The Rest of All Possible Worlds: Palaces of Pavaisse

When people talk about Pavaisse, they aren't talking about Pavaisse. Even when Pavaissians talk about Pavaisse, they aren't talking about Pavaisse. 

They aren't talking about the peaks and mines of Joachimsland, and narrow towns and tall houses of its people. Nor are they talking about the mountain-fenced plains of Arpadhia and the horses it rears for the Imperial cavalry. There are people that write about these places, but few people go to them.

They aren't talking about the long river valleys of Dordonneland, where the vines band the hillsides and the proud back-country folk gather in high-set villages. They aren't talking about Roqueport, the sole Pavaissian harbour for transoceanic ships. All sorts of strange ideas brew there. Not quite Pavaisse at all. 

They aren't talking about Loughdainne, as old a city as any in Pavaisse. Profitably set at the junction of two rivers, it has long been a centre for commerce: it is the grand ornament of Celzia, and well knows it.

Perhaps they are talking of Ile-de-Szouche. But Ile-de-Szouche is so often a funnel for great gold-girdled Purlitz, capital of Pavaisse.  What is in Purlitz? Law courts, Counting-houses, Hostelries, Markets, Drapers, Tailors, Cooks, Vintners, Booksellers, Parks, Riding-schools, Fencing-instructors, Colleges, Poets, Attempted Poets, Salons, Ballrooms, Courtyards, Palaces - in short, all those thing that a man of good taste could want, as well as a few things that probably fall outside the bounds of good taste as well.

One thing that is also generally in or about - or, possibly, above - Purlitz is the presence of the Emperor. Clovis X has been Emperor for most of his life, but did not always have an opportunity to demonstrate the fact. He succeeded his uncle, Boniface II at the age of three. Boniface II was a zealous devotee of the School of Malicarn; accordingly Grand Magister Remigian was named Chancellor and regent alongside Clovis's mother, Beatrice Von Dottore. 

The Honoured Magister has conveyed his spirit to the hereafter, lifted up by the Words of Procophon; his influence over the young Clovis and his schemes in the name of Pavaisse have long ceased. The age of the Imperial Mother has brought with it quietude; she may enjoy her old age in the gardens of Ile-de-Szouche - and it looks like that's exactly what she will be doing.

Clovis X has entered his fourth decade. The Schoolmen of Malicarn no longer enter his privy circles, though they remain frequent at court. A thousand cares and amusements offer themselves to him - the reform of the currency, the disputes of courtiers, the malice of Dukes, the ceremonies that exhibit and enhance Imperial splendour, the balance of trade, proposals for foreign intrigues, designs for new uniforms, the armies of the Sublime Prince in the South and East, masques, dances, portraits, odes, plays in verse, romances, Romances, hunting, cards, dice, discoveries, tales and gifts from far-off lands - and the requests and concerns of all those who would share in these labours and pleasures.

With so much of the world spiralling into gold-girdled Purlitz, perhaps even here you will not find a certain idea that is Pavaisse. 

***

There's probably a few of these in Purlitz.

1. Mask-maker /// Pasteboard, Brow pads, Glass discs, Two masks [Roll 1d6 - 1. Patrician 2. Matron 3. Wild beast 4. Malevolent ghost 5. Martial visor 6. Absolute blank], Perpetual knowing little smile (-1 to CHA unless wearing one of your own creations)
2. Imperial Fusilier [Grand Magister's Retainer] /// Elegant sword, Colourful tabard: [Blue and gold with Imperial bees] [Red, silver and charcoal with Beatific flame], Wide-brimmed hat, Fusil (curiously underused), Foolish rivalry.
3. Arpadhian Horseman /// Fur-trimmed Pelisse (protects against cold, elegant), Sabre, Sabretache, Ornate saddle, Horse (instructed in an obscure dialect).
4. Chairman /// Pole with comfortable grips, Tough shoulder-straps, Overshoes (protects agianst street muck and other under-foot hazards), Ornate uniform with padded shoulders, Silent gnawing grudge against the man who gets to go in front. 
5. Artist's illuminator /// Folding screen, Book of carefully graded light spells, Translucent coloured panels, Pale sun-reflecting clothing (resists sun), Irregular tan. 
6. Man of letters /// Portfolio, Five different pamphlets*, Two books, One banned book in plain wrapper, Quire of paper, Quills, Bottle of Ink. 
7. Gambler /// Two packs of playing cards (unmarked), One pack of playing cards (marked), Three sets of dice, Baize cloth (green), Twelve gaming-tokens (mother-of-pearl), Wide flat reflective snuff-box, Large cuffs.
8. Topiarist /// Stepladder, Pruning shears, Thorn-resistant jacket, 10' of Garden twine.
9. Courtier /// Sinecure, Court Dress, Comfortable shoes (for long ceremonies), Wealth of delicately-expressed rumour, Vial of scent, Concealed pillbox with emergency purgatives and restoratives. 
10. Concierge /// Elegant but unobtrusive suit of clothes, Master key, Corkscrew, Four bottles wine, 1d8 Notes, Calling-cards and Billet-doux (one of them your own).

* (Roll 1d4 for tone; 1 - Comic, 2 - Poetic, 3 - Trenchant, 4 - Bawdy. You may decide on content or genre yourself - IE Bawdy Satire, Comic Romance, Poetic Editorial, Trenchant Travelogue, Bawdy Tragedy**, Trenchant Open Letter, Comic Verse, Trenchant Songs, &c)

** Titus Andronicus, I suppose. Or perhaps a bit like Thackeray's Luck of Barry Lyndon.