Matal is an ancient and relatively peaceful kingdom, most closely resembling medieval France, with a deeply ingrained upper class and established priesthood. Citizens of Matal worship the Lord of the Sky, who appears to them every day in the form of the sun. Their priests tend to be very tan and see being sunburned as a badge of honour. The more cynical and irreligious people in Matal can be spotted because they are paler than most. The assassins and thieves of Matal use the moon as their rallying figure, as priests believe that what happens after the sun goes down cannot be seen by the Lord of the Sky, so sinners save their evil actions for the night to avoid judgement.

Matal is spiritually led by the Sunblessed Elder, who is required to stare into the sun until he goes blind as a test of his faith. Although the Elder does this out of respect, this is a common practice carried out by those who wish to repent their evil actions. Some criminals are required to be blinded in this way and forced to join the Sunblessed Clergy. None are held in higher regard, even ex-criminals, who blind themselves through staring at the sun.

Matal itself is currently prosperous. Its businesses are flourishing, and capitalism is held almost sacred among the Matalans. The poor are usually viewed with contempt. In fact, it is very unusual for so many non-noblemen to be included on the Conclave this election cycle. It speaks wonders for the progressiveness of Erasmus. Some kings will exclusively choose nobles or priests to make up the 150.

Fighters and duellists are respected in Matal. There are various guilds and countless roving mercenary bands that deal with problems as they are hired to do so. Mercenary bands are a very common sight in Matal, and almost anyone can be a mercenary.

Magicians are revered as magic is believed to stem from the Lord of the Sky. Many priests are also magicians. Magicians can make up their own mercenary bands or serve noblemen as advisers. There are many magical artefacts to be found in Matal. Scholars say that the 'Lord of the Sky' is actually a giant ball of concentrated magical energy. It enchants random items in the world, sometimes with wondrous abilities. Magicians cannot perform magic when the sun is down, either due to the Lord of the Sky's blessing or the disappearance of the magical energy, no one can truly say.

There are several assassins and thieves' guilds around Matal. They are more local and there is no larger organization controlling it all. The really successful criminals are usually independent. This includes those who have gotten their ways into the Conclave.

The Inheritance Game can be traced back to the origins of Matal, the same royal dynasty of Erasmus wanted above all else to preserve the bloodline, as they believed that they are descended from an ancient, magical race greater than humans or dwarves. They devised a special transitory election where each monarch would select a small group of trusted men and women to elect the most worthy heir as they saw fit. The diversity of this 150, the Conclave, would promise a pure and worthy heir.

At first, the transitory system was fairly simple. The Conclave would be composed of landowners and priests, and usually the eldest son would be elected. That slowly began to change when capitalism and the mind-set of power to the people became prevalent in society, and the monarchs began to include commoners in the mix. The Inheritance Game was born due to the possibility of any blood relative getting elected, even bastards or distant relatives.

The following cases are exceptional in Matal's history and common knowledge among anyone wishing to compete in the Game. Read them if you want some ideas.

During the rule of the 'eccentric' Queen Isabella II, the Conclave was expanded from 50 nobles and priests to 150 men and women from all over Matal. Isabella's youngest son, Jelkhan, was resigned to living life as a simple merchant in a quiet corner of Matal, expecting his oldest brother to win the throne, however due to the influx of merchant electors in the Conclave, Jelkhan was elected in a landslide. The nobility was upset, but dared not offend the merchants lest they cause an economic collapse.

Perhaps one of the most infamous Games in history, when the King was given the Mark, his three daughters took up the game alone. They are popularly known as the Sisters Fair: Matilda, Hildana and Veritross, all beautiful and all deadly. The Sisters Fair fought hard for all eight days; using every trick in the book. Matilda was said to have hired hundreds of assassins for her sisters, but the mercenaries hired to protect Hildana and Veritross protected them. Hildana allegedly poisoned her sisters' meals, but ended up killing her mother in a tragic twist of fate. Veritross claimed to have 'found' Hildana's diary where she detailed her intention to give the nation over to foreigners, but it was later proven to be forged.

