23. THE ROYAL COURT
The Court of King Louis is where all powerful characters should strive to be recognised, and where true power rests. Court is full of intrigue and provides social opportunities for the high-climbers of Paris. The Queen, Cardinal and Crown Prince are usually at Court. The Court calendar details Court location and activities for the next three months and will be updated monthly so that there is three months notice of events.
23.1 Court Denizens
King Louis XIII SL 30
Born 27 September 1601 at Fontainebleau. Age 1625: 24
King Louis jealously guards his own position and power within France and fully supports Cardinal Richelieu's moves towards increasing Royal Power at the expense of the nobility. Where foreign policy is concerned he has little personal interest and tends to be swayed by the Cardinal, the Queen or the Crown Prince - whichever way the wind is blowing. He serves as host for any Royal Balls held at the Louvre (House SL 25) and Fontainebleau (House SL 28).
Queen Anne (known as Anne of Austria) SL28
Born 22 September 1601 at Benavente Palace, Valladolid, Spain. Age 1625: 24
The eldest daughter of King Philip III of Spain and his wife Margaret of Austria. Where foreign policy is concerned she wishes her husband to support the interests of the Hapsburgs, who rule in both Spain and Austria. This brings her in direct conflict with Cardinal Richelieu, whose foreign policy is aimed at strengthening France at the expense of the Hapsburgs. She also supports the pro-Hapsburg Duc de Lorraine - in opposition to her sister-in-law Princess Louisa (the wife of the Crown Prince). She serves as hostess for any Royal Balls held at the Tuilleries Palace (House SL 24) and hosts a Ladies Ball in one of the Summer months when the Court Calendar allows. The Queen refuses to attend events hosted by The Crown Prince or the Cardinal and will dismiss any of her ladies that do so unless they are also the King's Official Mistress (who tends to accompany the King to such affairs). The Queen is rumoured to the be the lover of the English Duke of Buckingham.
Crown Prince Gaston de Bourbon, Duc d'Orleans, SL 26
Born 24 April 1603 at the Palace of Fontainebleau. Age 1625: 22
Gaston is currently the heir to the throne of France, thanks to all of his brother's children having been stillborn so far. He thinks he would make a far better King than Louis and will support anyone he thinks might help him to the throne. He tends to support maintaining the power of the nobility in opposition to increasing the power of the Crown, which has brought him into conflict with the Cardinal in the past - and doubtless will in the future. Prince Gaston likes to hold a ball, primarily for officers about to serve in the Summer Campaign, at the Luxembourg Palace (House SL 23) around the time of his birthday each year. He will not attend events hosted by the Cardinal.
Crown Princess Louisa, SL 25
Born: 22 July 1604. Age 1625: 21
A couple of years ago Prince Gaston was involved in an unsuccessful plot to oust the Cardinal and spent some time in exile in the Duchy of Lorraine. This is where he met his wife, Princess Louisa the sister of the Duc of Lorraine, whom he married against the wishes of the King and Cardinal. When it became clear that Gaston and Louisa supported the ambitions of the anti-Hapsburg Grand Duke Maximilian, Lousa's younger brother, to rule Lorraine in their older brother's stead, however, the Cardinal reluctantly pardoned him and he was allowed to return to France. Princess Louisa will not visit the Tuilleries and will dismisses any of her ladies that do so unless they are also the Prince's Official Mistress (who tends to accompany the Crown Prince to such affairs). She does attend the Cardinal's events in hopes of garnering aid to further the ambitions of her brother Max.
THE Cardinal, Armand Jean du Plessis, Duke of Richelieu and Fronsac, SL 25
Born 9th September 1585, Paris. Age 1625: 40
In many ways the Cardinal is the de facto ruler of France, since he usually gets the King to implement the policies he supports. His aim is to increase the power of the French Crown at the expense of the French Nobility and the Hapsburgs. When the Court Calendar allows, he hosts a Christmas Ball at l'Hôtel de Cardinal just north of the Place Royale (House SL 22) each year.
