Megan's Kingmaker PbP

Game Master Megan Robertson

The herdsman eyes Rhasadilara a bit askance.

"I am Theodor bilAmtrand, and I have forty head of cattle and a bull. I seek a wife to make cheese and butter, and will hire a herdsboy, who I will train up in the art of managing a herd. I'll be happy to supply dairy to all who need it."

Hilda hil-Sampt smiles at Lothar.

"You must be Guardian Narda, my husband did a little sketch of you. It's a pleasure to meet you. Is my husband well?"

"Well met, Master bilAmtrand. If we are going to survive this new land, we will have to do it together. Mayhaps your experience with herds and your willingness to share your knowledge will benefit the community. I am not familiar with the art, so I don't know what is involved."

"My feeling is that if we each do what we do best with an eye for aiding our neighbor, we will have a strong community. If we all come just to better our personal situation, we will see another nation fail and fall in the River Kingdoms. That is why I asked."

Diplomacy to make amends: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (12) + 1 = 13

Lothar nodded, then spoke. Yes, Lady hil-Sampt. He is well, and, I suspect, missing you fiercely. Which is why it's imperative that we get you safely to him. I must say that I am somewhat dismayed that you're traveling on your own, given your condition. Why is this so?

Barnabus continues amongst the herd both human and bovin offering sage advisement and minor healing over the course of the next few hours.

Hilda looks a little surprised.

"Why would I travel with anyone else? None of my friends wish to colonise, they are comfortably settled where they are. It is not as if I am ill: this is a natural condition." She pats her belly contentedly.

For a brief moment, Lothar stared at Hilda, not sure whether he simply admired her bravery or if he were terrified of it. Regardless, the magician put forth his best smile. I did not mean to imply a state of helplessness on your part due to your condition. If anything, you've more than demonstrated to me that my fears for your safety during this journey were ill conceived.

Calinder continues to walk among the settlers, stopping to talk every now and then to get a feel for why each has chosen this course in their lives at this time. Calinder continues to do this as he looks for the others.

Barnabus meets up with Calendar at the edge of the human area as he is returning from the fields.

"Cal I found but minor injuries amongst the settlers an tha animals, twas more healing than I remember in some time, but assuredly tha settlers we choose are ready to move."

"We must consult with the others, some may needs settle near here, some between here an tha fort an others near to tha fort itself. First we must have a registry o tha settlers."

"Barnabus, that is good that there are no serious injuries amongst the settlers. Thank you for looking after their needs."

"Have you seen Rhasadilara, Lothar, or Nilus?"

"Nay!" says Barnabus sounding as much like an animal as possible....

"I have been amongst tha flock."

If Rhasa's conversation with the cowherd is complete and Lothar and Hilda are ready to proceed, she will continue to lead Lady hil-Samptor to the trading post to introduce her to Oleg and Svetlana.

It will be appropriate for everyone (that wants to) to meet up...

Calinder continues walking as he and Barnabus discuss the health of the settlers and their flocks. Eventually he spots Rhasa and Lothar walking with a woman who is unknown to himself.

"Look Barnabus, there is Rhasadilara and Lothar." Calinder then waves in the direction of the other two Guardians.

Quietly to Lothar, "Calinder and Barnabus approach. I wonder where our sparring partner has gotten off to."

He was looking for potential soldiers to train. I don't know anything more than that.

Nilus wanders around the tent city for a few hours. Eventually coming back to the main area around Oleg's.

Whas' next eh? These people are a herd of sheep, they need some direction.

Barnabus adds

"No raw recruits then? Maybe check with the seargeant at Oleg's, surely him and his three men could work to train a warrior here and there?"

Barnabus sees the others...

"When can our wagon train leave?"

"There needs to be some organization here. They are going to destroy this area around Oleg's otherwise. Someone to greet the new arrivals, give them the lay of the land and some direction. Perhaps a small settlement near here to greet the new arrivals and relieve Oleg from the pressure. I'm sure he's not happy with so many people at his walls constantly."

Looking around, she adds, "I think we can get a wagon train organized and moving within a couple of days after that's been determined so long as they haven't set up permanent residence."

"Rhasadilara, Lothar, I'm glad we have found you. Have you found anything of interest as you have walked among the settlers? And who is this that you walk with?"

"Rhasadilara, Nathan also inquired about a map and information about the area, and I thought that you could perhaps help him with that information if he is to serve us in this task."

"Nathan the blacksmith, you say? Very good - if you feel he will serve, I will do what I can to prepare him for the role. This woman is Lady hil-Samptor, wife of our friend, come to join him and possibly bringing the first nativeborn son - or daughter - of the community. I was going to introduce her to Oleg and Svetlana."

She looks into the distance for a moment. "He will need aid if so many people as this show up altogether. We need a plan to organize those here and help them find their way to their new homes. That man, for example, does not seek a town, but pastures for his milk cows."

Nilus nods at Barnabus As you say, mebbe they can train someone to fight... Doubt it, ain't seen someone worth their salt in a fight cept these here....this place is doomed.

Indeed, Nilus, few of the would-be colonists seem to be soldier material. A few look as if they could hold their own in a bar room brawl, but little more than that.

To Calinder: It would seem that we have much to discuss and little time in which to do it. Let us gather together with this Nathan you hold in such esteem as well as Oleg and Svetlana to see what we figure out. The sooner we can settle some of these matters, the better.

"I agree Lothar, that is partly why I was here among the tents of the settlers, to find the rest of our group and tell you of Nathan."

"I believe that he will prove more than adequate to the task of administering to the settlers and others coming to our fair land."

"An Rasha what grasslands ken be turned over tah cattle. It seems yah would want tah has some o tha plains remain free from herds."

"Err would we want tha pastures tah change over times?"