On the eighth day, the Conclave was still in a deadlock, so the sisters grew desperate. They drew arms and clashed in battle, where they all slew each other. The Sisters Fair were dead, and their 6 year old brother Regin was elected in their absence.

Eorman was the first bastard to get elected to the throne, and he wasn't exactly making a good name for bastards everywhere. Eorman had trained with a guild of assassins all of his life. When he rose to accept the challenge of the Game, he enlisted the help of his guild. When the Conclave met, he began to bribe them. When bribes failed, he sent his assassins to blackmail them. If that failed, electors were killed as an example to the others. Eorman was elected, which set in motion the timidity of the Conclave.

A bastard of Eorman, Aris was born with his dark blood. She had amassed a following of bandits and marauders before Eorman died. She had been preparing for the Inheritance Game since she was nine. Aris was one of the first to prepare for the death of their parent beforehand, setting a precedence of even more violence and conspiracy in the Games. Aris entered Matal City with 400 soldiers and occupied the palace. The Conclave, threatened by her men, were pressured into electing Aris Queen. The Conclave from this point out became fearful. Not all Conclave members show themselves before election day out of fear for their safety.

Qassa lived his life as a priest of the Lord of the Sky. When his brother the King died, he did not seekt impress the Conclave. He went to the priests of the realm and convinced them that his nieces and nephews were corrupt and living as heathens. With the approval of the Sunblessed Elder herself, Qassa burned the heirs at a stake, leaving himself as the only possible choice for the Conclave. He is responsible for the prominence of the clergy in Matal.

Yulin and eighteen other contenders were in a deadlock for the crown. On the eight day, the heirs gathered in a temple of the Lord of the Sky to pray for an answer to who should be the next ruler. The Temple burned down, and Yulin was the only to survive. She claimed that the rafters caught fire because they were so dry, which the priests took as a direct message that she was meant to rule. On her deathbed, Yulin admitted that she hired an assassin to burn the temple down.

Makaha was a bastard raised in the wilderness in a pagan coven. He was sent forth to participate in the Game with the legitimate heirs. During this particular Game, heirs suffered very mysterious accidents. The eldest son choked on a roast, the King's favorite daughter fell off her horse. An elector of the Conclave who was an outspoken opponent of Makaha was bitten by a viper. All of these acts were Makaha's doing, and the Witch King was elected with great ease.

The currently ruling king is widely known for his great affinity for scholars. When his brothers and sisters were off literally fighting for the throne, Erasmus was in college. When his brother slayed his sister in single combat, Erasmus was quietly spreading his influence. When his uncle drowned in a river to try and prove his strength, Erasmus was making friends with the Conclave. When it came to the eighth day, Erasmus was easily elected. It is a wise reminder to remember the quiet ones.

12 Merchants, Traders, Peddlers and Innkeepers
4 Business Tycoons (Iron, Wine, Dresses, and Meat industries)
14 Teachers, Librarians and Scholars
8 Housewives, Widows and Mothers
15 Lower-Middle class working men
4 Farmers
10 Soldiers in the Royal Army and Navy
5 Adventurers, Mercenaries, Sellswords and Duelists
10 Priests
28 Men and Women of Noble Birth, Landholders and Government Officials
3 Foreign Dignitaries (The three countries bordering Matal, more honorary than anything)
4 Native Dwarves
3 Hunters
3 Fisherman
7 Wizards, Magicians, Witches and other Magically Affiliated
15 Blacksmiths, Builders, Plumbers and other Craftsmen
12 Individuals who bought, bribed, blackmailed or otherwise nefariously gained their way into the Conclave
8 Artists, Painters, Poets and Bards

Name:
Princess Alexandria

Gender:
Female

Age:
21

Royal Status:
Legitimate daughter of High Queen Verandriah

Appearance:


Alexandria has the same auburn golden-red hair of her mother, its shine being almost flawless and irresistible. Her figure his thin and dainty, and it is said that she is one of the most beautiful women in the entire lands of Matal and beyond. She wears only the fairest royal gowns and most beautifully crafted dresses, she knows how to hold herself at all times so that she looks graceful and elegant. Her eyes are a light shade of green, as were her father’s – that is before they turned a bright shade of purple, they often gleam when she is deep in thought. All in all she appears almost exactly as you would expect a princess of Matal to, although appearances can be deceiving.

