We were playing the two player game and our chosen setting was:
Tolstoy meets Steampunk
A snow swept pre-revolutionary Russia where steam airships cut through the icy Siberian air.
Meet our Beloved Anna. A young woman who is the envy of Russian society. Anna is wealthy, aloof, clever, beautiful, well-dressed and possessed of a grand palace.
It is well-known that by the terms of the will that makes her such a grand lady she is required to take a husband. However Anna is also under investigation by agents of the Czar for treason. Such serious charges might form a serious obstacle to any suitor.
There are two leading men who vie for Anna's hand in marriage.
Dmitri
Dmitri is rather slow but good at sums, he is bestial but athletic. He is known to possess a nice country house but it is not as well-known that it has a large mortgage. He is humble but also angry.He is assisted by his loyal servant Alexi, loves the view from the roof of the palace and always carries a picture of his dead sister in his pocket.
Dmitri is solid country nobility but would Anna think differently about him if she knew he was hounded by creditors?
Levy
Levy the roguish air pirate is exceptionally bright but unlettered, he is gracious but intimidating. He lives in a rotting tenement which is at least full of friends. He is proud but kind.He has a fiery ward called Petra, frequents basement nightclubs and has his own airship.
He is the rightful heir to Anna's property, will deeds stand in the way of love?
Round one
Dmitri
With the arrival of winter the gentlefolk make to skate on the frozen river. Anna stands on the bank watching the procession of skaters with her haughty froideur. Dmitri is amongst the skaters trying to impress Anna with his powerful and assured skill on the ice.However as he tries to see whether he has caught Anna's eye he fails to notice doddering Vanya, everyone's favourite uncle, tottering into his path.
Fortunately a timely shout from faithful Alexi and Dmitri's athletic ability allows him to sharply turn around Vanya in an impressive turn of skill.
One point and the trait impressive sportsman earned.
Levy
Levy's airship is bearing down on Anna's palace where she is holding a ball, ropes descend from the ship allowing the steam pirates to smash through the glass ceiling and onto the dancefloor where the gentlemen of the cavalry and this season's debutantes are mixing. Taken with Anna's beauty Levy taunts the revellers and tries to complement Anna.However the gentlemen cavalry are not children to be robbed so easily and taking up their sabres they fight back. The sky pirates are hard-pressed so Levy draws forth a large clockwork automatic and threatens the officers. Even this does not deter the military men and he is forced to fire, peppering one of the gentlemen with bullets.
No points and the trait murderer gained.
Round two
Dmitri
Dmitri has been invited to a reception by the Czar, seeing that Anna is on the guestlist he decides to chance an invitation to meet him on the palace roof, from where the gaslights of the city stretches into the distance.As luck would have it there are two ladies by the name of Anna in attendance and the page blunders by asking both to come to the roof. Anna's namesake is a much more plain country lady but both are surprised to find themselves and Dmitri together on the roof of the palace.
Dmitri sees the confusion instantly but blunders in his explanation and both women join arms and march back inside the palace.
No points and trait deviant gentleman gained.
Levy
Anna is looking for an informant who claims to have information about who has acussed her of treason. The man wants to meet in a disreputable nightclub, the same nightclub where Levy is currently disengaging his ward Petra from the arms of a disagreeable sailor.Levy instantly recognises Anna and ventures his help to her in whatever errand has brought her here.
Anna recognises the bandit who ruined her recent party however and with a sharp rebuke turns on heel and leaves.
No points and trait golddigger gained.
Round three
Dmitri
Dmitri invites Anna to his country house for a meal. While the surroundings are indeed pleasant and the food well cooked and served will Anna be bored witless by Dmitri's limited table talk?Fortunately as Dmitri starts to repeat himself the picture of his dead sister flutters from his jacket to the floor. Anna picks it up and after discovering the nature of the memento is moved by such a display of filial love.
Three points and trait unpretentious gained.
Levy
Levy is stung by Anna's rebuke and is determined to prove himself as selfless in his desire to aid her. Understanding her legal difficulties he takes up the case and is able to find a loophole that would result in the collapse of the case against her.Excited he leaps onto a dog sled and makes his way to the country dachu where the nobility have gathered for a winter hunting expedition. He sneaks into the grounds but fails to notice that security has been increased and guards lurk all over the grounds. While trying to reach Anna in an isolated part of the lodge he is caught by surprise, wrestled to the ground and dragged before the guests.
No points and the trait stalker.
Conclusion
Dmitri and Levy finally confront one another in the dachu.Could there be any real choice between a filthy and dangerous bandit and a respectable nobleman? Anna is grateful for the support of Dmitri and Levy is dragged away by the guards. With his rival out the way Dmitri proposes and his proposal is accepted.
Dmitri and Anna have a grand wedding with a huge guest list of well-wishers and creditors who are crying with joy at the fortune they have managed to buy a stake in.
Levy is carted off to prison; will Petra and the sky pirates be able to get him out again?
