Oltimers' Kingmaker Campaign
Game Master Aluvian

After the day filled with annoying delays cael sits down and after much thought over the evening rabbit roast.

"Well I have been thinking about stories that my granda would tell late in the winter and I think we need to share some of the wealth with the local fey. Shouldn't take much and it could make our lives a lot easier. I say we break out a bottle of that alcohol and root through the supplies here see if we have any bright fabrics, shiny items, cheep jewelry and such and set it out as a gift just beyond the edge of the camp. If i remember correctly from the stories granda told at least they will leave us alone and at best they might become friendly instead of semi hostile as they are now. What ya say we give it a try?"

Looks around to see if anyone agrees or has other suggestions.

"That would most likely work," Adriana agrees, looking at Cael with the same impressed expression he gave her. "But I wouldn't resort to cheap gifts. Fey are not stupid, they can tell the difference between something of value and something that's trash. While they might still collect the trash, the objects of value will do more for our cause."

Now the question is who forks up what.

I don't know about the rest of you but I would much rather have the local Fey as friends then enemies. And I don't want to wake up with a head full of blue hair again! I'll donate whatever portion of the alcohol would fall to me and since I really don't have much in the way of jewlery or gems I'll throw in 5 gold pieces. I'll shine em up and the Fey have been known to favor gold. looks around at the others. "You might think thats a lot but in the long run not to have this kind of harassement i'll gladly pay that.

Cael rummages through his pouch and pulls out 5 of the brightest gold pieces he has and proceeds to polish them up with a rag.

Red looks at Cael and Adriana with bewilderment. "So we're going to do what exactly? Give these unseen creatures a gift? In exchange for them hopefully to be less of a nuisance? And how often will we need to do this? Weekly? Nightly? <Sigh> "I certainly would rather them be less of a pest, but is this more like a toll for going through the woods, or some sort of bribery?" "I am definitely going to have to read up on these Fey as soon as I get to a good library."

Red digs through his belongings. Looks over the Stag Amulet as the only "shiny thing" in his possession, but thinks twice and puts it back. "I guess I'll have to go with Cael's suggestion and pitch in some gold pieces, as there's really nothing else that I'd be willing to part with at this point." Red hands 5 gold pieces to Cael to add to his offering.

Adriana shrugs, "Call it a bribe, a toll, a tax, or whatever you want. But the fact is that it's likely the only way to deal with them aside from finding them and killing them. And like he said," she nods towards Cael, "It could make some useful allies."

"I was raised in a temple of Erastil, so I understand the concept of offerings and tributes, but those are to a single deity with a long and specific set of rules. This just sounds fairly superstitious to me. Do either of you know the 'rules' for offering to the Fey, or is this just a case of hear-say and conjecture?"

She squints at Red. "Rules? Do you know any 'rules' for bribing a human?" She humphs softly and turns around. "Do what you want. I don't really care. But I'd rather not have my horse break an ankle. Or wake up with blue hair for that matter." She walks over to her horse and pulls a small pouch out of her bag, tossing it to Cael. "My contribution."

Opening it reveals 50 gold coins of Brevan mint. She really likes her hair how it is.

Cael catches the bag and hefts it in his hand in surprise. Glancing in his eyes widen a bit but he adds his gold and Reds to the bag. He turns to the remaining team members for any further controbutions.

Cael then goes to the wagon and picks out one of the finest furs from the bundles and 2 bottles of the alcohol. Anyone close will here him say "Well here it goes hope this works as well as granda's stories indicate is should." as he heads out to the edge of camp.

He places the fur on a flat rock just outside of camp spreading the gold across the fur and placing the bag along with the alcohol to one side. He glances over his shoulder at the camp and then turns and speaks to the darkness repeating the same message in common, elven, and finally another language that some might be able to identify as draconian.

"This gift is to those of the fey that live in this area, we come peacefully to this land and hope to have many years of co-operation and mutually beneficial interaction. Any issues that might come between us we would be happy to try to settle in a peaceful manor"

He turns and walks back into camp "Anyone have anything to add?" he pauses for anyone's addition. "Now if the gift is accepted we should wake up to some token left in the place of ours. Some bottled honey, fresh fey bread or some token like that. If so we shouldn't have these issues any longer and perhaps will actually get a run of 'good luck' as they help us in little ways."

