Story Notes

Thoughts for Season One:   Considering the characters in this world as parts of a TV show, this is a brief summary of some plot elements from the start of the first season.    The ancient Dragons of Siné and Bok are waking up, flying across the Kosi and driving refugees northward from Eilin and Tiris. These refugees cause stress in the already overpopulated cities of the north lands, but they also provide mercenary forces for the likes of Baronet, Lowgal, and LeBâton.   The old Dragon Masters of Dorian are lost to history and scattered to the four corners of the world. Their power comes from within, but can be channeled with the magic gems known as Dragon Eyes. (Actually, the gems are useless, but are found inside the Dragon’s Eye fruits, which grow only in Dorian and Sodor.) Their ancient traditions are lost to history, save for a few records in Erbor, which is soon to be under attack by dragons. No expedition will be sent to this library until it lies in ruins.   A complicated dance is beginning between the Lionnar children, the Storm’s Eye, and LaForêt, which will result in the death of more than one of the high-ranking characters not included in these decks. Danfort Lionnar will kidnap the Queen, leaving an opening for Chelsée Lionnar’s impatience to lead her into a less-than-perfect alliance with Lowan LaForêt, who kills the King and several others on both sides. This battle installs Chelsée as Regent of Iona, Beloya, and Kingsgate, but she remains powerless over most of Higale, which fall under the control of pontiff Elike DuPré (who fends off the Storms’ Eye) and warmonger Étienne LaForêt. Ceding a huge territory to DuPré is part of a ploy by LaForêt and Cäcilia Miter to destabilize the Burning Tower by overextending its resources to rule a wider territory, so that Cäcilia can pick off the few remaining prelates at the Burning Tower.   Casamere Siu is indeed a spy, in the employ of Étienne LaForêt, recruited by Gerals Bûcheron to spy on Orsus Wendham and learn more about the Silent Armada. She isn’t supposed to draw him away from Meere, but his greedy son Gauge will convince her to do so, complicating the plans of LaForêt.   Türmont Riĉa gains the trust of the Fire Hand towards the end of Season One, but his ability to control dragons doesn’t become relevant until a few seasons on. This requires coordination with the Wizard Raynar Baronet and Exile Jonah CœurdeBœuf, neither of whom are really in play in Season 1.   From the First Draft Story Deck:   Blue Sequence (Sierin / Simoleon Family)   Scene 1: Whispers in the Lion’s Den. Siobhán Simoleon wanders the halls of Iona Castle, eavesdropping on hushed meetings and spicy gossip.   Scene 2: The Peers of the Wind. Mica CœurdeBœuf is invited to a secret meeting of the most powerful merchant families in Baronet-on-Merit’s Bay.   Scene 3: Farewell to Lords-Baron. Young Türmont Rica bids goodbye to his family in Aoni, and sets off on an adventure to the city of Meere.   Scene 4: Mystery of the Dragon Eye. Recluse Raynar Baronet performs experiments in his tower laboratory, high above the city of Esto.   Scene 5: A Gamble at the Docks. Chate Purstring, Baronet’s Mistress of Coin, joins in a rowdy longshoreman’s dice game on the docks in Merit’s Bay.   Scene 6: A Secret Infatuation. At Lionnar Castle, the recluse Siobhán Simoleon awkwardly informs Steev Lignogardo of her fondest desires.   Scene 7: Plantations of Lac Viève. Étienne LaForêt tours the lentil farms of Leonn Baronet-Simoleon, who casually mocks the poverty of LeBâton.   Scene 8: Türmont’s Journey North. After many hardships on land and sea, the adventurer Türmont Rica arrives in the filedocks at Meere.   Scene 9: A Raven’s Heart. At Larnins University, Saron Baronet joins the Raven’s Grave and discovers an appetite for assassination.   Scene 10: Passage to the Fire Isle. A quick study among the craftsmen of the Fire Hand, Türmont Rica earns a rare invitation to the Island of Fris.   Purple Sequence (The Burning Tower)   Scene 1: Guardians of the Tower. Pontiff Elike DuPré and his iron hand Ferna Pastaroj review the Red Cloaks, guardians of the Burning Tower.   Scene 2: Sunrise in Mikoren. Priests and townsfolk carry out the daily duties of the little town on the shores of Lake Jirulen.   Scene 3: Darkness Below the Tower. Calcuti Prelator and Ferna Pastaroj tour the dungeons beneath the Burning Tower. Ferna does all the talking.   Scene 4: A Bold Venture. Unfazed by the prospect of violence, dealmaker Mica CœurdeBœuf settles a tense shipping dispute in Merit’s Bay.   Scene 5: A Storm Rises. At the top of the Burning Tower, Pontiff DuPré hears council regarding the elusive heretics, Storm’s Eye.   Scene 6: The Liars’ Bargain. In a dark basement in LeBâton City, patriarch Lowan LaForêt negotiates in bad faith with Pontiff Elike DuPré.   Scene 7: A Missed Opportunity. At Coniff Tower, DuPré’s assassins bungle another attempt on the life of the heretic Cäcilia Miter.   Scene 8: Secrets of the Lion’s Tower. As the battle rages for Iona Castle, Calcuti Prelator evades the violence by way of several secret passages.   Scene 9: A Break in the Flame. Pontiff DuPré’s forces have been spread too thin, and the Storm’s Eye lays claim to the Burning Tower.   Scene 10: The Candle Extinguished. Cäcilia Miter oversees the disbanding of the Red Cloaks, douses the Old Flame, and assassinates Pontiff DuPré.   