A Song of Ice and Fire Wedding Knight
A Song of Ice and Fire Wedding Knight
A Song of Ice and Fire Wedding Knight
Editing: Evan SaSS Proofreading: ChriS PramaS Art Direction & Graphic Design: hal mangold Cover Art: Pat Loboyko Interior Art: JEff himmElman Cartography: SEan maCdonald Green Ronin President: ChriS PramaS
Green ronin Staff: Bill Bodden, Steve Kenson, Jon Leitheusser, Nicole Lindroos, Hal Mangold, Chris Pramas, Evan Sass, and Marc Schmalz Wedding Knight is 2009 Green Ronin Publishing, LLC. All rights reserved. Reference to other copyrighted material in no way constitutes a challenge to the respective copyright holders of that material. A Song of Ice and Fire Roleplaying, SIFRP, and associated logos are trademarks of Green Ronin Publishing, LLC. A Song of Ice and Fire is 1996-2009 George R. R. Martin. All rights reserved.
GRR2704e
Green Ronin Publishing
3815 S. Othello St. Suite 100, #304 Seattle, WA 98118 [email protected] www.greenronin.com
$4.95
Wedding KNight
Introduction
The saga of Westeros told in George R.R. Martins A Song of Ice and Fire novel series is a family saga, the tale of noble houses playing the most dangerous game, the game of thrones, for the greatest of prizes. So it is a story about alliances and betrayals, love and hate, and the rise and fall of great dynasties. A central element is marriage, as both a tool of the great players of the game, and a romantic ideal for those young enough to still hold it in their hearts. Wedding Knight is an introductory tale for A Song of Ice and Fire Roleplaying (SIFRP) built around one such marriage, with both practical value for the families it proposes to unite, and romantic potentialand dangersfor the bride and groom, who may well be characters in your series. This booklet largely sets the stage for drama to unfold, and makes some suggestions regarding appropriate scenes, but leaves the rest in the hands of you, the Narrator, and your players who are, after all, the main characters of their own tale of Westeros.
rulebook for quick character creation, you can download A Song of Ice and Fire Quickstart from www.greenronin.com, which provides a set of characters, complete with background and history, suitable for use with this story.
invitEd guEStS
The easiest in for the main characters is for their house to be invited as guests to the wedding. The exact reason for the invitation may vary depending on circumstances. Their house might be an ally of House Manning or Harte, or a neutral third-party invited to bear witness and perhaps even help defuse tensions so they do not get out of hand. Their pre-established allegiances no doubt color the attitudes of the other guests, and the ways in which they react to the characters and their actions.
graCiouS hoStS
Although it is typical for the brides family to host a wedding, there are a number of reasons why a third party, such as the main characters house, might do so. In this particular case, given the former enmity between the couples families, having the wedding on neutral ground is not a bad idea. If you want some additional impetus, and to raise the characters status a bit, you can decide one or even both of the other houses are sworn to their house. Naturally, as overlords, they might have brokered the marriage arrangement and offered to host it in order to end hostilities. Similarly, if all three houses (Manning, Harte, and the characters) are sworn to the same liege-lord, then the hosting arrangement might be ordered as a means of (hopefully) keeping peace.
Plot Summary
As is often the case in the Seven Kingdoms, two minor noble houses, at odds with each other for years, are about to be united through an alliance of marriage. Ser Kevan Manning, a young knight and scion of a house sworn to King Robert Baratheon, is to wed Sylvie Harte, the daughter of a rival house. While the somewhat naive Ser Kevan is already in love with the Lady Sylvie, she has other ideas about an arranged marriage to her familys former enemies, and does not approach the altar a virgin as custom dictates she should. Indeed, she has taken Ser Etan Hogg, a knight of her fathers household, as her lover, and seeks to be with him, even against her familys wishes. Moreover, although no onenot even Sylvieknows it yet, she is also pregnant by her illicit lover. Meanwhile, other members of the Manning and Harte households have plans and goals of their own, with the impending wedding either spurring them to action or providing an excellent cover for intrigue. And so the characters arrive on the scene
An obvious connection to the nuptials is including the main characters in the family of the bride or groom, or both! This is fairly easy if youre running Wedding Knight as a stand-alone or introductory story, or are using it to launch a new SIFRP campaign, as long as you are willing to modify things to fit. It is more difficult for an ongoing SIFRP saga, where the characters relationships are already well established, unless you intend to set up and play out the conflict between Kevan and SylHow are the main characters involved in this plot? There are a number vies houses well beforehand. of possible ways, summarized here, and you should choose the one that You can substitute the protagonists house (and supporting cast) best suits the SIFRP game you wish to run. wholesale for House Manning or House Harte, or make one of those You can either inform the players of their characters involvement in houses the characters own. For added tension, you can even divide the the wedding, based on the approach youve chosen, or play out some ele- characters between the two houses, with some on the brides side and ments of the Prologue, with things like the formal invitation to the nup- others on the grooms. In this case, decide well in advance whether the tials, planning, travel, and so forth, perhaps even planting some seeds of characters are looking to preserve or prevent the marriage, unless you later plot elements or intrigues, spinning threads the players can pick up want to run a very complex and intrigue-laden game. and elaborate upon. Finally, you can If you are in need even substitute player of pre-generated charcharacters for the bride acters for use with or groom in the story, Wedding Knight, in adprovided the players dition to using the arare willing. Then it he ain s of asTameRe chetypes in the SIFRP may become a matter
thE ProloguE
In a coat of gold or a coat of red, a lion still has claws And mine are long and sharp, my lord, as long and sharp as yours
Wedding KNight
of either surviving the whole wedding experience (to say nothing of the marriage itself!) or furthering the characters agendas in spite of the wedding plans. If players take both roles, you may want to shift the plot to become more about their efforts to unite their two squabbling houses, unless you want to run an adversarial game.
