The most precious thing at the feast is the Divine's company. Everyone wants a moment of it, to beg a favor, ask for a blessing or enjoy her attention.
As host, you can choose who to admit to the Divine's presence.
You have three/two/one petition[s] remaining.
Available actions[]
1.
Admit a Starving Child To highlight the plight of Serault's poor.
Difficulty: Rulership * 6/5
Success: The bitter with the sweet Moved, the Divine declares she will conduct a ceremony in the market square the next day. She will listen to the troubles of Serault's poor, bless them, and distribute alms. She calls upon your guests to make donations to be given out at the ceremony. They come forward in their finery, pulling rings from their fingers and mantles from their backs. Some give willingly. Others grind their teeth. The Divine is pleased. 'You have shown me Serault's troubles as well as its triumphs. Honesty is a rare thing in this age. I thank you for it.'
+1 The Divine's Favor, +10 Freedom, -10 Dignity, You have petitioned the Divine. You have [x] petition[s] remaining. / You have bought three petitions before the Divine and may trouble her with no more.
Failure: Charity begins at home Moved by the child's story, the Divine promises to hold a ceremony for the poor in the market square the next morning. She calls upon the feast's guests, bedecked in their finery, to donate gold, silver and furs that can be given as alms. They come forward, pulling rings from their fingers and mantles from their backs. Some give willingly while others grind their teeth, but no-one wants to seem ungenerous. Afterwards, the Divine turns to you. 'Too long has it fallen to the Chantry to care for those who cannot care for themselves. We do not have a monopoly on charity, ser,' she says.
+10 Freedom, -10 Dignity, -1 The Divine's Favor, You have petitioned the Divine. You have [x] petition[s] remaining. / You have bought three petitions before the Divine and may trouble her with no more.
2.
Grant an Audience to the Acerbic Dowager She wants nothing more than a blessing, and to regale the Divine with tales of her lost Pastulaire.
Difficulty: Rulership * 6/5
Success: Memories The Dowager speaks mournfully of Pastulaire's cooing dovtecotes and honey-brimming hives, long lost to the forest. "It was pity that drowned her," she says. "Too much sympathy and not enough rule. Her peasants succumbed to folly and idleness. Her fields went untilled. Her boundaries untended. An acre of unloved ground is all it takes for a seed of the wild wood to take root..." The Divine touches her face, kindly. "We are all part of the Maker's plan: those who work, those who rule, and those who pray. When one fails, all fail."
+1 The Divine's Favor, +10 Dignity, -10 Freedom, +1 The Dowager's Gratitude, You have petitioned the Divine. You have [x] petition[s] remaining. / You have bought three petitions before the Divine and may trouble her with no more.
Failure: At length The Dowager speaks mournfully of Pastulaire's cooing dovtecotes and honey-brimming hives, long lost to the forest. "It was pity that drowned her," she says. "Too much sympathy and not enough rule. Her peasants were allowed to succumb to folly and idleness. Her fields went untilled. Her boundaries untended. An acre of unloved ground is all it takes for a seed of the wild wood to take root..." The Divine listens kindly, but the Dowager drones on and on. You can see her patience is wearing thin.
-1 The Divine's Favor, +? Dignity, -10 Freedom, +1 The Dowager's Gratitude, You have petitioned the Divine. You have [x] petition[s] remaining. / You have bought three petitions before the Divine and may trouble her with no more.
3.
Allow the Dashing Outlaw to speak She has braved your guards to beg the Divine for absolution.
Difficulty: Rulership * 6/5
Success: Shriven The Outlaw makes her confession before the gathering. It is by turns scandalous, entertaining, sad and sincere. Despite herself, the Divine is amused. "Of all the Maker's virtues, mercy is the one too quickly sacrificed in service of another. You are forgiven, and I trust your Marquis will spare you the noose. Now justify our faith: live a better life." The Dashing Outlaw promises that she will. Does she mean it? You wonder if even she knows.
+1 The The Divine's Favor, +1 The Dashing Outlaw's Pardon, (-5 Peril or +5 Freedom), -5 Dignity, You have petitioned the Divine. You have [x] petition[s] remaining. / You have bought three petitions before the Divine and may trouble her with no more.
Failure: Uncertainty She makes her confession before the gathering, by turns scandalous, entertaining, sad and sincere. The Divine speaks. "Words come easily to you. But so do misdeeds." She considers the Outlaw. "You may have your forgiveness. This world needs a little more trust. I hope you deserve it." The Outlaw bows and leaves the hall, free. Her hands are trembling. The Divine regards you. "Your hospitality is broad, Huntress/Scholar, to welcome rogues, thieves and outlaws to your table." She does not sound pleased.