Personality:
Alexandria has the ability to behave in the most upstanding and gracious way, her gift with words only helping her to behave in an incredibly mature and intelligent way. The majority of people that she interacts with only see and believe exactly what she wishes them to of her, and see only ‘The Princess Alexandria’. The truth to her personality is that she is cunning and ruthless, with a somewhat hidden cruel streak. That being said she is not overly cruel or malevolent – she is just determined to win the inheritance game, and has prepared to do so her entire life. No deed is to dark or cruel for her to dismiss outright, and she will consider the strength of all options before committing to a course.
The very few times Alexandria ever gets to be herself is when she is alone or with people who do not actually know who she is – such as when she is in disguise and her actions could never come back to her.

Skills:
Alexandria has many many skills, having spent her entire life preparing for this very moment.
Through the urgings of her mother she is familiar with all aspects of Matal ‘s laws and culture – as well as versed in all the customs and practises of the religion of Matal. She has studied many subjects extensively in order to prepare her for anything that may come her way and is familiar with the many trade and work laws.

She has also spent much time training with a rapier, knowing all too well that she would be an obvious target for any seeking to win the games through attrition or murder. Her mother arranged in secret to have her trained by her personal guardsman outside of the royal grounds – with much time and much hard work she has finally reached a proficient level of skill and can now confidently defend herself, and if need be take a life. As far as she is aware only her mother, father and Captain Reynard are aware of her skills.
Unknown all but to herself, Alexandria is a very skilled liar. Throughout her life she has learned that with only words and a little manipulation that it is very easy to reach her goals and get what she wants. At the age of 21 she is now an experienced veteran when it comes deception and cunning, and she will not hesitate to use every tool at her disposal to further her own agenda.

Background:
Born as a legitimate candidate to the throne Alexandria grew up with everything you would expect of a princess – she had everything she could want and more. She had a very strong relationship with her mother, who began to teach her from a very early age many of the vital skills she would need. When she was old enough to understand the inheritance game she knew what she wanted, and that was to be Queen just like her mother.

As she grew from a child to a woman her skills continued to grow with her, and she prepared for the day that her father’s eyes would change colour and her task would begin. Soon she reached a point where she had learnt as much from her mother as she could, and as much as she was thankful she knew she needed more to survive and to be victorious. She began to sneak away from the Royal grounds whenever she was able, and in disguise she began to experience life as the people of Metal did. With the resources she had as a princess it was not difficult for her to establish contacts in the criminal world under an alias, and once she had a few skilled men she felt she could trust sufficiently she began to expand the influence that she had through bribes and favours. Before she knew it several years had passed and she now was responsible for a sufficiently powerful criminal element within the capital of Matal, responsible for bribing certain officials and other important people in exchange for favours. They had contacts with other criminal elements in the Capital as well, and could arrange almost any service or job. Though the enterprise had grown and been more successful than she could have imagined, Alexandria made sure that she kept her distance from the group and only dealt directly with one of her two partners – and always as her alias.

As if to confirm that she were ready for the challenge, soon after her father’s eyes turned from green to bright purple, signifying that things were about to get very interesting.

Name: Prince Manalen

Gender: Male

Age: 27

Royal Status: Prince of Matal, Son of High King Erasmus

Appearance:

Manalen stands reasonably tall among his peers. He is thin and without much muscle to his name. He has a short head of dark black hair and has inherited green eyes from his mother. However, unlike his younger sister, his own eyes have always been described as seemingly lifeless and dull. Though he would never admit it to himself much less anyone else, he could be considered slightly jealous of his sister’s eyes. Rumours of such, along with much more talk of his unscrupulous night-time activities, are abound in the court. Something which only functions to add to the rumours is his unusually pale skin for a mage and former student under the clergy. Much to his dismay his skin seems to only burn before blistering and peeling off when he exposes himself to the light of his holy god.

