The High Ruler's Ball - A Dance of Ribbons Game
Event description
“The masks are silk. The laughter is delicate. The daggers are steel.”
High Lade Carafina has thrown open the gilded gates of her estate in the heart of Gottenburg, for a birthday ball the realm will never forget. Nobles and commoners alike drink to peace and unity amongst the cantons of Garmont. The last two years have been hard on these people, since the end of the Spring of Abundance, drought and famine stalk the land. Outside forces seek to find weakness in the Cantons, spies and informants slip through velvet shadows. And somewhere beneath the dancing feet, the floorboards creak with the weight of old crimes and fresh betrayals.
As Carafina's birthday celebrations commence, strange guests have been invited. The Cantons and their people; Gottenburg, Straussland and Vaud must navigate a web of politics and lies. Hidden behind every smile is a potential fatal end.
This is your first glimpse of what awaits.
Players will hunt traitors. Broker desperate deals. Fight a crime families’ feuds. And dance the night in merriment with live musicians.
Your faction’s legacy is on the line.
Will you protect it… or burn it all down?
-----
For the first time ever, we’re bringing you two standalone supplementary games set in the world of A Dance of Ribbons! These one-shot events are designed to immerse you in deep roleplay, with no prior experience needed—just a love of story and intrigue.
See our other event A Woaden's Circle - set in the realm of Vicaria.
Each game runs for 4 hours and 30 minutes in a Parlour/Freeform LARP style, focusing on character-driven storytelling over mechanics. These are perfect for both returning players and newcomers looking to step into our world before A Dance of Ribbons III.
-----
Pre-Release (8th April): Priority access for A Dance of Ribbons III ticket holders in relevant factions.
General Release (15th April): Open to all players.
-----
So, what is Garmont?
The lands of Garmont are a confederation of smaller cantons; Gottenburg, Straussland, and Vaud. These cantons are united under a High Lade who is elected from the individual Lades of the cantons themselves. An agricultural society, this feudal lands and their peoples form strong bonds with one another. Community and family are above all for the average Garmontian. Although class structures make it difficult for any Garmontian to rise the ranks, the nobles and commoners often mix in festival spaces.
They have a tentative relationship to their east with the neighboring Vicarian clans, having warred in the past they now remain peaceful for the last decade. To their west, the large and expansive Empire of Francia looms ever present, having swallowed the Kingdom of Emor, with many of the Emorian noble families fleeing into Garmont.
A bounteous spring had left a harvest, but several plagues have diminished the food store across all of Garmont. A series of droughts and terrible winters have left the cantons vulnerable and although the people are not starving yet, the pressure to be mindful of consumption is present.
The Cantons of Garmont
Vaud
Those hailing from Vaud are best characterised by their resourcefulness and their tenacity. Having etched out their existence alongside the rivers and forests in the remote wilderness of Garmont, Vaudians are often proficient survivalists and hunters. The murder of their Lade seven years ago saw Conrad Heilgard take up the mantle and turn to the worship of Celumnous - the Vicarian god of the hunt - which many Garmontians see as heretical.
The hardy Vaudians have weathered The Plagues and held fast to their traditional ways of living alongside nature. But this changing world demands adaptation. The Oldest Song drifting on the wind heralds coming upheaval. Will the Vaudians continue to adapt or will they be chased from the forests and rivers into obscurity?
Gottenburg
If politics is done in Garmont it is done through the courts of Gottenburg. With the High Lade being from Gottenburg the game of exchange and diplomacy has been played. They still maintain the Emorian court in exile, with the various families appealing to Garmont to aid in an invasion of Emor. But without the support of the entire lades of Garmont there is little support for such an expensive venture. They also must deal with and keep at bay the ambitions of the Francian Empire.
All the while rumours spiral throughout the court that other factions are interested in deposing the power of Gottenburg. They must keep vigilant if they hope to survive the years to come.
Straussland
Extravagance and opulence has become the defining features of Straussland in history, but this has changed in recent years. The once fertile heartlands of Garmont made for tracts of arable land that kept Straussland in political power. Yet a series of terrible winters have left the land hollow, and is now extending out to the rest of Garmont. Their Lade has worked to align Straussland closely with the neighbouring imperial power of Francia which, taking out large debts to cover costs and buying Francian goods. Though Francia is sure to collect its debts, Straussland in the meantime has maintained its status as a key economic base for Garmont.
Will their alliances and their gold be enough to hold firm against the blight that has occured? Or will all that glimmers be the dying embers of torches lighting empty vaults?
-----
FAQ
How many tickets will I be able to buy?
Players will only be able to purchase one ticket per person. Due to the popularity of our previous events, we try to ensure that the entire event can't be bought and then on-sold. This is by no means a perfect system, but our best attempt at keeping play opportunities as equitable as possible.
Can I bring my Vicarian character to the Garmont game, and visa versa?
These games are intended to be played by the faction they represent. Sadly no player cross-faction characters can go to the other event.
I'm playing a faction in A Dance of Ribbons III, but I want to play the other faction game. Can I?
Absolutely! However you'll have to wait until General Release in order to purchase that ticket. You're more than welcome to attend both events.
Will factions sell out?
Unlike A Dance of Ribbons, tickets will not be tied to faction. This means you will be able to choose any of the playable factions (at the point of ticket purchase) without the fear of a faction of choice being unavailable.
What’s the vibe of these events?
We're keen for these to be roleplay focused. Both events purposefully are set in moments of community gathering/celebration - it should be fun! Your character would be arriving with the same feeling of anticipation! Of course our Story Team have cooked up some thrills and spills, but come with a generous perspective, be led by your curiosity and enjoy gathering with the community!
Will I have to fill out a Character sheet?
For our Supplementary Events players won't need to fill out a character sheet. We encourage you as always when creating your character, to focus on what you want to achieve rather than an elaborate backstory. We're gathering to do things, not to tell people about what you have done. Form opinions on religion, politics, community or family, let these guide you as you create your emergent narrative.
What are the rules?
We'll be sending ticket holders a player primer pack. This will give more detailed lore contexts, our simplified rules and a condensed Kit and Costume guide.
I’m stressed about creating an entirely new kit!
Our intention for these games is to gather together and have extra time to roleplay with each other. The games are mechanics light, and work as an opportunity for player generated story lines to influence our final event. There will also be folks who have never attended a Dance of Ribbons before (fun!) There's no need to stress about having the perfect kit for an entirely new character you'll potentially be only playing for one night. What you come in will be perfect!
Tickets for good, not greed Humanitix dedicates 100% of profits from booking fees to charity
