Court¶

A figure of inherited or granted title rules from a Palace surrounded by officers and servants.

A Court has a Lord at its head, a Steward, one or more Chancellors, several Courtiers, and Clerks handling paperwork. Chancellors manage affairs (military, foreign affairs, treasury, justice). The Court is protected by a Royal Guard (see Military). A town Court is small; a city Court is many times larger, with each Chancellor specialized in one area.

On its Court Days, the Court meets daily in the Council chamber, holds public audiences at least weekly, and observes state ceremonies on holy days. Its Authority is to set the laws, adjudicate high cases, command the settlement's Military, and grant titles, seize property, or pass capital sentence. Court Etiquette determines access: commoners petition the Steward (who may delegate to a Chancellor), nobles are received on court days, and foreign envoys go through the Steward or a Chancellor. Court members may lean toward a Personality such as just, decadent, or paranoid.

A Palace is the Lord's residence and the Court's seat. It has a Reception hall for petitioners, a Great hall for dining and ceremonies, a Council chamber for state meetings, private apartments for the Lord and guests, offices for the Steward and Chancellors, a Servants' wing, a Kitchen, Cellars, a Chapel, Gardens, and Stables. Larger palaces have multiple wings (ceremonial, court, private) and more elaborate spaces. A Vault stores the household treasury; a Palace Dungeon may hold prisoners of state. The building is staffed by a Palace Steward (distinct from the Court's Steward) and Servants. Security covers locks, entry guards from the Royal Guard, and any alarms.

Factions¶

COURT (town)¶

Small Government faction
Alignment typically Lawful Neutral | PB +3

The Lord and his household. Rules the town from the Palace.

Creatures¶

Lord. Rules by title. Carries a signet and chain of office. [1x Noble]

Steward. Runs the Lord's household. Carries a signet, keys, and the household ledger. [1x Professional]

Chancellor. State advisor holding all areas. Wears a chain of office; keeps private records. [1x Noble]

Courtiers. Court members by favor. Wear fine clothes and jewelry (10-100 gp). [3x Noble]

Clerks. Records keepers. Each carries a ledger. [2x Professional]

Royal Guard. See Royal Guard.

Features¶

Court Days. Meets daily in the Council chamber. Public audiences twice a week. State ceremonies on holy days.

Authority. Sets the laws. Adjudicates cases beyond the Watch's jurisdiction. Commands the town's Militia. May grant titles, seize property, or pass capital sentence.

Court Etiquette. Commoners petition the Steward, who may delegate to Chancellors. Nobles have access on court days.

Personality. The Lord is Just; rules with fairness and consistency. The Steward is Ambitious. The Chancellor is Paranoid.

Locations¶

Palace. Noble residence. Reception halls, private apartments, offices, gardens. See stat block.

COURT (city)¶

Medium Government faction
Alignment typically Lawful Neutral | PB +4

The Sovereign and his household. Rules the city from the Grand Palace.

Creatures¶

Sovereign. Rules by title. Wears a crown and chain of office; carries a scepter. [1x Noble]

Steward. Runs the Sovereign's household. Carries a signet, keys, and the household ledger. [1x Noble]

Chancellors. One per area: military, foreign affairs, treasury, justice, household. Each wears a chain of office; keeps private records. [5x Noble]

Courtiers. Court members by favor. Wear fine clothes and jewelry (10-100 gp). [15x Noble]

Clerks. Records keepers. Each carries a ledger. [5x Professional]

Royal Guard. See Royal Guard.

Features¶

Court Days. Meets daily in the Council chamber. Public audiences twice a week. State ceremonies on holy days.

Authority. Sets the laws. Adjudicates cases beyond the Watch's jurisdiction. Commands the city's Militia and Garrison. May grant titles, seize property, or pass capital sentence.

Court Etiquette. Commoners petition the Steward, who may delegate to Chancellors. Nobles have access on court days. Foreign envoys go through the Chancellor of Foreign Affairs.