A former romantic interest of someone in the wedding party attends to see if an old flame can be rekindled, or to try and finally put it to rest. A distant relation or family friend uses an invitation as an opportunity to spy, steal, or perhaps even reignite the conflict between the two houses. A character takes the role of Ser Etan, plotting to stop the wedding and claim Sylvie as his bride, whatever the cost! In the process, he might find out just what sort of woman she is.
Former fosterlings who knew each other in childhood, brought back together for such an important event. This may be how some young adult characters know Sylvie, Kevan, or Etan, or how characters are acquainted with other members of the Harte or Manning houses. Members of the clergy sent to handle wedding preparations or even perform the ceremony, perhaps reconnecting with people from their pasts in the process. A black sheep who returns homeperhaps incognitoto attend the wedding, or to put a stop to it.
Work with your players to feel out the desired roles for their characters in the overall story and how they might relate to what is going on behind the scenes at the wedding. Ideas for conflicts and scenes should begin to suggest themselves right away.
WhatS in a namE?
Houses Manning, Harte, and Hogg are mentioned in the A Song of Ice and Fire saga, but little to nothing is known about them thus far, so their names are used in this adventure largely for context; nothing official to the continuity of the novels should be assumed here. If these house names do not suit your own SIFRP setting and series, feel free to change them and the other details to fit. In particular, if the characters house has an important role in the wedding, substitute it and any associated house(s) for those given in the text.
Wedding KNight
SylviE hartE
Outwardly, Sylvie Harte is the very flower of Westeros womanhood: in her eighteenth year, and quite attractive. Her chestnut hair curls in ringlets around a heart-shaped face with lovely blue-green eyes, her long lashes often masking them modestly. A great many men admire her well-rounded figure and note how she will make some fellow quite a few babes (to say nothing of the enjoyment of siring them). Most expect she will make a lovely, blushing bride at the altar, but most do not really know Sylvie Harte at all. In truth, Sylvie is far more clever, cunning, and worldly than her family or her intended husband imagine. She has had a number of flings and rolls in the hay, culminating in her affair with Ser Etan Hogg, a young knight in her fathers service. Although she entertains the romantic idea of running away with Etan or even marrying him and taking over her fathers house one day, Sylvie is no fool. She has understood the realities of dynastic marriage since girlhood, and knows full well that marriage
to her familys former enemies could advance her standing in the world. Why, she reasons, settle for one house, when she can unite two and then bear the children to inherit them, especially if those children are hers and Etans, without the taint of the hated Manning blood? Of course, many a wife and mother in Westeros finds herself widowed at a young age, because of sudden illness, or a hunting accident, perhaps. So Sylvie plots to marry Kevan Manning, convincing her new lord husband to take Ser Etan into the service of his house, allowing him to continue to service her as well. Once she has borne some children by him, and Lord Artur has passed on, they can arrange a suitable fate for Kevan and take the combined houses and lands for their own. Something Sylvie does not yet knowbut may learn once the story beginsis she is pregnant by Etan. It has been less than a month, but enough for her to notice her cycle is off, and for her to begin developing morning sickness, which strikes during the story. Once Sylvie learns this, marrying Kevan becomes more urgent so as to convince him the child is his, conceived on their wedding night. Sylvies upbringing has given her a remarkable ability to play the role of the genteel and somewhat naive lady while concealing the deadly viper within her breast. Although she acts unaware of her physical attributes, she knows how to use them to her full advantage. She is willing to go to any lengths to achieve her goals. Although she desires Etan, even loves him in her way, if it ever comes down to a choice between her and him, she would betray him in a moment. After all, she can always find another lover, husband, or both.
