daresay they never lack amusement...

(frozen) Empress Iphigenia

[mcroft.livejournal.com]

Scamandius, you seem ... knowledgable in the ways of our Court. For the benefit, or perhaps for the amusement, of us all, please discourse on how one might, in your opinion, win the favor of the Empress. I am sure that some of your fellows will benefit from your advice, in one way or another. If they have questions, please incorporate them into your lecture.

(frozen) Scamandius

[colomon.livejournal.com]

Of course, your Imperial Highness. While I would never deign to claim I fully understand what might win your Imperial Majesty's favor, I can explain my simple guesses on the subject.

It seems to me there would be two things foremost that your Imperial Majesty might be interested in from us: learning and entertainment.

Learning, I say, for even though your Imperial Majesty is more learned than any one of us -- nay, as I look around, surely more learned than the all of us together -- still, your Imperial Highness is not all-knowing. Surely each of us knows at least one thing your Imperial Majesty does not; things which, in their own small way, might make an already glorious reign shine a little brighter.

It takes the learning and wisdom of your Imperial Highness to send my people's sailors and fishers far to the east, to find the rich stock of fish briefly mentioned in an obscure ancient text. Yet your Imperial Majesty may not yet know of the remarkable medicinal properties our sailors have discovered from the oil of the fish's livers, the strange birds nesting on the rocky islands near the fishing grounds, nor even the newest songs the men use to while away their long, hard hours at sea.

Which is to say, entertainment, the other thing which we might provide. For while we can surely not compete with the talent of the assembled poets, bards, and musicians of your Imperial Majesty's court, we might perhaps be able to provide a bit of novelty. A choice new song from our far-flung regions, a thrilling new tale, or perhaps even a delicious fresh joke.

(frozen) Firdausi Re: Scamandius

[libskrat]

Were I to answer thoughtfully, I might surmise
that good Scamandius' guesses both
assume a third, to wit: a novel turn.
For what's the use of learning if there's no small corner left unlearnt before? nor is the finest jest or sweetest tale worth the telling, save it be a novelty.

Though I'm as much a laughingstock as he whose sally I poked fun at earlier, I will make bold to say my piece again, in hopes that, if its content does not please, the manner of its saying may seem new.

(frozen) Empress Iphigenia

[mcroft.livejournal.com]

Benedict,

Your tender concern for your fellow courtiers is noted, as well as your recognition that others are your rivals.

So from you we will have a discussion of ethics. We would ask of you to discourse at length on the ethical implications of cooperation and competition. Is it, for example, ever ethical to provide bad or dangerous advice to rivals in an attempt to eliminate them? If such happens to you, what is an ethical response?

My other courtiers are again to have the opportunity to ask you questions about this, to explore your reasoning.

(frozen) Re: Empress Iphigenia

[mrsitouh.livejournal.com]

Your Excellency raises an excellent question. The ethics of court have been debated since the first tribal chief sat near the campfire and listened to the complaints of his tribe, but I shall endeavor to provide a fresh vantage point, if nothing else.

I would propose that deliberately bad advice would be unethical in the extreme. Our task is to please you, and bad advice could be the cause of removing one who would otherwise have provided you with much entertainment, novelty, and insight, for the purpose of promoting one's minor cause over your Majesty's welfare.

On the other hand, I find dangerous but not deliberately misleading advice to be ethical, if risky. For while the advice may lead the taker into disaster, thus assisting the giver, the risk may also return great dividends for the taker, for the taker could through his daring win your favor, bringing disaster to the giver. One should be extremely careful in doing so, however, for it is easy to cross the line into deceit, where they risk the wrath of both their Empress and their God.

As to the following of misleading advice, I believe that for whatever advice one receives, the proper attitude is 'Caveat Emptor'. One should consider that whatever advice one receives is coming from one who you know to be a rival, if not directly in what he seeks, than indirectly, for we all seek boons. One should consider carefully before following any advice given, for ultimate responsibility for our actions rests with us.

(frozen) Empress Iphigenia

[mcroft.livejournal.com]

Sallan, visitors from the far northern wastes are rare in my court, and we expect that you have different ways. Demonstrate for me how people entertain themselves in your lands. You may invite your fellow courtiers to assist. I would like to see entertainments that demonstrate bravery, if any do.

(frozen) Sallan Re: Empress Iphigenia

[sunday-courtier.livejournal.com]

Most certainly, your Imperial Majesty. As ever, it will be my pleasure to present my meagre skills for your entertainment.

I would, if I may be so bold, like to show your Majesty a demonstration of the northern sword arts, and the sword dances that accompany them. But, as all here know, it is fobidden to draw arms in your Majesty's presence without your express permission. May this humble one, then, request such permission of your Majesty, that I and perhaps one of my fellows here may demonstrate to your Majesty the humble arts of my people?

(frozen) Empress Iphigenia

[mcroft.livejournal.com]

Firdausi, a challenge for you. Choose one of your fellow courtiers and argue for their life. Tell me why I should spare them.

Roland, my quiet courtier, you shall rebut, if you will. Others may take whatever side they will, even against themselves if it suits.

(frozen) Firdausi

[libskrat]

Ah, mighty Empress, thanks and praise to you! What nobler service could I hope to do than this? My own life I hold forfeit now, but still in others' eyes I see some hope; and gladly will I further others' aims, since all we do serves our great Empire's needs.

I lend my voice to Benedict, for he has shown us honor, brightest ornament of nations. Honest courtiers are rare and to be prized, great Empress. Honor them as they deserve, and Empire shall not want for other virtues, nor for prizes rich and rare, for virtue brings them flocking near like birds to ripened grain. Choose Benedict, unequalled Queen; grant him his life, I pray.

The Empress Iphigenia

[mcroft.livejournal.com]

The Empress Iphigenia points an open hand at Roland, turns her head away from him, and says, "This one troubles our peace!"

Re: The Empress Iphigenia

[ptevis.livejournal.com]

If your peace is troubled, O Mighty One, then perhaps it is for good cause. I am to die, this I know, but I shall not beg for your pity. This court has in it too much simpering already. If Your Majesty's peace is disturbed by those would would speak truly instead of with a flatterer's tongue, then you would do well to order my death and keep this pack of sycophants around you. I am sure that shielded by men of such virtue, you need not fear such speech again.

The Empress Iphigenia

[mcroft.livejournal.com]

Benedict,

We find we are in need of a Eulogy for Roland. Please compose one. Your fellows may make suggestions as they see fit.

Benedict

[mrsitouh.livejournal.com]

Your Majesty is too gracious. I feel honored to offer a few words in the memory of our fellow courtier. While I know little of him, what I saw of him shows him to be a man of many virtues, although with a fatal flaw that overcame him in the end. He was a man of great passion, one who put his whole mind and soul into whatever task he undertook. It was that passion, I believe, which brought him to your court, in pursuit of your favor.

He was at his best in action, not in a court of words, though that did not stop him from pouring that same passion into his discourse. From listening to him, I feel confident that his self-confessed wordiness was learned from some pretentious tutor, and that he did his best to overcome the handicap this imposed on him. In so doing, that passion served him well, for he truly spoke from the heart with fire and conviction.

However, he let that passion overcome his reason, allowing it to guide him into ill-considered action, and so he fell. May God have mercy on his soul, and may we learn from his fate - to let that passion burn within us, but yet be masters of our passion and pride. Requiescat in pace.