Grand Duke Maximilian, SL 21
Born 6 December 1603, Age 1625: 22
The brother of Princess Louisa and her foremost partisan, he is also the Grand Duke of Bar, a principality of the Holy Roman Empire from which he has been exiled for opposing the Hapsburg Emperor and Max' older brother Charles IV, Duke of Lorraine. He has raised the Grand Duke Max Dragoons to fight for France (hoping that they will be sent against Lorraine to press his claim to the Duchy at some point) and has recently increased his popularity by becoming engaged to a recently widowed french woman, la Duchesse Claude Françoise de Rambouillet. Their marriage is scheduled for the beginning of November. A keen huntsman and horseman, Duke Maximilian intends to include a horse race at his wife's opulent Rambouillet estate (inherted from her previous husband) as part of the wedding celebrations.
Archduke Leopold of Bavaria, SL 22
Born 26 February 1584, Age 1625: 41
A cousin of Anne of Austria, and one of her most loyal supporters, Archduke Leopold serves the Queen as her Chamberlain and is responsible for the running of the Tuilleries Palace. He also has an opulent estate of his own in the Isle de France. Archduke Albert has raised a regiment of Cuirassiers (which bears his name) in the service of France and, like Duke Max, is a keen huntsman and horseman. There is little love lost between the Grand Duke and the Archduke, however - a major factor in the enmity between their respective cavalry regiments.
In addition to the major players above, a plethora of servants, aides and secretaries are also always to be found at Court.
23.2 Court Access
Except for members of the King's or Cardinal's Escorts (and others on certain special occasions) no player characters of less than SL 10 will be admitted to Court. Those of less than SL 10 who do gain access must provide themselves with Court Dress as though they were SL 10 when admitted.
Barons, Bishops, Ministers, Full (Bvt) Generals and Ladies with Court appointments may, once per month, attend Court as a weekly activity. (When Court is held at the Tuilleries the Principal of the Ladies Academy and Matron of the Hostel may attend once per month provided they are also SL 10). Nobles may attend for (Noble Rank minus 1) weeks and Churchmen for (Clerical Rank minus 5) weeks. An attendee may bring their mistress or a single guest (provided they are SL 10+) who must toady to their host for the duration of their visit. If not bringing a PC guest, a character may toady to / be toadied to by a maximum of one other attendee. A character whose mistress can attend Court in her own right can bring both her and a guest. Each week at Court costs the character his (and his guests') SL in livres (Court Dress) and gains him 1 SP. Characters may carouse and gamble (using the house limit and divisor as at Fleur de Lys) if they wish at normal costs. At Court Province/Regimental Rivalry is suspended.
23.3 Royal Favour
Any male non-Minister of SL 10+ may seek Royal Favour (must be ordered), which offers a chance of being noticed by the King. On a result of 12 on 2d6 an attendee receives a class 9 favour, on an 11 he receives a minor appointment as a Royal Equerry. The appointment lasts for a year, gives the holder +1 SP per month, increases the number of weeks that may be spent and Court each month by one and may be held in conjuction with a military or church appointment. (It is lost if the holder subsequently secures a government appointment).
On a result of 2 the Queen notices the guest seeking Royal Favour: he receives a class 8 favour and female companionship for the month is assumed to have been satisfied. Thereafter the guest is banned from court for a year (apart from any mandatory attendances), receives a blanket -1 modifier regards any title attempts or appointment attempts made by the King during the year of the Court ban, loses any Court Appointments (as does his Mistress) and neither are eligible for Royal notice of any kind until the ban is lifted.
23.4 Court Appointments for Ladies
Any mistress at court for a week may be spotted by the Queen (Q), King (K), Crown Prince (CP), Crown Princess (HRH) or Cardinal (C) on a roll of 11+ on two dice.
Once spotted the Mistress is elibible to apply for the following Court Appointments (provided the other criteria are fullfilled) at a later date:
Appointments provide NPC mistresses SPs which, if they are married, are deducted from the total needed to gain a SL. They also provide her beau with extra influence. In the case of female PCs the SPs are simply a direct gain and the favours are for her to use as she see fit.
