So, the recent Paramount Presence update has had me thinking.
Who are the Paramount Presences of London? Who are the Shattering Forces? The People of Some Little Importance? (Specifically, NPCs)
I thought it’d be an interesting discussion topic.
His Amused Lordship: central to the Dilmun Club and Web of the Motherlings; involved in Diocesan Intrigue, Matters of State at Port Carnelian, and The Waltz That Moved the World
The Bishop of St Fiacre’s: central to Flint, the Dilmun Club, Heart’s Desire, and third-tier Renown: Church increase; involved in Diocesan Intrigue
The Bishop of Southwark: central to Diocesan Intrigue, Election 1894, third-tier Renown: Church increase, and Renown: Church 25 reward; appears on Church faction card
The Duchess: central to Name Signed with a Flourish and In Search of a Stiff Drink; involved in Name in Seven Secret Alphabets, Diocesan Intrigue, and Affair of the Box
The Gracious Widow: central to Name Whispered in Darkness, In Search of a Stiff Drink, Affair of the Box, and Season of Skies; appears in Bag a Legend
The Cheery Man: central to Name Whispered in Darkness and Family and Law; appears in Cut With Moonlight
The Topsy King: central to Name Whispered in Darkness and Heart’s Desire; appears in War of Assassins
Feducci: central to Name Scrawled in Blood and Election 1895; appears in the Foreign Office, Associating with Radical Academics, The Stone Guest, and Nemesis
Veteran Privy Counselor: central to Name Signed with a Flourish; appears in the Foreign Office, The Stone Guest, and Society faction card
Sinning Jenny: central to The Empress’s Shadow and Election 1894; appears in Bag a Legend
The Jovial Contrarian: central to Election 1894 and Investigating the Affluent Photographer; appears at parties
The Implacable Detective: central to the Dilmun Club and Election 1895; appears in Intimate with a Secular Missionary and Constables faction card
The Dauntless Temperance Campaigner: central to Election 1895
The Manager of the Royal Bethlehem Hotel: central to A Merry Gentleman, Season of Ruins, Heart’s Desire, and Renown: Revolutionaries 40 reward
Dr Gideon Orthos: central to Name in Seven Secret Alphabets and Voyage of Scientific Discovery
Mr Huffam, esq: appears in Diocesan Intrigue and An Editor of Newspapers
edited by Anchovies on 10/23/2017
It’s a very interesting question. I think we can identify a few clear specialists - the Gracious Widow is one of the most Shadowy people in London, literally and figuratively. Sinning Jenny is quite exceptionally Persuasive. Few are more Watchful than the Implacable Detective. And so on. Are there any Paramount Presences - any who excel at everything they do?
Good question.
The only one which comes to mind at the moment is the Captivating Princess. She’s definitely Dangerous (might eat you), Persuasive (Captivating, even, and the life of a party), Watchful (don’t stare too long into her eyes), and Shadowy (can see in total darkness, plus the red honey).
edited by dov on 10/23/2017
I can think of none more suited for the mantle of Paramount Presence than His Amused Lordship. HAM’s visit to Port Carnelian sticks in my mind as especially demonstrative of his character and ability, along with his part in Diocesan Intrigue. His section of Waltz That Moved the World (which can be read here and in the five subsequent entries) is also worth considering as a showcase of his well-rounded greatness.
If I had to pick a second Paramount Presence, I think it’d be the Bishop of Southwark. Mayoral candidate, one half of London’s religious leadership, and the driving force behind Diocesan Intrigue. He may at first seem to lean heavily towards Dangerous activities, but his official and unofficial work calls for quite a wide set of skills.
edited by Anchovies on 10/23/2017
Slowcake’s Amanuensis is a shared alt of the Brass Embassy that is deliberately kept under POSI threshold to exploit social actions.
I wonder if an interesting qualifier would be “which actions of said person are deemed interesting to the general public.” As in, a Legendary Charisma’s newest exploit of romance is always a subject of discussion, but them getting in a bar fight is of little interest, besides their exes getting a chuckle. A Paramount Presence, then, would be someone whose every sneeze is regarded of public interest, like RL British royalty or particularly big celebrities.
Being a Paramount Presence is more than being very influential. It’s about being notably exceptional in all 4 base game qualities.
I can’t really see the Amused Lordship as a Shuttering Force, nor as an Invisible Eminence. I can certainly see him as a Legendary Charisma and an Extraordinary Mind (as a researcher and scholar).
The Bishop certainly fits the requirements for a Shuttering Force, but he’s absolutely not an Invisible Eminence - that thunderous voice… (and while a case can be made regarding him as a Legendary Charisma, it’s debatable how much he is an Extraordinary Mind compared to notable scholars of the Neath).
I was going to propose His Amused Lordship for a Paramount Presence too. There’s a lot more to him than he lets on, and he lets on a fair bit.
Captivating Princess.
Can you tell me she is not? No.
Who are the Extraordinary Minds out of those Anchovies mentioned?
