Kalsgrim Lodovka |
Do we have some sort of residence in the town?
When the craftsmen confront them, Kalsgrim will tell honestly about the exploration. No, it wasn't worth it. But we had no way to know. We were trying to push out the boundries of the land to create a buffer between these farms and the wilds. But we failed those of our citizens who fell to the trolls. I can't promise nothing like that won't happen again, but we'll certainly do all we can to prevent it.
Kalsgrim will saddle up his horse again after dinner and patrol outside of town. He's trying to throw off the weight of guilt he's put on himself. It will be late before he returns to et any sleep.
Other Mastermind |
Your words seem to convince the men at the table and those around. Still, you can tell from that conversation the disarray dwelling in your people's heart.
Davor walks back to the City Guard where he finds a few fresh recruit who can't find the courage to say no to him. He gets a chance to train, but mostly train those softies into a better shape. They are quite beat up by the time he decides to trash on an uncomfortable bed.
Pavel follows Grigori without any trouble. The man walks back to a little hotel called Sweet Dreams. His light stays lit long into the night, but it finally gets dark.
Kalsgrim patrols the vicinity until the very late hours, but all is calm around Providence.
Janku and Servayn, feel free to add what you did that night. Also, as it is your town, you can certainly define many things like where you are all staying.
The morning finds you all well rested and, yes, clean(er). It is still very early when you all meet.
Corso finds you at the bottom of the stairs: "Ah! Heard a rumour you were back and had a few words with Grigori. I heard it went well. Don't trust that man though. He's been trouble for the last few days. He said he arrived from Rostov, but I'm sure he's from the West..."
Lukasz comes in a few minutes later: "Thank the Gods you got my message! The town is on the verge of riot, I'm sure! We need to enforce security or something... But I also got good news: One of our good men in town, Loy Rezbin, wishes to meet with you. He's told me he has in mind of going West and found a new town that would become a part of Frieland!"
Servayn Krolz |
Janku and Servayn, feel free to add what you did that night. Also, as it is your town, you can certainly define many things like where you are all staying.
Servayn did the 'talk to folks in the bar for an hour or so, to try and calm things down a bit' and then 'go 'home' and summon elementals and start attempting to learn bits and pieces of Auran and Terran' things mentioned upthread.
In the morning, he'll be eager to hear what Kriger observed of Grigori's activities.
"Grigori sent no messages that you could see? I was hoping for a pigeon or something, that I could send an eagle to intercept, so that we could find written proof of some perfidy... Perhaps he keeps a journal in his room, that we could acquire somehow?" he ponders aloud. "No, that way lies terrible backfires, if the people believe that we will ransack their homes or plant evidence to tarnish the names of those who speak out against us..."
"It seems that we should speak more with the people, to try and counter some of this ill-feeling he has stirred up. It might help if we could do so with some troll heads on the stump next to us. Have you heard of where exactly the trolls struck, Kalsgrim?"
Planting the same sort of coin on both the trolls and Grigori could be terribly fun, making it seem that both are in the pay of some third party! Methinks our Paladin would not approve. :)
Kriger Eilifsson |
I have no idea who Pavel is. I tried to find his name somewhere, but couldn't. So I'm gonna take a stab and guess that you meant Kriger. If not, then my bad.
Kriger yawns as he listens to Servayn. "Grigori didn't do anything. He just stayed at this place called, Sweet Dreams, and stayed up what felt like half the night." He scratches his chin, as another thought comes to mind. "Alright fellas, can one of you tell me who the heck names these places?! We've got to get tougher than Sweet Dreams, otherwise, we are gonna be laughed at. We DO NOT want to be laughed at, alright?" He says with the utmost of seriousness. Kriger looks around at them all, unsure of what to make of their silence. Always the positive one, Kriger get's the feeling that he's gotten his point across, regardless of the fact that they think him inane for complaining about something so ridiculous.
Getting back to the business at hand, Kriger stands. "Davor and Servayn are right. We need to calm these stupid people down. Otherwise, we'll be killin' everyone. And, like Davor, I got no interest in killin' everyone either. Plus, you can't have a city if everyone's dead. And we need to go troll huntin'. The sooner we find 'em, the sooner they die." Kriger thinks a moment to see if he's forgotten anything. Shrugging, "Alright, that's all I got," he finishes and sits back down, another yawn hitting him.
