The Ides of March

The Ides of March is a long-standing Pureblood tradition of playing a game of bloody political chess. The leaders of Pureblood-led communities host a series of deadly competition ‘Games’ that anyone can enter to win a key that unlocks three potential prizes. This ‘holiday’ of sorts presents an opportunity to shape the political landscape of the Lakesea in the coming year, and has traditionally been held as a time for negotiation, contracts, settling debts… and revenge.

The Winning Ticket

Upon winning any of the Ides Games, all victors will be granted a Black and Gold Card. This Card may be traded to another player or NPC, bought or sold. BGCs can be stolen or looted from you, so keep them safe if you have one!

Only one BGC can be turned in per player. If you win multiple Games and end up with multiple BGCs, you may wish to sell or trade your extras, or work with allies to hand in BGCs strategically to accomplish your goals - or use them to hamper your political enemies!

To use a BGC, hand it to the leader of your chosen faction and declare which of the three options you want it used for. You can do this via mail or in person, from Saturday 8AM to Game Off Sunday.

Faction leaders cannot reject being presented with a BGC, but they can negotiate regarding the specific terms and applications of what you ask for them to do.

Remember: Face NPCs are living people in this world just like you are, with their own secrets, goals, motivations, and feelings. These negotiations will vary in scope by your pre-existing relationship with these NPCs.

If the Faction Leader is physically unable to accomplish or fulfill what they ask you to do, they can refuse your request and point you to another Face NPC who may be able to help you. Your BGC will not be expended if this happens.

Faction Leaders can set a price for the Favor you request from them, freely. For example, One BGC may be sufficient to ask the Fords for 200 Overs, but if you ask the Fords to eliminate a town law as your Favour, they have the right to request up to 10 BGCs to accomplish that goal.

BGCs cannot be used to request any character commit suicidal or genocidal actions.

Overall, the Storytelling team will be working with you to realize your character’s goals and wants! We might have to adjust things to fit, but we would love for you to be creative here and see what you can accomplish. If you have any questions, please contact the Story Director!

What You Can Win

Gain Favor

A favor is essentially a carte blanche for ‘anything you want’ from any Mourning Glory faction. You may simply ask for large sums of money or big-ticket items. You may ask for a monthly shipment of a resource you need. You may ask for financial support of a project. You may ask for a Faction to take political action against another. You may ask for a higher rank or position within a faction. You can ask for a record to be deleted or a historical record to be expunged. The possibilities are endless - hence why the Ides of March is so important to setting up the political landscape of Mourning Glory for the next year.

You may not gain Favor on behalf of someone else, but multiple people can combine BGCs to ask for a larger Favor. Ask the Faction Leaders for their prices.

Examples:

Ask for classified information, documents or secrets. Factions must provide you with truthful information!
Ask for a cause or project of yours to be backed by a particular faction fiscally or politically.
Ask for monetary rewards of any kind. You may choose to, for example, turn in (item) to receive a series of augmented Master Weapons from the Bullet Bag Brothers, or financial payouts from Ford Industries. Whatever you can imagine, will be provided. (Note: Please be realistic and keep in mind everyone’s fun - we don’t have the physical resources to grant you a million Overs, for example.)
Ask for changes to Town Laws, or the creation of a new role in town.

Clear Debt

If you are in debt to any faction in Mourning Glory or the Greater Lakesea, a BGC can be used to clear that debt. Present the holder of your debt with a BGC, and they will be legally bound to cancel your debt. This debt does not have to be monetary in value. It can be a debt of Infection, allegiance, employment, and so on.
You may clear debt on behalf of someone else.

Examples:

Many people seem to owe SaintCorp an Infection for some of their restorative services…
Plenty of local small businesses and individuals find themselves in debt to the Ford Family, and will be looking for competitors to help them clear this debt so they don’t go under.
Some folks may have slighted a faction or cost them supplies. They may be looking for a way to call their attack dogs off.
There are workers in the Mines, they say, who are still working off a debt their parents incurred before them. Injured or sick Miners might be looking for a way out of their contracts so they can recuperate.

Criminal Purposes

The Ides of March tends to attract the less than savory types in Mourning Glory who might be looking to expunge a record of past actions. A BGC can be used to clear your criminal record, so whatever Faction you have gotten in some hot water with over the past year will have to clear your slate with them and hold no bad blood… till you mess up again, of course.

A BGC can also be used to further your criminal goals in creative ways. You may trade in BGCs to request hitmen and targeted killings. Be aware that if this is levied against a fellow Player Character, you will be opting into CvC - always be aware of your limits and what you’re willing to risk.

You may clear a criminal record on behalf of someone else.

Examples:

Been convicted of a crime? Arrested by the Neighbourly Association? Perhaps more than once, even? Well, all you have to do is turn in one (item) and every misdeed of the past year will be expunged. NPC groups will act as if you have never done anything wrong in their eyes, so you have a chance to start fresh.
Currently on trial or in prison? Win a game, turn in a (item) and you’re a free man.
Deal in illegal weapons or drugs? Win a game, turn in a (item), and maybe you can convince the Neighbourly Association to simply not look at your trade routes in the coming year.
Are you one of those nasty little Crystal Candy dealers? Maybe you need your covert operation of turning in Aberrants to get a little easier with some help from a Faction…