Princess is surely Paramount Presence.
And I think, your Aunt is at least a person of significant importance - to inconvene a ParPr you surely must be a significant person on your own.
I agree with H.A.L. and Princess being Paramount.
For the third holder of the title, I’d like to nominate everyone’s favourite wedding guest, the Tiger Keeper.
He’s an apex predator, he deals in the most obscure enigmas, tracking him down is a multi-stage quest line, and as for the Persuasive part… let’s just say that it’s no coincidence that a certain NPC who can only be seduced by a Legendary Charisma also happens to have a thing for tigers. ;)
edited by Passionario on 10/23/2017
His Amused Lordship is an Invisble Eminence, as he’s adapt at hiding his true skills and goals in plain sight.
Three other candidates for Paramount Presence:
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Feducci. Mayor. Organizer of the fighting-rings near Watchmaker’s Hill. Founder and most decorated member of the Black Ribbon dueling club. A major figure in the intrigues between London and the Neath’s other powers. Has ties to the Dilmun Club, and to London’s more prominent artistic circles.
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Sinning Jenny. Former Mayor of London. Alluring and savvy manager of the Parlor of Virtue. Second in command of Mr Wines’s operations after Jervaise. Semi-retired member of an elite order of fighting nuns. Founder and administrator of a prominent finishing school, and general promoter of education for London’s populace. Occasional and highly influential participant in the Great Game.
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The Topsy King. Unquestioned lord of the Flit, with droves of loyal supporters, agents, and spies. Dedicated patron of the arts, in an odd sort of way. Probably has a better understanding of the Correspondence than anyone else in London. Made quite a lot of progress on an opera with outright supernatural effects, before he saw the letters in the sky and went slightly insane.
I think Dr Gideon Orthos, Mr Huffam esq, the Implacable Detective, the Jovial Contrarian, and Dr Schlomo would all be Extraordinary Minds.
The Duchess and the Gracious Widow would surely both be Invisible Eminences. The Manager of the Royal Beth, the Veteran Privy Counselor, and the Bishop of St Fiacre’s could all fit in this category as well; they are widely known and influential, but their secrets and motivations are very closely guarded.
If anyone’s a Shattering Force, it’s the Bishop of Southwark. The Cheery Man was probably well-qualified before he was poisoned, and might still fit if you examine his past accomplishments and his criminal empire as a whole.
The Generous Princess might be a Legendary Charisma. The Ambassador (in Name Signed with a Flourish) could be as well.
[quote=Anchovies]Three other candidates for Paramount Presence:
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Feducci. Mayor. Organizer of the fighting-rings near Watchmaker’s Hill. Founder and most decorated member of the Black Ribbon dueling club. A major figure in the intrigues between London and the Neath’s other powers. Has ties to the Dilmun Club, and to London’s more prominent artistic circles.
-
Sinning Jenny. Former Mayor of London. Alluring and savvy manager of the Parlor of Virtue. Second in command of Mr Wines’s operations after Jervaise. Semi-retired member of an elite order of fighting nuns. Founder and administrator of a prominent finishing school, and general promoter of education for London’s populace. Occasional and highly influential participant in the Great Game.
-
The Topsy King. Unquestioned lord of the Flit, with droves of loyal supporters, agents, and spies. Dedicated patron of the arts, in an odd sort of way. Probably has a better understanding of the Correspondence than anyone else in London. Made quite a lot of progress on an opera with outright supernatural effects, before he saw the letters in the sky and went slightly insane.
I think Dr Gideon Orthos, Mr Huffam esq, the Implacable Detective, the Jovial Contrarian, and Dr Schlomo would all be Extraordinary Minds.
The Duchess and the Gracious Widow would surely both be Invisible Eminences. The Manager of the Royal Beth, the Veteran Privy Counselor, and the Bishop of St Fiacre’s could all fit in this category as well; they are widely known and influential, but their secrets and motivations are very closely guarded.
If anyone’s a Shattering Force, it’s the Bishop of Southwark. The Cheery Man was probably well-qualified before he was poisoned, and might still fit if you examine his past accomplishments and his criminal empire as a whole.
The Generous Princess might be a Legendary Charisma. The Ambassador (in Name Signed with a Flourish) could be as well.[/quote]
I think you mean the Captivating Princess. I agree she’s a Legendary Charisma.
Oh, I’m pretty sure she’s much much more than just Charismatic.
There are few characters more dangerously creepy than her (and I say this as someone who likes her character quite a bit).
The Generous Princess is the youngest sibling to the Captivating Princess. TGP only appears in and after the Gift, if certain story choices are made. Here’s a snippet about her from her opportunity card.
[quote]Society effuses about her. What poise! What charity! And her taste in gifts! Why, the Whisper-Satin rouche she bestowed upon the young Lord H_______ complemented his eyes perfectly, before that jealous painter plucked them out. And the glass serpent she gave to Lady B_________ was a marvel. It’s a miracle it survived the fire.[/quote]
edited by Anchovies on 10/23/2017