Sapient Longevity via Reincarnation is an issue much debated in thread.
DP is the pterodactyl a person or an animal? (Just to make sure, but I doubt that it's a person, very much so)
Animal of the dinosaur variety.
Sapient Longevity via Reincarnation is an issue much debated in thread.
DP is the pterodactyl a person or an animal? (Just to make sure, but I doubt that it's a person, very much so)
It would, of course, be a tool of the Inquisition, I assume?Here is what my casino quip turned into. Thoughts? Do we want this? Should I expand on this?
I'm ready to describe this in quite some detail if people are interested.
The Purse Club
When Sorcerers Deep began to grow, many Braavosi Keyholders and magisters from the Three Daughters began to flock to the new city, it's rich trading opportunities and the closeness to the court of the Dragon. However, when they arrived in their new manses, they often found the social life of the city lacking. Having no pre-existing nobility and the Dragons court being filled with eclectic and aloof persons that rarely had the time to socialize, there was a distinct lack of social events and networks to mingle with. Thus these early arrivals often moved in the same circles as in their home cities, the absence of those who hadn't come to the Deep felt keenly and preciously few chances to make new contacts.
Thus a small group of anonymous benefactors came together to build a place that would fill this gap. Gathering between them the coin to fund and staff palacial manse, they founded the Purse Club, inviting a selected group of the rich and powerful to join them whenever they had the time and interest to mingle, dine and chat with each other.
Of course, the city of Sorcerers Deep being what it is, this was a lie. There never was a group of benefactors, just the one. Viserys Targaryen had founded the Purse Club as a means to foster contact and friendship between the nobles and gentry of the realm he was forging, seeking to replace age old rivalries with a sense of kinship and cooperation. That it would deflect some attention of those with more ambition then sense from his court and to the club was an added benefit, and the presence of Inquisition informants among the staff nothing but a strange coincident.
The Purse Club is located in one of the best neighborhoods of the Deep, slightly hidden from the hustle of the city by being build on a small road branching from Moon Street, which connected the Bazaar Plaza with the Braavosi Quarter and the Moonsinger Temple. The building itself uses the Neo-Valyrian style common to the city, evoking images of long lost Valyrian palaces. Alledgedly, it was inspired by the palace of Lyceos, but it also incorporates features from comtemporary Braavosi, Volantene and Westerosi architecture.
The premise is surrounded by a hedge maze, shielding the lower floor from view, but leaving the passerby to imagine the lavishness behind from the two fountains rising from it and framing the manse itself. Despite what the exclusivity of the club might imply though, even non members can enjoy a small part of what it has to offer. While the upper floors and the wings are only accessible for full members, the facilities in the ground floor of the main building are available to anyone who can pay the quite prodigious entry fee. Many a later member entered the Purse Club the first time as such a simple visitor, seeking to share a drink, and play dice and cards with full members, hoping to one day be offered the membership themselves.
The membership list would include people like the well known business magnate Garin Drakelis or Oldest Blood noble Malarys Varnor. And, of course, Viserys Targeryen.It would, of course, be a tool of the Inquisition, I assume?
As in thoroughly infiltrated at all levels, not merely spied upon?
This would be a prime location to put a MirrorVision mirror to allow the upper crust to enjoy the entertainment without having to associate with the plebs.Here is what my casino quip turned into. Thoughts? Do we want this? Should I expand on this?
I'm ready to describe this in quite some detail if people are interested.
The Purse Club
When Sorcerers Deep began to grow, many Braavosi Keyholders and magisters from the Three Daughters began to flock to the new city, it's rich trading opportunities and the closeness to the court of the Dragon. However, when they arrived in their new manses, they often found the social life of the city lacking. Having no pre-existing nobility and the Dragons court being filled with eclectic and aloof persons that rarely had the time to socialize, there was a distinct lack of social events and networks to mingle with. Thus these early arrivals often moved in the same circles as in their home cities, the absence of those who hadn't come to the Deep felt keenly and preciously few chances to make new contacts.
Thus a small group of anonymous benefactors came together to build a place that would fill this gap. Gathering between them the coin to fund and staff palacial manse, they founded the Purse Club, inviting a selected group of the rich and powerful to join them whenever they had the time and interest to mingle, dine and chat with each other.
Of course, the city of Sorcerers Deep being what it is, this was a lie. There never was a group of benefactors, just the one. Viserys Targaryen had founded the Purse Club as a means to foster contact and friendship between the nobles and gentry of the realm he was forging, seeking to replace age old rivalries with a sense of kinship and cooperation. That it would deflect some attention of those with more ambition then sense from his court and to the club was an added benefit, and the presence of Inquisition informants among the staff nothing but a strange coincident.
The Purse Club is located in one of the best neighborhoods of the Deep, slightly hidden from the hustle of the city by being build on a small road branching from Moon Street, which connected the Bazaar Plaza with the Braavosi Quarter and the Moonsinger Temple. The building itself uses the Neo-Valyrian style common to the city, evoking images of long lost Valyrian palaces. Alledgedly, it was inspired by the palace of Lyceos, but it also incorporates features from comtemporary Braavosi, Volantene and Westerosi architecture.
The premise is surrounded by a hedge maze, shielding the lower floor from view, but leaving the passerby to imagine the lavishness behind from the two fountains rising from it and framing the manse itself. Despite what the exclusivity of the club might imply though, even non members can enjoy a small part of what it has to offer. While the upper floors and the wings are only accessible for full members, the facilities in the ground floor of the main building are available to anyone who can pay the quite prodigious entry fee. Many a later member entered the Purse Club the first time as such a simple visitor, seeking to share a drink, and play dice and cards with full members, hoping to one day be offered the membership themselves.
