conversations.from: system
conversations.value: 
  ##Summary
  
  Deadly faerie monsters invade an alternative Elizabethan England, perhaps with the Virgin Queen’s connivance, leaving the defense of the realm in the hands of an outwardly motley but tight-knit group of adventurers, plotters, and lovers.
  
  ##Setting
  
  England and the high seas, circa 1567. The latest public craze is investing in expeditions to recover rich treasures of pirate gold recently buried on remote tropical isles. Old salts spin wild yarns and sinister backstreet bookshops sell treasure maps galore. Agents of the Virgin Queen have hanged every last pirate they haven’t sunk on the waves, and are hot on the trail of The Black Spot, a secret pirate brotherhood ashore in England, traitors who seek to bring down the Crown.
  
  Away from London, the countryside is alive with very different rumors; monsters out of fairy tales and old folklore prowl and lurk, and farm folk are disappearing. 
  
  The young Queen Elizabeth came to the throne imperious, full of both promise and energy. She convened councils to personally direct sea captains, issuing letters of marque making them privateers in personal service to the Sovereign, and promptly sent them on secretive voyages to the Caribbean. Word spread that they were hounding pirates and bringing a new peace and prosperity, tightening England’s rule over the waves, and spurring the bright dream of empire. 
  
  Now, almost a decade later, with Philip of Spain rattling sabers, and werewolves, satyrs, sinister spell-hurling elves, and worse abroad in the wilder woods of the realm, word is spreading that Britain’s privateers sailed to uncharted isles to bury not treasure, but runestones—the ancient enchanted stones that kept shut the gates of Faerie, barring the beasts of the fey from England. Undercover Black Spot members roam England, whispering over tankards in the taverns late at night that the Virgin Queen seeks to become the Faerie Queen and establish a Faerie rule first over England, and then over all corners of the burgeoning Empire.
  
  ##Tone
  
  I’m seeing this as a episodic drama about a group of ‘experts’ who band together to fight the influx of supernatural incidents as the faerie world begins to bleed into our own. Think Tudor era Buffy/X Files and you won’t be far off.
  
  ##Potential characters
  
  You play characters held together by blood, love, and the loyalty of comradeship in a time that desperately needs them.
  
  Characters might include (but are not limited to):
  - Black Spot member
  - young recruit to the cause of freedom
  - opportunistic pirate privateer chartered by Elizabeth
  - member of the Royal Secret Service 
  - courtier (pro- or anti-Elizabeth) 
  - bewildered but sword-skilled noble 
  - stalwart yeoman farmer (seeking to defend your home locale and the wider realm) 
  - Spanish undercover agent (seeking  to foment discord, slaughter, and  public mistrust) 
  - Royal Society member
  - Minor count or countess
  - Wife to local land owner
  - Expert in faerie lore
  
  Historically women were considered inferior to men and expected to be led by them at all times. I would like any female characters in this story to be quietly effective and able to hold their own against the patriarchs of these times. I'm not overly concerned about historical accuracy but it would be good to retain a Tudor flavour. Female characters will probably encounter light sexism from male NPCs but hopefully with the end product of proving them all wrong. Perhaps male characters will be on the end of light sexism from faerie NPCs. That is up to us..
  
  ------------------------
  
  ##Example poles (strength/weakness cards)
  Loyalty vs. ambition
  Bravery vs. cowardice
  Teacher vs. tyrant
  
  **Example desires (subplot cards)**
  To gain power
  To be loved
  To be forgiven
  To be desired
  To be powerless
  To be happy
  To be punished
  To gain vengeance
  
  ##Relationships and "needs"
  
  ##Alfredus from Colin
  **Superficial objective:** Alfredus wants nothing to do with Colin.
  **Emotional undertone:** Alfredus would like to Colin to release any hold he has over him.
  **Obstacle**  Colin needs Alfredus to help find a 'cure' for him.
  
