CongressOfVienna

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[edit] Congress of Vienna

It is the year of our lord eighteen hundred and fifteen. Godless Frenchmen might tell you that it was year 23 of the new calendar, but thankfully they and their abominable Emperor, the terrifying Napoleon Bonaparte, have been defeated after long years of war.

     Now the victorious powers of Europe have gathered in Vienna to enjoy the hospitality of the illustrious Emperor Francis I of Austria to determine the new shape of Europe.  This is to be a gathering which will truly outshine any that Europe has ever seen.  The Tsar and Emperor of all the Russias, Alexander the First, savior of Christendom will be there, and the King of Prussia, each of their assorted courts, as well as representatives of the English Crown, masters of the sea and financiers of the victory.  So too will gather many of the lesser powers of Europe, his Holiness the Pope, and even the Prince de Talleyrand and the restored government of the Bourbon Kings of France.  Given that this is to be the greatest social event in living memory, anyone who's anyone will be there, including the renowned composer Beethoven who will give a special performance for the assembled dignitaries.

     Of course, in addition to the dazzling gaiety, a great deal of serious business needs to be conducted.   The final treaty needs to be negotiated, and there are many outstanding issues to be worked out if the peace of Europe is to last.  The Holy Roman Empire has been abolished and the future of Germany has to be determined.  The Kingdom of Poland may be recreated, but should it be?  The future of France remains in question as well; after its unfortunate attempt to conquer all Europe, its status stands in doubt, and many clamor for reparations.

     Now, Napoleon rules over only Elba, but his tumultuous passing has changed Europe irrevocably.  Sovereigns and ministers, generals and courtesans, spies and cultists, scientists and artists, all must shape the next century as best they can.  Some see this Congress as a symbol of the new Europe, a place where liberal ideas and fresh nationalism will take center stage at last, while others see it as a chance for rightful governments to reassert their leadership and strength.

     What will become of Europe?  Will it hold strong to the old ways, step forwards into a new age, or fall once again into war and chaos? 

Webpage: [of Vienna]

Type: larp, one-shot

Genre: Historical, Magical Realism

Affiliation: ProCon

System: Card-based exchange of traits

GMs:

• Ben P.
• Ion Y.
• Paul E.

[edit] Characters

• France

Prince Charles Maurice de Talleyrand (Jules vO.)

Foreign Minister of France, who managed to hold on to power through multiple revolutions and regime changes.

Josephina Emmeric, Duchess de Dalberg (Michelle D.)

Talleyrand's aide, with a reputation as a duelist.

Marie-Joseph-Paul-Yves-Roch Gilbert du Motier, Marquis de Lafayette (Nate F.)

Famous liberal, savior of the Americans during their revolution against Britain.

Comtesse Dorothee Perigord (Hillary K.)

Talleyrand's charming young niece.

Sigismond Ritter von Neukomm (Matt M.)

Musician in Talleyrand's employ.

Marie-Sophie Germain (Kendra T.)

Mathematician and physicist from a middle-class family.

• Austria

Emperor Francis I of Austria (Aaron B.)

Elderly and well-loved Emperor of Austria.

Prince Clemens Lothar Wenzel von Metternich (David C.)

Famously charming Foreign Minister of Austria.

Archduchess Marie-Louise Napoleon (Karen M.)

Wife of Napoleon Bonaparte, daughter of Emperor Francis.

Baron Franz Hager von und zu Altensteig (Caleb W.)

Head of the High Police and Censorship Bureau.

Friedrich von Gentz (NPC)

Secretary of the Congress, Metternich's friend.

Duchess Wilhelmine von Sagan (Kristen M.)

Famous socialite in Vienna, renowned for her beauty and charm.

Princess Kathrina Pavolovna Bagration (Ayesha K.)

Famous socialite in Vienna, originally from Russia.

Count Adam Adalbert Neipperg (unplayed)

Dashing one-eyed cavalry officer.

• Russia

Tsar Alexander I, Emperor of All the Russias (Paul F.)

Energetic and visionary Emperor of Russia.

Tsarina Elizabeth Feodorovna (unplayed)

Dignified, well-liked by everyone but her husband Alexander.