"I am less concerned about settlers using the plains than I am foresters destroying the woods. But the issue is the same in either case: They can be ruined by overuse. If they are going to run cattle, they need to move them over time so the grass has time to recover. If they are going to harvest trees, they need to plan replacement trees and leave some of the old growth as they go - not cut everything to the ground and push the forest back."

"We may want to find them some grazing land as near the settlement as possible, so that we will be able to provide protection for them and their herd, unless they are capible of protecting themselves."

"Certainly. They will want to be near the market where they hope to sell their fresh milk, also. I do not know that they would have means of protecting themselves, but they will have to be able to take certain reasonable risks to be out here. He looked to me like a capable fellow, so I think reasonable risks are within his abilities. Unusual risks, I suppose, are where we come in."

Assuming we are looking at the map

"Lots o grasslands an waters North o tha fort between tha Shrike an Gudrin rivers."

"I kent recall have we cleared tha land fer settlement?"

Do you mean east? It's right of the fort on map, right? I don't know that it's been explored yet.

"Barnabus, I don't think we've visited that area yet, so we'll want to check it out first. We can have them hold north of the fort while we ride ahead and make sure it is safe."

Lothar nodded his agreement. Yes, that seems most prudent.

"I've asked Oleg if he would ready some food and drink so that we can all sit down and discuss the things that need to be done and changes that need to be made. We can have Nathan join us so that you may meet him and discuss his qualifications."

"Shall we return to the trading post and see if Oleg is ready for us?"

As the group returns to the trading post and passes by the area where the blacksmith has setup, Calinder will wave at Nathan signaling that he should join the group.

Calinder will then seek out Oleg and Svetlana to see if they are ready to sit and discuss the matters at hand.

Nathan pauses to pour some water over himself, and then follows you lot back to the trading post.

Svetlana is just dishing up some stew and Sinon is broaching a barrel of ale. Oleg is already sitting at the table with a pile of scraps of paper - apparently his rather disorganised attempts at keeping records.

Barnabus eyes the stew and dishes himself a large bowl and tears off some bread as he sits down well away from Oleg's mountain of paper.....

"So how is the sordid affairs o men?"

"Svetlana, thank you for this fine meal." Calinder says as helps himself to some stew.

Then sitting, Calinder says, "Shall we get started in discussing what is needed and any issue that need to be resolved? Oleg, I know you have some concerns, would you like to explain them to the whole group?"

"My pleasure," says Svetlana, sitting down and helping herself to a hearty portion.

Oleg glares.

"This place is so full of people that I cannot hear myself think! And they aren't even just passing through, they're STOPPING here and expecting to be told where to go. Svetlana has promised to box my ears if I tell them where I want them to go..."

"Exactly! With an administrator here tah register the settlers an send wagon trains on to where they need to go."

"I though maybe yah should gets tha men at arms tah spread some areas o either Caltrops err sharpened pikes tah better defend an keep tha settlers clear o yer home."

"Sometimes I fear what comes out of your mouth is truth, Barnabus."

"People are told to come here and stop at the first place where they might find information. I cannot blame them. We need to provide them a different source for their answers. Perhaps a sign directing them to set up camp in an appropriate place and to register to get further information. Once registered, they can be directed to continue south. Do we need to establish the area around Oleg's as off-limits? I think a camp a half-mile out might be sufficient space. Those that wish to camp closer must make arrangements with the trading post, possibly including payment. Would that be fair?"

The magician nodded in agreement. I think that would be more than fair. And with Nathan serving as go-between for us and the settlers, it will surely make Oleg and Svetlana's life a little easier.

"Yes, that does sound like a good idea and would be fair. Oleg, how do you feel about what Rhasadilara has proposed?"

"Nathan, do you feel that would be something you could handle? Would, you be able establish an area for the settlers to come to for information and to be registered, then prepared to continue to the new settlement?"

"Yes, I can do that," says Nathan steadily. "Provided Master Oleg is happy. Settlers can come to trade, or to sample Sinon's ale, but they'll have to camp elsewhere. I'll scope out a suitable location and get the folks here moving..."

Oleg still looks grumpy but nods. Svetlana takes over. "That should do nicely," she says.

Rhasadilara nods, some relief that her idea had merit evident on her face. "Nathan, I would suggest that camping areas be defined much as a small village might be plotted out along with streets to define what area a temporarily resident has a right to while they get their wits about them, resupply from Master Oleg, and head to their new home. I would be happy to aid you in this and let you decide if the thought has merit or if you have a better plan. I understand I owe you information about the route south, also."

"Yes, Guardian Goldenbough. We can get together later to look at your maps. There are some flat areas to the north-east of here that might be suitable, not sure if there is sufficient water, though. Need to check," said Nathan.

Sinon came round with a jug of ale, offering refills.

"Aye! More brew fer tha witch."

With this comes another matter: security. There will be need to provide some assurance to the settlers that they can find safety here and we will need to be the ones to do it. After all, if the Wardens of the Green can't even protect them here, why would they think of being safe anywhere else?. Lothar steepled his fingers and leaned forward, his gaze cast amongst his fellow Wardens. Given that we were hoping to have more time to establish a militia before this came about, the matter becomes even more urgent, given that we know more settlers will be coming than just these.

"Perhaps tha register should ask fer any with militia experience tah identify themselves, while inquiring bout special skills."

"Barnabus that may be a very good suggestion. Nathan, you could perhaps ask those who are coming to settle here if they have had any military experience. You may even be able to tell just by sight for a few."

Nathan nodded.

"Of course, Guardian Surital. I can encourage those who are interested in volunteering... what benefits can they be offered?"

"Training for certain, potentially into tha orders o clerics an mages; room an board, wages."