Broken Lances #2
Last night was the second session of our in-person game, Broken Lances. This time we got more into the main characters, with everyone embodying them a bit more, both in the choices department and at the (for lack of a better term) acting level. There was also more drama, more intrigue, and more secrets! Enjoy.
What Happened?
Picking up right where we left off, with House Ermini's arrival at our home, Castle Trevino. While Xavier and Elisenda are having a tense moment in the great hall, Eloi and Yuli are left to greet Ermini's train at the gates. They introduce themselves to Count Macías, his older sister Lady Timbora, and the young siblings Anselmo and Abramka. Macías gifts Yuli a nice bow, and in turn Yuli offends Timbora before Eloi enforces a "respect the ladies" rule on his younger brother.
Xavier and Elisenda excuse themselves into a side passage to have an intense talk. Ultimately, Elisenda hands over the potentially damning document to her brother, and then they graciously re-enter the hall just in time to greet Macías. There's clear animosity between Macías and Vicente (the House Garsa lord), and Macías intimates to Xavier that they need to discuss something important tomorrow. For now, it's late, and his condolences for Count Francisco's untimely death.
Elisenda meanwhile finds Lady Timbora, a like-minded pious soul, and they catch up for a while before Elisend asks her to join them and the Garsa priest, Brother Goxco, in prayer before the tournament starts tomorrow. With some steely willpower (and a high roll), Timbora is convinced!
Overnight, when Xavier is alone in his bedchamber, he reads the document. It is as he feared: a formal disinheritance, in his father's hand, already signed, only awaiting the witness of a priest. Hearing God's voice command him to burn the letter, he casts it into the fire.
In the morning, Houses Aran, Ermini, and Garsa break their fast together. Ermini and Garsa's retinues stay far apart, not mingling. Macías drags Xavier away for that private talk, leading Countess Catalina, Yuli's mother, to be catty with her unambitious step-children Eloi and Elisenda. While Yuli runs off to play with the Abramka (just picture two 13-year olds running around a castle), Elisenda approaches the Garsa tables and asks Brother Goxco to join her and Timbora in prayer. Goxco proves to be a snot-nosed, pompous man, but agrees. He also introduces Elisenda to his guardian, an imposing knight of the Order of St. Cascarion (catch the reference, gretchlings). After she leaves, too embarrassed (and maybe smitten) at the hallowed knight's presence to say hello, she overhears someone make a rude comment.
Xavier and Macías talk in the late Count Francisco's study. Macías keeps it short: they've had so much trouble with banditry in his lands this year that they cannot honor the old trade deal between their houses, which supplies our characters' fief with all its winter grain. Xavier is shocked, and Macías criticizes him for allowing Garsa within their walls. He claims the bandits bedeviling him are armed by Garsa, and worse, he believes Count Francisco was poisoned by them...
Xavier is left with a lot to think about!
Meanwhile, Eloi catches the eye of Anselmo, the Ermini youth with pretensions to knighthood. Anselmo is struck by Eloi's cool older brother energy, and Eloi responds by pranking him, "explaining" that the tournament has a "secret contest of wits" and Anselmo must "find the password" to understand the game that's afoot...Anselmo is thrilled, and races off to speak with EVERYONE to find the password...
Finally, it's time for the tournament! Houses Aran, Ermini, and Garsa ride out of the castle in a parade through the nearby town, cheered on by the townsfolk and many peasants who've been given the day's leave from the hard work of bringing in the wine grapes. At last, the final guest house joins, the great and noble House Ekaiza, whose colors are orange and whose symbol is a burning tree. They have sent their Duke's younger brother, the renowned knight Sir Boranz...
With the tournament grounds looming ahead, we ended our session there for time!
GM Notes
Another TIGHT 2 hour session where a lot happened! I am fine with the slower pace, given the type of game we're aiming at is all about these character relationships and their schemes.
I think I took my note from last session, and was able to relax the pace when needed. We got great results from that, with lots of juicy moments and meaningful glares...good stuff!
Next time, the tournament, to see if the minigames I prepped pay off!