Count Andreas Cyrillovitch Razumovsky (Ilya M.)

Elderly Foreign Minister of Russia, patron of the arts.

Grand Duchess Catherine Pavlovna (Sue B.)

Alexander's influential younger sister.

Prince Adam Czartoryski (Peter N.)

Alexander's liberal Polish advisor.

Baroness Barbara Juliane von Krudener (Alison H.)

Latvian noblewoman and mystic.

Countess Roxandre Skarlatovna Stourdza (Lauren A.)

Well-traveled young noblewoman.

• Great Britain

Viscount Robert Stewart Castlereagh (Jules M.)

Dry and conservative Foreign Minister of Britain.

Arthur Wellesley, Duke of Wellington (Jerry S.)

Military hero, soundly defeated Napoleon and his army during the Peninsular Campaign in Spain.

Baron Charles William Stewart (Paul S.)

Ambassador to Vienna, Castlereagh's hot-headed younger brother.

Viscountess Emily Anne Stewart (unplayed)

Castlereagh's wife, with whom he always travels..

Richard le Poer Trench, Earl of Clancarty (Ethan G.)

Ministry official, Castlereagh's assistant.

Edmund Blackadder, Esquire (Chris M.)

Ministry official from an old family fallen on hard times.

Lady Georgia Gordon Noel Byron (E. Koven)

Well-known Romantic poet.

• Prussia

Kaiser Frederick William III, King of Prussia (Geoff F.)

Ambitious King of Prussia.

Prince Karl August von Hardenberg (Simon M.)

Foreign Minister of Prussia, distinguished but slightly deaf.

Baroness Wilhelmina von Humboldt (Yi-Mei C.)

Prussian Ambassador to Vienna, Hardenberg's assistant.

Field Marshal Gebhard Leberecht von Blücher (Ian A.)

Famous general, a key player in Napoleon's defeat at the Battle of the Nations.

Alexandra von Humboldt (Jane M.)

Noted naturalist, scientist and traveler, Wilhelmina's younger sister.

• Kingdoms of Germany

Frederick Augustus I, King of Saxony (Marc H.)

Sovereign of the Germanic kingdom of Saxony, who sided with Napoleon during the war.

Frederick I, King of Württemberg (Tom M.)

Sovereign of the Germanic kingdom of Württemberg.

Princess Wilhelmina of Württemberg (Isabel K.)

Frederick I's liberal daughter.

Maximilian I, King of Bavaria (Mackie C.)

Sovereign of the Germanic kingdom of Bavaria

Prince Eugéne de Beauharnais (Jamey P.)

Maximilian's charming son-in-law, nephew of Napoleon Bonaparte.

Frieda William, Duke of Brunswick (Shelly C.)

Sovereign of the Germanic duchy of Brunswick.

Lady Adalia von Herzberg (Becky S.)

Minor noblewoman from Brunswick.

• Papacy

Ercole Cardinal Consalvi (Jeremy N.)

Papal Secretary of State, a devout Catholic.

• United States

James Monroe (Dan P.)

American diplomat and politician, Secretary of State and War.

• Ottoman Empire

Mavrogeni Pasha (Santo S.)

Greek-born physician, Ambassador to Vienna from the Ottoman Empire.

• Others

Ludwig von Beethoven (Matt W.)

Famous but controversial German composer, come to perform his new Seventh Symphony.

Giuseppina Grassini (Rachel O.)

Famous opera singer from Italy.

Lady Wilhelmina Sidney Smith (Alison H.)

Emissary of the King of Sweden, former British naval hero.

Johann Karl Friedrich Gauss (Dan S.)

German mathematician and astronomer of some small repute.

Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel (Mike L.)

Up-and-coming German philosopher.

Nathan Mayer Rothschild (unplayed)

Rising Jewish financier, his bank helped finance the war.

Dr. Justus Erich Bollman (Dave R.)

American inventor, here to showcase the marvels of modern technology to the upper crust of Europe.

Johann Nepomuk Maelzel (Adam S.)

German inventor, organizing Beethoven's concert, owner of "[Turk]."