A Game of Kingmaker

Game Master Wandering Wastrel

DATE: 28/31 KUTHONA (XII) 4719
KINGDOM TURN 7 (COMPLETED)

PROCLAMATIONS I MAPS I ADMIN I RULERSHIP

PROJECTS:

Get Tyg and Perlivash on our side: 2/9
Find the Redcap lair: 1/5
Establish good diplomatic relations with Kiravoy: 2/5
Establish good diplomatic relations with Glenmere: 1/5


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Female LN Human (Brevan) Unchained rogue (consigliere) 5 | HP: 45/45 | AC: 18 (14 Tch, 14 Fl) | CMB: +3, CMD: 14 | F: +3, R: +8, W: +3 | Init: +3 | Perc: +8, SM: +8 | Speed 30ft | SA: 0/0 | Spells: 0/0 | Active conditions: None.

GM:
I've read our charter, but I have a few questions. I'm trying to make sure that Sasha knows what she's talking about and not simply making things up.

1. Who is the party beholden to? The Swordlords? The Mayor? Greater Brevoy?

2. When you say that the charter is self-funded, does that imply a certain amount of independence?

3. Our charter really only covers exploration and a declaration on banditry. Should Sasha have an understanding that this sort of thing could lead to the creation of a state that she has a hand in?

Right now, I'm unsure of the political power being a charter member holds. Without assuming anything, Sasha believes that the value in the position is that as one of the people exploring the region, she'll have first-hand information on potential resources and markets, giving her an edge in frontier business.


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@Sasha - those are good questions.

1. Yes. The charter is signed on behalf of the crown by the Regent, but the expedition wouldn't exist without the impetus of Rostland and the Swordlords of Restov in particular. So your direct reporting line, if we can think of it like that, is to Restov, but the crown (regency) is somewhere in the background.

2. Yes, you have independence: you are going somewhere that isn't actually part of Brevoy, so Brevan law doesn't apply. In that respect, the charter is just a piece of paper; but it does say that you are there on behalf of Brevoy. So, for example, if you kill a bandit, you aren't murderhobo-ing - you are carrying out a legal duty you have been assigned to do.

3. Not exactly. I think it is generally understood that the Swordlords aren't investigating and mapping the Stolen Lands just to add to the sum of human knowledge. It seems likely that this is the first step in claiming the land as part of Brevoy. Sasha would have first-hand information, which would be valuable; and she might even reasonably hope that the people doing the exploring will be rewarded with some of the land.

3a. Right now the creation of an independent state is not on the cards: any land claimed by Brevoy would become part of Brevoy.

Possible spoiler:
In this game, part of the intrigue comes from the fact that the realm the PCs set up starts out as a fiefdom of Brevoy. As the situation in Brevoy deteriorates, the PCs have to pick sides and/or decide on neutrality/independence. But that is a looong way off from here :)


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Male LG Human (Brevan) Paladin 4 | HP: 65/65 | AC: 21 (11 Tch, 20 Fl) | CMB: +9, CMD: 21 | F: +9, R: +5, W: +7 | Init: +1 | Perc: +0, SM: +8 | Speed 20ft | Smite Evil 2/2 | Lay on Hands 4/4 | Spells: 1st 2/2 | Active conditions: None. Appearance

There's one real-life example of such a venture that might be fun to read up on: the Teutonic Order State. A Polish duke got the Teutonic Order involved in his struggles against the pagans who inhabited the untamed wilds to the north, but the Order ended up creating a formidable state as the years went by.

Of course, later on, the Order got into a conflict with Poland and Lithnuania and we all know how that ended.

Okay, I'm done being a history nerd now ;-)


Female LN Human (Brevan) Unchained rogue (consigliere) 5 | HP: 45/45 | AC: 18 (14 Tch, 14 Fl) | CMB: +3, CMD: 14 | F: +3, R: +8, W: +3 | Init: +3 | Perc: +8, SM: +8 | Speed 30ft | SA: 0/0 | Spells: 0/0 | Active conditions: None.

Thanks for the answers, WW!

Also, I love the Teutonic Order. They're such an interesting bit of medieval history.