SylviE hartE
awareneSS CunninG DeCeption StatuS will
perSuaSion Stealth
attriButES
Combat DefenSe 7 intriGue DefenSe 12 Knife health 6 CompoSure 12 2D DeStiny 3 pointS 1 DamaGe; faSt, off-hanD +1
Wedding KNight
adult fightEr
ridE 2B rESiliEncE 1B
adult fightEr
ridE 2B
warfare
dEdication 1B
attriButES
Combat DefenSe 7 (4) intriGue DefenSe 9 health 9 CompoSure 9 lonGSworD mail: ar 5 ap 3 bulK 2 DeStiny 1 point 4D+2b 4 DamaGe
warfare
attriButES
Combat DefenSe 8 (5) intriGue DefenSe 8 health 9 CompoSure 9 lonGSworD DaGGer mail: ar 5 ap 3 bulK 2 4D+1b 4D 4 DamaGe
DeStiny 2 pointS
Wedding KNight
darrEn manning
Ser Kevans younger brother Darren is frequently torn between admiration for his brother and a desire to win their fathers attention and approval, which he never truly got. Darren has always been the baby of the family and, while his mother doted upon him, Lord Artur tends to treat him as an afterthought, even when Darren became Kevans heir apparent (at least until Kevans marriage produces sons). Darren does not have the same rough-and-tumble nature as his older brothers. He is his mothers son, with a generous spirit. Hes trained at arms all the same, and is capable enough. Hell make a decent knight, and an even better lordling or seneschal, since he has a knack for managing people. Still, he wont likely grab anyones attention, and will always stand in the shadow of his brother, especially in their fathers eyes. Unfortunately for him, Darren falls almost immediately in love with Lady Sylvie, and she knows it. They are almost of an age (as he quickly points out), but Darren would not knowingly betray his kinat least not without some convincing. Sylvie certainly has no interest in young Darren as anything other than a potential pawn. Shell gladly twist his feelings around to get him to do as she asks, with the unspoken promise of her as his prize, but will just as gladly sell him out or remove him if he poses a threat to her plans. To further complicate matters, Sylvies sister Eilene is shyly attracted to Darren, but mentions it to no one, least of all him. It may give Sylvie another string to pull, if she finds out, or could motivate Eilene to take action, especially if Darren is threatened or makes his feelings for Sylvie known. You can use the Heir archetype from Chapter 2 of SIFRP for Darren Mannings game traits, if they are required, lowering his Status to 4 and dropping the Heir quality (as he is not heir to House Manning, at least, not yet).
EilEnE hartE
Eilene Harte is Lady Sylvies younger sister, as different from her as day from night in many regards. Eilene is a shy, romantic idealist not yet tarnished by the harsh realities of life in the Seven Kingdoms. Although her house has known war, war has not directly touched her, and Eilene dreams of a realm at peace, where the responsibilities of knights revolve around tourneys and wooing noble young ladies such as herself. Shes both happy for Sylvie and jealous of all the attention her older sister is getting. At age 15, Eilene, too, is ripe for marriage, although she
Wedding KNight
hopes Sylvies will permit her to marry a man of her choosing, or at least influence the choice. Other than her naivet, Eilene Harte greatest fault is her love of gossip. She has already turned many of the ladies, maids, and even septas of her parents house into her secret spies, who feed her choice bits of news about the various goings-on. It is a testament to Sylvie and Etans discretion that Eilene has not found out about their affair already, although she suspects her sister is not so happy with her impending nuptials as others believe. Were she to find out the truth, Eilene might try to do the right thing and tell someone, but she would more likely confront her sister first, giving Sylvie an opportunity to take action, either to persuade Eilene to remain quiet, or to silence her permanently. Use the Noble archetype from Chapter 2 of SIFRP for Lady Eilene if you need to come up with game traits for her, except her Status is 4 and her Cunning only 2, and she typically carries no weapons.
master. If the main characters host the wedding at their own stronghold, then Maester Hamdan serves House Manning and arrives as part of the wedding party, acting as advisor to Lord Manning and his sons. Alternately, if the main characters do not have a maester among them, you can make Hamdan their castellan and advisor, if you prefer. In any event, Hamdan is a middle-aged graduate of the Citadel who has pursued his studies diligently, if not brilliantly, accumulating a number of different links to the maesters chain that he wears. Hes a fairly typical maester in many regards: disdainful of what he considers superstition, preferring reason to violence, but somewhat cold-blooded when discussing the fates of others. Hes loyal to his house and office, an efficient and capable servant. Use the Maester archetype from Chapter 2 of SIFRP, if you need game traits for Maester Hamdan.
SEPton moor
The priest of the Seven on-hand to perform the wedding ceremony, Septon Moor is a man quite conscious of his station as godsworn. He achieved it through his zealous dedication to the faith, and he truly and deeply believes the Seven are both the true gods of Westeros (and the world) and guides to virtue in this life and salvation after death. He therefore seeks to model proper behavior for others and to gently correct them and keep them on the right path. That most are not at all interested in his observations deters him not at all. The good septon would be aghast at Sylvie Harte true behavior, if he were to find out about it, and would be extremely reluctant to go through with the ceremony, especially if he knew she were pregnant by another man. Whether or not he is brave enough to stand up and denounce the union and refuse to perform the ceremony is up to you, depending on the circumstances and what sends the plot in the most interesting direction. Septon Moor is a tall, fairly thin man with a high forehead emphasized by his receding brown hair and slightly over-large ears. He is always wearing the seven-pointed star pendant that is the symbol of his faith, but otherwise dresses in conservative clerical robes. His formal ritual attire is a resplendent contrast to his normal mode of fashion; ivory and rainbow colored, with a seven-sided crystal pendant. Use the Godsworn archetype from Chapter 2 of SIFRP (sans weapons), should Septon Moors game traits be required.
