Characters at Court

Sometimes the realm narrows to a room. When play zooms to people (a duel, a wedding night, a dragon bonding), the season pauses and the table plays the scene — then its outcome feeds the ledgers.

Who acts: any PC or named officer may spend the realm's Act step in person (+2 to the roll plus the sovereign's matching rating, but failure costs double Stability) or act off-turn with their own deed (no action cost, standard DC). (Faith and Oaths) PC deeds that match a patron power's nature earn Favor directly (whim +1–2, wish +3–5, great will +10). Deeds that change a ledger also earn the sovereign Renown (Your Sovereign).

Death at the table: a named character who dies in play triggers succession immediately (Dynasty), a loyalty check in their faction (−1 on failure), and a vacancy penalty until replaced (Officers). Their killer gains a thread (0–6) or a Trial.

Example: Asha the veteran duels the pretender's champion instead of a battle. Win: thread closes, +1 Legitimacy, no companies lost. Lose: the thread hits 6 and war comes anyway.