1 person marked this as a favorite.
Female NG Human (Brevan) Investigator 4/Brawler 1 | HP: 51/51 | AC: 25 (14 Tch, 21 Fl) | CMB: +7, CMD: 19 | F: +5, R: +10, W: +4; +2 vs poison | Init: +2 | Perc: +7, SM: +7 | Speed 20ft | Inspiration 5/5 | Extracts: 1st 3/4, 2nd 0/2; Flex 4/4 | Active conditions: Ablative Barrier, Shield, Haste

I should really do some more detailed reading into the Middle Ages, I've only had to take one history class and it was 1500-on.

I did have a thought, relating back to the indentured-freeborn discussion. I've realized that Arianna's goals are pretty muddy. 'Making a name for herself' is incredibly vague and long term. What if, Arianna's younger siblings, the twins, had a different mother than Arianna and her older siblings, so they're indentured when the others are freeborn. So she wants to find a way to free them from their indenture. In her mind, the best way to do that is to buy their indenture.


@Aivar - without giving too much away, that theme is on point both in terms of history and geography (I've always envisaged Brevoy as being more Poland/Lithuania than Russia).

EDIT: @Arianna - I LOVE the idea, but if one parent is Freeborn then the child will be too. So your scenario only works if both parents of the twins are Indentured. If you share one parent with them, then that would mean one of your parents is Indentured while the other was Freeborn.

I think. (We're exploring these social nuances in far more detail than my tabletop group ever did, so I don't have all the answers)


Female NG Human (Brevan) Investigator 4/Brawler 1 | HP: 51/51 | AC: 25 (14 Tch, 21 Fl) | CMB: +7, CMD: 19 | F: +5, R: +10, W: +4; +2 vs poison | Init: +2 | Perc: +7, SM: +7 | Speed 20ft | Inspiration 5/5 | Extracts: 1st 3/4, 2nd 0/2; Flex 4/4 | Active conditions: Ablative Barrier, Shield, Haste

I had considered that I just didn't want to make my post too long. So Arianna's father is indentured, but his first wife, the mother of Arianna and her older siblings, was freeborn. His second wife, the mother of the twins, is indentured. Maybe that was a condition of being allowed to marry again, that he had to marry an indentured woman.

Mr. Wending (I should probably come up with a first name for him) is the sort who's never had any reason to think he deserves any better than what he has, and so drags down his children. They might be freeborn, but they've had it ingrained into them that their duty is to House Lebeda. The twins (I definitely need to come up with first names for them) are young, maybe 14-16, and only when Arianna leaves do they start to realize the difference between themselves and their half siblings.


OK, we can definitely work with that! It strikes me though that Mr Wending (and yeah, even the Indentured deserve names) must have had something to him to attract a Freeborn wife - considering that marrying an Indentured effectively ties you to a single profession and a single location. She must have been a remarkable woman too, to persuade the owners of the Indenture to permit the marriage.

Is it possible that she died in childbirth perhaps, and he blames himself for 'marrying above his station'? If she'd married a Freeborn professional then she'd have had better care and might have survived (whether or not this is true is irrelevant - it's about what he believes).

That explains his current unpleasantness, unless you prefer him just to be a bad guy: he loved and lost and he thinks it's all his fault.

But like I said to Sasha, it's your background so feel free to make a different choice.


Male LG Human (Brevan) Paladin 4 | HP: 65/65 | AC: 21 (11 Tch, 20 Fl) | CMB: +9, CMD: 21 | F: +9, R: +5, W: +7 | Init: +1 | Perc: +0, SM: +8 | Speed 20ft | Smite Evil 2/2 | Lay on Hands 4/4 | Spells: 1st 2/2 | Active conditions: None. Appearance

On 'painting': do you rule it to be a craft or profession? I don't mind either way, but Aivar will be using it for his next intrigue phase and I want to add the right modifiers to the rolls! :)


Craft (paintings)

Profession (painter)

Artistry (paint)


Female NG Human (Brevan) Investigator 4/Brawler 1 | HP: 51/51 | AC: 25 (14 Tch, 21 Fl) | CMB: +7, CMD: 19 | F: +5, R: +10, W: +4; +2 vs poison | Init: +2 | Perc: +7, SM: +7 | Speed 20ft | Inspiration 5/5 | Extracts: 1st 3/4, 2nd 0/2; Flex 4/4 | Active conditions: Ablative Barrier, Shield, Haste

It's a tad storybook, but this is still fantasy, so I don't think storybook is a bad thing. Childhood friends? They met when they were young, eventually fell in love despite the differences in their stations, and he was an idealist. She persuaded his lordship to allow them to marry. Then, after she died (after having 4 children) he grew withdrawn and bitter and angry at himself, for circumstances he couldn't control. Arianna was too young, she never knew her father when he was still kind, but her older siblings remember.