Hope i didn't go to far outside of the 'reality' here with my gift ideas. if so it's all my granda's falt :P

Did fine. :)

Everyone heading to bed then?

standard watches but unless someone else wakes up to post sounds good. would encourage each watch to kinda keep half an eye on the spot where the gift is left out.

Cain tosses in 10 gold of his own and offers to take first watch. When he is relieved, he heads over to where he can better see the offering place while being hard to spot himself and watches further.

Just waiting for any input from Acalon.

"input input input" quote from what movie? *sigh* am hoping to make level 2 by Christmas :P any extra xp for the rabbit on a stick i provide on a regular basis? it's verrrryy goood :P This is defiantly an outlet for the old rp bug but sadly doesn't hold a candle to all night game sessions back in collage...

"input input input" quote from what movie? *sigh* am hoping to make level 2 by Christmas :P any extra xp for the rabbit on a stick i provide on a regular basis? it's verrrryy goood :P This is defiantly an outlet for the old rp bug but sadly doesn't hold a candle to all night game sessions back in collage...

Move to Colorado Springs. I can't guarantee all nighters but I was routinely pulling 12 hour sessions on Okinawa. :)

Anyone know what's happened to Jeff? If he doesn't post today I'll keep going this afternoon.

As he digs through his saddlebags looking for something other than just gold coin to give, Acalon says to Red "This really isn't so much different than giving a gift to a temple for some blessing. It just seems that way because we're not in a temple with clerics and priests."

After some more rummaging he gets annoyed with searching and throws a sack containing 50 gold pieces on the pile.

"Hopefully that will do to keep myself, and Shade, from turning some bizarre color overnight."

baaa now i feel like a cheepskate for 5 gold and a couple bottles of drink.... unless they end up being so expensive i am in debt :P

Hehe

The night passes pretty quietly, with little sound of anything. In fact, despite anyone's best efforts to spot the little creatures responsible for the pranks, the gifts disappear without anyone spotting a thing. One second they're there, and then the next they aren't. No one can quite say when it happened, it just did.

Upon waking and seeing that the "gifts" are gone and that nothing tricksy has happened over night, Acalon remarks "Well, that seemed to work. Hopefully we don't need to do this at every forest we come to or this could become an expensive expedition."

Wakes up slowly looking around to see if anything strange has happened. "So anyone see anything?" upon the negative response he heads out to the area where the gift was placed and carefully searches the area.

looking for tracks

"Well lets get some breakfast and see how it goes."

Red shrugs, "If it works it works, and I agree Acalon, I hope we don't have to do this often. Though perhaps it isn't necessary to be so generous? I really would like to communicate with these Fey, I will have to study up on their language when I get a chance."

So, did we ffind the wedding ring? What other quests do we have right now?

Cain is tired and bleery eyed come morning as he stayed up to watch the area. He grumbles to himself as he preps Able for the day "Should have written something down instead." Then outloud to Cael he says, "Nothing, it just disappeared, there one moment, gone the next." To Red he comments. "We'll get our chance to 'talk' to them soon enough. With as much travel as we plan to do in this area, we are gonna have to deal with them eventually. In the mean time. Lets stay focused on our current objectives."

Did everyone fail the DC 15 Perception roll? I only saw Cael roll, and that was to find tracks. If you'd rather I rolled for things like that it's fine, I just thought I'd let y'all.

Did everyone fail the DC 15 Perception roll? I only saw Cael roll, and that was to find tracks. If you'd rather I rolled for things like that it's fine, I just thought I'd let y'all.

a oops overlooked that.... on sec here as i go back in time and check my pointed ears.

ear check

"Well at least they sound happier, or do you think they are just laughing at us? While I was out looking I seemed to hear them giggling. It didn't sound malicious more happy or as if they saw something amusing. That is much better than blue hair and stuck wagons I would think.

Did i find out anything else in my little look see before breakfast

helps break down camp and pack things up ready to head out for the day. If nothing further happens will suggest that we head out to keep exploring till we reach back to the trading post.

perception:
1d20 ⇒ 16

Red smirks "Maybe they're drunk from that liquor you gave them Cael. But yeah, they sounds at least amused, so hopefully that's good.