Davor Mason |
Well Davor woreships a different religion I believe so he has no interest to go there and watch him or pray with him. If Janku wants someone to watch his back in case he is scared then by all means he'll join him if someone is willing to disguise Davor so he could blend into the background and act if something starts happening.
Janku Tolliver |
Janku will go to the spot he has picked out as the future site of his Cathedral to Milani. He buys a large tent to set up, and plans to offer prayer to any who would attend. When he has more time in town he will politic to get more conversions, but Grigon and whoever else might be interested are welcome to attend the morning service. After that, he will be fired up for some Troll hunting.
Servayn Krolz |
As Lukasz is no longer adventuring with us, Servayn will pick up some flint and steel and flasks of lantern oil, for our troll-body-burning needs.
"We should attend Janku's conversation with Grigori, and proceed from there to the troll-hunt. I'd prefer we not spread ourselves thin, and if Grigori doesn't show we can leave immediately after Janku is done saying his morning prayers. Anyone who has a religious reason for not wanting to attend, can, of course, hang far, far out of listening range..."
This morning, Ember is again at Servayn's side, but he volunteers to 'hang back' as talk of religion bores the outsider (who already has an extraplanar 'afterlife') to tears.
Other Mastermind |
After breakfast, you make your way towards what stands so far for consecrated grounds. In a vacant lot, some small shrines dedicated to various deities have been erected in honor of different gods. Milani has a place of choice, as Janku made sure during construction of the town, that enough room would be preserved for an eventual temple.
But as you get nearer, you realize something is definitely wrong. About seventy people are gathered around a small podium, a mere wooden box, on which stands a fired Grigori. As you approach, he points an accusing finger:
"And now comes the Lords of this MESS.
Good citizen of Providence, look closely at the men that are threatening your life.
THEY have gathered you here to toil and suffer,
while THEY run around the land, on fancy horses,
GALLIVANTING through the country,
playing the KNIGHTS IN SHINY ARMOR
while THE CITY is RUINED
and TROLLS kill MOTHERS and BABIES!"
"But don't you dare speak about those things!
No, no my dear neighbours, I don't advise you to do so,
for THEY will stop at nothing to SHUT-YOU-UP!
Yes, citizens, only YESTERDAY, as I was having my usual dinner,
these SO-CALLED LEADERS came up to me and threatened me.
One pointed his sword at me!!!
But they preferred not to spill my blood in public...
As I speak to you now, I fear for my life,
for the TYRANT KALSGRIM, will stop at nothing
to keep HIS people IN LINE!!!"
The crowd turns towards you as you approach, visibly unwelcoming...
Davor Mason |
Davor leers with his one eye and holding his tongue whilst being unable to hold out a audible growl. He hasn't drawn a weapon yet, but he tried to remain looking intimidating and is armed with his punching dagger.
Edit: Very well done, DM. Very nicely done :)
Servayn Krolz |
Servayn steps forward, silently ordering Ember to pull back from view, and muttering to the others as he moves forward, "Draw no weapons unless attacked, make no threats, and do not shout or scream, already Davor has served Grigori once, let us not do so again."
Ember slinks back behind the others, attempting to be unobtrusive. Stealth 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (14) + 7 = 21
Raising his voice only slightly, but doing his best to retain a calm and reasonable tone, Servayn advances slowly towards the crowd surrounding Grigori, arms raised to show empty hands. "Friend Grigori, you invited us to pray together this morning, to find a solution to the woes that beset us. I see that you have gathered many companions to assist us on our mission to strike against the trolls, but I do not believe that they are properly armed or equipped for such a campaign, and might be needlessly endangered if they accompany us. Before we go forth, and seek out these monsters, perhaps you will share before all of us your plan to confront them? You speak persuasively, and I'm sure we *all*," Servayn gestures to all of his listeners, "are eager to hear the solution you have planned to eradicate the troll menace."
"After all, we'd already be on our way to deal with the trolls, if you hadn't asked us to meet you here this morning, so, *obviously* you have some vitally important information to impart to us that would justify further endangering the good people of Providence by keeping us from our duty to protect the people..."
Diplomacy, to turn Grigori's ranting around upon himself, and point out how he has done absolutely nothing to address the problems he complains about, and is actually preventing them from being addressed. Take 10, if possible, otherwise my usual. 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (2) + 12 = 14
Janku Tolliver |
Janku approaches the man speaking with all the fire in his voice.
