The Powers That Be (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
powersthatbe) wrote2019-01-12 06:24 pm
powersthatbe) wrote2019-01-12 06:24 pm
Market of the Vanities: Plot Role Info.
If you are not a plot infiltrator or someone with IC reasons to share knowledge available to plot infiltrators, please do not read the comments of this post.
If you ARE a plot infiltrator, please comment under your toplevel to let us know you've read it; please also pop over here to announce your plotroleishness to the game at large. We prefer that you do any confidential plotting with other plot-important folks in the comments here, rather than on plurk, and please comment no later than January 23rd, January 31st, February 8th, February 16th, & February 24th with a brief (as brief as 1 sentence; as long as you like) summary of your activity during the week & plans for next week. These comments will help the mods shape mingles and plot events to keep the story dynamic and player actions important to the outcome. Likewise, comment at any time with any questions you may have, and a mod will get back to you within 36 hours at the outside.
-Links to folklore are included not to pigeonhole you into using those names or background details, but only to share our inspirations for the roles and allow you to draw from them as much or little as you like.
-All your characters may be safely assumed to have access to monetary resources and minor magic items to sell or trade; doing so will constitute skill proof for the character receiving the item. Such magic items should convey a minor advantage, a cantrip or trick - an endless torch, a self-mending piece of clothing, a sword that draws itself in times of danger - but not an item that conveys a major advantage or wholly new ability, such as a sword that fights on its own, a torch that can light endless fires, or clothing that can alter itself into other outfits. If you're not sure of an item or want to sell or trade something more powerful, contact the mods under your toplevel and ask - the Market is meant to be a place of wonders and you're the biggest suppliers in it.
-Obviously the skills listed below are exceptional even by Traveler standards. If you have concerns about a skill, yours or someone else's, potentially unbalancing the game, please let us know ASAP so we can address that concern & work out a fix if necessary. Your characters are under no obligation to sell, trade, or give away these skills, but are able to do so, and we've worked to give many or most of you some possible motivation to justify the skill trades. If you cannot imagine a circumstance where your character would make any trades, let us know so we can clarify and explain.
If you ARE a plot infiltrator, please comment under your toplevel to let us know you've read it; please also pop over here to announce your plotroleishness to the game at large. We prefer that you do any confidential plotting with other plot-important folks in the comments here, rather than on plurk, and please comment no later than January 23rd, January 31st, February 8th, February 16th, & February 24th with a brief (as brief as 1 sentence; as long as you like) summary of your activity during the week & plans for next week. These comments will help the mods shape mingles and plot events to keep the story dynamic and player actions important to the outcome. Likewise, comment at any time with any questions you may have, and a mod will get back to you within 36 hours at the outside.
-Links to folklore are included not to pigeonhole you into using those names or background details, but only to share our inspirations for the roles and allow you to draw from them as much or little as you like.
-All your characters may be safely assumed to have access to monetary resources and minor magic items to sell or trade; doing so will constitute skill proof for the character receiving the item. Such magic items should convey a minor advantage, a cantrip or trick - an endless torch, a self-mending piece of clothing, a sword that draws itself in times of danger - but not an item that conveys a major advantage or wholly new ability, such as a sword that fights on its own, a torch that can light endless fires, or clothing that can alter itself into other outfits. If you're not sure of an item or want to sell or trade something more powerful, contact the mods under your toplevel and ask - the Market is meant to be a place of wonders and you're the biggest suppliers in it.
-Obviously the skills listed below are exceptional even by Traveler standards. If you have concerns about a skill, yours or someone else's, potentially unbalancing the game, please let us know ASAP so we can address that concern & work out a fix if necessary. Your characters are under no obligation to sell, trade, or give away these skills, but are able to do so, and we've worked to give many or most of you some possible motivation to justify the skill trades. If you cannot imagine a circumstance where your character would make any trades, let us know so we can clarify and explain.
Uta: Prince of Witches
Thread Expectation: three threads / 12 comments per mingle.
Check-In Expectation: Report any old feuds or alliances you plot! Inform us of any unbreakable oaths you push people to swear.
