ID: 5320379

Repeatable: False

Validate Conditions on Start: True

Auto Start: No

Auto Start Init: Unknown

Event On

• Rite Ends: The Look of Power

Activation Conditions

This event has no activation conditions.

Outcome Actions

• Options:

  A Sword-Bearing Iron Guard...

  • op1: Nabhani
  • op2: Faris
  • op3: Jabal
  • op4: Seliman
• Case #1:
  • Card (Secret)
  • Prompt:

    Nabhani—the first swordsman of the royal city.
    
    You had ever seen him truly apply himself only once: to earn the title "First of the City," which did his wandering among flowers a world of good.
    
    Nabhani's pursuit of women verged on the absurd; with a studied nonchalance he fought down many thoughts in his heart... As for those thoughts, you did not care to say more before Malkina. Still, she must have heard how he cared for his hair and skin and how he trained that proud carriage. You dwelt particularly on his hair: whenever a new noble appeared in the Lapis Lazuli Palace, they could not help staring at Nabhani's hair for a long while—the intricate structure, the ingenious ornaments, truly a work of art.
    
    Malkina giggled and nodded; she said meeting Nabhani was not too hard—she had many clients in high-class brothels; next time she would be sure to find a chance to study that famous mane closely.

• Case #2:
  • Card (Intuition)
  • Prompt:

    Few knew much about Faris, for the Captain of the Cavalry almost never joined in any court affairs and would bolt the moment the sovereign vanished.
    
    You described for Malkina how Faris dressed; like all cavalrymen, he carried the scent of beasts—mostly dogs. You described how that scatterbrained, careless Faris cut a splendid figure before his squadrons; when he hoisted the standard of the commander-general, he seemed to blaze.
    
    You added that, to your eye, Faris kept his radiance and splendor banked most of the time; thus when he needed them, the contrast was stark. That too might be a way to wield power...
    
    The thought inspired Malkina.

• Case #3:
  • Card (Opportunity)
  • Prompt:

    Jabal was the realm's most exalted warrior; across coup after coup his clan had always chosen the winning side.
    
    You laughed as you described his usual dress and his unkempt look; yet even so, Jabal possessed immense power—a power not housed in his appearance, and yet somehow tied to them.
    
    "I see what you mean..." Malkina murmured.
    
    "Precisely because he had enough power, he dared present himself in such a slovenly state, isn't it?"
    
    You nodded. Jabal cared not a whit what others thought of him; he stood outside the system. What others fought a lifetime—or generations—to earn was what he had at birth. He had mastered the finest way to treat power from the cradle: to ignore it.
    
    Malkina pressed you about Jabal's exploits and his family's weapons and armor; she still seemed quite disapproving of the general's disregard for appearance.

• Case #4:
  • Card (Inside Information)
  • Prompt:

    Seliman was the most taciturn of the Iron Guard. He had once been Nabhani's strongest rival for "First Swordsman of the City."
    
    This silent guard enjoyed the court's trust: he was upright, incorruptible, and never one to join the throng of courtiers at day's end to flirt with the ladies waiting in their carriages. It was said he scarcely cared for women; even if someone tried to gift him a beautiful slave, he would smile and decline.
    
    Malkina found this "silent power" fascinating. She asked many questions about Sairiman's attire: could he project such pressure without a word because of his clothes? Did his coronet differ from others' due to the Sultan's taste?
    
    Some questions you could answer; most, you could not. Yet that was enough: Malkina said, bright with interest, that she would find her own ways to learn more.

References

Referenced in Effects

This event is used in effects for the following entities.

Rites