Solo TTRPG: Count of Monte Cristo to Sundered Isles; Character, Enemies, and Factions
So, a bit of a weakness I have is "what happens next?" Things work great for one session but building to the next one is a bit of a gap. And then I had a thought, "if Gygax could get away with riffing on Princess of Mars why not Monte Cristo?"
The Count of Monte Cristo is one of the more famous novels by Alexandre Dumas (pere, the elder). It tells the story of Edmund Dantes, a young but rising merchant sailor accused of treason and disappeared into an inescapable prison without trial. In prison, Dantes befriends Abbe Feria, priest and confessor to nobility. Feria teaches Dantes the location of a hidden treasure, but even more valuable, Feria teaches Dantes multiple languages, culture, finance, and the politics of high society.
Dantes escapes, finds the treasure, and seeks anonymous justice from his accusers as "The Count of Monte Cristo." His accusers have all grifted their way to the center of French society. The Count may be a fake, but so is the restored monarchy that Dantes manipulates. The book is a classic revenge story of turning turning the tables on an oppressor by exploiting their weaknesses.
The novel has lots of meat for adaptation: a corrupt kingdom, a revolutionary conspiracy, smugglers, bandits, treason, poisoners, hidden treasures, and a rescued princess. A lot of swashbuckling is implied by events that are revealed retroactively. Ultimately it could be a good balance between adventures at sea and society intrigue.
Character
Emlyn Dantes:
- Edge: 1
- Heart: 3
- Iron: 1
- Shadow: 2
- Wits: 2
- Assets: Courier, Scoundrel, Starter Ship, Parrot
I focused on Heart, Shadow, and Wits. Dantes manages to outwit or outcharm most of her foes. (Having a ton of money helps.) The assets round out the concept:
- Courier: Dantes stays close to her prior life as a merchant sailor.
- Scoundrel: Felt a bit closer to the concept of charming compared to Spy.
- Starter Ship: Picking up the action just after Dantes escapes and before finding the treasure.
- Parrot: Just for fun.
Enemies
Adapting three antagonists from the novel. Each will have secrets to uncover via expeditions or adventures.
- Seren Vega: (Villefort) A superstar prosecutor with dark secrets.
- Bill Harrington: (Morcerf) A popular war hero and Dantes' romantic rival.
- Wynne Morgan: (Danglars) A ruthless banker and blackmailer.
Factions
Most of the novel's action takes place in France with two key factions:
- The Royalists: (Bourbon Restoration) A corrupt nobility enjoying their restoration to power.
- The Undaunted Republic: (Napoleonic and Republic Loyalists) A secret cabal undermining the Royalists.
There are a couple of secondary settings which I'm taking a bit more liberty with. These traits were rolled randomly.
- The Yamora Commonwealth: (Italy) A country rich in ancient history and mysticism.
- The Tieron Holy Heralds: (Greece and Turkey) A kingdom with close ties to a religious order.
Finally, we have two criminal factions:
- The Fiorin Band: (The Vampa Gang) An organized group of pirates and bandits who hide out in graveyards and catacombs.
- The Osara Fleet: (smugglers) Black-market traders, smugglers, and information brokers.
Planning for Session 1
Dantes searches for the lost treasure of Monte Cristo.