Blessed Events
The following is a rough series of events surrounding the wedding as it is planned. As any Narrator knows (or will quickly learn) such plans rarely happen as intended, especially once the players get involved. Theres absolutely nothing wrong with this, indeed, it is to be expected. You can use this section as a guide around which you can build different plots and happenings as the story unfolds. Adjust later events as needed to fit earlier occurrences. For example, if the characters happen to remove Ser Etan from the plot early on, then later events concerning him do not occur (or at least occur quite differently). You do not need to force events in the story along a particular path, just keep the motives and goals of the important characters in mind and let things unfold as play progresses.
gathEring at hElmCrESt
The story most likely begins when the wedding guestsincluding the charactersgather at the castle hosting the affair and have the opportunity to meet and mingle. The name Helmcrest is used for the castle where the wedding takes place, largely as a placeholder. It may belong to House Harte, House Manning, or a third party, including the characters. If you have a particular castle or stronghold in mind as a locale for this story, feel free to substitute it for Helmcrest in descriptions and events. A castle map usable as Helmcrest can be found on page 16, reusable as a general castle floor plan typical in Westeros. Even if the characters have a castle of their own where the wedding is being held, you can use the provided map for it. Modify details about the castle (use of rooms, orientation and placement) to suit your own game and its setting.
maEStEr hamdan
Maester Hamdan is something of a floating character for Wedding Knight, his exact role depending on who holds Helmcrest and hosts the wedding. If it is not the main characters, then Hamdan is the maester and castellan of Helmcrest, overseeing the household and its servants and advising its lord and
Wedding KNight
PrEludE
The prelude to the characters arrival can be as short as You arrive or as long as the delivery of the wedding invitation and playing out the entire journey getting there. In the latter case, you can always have the party meet up with some other wedding guests on the road to Helmcrest, allowing you to introduce some of the major players in the plot more gradually.
rESolution
Assuming the guests are reasonably well behaved and nobody goes off half-cocked (giving grave insult or starting a brawl, for example), then this initial event ends with all the guests arrived and safely ensconced in their quarters, awaiting the evening meal to welcome them and formally announce the betrothal and impending wedding.
aCtion
Once the party arrives at Helmcrest, there are horses to be cared for, bags and chests to be unloaded, and so forth. The castles various servants take care of these matters, allowing the guests to meet their hosts and some of their fellow guests, and be shown to accommodations in order to refresh themselves after their travels. If the characters are themselves hosting the wedding, then this situation is a bit different, as they will instead be welcoming guests into their home. Steward and castellan characters may be in charge of guest accommodations, while noble ladies oversee the servants and act as gracious hostesses in their demesne. The primary things to do during this event are:
B
a WElComE mEal
A welcoming meal is laid out for the wedding guests, offering the opportunity for the characters to become acquainted with everyone and gain their first inklings of what is going on behind the scenes.
PrEludE
The characters either settle into the guest accommodations provided for them, or assist their guests in doing the same as the domestic staff bustles around with final preparations for the welcoming feast: tables are laid and prepared in the great hall and fires burn in the ovens for the preparation of a considerable amount of food.
introDuCe the major CharaCterS. Ideally, if the players characters are not hosting the event, have them arrive early enough so as to already be present when the other people involved in the story arrive. Heralds announce the arrivals, and theres time for pleasantries, allowing the players to become acquainted with the dramatis personae. lay the founDationS for future CharaCter interaCtionS. First impressions are important, both those formed by the players about the other figures in the story, and by the guests towards the main characters. Are there immediate attractions, repulsions, or connections?
aCtion
Take the opportunity to describe to the players the various dishes served at the feast, including:
B
Roast beef or mutton, turned on a spit all day and marinated with spices, crusted with salt. Roasted root vegetables, mainly potatoes, carrots, parsnips, and turnips. Onions baked in gravy. Loaves of fresh baked bread with butter and honey. Wheels of pale, sharp cheese. Plenty of ale and wine.
B B B B
intriGue: Maester Hamdan or another chief servant tries to stonewall the party regarding accommodations or some other trifle, perhaps insisting on various inconveniences like the removal of weapons, entering the hall in a specific order, and so forth. This presents an opportunity for a small intrigue as the characters persuade the recalcitrant fellow to act more agreeably. Likewise, a guest or servant might take a liking to a character (or vice versa), leading to a short seduction intrigue. Combat: Some restive knights and men-at-arms practice in the castle yard, allowing those who wish the opportunity to join in and test their mettle in an environment where defeat at worst means some public embarrassment (and the potential for a later grudge), or perhaps a minor injury, if someone gets particularly vicious.
Make the meal a sensory experience for the players, describing not just the food but the drone of conversation, belts of laughter, bones tossed onto the floor for dogs, ale slopping over the edges of foaming tankards, and so forth.
