Keeping a character in play

[vonpenguin]

Hello. Kind of odd question but I'm looking for a way to keep my character in play. Now I haven't been defeated or anything so let me explain the basic situation.

I'm playing a young Dornish Noblewoman that was made a ward of a small house in the westerlands as a way to secure a trade agreement/ improve relations between dorne and the westeros proper. Now during our first story arch we encountered a widowed noblewoman and her young daughter and our heir decided that marriage would be a great way to increase our holdings. He... came on a little strong and was rejected. Afterwards he went behind the rest of the party's backs and to make a long story short he is now marching on this families lands to force the recently orphaned 13 year old lady of the house to marry him, and is planning on killing her advisers and smallfolk one by one to force her hand. Now I built my character on the lighter side of grey so she will naturally find this whole thing abhorrent and request to be sent back to her family. And even if she isn't she would not be in a cooperative mood by any means. Either way I kind of have to bring in a new character if I don't want to completely throw out all of my characterization up to this point .

Is there any way, without talking the other players out of their plans, to railroad myself into not writing out this character?

[Carriker]

I dunno. Sounds like the perfect time for a little betrayal by your character. Perhaps even offering to help him with his endeavor, and then giving him a well-deserved stabbing in the back.

[Roadspike]

Also, just because a ward requests to go back to their native house doesn't mean that the host has to allow it. In fact, if they're a "true" ward, kept as a guarantee of good behavior on the part of their native house, I would assume any such request would be refused pretty strongly.

In your character's particular case, I'd agree with Carriker... time for some plotting. You could even set up a network of little birds in the new area to try and get some retainers out of danger to live among the smallfolk, and then eventually to get select smallfolk out of the heir's way as well. Could be a nice way to get a little indirect party conflict.

[Zeroed]

If your character is appalled by the Heir's course of actions and doesn't want a war to break out, she may try to convince him directly (possibly with the help of an Intrigue, if necessary) that this is the wrong way to resolve this situation. Or, since he is only the Heir of the House, she may go directly to the Lord instead and tell him about the dishonorable actions that his son is doing (especially since he did it behind everyone's back).

Another option would be to actually help the House in which you are ward and ride out to parlay with the young Lady of that House before the Heir's army arrives and try to convince her to actually marry the Heir to prevent any bloodshed. The worst thing that could happen would be for you to be captured and held hostage to prevent an attack from the invading army. If the Heir still attacks while you are hostage, your character may die (unless you have a Destiny point to burn), but at least you would have followed your conscience. And your home House might also not take kindly that you died an unnecessary death because of that foolish Heir's actions...

[Legate]

Or you could somehow secretly get a message to the other House and warn them of the danger, if they could muster their House troops in time perhaps "The Heir" might change his mind on attacking. Again it would probably call for an intrigue.

[DaimosofRedstone]

Then again this might not a problem to be resolved on the character level but a problem between players different ideas and intentions and wishes how the game should be played.
In that case a group sitdown is a good way to ease and disarm the tension.

[Eisen]

It sounds like the Heir is a stand up fellow! My advice is to suport him in any way possible.

[Legate]

It sounds like the Heir is a stand up fellow! My advice is to suport him in any way possible.

And romantic, as well. How I Love thee, let me count the corpses (of your kinsmen.)

[Kajani]

I would say it may also in the interest of the house in which she is ward to sabotage this plan. I do not know in which time the group play, but the liege lord of the "bride in spe" might it find not appealing how the marriage should went. There is an easy way to end such problems - another young widow in Westeros...
Such little massacres and enforced marriages may work in some cases, but they also may result in a lot of trouble.

Perhaps she should try to ring the higher powers into play if possible. Nearly anyone in Westeros has a person above him to which he must obey.

As others I would say this is just the right time for intrigue (perhaps the heir might not the best in that field - if he would he may not be rejected ?), but it is also the question if it not create troubble if the player did not want his char convinced...

[vonpenguin]

Thanks for the advice everyone. I think my GM and I have worked out something decent. And if things go poorly I have a hedge knight stated out to replace her.