Under these circumstances, it was probably then her stepmother who was beaten up by the Late Lord Lebeda, not her mother. Still has the same effect since stepmother is the only mother she ever knew.


Daaaaaaw. Yes, that works (sniff).

Now give them some names :)


Female NG Human (Brevan) Investigator 4/Brawler 1 | HP: 51/51 | AC: 25 (14 Tch, 21 Fl) | CMB: +7, CMD: 19 | F: +5, R: +10, W: +4; +2 vs poison | Init: +2 | Perc: +7, SM: +7 | Speed 20ft | Inspiration 5/5 | Extracts: 1st 3/4, 2nd 0/2; Flex 4/4 | Active conditions: Ablative Barrier, Shield, Haste

Good to know you're a huge sap :P. I have names, for everyone.

Mr. Wending's first name is Dieter. For his children, the oldest is named Sigmund, the second son is Adrian. The oldest girl is Cecylia. Then there's Arianna. Their mother was Aurelia. Then there's the twins, Daniel and Clara. The stepmother's name is Sarah.


Arianna Wending wrote:
Good to know you're a huge sap :P.

What can I say? We all have our failings ;)

Arianna Wending wrote:
Is the party still going strong or is it quieting down at all?

I originally planned for 10 rounds, to avoid the game dragging too much. But if you've unfinished business with anyone then I can provide a final 'catch-up' round.


OK, more world building: I've been looking through the River Freedoms that supposedly dictate the law in this part of the world, and while I think they're clever, they're too "storybook" for my liking. I just can't see them fitting this game's themes. I mean, "oathbreakers die"? Seriously?

So, unless anyone has a serious attachment to the River Freedoms, I'm going to rule that in this game, the River Kingdoms have exactly the same primitive feudal system as Brevoy does.


Female LN Human (Brevan) Unchained rogue (consigliere) 5 | HP: 45/45 | AC: 18 (14 Tch, 14 Fl) | CMB: +3, CMD: 14 | F: +3, R: +8, W: +3 | Init: +3 | Perc: +8, SM: +8 | Speed 30ft | SA: 0/0 | Spells: 0/0 | Active conditions: None.

While I don't have any attachments to them, I do think they're fun. You could probably have the River Kingdoms ape the political system of Brevoy while still maintain their independent, more chaotic flavor.

Of course, that may already be what you plan on. :)


Appearance

Stop hogging all the good rolls, Aivar! I need those!


Male NG Human (Taldan) Bard (Court Bard) 5 | HP: 40/40 | AC: 19 (14 Tch, 15 Fl) | CMB: +3, CMD: 17 | F: +2, R: +9, W: +5 | Init: +4 | Perc: -1, SM: +13 | Speed 30ft | Performance: 14/14 | Spells: 1st 5/5 2nd 3/3 | Active conditions: None.

Your game, your rules, though it might feel a bit weird if the River Kingdoms are identical. Maybe a more anarchic version of the same?


Male LG Human (Brevan) Paladin 4 | HP: 65/65 | AC: 21 (11 Tch, 20 Fl) | CMB: +9, CMD: 21 | F: +9, R: +5, W: +7 | Init: +1 | Perc: +0, SM: +8 | Speed 20ft | Smite Evil 2/2 | Lay on Hands 4/4 | Spells: 1st 2/2 | Active conditions: None. Appearance

I'm sowwy, Raquel :( I guess Shelyn smiles upon the faithful!

