Yeah, where did you grow up?
A mishmash of different countries. But it was in Singapore that I remember the rod being enforced in schools…ouch. Darn British colonialism! 
Interesting, just looked that up on Wikipedia. Sounds like Singapore has a bit of a caning fetish. They use it all over the show, even sell special brightly-coloured canes for parents to use on children.
Boys can get caned in Singapore schools there for “serious” offenses such as defiance. Defiance? I would have been black and blue if that was the practice in NZ schools when I was growing up. It was banned here while I was in high school, but was out of vogue in the schools I attended before that anyway.
I majored in defiance at school. 
My grandfather used to be a principal, and he took great pleasure in showing me the Strap he still kept in a conveniently located side cabinet in his lounge.
Why yes, I was always on my absolute best behaviour when I visited him, however could you guess?
I am not in this game, but the seditious underclasses may be interested in this guide on how to make a C18th cockade:
americanduchess.blogspot.co.nz/2 … kades.html
(So, what are the revolutionary colours? And who would be brash enough to wear one anyway when the Queen’s justice is around?)
Because Ussland is basically a totalitarian state with informants everywhere, nobody is even sure if there is really a revolution happening or how widespread it is. It’s all rumours and undercurrents, not like the buildup to the French Revolution as I understand it. Apart from the occasional stirring poem turning up, anything that’s happening is beneath the surface.
So that of course would be patriotic cockades then.
Of course totalitarianism didn’t really come until later, and was only associated with communist and fascist states, not monarchies. The Ussland monarchy are clearly early adopters.
This one might be useful for the bourgeois ladies in the game:
[quote=“AhGoodTheSea”]This one might be useful for the bourgeois ladies in the game:
americanduchess.blogspot.co.nz/2 … rwebs.html[/quote]
Nice.
Was it my imagination, or did she say that she was pinning a “rat” to the crown of the head? Now that’s dedication.
No, you likely weren’t imagining it- a ‘rat’ is a sausage-shaped hairpiece- traditionally ladies used to keep a box on their dressing table, remove any hair from their hairbrush and keep it in the box until they had enough to make one out of their own hair, wrapped in a hairnet. Yes, I know- yuuuuum.
Today it’s usually just a plasticky foam sausage thing in brown or blonde or black so it doesn’t show up in your hair too much.
Wow. The first time I thought it was an amusing mishearing brought about by her Australian accent and my love of rats. The second time I was like… she’s pinning a RAT to her model’s head? Awesome!
The rat in question looked like a balled-up synthetic wig. Probably more hygienic than the traditional version you describe.
She mentioned that she hadn’t gone all-out on the white makeup because she wanted a more modern natural look, and that for the full look you’d white all exposed skin.
Also, all that back-teasing! My wife reckons that’s not the nicest thing you can have done to your hair.
Yeah, it is pretty disgusting- but a lot of vintage hairstyles (Victory Rolls, beehives, Marie Antoinette-type updos) are based on the hair being a matted birdsnest, and therefore holding more structure (though it’s not exactly great for your hair). And did I mention that they also, generally, need you not to wash your hair for at least a day or so?
Yes! I had forgotten about that. I don’t know if they still sell them, but back in the day, the whipping canes were made in all shades of colours, like lollies. It was a strange mix of sweet and sadistic.
I happened to read a couple years ago that someone in Singapore was whipped and sentenced to 10 years jail-time for stealing a cellphone. 
In the country’s defence, they have the population of New Zealand squashed on to a piece of land the size of Lake Taupo. One small whisper of chaos would cause a serious ripple throughout the whole country, which accounts for the draconian laws.
I’ve modified the rules at the start of this thread slightly, to simplify and clarify. The Queen’s Justice is not intended to be a “combat” scenario, but violence is a possibility. So I wanted rules that would resolve any fights quickly. The rules do unfortunately involve some estimating of times. The good news is that if someone knocks you down you’ll probably be dead before you can wonder which count you should be doing.
Mostly this change is to move away from hit points. Now it’s a “one hit and you’re down” system. I’ve also added an unarmed combat rule, but only certain characters can attack this way.
Here’s the revised version:
[size=120]Rules[/size]
Punching: some strong characters can knock people down for one minute with a mimed punch.
Melee weapons: anyone can knock people down for five minutes with a foam weapon.
