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Conflicts, Conspiracies, and Secrets

Geopolitical Conflicts

[Country]…

  • is currently facing a food shortage due to droughts.
  • is dealing with flooding and mudslides due to excess rain
  • has a weak administration plagued by internal rivalries and is surrounded by expansionist empires
  • had been dealing with plague and famine, but by the time [ambitious noble who wants to depose the ruler] returned to [country] the issues had begun to recede. This has given the populace the impression that [ambitious noble] is to thank for their improving fortunes, even though he hasn’t had time to actually implement any policy changes that could have helped.
  • is dealing with a revolt that has broken out due to perceived foreign influence
  • ‘s trade routes are threatened by COUNTRY 2’s expansion and increasing regional power
  • ’s nobility are attempting to intervene in COUNTRY 2’s civil war by backing an impostor to the throne.
  • ‘s invasion attempt resulted in COUNTRY 2 capturing some high profile supporters of COUNTRY 1. COUNTRY’S 3, 4, and 5 allied themselves with COUNTRY 1 in calling for these supporter’s release. However, the ruler of COUNTRY 1 got into an argument with the diplomats from COUNTRY 3 which has put this mission in peril.
  • ’s ruler used the murder of one of his diplomats as an excuse to invade COUNTRY 2.
  • has conquered large swathes of COUNTRY 2. COUNTRY 2 cannot afford to continue the war and reluctantly agreed to a truce. The rulers of COUNTRY 1 are now confiscating the estates of COUNTRY 2’s nobility in the conquered regions
  • If you’re playing one of those Royal Engagement bots - {{char}} was married previously and most of the country prefers {{char}}’s ex-spouse to {{user}}. Or the nobility maliciously gossip about how {{user}} isn’t assimilating into their culture/is manipulating {{char}} for the ends of {{user}}’s home country.

Modern Low-key Conflicts

  • The electricity or internet seems to be going out every afternoon lately
  • {{char}} or {{user}}’s car broke down. They can’t afford to be without a car, but they also can’t afford to fix it.
  • {{char}} or {{user}} lives in an apartment and the rent has gone up. Again. Their job doesn’t pay well enough for them to keep up with these constant rent hikes and they are stressed about it.
  • Whenever {{user}} visits {{char}}’s apartment, the neighbor complains that {{user}} is parking in THEIR parking spot (there are not assigned parking spots)
  • {{char}}’s unreasonable downstairs neighbor hates {{user}} visiting and starts banging on the ceiling whenever {{user}} walks across the floor.
  • {{user}} is a homeowner and they’re constantly fighting with the HOA because of all the rules (ie homeowners are required to repaint their home every few years and also must receive approval for their color choices, there are strict rules around holiday decor and lawn maintenance, rules about pets….)
  • {{user}} rents an apartment. An appliance hasn’t been working for months. They keep calling maintenance, and maintenance keeps failing to deal with it.
  • {{user}} is a homeowner and an appliance hasn’t been working and they’ve been putting off calling anyone in to repair it.
  • There’s been construction outside {{user}}’s neighborhood for months now.
  • {{user}} has a pet that tries to escape the house whenever anyone opens the door
  • There has been a lot of mail theft in the area lately

Conspiracies/Rumors (or Factual but Secret)

{{char}} or {{user}}...

  • is an android, clone, or shapeshifter.
  • is a spy.
  • has a weak administration plagued by internal rivalries and is surrounded by expansionist empires
  • ’s parents aren’t their real parents.
  • is part demon, fairy, djinn, or other supernatural creature.
  • is a ghost, possessed, or being mind-controlled
  • has secret magical ability of (telepathy, pyrokinesis, bird speech)
  • is cursed in some way (turns into a monster at night, will never be sated no matter how much they eat, etc)
  • is a fraud (a popstar who lip syncs to someone else’s singing, isn’t the real author of that research paper/book/)
  • said something completely innocuous that’s been framed in such a bad faith way that a whole bunch of people now believe they are a Bad Person™
  • is sending secret messages through their art (if by fans this is identity related and/or shipping “her music videos are clearly autism coded even though she’s never given any indication she’s autistic” or “this is them letting the fans know they’re in a relationship”. If by culture warrior haters this is “look I decoded the message admitting to satanism and degeneracy”)
  • is in the mob, has people assassinated, or regularly commits some other type of crime

Incorrect Perceptions

If your persona is….

  • Shy (possibly evil) misanthrope genius
  • Athletic Has never opened a book in their life. Takes thirst trap photos and easily falls for terrible health fads
  • Sociable Incapable of independent thought or action
  • Attractive Vapid and both somehow self-obsessed and also keenly aware of everyone else in order to judge them all for being insufficiently beautiful
  • Unathletic Has never heard of exercise and believes that kraft dinner is a healthy meal
  • Conscientious Boring, uncreative loser who hates fun and judges anyone who can’t keep up with their unnatural work ethic
  • Easy-going Too stupid to realize that bad things happen outside of your control.
  • Calm Uncaring and cold-hearted. Possibly a sociopath.
  • Emotional Mentally unwell. Walk on eggshells because what sets them off is completely unpredictable
  • Mentally Unwell Creative, quirky, spiritual, prophetic