Copyright Ira Prince Valls 2022

Eyes on the Prize

A Fake Marriage
Role-Playing Game

by Ira Prince Valls

 It is a truth universally acknowledged,
that a single troublemaker in possession of an absurd problem
with no reasonable or realistic solutions,
must be in want of a made-up wife.

In Eyes on the Prize, you are troublemakers. Maybe you don’t think you are —
maybe, to you, your most unfortunate and ludicrous circumstances are no fault of
your own, and it is only an additional misfortune that you’ve been driven to such
lengths — but the fact of the matter is that, when all is said and done, you need your
situation upended so badly that you’ve ended up fake-married about it. So it goes!

Unfortunately for you, there's nothing more appealing to the rumor-mongers and
scandal-hobbyists of court society than an unusual marriage. If the two of you want to
have a chance to meet your goals, you'll have to play your parts, and you'll have to play
them immaculately.

Get your shit done, don’t get caught, and absolutely, positively do not fall in love for
real. That would be so fucking embarrassing.

1
 Dedicated to Marina:
Thank you for real-marrying me.

Eyes on the Prize is the first TTRPG I've ever written. Thank you so much for taking
the time to read through it, and thank you so much if you end up playing it. I hope you
have even a fraction as much fun as I've had making it.

Thank you to everyone who's encouraged me, expressed excitement, given feedback,
and in any and every other way made me feel like I could get into writing TTRPGs.

Special gratitude to my playtesters: Marina, Ferris, Tjesje, Sam, and Alex. The
fantastic characters they created for our games are featured in the illustrations
throughout this document! Thank you for participating in me trying something new
and having fun with me, because it gave me the confidence to make this for real.

Borders and text embellishments are free assets from Canva.com.

Writing & illustrations by Ira Prince Valls.
Fonts used: Amsterdam Four, Alegreya Sans SC Regular, and Alegreya.

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21
Setting Up
You Will Need:
2 or 4 players (1 or 2 pairs)
One 8-sided die per player
A standard deck of playing cards, Jokers removed
Many, many small tokens (coins, buttons, scraps of paper, etc). A long playthrough
with 4 players can require up to 50.
Printed playsheet and printed Marital Trial cards, OR a sheet of paper and
something to write with
A stopwatch/timer
1-3 hours of time, plus a little more for character creation

On Safety
Eyes on the Prize involves roleplay centered on romantic relationships, and often touches on
embarrassment, dishonesty, and unexpected/unwanted feelings in that relationship. Even if you
intend to play the game in a very lighthearted or humorous way, or are playing with someone
you’re very comfortable with, it’s still a good idea to sit down before the game and make sure all
players understand the content and will be comfortable with it.

You may want to take some time to establish topics that are Lines and Veils. Lines and Veils are
a safety tool that allows players to communicate boundaries in role-playing games. A Line is a
hard limit, a topic you don’t want to show up in the game at all. A Veil is a topic that would be
acceptable to mention, but you don’t want to dwell on it or roleplay it in detail. A scene involving a
Veil should “cut to black” or occur “off-screen.”

If any gameplay prompts or challenges touch on any limits set by players, discard the prompt
and either draw a new one or edit it to align with your group’s boundaries.

Another tool that can be useful is the X Card, designed by John Stavropoulos. This is an index
card with an X drawn on it and placed within arms’ reach. At any time during the game, if a
player becomes uncomfortable, wants to stop the scene, or otherwise isn’t having fun, they can
touch the X Card, and other players will immediately stop and strike/retcon/rewind the scene, no
questions asked. (If you’re playing remotely, this can be emulated by having players type “X” into
the chat.) You can read more about the X Card, with some great pointers/tips on use, at
http://tinyurl.com/x-card-rpg.

There are a wealth of other safety tools available, and a great place to read more is the TTRPG
Safety Toolkit, a resource co-curated by Kienna Shaw and Lauren Bryant-Monk. The TTRPG
Safety Toolkit is a compilation of safety tools that have been designed by members of the tabletop
roleplaying games community for use by players and GMs at the table. You can find it at
bit.ly/ttrpgsafetytoolkit.

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Character Creation
Your characters are people hacking their way through shitty opulent court life in whatever
setting you like. (If you don’t want them to be members of shitty opulent court life, that’s cool!
Tweak away! But keep in mind that the prompts and challenges in this game are written with a
period romance/court intrigue setting in mind, so you may have to tweak many of the gameplay
elements as well). There are many reasons they may be here — whether they were born into it,
snuck their way in, arrived for diplomatic duties, etc — but now that they’re here, they need to
successfully navigate it to reach their goals. One way or another, their starting point towards
those goals has been a marital union that is mutually beneficial, but foundationally insincere.
Marriage is already frequently a business transaction here, but what your couple is trying to
achieve is beyond the scope of what’s typically considered fair game.