PolitE ConvErSation
The meal allows opportunities aplenty for intrigue as the characters get to know the guests and vice versa. Start things off slow, with polite niceties, talk of the weather, crops, local politics, and the like, along with introductions and congratulations offered to the happy couple. Its a good opportunity to have some Narrator characters offer toasts, or to put the players on the spot for one. As in Gathering at Helmcrest, you can test the waters of the intrigue system from Chapter 8 of SIFRP by engaging the characters in some minor interactions. If theres a chance Eilene Harte or Darren Manning might be taken with one of the characters, now is a good time to plant the seeds of that interest. The same is true of possible rivalries with other characters,
Wedding KNight
or first impressions formed by Lords Manning and Harte and their entourages.
a SuddEn illnESS
Sometime during the meal, one of the guests suddenly takes ill and has to leave unexpectedly. The best candidate for this is Sylvie, suddenly beset with nausea due to her pregnancy. In fact, you can make a point about her healthy appetite earlier in the feast, and then her sudden apparent queasiness and departure to vomit in a garderobe. This may lead to suspicions on the part of the characters as well as Master Hamdan and Eilene Harte, either of whom might look after Sylvie. She, of course, attempts to dismiss the whole matter as a case of nerves, or perhaps something in the meal that did not agree with her after a long trip. If you wish, make a secret Routine (6) Healing test for a character to intuit that Lady Sylvie might be pregnant.
cions of either tainted food or a poisoner at work, especially since she can supply no real reason for her queasiness apart from nerves. Feel free to throw suspicion on characters like Eilene or Maester Hamdan just to keep the players guessing (and carefully checking their own food and drink).
rESolution
Most likely the feast ends with Sylvie retiring early, complaining of fatigue and some lingering nausea, with many of the other guests becoming quite full and at least somewhat drunk before calling it a night (feel free to consult the guidelines on the effects of alcohol in Chapter 7 of SIFRP). You can use the break up of the feast to transition to whatever passes in the night at the castleincluding perhaps a nocturnal visit by Ser Etan to Sylvie Harte chambersor move right along to the following morning, and some of the hangovers that come with it.
a taintEd diSh?
The feast is also an opportunity for someone to slip something into someone elses food or drink, depending on the circumstances. There are no real poisoners amongst the guests (at least initially) unless you decide otherwise; none of their schemes have grown to that point yet. An ambitious Sylvie Harte might try to poison her future father-in-law to speed along Ser Kevans inheritance, though probably not at the welcoming feast, so as not to arouse suspicions or delay the wedding in any way (but see On the Hunt for another possibility). Still, if you feel someone might have it in for someone at the feast, the possibility exists. Certainly, Sylvies sudden illness may raise suspi-
on thE hunt
At some point prior to the ceremony, the men of the wedding party and those ladies who wish to accompany themare invited on a hunt to bring back game for the wedding feast.
PrEludE
The host of the wedding, whomever that might be, is expected to offer the bounty of his lands for the wedding party and to provide some sport for the restive men, no doubt seeking distraction and an opportunity to be away from the business of ceremony for a day. So a hunt is arranged,
Wedding KNight
with a party riding out in the morning to seek fresh game for the hosts table and the couples wedding feast. Characters receive an invitation (or are expected to offer one, if they are hosting) and the good wishes of those remaining behind before they saddle horses and ride out not long after first light and a hearty breakfast. Ser Kevan, Ser Etan, and Darren Manning are all likely to go on the hunt, along with any others you wish to include.
ment. Likewise, if Ser Kevan has any reasons to suspect something, he might try and find out what the others know or suspect. Use the guidelines for intrigue given in Chapter 8 of SIFRP for handling any extended interactions among the hunting party, working intrigues in and around any other events as they happen.
aCtion
The hunt itself can be resolved with a Survival test (Hunting specialty applies); a basic test suffices if you just want to see how well the hunt goes, but you can make it an extended test to draw things out, or even a competition test, if some hunters try to outdo others. The hunt has a routine Difficulty (6), but you can increase it, if you want to make it more challenging. A number of opportunities for action may present themselves during the hunt, including the following:
talking aS mEn do
If characters are inclined towards intrigue, the hunt provides an excellent opportunity to ride alongside and talk with someone with some degree of privacy, away from the castle and the other guests. Whether or not Ser Etan or others engage the main characters depends on the circumstances. For example, if Ser Etan believes one or more of them are sympathetic to his cause, he may feel them out for further involve-
a Wild Boar
Wild boar are known to live in the woodlands, and become quite foultempered when disturbed. Even if the hunting party sets out for other game, they might run across an angry boar, especially if someone in the group helps to arrange it (and, perhaps, to further anger the beast before it charges out of the underbrush). A man on horseback has less to fear from a boar, but still has to contend with a panicking steed, injury to the mount, or even being thrown from the saddle (all requiring Animal Handling tests with the Ride specialty). Someone on foot is in great danger, as very little will blunt
Wild Boar
aGility athletiCS CunninG
BEaSt
aBilitiES
3 3 3 1 3 3 3 4 run 1B, StrEngth 1B noticE 2B QuicknESS 2B
foragE 2B
attriButES
Combat DefenSe 9 intriGue DefenSe health 9 CompoSure Gore 3D+1b armor: ar 1 ap 0 4 DamaGe, powerful, viCiouS
10
Wedding KNight
the charge of an enraged boar: they have been known to run up spears impaling them to get at their targets. Characters on the hunt can run afoul of a boar, or come to the aid of another hunter menaced by one. For additional drama, the characters may arrive too late to prevent the boars victim from being injured or wounded (perhaps mortally, perhaps not). This can provide those with healing skills an opportunity to act, or not, as they choose.