Which is another good reason for it to be a secret tool of the Inquisition. How many outside interests, foreign and domestic, would attempt to infiltrate the club in order to spy upon such notable members? Or conduct other nefarious activities?The membership list would include people like the well known business magnate Garin Drakelis or Oldest Blood noble Malarys Varnor. And, of course, Viserys Targeryen.
Do you really want to plot treason in a sitting room where these three could walk in at any moment, chatting about the weather with a glass of wine in their hands?
I wanted to included warded meeting rooms for people wanting to do business. Nevermind that there are objects in there and Touch of History is a thing...This would be a prime location to put a MirrorVision mirror to allow the upper crust to enjoy the entertainment without having to associate with the plebs.
It could be housed in a small but well appointed theater, with luxury box seating, standard row seating, and small booths, all to make the wealthy and connected feel comfortable and to foster a sense of privacy. A great place to conduct a bit of private business, and a great places to be secretly spied upon conducting said business.
EDIT: Each box and booth could even include a magical "white noise" generator which also activates a hidden audio recorder when used by occupants. There are spells perfect for this.
The line about a few accidental Inquisition agents was a euphemism. The staff will be positively infested by it.Which is another good reason for it to be a secret tool of the Inquisition. How many outside interests, foreign and domestic, would attempt to infiltrate the club in order to spy upon such notable members? Or conduct other nefarious activities?
But will it be staffed, in part, by Little Valyrian butlers in tailored suits? Important question!I wanted to included warded meeting rooms for people wanting to do business. Nevermind that there are objects in there and Touch of History is a thing...
Nice idea with the theater. I will include something along those lines in the plans. The thing will work a lot like a english Gentlemans Club.
Also, it provides a nice setting to have conspirative meetings. Some amount of traffic will be normal there, so no more meeting important lords in taverns in town or hustling them into the keep through the servants entrance to avoid suspicion.
I'm inclined to make the Conscierge one.But will it be staffed, in part, by Little Valyrian butlers in tailored suits? Important question!
Caryatid Columns and Marble Sentinels would be perfect for this role.I'm inclined to make the Conscierge one.
Also, can we somehow make gargoyles in any way except going full Stone Golem? The club needs some beefy but tasteful bouncers.
Oh, and the entrance fee for non-members will be 1 Sovereign, meaning 100 IM. If this is too expensive for you, you are clearly not in the right social strata.
We can make Gargoyles, but not tasteful ones: Gargoyle, Fungus – d20PFSRDAlso, can we somehow make gargoyles in any way except going full Stone Golem? The club needs some beefy but tasteful bouncers.
No, only the Inquisition thing was an euphemism. The founding process is something I can detail later. The identity of the benefactors is something that will be taken care of."Mysterious benefactor" in a world with literal fiends seems like the kind of thing that would cause people, to be suspicious, and in a world with literal fiends, I think that such suspicions are reasonable, so (imo) it should be expected that people, with money, will look into "who"
Proposal: either having the "Mysterious benefactor" be very quietly known to be Viserys, alternatively, have it be "known" to the "select few" that the Mysterious benefactor be someone else (Some rando, Garin or Marleys, or Tyene? What about Azema ?!?!?!), whichever is better. Or, some other idea.
Fuck. I used the word "known" in terms of common/group knowledge. I'd edit it out, but the problem is in my brainnnnn, not the screen.
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Hmmm. ok, so, on looking on at further posts, it is clear that the proposal is full of euphemisms and implications, of which only most were laid out, and i think that my above concern has in fact been accounted for (probably, at a guess). Apologies if it has.
It may be useful to some to have (spoilered for space?) an elaboration/clear stating version of the proposed social club's actual intentions in some way.
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Idea for consideration: Myrish Glass Golems, but with pretty dyes shot through the ones that aren't subtle, like the ribbons of colour that are found in marbles.
Those look good, though the Sentinels need to be more subtle and equipped with True Sight.Caryatid Columns and Marble Sentinels would be perfect for this role.
That sounds good and we should commission everything off-plane or in Myr anyway to cover the connection.Idea for consideration: Myrish Glass Golems, but with pretty dyes shot through the ones that aren't subtle, like the ribbons of colour that are found in marbles.
Ugh...We can make Gargoyles, but not tasteful ones: Gargoyle, Fungus – d20PFSRD
The Sentinels can look like whatever we want them to. As for adding True Seeing, that's just not practical. They're already more expensive than I would prefer. Better to have a disguised Erinyes on site who can give them commands.Those look good, though the Sentinels need to be more subtle and equipped with True Sight.
Other Gargoyles are all Monstrous Humanoids, so no chance making them without a real Fleshforge or a lot of work in yet unexplored directions.Ugh...
Plant's are a no go or we might as well have Viserys found it publicly.
Their pricing is pretty ludicrous. The text mentions arcane materails worth 1,000 IM so we have to assume the other 1,400 IM are... marble and iron? Should be repriced.The Sentinels can look like whatever we want them to. As for adding True Seeing, that's just not practical. They're already more expensive than I would prefer. Better to have a disguised Erinyes on site who can give them commands.
As CR 4 creatures, 2400 IM is completely ridiculous for the Marble Sentinels. 1200 IM is overpriced for the Caryatid Columns, too, IMO.Their pricing is pretty ludicrous. The text mentions arcane materails worth 1,000 IM so we have to assume the other 1,400 IM are... marble and iron? Should be repriced.
And no Erinyes there. They would hate that duty and it's again too overt involvement by us.
I like the idea. It's not something we need to personally oversee or get started, either. We can just put people on it in the background and let the Inquisition use it as a convenient tool within SD.Not really interested in this.
The local money will eventually organise their own pastimes anyway, I see little point in making our own club rather than just infiltrate those that spring up naturally.