If you’re playing with 4 players, split up into two teams; each team will be playing one fake-
married couple. (What are the chances of there being TWO disingenuous marriages floating
around the same aristocratic circle? Probably extremely high, actually.)

Each player should create a character. Give them an appearance and decide how they're
addressed (name, pronouns, titles if they have any). Describe their personalities to each other in a
few words, and choose a reason why they’re currently unhappy, dissatisfied, or yearning. Decide
on a brief background, and any other details you feel you need to flesh them out and place them
in the setting and in the story.

Examples:
A slick, light-hearted con artist who expects to be caught, but just wants to
enjoy the high life until then, and thinks an aristocrat on their arm would be
the perfect cover
An absent-minded scion who wishes her parents would just get off her back
about matchmaking, so she can focus on her secret love for illegal carriage
races
A tense, bitter court biographer who is tired of being overlooked, and wishes
he could stir things up enough to make his next book a nationwide sensation

You can make notes of this information on the provided playsheet if desired. Keep these
intimate details in mind as you roleplay what kinds of Affection may grow between your
characters.

3
Boiling Point Continued

Plot
Doubles: THE END. Perfect victory, complete and total success — your plans have come
together and borne fruit. Describe how your couple’s plot has resolved, and how together this
achievement has become the centerpiece of their time together.
Difference of 1-3: THE END. You’ve achieved your goal, or at least you have everything in
place to carry it out. But what now? If Suspicion is high, is the aftermath of what you’ve done
enough to finally expose you? If Affection is high, are you reluctant to part? Is victory
everything you’ve ever wanted… or do you still yearn for more?
Difference of 4-6: It was all within your grasp — but even the best laid plans go astray. What
obstacle has sprung up underfoot, to trip you up and set you back? How do you get past it?
Remove Plot tokens equal to the difference you rolled, and keep your EYES ON THE PRIZE
— return to play.
Roll of 1 and 8: Disaster! Calamity! Magnificent, catastrophic failure! Something has gone
terribly wrong, and your hopes have been dashed before your eyes — but if you wanted things
to be simple and easy, you wouldn’t have embroiled yourselves in a plot that required being
fake married. Describe the sacrifices you make to get back on track. Remove 7 Plot tokens,
add 3 Suspicion tokens, and keep your EYES ON THE PRIZE — return to play.

Suspicion
Doubles: A close shave, a near miss, a harrowing glimpse of how it could all go wrong — but,
as it turns out, the two of you are the perfect team for hard times. Describe how, together,
your miraculously pull your plans back from the brink of disaster. Remove 7 Suspicion
tokens, add 3 Affection tokens, and keep your EYES ON THE PRIZE — return to play.
Difference of 1-3: You’ve found yourselves in a tight spot, and you have to work to rescue the
situation. How has this brush with true risk changed how you feel about your plans? About
each other? And how, in spite of everything stacked up against you, do you manage to smooth
things over this time? Remove Suspicion tokens equal to the difference you rolled, and keep
your EYES ON THE PRIZE — return to play.
Difference of 4-6: THE END. Too many missed marks, too many questions left unanswered,
too many loose ends — you can’t keep this up any longer. Which lies are uncovered, and how?
Can you use your gathered Affection or progress in your Plot to at least give yourselves an
out? Or is this a failure, proof that elaborate deceptions like this can never work? Describe the
scramble in the wake of being exposed, and what it means for both members of the
partnership.
Roll of 1 and 8: THE END. The cat is out of the bag. Your marriage has not passed inspection.
You are liars, and everyone knows it — so what happens now? Describe how your couple’s
plot falls apart, and how they’re affected by the suspicions they were unable to dispel.

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Boiling Point
When you reach 10 of any token, you’ve reached a BOILING POINT. Whatever’s been brewing — whether
it’s your own plans, the rumors and speculation of high society, or your feelings for each other — is coming to a
head, and it needs to be addressed now, for better or worse.

Each partner should roll a d8. Then note the difference between the two numbers. Read aloud
and roleplay the prompt based on the value that has boiled over (Affection, Plot, or Suspicion)
and the difference between your rolls, and either follow the instructions in the prompt, or
complete your playthrough.

You may hit a Boiling Point and a game-ending roll before you're ready to stop playing. Follow
your heart and just fudge the results if you want to keep going. This is not the game for denying
yourself a little extra indulgence!