"I forgive you my brother". "I know you speak with the passion and zeal of a true citizen of the city...but your anger is misplaced". "None of us has attacked or killed members of the city". "This is a wild and untamed place, and those who come here come knowing full well the benefits, and the dangers of staking out a new life in an uncivilized place". "Instead of trying to tear apart the very fabric we have knit with our common cause to be liberated, and able to choose our own path, we should be pulling together in this time of need". "If you were to spend your considerable fire and energy helping build defenses against these dangers instead of complaining and crying that 'somebody else needs to fix this', maybe the problems would be less". "So I offer to you my brother". "We intend to ride forth this very day to dispense of the evil that threatens our peaceful existence". "Would you direct your passions to the true enemies of this city instead of towards your comrades in arms"? Janku then steps forward and opens his arms for the mans embrace.
He then turns to address the rest of the crowd. "The same stand true for all of you". "Are you ready to fight for your freedom, and the safety of those about you". "Instead of complaining that your walls are breached, work with your neighbors and reinforce them". "There is a way that you can be safe from these attacks". "Leave this land of opportunity and return to the safer oppressed areas that you left to come here". "Think before you choose to do so however, for those same liberties that led you here, are those that help you overcome obstacles, and make this a city, and country of which you can be proud".
"So I implore you all". "Join me in prayer to the goddess of those who oppose tyranny, and repression". "Then gather your loved ones close, and help defend the city, until we return victorious with the heads of our enemies held high".
Janku then throws his head back and holding his shield in one hand and his rose entwined Morningstar in the other brings down thunder from the sky. Casts Soundburst into the air where it can't harm anyone.
1d20 + 10 ⇒ (7) + 10 = 17 Diplomacy vs. Grigori
1d20 + 10 ⇒ (13) + 10 = 23 Diplomacy vs. Crowd
Kriger Eilifsson |
Kriger's eye goes all twitchy as the fool Grigori stands up there in an attempt to verbally tear this city apart. First I am going to cut his tongue out as Davor mentioned. Then I will give him salt to drink as he screams. Then I will beat him into oblivion, allow him to wake, and beat him into oblivion again. After he has suffered for several days, possibly weeks, from whatever other forms of torture I can envision, I will then cut him into several small pieces. And then I will cut THOSE pieces into even smaller pieces. And then... Kriger shakes himself out of such a terrible, yet tempting, reverie, realizing that that would just make things worse. "I tell you, how those of my blood manage to survive each other is beyond me," he mumbles to himself.
As Servayn and Janku respond with their own verbal swords, Kriger relaxes a bit, quite impressed. Taking a step forward and leaning in to where only Janku and Servayn can hear him, "Good words, fellas. All I could come up with is: 'I will eviserate you where you stand and feed your flesh to the carrion!'" As they turn to look at him as if that is an utterly foolish thing to say, all he can do is shrug. "That's why I'm better with trolls." He winks and returns to his previous spot.
Kalsgrim Lodovka |
Kalsgrim will spend 4 action points to get a natural 20 on diplomacy with the crowd. That's effectively a 31 on diplomacy. He's not going to bother with trying to win over Grigori; he's trying to win the crowd over to our side and against Grigori.
Janku speaks well and honest, even while Grigori speaks hollow words. I wouldn't hesitate to kill him in front of all of you if he had committed crimes against this fledgling government that warranted it. But since he hasn't, he has nothing to fear from me or mine.
But if we find proof that you and the people you work for are responsible for driving these trolls here just to stir up hatred amongst the fine, honest people of this land, then I will drag you back to this spot and execute you myself.
Other Mastermind |
Davor: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (10) + 4 = 14
Servayn: 1d20 ⇒ 1
Janku: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (4) + 9 = 13
Grigori: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (13) + 13 = 26
Very impressive speeches. Good job!
The wise words of Servayn and Janku bring about discussions amongst the townsfolk. They go back and forth as they discuss the validity of the points. Some nod, some cross their arms and close up. Still, the crowd seem under the influence of Grigori.
Kalsgrim then steps in, and his words seem to wrap around the people of Providence, bringing them back into the fold. But Kalsgrim speaks of retribution, and Grigori smiles as he fights back, with words...
"Did you hear, my fellow citizen, the accusation laid out in front of me?
My! I can't say that I know much about these things,
BUT it seems to me that citizens who bring CONCERNS
will be faced with ACCUSATIONS!
'Mmmh... You say there are trolls, then you must have brought them!' says Baron Kalsgrim...
Well, if this is how our SO-CALLED LEADERS receive complaints,
then I call this kingdom the REALM of a TYRANT!"