has suffered a tragic tumble down the stairs, or off a balcony, or has fallen ill after being slipped something in food or drink to ensure silence, at least until the wedding is over. Likewise, those out on the hunt may return to learn things have transpired in their absence, which may raise questions if both Sylvie and Etan are working to cover their tracks and eliminate opposition.
ill omEnS
A trip into the wilderness is also an opportunity to lay some clues in the protagonists path through the use of symbols and omens, whether they understand them initially or not. Characters open to visions are more likely to see such things for what they are, while others may dismiss them as nothing more than coincidence. The exact nature of the omens depends heavily on what is happening in the story. It is a way for you to provide clues to direct the players towards the truth of events behind the scenes. Some possible omens include:
B
rESolution
The hunt either concludes with a successful catch brought back to the kitchens for the wedding feast, or cut short by the injury or death of a participant, forcing the hunters to return and deal with the consequences. The characters may also bring back with them insight into some of what is going on between the two families and the intended couple.
thE CErEmony
Preparation and patience pay off when the wedding ceremony finally takes place, although there remains the potential for things not to go quite as planned.
A hart (a male deer or stag) bounds away from the bloodied body of a wild cat, gored by the harts antlers. The hart is on the crest of House Harte, while House Mannings crest bears a cat (a sea-lion). For added imagery, have a wild boar and a wild cat fighting over a deer, which flees the confrontation (the boar symbolizing Etan Hogg). If the characters house has an animal on its crest, they find such a beast lying dead in the forest, killed by a predator, but left strangely untouched, a warning of danger ahead. Similarly, a beast associated with the characters house might lead them to other clues or omens in the forest. Such a creature may have an unusual coloringwhite with red markings, for example and disappear just as suddenly as it appeared to the group. It may only be visible to those sensitive to visions. Two male beasts are fighting fiercely over a female; they might be rutting stags, snarling wolves, or wild boars, or even screeching falcons or crows, as best suits the situation. Alternately, the group may find two such male animals dead near the base of an unexpected weirwood in the depths of the forest. Clearly they died fighting each other, as the silent tree looks on and weeps red tears of sap.
PrEludE
The lead-up to the ceremony allows various opportunities for characters to catch moments alone with others, everyone on their way to something else. You can draw this out as much as you like, allowing characters to engage in further intrigue or investigation, trying to find out as much as possible about whats going on, or working to further their own plans. This is a good opportunity to provide the players with some hints by having a Narrator character confidentially tell them about their suspicions. This can foreshadow actions to occur later during the ceremony. For example, a confused Lady Eilene might seek out advice before she takes action based on what she has learned about her sister, or a distraught Darren Manning could ask an older man for advice.
aCtion
The action really begins once everyone is gathered in the sept at Helmcrest for the wedding ceremony. The guests are all arrayed in their finery and Ser Kevan stands at the altar awaiting the entrance of his bride on her fathers arm. Everything is in place, which in Westeros means it is all about to come flying apart in the most spectacular way possible.
SPEak noW
The point of high drama in the ceremony comes before Septon Moor pronounces the couple married, when anyone has the opportunity to interrupt as a last-ditch effort to stop the wedding. The characters may be looking to put a stop to things if they have reason to believe the wedding is false or otherwise dangerous to their friends or allies. Several Narrator characters may also be looking to interrupt the wedding for their own reasons. The characters could alternately be looking to prevent others from causing a scene, either for the sake of their own reputations or to preserve the peace.
11
Wedding KNight
a rEd WEdding?
For a major twist in the events of Wedding Knight, you can decide the entire wedding is merely a trap set by the hosts for the wedding guests. Most likely, it is the Harte who have lured their enemies into their stronghold for the express purpose of slaughtering them. Some of the other guests may be bannermen or sworn swords of the hosts, or knights or mercenaries in disguise. If so, characters might notice some odd or out-of-sorts behavior, the concealment of weapons or armor, or other warning signs (make secret Awareness tests and base the information you provide the players on them). If the plot is leading up to a slaughter, it may take place prior to the wedding, as early as the welcoming feast, so as to avoid violence in the sept (not that a lord willing to break with guestship customs has any such scruples) or to avoid the legal entanglements of a formalized marriage. On the other hand, it may be part of the plan to see Sylvie and Kevan wed before the truth comes out, allowing the widow to potentially claim her inheritance, although the circumstances make such a claim suspect, to say the least. Some possible disruptions to the actual ceremony include: that her sisters not worthy of him. This leads to accusations and counter-accusations, with the characters trying to sort things out.
