Johannes replied to me:
> More for women are roughly the same as cinematic* medieval mores, and 
> stricter (then usual cinematic medival mores, not strichter then for 
> women)  for men, especially for nobles. Sex outside ones class/caste is a 
> very strong taboo. A multi class couple, or a bastard as child of such a 
> couple, would be lower in the social hierarchy, then commoners.

Hello Johannes,

what are the social consequences for a noble who gets caught with 
a woman, says "oops, sorry," and dumps her? That's different from 
a noble in a long-term relationship with a mistress, with out of 
wedlock children raised in the castle.

If the morals are designed to provide clear lines of inheritance,
casual affairs might be more acceptable than serious, long-term 
relationships. At least for the men, who can leave their "small
indiscretions" behind.

Still, strict and/or hypocritical rules make credible rumor even
more effective, as long as people want to believe.

> The ideal outcome would be, that the priests conspiracy will be exposed by
> the pcs, while the blackmailed pc manages to foit the marrige plans. I 
> also want to keep some plan B, where one of the priests attempts succeeds,
> or anything else prevents the marrige, because a marrige would really mess
> up the rest of that story arc.

So maybe there should be three different plans. Plant a few very
inconclusive clues to each, clear in hindsight but not enough to
foil them. 

* The blackmailed PC will come up with her own plan. Probably it
  will be different from all of yours, but it might interfere 
  with one of them, or duplicate it, so one plan gets discarded
  if necessary. 

* That leaves two different "possible" plans. Make one "active"
  and start planting more clues for it, so the other PCs can 
  detect and foil it.

* If the blackmailed PC seems to fail, activate the third plan 
  by leaving a few more vague clues, and have it succeed by GM
  fiat. Otherwise, bury it in your notes. 

Attacking the fidelity of the groom would be one plan. It could
have several stages, in case the young man can talk his way out
of the first accusation, but it would still be one plan. Use a
drunk dancing girl instead of a drunk bard for part two. 

The second option should more than just a mirror image of the 
first plot. Maybe attack the reputation of the absent son, so 
that part of the deal falls through. Plant evidence that the 
Baron knows where the son is hiding, but keeps him away for 
some unspecified shameful reason. Once the betrothal is sealed,
the Baron will reveal him, or so he plans if he isn't stopped.

Or maybe attack the bride. That would have long-term benefits 
for the conspirators, since just attacking the current groom 
would merely postpone the marriage of the heiress. How about 
a charge of witchcraft, necromancy, or religious heresy? Get 
a witch to "admit" that the bride wanted to talk to the ghost
of her dead brother. Plant evidence that she dabbled in mind
control magic, first to drive her brother to suicide and then
to dominate any future husband, because she wants all power 
for herself. Such a willful girl. And daddy is sick, right? 
Smuggle a ninja suit and nasty, dishonest weapons into her 
luggage.

Sending the bride on a rescue expedition would be a last-ditch 
option, because it could preempt other plots, but it is simple 
to start or stop. The bride talks to a stablebody. The bride 
is seen cleaning her riding leathers (herself! a scandal!). 
The bride enters the stable with a sword and saddle bags, and
seems nervous. The bride sits next to her dad, smiling as if 
nothing untoward had ever crossed her mind.  

Regards,
Onno
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