-1 The Divine's Favor, + 5-10 Freedom, - 5-10 Dignity, +1 The Dashing Outlaw's Pardon, You have petitioned the Divine. You have [x] petition[s] remaining. / You have bought three petitions before the Divine and may trouble her with no more.
4.
Gesture for the Smiling Guildmistress to come forward Her glassblowers have prepared a gift for the Divine.
Difficulty: Rulership * 6/5
Success: Crafty "Our gift to you, Most Holy, is nothing less than the very heart of the faith," says the Guildmistress, as she unwraps a Chantry sunburst backed in silver, its coiling flames a filigree of gold. The disc at its centre is a mirror, the glass clear as mountain air and bright as a sunlit lake. She holds it up so the Divine can see her own face in the Chantry's symbol. The Divine laughs, marveling at its artistry. "Serault fosters wit in its craftsmen as well as skill," she proclaims. When word of her fondness for the gift reaches fashion-obsessed Val Royeaux, Serault can expect many more commissions.
+1 The Divine's Favor, +10 Prosperity, +1 A Smile from the Guildmistress, You have petitioned the Divine. You have [x] petition[s] remaining. / You have bought three petitions before the Divine and may trouble her with no more.
Failure: Flattery "Most Holy, we give you the very heart of the faith," the Guildmistress says, revealing a shining Chantry sunburst - silver-backed - with coiling flames of filigreed gold. Its centre is a mirror, the glass clear as mountain air. She holds it up, showing the Divine her own face among the golden flames. The Divine compliments its artistry. When word of her admiration reaches fashion-obsessed Val Royeaux, Serault can expect commissions for more sunburst-mirrors. Later, you notice her run her fingers across the glass. She sighs. "It is a pretty thing," she says, "but it occurs to me that while I am given mirrors and hairbrushes, my predecessors were given books. Canticles, bestiaries, treaties. They were deemed old and wise; I, young and vain. It is hard, sometimes, to be shown how others see you."
-1 The Divine's Favor, +1 A Smile from the Guildmistress, +10 Prosperity, You have petitioned the Divine. You have [x] petition[s] remaining. / You have bought three petitions before the Divine and may trouble her with no more.
5.
Allow the Purveyor of Teas to approach with his lacquered box. Inlaid on the top of the box is the red flame - a sign used by revolutionaries. There's just tea in there. Surely?
Difficulty: Rulership * 6/5
Success: Revolution The Purveyor hands her the box of tea. "It is a challenging blend, Most Holy, bitter at first but with an incomparable aftertaste. Its true name is not to be spoken, but translates as the Fires of Change. If I may make a recommendation: it is best drunk quickly. Left to spoil, it can cause indigestion. A severe form." The Divine suppresses a smile. "The Chantry is no stranger to change, my friend, nor to fires. Nor, it happens, to veiled messages. The world is unfair, I know. But the Chantry will not rest until it is the one the Maker intended. I ask only for your patience."
+1 The Divine's Favor, +1 A Tiny Pouch of Eye-Watering Lattenfluss Tea, +5 Rumors of Revolution, +5 Peril, +10 Freedom, You have petitioned the Divine. You have [x] petition[s] remaining. / You have bought three petitions before the Divine and may trouble her with no more.
Failure: Sedition "It is a challenging blend, Most Holy, bitter at first but with an incomparable aftertaste. Its true name is not to be spoken, but translates as the Fires of Change. A recommendation: it is best drunk quickly. Left to spoil, it can cause indigestion. A severe form." The Divine is not amused. "The Chantry is familiar with change and fires both, dwarf. What we do not tolerate is threats. We know the world is unfair. I know of no way to repair it but one injustice at a time, starting with the worst. Perhaps if you cared for the rights of others as much as for your own we would have something to discuss."
-1 The Divine's Favor, +1 A Tiny Pouch of Eye-Watering Lattenfluss Tea, +5 Rumors of Revolution, +5 Peril, +10 Freedom, You have petitioned the Divine. You have [x] petition[s] remaining. / You have bought three petitions before the Divine and may trouble her with no more.
Notes[]
Only three petitions can be granted.
The goal of the feast is to gain as much Divine's Favor as possible in order to re-establish Serault's dignity.