And Master Servayn asks about trolls and what to do about them.
I think it's a fair question!
Yes citizens, I do! But what I don't understand,
is why he is asking ME instead of the WARDEN of this REALM!
Is it because the WARDEN prefers to GALLOP through the realm, CARELESS and FREE?
I can try to solve the trolls problem,
but is this why I pay TAXES?!
Is this why we suffer and toil?
For a bunch of NOBLES to go about GALLIVANTING as they wish!?!"
And if our good High Priest Janku wishes to mesmerize us with the empty promises of his Goddess,
that's all fine.
We can go about and kill some trolls...
But what of the ECONOMY High Priest Janku?
What prayer will improve the income of your herd?
Don't throw trolls at us when the whole barony is going BELLY-UP!"
You can tell the crowd is still split, but Girgori's words have not struck as strongly after yours.
Davor Mason |
Davor will move with the group, knowing he can't blend into the background or dissappear off. He'll continue to keep his focus on Grigori in case he gets his blade out. He smirks as what Kriger says, agreeing, but not wanting to be verbal about it.
since I was ninja'd by DM
Davor despises the way Grigori is able to twist these words to his advantage. Clearly he is a high grade trouble maker, but Davor is smart enough to know that any physical action taken upon him will make him seem innocent.
Servayn Krolz |
"You present us with a rare dilemna, friend Grigori. We are forbidden to go gallivanting about slaying trolls, as we must stay and attend to matters of commerce, and yet we are criticized for not gallivating about and slaying trolls." Servayn says, with a look of genuine puzzlement. "Which do you recommend, since you rebuke us for protecting the people by going out and fighting monsters that would threaten them, and yet you then turn around and rebuke us for *not* fighting the trolls? Do you have some magic blade on your person that will slice us evenly in two parts, so that one part of us can go stop the trolls and the other part can remain here and listen to your sage counsel? Some spell or secret perhaps, that will simply cause the trolls to fall over dead and convert into golden coin and fat loaves of bread, to stave up our treasury and feed the hungry? Surely you have something *useful* to offer, and would not have invited us to this parley simply to shout at our people and harangue us like a fishwife."
"We all eagerly await some useful advice to fall from your lips, noble Grigori, instead of this ill-tempered ranting that so poorly suits a fine craftsman of your stature."
"And let us not limit this to poor, flustered Grigori, who feels that we threaten him so, and may be too frightened to make useful reply. *Any* citizen of these lands is welcome to offer us their counsel, if they know of a solution to the various challenges to life here on the frontier of civilization. Useful advice is welcome from those in all walks of life, and we will never pretend to know better than a farmer how to manage a farm, or a cooper how to make a barrel, or even a fishwife how to scale a fish." he adds at the last, gesturing to Grigori, whom he so recently compared to a sharp-tongued fishwife, hoping for a laugh.
Also blowing the level's action points for a 20 on the next Diplomacy roll, gives him a 32.
Servayn is both playing on humor, hoping to interrupt some of the high feelings with involuntary laughter, and is also hoping to plant some seeds of doubt with mention of Grigori's craftsman garb, begging the question of what exactly he crafts, on the chance that he might not actually be a known craftsman, ever seen weaving a rope or hammering a forge. As with Servayn's previous attempt at contrasting the calloused hands of the adventurers with his own polished appearance, it won't amount to a hill of beans if Grigori actually has a storefront and is a known local craftsman... Servayn is hoping that isn't the case, since Corso suggested that he seemed to arrive recently, 'supposedly from Restov, but possibly from the west.'
To Kalsgrim
We were already planning on ditching taxation edicts, since they sucked, it might be worth a circumstance bonus to mention that on the heels of Grigori bringing up paying taxes. Or it might look like pandering to Grigori or even bribing the people to take our side. Your call.
Kriger Eilifsson |
Kriger fumes at Grigori's talk of him being, "careless and free". Speaking as quietly as possible and between clenched teeth, "If you fellas don't shut him up, I am going to rip one of his legs off and use it to kick the living crap out of him. And then I will shove his own foot, straight up his...," Kriger doesn't finish that sentence, fearing he may fly into a killing rage.
As Servayn continues with the verbal sparring session, Kriger forces himself to remain quiet, for now, although he can't seem to keep his eye from twitching.