Privileged Information: You’ve been a Prince of the Market since King Solomon passed into Heaven. You haven’t held onto that role by being scrupulous. You pay for information above all, because that is the real power, and use Styx water for binding oaths indiscriminately, compared to any other in the market. Your other trade is simple: a favor for a favor, usually unnamed. You acquire an item or commodity for a buyer; they promise you a favor by the Styx. You try to ‘trade up’ favors, so when you call one in, it’s because you’re making a bargain with a higher-status person.
You know the powers of every relic of Market Princedom - including, after centuries of research, that of Dhuosnos himself. That Dhuosnos does not learn that you know is of paramount importance; you may be immortal, but what the Old Man of the Market might manage to do to you does not bear contemplation.
Outlook: Power. You have it, and the more you have, the more you wish. You are subject to nothing more than your own whims - jaded in the face of wealth and pleasure, it is sheer caprice that motivates your wheeling and dealing now.
Goals: Whoever acquires the sixth Princedom, they need to owe its acquisition to you. You will call in any debt, make any deal, divulge any secret to have a Prince of the Market in your thrall.
Mythic/Folklore Inspiration: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aradia
Skills:
Dignities or Demesnes may be traded or sold. Graces may only be given away freely. They may only be reported as skills for one character at the end of the Jaunt, but if you give the power away in a thread, that thread counts as a skill proof for you. You are still limited to two skills a month if you do not trade a skill, or three if you do trade a skill.
Sword of the Prince of the Market. This Demesnes grants you a big space near the middle of the Market to erect a tent; permission to draw water from the Styx at need, a seat and a vote on the Market Council, and the ability to conjure one magical weapon or tool which embodies this authority. Losing physical possession of the tool, when conjured, forfeits the authority of the Princedom to the one who has the tool. The Princedom does not give you de jure authority over all beings of your type or kindred within the Market, but many behave as though it gives you de facto authority.
The Power of the Sword is to cut portions or boundaries according to deals made, in such a way that the deal is enforced precisely as intended. This power may be used once a week or, after the Jaunt, once a Jaunt, but does not work for deals in which cutting portions or boundaries are not relevant. When Solomon had possessed this sword, however, he could have given two potential mothers two perfectly functional one-half-babies.
Dance of Unveiling. This Demonic Dignity allows you to know the profoundest desire of any being who agrees to dance with you. Additionally, you can see through any lies told while a person is naked, although you do not know the truth and cannot compel them to speak it through this power. During the Jaunt, it may be used at will; after the Jaunt, once a Jaunt.
Horseman’s Fiddle. For as long as this Angel-Graced fiddle is played, one listener cannot help but dance unless physically prevented from doing so, such as by an attack. If the fiddler dances as well, two listeners may be compelled. If you play the Fiddle in order to invoke your Dance of Unveiling, the dance reveals one of your desires to any who watch it. If someone else plays the fiddle, however… you cannot force them to give it back. Be cautious. After the Jaunt, usable once a month.
Under the Banner. This banner, which appears alternately and randomly green and red to observers, may be used to force any ‘green’ observer and any ‘red’ observer to switch bodies. The effect ends when neither of the two is standing beneath the banner. Various means, such as magical dances, may be used to compel someone to remain under the banner. The Banner also grants Demesnes to a small summer house overlooking the River Cocytus (this house will not be accessible after the Jaunt). Usable once per week during the Jaunt, and once per Jaunt afterward.
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When you say that I know of the powers of every relic including that of Dhuosnos does that mean he's aware of the Stone of the Prince of the Market?
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Yes.
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Next week I think he will be more aggressive with making deals and pulling people into his fold less with less discrimination.
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Friends with the Prince of Chess, a relationship built heavily upon mutual respect. They get along with each other well enough. Some time when they were younger they struck a deal where Witches helped Chess with something and Chess owes Witches a favor - the deal is written in duplicate (one for each) and is sealed with water from the River Styx. There has been a verbal agreement of good will (not sealed with water from the River) that was made in good will that Witches would never call in the favor that Chess owes. They exist in harmony with each other.
Not good terms with the Angel of Scorpions. Witches tolerates Scorpions and more or less regards Scorpions similarly to the racist grandfather we are all waiting for to pass away, but Witches does respect his Princehood (begrudgingly).