Affection
Doubles: THE END. You can no longer maintain restraint; what happens? Do you embrace in
the middle of the gathering in a silent confession? Do you pull them away to the gardens and
get down on one knee (for real this time)? Your shared plot doesn’t matter anymore, and
neither does keeping up a front of any kind for the rest of society. You have to do something,
but whatever it is, it must put the relationship first. Describe how your couple’s plot ends,
and how the affection they’ve gained for each other takes center stage.
Difference of 1-3: THE END. Your attraction can no longer be denied. You have to do
something about it, one way or another. Consider your other token counts; if Plot and
Suspicion are low, do you throw all of it away and just continue as things are? If both are
high, does this give you the burst of passion you need to get the job done?
Difference of 4-6: You’ve grown deeply attached to each other, that’s true… but the partner
who rolled lower has come to their senses. This can’t happen, at least not now — not when
you still haven’t achieved your goals, and you still need to navigate the traps and pitfalls of
your situation. How do you convince your partner of the same? Remove Affection tokens
equal to the difference you rolled, and keep your EYES ON THE PRIZE — return to play.
Roll of 1 and 8: You both realize how ridiculous this is, or you both suddenly become terrified,
or you both fall into an argument that shatters whatever illusion you’d been foolishly
stumbling into — whatever it is, you’ve been cured of this distraction. Describe your
explosive awakening. Remove 7 Affection tokens, add 3 Plot tokens, and keep your EYES ON
THE PRIZE — return to play.

19
Character Creation Continued

Once you both have characters, work together to build the PARTNERSHIP:
What does your character bring, strategically, to the fake marriage? Why do they need the
other person?
What is your Plot? What are you trying to achieve? How do each of your individual desires
combine to make one cohesive plan, or why do you both want the same thing? Why do you
have to be fake-married to pull this off?
What is your place in this society? What about your partner? Do you want to be able to
continue holding that position after all of this, or will this ruse be a turning point for you?
What are you planning to do about the marriage once you've gotten what you need out of it?
Does your partner know? Have you even talked about it?
What are the stakes? What happens if you fail? What happens if you succeed? What happens
if you fall in love?

Make notes of the core points of the characters’ goals on your playsheet (i.e. “Be taken seriously
enough to gain a seat on the advisory council,” “Obtain an invite to the city’s most exclusive winter gala,”
“Seek vengeance against our shared rival,” “Scamming for scamming’s sake.”) Keep these goals in mind as
you roleplay the steps your characters take to advance their Plot.

Then, build the falsehoods of the MARRIAGE; i.e., what you’re going to be telling everyone:
How did you meet?
How/why did you fall in love?
What are your shared plans for the future?

Do not make notes on the character sheet of anything that is untrue. These details will have to
be remembered to the best of your ability as you roleplay the ways your couple navigates the
Suspicion that always threatens their plans; if something is forgotten or fumbled, you’ll simply
have to change or add on to the lies.

4
How to Play
Play revolves around your appearances together at society events, beginning with your debut as a
newly married couple. Start with setting the scenes and introductions; who’s there, what’s going on at
tonight’s festivities, and how it aligns with your Plot.

To progress the evening, you’ll take turns pulling from a deck of playing cards. For 2 players, each
spouse will take turns; for 4 players, each couple will take turns, with each spouse alternating. (See
CARD PROMPTS in the "Play Materials" section of this document.) Face cards (King, Queen, or Jack)
will prompt you to pull a MARITAL TRIAL, a special challenge with greater risks and rewards. You can
print out the provided Marital Trial cards to create a deck to pull from, or you can write the numbers 1
through 12 on scraps of paper, draw from those, and then reference the trials from the numbered list
in "Play Materials." Set pulled cards aside.

Read aloud and roleplay the prompts attached to the cards, and if called for, you will gain and/or
lose tokens in one of the three categories below. If you don’t have physical tokens to use for tracking,
you can keep a tally on your playsheet or a scrap of paper (use a pencil so you can erase when tokens
are subtracted.)

AFFECTION: The measure of how attracted to your partner you actually are, how distracting the
relationship itself has become, and the subsequent disintegration of boundaries.
PLOT: Your success at furthering your secret plans together, your focus on your shared goals, and the
resources and opportunities you’ve managed to gather.
SUSPICION: The degree to which others in your orbit see through the veneer of the marriage, the
amount of scrutiny and skepticism you’ve attracted, and the rising probability that your true goals
will be discovered.

In the event that a token change would put one of your categories into the negatives, those tokens
are actually converted as outlined below:

Negative Affection becomes +Suspicion: You’re doing so poorly at projecting a view of married bliss
that it’s raising serious questions. Besides, unhappy couples make for fantastic gossip.
Negative Suspicion becomes +Plot: Your ruse is going swimmingly. The time and energy that would
have been consumed juggling nosy questions about your marriage or arduous displays of affection
can instead be spent on your shared machinations.
Negative Plot becomes +Affection: The longer it takes to move things forward, the more time you’re
spending with each other. If you’re not careful, all this waffling around might turn into distraction of
a more amorous kind.