  ##Alfredus from Edmund:
  **Superficial objective:** Alfredus wants to help Edmund by mending his family relationship
  **Emotional undertone:** Alfredus would like the return of his status as friend and benefactor of an influential family.
  **Obstacle:** Edmund believes that his science has blinded Alfredus to the larger picture. He is also increasingly suspicious about Alfredus’s intentions toward Margaret.
  
  ##Alfredus from Margaret:
  **Superficial objective:** Alfredus wants to start a romance with Margaret
  **Emotional undertone:** Alfredus wants to be admired and valued as a man.
  **Obstacle:** M does not yet feel that way about A.
  
  ##Margaret from Edmund:
  **Superficial objective:** M wants E to show romantic feelings.
  **Emotional undertone:** M needs reassurance from E that she is both skilled and desirable after the reactions of all men in the room to Mara’s superior power and beauty.
  **Obstacle:** Previous rejection has wounded E's pride. He is also naturally reserved and showing her how much he feels will be a challenge.
  
  ##Margaret from Alfredus:
  **Superficial objective:** M wants A to respect her field of study.
  **Emotional undertone:** M wants A to accept that her fey studies do not taint her as sinful.
  **Obstacle:** A was horrified by the fey and with what happened to Elspeth as a result. Margaret was a part of that.
  
  ##Margaret From Colin:
  **Superficial objective:** M wants C to explain himself
  **Emotional undertone:** M wants C to choose them over Mara
  **Obstacle:** Mara is his sister and was his lover. Their connection is strong and of longer standing than these strained new relationships
  
  ##Colin From Margaret:
  **Superficial objective:** C wants M to give him the opportunity to explain about his past.
  **Emotional undertone:** C wants understanding from M (then trust and then companionship)
  **Obstacle:** She was horrified by the sister/lover revelation and doesn’t trust him.
  
  ##Colin From Alfredus:
  **Superficial objective:** C wants A to change his research to more occult and alchemical fields
  **Emotional undertone:** C wants A to trust and believe him that his behaviour was caused by a disease and that he wants a cure
  **Obstacle:** A wants nothing more to do with C
  
  ##Colin From Edmund:
  **Superficial objective:** C wants E to show that he is fully invested in their mission.
  **Emotional undertone:** C wants E to prove himself to C.
  **Obstacle:** Edmund believes that Colin has demonstrated his true colors and will side with his sister over their group. He is also well aware that Colin sees him as a pawn to manipulate.
  
  ##Edmund from Colin:
  **Superficial objective:** E want C to provide evidence that he is loyal to the crown.
  **Emotional undertone:** E wants to be reassured by C
  **Obstacle:** **TBC**
  
  ##Edmund from Alfredus:
  **Superficial objective:** Edmund wants Alfredus to develop some alchemical means to protect them from further harm the next time they go against the fey. 
  **Emotional undertone:** E wants to A to give him security
  **Obstacle:** Edmund’s proposal sounds too much like witchcraft for Alfredus’s comfort. As a Christian man, Alfredus rejects it.
  
  ##Edmund from Margaret:
  **Superficial objective:** Edmund wants Margaret to accept his declaration of love and agree to his proposal. He also wishes for her help mending the frayed relationship between himself and Henry, his only remaining family member, and for her to assist him in restoring the ground he has lost at court.
  **Emotional undertone:** E wants to M to show him love
  **Obstacle:** She believes he is only offering marriage for convenience & financial gain. Also, his brother was horrible to them and she thinks he’s a jerk.
conversations.from: human
conversations.value: “First, do no harm,” the oath of a physician since the time of Galen and Hipocrates, guides your hand in all your dealings with the health of others. Properly balanced humours are the foundation of good health.
conversations.prefix: Pole: Physician:
conversations.from: gpt
conversations.value: So little that is true or useful is known about the human body. Some properly-done experiments would answer many questions, even if they did result in suffering for the patient.
conversations.prefix: Pole: Scientist:
conversations.from: human
conversations.value: To give in to the Fey heritage in his blood and plunge Queen and Kingdom into darkness
conversations.prefix: Pole: Fey Heritage:
conversations.from: gpt
conversations.value: To defend Queen and Country against all threats no matter the consequences.
conversations.prefix: Pole: Loyalty:
conversations.from: human
conversations.value: The poetic soul recognizes that there are more things in heaven and earth that are dreamt of in philosophy.
  