The stresses from his magical works and countless hours spent combing the library books for information on various topics has left him somewhat aged for his actual years. His brow has been furrowed for too many hours to now undo and an almost permanent set of crow’s feet are about his eyes.

It is normal for Manalen to dress in the traditional long robes of the wizards and mages of Matal, though more official occasions he used to be forced into more respectable ware for a prince. Now he is older and in control of his own actions, he prefers the bright blues, whites and gold’s signalling his respect to the clergy and mages of his people, along with the more ‘old fashioned’ garb of more ‘pure’ times.

Personality:

Manalen has always been somewhat stuffy and traditional in his approaches, focusing on what has been recorded as happening in the past rather than focusing on the future. When his plots and plans are unravelled, he often needs a moment to resort the ideas in his head to keep things moving on track, leaving a clear opening for other manipulators actions. He holds several of the old ideas, such as those of the importance of blood in lineage, in high esteem. This leaves him slightly disconnected to the fast-changing ideas on equality within Matal. He is not held back by such ideals in areas of economics or magical discovery however, and has devoted much of his life to supporting and unravelling the secrets of the cosmos.

Manalen is loathe to lie, and has often made the mistake of being too trusting towards others because of this. This is a habit he has in recent years tried his best to break out of, though the results may vary when he is excited, or wants to hear the answer given. He has also been far too judgemental on the abilities of others. His ideas on blood found in his books clearly do not apply when all the focus of the player’s energies is on the inheritance game. Any peasant with a drop of the right blood could simply kill the other leading candidates before threatening that same to the conclave. If the holy sky lord should will his downfall to his own arrogance in not spotting such a threat early, then it seems to him that there is little he can do but change to better fit the lord’s will of his people and avoid his wrath.

Skills:

As an heir, he has taken largely after his father, focusing himself primarily on his books to amass a useful amount of knowledge. His topic has mostly been on magic, with a splash of economics and religion, though his pale appearance is a slight set-back in the last area’s regard. He has strong contacts in the forefront areas of research and a strong command over the realm of magic. However, due to the inordenent amount of time spent cooped up studying over the past two decades or so of his life, his physical areas leave much to be desired. He is generally weak in combat, though over the past year has devoted some time each week to knife practise, though in private and against an unmoving target.

He is generally renown as having a wider and deeper range of knowledge than his father, however this has come at the cost of people-skills and his ability to predict other’s movements. From his time mingling with the clergy he has picked up the skills of stealth at night to retrieve forbidden and heretical works from their sealed libraries. Locking picking skills also came into use during this time.

Background:

Manalen was raised a true and proper prince of Matal, however it has only been in recent years that he has considered the facts on his father’s mortality. Until recently he has been seen as ‘out of the loop’ on most general information. Up until now he was focused primarily on the areas of magic with a firm grounding in economics and the local religion of Matal. At a young age he quickly demanded the attention of the clergy and mages with his unusually strong skill with magic. As part of his training and deep desire to further his knowledge he served for a time alongside the clergy of the temples of the sun. However, anyone monitoring his movements during this time would be sure to note how often he seemed to change temple, which oddly matched up with a short spree of break-ins in the dead of the night. Also odd, was the unusually small amount taken from the rooms. Anyone with a brain enough to match Manalen to the crimes would note that it would be likely he was merely feigning attention away from some other area of the temple, or his own actions.

Currently no-one other than himself knows that under the cover of darkness he broke into the secret libraries of heretical works and high-level magic’s to steal their secrets and the odd book or scroll. The second break-in on the surface level was merely to deflect attention from the lower levels. As penance for his crimes in the night, he would spend the next morning in meditation, thinking over what he had learned, in the sun. Manalen holds, as can clearly be seen with the reign of Queen Yulin, that the holy lord of the sky only seemed to enact thorough the hands of his royal bloodline, not the machinations of money or greed. Therefore, the fact that he didn’t explode into holy fire the second he stepped out into the light was a sure sign that he was working towards his will, albeit in an unorthodox manner. It seemed everything had to surely occur to his will in the end, even if mortal minds couldn’t fathom its path. That hasn’t stopped Manalen from vowing to try however.

