20. The Medici and the Papal Court

The Medici

1. The senior members of the Medici are:

The Pope, Leo X (SL 25)

Lucrezia de' Medici (SL 24)

Giulio de' Medici (SL 23)

2. The Pope, Lucrezia de' Medici and Giulio de' Medici may be invited to functions by SL 14+ characters. A random member of the Medici will attend on a roll of 8+ on 1d6, modified by +1 for every 2 SL above 14 and which may be Influenced by an I8.

The Papal Court

3. The Papal Court is where all powerful characters should strive to be recognised and where true power rests. It can be a rewarding environment for the well-prepared or a hazardous one for the naive.

4. The Papal Court consists of the following persons:

Secretary to the Pope

Delegation Bursar

All Councillors

Papal Commissioner for Archaeology

Papal Mathematician

Curator of the Papal Library

Master of the Papal Chapel

Owners of Fine Palazzos or larger Estates

Patriarchs

Cardinals

The Court Companions of the above persons

5. A Secretary to a member of the Papal Court may attend when such member of the Papal Court attends. The Secretary does not gain SP for attendance but has a normal chance of attracting notice.

6. Save for all Councillors when a Conclave is in session and certain Councillors if an Envoy is at Court, attendance at Court is not compulsory for those invited.

7. The SP gained for attending the Papal Court is equal to the difference in SL between the Pope and the character, plus 1 SP. The cost of attending the Papal Court is 25 Ducats per visitor, representing the cost of new clothes, etc. Each character must pay the cost of his Court Companion, if so accompanied.

8. All guests have a chance of attracting notice (12 on 2d6) while at Grand Court or a Grand Ball. If noticed, a member of the Medici has paid special attention to the character in accordance with the Papal Notice Table. A 2+ on 1d6 determines the level of notice.

Court Events

9. Each month, 2d6 are rolled to determine the location of the Papal Court and 1d6 for its activities each week. +1 is added to the location roll in Summer and -1 in Winter. The results in each case are determined from the Court Events Table. The events for the forthcoming month are published in the Vatican Observer.

10. The Court activities are as follows:

Grand Court: This is a simple social gathering. The full Papal Court is invited. Each attendee makes an Etiquette Ability Check having the consequences set out in the Etiquette Ability Gains and Losses Table.

Conclave: All Councillors are required to attend to discuss affairs of state with the Pope. Each attendee makes an Administration Ability Check having the consequences set out in the Administration Ability Gains and Losses Table.

Grand Dinner: The Pope hosts a lavish banquet. The full Papal Court is invited. Each attendee makes an Etiquette Ability Check which has the consequences set out in the Etiquette Ability Gains and Losses Table.

Grand Ball: The Pope hosts a Grand Ball. The full Papal Court is invited. An attendee will not be able to Toady to the Pope unless he gets a Triumphant Success on his Etiquette Ability Check which has the consequences set out in the Etiquette Ability Gains and Losses Table in addition to enabling the character to Toady to the Pope. If a character does not Toady to the Pope, he may still be noticed by other members of the Medici.

Address Faction: The Pope will choose 1 Faction on a Mission to address. A character in that Faction gains 6 SP which will be held over until he next returns to Rome.

Envoy: The Pope receives a visit from a Foreign Envoy. The rank of the Envoy and the Councillors required to attend are shown in the Envoy Table. The Pope may throw a Grand Ball to celebrate the occasion, if the number shown is rolled on 1d6. If the Pope decides not to hold a Grand Ball, each Councillor required to attend Court makes an Administration Ability Check which has the consequences set out in the Administration Ability Gains and Losses Table. If a Grand Ball is held, the same Councillors are required to attend, but all other members of the Papal Court may also attend and all attendees will make an Etiquette Ability Check, rather than an Administration Ability Check.

11. All SP gains or losses from the Etiquette and Administration Ability Check Tables are doubled for a check at Court.

Audience with the Pope

12. Characters attending Court may request an Audience with the Pope once per month in conjunction with attendance at a Grand Court or Grand Ball. Only one audience will be granted per season.

13. The Papal Confidant controls who gets an audience. He will grant an audience on a 7+ on 1d6, may be influenced with an I7. That roll is modified as set out in the Papal Audience Table.

14. If an audience is granted, the character is presented to the Pope and must make an Etiquette Ability Check. If the check succeeds, the character will receive a Papal Favour or may assign a Papal Disfavour to one of his enemies if his orders identify the enemy to be targeted. If the check is failed, then the character suffers a Papal Disfavour.

Papal Notice Table

Court Events Table

Etiquette and Administration Check Table

Etiquette and Administration Ability Gains and Losses

Envoy Table

Papal Audience Table

Papal Favours Table

Papal Disfavours Table