Example:
Players draw a card that prompts +1 Affection, -1 Suspicion, but they already have 0 Suspicion. Negative
Suspicion becomes +Plot, so instead they add +1 Affection, +1 Plot.

5
 Marital Trials Continued

11: What Happens in Court, Stays in Court

It’s time for some good old fashioned party games. Choose a variety of game that would generally
be played at festivities like the ones your characters are attending, like drinking games, gambling
over cards, or garden croquet — either way, determine if it’s just for fun, or if you’re betting
money on it. Roll 2d8. (If playing with 4 players, both teams should roll and take the token
changes of their respective results; roleplay your couples playing against each other!)

11-16: You two make a formidable force of fun. Why is your winning streak so relentless? Are
you using excellent nonverbal communication to cheat? Are you just really, really good at
charades? If you were playing for fun, +4 Affection; if you were playing for money, +4 Plot.
2-7: Boo, this is the pits. You’re not winning, and you’re not having fun, so in the end this
feels like a waste of time… and your fellow guests have noticed you don’t seem to be enjoying
each other’s company. What excuses do you make for your terrible efforts? If you were
playing for fun, -2 Affection, +2 Suspicion. If you were playing for money, -4 Plot.
8-10: You win some, you lose some, but most importantly you hear a lot of gossip. What’s the
most interesting thing someone let slip in the midst of all the revelry? If you were playing for
fun, +1 Affection, -2 Suspicion; if you were playing for money, +3 Plot, -1 Suspicion.

12: If You Can't Say Anything Nice...

The rumor mill is churning, and your ass is flour. Come up with a scandal from each partner’s
past (unrelated to the fake marriage); then each partner should roll a d8. The one who rolls lower
starts to hear whispers about their secret. If you rolled double, rumors about both scandals are
beginning to creep through the party.

11-16: Your spouse locks on to that rumor and open-palm slaps it out of the air like a fucking
basketball. How does the blowback deal damage against one of your enemies or obstacles?
How does it feel to be so fiercely protected? +3 Affection, +2 Plot
2-7: You panic. Set a stopwatch for 60 seconds and deliver an impassioned speech on why
everyone here is a dirty, filthy liar without stopping. If you repeat yourself more than twice,
say something obviously incriminating, or make another player laugh, +4 Suspicion, -2 Plot
8-10: You simply will not stoop as low as acknowledging such vulgar sentiments (whether
they’re true or not). What new conversation topic do you set alight in an attempt to distract
from the gossip? -2 Suspicion, +2 Plot

18
 Marital Trials Continued

9: Travel Album
Everyone wants to know where you went on honeymoon! Except, you didn’t. Better come up with
something quick! Roll 2d8.

11-16: Actually, why not just tell the truth? You haven’t had a chance yet, but you’d love to.
Brainstorm where you’d like to go. Get a little lost in the dreaminess of it. Start actually
imagining it…? +3 Affection, -1 Plot
2-7: You’re caught entirely off guard. Count to three on your fingers, and each time, you and
your spouse have to simultaneously say: 1. A location (i.e. “The beach!”, “The mountains!”,
“The beautiful new opera resort on the moon!”), 2. How long you were there, and 3. What you
spent the most time doing together. +2 Suspicion for each mismatched response.
8-10: Oh yes. We went to a beautiful place, and had a beautiful time, and made beautiful
memories. Tell the most boring, generic story you can, to drive away the curious crowds as
quickly as possible — even if you bore each other a little in the process. +2 Plot, -1 Affection

10: Sweet Somethings

With this event comes an expectation of gift-giving; with the expectation of gift-giving comes the
expectation of a very public display of exactly how much you love each other. The more
quantifiable, the better. Each partner should roll a d8; the one with the lower roll is the one
offering a gift, and the other is the recipient. If you rolled doubles, you both brought something,
and token changes are doubled.

11-16: It’s wonderful. It’s thoughtful. It’s intimate. It’s not what your spouse was expecting at
all. What did you give them? How did you know? How do they react? +3 Affection, -1
Suspicion
2-7: Shit. You forgot. Stand up, then set a timer for 30 seconds and use that time to find an
object in the room. When you return with it, do your best to give a heartfelt speech on why
this is a really great gift, actually. While you’re at it, do your best to ignore the judgmental
stares of everyone else in the room. -2 Affection, +2 Suspicion.
8-10: You have come prepared with A Nice Gift Of Jewelry, Maybe, or Something Like A
Luxury Lighter, or perhaps even A Monogrammed Pen. Is your spouse actually going to use
this thing? If not, where are you stuffing it when you get home? -2 Suspicion, -1 Affection.

