Comments on: Random Still-Life Paintings in Grand Houses https://engineoforacles.wordpress.com/2018/08/06/random-still-life-paintings-in-grand-houses/ Daniel James Hanley's Creations For Gaming. Home of the Ghastly Affair RPG. Thu, 09 Aug 2018 11:46:27 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.com/ By: sunlessnick https://engineoforacles.wordpress.com/2018/08/06/random-still-life-paintings-in-grand-houses/#comment-6290 Thu, 09 Aug 2018 11:46:27 +0000 http://engineoforacles.wordpress.com/?p=2042#comment-6290 In reply to Daniel James Hanley.

😀

]]>
By: Daniel James Hanley https://engineoforacles.wordpress.com/2018/08/06/random-still-life-paintings-in-grand-houses/#comment-6288 Thu, 09 Aug 2018 03:13:25 +0000 http://engineoforacles.wordpress.com/?p=2042#comment-6288 In reply to sunlessnick.

I love how you’ve worked the tables! I’m thoroughly convinced – they’re going in the Castles, Mansions, & Estates book.

]]>
By: sunlessnick https://engineoforacles.wordpress.com/2018/08/06/random-still-life-paintings-in-grand-houses/#comment-6287 Wed, 08 Aug 2018 20:28:06 +0000 http://engineoforacles.wordpress.com/?p=2042#comment-6287 The items depicted might be the components for a Magical Ritual, the objects that must be buried to pacify a ghost, or even be a visual pun that helps solve a longstanding family mystery.

And this is why I think the random painting tables should be in with the Houses book rather than separate. 🙂 This one’s even a plot hook generator if you start with the premise that the objects are significant.

A cheese, a cabbage, a ring, a helmet, a pile of nine coins and five sea shells – all gathered on a stone, against the background of an English garden.
The first two are farming produce – the ring could symbolise marriage or officialdom – the coins payment for something, perhaps something that is about to come due – the helmet suggests military service.
The family were once common farmers – they were ennobled nine generations ago, though the exact circumstances of it remain a mystery. In fact, it was through an otherworldly power, who demanded that a later scion of the family would have to serve as its knight. This debt is about to be called. The shells? Perhaps the otherworldly power is born of the sea, or at least (and more metaphorically) deep places.

A silver platter, an Indienne-patterned cloth, a globe, a gauntlet, and three peaches – all gathered into a basket, against the background of working servants.
The first three suggest far-reaching and profitable trade, but the basket suggests something much humbler, even if the servants go back to suggesting wealth. The gauntlet could be military again, or a challenge. Peaches represent transitory sweetness.
Maybe the family made their money in trade, but in the process cast out a branch of their line (maybe some of them are still there as servants?). But one from that branch has been biding his time, and now seeks to contest somehow for control of the business, and bring down the family that did so to him.

I like these tables.

]]>