And Cain, what I mean by 'talking' to them, is to engage in dialog in a tongue they'll understand. I don't know if they speak Common, but I'm sure there is information about their native language somewhere, and it would be good if at least one of us knew it. Keeping them from being a hindrance is one thing, but if they could be an ally or at least provide information it would be a great improvement."

"Common? We can speak common. Why wouldn't we be able to speak common? It's so common after all." A little creature the size of a cat skitters up onto a log that had served as someone's seat. Only it's not a cat at all. What it is, is hard to say. It has the lower body of something resembling a cricket or a grasshopper, but the upper body of a small woman, complete with flowing green hair. She smiles up at Red.

Red is quite startled by the sudden response to his vocal musings, and turns a bit red (though not to the extent of his hair) in embarrassment at his skepticism. He quickly tries to compose himself, and says to the camp as he turns to the 'guest': "See Cain this is what I had in mind, though I admit I expected it to be a bit harder to get their attention..." he trails off into a mutter.

He then directs his full attention to the small creature, and immediately perks up into an obviously well practiced charm, and trying to be cordial and playful:"Well hello there, I admit my error in assuming that your kind were not common enough amongst common speakers, that it would be common for your kind to speak Common." Red can't help but crack a sly grin as Edi just rolls his eyes. Red kneels down to the creature's level and continues, "My friends here," motioning towards the group, "call me Red, what may we call you?"

"My name is Tyg, and that's what others call me, and that's what you can call me since that's my name and it's what I'm called." The odd little creature skitters around the camp to another log to peer at Cain for a moment. "We thank you for the nice gifts, and for being such good sports. It really was fun playing with you."

"You really should be more careful where you leave your things,"another, much slower voice chimes in from the direction of Cael as a small brightly colored dragon, about the same size as Tyg and with bright butterfly wings, floats down with a summersault to land lightly right on the man's head.

Cael grins as the fey come out to meet them holding still as the little dragon lands. "Good to meet you two I am Cael, we do try to keep track of our possessions but even with the best intentions us big folk sometimes loose things that you all find. Was there something in particular that we had lost? Cael slowly turns his head looking around the camp for any other visitors. "We are trying stop bandits and thieves from making this forest their home. Some of these men are quite cruel. Would you happen to know if any more are still living around here?

Cael lifts his hand slowly up to his head palm down offering it as a step to the dragon on his head and transferring it to the other edge of the large rock he was sitting on.

"Now that I can see you O Beautiful one what name can we call you by?

The fairy dragon seems quite happy to remain on Cael's head, but as the man reaches up a hand it flits off, turning another summersault in the air before landing on Cain's head. "My name is Perlivash. We watched you fight the bad bigensies. At first we thought that you were more of them, but you didn't act like them. And then you fought them, drove them out. That was good."

"Do you sing?" Tyg asks, looking up at Cain with bright eager eyes.

sorry there we got a wii and we been playing wii until the wee hours in da morning! ya i know was bad.... anyway on with the rp

Watches perlivash's graceful somersault.

"And we plan to make sure they don't come back either. there are two things we were hoping you could helps us with. Our friend had a ring stolen by the bad guys we just ran off but we didn't find it in there camp. If any of the fey found it we would love to trade for it so we can give it back to her. The second thing we were wondering is if you could show us where we could find some moon radishes, we were told they are quite good."

Smiles at tyg's question.
"You certainly have good instincts to ask that of cain and not me! While I am not sure of his skills my granda always told me to sing solo.... so low that no one can hear me!"

Red stands up as Tyg skitters away from him, and lets out a quiet but audible chuckle at Tyg's response to his name question.

Upon seeing a "dragon" plot on top of Cael head, Red snorts while trying to contain a laugh. He listens while Cael and the creatures go back and forth.

Edi stares at the Fey intently, as though he were trying to drill through them with his gaze. His muscles noticeable tense, but he hasn't moved from his spot.

