Etiquette- Staying afloat in an Ocean of Manners

Hardened adventurer’s might scoff at the practicality of manners in tense situations but the Etiquette skill is a vital tool for anyone digging beneath the ordered veneer of the Empire.

Sample Etiquette Uses 
A man of uncultured living will stick out in any but the most debased surroundings. Etiquette can show who does not belong in Lady Matilda’s reception, or what thug is next in line to take over the gang.

Anyone wishing to impress their betters will need to know what actions will aid their cause. An Etiquette roll can suggest that a nice note tucked into a stolen copy of “Burchess’ Guide to Salamanders” is the perfect way to get the professor’s attention.

When looking for a bomb in a fine banquet, Etiquette can reveal which place settings might have been switched, how many bottles of wine have been switched with flammables, and what table decoration is too big to be tasteful which may be hiding the explosive.

Skill Overlap
Certain aspects of Etiquette can overlap with other Specialty Skills. This won’t outshine the other skill’s usefulness but it will help round out a party’s abilities when stuck.

Bribery
In some situations bribery is as acceptable as tipping a porter. A “fellow man of the world” will know how to act gracefully in such a situation. Refined manners will help lubricate the unhelpful to your cause with a small donation or a drink at the public house.

Fashion
The fiddly rules of society extend to clothing too. From dark gloves in the morning, light in the evening to which flowers go in corsages, Etiquette can indicate who does not belong, and keep you from attracting the wrong attentions. It would not do to overdress for a rat baiting.

Forgery
Etiquette can’t help counterfeit bank notes, but if you want to send an invitation to a nonexistent ball, it will work in a pinch. As long as the correct terms of address are used, and the details current to this social season you can pull it off.

High Society
Who is the hostess obligated to invite to the ball tonight? When should we expect the owners of this house to return from the dinner party? These questions are reasonable answered by an Etiquette roll.

Politics
Identifying a person of position and treating them with expected courtesy is what politics is all about.

Foreign Customs
Any Etiquette roll involving foreign customs or secretive social circles (such as gentlemen’s clubs, fraternal orders, cults etc) have a 3 black dice penalty due to the lack of experience an outsider would have in their conduct.

Alternate Reputation Modifiers Afforded by Etiquette Rolls 
A man of ill reputation wishing to improve his standing may wish to be seen acting in a civilized fashion. Particularly well heeled actions may counter some notoriety, turning an uncouth brute into a charming blackguard.
When a reputation roll has ended with more Notoriety success than Propriety, a character may try to minimize his failure by being on his best manners. A successful Etiquette roll against the remaining Notoriety successes reduces the failure by 1. There is only so much manners can do against a bad reputation.
This can also be done in reverse. A character wanting to capitalize on a bad Reputation can roll against remaining Proprietary Dice as well, but it may add a permanent Point of Notoriety if the success is particularly spectacular.