17
 How to Play Continued

Finally, there is one more VERY IMPORTANT RULE about token changes: if your partner
player's response to a prompt or challenge makes you fall more in love with their character, add +1
Affection no matter what the prompt says. You'll still take any Plot/Suspicion changes prompted
by the plot, but allow this rule to cancel out or offset any Affection losses.

When you gain or lose tokens, consider what that means for the scene. When you gain Plot,
how have the events of that turn's prompt brought you closer to your goals? When you lose Plot,
how have you been set back? When you gain or lose Suspicion, what did the result of the prompt
reveal or obscure about the true nature of your partnership? When you gain or lose Affection,
how has the tone of your relationship changed?

Move on to a new setting/event whenever it feels right (or don’t, depending on the complexity
of your couple’s Plot! Less demanding plans could be carried out over the course of a single event).
Feel free to describe the downtime between events — do your characters see each other at all
between these evenings, when there’s no need for them to be seen together? Do they secretly
retreat to different estates? Are they struggling to adjust to sharing a home? Is there — gasp —
only one bed? Feel free also to expand into events beyond court life. Perhaps your characters'
schemes eventually lead them to seedy underground bars, secret societies, or just a refreshing
trip to the countryside. Bend the prompts and gameplay to your story whenever needed.

When you hit 10 tokens in one of the three categories, that triggers a BOILING POINT — a
challenge that will either end the game, or allow your couple to keep their EYES ON THE PRIZE
and continue playing. Whatever’s been brewing — whether it’s your own plans, the rumors and
speculation of high society, or your feelings for each other — is coming to a head, and it needs to
be addressed now, for better or worse. Refer to the BOILING POINT challenges in the "Play
Materials" section of this document.

Ending the Game

Eventually, one of your Boiling Point challenges will result in the story coming to a close. Take
your time with it. Remember that the point is not to win or lose, but to tell a story, so tell the story
in the way that’s the most satisfying for all players.

Remember to take time after the game to talk and reflect. Revisit your favorite scenes,
compliment and congratulate each other on the most enjoyable moments, and thank each other
for spending this time telling stories together.

6
7
 Marital Trials Continued

7: Trial By Friendgroup
Obviously, the ones who care about you want to see who the hell has swept their friend so
thoroughly off their feet — and they have high standards. Each partner should roll a d8; the lower
roll is the one being interrogated. If you roll doubles, a combo troupe from both your social circles
has arrived for inspections, and token changes are doubled.

11-16: The interrogated spouse has utterly charmed the curious companions — describe how
and why. One friend leans over, asking why in the world you didn’t get together sooner… and
that suddenly seems like a good question. Ask your spouse. +3 Affection, -2 Suspicion
2-7: Uh-oh. The nerves have set in, and the interrogated spouse is overcompensating. Set a
stopwatch for 60 seconds and sing your own praises without stopping. If you repeat yourself
more than twice, say something that your spouse finds irritating, or make another player
cringe or wince, -2 Affection, +2 Suspicion.
8-10: You know all the right things to say. What is it that your spouse’s friends were hoping to
hear? What kind of person did they want their friend to end up with? Is that actually the kind
of person you are? -1 Suspicion, -1 Affection, +2 Plot

8: Performance Art
Won’t you play something for us on the harpsichord? I heard you have a lovely voice. Come on,
show me that parlor trick you did last summer, the one with the teaspoon and a coin —
Partygoers are clamoring for entertainment. Each partner should roll a d8; the one with the lower
roll has to perform. If you roll doubles, you have to perform together, and token changes are
doubled.

11-16: Your spouse’s performance is enchanting — to you as well as the rest of the room. Did
you know they had this talent? Ask them to tell you about another hobby they have. Maybe
they can teach you, if it isn’t one you share. +3 Affection, -1 Plot.
2-7: Maybe being watched this closely is putting you on edge. That was not your best work,
and you have a feeling people are going to be tittering about it for weeks. What rude
comment does your spouse (or both of you, if you rolled doubles) blurt out in the aftermath?
-2 Affection, -1 Plot
8-10: You’ve put plenty of practice in, and you manage a perfectly pleasant display of your
talents. Not quite nice enough for anyone to ask for an encore, though, so you can shake off
the entourage and get back to work. Which freshly-entertained guest do you wheedle
information out of? +3 Plot

16
 Marital Trials Continued

5: Your Ex is Here
God fucking damn it. Both partners roll a d8; the one with a lower roll just saw their ex walk in. (If
you roll doubles, you’ve BOTH dated them! How? Why? What happened???) Why aren’t you
together anymore? Why the hell are they walking over here?

