Earl Charles Pemberton III, Male, 45 years of age. Your Host for the Weekend.
Charles Pemberton III, the current Earl of Winchester, is an intelligent, witty and politically astute member of the House of Lords, regarded by political allies and opponents alike as a modern and progressive thinker whom one crosses at their own peril. He is a widower, his wife having passed nearly five years ago after a riding accident, and has remained so despite being one of the most eligible bachelors in the Ton. It is known that he dotes on his daughter and only child Susan, and many a possible suitor has had to endure an evening of penetrating questions wrapped in pleasant conversation.
Susan Pemberton, Female, 18 years of age. Daughter to the Earl and known Suffragette
Daughter and only child of Earl Charles Pemberton, Susan is living proof of the old adage of the apple not falling far from the tree. After losing her mother at the tender age of 13, Susan travelled everywhere with her doting father, blossoming into not only a beautiful and elegant young lady of the peerage, but also an articulate and passionate speaker for women's rights. Also, as many a suitor has discovered to his chagrin, Susan possesses a devastating intelligence and is not afraid to demonstrate it in public.
Lord Atherton Reeves, Male, 28 years of age.
Lord Atherton Reeves is a singular icon of the Ton. Coming in to his title at an early age after the tragic deaths of his family in a boating accident, the young Lord took to his responsibilities with remarkable intensity. He quickly joined the Royal Navy, almost as if he was daring the dark waters to complete the job and take him as well. After his tour of service however he returned to manage his estates. Amongst the Ton, Atherton is known as the best hunter, best dancer and best fencer, and yet despite his many charms and nobility he remains stubbornly unmarried, despite the best efforts of many a young woman and her overly-enthusiastic mother. Despite his young age, when Atherton speaks the Ton stops to listen, and the word of this young Lord carries more weight than most.
Captain (Sir) Edward Farthingale, Male, 45 years of age. Captain of the HMS Vengeance, Royal Navy
Captain Farthingale is the epitome of a British Royal Navy Officer. Rarely out of uniform, his deep, gruff voice commands attention whenever he chooses to use it. He married Lady Mary Farthingale 20 years ago and has two daughters, Miss Amelia Farthingale who is enjoying her second season in society and Miss Georgina at her first season. While being a Knight of the peerage, it is well known that he prefers to go by his Naval rank of 'Captain' rather than 'Sir', a title which he feels that he has earned rather than merely inherited. It is rumoured that the Captain is being groomed for the position of Fleet Admiral in the new year.
Lady Mary Farthingale, Female, 39 years of age. Wife of Captain Farthingale and acknowledged matriarch of the 'Ton'
Lady Farthingale is tall, reserved, fashionable and possesses the sort of ageless beauty that ascribed to the most elegant of her sex. She married Lord Edward Farthingale 20 years ago and has two daughters, Miss Amelia Farthingale who is enjoying her second season in society and Miss Georgina at her first season. With her impeccable knowledge of the social graces and what has sometimes been described as a 'will of steel' Lady Mary has become to be known as the matriarch of all things proper and the final word on what is acceptable in society.
Amelia Farthingale, Female, 19 years of age. Socialite
Amelia is the beautiful elder daughter of Lord Edward and Lady Mary Farthingale. Innocent, with a beauty like dewdrops on a spring blossom, Amelia is enjoying her second season in London society. Her younger sister is the vivacious Miss Georgina Farthingale. Any who may wish to court the lovely Amelia however need to keep in mind the searchlight intensity of her mother's gaze.
Georgina Farthingale, Female, 17 years of age. Debutante
The younger daughter of Mary and Edward Farthingale is thoroughly enjoying her first season in London society. She has attended a number of balls and soirees throughout the season, and has been complimented on her charms and sweetness a number of times. This is her first weekend house party and although she may be feeling rather out of her depth in navigating all of the etiquette and niceties required of young ladies 'coming out' into society, she appears to be having a wonderful time.
Brigadier Hugh Cosgrove, Male, 44 years of age. Army Brigadier, 1st Kings Dragoon Guards
Brigadier Cosgrove comes from a very well established family that has long been counted amongst the elite of London's social set. In his younger years he had a reputation as a bit of a rake, 'sampling' (as he put it) many of the younger ladies of the city. His marriage to Jessamine Smythe came as quite the surprise to the Ton because of a rumoured attachment between the highly respectable Miss Smythe and Henry Stanton. Despite his early reputation, Hugh's rise through the ranks of the British Army over the last twenty years has been characterised by hard work and many long stints away at sea. To his credit Hugh has not chosen to rely on his family name and connections for promotion and all agree that his success stems entirely from his own dedication and talent.
