Last Days of Solomon: House Makidah (Patreon)

So at this moment I don't have a ton of information to reveal directly, as there's a lot of stuff we're in the process of revising for our second playtest. As we finish sections over the next few months, I'll release portions of them to show you all what's going on. My ideal is to only show you finished page spreads, mainly focusing on the rule systems we're developing. Some of the things I hope to show off include portions of character creation, actions and other faction pages. In addition, I'll include in these posts interesting scenes happening that I really want to show off to those who aren't playing the game. 

There was a really cool interaction just now between Acting Queen Soma (formerly Princess Consort Soma, but then Queen Theodora III died) and Countess Fiala of House Ivanar (played by the fantastic Maddie Pasquale).  Queen Soma has been accused of attempting to poison the former queen, and the nobles have created an assembly to hold Soma accountable. At this assembly, Soma has just announced that while she is not a legitimate heir for the throne, her soon-to-be husband Archduke Spencyr of House Typhonus (Aidan Whitman-Baker), will be. Other characters include Marchionness Illiana of House Mercer (Casper Sutton-Fosman).

Illiana stood. "And what if one of the blood of House Makidah were to come forward?" 

 “An excellent question,” Fiala noted, getting ahold of herself. “Not to mention you have yet to clear your name of the whole poisoning Theodora debacle.” 

 Soma glances over her glasses at the Marchioness. "There is no such blood of House Makidah. My wife only ever had one child with me, and she passed away. The only other branch of the Makidah family which exists is Lady Calliope, and she has rejected all titles. Pogsly and Alexandyr are both irrelevant. There is. No one. Else." 

“Then perhaps it is time for Makidah to fall.” Fiala shrugged. “It would not be the first time the monarchy passed between families.”

 "Oh, I wonder who will possess the monarchy then. Perhaps, House Ivanar then?" Soma barks a laugh. "If you accuse me of poisoning the queen, the burden of proof lies on your horned head, not mine." 

 Fiala rose to her feet, staring Soma down. “I am not you, Soma,” she murmured, though somehow her voice carried. “Do not presume to ascribe your clawing for power upon me and mine. You and your fiance are the worst dregs this city has to offer, and one way or another you. Will. Pay.” 

 Soma steps away from the Makidah pedestal, and walks into the center of the Assembly. Behind her stands the statue of Lord Konstantin, the Founder of Makidah. Her shoes clatter against the floor.  "It doesn't matter whether you like me. Do you know what I've been doing, these many weeks? Ensuring our city has enough time to find the crown. Two weeks. That's how long we have, before the demons break their promises. Two more weeks without a monarch with the crown, and Solomon falls, and we all die. Perhaps that is a more elegant reason to support me." 

 Fiala laughed harshly. “Oh, two weeks to find the crown, and what has that gotten you?” She gestured grandly. “Nothing, Soma. You have nothing. Gloamwique has the crown— and as far as I’m concerned even the Margrave would serve as a better queen than you.”   She gathered Boris and Kasimir to her side and nodded to Darya and the Dagmar representatives, then strode from the room, hooves clicking on stone.  As she passed Soma, she hissed, “I’d rather watch the city fall than allow it to exist under your thumb.” 

 Soma gestures to her Praetors, who begin to move from their corners of the room. "If that's what you'd rather, Fiala - handmaiden of Yarilo. How many years did you buy for yourself again, ten? What did you give away for him to control you?" 

Fiala froze. Slowly, she turned.  

And she slapped Soma across the face.