Red Deck (Iona Castle / Lionnar Family)   Scene 1: Sunrise on the Lion’s Keep. The day breaks on the daily business of Kind Arduchai Lionnar, Queen Gale, and the denizens of Iona Castle.   Scene 2: Children of the Otegarde. In a secret meeting with Lowan LaForêt, Chelsée Lionnar hatches nefarious plots against her father.   Scene 3: The Lion’s Council. The small Iona High Council meets on pressing matters of state, as Calcuti Prelator skulks in the shadows.   Scene 4: A Gallaunt in Merit’s Bay. The outcast Stover Gallaunt lands in Merit’s Bay and meets the colorful dock workers of Baronet City.   Scene 5: A New Life in Meere. Philosopher-thief Georg Bruneik and his loving wife Catwyth arrive in Meere after a harrowing journey west.   Scene 6: The King’s Challenge. Kind Arduchai sponsors a week-long tournament in honor of Princess Chelsée’s twenty-first birthday.   Scene 7: The Kidnap of Queen Gale. A band of Green Men from Donnelogue kidnap Queen Gale Lionnar during the tournament at Iona Castle.   Scene 8: Danfort Revealed. Kidnapped Queen Gale recognizes Prince Danfort Lionnar, believed dead in battle, leading the Green Men.   Scene 9: A Day of Sorrows. Etienne LaForêt and a band of mercenaries from the Burning Tower break down the doors of Iona Castle.   Scene 10: The Death of a King. Forces from within and without Iona Castle conspire to end the fifty-year reign of Kind Arduchai Lionnar.   Gold Deck (Meere / Wendham Family)   Scene 1: Stormy Seas in Fladdock. The renowned shipbuilding city of Meere weathers a harsh winter storm, as locals ply their daily trade.   Scene 2: The Fledgeling Tour. The stern and terrifying Elorian Eyre gives fresh-faced new students a tour of Larnins University.   Scene 3: Monks of the Fire Hand. Harbormaster Orsus Wendham negotiates a close trade with a talented clockmaster from Fris.   Scene 4: Vagabond of Meere. Exiled artisan Dinar Metiistoj meets emerging rainmaker Mica CœurdeBœuf in the parched streets of Baronet City.   Scene 5: Into the Raven’s Eye. Fencing Master Elorian Eyre watches young soldiers practice at Iona Castle, recruiting for The Raven’s Grave.   Scene 6. The Family Fortune. At Larnins University, troublemaker Gauge Wendham receives a letter from Meere and learns about Casamere Siu.   Scene 7: A Master’s Hand. Dinar Metiistoj creates a masterwork craftlight to replace a failing lamp in the kitchen of Mica CœurdeBœuf.   Scene 8: Secrets of the Shipyards. Orsus Wendham tells Casamere Siu the many secrets of Meere, including their vast, unbuilt Silent Armada.   Scene 9: A Brewing Storm. In the hospital at Mikoren, Nicolás Hartman treats Sinjai Kavalireco and learns of the strife within the church.   Scene 10: A Peach in the Pot. Gauge tricks his father into leaving Meere with Casamere Siu, confounding the secret plans of Étienne LaForêt.   Green Deck (LeBâton City / LaForêt Family)   Scene 1: The Storms of LeBâton. Baron Gustar DeReche manages the daily turmoil of sweltering LeBâton, consulting with Lowan LaForêt.   Scene 2: Irons in the North. At Coniff Tower, Lowan LaForêt and Cäcilia Miter plot the overthrow of Iona and the death of the Old Flame.   Scene 3: A Pact with the Lion. Lowan LaForêt meets in secret with Princess Chelsée Lionnar to hatch a brash scheme to capture Iona Castle.   Scene 4: Lovers on the Road. Leaving Chaqun for Meere, Catwyth Dogbottom argues with her brother Steev about her new husband Georg.   Scene 5: Stalking the Armada. On the shores of Lac Viève, General Gearls Bûcheron recruits Casamere Siu to glean the naval secrets of Meere.   Scene 6: Servants of the Flame. Red Cloaks from the Burning Tower sneak into LeBâton City searching in vain for Cäcilia Miter’s blood.   Scene 7: Wine with The Hammer. On a sweltering evening in LeBâton, Étienne LaForêt and Alis Bûcheron dine with Frax Hammerhand.   Scene 8: The Seeds of Vengeance. Perplexed Steev Lignogardo responds to Siobhán’s clumsy overtures with infuriatingly mixed signals.   Scene 9: Betrayal on the Brink. After a successful siege of Iona Castle, Étienne LaForêt breaks his father’s promise to Princess Chelsée.   Scene 10: LaForêt Takes the North. Étienne LaForêt captures Iona Castle with the aid of the Burning Tower, but nothing will hold for long.   Curses: A bit of extra flavor on the Curse cards.   Curse 1: An Itch. On that part of your back that you can’t easily reach.   Curse 2: Bad Vibes. Something just doesn’t feel right. Can’t put my finger on it.   Curse 3: Poor Stewardship. People of diminished competence allow crucial tasks to slip by the wayside.   Curse 4: Darkroot. A cruel fungus poisons the trees of your beloved and valuable forests.   Curse 5: Summer Storms. Sweltering heat and fierce rain bring all your worldly endeavors to a halt.   Curse 6: Forest Raiders. You are under siege by savage killers from the Donnelogue Forests.   Curse 7: The Hundred Men. Ruthless pale-skinned raiders attack from the shelter of the Night Islands.   Curse 8: Betrayal. Discord compounds among those whom you once considered faithful allies.   Curse 9: Dragon Caves. Dragon hearts stir deep within the dead mountains of Siné and Bok. Soon their fire will destroy the world.   Curse 10: Dogbottom Palace. You are granted stewardship of Dogbottom Palace along with all its attendant lands and titles.