Johannes replied to me: > > Does conspiracy Ia tell the PCs that they have a genuine VIP, > > or a fake one? If the PCs think that the hostage is the false > > niece of senator X, why would the choice of actress ring alarm > > bells? > > > > Ia will promise a real noblewoman, without going into details who she is, > for security reasons. The description of her appearance will be exact > enough, that Tribunus does not have to fear to accidently pick the wrong > hostage.
Hello Johannes, why would they need a fake VIP at all? That is only necessary if the PC can see all spectators from the fighting pit. Is it some sort of purpose-built arena, or an ordinary yard? See below for that. > One of the perks she gets as lower class date of a noble, is that she can > mingle with high society. The hosts and the guests will know her status > and well informed servants will know. But from the perspective of a > "gladiator" it will not be obvious. The conspirators know that Tribunus is a real gladiator, not a fake one. How much do they mingle with high society in the game? > Either we have someone manipulating the emissary, or we have the person in > charge of picking matches, or someone manipulating him. Or somebody who knows long enough in advance how the relatively few matches are arranged, and then substitutes the 'natural' foe of the emissary with the PC. > So the plan sofar: > > Ia comes with the offer of the hostage plan to Tribunus. They settle on a > final plan, whatever that is exactly. > > III get wind of the preperations to sell Tribunus Will Tribunus be the Tribunus-impersonator from day one, or is there a 'genuine fake' Tribunus as well? It would be a real challenge to play the fake during the traininig. > and offer the pcs an > aliance. > > Tribunus is sold, III gets in, and i hope the other pcs find some way to > watch the villa. > > A real noblewoman, who does not wear the code dress (but now it propably > would be to early anyway) For security, the code dress is multi-part -- this dress, that jewelry, and so on. The noble happens to match one part. > comes to taunt the gladiators, including > Tribunus, because simply she has a sadistic streak. Just to yank some > chains. As in "you know you're all going to die"? I thought that was actually the exception in these fights, not the rule. Maybe she is part of the training, to make an example of a recalcitrant slave to encourage the others. > The pcs outside spot the mock hostage, already in the right dress going > in. Now they will have to come up with an other plan and they will need > the cooperation of III. > > The final plan of the pcs, whatever it is exactly will be, will be > implemented. > > Do i have any plotholes or other errors? How to make sure Tribunus gets a real sword? Will the arena layout make problems? It could be just a spot of sand in the garden, or an ordinary room. No expensive construction work, no evidence, but also not well suited to holding fights. How do they prevent a desperate slave from injuring spectators? It could be a proper little arena. A sunken pit, ranks for the spectators, two different back entries for the fighters. That gives the 'real Colosseum experience', but it would take a lot of preparation. This would raise the question how the gladiator is supposed to reach the hostage. Perhaps something in between. A secluded spot in the garden, a fenced ring, two gates. How is Tribunus supposed to get out after the kill? Regards, Onno _______________________________________________ GurpsNet-L mailing list <[email protected]> http://mail.sjgames.com/mailman/listinfo/gurpsnet-l
