Bonus NPC of the Week: Charles de Machault

I think I've missed a few weeks. I'll look around for a few makeup NPCs.These are three related NPCs. All are based on actual historical figures, though everything other than the basic background is conjectural, i.e. shit I made up.

Charles de Machault, seigneur de Ermenouville

Master of Requests             (SR 10)

Roleplaying: Machault is a conformist, a follower, not a leader. He quickly picks up fashions, mannerisms, phrases, and behaviors from those around him, especially anyone of higher social status or greater power. 

Motivations: Pride and conformity: he is proud of his status and family, but a dedicated conformist, e.g. he dresses in black to be different…just like all his friends in the Noblesse de Robe.

Factions: Noblesse de Robe

Location: Paris, France or Château d’Ermenouville the family estate north of Paris.

Background: Charles de Machault (b. 1587) seigneur d’Arnouville or Ermenouville is a Parlementarian (robe noble) and conseiller du Grand-Conseil (1608), maître des requêtes (1619), and later Intendant des Armées of Normandie, Languedoc, Bourgogne, and Dauphiné. While Master of Requests is a fairly important positions, there are scores of Masters of Request (maître des requêtes) in the Council of State (Conseil d'État). 

His father is Louis de Machault  seigneur de Boigny. In 1611 Charles married Françoise Le Fèvre de Mormant (or de Caumartin) the daughter of François Le Fèvre de Caumartin. Marchault, like many nobles, is frequently unfaithful to his wife.

Château d’Ermenouville is 10 miles north of the Louvre (see Paris Environs entry for the village of Ermenouville).

First encountered on April 12, 1624 in Adventure 39.7: The Mysterious Madame Corbeau. He and his two guards had a romantic encounter with the lustful Hedge Witch Leonora Corbeau. Machault likes the Seigneur de Chambre (PC).

Savvy 2            Flair 1

Brawl -1           Melee 1              Defense 2

Magistrate 1     Physician 1        Courtier 1

Lifeblood 8      Composture 3    Advantage 1     Retainer 3

 

Languages: French (N), Latin (F), Spanish 

Boons: Lucky Sword (spend 1 FP to reroll a 1 on any die for initiative or any attack, defense, or damage roll with this sword; +1FP per session when you have this sword.

Flaws: Cursed (-1 FP; bad things just seem to happen to you, earn a FP when the GM causes something bad to happen to you.)

  Rapier 1d6+1 Damage, +1 Parry

  Cloak: +1 to Feint, Bind; usable with Cloak Parry

Actions: Bladework+1, Brawling -1, Quick Cut+2; Feint+2[3], Footwork+2; Cloak Parry+2, Dodge, Parry+3[4], Riposte+3; Ranged Attack+2

(Image source: Braun & Schneider Historic Costume in Pictures Dover Publications, 1975)  
NPC in: L'Honneur et les Intrigue (Historical figure)

Louis de Machault, seigneur de Boigny

Conseiller d’Etat  (SR 11)

Location: Paris, France or Château d’Ermenouville the family estate north of Paris.

Roleplaying: Old Noblesse de Robe, old, tired, jaded and a bit cynical,

                “No one’s who has been in politics as long as I have still has clean hands.”

Background: Louis de Machault (b. 1557) seigneur de Boigny and de Boutigny maître des comptes (1586), conseiller d’Etat (1621) which is a somewhat more selective title than Master of Requests. In 1586 he married Catherine Hervieu daughter of Claude Hervieu and  Marguerite Le Comte-de-Montauglan.

Daring -1               Savvy 1                 Flair 1                     Defense 1

Magistrate 1          Lifeblood 2                                           Pawn 2

Languages: French (N), Latin (F)

  Cloak: +1 to Feint, Bind; usable with Cloak Parry

Maneuvers: Footwork+1, Cloak Parry+1

Equipment: Clothing of an esteemed magistrate and Noblesse de Robe.

NPC in: L'Honneur et les Intrigue (Historical figure)

Françoise Le Fèvre Lady de Mormant

Wife of a Robe Noble         (SR 10)

Location: Paris, France or Château d’Ermenouville the family estate north of Paris.

Roleplaying: She is an avid shooter and likes to hunt, mostly birds and sometimes deer.

Motivation: Hungry – she has a robust appetite and she uses food to comfort herself.

Background: Françoise Le Fèvre de Mormant (or de Caumartin) is the daughter of François Le Fèvre de Caumartin, seigneur de Mormant and de Boisserpe (also Boissette), Général des Finances of Picardie, Treasurer de France à Paris and of Gabrielle de Chantecler; niece of Louis, Garde des Sceaux de France. In 1611 she married Charles de MAchault.

Might -1                 Savvy 1                 Ranged 2

Noble 1                  Hunter 1                Lifeblood 3           Pawn 4

Languages: French (N), Latin

  Wheel-lock Pistol: 1d6+1 Damage; 10’ Range; Reload 3MA

  Wheel-lock Musket: 2d6 Damage; 50’ Range; Reload 4MA

Maneuvers: Footwork+1; Ranged Attack+3

Equipment: Fine wheel-lock hunting musket, keeps a loaded wheel-lock belt pistol in her nightstand drawer.

NPC in: L'Honneur et les Intrigue (Historical figure)