11-16: You and your spouse are so engaged in each other’s company that your ex… just can’t
really get a word in edgewise. What did they say that distracted you so effectively? And when
someone tried to point them out to you, afterwards, didn’t you kind of find yourself thinking,
“...Who?” +3 Affection.
2-7: There is some kind of absolute meltdown. Describe it. -2 Plot, and in the end, decide to
take either -2 Affection OR +2 Suspicion.
8-10: No fuss, no muss. You’re so normal. You’re very very normal about it. So normal that
everyone gets a little bored, and the ravenous crowd that had gathered in hopes of seeing
some kind of absolute meltdown disperses. How does this extremely normal interaction
change how you feel about your ex? Are you now thinking about the inevitable end of your
marriage, once this plan has run its course? -1 Suspicion, +2 Plot.

6: Oh No, My Gown!
Someone’s trodden on the train of your dress, or spilled champagne all down your jacket front, or
severely jostled your wig. Luckily, this is firmly in the realm of “problems to be solved by your
devoted spouse.” Each partner should roll a d8; the one with the lower roll is the one impacted
with a wardrobe malfunction, and the one with the higher roll has to fix it. If you rolled doubles,
you’re somehow in this mess together — tangled jewelry, a double-wide appetizer splatter?

11-16: Fingers brush one too many times between layers of lace. A curl of hair is caressed away
from your forehead. It takes a little firm pressure to slip your shoe back onto your foot.
Which part of your outfit is your spouse now going to be thinking about all night? +3
Affection, -1 Plot
2-7: It’s just too awkward to fiddle with each other’s clothes like this. You can’t bring
yourselves to do it. What part of your outfit looks like shit now, and how is it going to distract
you all evening? +2 Suspicion, -2 Plot
8-10: What a frivolous problem! Easily solved. Describe how a solution is improvised so the
night can continue. +2 Plot; if you make each other laugh, +2 Affection.

15
Play Materials
Gameplay Prompts
and Challenges

8
Card Prompts
Read aloud and roleplay the prompts called up by the card you’ve drawn, and if called for, you will gain
and/or lose tokens in Affection, Plot, or Suspicion. Remember to add +1 Affection no matter what if your
player partner's response makes you fall more in love with their character!
Hearts
♥ A - You’ve had a little too much to drink. A sincere compliment slips out. What is it? What does
your spouse compliment in return? +2 Affection

♥ 2 - Pick something about your spouse’s appearance. Mention it thoughtlessly.

♥ 3 - In a lull between dances, the two of you get to talking. While discussing something utterly
unrelated to your machinations, you actually get a fantastic idea to assist in them. What was it? +1
Plot

♥ 4 - While dancing, you catch a faint trace of the fragrance your spouse is wearing. What does it
remind you of? Is that memory something they know about you?

♥ 5 - Your spouse does something that flusters you. What is it? And why are you reacting like a
giddy, infatuated schoolchild, when you’re supposed to be married already? +1 Affection, +1
Suspicion

♥ 6 - What do you notice about your spouse's carriage in public that is completely different from
when the two of you are alone? A new hand gesture, nervous vibrato in the voice, a cruel glint of
their eyes? Do you think it's more or less real than the version you know?

♥ 7 - You spot someone attractive across the hall and stare a little too long. What alluring trait do
they have that your fake spouse doesn’t?
+1 Suspicion, -1 Affection

♥ 8 - Your eyes are glazing over during a particularly empty conversation, and you find yourself
thinking about past lovers. How is your spouse different from people you’ve loved in the past?
What do they have in common?

♥ 9 - Is your character turned on right now? If so, -1 Plot.

♥ 10 - A well-known matchmaker loudly comments on what a handsome pair you two make.
What traits is she pointing out specifically? -1 Suspicion, +1 Affection

♥ JACK - DRAW A MARITAL TRIAL

♥ QUEEN - DRAW A MARITAL TRIAL
♥ KING - DRAW A MARITAL TRIAL
9
 Marital Trials Continued

3: A Duel!
Someone has insulted your “beloved.” (If playing with 4 players, it came from the other pair!)
Each member of the partnership should roll a d8; the one who rolled lower is the one insulted,
and the one who rolled higher is the one tasked with defending their honor; if you rolled doubles,
the insult was to your marriage itself, and all token changes are doubled.