  Being possessed of wit, along with the ability to weave words together as well as any of the luminaries of the court, can be a powerful weapon.
conversations.prefix: Pole: Poet:
conversations.from: gpt
conversations.value: Science has made great strides, and the rational mind demands proof and logic and rejects credulous simplicity without evidence.
  
  An adherent to the philosophical tenets of Enlightenment thought will trust only what their senses verify.
conversations.prefix: Pole: Philosopher:
conversations.from: human
conversations.value: Everyone should have access to knowledge
conversations.prefix: Pole: Scholar:
conversations.from: gpt
conversations.value: Some knowledge is too dangerous for everyone to learn.
conversations.prefix: Pole: Censor:
conversations.from: human
conversations.value: Margaret wants Colin to tell her the truth of his intentions. She is hoping he'll choose them over Mara.
conversations.prefix: Drama: Margaret from Colin:
conversations.from: gpt
conversations.value: Walsingham is angry. He wants to find out what happened in Norfolk and intends to disband or imprison the team.
conversations.prefix: Action: Convince Walsingham:
conversations.from: human
conversations.value: Edmund is looking for security from Alfredus  - trying to get him to concoct an alchemical protection against the fey. Alfredus believes that such a thing would be improper and leave him open to accusations of witchcraft.
conversations.prefix: Drama: Edmund from Alfredus:
conversations.from: gpt
conversations.value: The team have been brought in to investigate the disappearance as there are certain things about it that cannot be explained. How was it that Carey vanished from his bed without waking any of his household? Why are there no signs of a struggle? How is the door bolted from the inside?
conversations.prefix: Action: Investigate Carey's disappearance:
conversations.from: human
conversations.value: Can you gain access to Anne Morgan before her mind and body is broken by interrogation in the Tower?
conversations.prefix: Action: Gain access to Anne Morgan:
conversations.from: gpt
conversations.value: Magaret wants Colin to reveal some of his secrets to help secure the release of the innocent Anne Morgan. Will he?
conversations.prefix: Drama: Margaret from Colin:
conversations.from: human
conversations.value: Role: Royal Society Fellow - The society’s core members are the fellows: scientists and engineers from the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth selected based on having made “a substantial contribution to the improvement of natural knowledge, including mathematics, engineering science and medical science”.
  
conversations.prefix: Role: Royal Society Fellow:
conversations.from: gpt
conversations.value: “First, do no harm,” the oath of a physician since the time of Galen and Hipocrates, guides your hand in all your dealings with the health of others. Properly balanced humours are the foundation of good health.
conversations.prefix: Pole: Physician:
conversations.from: human
conversations.prefix: Wild:
conversations.from: gpt
conversations.value: Pole: Scientist
  So little that is true or useful is known about the human body. Some properly-done experiments would answer many questions, even if they did result in suffering for the patient.
  
conversations.prefix: Pole: Scientist:
conversations.from: human
conversations.prefix: Wild:
conversations.from: gpt
conversations.value: To be recognized as a leading figure in the world of Natural History is your greatest desire; to be honored by the Royal Society, or even be elected its President, is a dream yet unrealized.
conversations.prefix: Desire: To Gain Fame:
conversations.from: human
conversations.value: All stories have an element of truth in them. The trick is separating truth from fiction and sometimes, the truth is the stranger of the two and the fiction is there to keep us from recognizing the truth. It is your task to separate truth from fiction.
  