Jessamine Cosgrove, Female, 40 years of age. Wife of Brigadier Cosgrove and occasional fortune teller
Jessamine Cosgrove is the well liked and respectable wife of Brigadier Cosgrove, and mother to Calliope Cosgrove, who is enjoying her second season in society. With a beauty that stems from the kindness of her heart rather than fashion, Jessamine is known for her exquisite formal afternoon teas that occasionally see the arrival of the mysterious 'Madam Zelda', a fortune teller of note who has advised many of the Ton over the years.
Calliope Cosgrove, Female, 20 years of age. Socialite
The daughter of Hugh and Jessamine Cosgrove, Calliope is well known for her charm and beauty. Of eligible age, and quite a favourite amongst the eligible young men in the Ton, it is anticipated that the lovely Miss Cosgrove will choose a beau this season. The question is, who will be the fortunate gentleman to secure the affections of this beautiful young lady?
Hestor Gibbs, Female, 58 years of age. Ladies Companion to Lady Agnes Thornton
The new companion to Lady Agnes Thornton who has suddenly taken gravelly ill, Hestor Gibbs find herself in the unenviable position of being unaccompanied at the most prestigious society event of the season without her employer. Unremarkable in both looks and conversation, Miss Gibbs however remains a valuable addition to the weekend party, as she has been entrusted with the important task of choosing who may be admitted access to Lady Thornton's chamber for a final visit. Fading, but still with possession of her senses, it is well known that Lady Thornton has yet to choose a heir, making Miss Gibbs' position at this event very important.
Henry Stanton, Male, 43 years of age. Business Entrepreneur, Trader
Henry Stanton has risen from relative obscurity twenty years ago to be one of the wealthiest businessmen in London. A shrewd dealer, Henry invested his early inheritance into a small fleet of trading ships and through some rather astute reading of the changing tastes of London society he managed to always be on the leading edge of whatever new taste or sensation was about to sweep through the city, his ships miraculously arriving with just the right exotic and rare cargo at just the right time. His fleet now rivals that of the East India Company itself, and that is only one arm of his vast financial holdings.
Cordelia Stanton, Female, 42 years of age. Wife of Henry Stanton
Cordelia Stanton, wife of Henry and mother to Matthew Stanton, has been a member of the Ton since just before her engagement to Henry Stanton twenty-two years ago. Originally from a fine if somewhat unknown family in the Lakes District, Cordelia soon embraced the lifestyle of the London elite. She is now one of the more admired members of the Ton, for her beauty and impeccable taste in fashion, with many a Lady clambering to be amongst those invited to her exclusive high-teas and social events.
Matthew Stanton, Male, 21 years of age. Socialite
Matthew Stanton is perhaps one of the most eligible young men within the Ton, while not of the peerage he is certainly the one with the wealthiest family. So far his time within the social world of the Ton has been without scandal, and some say that it is because his outings are all very carefully orchestrated and matched over by his extremely attentive mother, Cordelia. Of course, no one would dare say that within her hearing. Just recently Matthew has been seen around London in the company of the beautiful Miss Calliope Cosgrove, a pairing that has the elders nodding sagely and the young women and men of the Ton cursing silently.
Vicar Justin Green, Male, 68 years of age. Vicar of Winchester, Church of England
Vicar Green has been a constant in the Ton since anyone can remember. Some even joke that one of the entry requirements into the select social set is having been christened as a child by the good Vicar, and in actual fact there would be very few who weren't. His sermons are always entertaining while carrying the appropriate message, but it was his heart-felt eulogy for the late Earl's wife Helen Pemberton, five years ago that many still speak about in awed whispers. Very approachable, the Vicar is known for being able to converse on an extremely wide range of topics, and his knowledge of esoteric religious and mystical practices from all over the world is unparalleled.
Dr Theodore Burghley, Male, 24 years of age. Personal Physician to Lady Thornton
Dr Theodore Burghley appeared amongst the Ton at the beginning of the current summer season on the arm of the elderly, and quite wealthy, spinster, Lady Agnes Thornton. He was introduced as her doctor for the summer. Hailing from a well-placed family from the Lakes District, who had once been gifted a boon by Lady Thornton, Theodore Burghley had the medical training required to ease the elderly woman in what was bound to be her last summer. Throughout the season of social gatherings he has deported himself with grace and honour, and rumour has it that once his tenure with Lady Thornton is complete he will be welcomed as a member of 'the Ton' in his own right.