11-16: You go apeshit. Somehow, in ways beyond your control, this has touched a real nerve.
Describe the carnage, and then the aftermath. +3 Affection, -2 Plot.
2-7: You can’t motivate yourself to throw a fit over something like this, not when there’s so
much to do. So you let it slide, in front of everyone, which is almost more scandalous than a
fight would have been. What kind of rumors circulate afterwards? How do you each feel
about them? +2 Suspicion, -2 Affection.
8-10: Well, socially this calls for a duel, so it’s time to d-d-d-d-duel. The dueling partner rolls
a d8; for a 1-4, you lose. You’re humiliated, but at least you stood up for your spouse as
expected: -2 Suspicion. For a 5-8, you win, and the court at large hums approvingly: -2
Suspicion, +2 Plot. (4 players: roll as a challenge; EACH pair gets the subsequent win/loss
tokens.)

4: Dancing, Obviously
What’s a social event without a turn around the ballroom? Play rock-paper-scissors against each
other 8 times, and count the number of times you play the same move. (With 4 players: The other
pair is free to keep an eye on you and raise hell if they think you’re cheating/giving each other
some kind of signal.)

6-8 times: You feel like you’ve danced together a million times. What is it about this that’s
making the rest of the couples fade away? What touch or gesture finally brings you back?
What kind of excuses are you going to make to dance for much longer than you had originally
planned? +3 Affection, -1 Plot.
0-2 times: You just can’t find a rhythm. You’re actually so bad at this that you’re starting to
irritate the other couples on the floor. Maybe you should just forget it and go focus on your
real plans — which one of you gets fed up first? +2 Suspicion, +1 Plot, -1 Affection.
3-5 times: You’re perfectly charming together, and you dance just enough to make sure
everyone sees you enjoying yourselves. What do each of you think about while you dance,
instead of thinking about your hands on each other’s waists? -1 Suspicion, +3 Plot.

14
 Marital Trials
Pulling a Jack, Queen, Or King has triggered a Marital Trial! Draw from printed Marital Trial cards, or draw
a number from 1-12 and find the selected number in this list. Read aloud and roleplay the prompts, and gain/lose
tokens based on the outcomes of the rolls/minigames. Then make a note of which trials have already been used; do
not repeat them in a single session.

1: Matrimonial Memories
Someone has asked to hear a story about your relationship. What is it? (If playing with 4 players,
the other pair decides.) You’ve rehearsed things like this before, but now you’ve been put on the
spot. Each member of the partnership should roll a d8; the one who rolls lower has to tell the story
based on the results. If you roll doubles, you each have to alternate sentence by sentence.

11-16: You realize as you tell the stories that you really believe them, or at least that you can see
where you’re getting all this from. You find meaning in the lies. What’s the biggest similarity
between the pretty thing you made up and the truth? +3 Affection, +1 Plot.
2-7: Your mind has gone blank! You have to make something up. Start a stopwatch and speak
without stopping for 60 seconds. If you contradict yourself, repeat yourself more than twice,
or say something that makes another player laugh, +5 Suspicion.
8-10: You recite the planned lies and everyone is satisfied and vaguely charmed. How do you
stop yourself from looking bored while you do so? +2 Plot, -2 Affection

2: Teamwork Makes the Scheme Work

There’s an opportunity that requires skills from each member of the partnership, an exact
crossroads between your strategic strengths. You can’t move forward on your own; you have to
each bring something to the table. Decide what it is, then roll 2d8.

11-16: It goes perfectly, but your synchronicity and shared power is intoxicating. Describe
what new compatibilities the two of you have discovered. +3 Affection, +2 Plot.
2-7: It sucks. You suck. Tension rises. What did you bicker about, and how did that ruin
everything? +3 Suspicion, -1 Plot.
8-10: You advance your goals skillfully, but professionally; this is exactly what you had in
mind when you started all of this. Describe how you celebrate after your success. +3 Plot, and
if the celebration gets dangerously romantic, +1 Affection.

13
Card Prompts Continued

Spades
♠ A - Someone from your spouse’s past shows up. They seem puzzled, and bring up something
that makes your union even more unlikely than it already was. What is it? +2 Suspicion

♠ 2 - What do you think about what your spouse does for a living? Would you normally see
yourself with someone like that?

♠ 3 - Because of your own experiences, you’re able to give your spouse information they wouldn’t
have figured out on their own. What is it? How will it help you? +1 Plot

♠ 4 - Think about the last time you lied or did something dishonest. Blurt it out to your spouse.
How is it any different from what the two of you are doing now?

♠ 5 - Think of an existing obligation that is being shoved aside in favor of your current plans.
Consider what the consequences of neglecting that thing will be. Explain to yourself why this is
more important anyway. +1 Plot, +1 Suspicion

♠ 6 - Why weren’t you already married before this? If you were, why didn’t it last? Does this
partnership seem better or worse than what you probably would have ended up with naturally?