Guns: point gun at target and either fire a cap or say “bang” to fire. Takes 10 seconds to reload.
Being shot: if you are shot you are down, and will die after one minute unless a surgeon helps.
Being “down”: you are only capable of pained speech and dragging yourself along the ground. If you are attacked again with a weapon while down you die immediately.
Being restrained: while down or unresisting you can be restrained. You need help to escape.
Maiming: while restrained you can be permanently wounded with any weapon.
Other: if you are unsure what rules should apply for an action, improvise a believable outcome.
I’m delayed on getting out character sheets. Should have them out tomorrow.
All character sheets have been sent out, let me know if you’re signed up for The Queen’s Justice and haven’t received yours.
Please don’t show your character sheets to other people, even your friends. The surprise of discovering things in game is a big part of the fun so you don’t want to spoil it.
Here is the revised character list:
THE QUEEN’S JUSTICE
Justice Prince Hendrik (M) the Queen’s son - Bryn Jones
Justice Lady Amelia de Groot (F) scion of an ancient Usslander noble family - Hannah McKie
Justice Chancellor Florence Jansen (E) recently ennobled chief of Treasury - Derek Tomes
Justice Lord Jean-Pierre Rousseau (M) a mysterious nobleman - Reuben Strom
THE ROYAL FOOT, UPRIGHT COMPANY
Captain Carlo (M) commanding officer, said to be seeking ennoblement - Anthony Doornebosch
Sergeant Saskia (F) second in command, a hard taskmaster - Stacey Nylund
Zavia (E) a brash young soldier - Jonathan Ferris
Erwin (E) somewhat dim-witted new recruit, a political appointment - Joshua Eyre
Brooklyn (E) cold soldier with a sadistic streak - Andrew Hart
STAFF AT THE BOARDING HOUSE
Merel de Winkel-Peters (F) proprietor of the boarding house - Elizabeth Read
Wout de Winkel (M) husband of Merel, a drunk - Gary Freedman
Roos de Winkel (F) daughter of Merel and Wout, engaged to Hubert de Wolff - Beth Strom
Adolf Oonk (M) the cook, used to work at the Palace of Ivory - Callum Boyce
Margriete (F) the cleaner, assumed to be the illegitimate daughter of Wout - Sarah Lyne
Finn (E) the servant - played by the gamemaster - Ryan Paddy
RESIDENTS AT THE BOARDING HOUSE
Jan ‘Théophile’ Seger (E) a poet and courtier in the Palace of Ivory - Mike Curtis
Ryker Wallis (M) a staunch coal miner, brother of Lijsbet - Matt Swain
Lijsbet Wallis (F) a kindly music teacher, sister of Ryker - Diane Davenport
Hubert de Wolff (M) a well-read book-binder, engaged to Roos de Winkel - Jon Ball
Agnes Ernst (F) a soldier’s widow who does sewing for a dressmaker - Kelly Lowe
Jaap Kerkhof (E) a cranky barber-surgeon - Anna Northey
Hennie Gruter (F) a money-lender whose brother Gerard died recently - Carmel Graham-Williams
Dirk de Meester (M) a poor itinerant sharpener of knives, husband of Katheline - Scott Kelly
Katheline de Meester-Zwart (F) deaf wife of Dirk, washes and mends clothes - Ellen Boucher
Jacob de Meester (M) sickly son of Dirk and Katheline - Stuart Hooper
Clara Zwart (F) orphan niece of Dirk and Katheline - Zanni Yeah
Madam Brummelstroot (F) a courtesan who is frequently visited by wealthy men - Claire Ahuriri
RESIDENTS NOT PRESENT
Gerard Gruter (M) a cloth-maker who died last week, brother of Hennie Gruter
Maria Daube (F) a beer brewer who keeps to herself
We’ve had one more sign-up, he’s playing Jacob de Meester.
At 26 players now. I’ve updated the cast list above.
The game is full (i.e. I can’t be bothered to write the three last soldier characters), so anyone else who is keen will be wait-listed.
I’m excited!!! Bought my costume today … all elements from SaveMart… at a grand total of $25!!! I’m excited about this game… feel like there are a few things to remember though! I’ll get it into my brain I hope… it shouldn’t have exploded yet as this is only game 2!! By game 5/6 I think it may have…