Etan hogg
Ser Etan, upon seeing his lover about to wed another man, might well lose his head and stand up before the assembled families to declare his undying devotion to Sylvie and claim her as his own. This infuriates her, as Etan has spoiled her carefully laid plans, so she denies everything, leading the young knight to try kidnapping her at swordpoint and fleeing the castle! This allows the characters to try to either give chase or prevent Ser Etan from escaping. For added drama, have Ser Kevan knocked senseless by a blow from his rival when he tries to stop Etan from abducting Sylvie, and use Darren Manning as a potential foil; his attempts to help could end up hindering the characters.
maEStEr hamdan
If no one else seems likely to speak up during the ceremony, you can either allow the wedding to go off without a hitch (apart from the intended one, of course), or have Maester Hamdan intervene like an amateur detective, revealing the name of the murderer in a drawing room confrontation. Of course, the maester is no fighter, and certainly no match for Ser Etan if things turn violent, meaning the characters might need to come to his defense. Play out any confrontation involving the wedding ceremony based on the actions of those involved, with a focus on the players characters as neutral third parties to resolve disputes or to bring the truth to light.
darrEn manning
A distraught and love struck Darren Manning might challenge his older brother for Sylvies hand. Alternately, if hes learned the truth, he could denounce his brothers bride-to-be and her lover in public, resulting in a challenge from Ser Etan. Darren may not be able to overcome the older, more experienced knight, needing the aid of a second in the duel.
attaCk!
For a bigger twist, another enemy could take the opportunity to launch an attack on the castle while the wedding is taking place, in order to take the guests and guards by surprise (and in violation of custom, in as much as it is observed by warmongers). The attackers might be Ser Etans House Hogg relations, raiders or bandits, or some other faction. If youre running a more supernatural SIFRP game and the wedding takes place in the evening (unusual, but not unknown) the attackers could even be wights or similar creatures. The attack allows the characters the opportunity to rally a defense. It may also serve as a distraction for some other plot, such as an opportunity to kill off a wedding guest in the confusion, blaming it on a death in combat.
lord manning
If hes still alive (not having suffered a fatal accident during On the Hunt), and he discovers Sylvies infidelity, Lord Manning may make a public show of putting a stop to the nuptials. This is especially dramatic if he was merely wounded or taken ill (i.e., poisoned) previously, but has recovered enough to burst into the sept with his accusations, perhaps needing a champion to step up and prove them upon the body of Sylvies champion (who might be Etan or Kevan, depending on circumstances). This sounds like a job for one of the characters who would earn Lord Mannings favor.
runaWay BridE
Although Sylvie Harte does all she can to ensure she is successfully wedded to Kevan Manning, if the situation turns against her, she has no intention of slinking back to her familys lands in shame. Instead, she tries to escape with Etan Hogg to his familys holdings, there to marry him and give birth to his child (a son, as it happens). This may mean slipping away in the dead of night but more likely indicates a need to flee ahead of angry family and wedding guests after a confrontation. You may want to play out a chase on horseback through the countryside as the couple tries to evade pursuit.
EilEnE hartE
Eilene could find the courage to accuse her sister of infidelity, or to reveal Sylvie is carrying another mans child. She might also rise to Darrens defense, or even spill the beans about Sylvie to convince Darren
12
Wedding KNight
rESolution
Essentially, either the wedding takes place, or it does not. To continue playing out the story, you might want to delay some of the drama of the actual ceremony until the wedding feast and celebration that follows (see The Wedding Feast for details). Otherwise, the implosion of the ceremony is likely the climax of the story, with everything afterward just wrapping things up and setting the stage for future tales in your SIFRP game.
B B B
Roasted squabs stuffed with dried fruits and toasted breadcrumbs. Quail or pheasant roasted golden brown with garlic and herbs. Delicate salads of field greens and fresh herbs, dressed with vinegar and oil. Whatever game the hunters brought back from On The Hunt (previously). A variety of breads and pastries, many of them filled or topped with cheeses and herbs. Dishes of boiled, roasted, and baked vegetables. Lemon and lavender ices.
B B
PrEludE
Things move almost immediately from the ceremony to the great hall of Helmcrest for a large feast. Servants have been preparing for days for the event, and no expense has been spared for it. The guests arrive to find tables laid out with finery and liveried servants bearing trays of food in course after course.
Theres an opportunity to offer toasts to the newlyweds. Both the father of the bride and the groom do so, and the characters may, too, particularly if they are hosts or honored guests. Ser Etan might offer a toast to Sylvies unparalleled beauty and grace, sounding almost like a love sonnet, with perhaps a slight twist of the knife for anyone who knows the truth about the two of them.
in vino vEritaS
The wedding feast is a likely time for guests to drink too much wine or ale and do things they might regret later. In particular, characters might have opportunities to restrain drunken guests from brawling over imagined (or entirely real) slights as both old wounds are reopened by boasting and bragging, and new ones are inflicted by thoughtless com-
aCtion
As with the Welcoming Feast, take the opportunity to describe to the players the sights, scents, and tastes of the feast and the various foods laid before them, including:
13
Wedding KNight
ments or actions. For example, a Manning bragging about the death of the Harte heir in battle (or vice versa, concerning Ser Kevans older brother) could inflame tempers. Cunning characters may deliberately provoke such confrontations to use them as cover for other activities, such as slipping something into someones wine goblet, for example (see A Foul Brew, following).