♠ 7 - Something about your spouse is totally at odds with your lifestyle — it would have been a
dealbreaker in a real relationship. Bring it up, in spite of yourself. -1 Affection

♠ 8 - Reveal something about yourself that will surprise your spouse; something completely at
odds with your public-facing persona. (Something, dare we say, gap moe.)

♠ 9 - Your parents had expectations for what kind of match you’d eventually make, didn’t they? If
they hoped for a love match, +1 Suspicion. If they wanted you to be strategic and seek mutual
opportunities, +1 Plot.

♠ 10 - Duty calls — an associate of yours needs your attention, and promises they’ll make it up to
you later, but it means leaving your spouse alone at the event for a while. What’s the favor they
need? Take +1 Plot, -1 Affection and skip your next pull if you go, or +1 Affection, -1 Plot and draw
twice on your next turn if you stay.

♠ JACK - DRAW A MARITAL TRIAL

♠ QUEEN - DRAW A MARITAL TRIAL
♠ KING - DRAW A MARITAL TRIAL

10
Card Prompts Continued

Diamonds
♦ A - A friend admits a secret that aligns with your goals. What new opportunity or development
do they offer? +2 Plot.

♦ 2 - There’s something about your spouse that really reminds you of someone you knew when
you were younger. What is it? Where is that old friend now?

♦ 3 - You have a pet peeve. Your spouse keeps doing it. What is it, and can you get them to
fucking stop it already? -1 Affection.

♦ 4 - Are you more extroverted or more introverted than your spouse? Are you rubbing off on
them? Are people noticing?

♦ 5 - You commit a terrible faux pas. What was it? Why didn’t you know any better? How does
your spouse try to draw attention away? +1 Suspicion.

♦ 6 - What new social circles has the marriage opened up? What kind of spaces would you have
never moved through, if you hadn’t met them?

♦ 7 - You get in a spat with each other. What is it about? Where do you go to try to keep it
private? How long does it take to smooth it over? -1 Plot.

♦ 8 - Which eye-roll-inducing personality trait of your spouse’s is… actually starting to come off
kind of hot, now that you really think about it?

♦ 9 - Did you two have mutual friends before this, or overlap between your social circles? If the
connections are slight, +1 Plot; if they were completely separate, +1 Suspicion; if you’re from the
same social background, +1 Affection.

♦ 10 - Everyone’s talking about you, which means everyone wants to talk to you. This much
attention is dangerous, but it also offers opportunities and footholds. How are you taking
advantage? How are you being more careful? +1 Plot, +1 Suspicion

♦ JACK - DRAW A MARITAL TRIAL

♦ QUEEN - DRAW A MARITAL TRIAL
♦ KING - DRAW A MARITAL TRIAL

11
Card Prompts Continued
Clubs
♣ A - In conversation, something is innocently mentioned that, in the context of it all, makes you
both burst into laughter. What is it? How do you explain what’s so funny?
+1 Affection, +1 Suspicion.

♣ 2 - You find out you’re both enormous enthusiasts of one specific thing, something so niche
that conversations about it are hard to come by — an obscure card game, a nearly-extinct
language, a critically reviled painter. What’s your shared obsession?

♣ 3 - Your spouse has a nickname that almost everyone close to them uses, but you’re baffled the
first time you hear it in conversation. What is it? Why didn’t they tell you? +1 Suspicion; if the
nickname you come up together with makes you laugh, +1 Affection.

♣ 4 - Everyone in this corner of the salon is going around a circle, sharing their most
embarrassing stories. You’re both roped in. What stories do you tell? Are they true?

♣ 5 - It turns out the two of you do have at least one very stereotypical Old-Married-Couple
behavior. What is it? Why has it come out at this event? -1 Suspicion.

♣ 6 - Your spouse keeps doing something that’s cracking you up. They don’t think it’s funny at
all. What is it? Can you get them to understand why it’s funny if you do your best impression of it?

♣ 7 - Goodness, look at the time! What did you two get caught up in that entirely distracted you
from your plans? -1 Plot, +1 Affection.

♣ 8 - Pick something your spouse did during the last turn. Mock them for it. (If this is the first
card you’ve drawn, make up something they did while you were on the way to the event.)

♣ 9 - Has your character ever had as much fun as they’re having in this fake marriage? If no, +1
Affection; if this is par for the course, -1 Suspicion; if it sucks, -1 Affection.

♣ 10 - A distant, elderly relative is here, and they’ve suddenly decided to start telling stories about
when you were a child — at length. What are they revealing? Is your spouse going to make fun of
you immediately after this? What do you have to do to finally get your relative to stop?
+1 Affection, -1 Plot

♣ JACK - DRAW A MARITAL TRIAL

♣ QUEEN - DRAW A MARITAL TRIAL
♣ KING - DRAW A MARITAL TRIAL

12