Toby Throsby, Male, 22 years of age. Socialite
Toby Throsby is the only child of the well-respected Throsby family of West London. His parents, Oscar and Annabelle, have been steadfast members of the Ton for over a decade, and are holidaying in the south of France this summer, leaving their son to represent the family during the summer social season. A family of excellent reputation, his father, Oscar, is a renowned surgeon who has had many of the Ton as private patients at one time or another, and his mother Annabelle is acclaimed for her abilities as the lead concert pianist for the Royal Ballet. Currently unmarried, Toby has a bit of a 'wild' reputation but nevertheless remains one of the more eligible young bachelors of the Ton. And one of the most handsome.
Fraser Syme, Male, 32 years of age. Merchant Banker
One of the relative newcomers to the Ton, the unmarried Fraser Syme is a Merchant Banker originally from Glasgow. Jokes about the tightness of the Scots aside, Fraser's bank has been one of the rising stars of the recent decade, gathering investors and fund managers alike with astounding speed. Of interest to the gossips however is the fact that he seems to be always on the very cusp of outrageous scandal, with his practice of hiring unmarried women into executive decision-making roles within his bank leading to all sorts of speculation about his "interviewing techniques".
Jonathan Wentworth, Male, 29 years of age. An English entrepreneur recently returned from Australia
Jonathan Wentworth is a fairly recent arrival to the Ton, having returned to England from abroad nearly a year ago with enough funds to quickly establish himself within polite society. His family were involved in setting up several gold mines in Australia, but once these were established Jonathan felt a longing for the more cultured society of his mother country. He returned to London and has left the running of the estate in Australia to his younger brother. Now a fixture at all the best events, Hugh is being seen as quite an eligible husband to be by many of the families of the Ton, but as yet he has not been romantically involved with any of the young ladies.
Michael Kennedy, Male, 22 years of age. Guest of the Stanton's from America
Michael Kennedy has been introduced to the Ton by Henry Stanton, as the son of one of his largest business partners in the United States of America. The Kennedy's own the largest timber producing area in the state of Michigan, and supply Stanton's company with exquisite oak and hickory timber that is very sought after by the best furniture makers in London. His accent is peculiar to the ears of the ton, but his manners are impeccable. When not in a formal situation however Michael has been seen wearing a six-shooter on his belt, giving rise to all types of gossip of what type of place this 'Michigan' might actually be.
Jane, Female, Unknown age but looks mid to late thirties. Guest of Vicar Green
Jane has never before been seen at an event of the Ton, and it is clear to see why. The poor woman has a disfiguring scar down the left side of her face, and her left eye is obviously glass. She mercifully covers herself in a large cloak and cowl most of the time. She has arrived at the estate in the company of Vicar Green, and so must be part of some charity program of the church.
And finally, a mysterious Lady...
We're keeping this person a secret until game start. She is a good character for someone who likes being the centre of attention...
“A little sincerity is a dangerous thing my dear, and a great deal of it is absolutely fatal.”
To those of “the ton”, the upper social classes of London in 1895, the weekend at Pemberton Manor always signalled the end of the summer social season. To those lucky enough to be invited it meant that they had been accepted as one of the ton for the following Winter season. It was a graduation of sorts, celebrating which debutante's from the Spring Gala earlier in the year had proved themselves worthy and also who of the established had been able to avoid reputation-destroying scandals over the notoriously wild warmer months.
Each year it was to Pemberton Manor the ton looked for acceptance, and entertainment. It was on this weekend that marriage engagements were announced, carefully worded business deals finalised, and the baton of social leadership over the winter engagements held in the great city of London was passed to whomsoever had been able to prove themselves worthy to the Earl.
“Always forgive your enemies; nothing annoys them so much.”
By Sandra and David, "A Weekend in the Country", is a freeform for the top 22 of the ton, the social class that runs everything important to the London of Victorian England. A last chance to secure deals, avoid scandal, enhance one's standing and destroy one's social competitors before the cloak of winter is wrapped about the land.
Characters will be available for those who sign-up early to assist in costuming.
| What's the game again? | A 22 player game of polite society, scandal and intrigue in Victorian England |
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| Seriousness? | Light-hearted, with plenty of blushing and waving of fans |
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| Genre/Setting | Intrigue with a good dose of romance and scandal |
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| System | Systemless |
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| Movie Rating | MA |
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