Riotous Plots
May 17th, 2011
Hello everyone and welcome to another exciting Grave Plots, where we bring you new and exciting plot ideas and adventure hooks to inspire and entertain you each and every week. This week I would like to talk a little bit about a topic of some interest: protests, demonstrations and riots. So let’s dig right in with a plot about civil disobedience and a few neat ways for your PCs to have grand adventures right in the thick of things.
The Ressa Demonstrations
The city-state of Ressa is among the grandest in the world, and is particularly renowned for its wealth, enlightened culture, and stability; now that stability is threatened as demonstrators take to the streets, nobles plot in secrecy, and whispers of revolution haunt the local inns and taverns. What initially began as a dispute between Archduke Waylynn and the Guild of Maritime Trade over an increase in excise taxes has become the largest civil conflict in Ressa’s long and storied history. The citizens, emboldened by the political writings of men like Luther of Geins and Dmitri Vayao, and spurred on by inspirational leaders, has begun to call for the abdication of Archduke Waylynn and the end of dynastical rule in Ressa. With the call for new leadership resounding throughout the city streets, new political movements begin to gain strength with the common man while the aristocracy endlessly debate the issues of the day behind closed doors.
In the heat of all this social change, Ressa has seen a marked decline in trade, as outside merchants believe the city to no longer be safe, and with good reason, as bandits and looters have used the largely peaceable demonstrations as an excuse to get rich on misfortune of others. Likewise, foreign powers see the civil disobedience as an opportunity to seize greater influence within Ressa. Ressa’s enemies have been sending aid in the form of gold or agents to the protesters to ensure the overthrow of the Archduke, while positioning their armies to strike at Ressa’s heart. All the while those who claim to be Ressa’s allies are making public and bold political moves, proclaiming to have the interests of Ressa’s citizens at heart while they declare for Archduke or one of his opponents, maneuvering to gain the greatest advantage. As time goes on, the only thing certain in Ressa’s political future is that it’s all coming to a head, and soon.
The PCs might get involved in the Ressa situation in any number of ways, and the best adventures might very well revolve around simply living life in Ressa during such an interesting time or trying to conduct trade in a city hell-bent on dramatic social change. The following are just a few quick plot ideas to get you started on your way to a fantastic adventure in social upheaval.
The PCs are contacted by a woman calling herself Irene and asked to meet her at a hidden shrine to the goddess of chaos here in town. Irene, dissatisfied with the civil and enlightened tone of the Ressa demonstrations, has taken it upon herself to bring a touch more anarchy to these protests. Unfortunately, her plan was discovered and she can no longer sow chaos in her deity’s name, but she is willing to offer the PCs a powerful blessing in exchange for their continuing her sacred charge in her stead. How the PCs accomplish this is ultimately up to you, though I’m willing to bet that they will have some pretty killer ideas themselves. At any rate, they should receive a just reward when they have caused significant damage.
The PCs are sent a message bearing the personal seal of Archduke Waylynn himself, asking them to his palace. This should take the PCs through a large part of the protest, and they should encounter both legitimate protesters and looters operating under the guise of social progress. You may want to throw in a dramatic scene where the PCs cross the picket line as they arrive at the palace. The Archduke apologizes for the meager accommodations, which are of course extravagant, and makes his request with perhaps just a touch of command, asking the PCs to help him put an end to these riots before the situation turns violent. Elaborating on his plan, Waylynn explains that he feels if he could just talk to the demonstration’s leaders, then he could resolve this situation to everyone’s mutual satisfaction, but to the Archduke’s great regret, none of the movement’s leaders accepted his invitation to speak with him. As half the crowd out there is crying for his blood, he can’t go to them, and he fears his guards might meet a like fate to himself at the hands of these malcontents, but relative unknowns like the PCs might be able to succeed in reaching some kind of settlement with the leaders of this demonstration. After the PCs successfully negotiate with some colorful characters, they should be able to diffuse the situation to everyone’s satisfaction and receive commendations, as well as a full purse of gold coins, from the Archduke.
The PCs are approached in their in room by a gorgeous, porcelain-skinned woman poorly concealing a fine silken gown embroidered with pale pink pearls under an equally fine brown woolen cloak. She asks if they can discuss a matter of great importance somewhere a little less public. If asked for her name, she gives it as Mary, though those who succeed on Knowledge (nobility) or Knowledge (local) check will know her to actually be Quellieria, the daughter of a wealthy baron and well known socialite, famous for her dinner parties and love of contemporary literature. The high-born beauty initially wants to meet in the stables, though seasoned adventures like the PCs will likely have better ideas for how to achieve a private meeting. Once settled, “Mary” explains that these demonstrations are the perfect catalyst to create a democratic government like the one Luther described in his tour de force, To Govern the People. She further goes on to explain how the people would be so much better off under a democratic government, and while she shows a fair amount of naiveté about the actual workings of such a society she does make a number of fair points. She goes on to say that she and a few other people in a position to make a change are ready to move forward and establish a new, more truly representative government, but there are obstacles to her plan. She says plainly that she’s looking for mercenaries, not heroes of the revolution, which is why she’s turned to the PCs, relative unknowns in Ressa that can accomplish the difficult tasks without attaching a stigma to the new government. On a piece of parchment she hands the PCs with a list of the obstacles she needs removed and offers to pay great sums for each obstacle eliminated. On the list are the names of seven aristocrats, four well known social radicals, the captain of the guard, and a tavern owner. What the PCs do with the list is up to your group: perhaps they help Mary’s new government and make a fair chunk of change, or perhaps they elect to protect the innocent or even pursue Mary and her crew for plotting murder. Be prepared for anything.
Well, that’s it for this week’s Grave Plots. Join me next week for Armor Week; until then allow me to wish you all the best in your gaming endeavors.