The level of favours required to influence the above if they are NPCs are
If a mistress or female PC has an appointment giving access to Court, has come to the notice of the gentleman in question and fulfills the other criteria then she can apply for one of the following 'bolt on' appointments to gain a few more SPs, more influence and more cash.
Appointment (or re-appointment) to a Court position allows the lady in question a title attempt. All estates bestowed by the King will be in the Provinces rather than in the Isle de France (region surrounding Paris) - with the exception of any provinces bestowed on a Female PC who is a Maitresse en Titre, which will be in the Isle de France for convenience's sake.
Ladies in the Service of the Queen are expected to attend upon her at any balls or envoy receptions she attends. They can be excused Court duties for a month on 6+ (DMs: Noble Rank; +3 if returning home for a funeral). They will lose their appointment if they ever attend events hosted by the Crown Prince or the Cardinal.
Ladies in the Service of the Crown Princess are expected to attend upon her at any balls or envoy receptions she attends. They can be excused Court duties for a month on 6+ (DMs: Noble Rank; +3 if returning home for a funeral). They will lose their appointment if they ever attend events hosted by the Queen.
23.5 King's and Cardinal's Escorts
Half of the King's and half of the Cardinal's Escorts must be on guard duty at Court in any given week, commanded by the Escort Captains for two weeks in the month and the Escort Ensigns for the remainder. If the Escort Captain is a PC then he decides the duty roster. If he is an NPC then Ensigns and troopers can choose in which two weeks they will fulfill their duties.
If on duty in weeks where Balls, Hunts or Envoy Receptions are taking place, Troopers can attempt to sneak in while their mates cover them for one of their two weeks of duty. They must provide themselves with Court Dress (costing 20 livres or 2 x SL, whichever is greater, and have a 1 in 6 chance of being caught.
Ensigns can attempt to sneak into Court events for both their weeks of duty, but if not on duty for at least one week they forego the chance of notice that month. They also have a 1 in 6 chance of being caught.
Not only can escort Captains attempt to sneak into Court events for both weeks of duty, as above, but for one of the weeks they can attempt to sneak in a guest of SL10 too.
Attempting to secure Royal Favour, as above, results in their being caught automatically.
Each time an escort member gets caught trying to sneak in to an event he is docked a month's wages and has to spend an extra week on duties the following month. There is also a chance that they will be dismissed permanently from the Escort, as follows, with a DM of +1 for each time previously caught:
Escort members who secure titles enabling them to visit Court in their own right may do so in weeks they are not on duty.
23.6 Court Location
The Court Calender, detailing where Court will be held, will be compiled three months in advance according to a 2D6 dice roll as follows:
DMs: -1 for Winter, +1 for Summer
If the King visits the Provinces or the Frontier, at least one regiment of guards must volunteer to go with him for that month and may return to Paris when the Court does. NPC regimental commanders will volunteer on 3+ for a visit to the Frontier, 4+ for a visit to the Provinces. If no regimental commander volunteers then the whole of the Guards Brigade currently in Paris will go. A regiment already at the front counts for these purposes where the King is visiting the frontier. Battle results for regiments guarding the King at the Frontier are rolled as for "Defence". If all guards are at the front when the King is to visit a different Province then the Guards Brigadier will order one regiment to go to the province visited for the month, an NPC Brigadier will chose randomly.
If the King visits the Frontier (to inspect the troops or take command) then the Inspectors-General of Cavalry and Infantry (together with their staff) must accompany him.
For each week, Court activity is determined by rolling a d6 and referring to the table below.
*Characters attending Court functions at the Tuilleries MUST be accompanied by a female companion each week.
Characters attending Court in a Province or at the Frontier will travel and return with the Court and may attend all Court events whilst outside Paris. The Royal Governor of the Province visited by the Court must also attend Court for the whole time it is there - but Governors are relieved of any obligation to attend Court elsewhere. Fencing instructors are always available at court (for weeks when mandatory attendance doesn't apply) and this could be an ideal opportunity to purchase a local estate, or entertain at a local estate if your character already has one.