As time has worn on, he has distance himself somewhat from the burning light of the clergy of the temples and focused his attentions back onto the other areas a true king ought to know. Areas such as the economic side of state have come easily to him. Like his father before him, Manalen has a more modern approach to the money workings within the nation rather than the more traditional methods of the past. It seemed to him that a simple economic analysis ought to be enough to change anyone else’s mind; the thought that some people are stuck in a more traditional mindset is quite foreign.

Name: Prince Gregor

Gender: Male

Age: 31

Royal Status: Legitimate Son

Appearance:

Personality:

Whilst his other siblings are rather apt at being gracious or at least able to make up for this with intelligence, Gregor can come across as rather gruff and blunt, sometimes to the point of rudeness. He doesn't mean it, but spending most of your days around hard-boiled knights and foul-mouthed guards will do that to you. The flip side to this is that he's very good at just getting to the point, and deep down he does have a kind heart beneath the stoney demeanor. He casts a rather stoic and uncompromising figure when it comes to court proceedings. Whilst able to deceive, Gregor prefers not to. Such underhanded methods are below him.

Always the chivalrous one, Gregor has always tried to protect his siblings, whether they wanted his help or not. He felt they needed it.

Skills:

Gregor is an expert in law and order, able to reel off list after list of all the common laws which rule the land, and very apt at seeking out people whom dare to break them. This comes from his time as the capitol city's Marshal (ie City Guard Commander), which has also gained him extensive experience in picking out nefarious characters. Though his book-smarts may be lacking, his level of streets-wise is impressive, and his ability to generate good relations with the local populace always comes in handy.

Undoubtedly Gregor's main strength comes from his...eh...strength. Adept at using various weapons and able to move easily in armour, Gregor has been on the forefront of keeping the peace since he was a young man, with the scars to prove it. This means he is formidable in combat. This concentration, however, has left his skills in court-deception, noble proceedings and general expected behaviour lacking, making him an unpopular figure in the upper echelons of society. So whilst he might be able to fight off assailants, he's much more susceptible for falling for tricks, and much less likely to employ such unmoral tactics in reply.

Background:

Born the first son to High King Erasmus, Gregor was held in high regard during his early formative years. He was marketed as the perfect son, and for a time people believed it. This image soon began to erode, as it became increasingly clear that the boy had little interest in the power of books, and even less concern for how a young noble should behave properly in court. By the time he was in his mid-teens, Gregor had used up all his past good faith gained from being the first son and was seen as a bit of a failure in all areas. Save one; fighting. This was his saving grace, and his sole concentration till he became a young man and was given actual responsibility. He would take over from the old city Marshal and be put in charge himself. He was a strong character, and this was a factor in his appointment, but it was mostly to keep him away from court (unless he had something to report) and therefore prevent any embarrassment for the royal family in front of foreign dignitaries.

Despite this, Gregor was always loyal to his parents, especially his father. He was the first to be at the old king's bedside when the Mark appeared in the early hours of the morning. It wasn't until then that the man thought of the Inheritance Game again. Most of his time was occupied with maintaining administrative work, training new guards or going out on patrol. He had no actual interest in ruling, he knew it involved far too much court time. Still, he was foolish enough to swear to his father that he would ensure the crown was put in safe hands, though not necessarily his own. Indeed, the man actually intends to use all his resources to support the current youngest sibling amongst them, acting as their protector and main supporter.

To this end Gregor will use all his years as Marshal to his utmost advantage. With connections within the city guard, the army and some minor connections with local businessmen who he's helped protect, Gregor is a formidable contender in the Inheritance Game.

He won't give over the crown quietly.

Name: Jean-Claude Matal

Gender: male

Age: 22

Royal Status: Son of the king, Prince if you must.

Appearance: Jean is a tall figure with silver hair and piercing blue eyes

Personality: He is nearly silent prefering to speak most when official matters are at hand. He believes that the more he speaks, the more he gives away about himself. He is very diligent in anything that may concern him, which is why he is determined to claim this inheritance as that which is his own. It's only customary that he get at least the largest share, as he had worked the hardest of them all to reach where he had gotten, nevermind his father.