Other Mastermind |
Servayn's words seem to carry enough weight that the conversations steer in their favour. Slowly, the crowd breaks into smaller pockets, and only a handful of people are left discussing with Grigori. He steals a look at you and you can tell he's not happy to have found his match.
Beyond him, you can see Lukasz and Akiros accompanying a man and a woman, walking toward you.
Lukasz: "Ah! You haven't left yet! Did you forget our conversation? This is Loy Rezbin and his wife Tara. They wish to travel west and start a hamlet at the ford where we defeated the Tatzlwyrm. They would become vassals of the barony."
Loy jumps in: "My Lords, I have twenty hard working men and women ready to follow me, and Akiros has agreed to escort us there. We wish to call the village Tatzlford in your honour..."
He looks expectantly at you.
Davor Mason |
Davor looks to the group with a smirk at how Grigori has been defeated with words and not threats or violence. Truely he has a lot to learn from this group.
At the mention of setting up this hamlet he raises a eyebrow.
"I have no problem with this, but it is up to the rest." Davor says as he turns to the group.
Servayn Krolz |
Servayn attempts to remember what sort of threats, other than the Tatzelwurms were to be found in that region. The boggard, for instance, may have been nearby-ish, if he remembers correctly.
If he can remember that sort of detail, he'll warn Loy and Tara of potential dangers in the area.
Kriger Eilifsson |
As the crowd disperses, Kriger begins to calm a bit. But until Girgori leaves, he keeps one eye on the thug.
"I got no problem with it either. But I think Kalsgrim is the one you want to speak to. After all, he is the top dog." He slaps him on the shoulder. "Whaddaya think, Kalsgrim?"
Other Mastermind |
Servayn attempts to remember what sort of threats, other than the Tatzelwurms were to be found in that region. The boggard, for instance, may have been nearby-ish, if he remembers correctly.
If he can remember that sort of detail, he'll warn Loy and Tara of potential dangers in the area.
Servayn remembers and warns them.
Kalsgrim Lodovka |
I am willing to agree to that, but I'm very concerned about the dangers still out thee. We are looking at passing out that way once we get some things resolved around here. We will check on you when we do so. Until then, please take every caution.
With a warm look to Akiros, he'll say Thank you kindly for escorting them. At east we have made some good decisions in all of this.
Kriger Eilifsson |
Kriger grins wickedly as he peers through the slits of his eyes. "I'm with Davor. We NEED to find these trolls, and rid ourselves of such scum." He pulls out his axe and retests the blade again with his thumb. Noticing that the blade has drawn another red line across it, again, Kriger looks back up nodding in satisfaction. "I'm ready."
Servayn Krolz |
"Best to speak to the survivors and attempt to pick up the trail when we reach the place the trolls attacked most recently." Servayn agrees.
"I picked up some oil for burning the bodies after they fall, but if anyone has other options, that will also be good."
Ember seems pleased at the idea of fighting another troll, having apparently forgotten entirely how close a thing it was the last time he faced one...
Other Mastermind |
The Barony of Frieland - 21st of Neth
The leaders of Frieland set out in the morning light to the farmlands where the trolls were last sighted. They are pointed by concerned farmers to a set of two farms that have been devastated. Three teenagers are sifting through the rubbles. One explains: "Aye! I was away to my cousins. Me mom and pop, me brother and me three sis' were k..." His eyes get swollen as he chokes on the last word. Another explains: "We're cousins. It's not fair! How can trolls walk around free and we can call this place safe? It's not fair!"
Please roll social skills if you wish to influence them.
Servayn Krolz |
"It is not fair, as you say. All we can do now is repay the trolls with blade and flame, and try to make sure that this tragedy is not repeated. Nothing we do can bring your family back, and all we can do is the same as any man, our best, with prayers to the gods to preserve our souls when the end comes." Servayn says, while Ember slinks about, snuffling for signs of the trolls direction when they left this place.
Servayn's Diplomacy to at least calm the people, and redirect their anger to the trolls. 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (4) + 12 = 16
Ember's Survival. 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (18) + 5 = 23
Davor Mason |
Ember tilts his head and growls, "South and west. They do not hide their trail."
Servayn turns to the young man, "It seems so, but we will pursue them nonetheless, to ensure that they do not return, or harm other innocents to the southwest."
Assist with survival: 1d20 + 8 + 2 ⇒ (9) + 8 + 2 = 19
"Perhaps we can bring a claw back as a trophy or maybe a head." Davor smirks at the thought "A head can be paraded, but I would like to keep a claw to myself."