As for the River Kingdoms: do as you please. I am unfamiliar with the rules and laws as written :)


Female NG Human (Brevan) Investigator 4/Brawler 1 | HP: 51/51 | AC: 25 (14 Tch, 21 Fl) | CMB: +7, CMD: 19 | F: +5, R: +10, W: +4; +2 vs poison | Init: +2 | Perc: +7, SM: +7 | Speed 20ft | Inspiration 5/5 | Extracts: 1st 3/4, 2nd 0/2; Flex 4/4 | Active conditions: Ablative Barrier, Shield, Haste

That code is certainly something. It sounds like the River Kingdoms is the kind of area where 'Might Makes Right', everyone for themselves. 'Robbery is acceptable', so what, your right to have the things you want supercedes the right of others to keep what they've earned? Who even wrote this? China Mieville, what is this? There's no way any of this is actually put into practice, it would be kinda hilarious if people from the River Kingdoms talked all about their freedom but in reality it's more like the Code from Pirates of the Caribbean, it's at best a suggestion.


♀ NG Elven Wizard (Conjuror) 5 | HP: 35/35| AC: 17 (13 Tch, 14 Fl) | CMB +1 CMD 14 | F: +2, R: +5, W: +6 | Init +3 | Perc +12(15), SM +1 | Speed 30 ft | Active Conditions: None | Appearance
Tristan Aislin wrote:
Maybe a more anarchic version of the same?

I think since the River Lands are more lawless in nature is precisely what led to the Stolen Lands being a lawless region. I would tend to echo Tristan here in that the River Kingdoms are just further behind in terms of development due to its lawless nature.

Think maybe 8th century feudal law (or lack thereof) for the River Kingdoms Europe vs say 12 or 13th century feudal Europe for Brevoy. Just a thought.


Thanks all for your comments! My proposed world build is that Brevoy has benefited from 200 years of relative stability, with the same ruling house in charge, which has allowed the development of e.g. a rising middle class of Freeborn, together with a body of law and custom that gives certain rights even to the Indentured. Everyone therefore benefits (to varying degrees) from the knowledge that tomorrow will be more or less the same as today.

The River Kingdoms haven't had that same stability. The ruler of Mivon/Daggermark/etc is the one who has coerced the other nobles onto their side, and will fall as soon as they lose those same nobles' favour. The serfs are poorly treated, with little recourse to the law, and there's no middle class to speak of.

If there is a medieval comparison to be made, it's between early mediaeval England (post-Norman conquest, with a comparatively strong central government) and early mediaeval France (a patchwork of competing baronies and other fiefdoms, warring with each other as much as with the English)

The Stolen Lands, however, are another matter. I won't say any more at this point so as not to spoil things.


I've added a Calendar to the top of the campaign page. It's kind of blank at the moment, but I'm sure it will fill up with notable events as the game progresses. (I think the Calendar will also be where we do the kingdom turns as well: recording which hexes were claimed, what buildings were constructed, that sort of thing.)

I've added in birth dates for those characters who provided an age.


Female LN Human (Brevan) Unchained rogue (consigliere) 5 | HP: 45/45 | AC: 18 (14 Tch, 14 Fl) | CMB: +3, CMD: 14 | F: +3, R: +8, W: +3 | Init: +3 | Perc: +8, SM: +8 | Speed 30ft | SA: 0/0 | Spells: 0/0 | Active conditions: None.

Sasha's the baby!

Another political question, GM. What does being a Swordlord mean? I know that they've been trained at a duelling school and that Swordlords also make up the advisory council to the Mayor of Restov, but how do they fit in to the rest of the nobility?


@Sasha - those who graduate from the dueling school and then earn sufficient prestige to be recognised are awarded the rank of Swordlord, which is both a knighthood and a military rank. The knighthood admits them to the advisory council.

A Swordlord who continues to distinguish themselves can rise up further in the nobility, so you could be a Baron Swordlord or a Duke Swordlord.

It's one way for commoners to become nobles.

EDIT - on a completely unrelated note, I've finally managed to read the new Pathfinder Playtest rules. Is anyone planning to run a Pathfinder Playtest game? I'd be really interested in applying with a character, but I don't think I have the bandwidth to GM it (this campaign is using all my GM resonance).


