Reputation and Scandal
Your reputation is impacted in two ways - gossip and scandal. Gossip is the lifeblood of high society and the town talks about everyone. Scandal is the dark side of this when a character has gone beyond the bounds of normal society to the point where people start to disassociate from you. The higher your rank or wealth, the more scandal society will tolerate - but everyone has a breaking point.
Public, well-known scandals will be turned into a gossip-rag sheet for people to read before the game (copies will be available on site as well).
Everyone will be asked to give them a current piece of gossip about themselves at character generation. These will be redistributed to other characters, with some false rumours seeded in as well.
Chaperones will have additional access to information about people’s reputations and gossip through a shared display board at the game - this represents their finely honed sense of the room or sources from the staff.
“Here I am once more in this scene of dissipation and vice,
and I begin already to find my morals corrupted.”
Letters of Jane Austen
Gossip
Gossip should be interesting but mild. If you have a scandal attached to your character, you may choose to have the gossip reflect that or you could choose something entirely unrelated. Gossip can even be positive - an unusually large dowry, or an artistic talent perhaps.
Examples:
I fought a duel to first blood with Countess X over the arrangements of flowers at an exhibition.
I stood up for four dances in a row with Miss. X at last week’s ball - but I really prefer her sister.
I am in love with X, but accept that our parents say the match is unsuitable with grace and dignity.
I trained to be a lawyer in secret.
My dowry is £20,000.
I bet Mx X I would name an heir before they did.
I have worn the same gown to every ball this season.
I grew up in India, where it is rumoured that couples walk out together freely before marriage and that duels are fought in public over the least offence.
My second cousin eloped with an actress and is starring in School for Scandal at the Old Vic.
I challenged the Honourable Mr X to a duel over a slight he paid my sibling; I was scared to fight so relented when he named a time and place and made a public apology.
(suitable for married characters only)
I painted Lady X in the nude and exhibited at the national gallery.
I am having an affair with the Duke of X.
I made a bet with Mr X that I would be the first to bed someone in an air balloon over 1000ft in the air.
I gave a necklace worth £30,000 to my mistress.
“Do you compare your conduct with his?”
“No. I compare it with what it ought to have been; I compare it with yours.”
Elinor Dashwood & Marianne Dashwood
Sense and Sensibility
Scandals
Chastity
Due to the stringent chastity restrictions on unmarried individuals, it is a scandal if you are discovered alone with anyone outside of your family before you are married. It is technically legal to marry someone within your family that you are not blood-related too, but it is a massive taboo and would destroy the reputation of your entire family. In particular, it would cast doubts on the chastity of all unmarried relations.
It is a scandal to have an illegitimate child, or declare someone your heir or adopt without your spouse's agreement. This is intensified if you promised to have heirs of the body for your spouse and have not done so.
Many of the suggested parlour games skirt the edge of propriety and the more innocent characters are likely to be shocked by those requesting physical contact or forfeits.
Careers
The Peerage and their children take no careers other than sitting in the House of Peers and the running of their estates. Any member of the Peerage taking on anything that could be deemed work, or even taking to active an interest in managing their own investments would give rise to gossip.
The middle classes can freely take a small number of professions without inviting comment: army, navy, politics, the law and the church. Any other method of supporting yourself would be scandalous.
For those interested in politics, this is the height of the rotting Burroughs and the purchasing of votes.
For those interested in the Army, it is presumed you would purchase a commission in the Calvary or similar.
Scandalous careers could include: running a gaming club, owning a factory, running a private bank, research, artist, writer, (all fine hobbies - needing the wage is the problem)
Debts and gambling
It is not scandalous to gamble, however having debts so large you will impoverish your estate, or have to sell off valuables is scandalous. Think about whom you owe money to - is it a bank or another character?
Crime
Any criminal behaviour is scandalous - particularly if it leads to arrest or imprisonment. The worse the crime, the greater the scandal!
Please note: duelling is outlawed, but respectable if done for good reason, no-one dies and you are not arrested.
Affairs
Affairs are common - almost expected after marriage! As long as they are moderately discreet and keep up public appearances with their spouse, society ignores all and any sexual or romantic behaviour. Publically living with, being set up as a kept lover, having children with or declaring one’s love for anyone other than your spouse is scandalous - but the key word here is public!
The worst of all would be to be discovered to have thrown off your legally married partner and engaged in a sham marriage with someone else.
Another way affairs become scandalous is if it is with someone working class! Perhaps an actress or a handsome valet? Utterly shocking.