Skills: While Jean has received intermediate fencing training, his true strengths lie within his strategical mind. He is a successful business man and Psychologist with an aptitude for the subliminal actions of the mind. Seeing how people will react is what made him so prominent. With enough time, he can conduct a situation in to his own symphony of happenstance, entirely on purpose

Background: As the son of one of the king's less prominent widows, Jean was raised in a simple farm village. When he had been told of his heritage by his mother, he decided then and there that he was going to do his best to earn his way in to prosperity if his father was not willing to take responsibility.

Currently, he is the owner of a company that sells a variety of items for the common and wealthy. He has also written an essay on psychology that has been praised as "a work of art detailing our mind" and other positive descriptions. This earned him much fame as a respected Psychologist as well as business man, the latter to which he claims to owe to the former. He had learned of his father's imminent death through one of his many contacts who are employed to keep tabs on news in the area. He is coming to claim what he has so rightfully earned.

Name: Prince Gregor

Gender: Male

Age: 31

Royal Status: Legitimate Son

Appearance:



Personality:

Whilst his other siblings are rather apt at being gracious or at least able to make up for this with intelligence, Gregor can come across as rather gruff and blunt, sometimes to the point of rudeness. He doesn't mean it, but spending most of your days around hard-boiled knights and foul-mouthed guards will do that to you. The flip side to this is that he's very good at just getting to the point, and deep down he does have a kind heart beneath the stoney demeanor. He casts a rather stoic and uncompromising figure when it comes to court proceedings. Whilst able to deceive, Gregor prefers not to. Such underhanded methods are below him.

Always the chivalrous one, Gregor has always tried to protect his siblings, whether they wanted his help or not. He felt they needed it.

Skills:

Gregor is an expert in law and order, able to reel off list after list of all the common laws which rule the land, and very apt at seeking out people whom dare to break them. This comes from his time as the capitol city's Marshal (ie City Guard Commander), which has also gained him extensive experience in picking out nefarious characters. Though his book-smarts may be lacking, his level of streets-wise is impressive, and his ability to generate good relations with the local populace always comes in handy.

Undoubtedly Gregor's main strength comes from his...eh...strength. Adept at using various weapons and able to move easily in armour, Gregor has been on the forefront of keeping the peace since he was a young man, with the scars to prove it. This means he is formidable in combat. This concentration, however, has left his skills in court-deception, noble proceedings and general expected behaviour lacking, making him an unpopular figure in the upper echelons of society. So whilst he might be able to fight off assailants, he's much more susceptible for falling for tricks, and much less likely to employ such unmoral tactics in reply.

Background:

Born the first son to High King Erasmus, Gregor was held in high regard during his early formative years. He was marketed as the perfect son, and for a time people believed it. This image soon began to erode, as it became increasingly clear that the boy had little interest in the power of books, and even less concern for how a young noble should behave properly in court. By the time he was in his mid-teens, Gregor had used up all his past good faith gained from being the first son and was seen as a bit of a failure in all areas. Save one; fighting. This was his saving grace, and his sole concentration till he became a young man and was given actual responsibility. He would take over from the old city Marshal and be put in charge himself. He was a strong character, and this was a factor in his appointment, but it was mostly to keep him away from court (unless he had something to report) and therefore prevent any embarrassment for the royal family in front of foreign dignitaries.

Despite this, Gregor was always loyal to his parents, especially his father. He was the first to be at the old king's bedside when the Mark appeared in the early hours of the morning. It wasn't until then that the man thought of the Inheritance Game again. Most of his time was occupied with maintaining administrative work, training new guards or going out on patrol. He had no actual interest in ruling, he knew it involved far too much court time. Still, he was foolish enough to swear to his father that he would ensure the crown was put in safe hands, though not necessarily his own. Indeed, the man actually intends to use all his resources to support the current youngest sibling amongst them, acting as their protector and main supporter.

To this end Gregor will use all his years as Marshal to his utmost advantage. With connections within the city guard, the army and some minor connections with local businessmen who he's helped protect, Gregor is a formidable contender in the Inheritance Game.

He won't give over the crown quietly.