Betrothal Rules

Betrothals in Dynastic society are considered an imperative. From early childhood, the matriarchs of the Great Houses work tirelessly to acquire future spouses for their children. Very frequently, it is the work of not just a mother, but of grandmothers and aunts as well, particularly if the child is particularly promising, well-bred or from a prestigious line.

Men are not necessarily barred from working to find good marriages for their children, but in the Scarlet Empire, it is seen as a foolish idea, as men are assumed to have flighty standards. It is also seen as a mark against the women of the family that they are incompetent enough to need a man's assistance in such an endeavor.

Mechanics

The roll involved is a Manipulation + (Investigation, Performance or Presence) extended roll, with a roll interval of one year. A character may make one such roll per year for every dot of Socialize she possesses, though each roll must be for a different child.

When multiple individuals contribute their efforts to such an end, they may do so in one of two ways: cooperatively or in competition. Cooperative efforts are handled using the Aid Another rules, in which one searcher is designated as the main searcher, and her assistants' successes are added as dice to her dice pool (to a maximum bonus of her Manipulation + Socialize).

When handled competitively, separate characters simply each make their own rolls, and the first one to match the successes needed finds a suitable match (as determined by the traits chosen under Successes Needed). In this fashion, multiple potential matches might be located.

Dice Pool

The dice pool for this roll is a Manipulation + (Investigation, Performance or Presence) roll, to which anything other than Instant Charms cannot be applied.

Each such roll also has the following modifiers. Use the largest bonus, +1 for every other bonus category that might apply. These bonuses can add no more than the searcher's Manipulation + (Investigation, Performance or Presence) dice to the roll.:

• Allies, Connections: Many Dragon-Blooded prefer to seek among their allies for potential spouses for their children, further cementing such alliances. In such an instance, the seeker may add their Allies or Connections Background to the dice pool. Multiple searchers may use different Connections for the same search, but no matchmaker may add more than one Connections Background to this roll.
• Backing: Those who occupy important positions in society or organizations may also leverage that position in the search for a suitable candidate. Add the seeker's Backing Background rating to the dice pool.
• Reputation: If the child's parents have the Reputation Background, add these dice to the searcher's dice pool; add only the largest Reputation rating. If the child's grandparents have the Reputation, add this rating -2 (but only if this exceeds the parent's Reputation). If the child himself has the Reputation Background, this is handled in the Difficulty calculations, below.

Difficulty

The difficulty of the roll is determined by how impressive of a spouse the prospect is. The difficulty of this roll is calculated in the following fashion:

• Prospect is a Patrician (unExalted): Difficulty 5
• Prospect is a Lost Egg (non-Dynastic): Difficulty 4
• Prospect is a Dynastic Exalt: Difficulty 3

Apply the following modifiers to the Difficulty of the roll:

• Age: Increase the Difficulty by two for an unExalted child below the age of adolescence.
  • Increase the Difficulty by one per two years past the age of 16 for unExalted prospects.
  • Increase the Difficulty by one per five years after Exaltation for Exalts.
• Breeding: Reduce the Difficulty by one for Breeding 4-5.
  • Increase the Difficulty by one if the prospect has 0 dots in Breeding.
• Gifts: Families that send around gifts to good prospects often find an interest; reduce the Difficulty by one for Resources 4 and two for Resources 5.
  • Increase the Difficulty by one if the family sends around no gifts at all.
• Prestige: Promising prospects are easier to find spouses for; reduce the Difficulty by one for any Reputation or Backing rated 3+ in an organization or ministry considered worthwhile by the Scarlet Empire's standards. If the prospect has both, reduce the Difficulty by another one.
  • Increase the Difficulty by one if the prospect has no dots in any positive Reputation or Backing Backgrounds.
  • Increase the Difficulty by one for each dot in negative Reputation or known Backing in organizations deemed inappropriate, by two if the rating is 3+.

Successes Needed

The successes required are based on the ideal mate for the prospect. How important they are, whether or not they are Exalted and the like are all important and relevant points.

• Betrothed is a Patrician (unExalted): 5 successes
• Betrothed is a Lost Egg (non-Dynastic): 10 successes
• Betrothed is a Dynastic Exalt: 15 successes

Apply the following modifiers to the Successes Required:

• Age: UnExalted Child: -3. UnExalted Adult: -1 per 3 years above the age of 20. Exalt: +2 per decade past Exaltation.
• Breeding: Add +1 for each of the first three dots of the betrothed's Breeding. Add +3 for each dot above 3.
• House Affiliation: If the prospect is part of a Great House and will leave his House for another, subtract 2 (4 if female). If the betrothed is part of a Great House and will leave her House for another, add 3 (5 if female).
  • Inheritance Treasures: If the betrothed is leaving her house with dots in the Artifact, Command or Manse Backgrounds, add +1 per dot in both, cumulative. (Doubled for the fourth and fifth dots.)
• Riches: For every dot in the Resources Background the betrothed has, add +1 (doubled for the fourth and fifth dots).
• Well-Connected: Add +1 for every dot of Allies, Backing and Connections the betrothed has (+2 for fourth and fifth dots).
• Well-Known: Add +1 for every dot of Reputation (+2 for fourth and fifth dots).