Appearance

I'm currently running a playtest game but we are already full with players. :(


Male NG Human (Taldan) Bard (Court Bard) 5 | HP: 40/40 | AC: 19 (14 Tch, 15 Fl) | CMB: +3, CMD: 17 | F: +2, R: +9, W: +5 | Init: +4 | Perc: -1, SM: +13 | Speed 30ft | Performance: 14/14 | Spells: 1st 5/5 2nd 3/3 | Active conditions: None.

I've been envisioning Tristan as in the 21-22 range, which would place him about a year older than Sasha.


@Raquel - no problem! I was... fairly opinionated during the previews on the Paizo blog, so I thought I should give it a fair hearing. Be interested to know how you get on.

@Tristan - updated, thanks.


♀ NG Elven Wizard (Conjuror) 5 | HP: 35/35| AC: 17 (13 Tch, 14 Fl) | CMB +1 CMD 14 | F: +2, R: +5, W: +6 | Init +3 | Perc +12(15), SM +1 | Speed 30 ft | Active Conditions: None | Appearance

Just want to say again GM Wastrel, excellent work on this game. I've played a lot of PbP games, but none have so quickly engrossed me as this game has.

Also damn, the calendar really does put light to how old elves are... Nariel is almost as old as Brevoy itself!


Thanks Nariel, I'm glad you're enjoying it. There's a LOT to this game, but everyone has kept up the pace of posting, which is great and something I really appreciate.


Female NG Human (Brevan) Investigator 4/Brawler 1 | HP: 51/51 | AC: 25 (14 Tch, 21 Fl) | CMB: +7, CMD: 19 | F: +5, R: +10, W: +4; +2 vs poison | Init: +2 | Perc: +7, SM: +7 | Speed 20ft | Inspiration 5/5 | Extracts: 1st 3/4, 2nd 0/2; Flex 4/4 | Active conditions: Ablative Barrier, Shield, Haste

Right so, I know a few spoilers but only for the very, very beginning of the first book. Since I believe we'll be heading out first thing in the morning, would I know that Oleg's Trading Post is our 'point of contact' with the Swordlords, so to speak?


@Arianna - the trading post is mentioned in the charter, so yes. You don't know any more about it than that, though.

(There were some NPCs at the party who could have provided some information, but you went to other rooms, and talked to other NPCs. Which is fine! You got some useful information and made some great contacts. One of the 'themes' I'm using for this campaign is "you can do almost anything, but not absolutely everything" and the ball is an example of that.)

@everyone - we're at the start of the next chapter; do you want me to wait for everyone to finish this part, or should I keep things moving? I'm good either way.


Appearance

I'm cool with keeping things moving. Always ever onward! :)


Male LG Human (Brevan) Paladin 4 | HP: 65/65 | AC: 21 (11 Tch, 20 Fl) | CMB: +9, CMD: 21 | F: +9, R: +5, W: +7 | Init: +1 | Perc: +0, SM: +8 | Speed 20ft | Smite Evil 2/2 | Lay on Hands 4/4 | Spells: 1st 2/2 | Active conditions: None. Appearance

I'm fine with moving things forward!


♀ NG Elven Wizard (Conjuror) 5 | HP: 35/35| AC: 17 (13 Tch, 14 Fl) | CMB +1 CMD 14 | F: +2, R: +5, W: +6 | Init +3 | Perc +12(15), SM +1 | Speed 30 ft | Active Conditions: None | Appearance

By the way, just wanted to inform everyone that I'll be leaving for a few days starting tomorrow, and likely unable to post until Tuesday. Last big outing of the summer!


OK, have fun! Thanks for letting us know.

In that case, I will give time for everyone to post the end to this chapter before posting the next one. That slows things down a bit, but it's the weekend anyway.


@Arianna/Sasha - is there anything you want to post in gameplay before we move on?


Female NG Human (Brevan) Investigator 4/Brawler 1 | HP: 51/51 | AC: 25 (14 Tch, 21 Fl) | CMB: +7, CMD: 19 | F: +5, R: +10, W: +4; +2 vs poison | Init: +2 | Perc: +7, SM: +7 | Speed 20ft | Inspiration 5/5 | Extracts: 1st 3/4, 2nd 0/2; Flex 4/4 | Active conditions: Ablative Barrier, Shield, Haste

I'm good to continue.


