: Any thoughts on place of origin? 'Fars' and 'Bartin' sound vaguely : English to me, I dunno the provenance of Wendy (maybe Slavic? : Teutonic?).
How about, Bartin is the bastard son of a London Trader, born in Constantinople. He was schooled in London for the first ten years of his life, after which, his father was going to be blackmailed, so he sent him to one of his trading outposts on the adriatic. From there the business failed, and to survive, Bartin entered the priesthood. He then has knowledge of Londoner ways, yet would be a local by both blood and birth and some schooling.
: Remember the religious split -- Catholic (based in Rome) vs. Orthodox : (based in Constantinople and under assault by Muslim turks). I don't : know the details, but I'll look for something good to post.
Yeah, that's why I had them based there. It might make for some interesting plot stuff. Also, Eastern Orthodox religion allows for the use of icons.
: Arch-bishop is awful important. Anyone from Constantinople will know you : on the spot; religious leaders from both Churches will recognize your : face and name. Fine with me, but difficult to remain unnoticed. Also : raises the question of reprisals -- a defected priest will be forgotten, : a defected arch-bishop will most definitely NOT). But I've got no : problems with it, really: great plot developer, as well.
In my description of Bartin, I demoted him to a bishop. For him to have been an arch-bishop would have made him to old for what I wanted. A newly elected bishop would make for jealousy though.
: Sewers might be a bit extreme.
Hmm. Did sewers not exist? Catacombs would be fine then. Wendy would know the underground layout of the city she was in probably better than the above-ground layout.
: Hmmm. Don't think Companion-level characters are allowed to have any : magical abilities. I'll check the AM book on that one, there might be a : Virtue or Flaw or something that covers it.
Just a small talent, say the equivalent of a 'cure-light' or a 'cure-disease' once a week? Something that would be very easily noticed, but nothing really to do with much power.
: These are Church officials?
These would be church officials.
: Or other Magi from the Order of Hermes going after him for breaking : the Code? Or a nasty local Covenant squashing a potential rival?
I wasn't going to have Bartin have any prior knowledge of the Covenant before his son got involved. The Church Officials might be joined to a certain Covenant, but it would be a simple power play by other jealous priests.
: 'Local underground society' needs a more specific political grounding. : Rebels against Venetian authority? General criminal elements? : expatriated Byzantines? etc.
I would assume that most of the cities would have some criminal band, a mafia, whatever. If there's one, she's in it, possibly high up by now (there's almost certainly one in Constantinople). If there wasn't one in the local city, she starts a branch chapter loyal to the chapter in Constantinpole under herself. An 'Upright Man' kind of person. Regular citizen who runs the whole show.
: You twisted, son. Her dad doesn't know about this? her brother? what's : the family politics like?
Her Dad suspects, because the only person who knows, outside of the people who framed him, what links the deaths together is Wendy (obviously the victims don't know that Wendy knows...). Her Dad knows that she works as a catburglar and doesn't really approve, but figures that his daughter is old enough to make her own decisions.
Her brother is basically oblivious. He knows that his sister is somehow involved with some of the not-so-nice elements of the city, and knows how she supported them while they were growing up, but mostly thinks that she has reformed to being a doctor for the local populace, when he bothers to think about something other than his work, and daydreaming about the great world he's going to create.
: Is his 'sister' protecting him? or does Fars have a mean streak?
No, his sister is the one protecting him. Fars is really a nice guy, and a man of his word. An upstanding citizen and sage, with his head in the clouds most of the time. Most of the people who are like him would be stepped on by the people climbing for power, except that the first people who tried to step on him found out a little late that they were looking for a defense from the wrong side. And you know... when the patients are not quite dead, it's amazing that there always seems to be a doctor nearby...'He's really hurt bad and the prognosis isn't good... but lets try this.... I'm sorry, there wasn't anything we could do...'
Fars main defense currently is that no one can make up their mind what to do about him. Anyone who knows him knows that he means what he says and says what he means. He's also a nice guy. So why do all his rivals keep dying?...
: Constantinople is 300 miles away (as the crow flies) from the Adriatic. : Even by sea, that's a bit of a trek.
Wendy makes this trip once a year, spaced randomly enough that her targets aren't necessarily on their guard. And then picks up money for information too. It pays the bills. Also, she has to go out of the city to collect her herbs and such, a midwifing, always lots of reasons to disappear for a few days or leave the city.
: place for the Covenant near the lands of the Lord he serves. He sends a : message out to the Magi, telling them he has a good prospect. The Magi : send one of their number, along with some Companions and a grog or four, : to 'scout out' the new area. Viola, first adventure.
I think the first adventure, whatever it is, should introduce us to how the game works, since none of us really has any idea. If you want to ease us into it, or throw us in whole is your decision. If it's a good story and fills that main goal, it's fine with me.
Doug