At the singing request to Cain, Red smirks, quite amused. "You know, I'm not sure I've heard you sing Cain, but it seems Tyg thinks you can. Are you perhaps a closet bard? Actually Tyg, I think you should ask Adriana over there, she has the air of a diva after all."

"Cain if you would please," Cain gives the creature a bow. "and my friend here is Able. He is very good at one-sided conversations in any language, common or otherwise." Cain runs his hand along Able's mane like an old friend. "Sing? to an extent, though my hands have no reach for instruments, making closet bardship somewhat or a /red/ herring." Cain co'cks his head slightly as he thinks up something for the occasion, settling on something finally, he straightens his posture and begins a tune in a language none of you understand. Turns out, he's not a half bad singer, though certainly not a professional.

Cain smiles as he finishes and then asks Tyg, "Do you have a song to sing?"

Work has kicked up heavily this last week, and I've been addicted to Splinter Cell: Conviction at home. I'll be out the second week of August on vacation

Adriana gives Red a withering glare but whether its because he suggested she sing, or because he called her a diva, is unclear. Otherwise she stays silent and just observes from the edge of the group.

Tyg claps excitedly and enthusiastically at Cain's song and giggles happily at his suggestions that she sing. "But Cain sing's so well! Oh, I would really like to hear you sing again!

"Yes, Tyg, but they had questions remember?" Perlivash reminds.

"Oh yes! And you did so good getting rid of the bad biginsies and we should really help you if we can to show you that we are thankful that you did but I don't remember what the questions were..."

"You wanted to know about a ring?" Perlivash asks, looking at Cael from his perch atop Cain's head. "I think that I heard the bandits complaining not a day or two ago about how some of their stolen things had been stolen from them. They seemed to think mites might be behind it, but where they may have taken the stolen stolen things I don't know. There are no mites in our part of the forest."

"Oh! Oh! And you wanted to know about Radishes. I know about those. There's a moon radish patch not far that way..." she points to the east. "But kobolds go there too sometimes. Nasty kobolds that don't like Tyg and Perlivash at all." Tyg's face falls as she seems to be pouting.

Cael face breaks out into a grin.
You know we might be able to remove the kobolds if they are there. He looks around at his companions "Depending on how large of an infestation there is we might even be able to find there lair and get rid of them. They will be a danger for anyone that wants to settle or travel through this area. He looks back to the visiting fey "Could you show us this moon radish patch? Maybe we can even persuade Cain to give us another song!" Looks over at cain laughing.

[ooc] What are mites and do I know anything about them? [ooc]

"Would you like me to sing a funeral dirge for you Cael?" Cain says in mirth. "And if it is on our way back to Oleg's, then the detour might be worth while, if not, then I think we should hit Oleg's first and unload." Then in that same strange language he remark to the guests with a slight wince as Perlavish's talons find a bit of soft skin in Cain's uncovered head.

Tyg giggles and shakes her head. "Oh I do want another song, but I'm afraid we can't go with you."

"We have other fun to do." adds Perlivash, looking down into Cain's face.

"But it isn't far. Perhaps a day to the east?"

"Yes... a day should do it. Before you leave the forest."

"Yes... If you leave the forest you've definitely gone too far."

Just a note that I downloaded my pdf of the APG and I'm looking over it. In advance... If anyone wants to use something out of it, or change their character's slightly to match one of the variants in it, I'm perfectly willing to do that. This applies especially to those who were using one of the new classes, in case they made changes you can't live with.

After thinking over the options quickly Acalon says "I think we should go find those moon radishes now. We wanted to explore this region anyway, this will give us a chance to explore and to get something to take back to Oleg's, even if we don't have the ring yet. I'm fine going back and coming out again, if that's everyone else's preference."

Nods

Lets go see if we can pick up some of those moon radishes. We might even get a helping of them when we get back to Oleg's. If the kobolds bother us we can deal with them then. If they are smart, laughs a slightly nasty laugh, they will be to busy clearing out of the area to bother with us. Never did like kobolds, nasty creatures. I say lets get some veggies!

"I don't see a need to head back to Oleg's directly... unless other bandits have ransacked it in our absence..." Red says this only half jokingly, but doesn't seem horribly concerned.

