Episode 3: The Mirror and the Dark
The
trail of yet another Vishklar interference takes Penelope and Titus to Henry
VIII’s court, a few months after the execution of the King’s fifth wife. Tension,
suspicion and ambition are running high in the corridors of Hampton Court
Palace and false appearances reign supreme. To unmask her enemy, the Time Lady
will have to navigate a maze of intrigue and deceit…
As its title may imply, this scenario had a very strong Wolf Hall vibe. Despite having an 'unearthly' element as its core (the Vishklars' interference with the Ashworth family history), it played out as an almost purely historical episode - with a lot of roleplaying and almost no dice rolls. The big resolution scene had Penelope facing Henry VIII, trying to (and succeeding in) opening his eyes to a few home truths - and it was one of these moments I'd be tempted to refer as "a roleplaying aria", with Sylvie-as-Penelope delivering a very moving, well-crafted (and yet completely improvised) speech that spoke to the monarch's heart and mind. I always try to make encounters with historical personages memorable, no matter how brief - and this one will surely rank among our campaign's "classic moments".
See you soon for our next episode!
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