a foul BrEW
A particularly nasty turn for the wedding feast is for someoneEilene and Darren being the prime suspectsto slip Sylvie an herbal dosage to abort her pregnancy, resulting in quite a different wedding night than either she or her new husband expected. Jealousy from either of the younger siblings might be the motive, but for a twist, it could be Sylvies own mother, looking to secure the legitimacy of her house and future grandchildren, or even Kevan, who turns out to be not so naive as some thought, and willing to accept Sylvie, but not a bastard child in his household. Alternately, the poisoner might not be content to merely end the pregnancy and might seek to kill the bride or groom (or both!). Whatever the case, the act is certain to engender terrible revenge and set off new conflict amongst the families. If theres cause or opportunity for another poisoning, it likely happens at the feast, perhaps even providing a distraction or red herring from what is really going on. See the information on poisons in Chapter 7 of SIFRP for various tools a poisoner might use.
rESolution
Unless the characters have decided to maintain the peace above all else, chances are by this point someone will expose the truth about Sylvie and Ser Etan, forcing one or both of them to react. The resolution depends on how heavily involved the characters are in the affair (so to speak) by this point. If they assist Lady Sylvie in covering up her affair and furthering her plans, she will be suitably grateful, although also on guard against betrayal, since the characters know too much for her comfort. They may be able to make an advantageous deal concerning the houses Sylvie will soon control, with a suitable intrigue. Of course, Ser Etan may become jealous of any male characters getting too close to his lover, depending on how the negotiations go. If the characters work to expose Sylvie in any way, they earn her undying enmity and she will take any opportunity for revenge that she can, assuming she survives. Even exiled from her house, Sylvie Harte is a formidable woman with an ally in Ser Etan, and possibly his house. Shell accept her losses when there is nothing she can do about them, but she will not forget who brought about her defeat.
thE BEdding
The wedding day concludes with escorting the happy couple to their marriage bed, providing the final opportunity for a dramatic ending to the day, and certainly not in the way Kevan Manning is hoping! This is potentially one of the more adult chapters of Wedding Knight; consider the comfort level of your game group and the appropriate treatment of it before running it, assuming events in the story make it this far.
PrEludE
After it is clear that The Wedding Feast chapter is drawing to a close, the men and women of the wedding party prepare the happy couple for their marriage bed to consummate their union. Some characters may be involved in this, depending on their roles in the wedding. Otherwise,
14
Wedding KNight
much of this chapter may happen off-stage until something draws everyones attention.
othEr EvEntS
Many other events can take place in and around those described here, related to the wedding or incidental to it. After all, the various guests bring with them their own lives, agendas, and connections. If you want, then Helmcrest can be the site of trysts, liaisons, plots, or even betrayals and murders unconnected to the wedding itself, apart from the opportunity to gather all the participants in one place. With a little work, you can spin out various red herring plots for the main characters to follow, perhaps including the start or continuation of main storylines in your own A Song of Ice and Fire saga. Theres also room for events before, after, and during those described here. For example, you might want to play out the trip to Helmcrest and what happens along the way, perhaps even using the short tale from the Quick-Start for SIFRP (available for download at www.greenronin.com): a lonely inn and an encounter with bandits. Likewise, you can introduce an event like a bout in the practice yard between some of the guests, allowing the opportunity to spark and fan the flames of rivalries. If a character has an unusual quality like Third Eye (or its related qualities), then an event involving a portentous dream or supernatural threat is a possibility. All the threads are here for you to weave as you and your players desire, to create new stories to thrill and excite you. This tale may also affect future events in your SIFRP game. For example, if you intend to run the adventure Peril at Kings Landing for your players, then by all means have the other noble families from this adventure invited to attend the kings tourney, bringing with them all the various debts, grudges, and feelings accumulated in this story, and allowing the main characters to renew their acquaintances, and perhaps develop their relationships further. You can even use the family feud set up and played-out in this story as the seed for an entire SIFRP saga, as Sylvie Harte betrayal keeps the cycle of revenge going between the two houses and further involves the characters house as they are forced to choose sides by the two families out to destroy each other. In this way, you can play out a conflict like the plot of A Song of Ice and Fire in miniature with, if not the fate of all Westeros hanging in the balance, at least the fate of the characters and the future of their house!
aCtion
Two possibilities are suggested here, although the previous events and character actions should influence which (if either) of these is likely. They assume the story continues and characters are still involved in the goings-on at Helmcrest rather than just leaving the new couple and wedding guests to their own devices.
rESolution
Once Kevan and Sylvie are wedded and bedded, the events of Wedding Knight are played-out. The characters either return home (perhaps with some interesting additional encounters along the way), or can finally eject the wedding party and guests from their home and work on getting things back to normal, albeit with perhaps some new alliances and enmities resulting from the nuptials to deal with in future SIFRP tales. Those are for you and your players to create and tell.
15
Wedding KNight
16