The first night of the tourney finds you in a smokey pavilion, surrounded by the dark robes and cloaks of the various Spymasters of the nobles. It is certainly not a formal event, but it would be unwise to leave so many intriguers, skilled or not, unattended.
You, it turns out, are rather popular. Half the attendees are eager to meet with you and get your measure. These are the would be supporters of Prince Richard. They account for the less powerful members of the peerage, who would see the loss of power and privilege of the Harkon dynasty ascendent on the throne.
The other half greet you with cool looks and polite . These are the supporters of the Duke and Princess Lenora, and view Prince Richard as a potential threat.
They cluster around a dark, forbidding figure. His face is sharp, creased by a furrows, and his eyes squinting from too much time in the dark. Baron Helmoth, spymaster to Duke Harkon. You’ve sent Velisa around asking questions, but you’ve already gathered that he is no dabbler in intrigue, and has devoted his resources to mastering his craft.
He catches your eyes across the room, and inclines his head. You give a nod back before your attention is stolen by the most powerful spymistress in the room.
Alice, Royal Spymistress, takes the room by storm. An older woman to whom smiles come easy and laughs are joyous. Both sides welcome her with admiration and no small bit of fear. For several years now she has been the kings shadow and survived, while her foes have either been made friends or have disappeared from public life. She greets several in the crowd before making her way to Baron Helmoth.
You find yourself enmeshed in a conversation with a Warren Alba, spymaster to a count on the border when Alice approaches you.
She smiles, “Welcome to the peerage, Stephan. We have heard of your abilities and believe you will be an excellent protector of our Prince Richard.”
She leans in close, so that none else can hear. Her chorae dangles against her neck, swaying so close to you. She whispers, “Touch a hair on the Princess’s head, I’ll gut you like a fish. Understood?”
You nod.
She continues, “Alba here’s a rat, sells secrets and access to Vestfold. Your problem now.”
Before you have time to reply she steps back, smile back on her face and in her eyes, as she softly says, “It’s been a while since we had a member of the Obscura among our number.”
You can’t help but wince. No one else appeared to have heard, except for Alba, who by the glint in his eyes knows exactly what the Royal spymistress meant.
You give yourself a second to marval at the spymistress’ ability to wrangle up this test for you, but how do you respond?
A. Deny the association, plead ignorance.
B. Ignore it, you refuse to be manipulated.
C. Ambush him later, he’s a traitor so just aim for a clean kill.
D. Try to wipe his mind of that particular knowledge.
E. Something else?
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Topic: SPYMASTER: Daggers and Intrigue (SG) (Read 6043 times)