Suggestion: Bardic Right of Invitation into Ahalin

[The_Last_Good_Dragon]

With a bit of time on my hands, I wanted to bring up the suggestion that Bards be given an RP-access to prisoners held in Ahalin Tower for the primary OOC purpose of enriching prison RP for the arrested party. Bards — and for this definition and for the idea I mean fully-Oppified Bards, not lower-level apprentices — already have the thematic authority to demand entry to any known IC meeting (see 'help right of invitation' in-game if you weren't aware of this!) and, as per the helpfile, states that Bards serve as 'Guardians of the Truth'. This could easily be ICly extended towards allowing Bards passage into Ahalin to speak with prisoners there.

The most clear problem with this is the merit that it would enable escapes, so to counter that fear I would suggest implimenting an OOC rule that utilizing this command can have no bearing on an IC escape plot: a Bard claiming Right of Invitation cannot at all factor into an escape attempt. Obviously, there are cases when this Right would possibly need be denied (Those arrested on suspicion of magery a prime example). As a CNote is already required for arresting, the arresting party could indicate in the cnote whether or not an Oppified Bard would be denied entrance claiming this Right.

Further, a log of the scene might be required to be offered to the Lord Justiciar or Earl Marshall (dependant on the nature of the arrest) as the Bard would absolutely be accompanied by a vNPC in service to those Great Lords to ensure no items are passed and no suspicious language is explained. The log would be handed over for things like possible coded messages, as well as just an understanding that the escorts report every detail back. No giving of items — not even food or drink — would be permitted. No contact would be allowed.

To facilitate the mechanics of allowing the entry, the Bard might write a Request Board note to Staff and the appropriate GLs asking for permission, the GL can note their approval or not, and the Bard be transfered in/out by a Staff member.

Anyone else have thoughts? Agreements / Disagreements?

[Taunya]

I'm fine with it, but I think it SHOULD be allowed in an escape plot.

[The_Last_Good_Dragon]

I'm fine with it, but I think it SHOULD be allowed in an escape plot.

Escape attempts, as I understand them, are entirely judged by an escape roll.. When someone "assisting" with an escape has prisoner access, there is no on-grid RP required of the actual escape — this from 'help escape'. The above suggestion is strictly to help enable actual face-to-face RP for prisoners who, for either IC or IRL reasons (the latter of which is more common) additional opportunities to find RP in Jails. As it stands, when playing a jailed character, if you don't see a Knight, Inquisitor, or Reeve on the who list when you log in you know you're pretty much 100% guaranteed not to get any RP that evening; this suggestion is just to find a way to open up that list a bit by letting Bards do what is somewhat their suggested thematic role of "guarding the truth" and "seeking information".

The reason I mentioned not allowing this type of scene be used in an escape attempt is to give the Reeves and Knights who, for VERY OBVIOUS REASONS, heavily guard who they allow access into Ahalin without a PC escort, the OOC understanding that them letting people find more RP in the cell would not just turn around and bite them in the ass when they would have ICly placed plenty of barriers for escapes to not work in this precise situation.

The suggestion is intended to open up more RP opportunities, not to influence the existing escape system.

[Taunya]

I think one should come with the other. If a character is allowed access to the prisoner, it should be allowed in the escape plot.
Escape plots are VERY uncommon to begin with, and they're not without IC consequences whether they succeed or fail. If a bard uses his/her access to try to bust someone out, they're very likely to find themselves in jail themselves.

[Starstarfish]

Physicians of a certain rank and above would also, arguably, be a good potential source of RP. That might be trickier as depending on what is needed (IE actually coded healing/treatment versus just RP stuff) as actual face-to-face might be required in some way.

[Kuzco]

I like the idea. Bards have a bit of a reputation as (in a very loose sense) modern investigative journalists. To let them go and talk with non mage prisoners can make sense and be fun for all parties involved.

[The_Last_Good_Dragon]

Physicians of a certain rank and above would also, arguably, be a good potential source of RP. That might be trickier as depending on what is needed (IE actually coded healing/treatment versus just RP stuff) as actual face-to-face might be required in some way.

I absolutely agree! Just to try to (hopefully) help clarify: in my experience almost all Reeve and Knight PCs are totally fine with Bards and Physicians visiting prisoners. The complication comes in that, for obvious reasons, keys to Ahalin are restricted and no sensible lawkeeper would give a key to a Bard or Physician — so, they can visit but only with PC supervision, but getting those schedules to line up is super hard to do.

The suggestion is to create a Rule Structure where-by those with reasonable character access could make visits even without these keys or PC supervision with a level of OOC agreement (like currently exists with the Knight's Keep and Palace) that IC behavior while utilizing this structure is limited.

[Lei]

Oh, how I love this suggestion.

[Rothgar]

Honestly I'd be totally alright with this. Have them submit to the search and seizure bit, have them logged by name and appearance as going in there, and both the Bards and the prisoners get more RP. Plus the guards have something to talk about when they're not interrogating people. Win-win, really.