Scenarios

If the Masks are the foundation of Palace Commedia, the Scenario is it's floorplan. In ancient times it was a piece of paper nailed to the back of the stage, giving cues and general themes for the play being improvised. An actor would know the framework of the scene but what to say and do was entirely up to the actor and his interpretation of the Mask. Not much exept the format and method of delivery. In the world of roleplaying games Scenarios for improvised dramas are still written and performed as avidly as ever in the 17th century. For the Commedia a style of scenario often found in Live-Action Roleplaying is used to give the game a clear framework for improvisation without taking away the freedom to descide the course of the action. The Scenario is a point of dramatic departure, a situation, a mystery and many other nice things all rolled into one. Basically it tells you where you are (both geographically and dramatically), what you want to achieve and some tips on how to do it. Each Mask has her own Scenario, often placing the characters in direct opposition to each other. A very simple scenario for the Harlequin could go like this;

Dressed as a nobleman you have finally gotten an audience with the lovley Isabelle, the queen of your heart. To your grat dismay you share this audience with a foul-mouthed Captain from Spain. You must make Isabelle understand that you are the man for her while discrediting the Captain so he gets thrown out of the palace. Luckily, you have a distinct advantage since you know that the Captain often frequents a boy-brothel in the harbour. Not that you yourself is completley innocent, in your theft of no less than sixhundred sausages would come to light, things would look pretty bad for you.

Without further ado, here are the scenarios. Be sure only to read the parts labelled with your Masks name or you'll spoil a lot of surprises and make some plots become meaningless. It is strongly recommended that you play the two scenarios in order, the first one being considerably less advanced.

Scenario 1: Three is a crowd

An audience with the lovley Isabelle becomes a bit more complex than is strictly nessecary when certain double-dealings come to light. A simple little tale that may be played in as little as half an hour.

Get Scenario 1 for Harlequin, Isabelle or The Captain

Scenario 2: Bastions of Love

Much is at stake when affairs of the heart and high politics collide in a tale of military architecture, desire and treason. The scenario is complex enough to fill a whole evenings worth of stupidity and plots, but may be finished in an hour or two of intense plotting.

Get Scenario 2 for Harlequin, Isabelle or The Captain