Personality. The Sovereign is Just; rules with fairness and consistency. The Steward is Ambitious. The Chancellor of Foreign Affairs is Paranoid.

Locations¶

Grand Palace. Multi-wing complex. Ceremonial, private, and court wings. Extensive gardens, deep vault. See stat block.

Buildings¶

PALACE¶

Large Government building

The Lord's residence and seat of the Court.
See also: Vault, Palace Dungeon.

Creatures¶

Palace Steward. Manages servants and household matters. [1x Professional]

Servants. Cooks, maids, footmen, gardeners, grooms, valets. [20x Commoner]

Features¶

Security. Locked doors and windows (DC 15). Royal Guard on duty at the gate and reception hall (see Royal Guard). Private wings and the vault approach locked at DC 20. Alarm bell in the courtyard; when rung, on-duty Guards come in 1d4 rounds.

Locations¶

Ceremonial

Reception hall. Where petitioners are received and wait. Benches along the walls; Steward's desk near the center.
Great hall. For dining, ceremonies, audiences. Long table, high seats at the head, minstrel gallery on the side.
Council chamber. Round table, seats for the Lord and his Chancellor. Wall of the domain's map.
Chapel. Small altar, benches. For the Lord's household devotions.

Private

Lord's apartments. Bedchamber, sitting room, private study.
Guest apartments. Two suites for visiting nobles or officials. Beds, hearths.

Offices

Steward's office. Desk, ledgers, correspondence, master key ring.
Chancellor's office. Desk, sealed dispatches, records of state business.

Servants and support

Servants' wing. Bunks and quarters for the servants. Below the main floors or in a rear wing.
Kitchen and pantry. Hearth, ovens, stores. Feeds the household and court staff.
Cellars. Wine, salted meat, grain. Access from the kitchen.

Security

Vault. The Lord's household treasury.
Palace Dungeon. Cells and interrogation chambers.

Grounds

Gate and gatehouse. Iron-banded main gate. Small guardroom.
Gardens. Walled kitchen garden and a small pleasure garden.
Stables. Stalls for the Lord's horses.

GRAND PALACE¶

Huge Government complex

The Sovereign's residence and seat of the Court.
See also: Vault, Palace Dungeon.

Creatures¶

Palace Steward. Manages the household staff and coordinates with the Court's Steward. [1x Noble]

Servants. Cooks, maids, footmen, gardeners, grooms, valets across the wings. [50x Commoner]

Features¶

Security. Locked doors and windows (DC 15). Royal Guard on duty at the main gate, the reception hall, and wing entry points (see Royal Guard). Private wings and the vault approach locked at DC 20. Alarm bells in the courtyard and each wing; when rung, on-duty Guards come in 1d4 rounds.

Locations¶

Ceremonial wing

Grand reception hall. Large hall for petitioners and formal audiences.
Throne room. Where the Sovereign holds court.
Ballroom. For state ceremonies and receptions.
Council chamber. Long table, seats for the Sovereign and Chancellors.
Chapel. Palace chapel for household devotions.

Court wing

Chancellors' offices. Five offices, one per Chancellor. Desks, records, sealed dispatches.
Chancellors' meeting room. Where the Chancellors coordinate.
Records room. State records, treaties, deeds.
Waiting room. Where petitioners wait after receiving audience.

Private wing

Sovereign's apartments. Bedchamber, sitting room, private study.
Royal family apartments. Multiple suites for the Sovereign's family.
Guest apartments. Half a dozen suites for visiting nobility.
Royal chapel. Private chapel.

Servants and support

Servants' wing. Bunks and quarters for the servants.
Kitchen and pantry. Large kitchen; multiple hearths.
Cellars. Wine, salted meat, grain.

Security areas

Vault. The Sovereign's treasury.
Palace Dungeon. Cells and interrogation chambers.
Guard house. Where off-duty Royal Guards rest between shifts.

Exterior

Grand gate. Iron-banded main gate with a gatehouse.
Gardens. Ceremonial gardens, kitchen garden, and pleasure garden.
Stables. Stalls for the royal horses and mounts.