"Whatever we can clear out of the forest would be a good thing though, so I guess if it's hunting Kobolds, so be it." At the work kobold, Edi perks up dramatically, chomping at the air and then licking his lips. Red makes a full-body shiver, as though someone gave him a mental wet willy.

"And apparently kobolds taste good." Red lets out a big of a gag, before shivering one more time. Edi snickers, and looks quite eager to me on our way.

Guess that settles it today we have moon radishes with side helpings of kobold for edi! Looks to the visiting fey Perhaps one of us might have a new song for you the next time we come through. We are off to the east and hope to see you both again when we pass through this forest again.

Starts breaking down camp while chewing on left over rabbit on a stick from last night.

The fey say their goodbyes and hurry off, disappearing into the forest so quickly and completely that you could almost wonder if they had ever really been there at all. Camp is broken down and horses and wagon are packed, and the slow work of exploring is started again, this time with an aim towards the eastern side of the forest.

The first day passes without any event, the cool breeze of spring bustling through the trees keeps everyone cool enough despite the cloudless sky, and it's easy to forget to be vigilent. The second day is much the same except that the breeze has gotten stronger and a bit colder, shifting to come out of the north, and reminding everyone that winter has only just passed.

It is a little after lunch when Cael makes the spot. Scouting out ahead he spies a group of four kobolds laying on their backs in a small arrowhead shaped clearing. Baskets are scattered around them, filled with a bright white root of some kind. The do not appear to have heard or seen him approaching.

Observes the kobolds for just a minute or so and fades back into the surrounding forest and hurries back to the main group.

As he appoches he motions for the rest to stop and be quiet.
"Ok, found the clearing and the good news is we won't have to pick the radishes. The bad news is we do have to deal with at least 4 kobolds. Don't really expect more as they are a pretty lazy race when it comes to posting guard or anything like that. They seem to be resting after they picked the radishes so it is possible that some chief type kobold might send out others to find out what is taking them so long."

Cael briefly describes the clearing and the kobolds location in the clearing.

"Shouldn't be a problem if we can get there quietly. Kobolds are not known for their courage so if we don't get them all they will run for help. Any quick ideas before we attack or just want to take them at a charge and depend on the surprise.?"

"Seeing as we've proved stealth is NOT our strong suit, I'm thinking 'charge from two sides' would make a fitting strategy."

Edi is salivating at this conversation, and looks very antsy.

Oh, and happy birthday to Allan.

Adriana lets the armored members of the party take the lead as she performs the same spell she had previously, conjuring a field about herself that briefly flares with a dark light. She then takes a moment to brush off her dress (dark green today with black trim) before loosing tying off her horse and following everyone else.

And thanks for the b-day wishes. If only my APG would arrive I'd have a great b-day present.

Cain shrugs, "Fine, but I suggest not letting any get away. If we end up with an entire Kobold clan after us, it will not be a pretty sight."

Sounds good to me How about me an red take them from the south and Cain, Adriana and Acalon from the north. That keeps Cain close to Acalon in case he gets hit hard again!
Glances up at the sun
Shouldn't take more than 5 minutes to get in position, if the kobolds start moving hit them and give a yell for everyone to run on in. If not wait the full five minutes start with any ranged attacks you might have then we follow in to finish them off..... he pauses for a moment and adds laughingly O ya try to keep the blood out of the radishes they collected.

Looks to companions for any comment if none will take off to circle around the south side of the clearing.

"Sounds good by me, and yeah a whole clan would be a bad thing. If one makes a run for it, I can send an Eagle after it, I doubt a kobold could out run that."

Red follows behind Cael, and Edi is right behind Red, looking as though he's filled with blood lust. Red looks a bit worried about his companion's recent behavior, but Edi remains very quiet like a lion stalking its prey.

Red Stealth
1d20 + 1 ⇒ (14) + 1 = 15

Edi Stealth
1d20 + 2 ⇒ (18) + 2 = 20

Bah! My first chance to run something through with my lance and you're all wanting to be sneaky? You do recall that even without the horse and the charging, I don't really do sneaky, right?

Acalon does his best to get in position quietly, though occasional mutterings can barely be heard over the noise of armor and shield and flail.

Stealth
1d20 - 5 ⇒ (3) - 5 = -2