Sub-plot: Auctioning Faith
Plot
In the heart of Tsarigrad, the capital of Kyrus, the city’s Bishop, Grigor Grehov, stands at a precarious crossroads. A man of wealth and indulgence, he cares little for doctrine and even less for righteousness - his allegiance is for sale, and both the Patriarchate and the Ice Court know it. Whichever side secures his loyalty will gain a significant foothold in the capital’s religious and political landscape.
The Svozno Patriarchate, determined to ensure the Bishop remains a faithful servant of the Divine Flame, dispatches Mikail Sila to tighten their grip. Sila orchestrates a series of schemes, from blackmail to abduction, to guarantee the Bishop’s unwavering obedience.
Meanwhile, the Ice Court, assisted by Mark Mliynar, seeks to secure the Bishop’s favor through economic leverage, offering lucrative trade deals and political protection. However, their efforts are continually disrupted by the unseen hand of Sila, forcing them into a game of subterfuge, counter-espionage, and careful persuasion.
Amidst this silent war for influence, an unexpected development raises the stakes: Nanya Grehov, the Bishop’s noble niece, becomes a target. Seen as his only true weakness, she is dragged into the conflict as another piece in the power struggle.
Dynamic & Play
Players must navigate a dangerous political game, choosing how to influence the Bishop while avoiding the scrutiny of the city’s authorities, who will not tolerate open violence or sabotage within Tsarigrad.
1 . Blackmail
Objective: Secure the Bishop’s loyalty through coercion.
- If players aid Mikail Sila, they work towards acquiring incriminating evidence against Bishop Grigor, such as documents of embezzlement, forbidden liaisons, and dealings considered heretical. They may do so through infiltration and theft, or through the bribery and persuasion of his staff.
- If players work against Mikail Sila , their task is to track down the already acquired material and remove said pressure, through investigation, interrogation, and tracking.
2. Bribery
Objective: Win over the Bishop through the promise of wealth and influence.
- If players side with the Ice Court, they work with Mark Mliynar to undermine Patriarchate influence over Bishop Grigor through offering lucrative trade deals and protection in exchange for his support, convincing him that his life of luxury could and can continue even without the Patriarchate backing him. This requires the protection of Mark's assets and hunting down Sila's thugs.
- If the players work for the Patriarchate, they team up with Mikail Sila to sabotage and destroy Mark's assets to render his promises to Grigor void, and to prove to the Bishop that the Ice Court cannot even protect their own, let alone him, and promise him a long-term position of influence in their new order should he submit.
- The Bishop will not commit to either unless he sees one of them as clearly more capable. In each their own pursuits, the two sides may easily clash, skirmish, and ambush one and other in key points of interest.
3. Abduction
Objective: Resolve the crisis surrounding the Bishop's beloved niece, Nanya Grehov.
- The Patriarchate, using Mikail Sila, attempts to kidnap Nanya from her family mansion, using her as leverage against the Bishop and his family. If players side with Sila, they may assist in the abduction, ensuring her captivity forces the Bishop’s compliance.
- If players side with the Ice Court , they join Elena Mliynar in a daring rescue mission, tracking Nanya’s captors to a hidden safehouse and attempting to extract her before she can be used as a bargaining chip, or before something bad happens to her.
- As a captive, Nanya may be difficult to control, arrogantly talking down to her captors and making escape attempts, slowly becoming more trouble than she's worth.
Resolutions
Patriarchate’s Triumph
The blackmail succeeds, the Bishop bends to the Patriarchate’s will, and his sermons openly condemn the Ice Court, slowly turning the faithful of the capital against it.
Ice Court’s Victory
The players eliminate the Patriarchate’s leverage by rescuing Nanya, removing the incriminating evidence against the Bishop, and promise him wealth and influence under their protection. Bishop Grigor, relieved and grateful, throws his support behind Princess Sara, even preaching of the legitimacy of Frost magic and it's boons.
The Bishop Falls
If neither side fully secures his loyalty in a discreet enough manner, the Bishop’s corruption may end up exposed to the public, and the conflict between the two sides may gain too much attention. Public outrage forces him to abdicate and he is exiled, creating a power vacuum in the capital’s religious leadership, and both sides end up falling out of favor with the local population.
Note:
- Capital City Restrictions: Since the brewing civil war remains in the shadows, any open violence or sabotage is illegal. Players must act discreetly, lest they provoke the city’s authorities.
- Recurring encounter with Mikail Sila: If players oppose him, they may briefly encounter him outside the cathedral in the beginning and/or after the ending of the sub-plot, where he offers a smirk and/or a veiled threat before disappearing into the crowd, depending on any previous encounters or resolutions of other sub-plots, and reminding them that the game is far from over.
- Plot Armor: All main characters of the sub-plot must survive, save for Nanya who has the potential to perish during the plot, and Grigor who may perish after the plot's end.
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