Female LN Human (Brevan) Unchained rogue (consigliere) 5 | HP: 45/45 | AC: 18 (14 Tch, 14 Fl) | CMB: +3, CMD: 14 | F: +3, R: +8, W: +3 | Init: +3 | Perc: +8, SM: +8 | Speed 30ft | SA: 0/0 | Spells: 0/0 | Active conditions: None.

Sorry, busy weekend. I'll wrap up the conversation in a spoiler so we can push on. :)


@Aivar - horses are Large, so I think that means anything you buy for them is correspondingly more expensive (don't have the rules with me right now).


Male LG Human (Brevan) Paladin 4 | HP: 65/65 | AC: 21 (11 Tch, 20 Fl) | CMB: +9, CMD: 21 | F: +9, R: +5, W: +7 | Init: +1 | Perc: +0, SM: +8 | Speed 20ft | Smite Evil 2/2 | Lay on Hands 4/4 | Spells: 1st 2/2 | Active conditions: None. Appearance
Quote:

Outfit, Companion Cold-Weather

Price 15 gp; Weight 6 lbs.

This vestment works just like a cold-weather outfit, granting a +5 circumstance bonus on Fortitude saving throws against exposure to cold weather, except it is custom made for an animal companion. The added cost represents custom tailoring to ensure that the furs used don’t cause unwanted reactions from the animal wearing the outfit.

It's 15gp whereas the regular cold-weather outfit is 8. That, plus the fact it says it is for animal companions and a light horse can be picked as one. It's up to you :)

> https://www.d20pfsrd.com/equipment/goods-and-services/containers-bags-boxes -more/#TOC-Outfit-Cold-Weather


@Aivar, oops, my bad. That would be fine if you have the spare gold for it (quick dash to the market before you left Restov)

@Tristan - no problem. Once you know what you want to say, chuck it in a spoiler and we'll go from there. It will take a while for any reply to reach you anyway (assuming you get one ^_^)

@Everyone - I really do need a decision on whether you stick to the road or strike out into the wilderness. Don't make any assumptions about which is faster.


Appearance

I think most of us prefer the wilderness trek.


OK! We'll go with that one.


Male LG Human (Brevan) Paladin 4 | HP: 65/65 | AC: 21 (11 Tch, 20 Fl) | CMB: +9, CMD: 21 | F: +9, R: +5, W: +7 | Init: +1 | Perc: +0, SM: +8 | Speed 20ft | Smite Evil 2/2 | Lay on Hands 4/4 | Spells: 1st 2/2 | Active conditions: None. Appearance

I subtracted the 15gp for the horse's cold-weather outfit and added it to his character sheet. Can't have the horse suffer because I'm too dumb to go out during the heart of winter :)


Appearance

I apologize in advance if everybody gets eaten by a giant spider or freezes to death. Sometimes Raquel doesn't make the best decisions!


@Raquel - eh, you don't know what was waiting for you on the road ;)

@Aivar - no idea! I think that the minimum damage you can take is 1, but I can't find the rule either way. Let's say that 1 'rounds' to 1 with a successful save, unless someone finds the rule that says otherwise.


Appearance

I'm pretty sure you can't reduce the damage below 1.


Male NG Human (Taldan) Bard (Court Bard) 5 | HP: 40/40 | AC: 19 (14 Tch, 15 Fl) | CMB: +3, CMD: 17 | F: +2, R: +9, W: +5 | Init: +4 | Perc: -1, SM: +13 | Speed 30ft | Performance: 14/14 | Spells: 1st 5/5 2nd 3/3 | Active conditions: None.

Life is hard at level 1! Really happy Tristan made that Ride check. 4 damage would put him at 1 effective hp left.


Male LG Human (Brevan) Paladin 4 | HP: 65/65 | AC: 21 (11 Tch, 20 Fl) | CMB: +9, CMD: 21 | F: +9, R: +5, W: +7 | Init: +1 | Perc: +0, SM: +8 | Speed 20ft | Smite Evil 2/2 | Lay on Hands 4/4 | Spells: 1st 2/2 | Active conditions: None. Appearance

For what it's worth, any form of healing will heal equal points lethal and non-lethal so you should rocket back up to full hp with relatively little healing.

... but yes, I'm happy I'm not a con 8 wizard right about now ;)

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