When Court is held in a Province or at the Frontier, it will be located at the Opulent Estate (Chateau) of a randomly chosen local Duc. The Duc will receive 10 SPs for the honour of hosting the Court but will have to attend for the duration and it will cost him 300 livres per week in extra running costs.
23.7 Court activities
Court activities are explained as follows:
Government
All Ministers and THE Cardinal are required to attend Court this week to discuss affairs of State with the King, Players who fail to attend will lose TWICE the SPs they enjoy from their Appointment when next in Paris and Ministers lose their appointment on a 6 (on 1d6), gaining a -1 to future Ministerial appointments for one season.
Paris Parlement
The King will address the Parlement of Paris. The Royal Governor of Paris must attend, or else lose twice the number of SPs gained from their appointment when next in Paris and loses his appointment on a 6 (on 1d6), gaining a -1 to future Ministerial appointments for one season.
Ball
One of the Court Denizens hosts a Royal Ball, worth an extra +1 SP (in addition to normal Court attendance, carousing, toadying etc.) to those who attend. Carousing is free, but those attending must spend extra livres equal to their SL (and that of their consort unless wealthy) to have their ball outfits laundered, pressed and valetted. If court has already been attended that month, additional attendances to subsequent balls can still be made.
Guests of less than SL 10 gain SPs for the difference between their SL and the SL of the Ball location, plus carousing.
Guests of SL 10 plus (but more than 6 SLs lower than the host/ess) gain the above plus 1 SP for every 3 SLs that they are lower than the host (or hostess) is. Guests of SL 10+ whose SL is less than 6 lower than the host/ess may toady to the host/ess in addition to this.
On 11+ on 2D the Royal Host/ess will sponsor a horse race in conjuncion with the Ball.
In each season, the first Royal Ball will instead become the Royal Season Ball. This will have rules specified in the Announcements & Appointments forum.
Envoy
The King receives a foreign envoy of a rank indicated in the table below. Some members of the Government, indicated by the required column, must attend Court unless on campaign. The King may also throw a Royal Ball to celebrate the occasion if the number shown or more is rolled on a d6. If the ball is the first of the season, it will become the Royal Season Ball as above. The penalties for not attending are as per "Government" above, Comtes lose 30 SPs and Marquis and Ducs would lose 40.
*Nobles serving at the front not required to attend.
Hunt
The King organises a hunt, in which courtiers attending Court that week (and their guests) must take part. Characters receive an extra 1 SP for taking part in the hunt. Each character and male guest taking part in the Hunt must throw 2D6 and dies on a 13+. A second roll is made to see if he or she kills the boar, 13+ again being necessary. A character can add a modifier to the death roll and adds the same modifier to the chance of killing the boar. If 2 or more characters make the roll required to kill the boar, then 2D are rolled for each one and the highest roll actually makes the kill. If no characters kill the boar as above, then 2D are rolled for each PC and NPC attending the hunt and the highest roll kills the boar. If a character is successful in killing the boar this earns them a MiD. A character who caroused in the previous week must add 1 to each die roll.
(The owners of Opulent Estates may also host hunts as above in conjuction with normal parties or balls. Those attending such hunts gain an extra SP as above.)
Provincial Parlement
The King will address the Parlement of Province visited by the Court. The Royal Governor of the Province must attend, failure to do so will lose him twice the SPs received from that appointment when next in Paris.
Address Troops
King will choose 1 random regiment at the frontier to address. All characters in that regiment must take a mandatory +1 bravery, but all MiDs gained are at +1 SP (max. 6 SPs) and all Title attempts are at +1.
THE KING AT THE FRONTIER
The month after it is announced that the King is to visit the Frontier, he will decide to take command of the forces there on 4+ (class 9 favours needed to influence either way). If the King does decide to take command then all Court events except Troop Visits are cancelled. The King acts as a commander above the most senior commander present, and has a Military Ability of 6. The King always has a Death Roll of 12, which will only be checked if all attending Guard's regiments roll battle results of 4, 5 or 6.
Last edited by Puckohue, October 23 2019 18:59:45. Secured game article. You most log in to contribute.