  Poles: as a Scholar you want to learn everything. As a Censor you know some knowledge is too dangerous for everyone to learn.
conversations.prefix: Literary Scholar:
conversations.from: gpt
conversations.value: You have spent your life accumulating knowledge of folklore and languages. If you don't know the answer, you can probably find it.
conversations.prefix: Knowledgeable:
conversations.from: human
conversations.prefix: Wild:
conversations.from: gpt
conversations.value: What if all you've learned isn't enough and you really are nothing more than ordinary?
conversations.prefix: Fear of Failure:
conversations.from: human
conversations.prefix: Wild:
conversations.from: gpt
conversations.value: You want to be respected for your long years of study and to escape the stifling role tradition would assign to you.
conversations.prefix: Respect:
conversations.from: human
conversations.value: The Royal Secret Service depends on men with quick wits, quick blades, little scruples and an unshakable loyalty to Queen and country.
  
  **Pole**: **Loyalty**
  To defend Queen and Country against all threats no matter the consequences.
  **Pole**: **Fey Heritage**
  To give in to the Fey heritage in his blood and plunge Queen and Kingdom into darkness
conversations.prefix: Half-Blood Spy:
conversations.from: gpt
conversations.value: You are a part of both worlds. You have some innate knowledge about the world beyond the Veil and share some of the Fey's strengths and weaknesses.
conversations.prefix: Fey Heritage:
conversations.from: human
conversations.prefix: Wild:
conversations.from: gpt
conversations.value: You are in a constant battle to stay true to your human nature. The dark side within you fills your mind with alien thoughts and desires. To give in means to shed your humanity and join the battle on your father's side.
conversations.prefix: The Beast Within:
conversations.from: human
conversations.prefix: Wild:
conversations.from: gpt
conversations.value: Living in turmoil for all his live, torn between the rage within and his conscious thoughts, feeling like an outcast -this has to end.
conversations.prefix: Desire: A place to belong:
conversations.from: human
conversations.value: You attempt to maintain the highest principles. Your word, once given, can be depended upon. 
conversations.prefix: Honorable:
conversations.from: gpt
conversations.value: You are somewhat lacking in charm, elegance, and inept at putting your best foot forward.
conversations.prefix: Graceless:
conversations.from: human
conversations.value: Baldassare Castiglione pointed out that the court is no place for a weakling. A man can make his fortune…or he can lose his head.
conversations.prefix: Courtier:
conversations.from: gpt
conversations.value: The Queen can appreciate a man who has a way with words and is quick with ideas. The ability to weave  sentences together and create new meanings, to soar on flights of fancy, is a highly valued skill. In a battle of wits, it is best not to be disarmed. 
conversations.prefix: Quick-Witted:
conversations.from: human
conversations.prefix: Wild:
conversations.from: gpt
conversations.value: Dangerous times call for practical solutions, and sometimes it is difficult to see the greater picture when your concern is with the immediate present and what can be grasped using the five senses. There are more things in Heaven and Earth, Horatio...but not to a practical sort of fellow. 
conversations.prefix: Hard-Headed :
conversations.from: human
conversations.prefix: Wild:
conversations.from: gpt
conversations.value: The sun rises and sets with the Queen’s smile. She can make a man’s future, piling glory and honor upon him, or she can utterly destroy him.
  
  Gaining Elizabeth’s favor is like catching hold of Fortune’s wheel. It is relatively simple to rise to the top at Court, but remaining there takes skill and luck.
  
  Is it possible to craft a name for oneself that is based on merit rather than birth? How does one go about gaining royal favor so that new-made reputation shines brightly?
conversations.prefix: Desire: To Make a Name:
conversations.from: human
conversations.value: Colin has a strict, personal set of rules regarding justice and responsibilty, even though some of his views are incompatible with the law or human morals.
conversations.prefix: Code of Honor:
conversations.from: gpt
conversations.value: The Queen's Ladies jockey for position, not only for themselves, but their families and the many hours spent together has made you more familiar than you'd like with their various stories.
conversations.prefix: Connected: