Theodum's page

Tracking encumbrance had a major influence on my very first PFS character - Theodum - a Str 7 wizard

In the early level I was permanently 'overloaded'. This was by design. I carried everything really important with me to stay just at low encumbrance - everything else would go in a sack. I even had in addition to my miniature a miniature sack that I handed to a strong fighter or dwarf to carry for me.

A lot of roleplay resulted from this.

The problem eased when midlevel I finally was able to buy a handy haversack.

A little bit later I acquired a porter. This didn't work out and he actually died in one of the scenarios where I placed him in 'the wrong place at the wrong time'.

I branched out for a level in chronicler partly because of the carrying benefits.

An RP anthaul that I used from my bonded item was partly responsible for his only death - a better spell when needed might have turned it.

So yes - I had lots of fun (and major developments in my characters live) because I was following encumbrance.

I have to admit I look less religiously at most of my other characters whom I assume that they just have enough strength not to be overloaded.

Theodum went through the pile of reports that he got via various means to keep an eye on the surrounding lands.

Monster uprisings defeated - this message came from everywhere around. Bandits building a protection racket - no news. More orders of Emerald Spirit - when would they learn that the stuff never survived any cask in which it was poured beyond a 5 mile radius of the lodge.
Maybe they should try some lead lining and a fast rider. Surely the lead would have some negative effects on the well-being of the drinker - but if he tried the Emerald Spirit then that person was beyond such problems anyhow.
And just when Theodum wanted to shift the pile of papers to the side he noticed a small scrap - sighting of hob-goblins was all it said. Hm - did someone mix up goblins and hobgoblins or ogres and hobgoblins again - or was this for real.
This needed follow up. The woods to the east still were full of Bonedancer Goblins. So far the Lodge had been successful to dispose of any new leader they got.
But with a hobgoblin as potential leader - that would be bad news indeed. He surely would look out for any signs that there was truth in this small scrap of paper.

Thanks for your sand - I used it for my own small sand castle

3 new war chiefs killed by EL in the last 24 hours. The last one was killed by me - yes - Theodum - himself. If you don't believe it - there are members from our lodge who have seen it.

So now that they have seen Theodum himself fighting them they seem to slowly go back to their caves. I hear orphaned ones are leaving in droves.

Sometimes I have the feeling people come to these lands to forget their former life. And if this doesn't work - there is always a drink.
I guess I have to wait until this emissary wakes up again before I can talk to him. Still haven't found a magical way to revive drinkers early.

Theodum looked up from his map. The endless march of the Bonedancers had been stopped - once again. But he contemplated another danger - what would happen if there ever was an ambitious settlement that allied themselves not with other settlements but instead with the Bonedancers, the Razmirians or some other evil scum pestering the wild.
Could this ever be done? These evil hordes where looked down upon. Emerald Lodge neighbours Xeilias and the Everbloom Alliance squabbled about the rights to fight these monsters as they called them and to be the first to get glory in defeating them.
And so far it seemed impossible to talk to the leaders of these groups directly. All Emerald Lodge diplomats send to the Bonedancers had returned via Pharasma. But this didn't mean it wasn't possible - it only meant you had to do it in a different way.
Wasn't there wisdom in knowledge. Did everyone think Theodum just collected the chants of goblins for his own ego? There was information and power hidden in these scraps of paper.
These hordes where like a flow of water - they seemed to flow from a spring towards lower lands. But hadn't mankind learned how to tame the flow of water? You could block the spring and it would stop to flow - that was what was done already. But you also could build dams to direct the flow in certain direction or to stop it to flow into direction you didn't want. You could enhance the spring and make it flow more freely.
No - Theodum looked up again. These were evil thoughts - this place in the River Kingdom corrupted. Allying yourself with Bonedancers or Skeletons Risen from the ground was clearly wrong. He only could hope nobody else would ever have the same ideas.
As clearly - embracing the Evil for your own purpose was just wrong.

Theodum looked up from the map. He was still waiting for more information but everything Thod had supplied so far didn't look good. Three times now they had dispatched the leader of the Bonedancers in the last 6 weeks - but every time a new leader had stepped up.
And when it happened just yesterday it seemed the goblins had truly become restless and had started to overrun previously cleared areas.
The Bonedancers hadn't yet reached the Spire - but it was only a matter of time when the magics there would twist a goblin who might become a new leader - and if he would take over the Bonedancers then Emerald Lodge would be surrounded. They even had managed to form some Beachheads on Zombie Kitten Mountain - the most western part of the mountain now fully under there control.
At the moment the lands east of the Emerald Lodge was still free of Bonedancers - but to the west you could walk for a full hour and never leave Bonedancer territory.
They reached as far as South of Hammerforge.
Some magic seemed to keep them away from the former side of Ossian's Crossing and the surrounding lands. South of these lands it seemed they had lost control over their undead minions. A skeletal upraising now fought against the Bonedancers and seemed slowly to advance towards Canis Castrum.
Doomhammer seemed fully surrounded - but it seems to the Northwest of that settlement that again the Bonedancers had lost control over their undead minions and Ghouls roamed the lands and a different goblin clan called them their minions.
SOuthwest of Doomhammer was an area of scroched earth - no goblins anywhere in sight. It seemed the Razmirians fought a winning battle on that side. CLose to High Road the Ripping Chains fought a losing battle against the Bonedancers. They had been reduced to a single small area.
So what had he learned? Most settlements seemed to have capitulated against the Bonedancers. Some areas around Canis Castrum was only lightly populated - and the Emerald Lodge fought a losing battle. But even Golgotha had Bonedancers at their doorstep.
The only forces seemingly able to stop them where magic areas that kept them at bay or other groups strong enough to keep them out - like the Skeletal Uprising and the Razmirians.

Theodum

Has anyone else gotten sufficiently tired of these scraps that they're just trashing them?

RP warning

But where was everyone. The place looked barren. Well - likely they were already on the march north - weapons in hand. Theodum would await their glorious return.

Theodum walked prodly through the settlement. The Pathfinder Society settling at the lodge was growing - but lately the growth had stalled. Not everyone whom he bumbed into on the road or in the inn wanted to become a pathfinder - but still several people on the streets had expressed an interest to stay in the settlement.

So many new settlers came to the River Kingdoms - but not everyone wanted to sign up to the strictures of the rules of settlements. At the same time - many still wanted to have the protections, the camaderie or be able to work together with a settlement.

So he had a look on the map and drew a few lines on it. The best part of the settlement was reserved for the school of magic and the library - but there was a large unused plot left - even after giving Thod some space for his fighter college.

This would be a place for honest people - for settlers who wanted to put down their roots into the Emerald Lodge but who didn't wanted to be too involved.

And he even had a great leader in mind - Guildenstern - the merchant. The only settler apart of the heroes of Barons Folly who had a tower named after him - proofing that not only armour and steel was important but also commererce.

Today there would be a barrel of ale for free in the inn. Today was a day to celebrate - and hopefully welcome some new settlers.

Bravo, bravo

Don't besmirch the good reputation of the Andorans - I'm born there and have been sailing on some of their ships as a youth before training as a wizard.
There is a HUGE difference between pirates and freedom fighters.

ooc: I agree but IC I have to disagree completely with what Cal if writing

For people who don't have much background of Golarion lore - Andorans are the only democracy around the inner sea and they see themselves as superior as they don't have kings and everyone is treated equal.
Andorans are absolute anti-slavery and their tactics to fight slavery might be regarded non-justifiable by others.

Burning down a place of learning and intellect - I hardly can imagine any act more evil and vile apart of burning a library.
Hoffman - you will have my unquestionable support should you ever be in danger of such an atrocity.
I tried hard to never ally myself with anyone and offer them my unlimited support in case it would be used against the status of the Emerald Lodge.
But in this case it should be known by everyone that I will make an exemption.
We are yours in the moment of need.

Signed

Theodum

Theodum looked at the scroll that had dropped at his feet and marveled at the content. If there ever could be a reason for him to leave his position in the Emerald Lodge and to go to Brighhaven instead then it would be the library that the Azure Astra Arcanum had assembled there.

He would have to look through his own collection to see if he could help his friends to complete their collection.

Knowledge was not a competition - knowledge was the highest form of refinement that the intellect was cappable of and as such was to be celebrated wherever it was encountered.

Oh - if he just could get back to the library and compare.

Theodum was proud - he finally had found the time to update his library and to catalogue several new finds. In total he counted now over 150 different pieces of lore and wisdom that he had collected.
But he was still looking to fill some gaps in some of the larger manuscripts - or to find new manuscripts.

Will buy missing pages - 50 copper for a missing page, 1 silver if it is the last page in a collection. I'm also happy to trade any duplicates but don't have a list of duplicates. You can see what I'm missing by looking at the end - missing 3, 6 means I don't have pages 3 and 6 from this compilation - missing 2 is just missing page 2 (and not 2 pages).
Have others noted new books appearing - or are there 'tier 2' books. I'm suprised about the Unending Meal where I only have 1 page out of 11 and it only came into my pocession today.

Theodum looks at the parchment and the sending spell contained in it.

For this I would invoke the second of the River Kingdom Freedoms. The word of a man or woman I trust is enough - an oath that he or she has done the deed for anyone else.

Theodum was sitting with all the kids from the settlement in the Spire’s Retreat. There wasn’t a school in Emerald Lodge and this early in the morning was the only time without any customer. So the inn also acted as an impromptu school building.

Theodum looked around at the 5 young boyrs and girls aged 5 to 12 and started to talk. Good morning boys and girls. It is great that nearly all of you have come. Learning is important and today I wanted to talk to you about honour. Honour is something valued very much in the River Kingdoms. Honour is something you can’t buy with silver or gold. No matter how rich you are – if you wander down to Hammerfall or up to Marchmont – you won’t be able to buy it in the auction house. So who knows the most important rule of the River Kingdoms?

Three hands shot up and Theodum pointed to the young red haired girl which had her hand up in the air. You have what you hold..

Theodum smiled Well done Ayra – well done. Yes everyone here knows that you have what you hold is important in this lands. So who can give me the name of a well known and honourable bandit?

Grots hand shot up in the air. The half-orc boy was large for his 9 years and tended to listen but it was rare that he ever said a word. Master Theodum – Blodvaerd – Blodvaerd is such a bandit. He is the greatest bandit in all of the River Kingdoms. He is leading the Unnamed Company. I heard he can extract money even from Paladins and Lords. But he had a good heart. Have you heard the story of Blodvaerd how he helped a peasant to get his belongings back when he was waylaid by goblins just outside Marchmont. One day I will become a member of the Unnamed Company and I will be Blodvaerds best fighter.

Theodum smiled – he never had heard Grots speak so much. This small boy had a bright future if he kept teaching him the right ways of the River Kingdoms. Grots – that was a great answer! He took a sweet out of his robe and it arched towards the boy who snatched it out of the air before any of the others could take it from him.

Grots – that was a great answer – but do you also know someone whom you wouldn’t want to follow or join? .

The smile on the face of the young half orc disappeared and was replaced by feelings of disgust. He spit out the half eaten sweet. Decius Brutus – he is nothing better as a thief. He took away the new silver holy symbol from Bellows McGurk when he was send to Pharasma’s shrine just outside the Lodge after losing against an undead champion. Thod has offered a reward – the best sword that our weapon smith has forged so far. I will earn this bounty. Baron is teaching me and I will show Baron how good I am by bringing Decius head to him.
Grots brandied his rusty dog cleaver – half broken – a poor weapon and likely discarded by a goblin when he got hold of something better from an unwary traveller. But the young half orc brandished it threatingly and it seemed his prized procession. This certainly would be no match for a veteran of fighter Decius. But Theodum wouldn’t discourage Grots. He was young and still had lots to learn.

Grots – that is a great example. And that brings me back to the question of honour and the River Freedoms. Indeed the most important one is You have what you hold. But too many people in the River Kingdoms don’t use the full description of this River Kingdom Freedom. The full text should be

You have what you hold—that is, what you can keep hold of is yours to keep. Armed robbery is almost praiseworthy in the River Kingdoms, a major contributor to the region’s bandit problems, but burglary—denying the victim a chance to resist—is viewed as cowardly.

So always keep in mind for honour it is not only important that you have what you hold. For honour it is important how you got hold of it. And honour is something you can’t just hold in your hand if you are stronger and meaner. Honour derives from your actions.

Okay children – this was the lesson for today. Grots – go to the weapon smith. Tell her Theodum has send you and replace your dog slicer with a good cold iron short sword. You will need it if you want to hunt Decius for the Emerald Lodge.

And before you leave please let me know what you want to learn tomorrow. We could talk about bards, jesters or diplomats. The smile disappeared from Grots face and the other children also looked glum. Ah – you don’t want to hear about bards, jesters and diplomats. So maybe you want to hear about how a kingdom who did rise to power and ruled everyone around them – but the rule lasted less than a year as strive and infighting started and they crumbled back to ruins. Or do you want to hear about the might king who rose to power but his rule was cut short when he was run out of his own kingdom by his peasants. Or would you like the story about the kingdom that was formed by a simple ranger who had no more as 2 followers when he started and that did last for over fifty years until he died of old age.

The children smiled again – and so did Theodum. He was sure the children would be back tomorrow morning to listen to his stories. He still hadn’t decided if he should tell the story of the bard who’s song started the strive that led to the downfall or the jester who’s pranks at the court of the king had caused the peasants to revolt – or his favourite – the ranger who started with a small group of friends and united many larger fighting clans to rule as part of one of the longest lasting times of peace here in the River Kingdoms that Theodum was aware of.

Please only post in character in this thread - there is a second one for OOC postings.

What do you mean - my chronicles are void of content.

I'm above the opinions that barbarians have of me - the likelyhood is they are illiterate anyhow. Surely for them any book or written treatise is meaningless - unless they find someone who reads it to them.

Noooooooo - the spellbooks - don't destroy them. Written words shouldn't be burned. Never - that is heresy.
What have I done - why did I let lose such uneducated fighters.

They have to die – every last of them. By night and day the shadow of evil is getting closer and it starts to engulf us from all directions. We should have acted while the evil was still small and easy to fight – but we felt secure in our position.

This was wrong – and the time of no actions is over. We will fight for our survival. We won’t any longer just set here and watch the evil happen around us without any actions. Emerald Lodge – it is time to go to war. We will send out couriers to all settlements who are friendly to us to help us in our endeavour.

On our own we are weak – and this is why we haven’t acted earlier. But once we swell our ranks with armies from other lands – nothing will be able to stand in our way. We will set a bounty for each evil slain. And whoever defeats the evil leadership behind it will get a special price.
It is time that the Emerald Lodge raises it’s banner and marches ahead of the troops.

Time to stomp out the evil – time to eradicate it. Evil hear us – your time has come.

Please only reply in character in this thread. There is a second thread for general discussion, organization, etc. Please go there for details how to join our forces.

They don't have Emerald Spirit there - I wonder if this is good or bad?

According to my possibly limited understanding, EL is missing a tower, or was yesterday.

Yes indeed there have been rumours that our most Northern tower had been taken by the evil Golgothans. I have send the heroes of Baron's Folly - at least all 4 of which I could get hold of - up to the tower to teach them a lesson.

The majority of the current settlement leaders got theirs because they bought a guild pack or two in the kickstarter. I wouldn't worry about legitimacy. There are very few "legitimate" leaders at the moment.

I can only confirm this. Thod is NOT a legitimate leader. It should be Theodum. I still haven't figured out how this dwarven usurper managed to get control over MY Pathfinder lodge.

Outrageous

Theodum was meeting up with Thod in the library of the Emerald Lodge. “There have been bad news from the South. I don’t have full information – but it seems the holy grooves of the Blackwood Glade has been burned down by pillagers living north to us on the mountain.
There are rumours they used Risen Undead and other evil creatures – but that might only be rumours. It also isn’t clear if everyone in Blackwood Glade is now dead or if there are survivors and if some or all of these survivors are now heading back towards Kyonin. I hear many different stories.
Please go and find out more. Offer help to the survivors. Look for a druid if there is anything that can be done to the holy groove. Retrieve a sapling or some seeds of any holy trees if nothing else can be salvaged.
I will reach out to the leaders in the North and the South to find out what can be done to stop such a tragedy to reoccurring. And organize me a bucked full of Emerald Spirit – I will have to give my prayers to Zog and hope he will listen.
It needs to be a new bucket – the old one disappeared. I suspect an unsavoury traveller and his donkey – he seemed surprisingly interested in my bucket.”

Try the "dissolvearatinabucketofemeraldliquor method" ... it seems to bring luck to Emerald Lodge

Don't give away our secrets

All hail Zog, all hail Zog

Donkey is confused by much that has been said here ... however he wishes to know if a bucket of Emerald liquor might be reserved for his sampling.

Get your donkey off the bucket. A rat just drowned in it - ahem - dissolved in it - and I'm not paying for a new donkey if the spirit kills the stupid beast.

Theodum looked proudly at his collection. Slowly it was growing. Just earlier today Jazz Strongblade had uncovered a large box full of unresearched pages in the back of her vault.
It had taken Theodum the better part of several hours to categorize them and to add them to his existing collection.
There was still a lot missing. But slowly all the text got rather more complete and in most cases he had now at least half of them.
He even had several spare pieces or duplicates. Maybe he should invite other researchers and collectors to join him in the Emerald Lodge and to exchange knowledge and duplicate pages.

The live in the River Kingdoms was interesting in these days. Theodum had just rejoiced on the streets and praised Zog for dealing with the onslaught of monsters when a letter on his desk caught his attention.

REVOLUTION
We hereby declare the end of the Alpha-Aristocracy. Down with the leading class. Everyone has the right to be equal. No privileges anymore. They haven’t protected us from the monsters – they are not fit to rule us anymore.

There wasn’t any signature. Galt sprang to mind – could it be that some grey guards from Galt had secretly infiltrated this area. He would have to be on the lookout for guillotines. He didn’t wanted to lose his soul. But then – technically it would be Thod who had to march to the Guillotine. But could he really rely on it?

Messengers where send out – and the news back seemed bleak. Golgotha – Phyllain no longer in power, Hope’s End – Duffy ran out of town, Brighthaven – Cheatle no longer in control.

He went down to The Spire’s Retreat. One bucket full of Emerald Spirit again – oh – and please catch me a new rat.

It seemed it was time to worship Zog again. After all – the prayers had worked last time.

Edit: You might also want to read The Emerald Lodge Curfew where it is explained how to worship Zog properly.

Theodum walked the steets

Rejoice, rejoice - Zog has heard us.

Emerald Lodge Curfew - All pray to Zog

Theodum was busy writing placards and hanging them all over his settlement. The armour smith seemed miffed when he nailed it next to his forge, the loom gave him a strange look when he hang one on his drying lines for finest twine - but he couldn't care less - he had to protect his own citizens.
The lands were overrun by monsters. All his plans to investigate the Emetald Spire where at naught if the monsters left the woods and overran his settlements. Why hadn't they build a barricade yet.
Not everyone seemed of his opinion - he had seen Baron, Zaar Frozen Blade and Thod leave town earlier and coming back - blood splattered, laughing. They just have bad examples to the upstanding citizens. It was deadly out there.
At least he could ask these three rascals for a mission. 

Two hours later he met up with Baron, Zaar and Thod in the cellar of The Spire's Retreat. They had a large wrapped bundle with them that still wriggled as if something living was inside.

'Unwrap it' commanded Theodum. Be friendly but keep it under control.

A goblin appeared, only slightly bruised - but his eyes darting around with evil intend.

'Tell me your name - I heard you are one of the local shamans'

'Hlep not tellin yu nything' - his eyes looked around desperate taking in his hopeless position.

'Okay Hlep listen up. I know you don't like us - but I need your help. Here is a large fresh bread, still warm, a smoked leg of a pig, some fireworks, a dwarven Steel dagger and 100 shiny new copper pieces. This is all your if you build us an altar to Zogmugot, your Lady Lastbreath. Tell me what you need and all is yours - don't work with us and my friends here will to what they did with all your friends - understood?'

Hlep looked up - confused - but understanding slowly - after all he was a shaman of his clan. A mischievous grin spread over his face.

Me Give chair, rat, string, bucket - Hlep need dagger now. Hlep not can make altar if Hlep not dagger.

Theodum looked puzzled - but he gave the others the sign to relieve the goblin and get everything he asked for.

It took Hlep an hour - and Theodum was puzzled by his work. He first disassembled the chair and carved out bits here and there - sharpening different parts in the process. But reassembled the chair looked like before.
He then placed the chair in front of one of the wine casks - tied the rat with a string on one leg and the other on the rafter so that it was dangling just above the wine cask - he then placed the bucket under the rat so the rat disappeared from sight.

'Hlep good altr made. Longleg neat watr. Beir do better. But Zog want worship lone - so Longleg take watr, put in bucket, do prayr sit in chair whil rat close drown. Zog hear your prayr if done well.'

Theodum looked at the whole contraption - this was all there was. Well - even if they wasted some good food on the goblin - it was worth a try.

He handed Hlep all the promised goods and told Baron, Zaar and Thod to leave him alone. He then went up to the Innkeep and asked for the daily supply of Emerald Spirit. Surely of beer worked better then Emerald Spirit must be superior.

On the edge of the wood a laughing Hlep disappeared in the woods - biting into the smoked leg of pig. 'Zog know everything. Stuped Longleg prayer heard before given.'

Inside the cellar Theodum poured the Emerald Spirit into the bucket and sat down.

Trap damage 3d6 + 4 ⇒ (6, 2, 4) + 4 = 16

It took two painful hours before Theodum was freed by the barkeep getting some wine. The rat had not only drowned by then - it seemed to have completely dissolved. Only a moth eaten piece of string dangled above the evil green looking liquid that started to seep out of the bucket.

The only thought Theodum had - it was worth it if Zog would answer his prayer. If not - he would go out himself and find Hlep and strangle him - even if this would be the last action he ever did.

Every tower that the Emerald Lodge claims its own has a name and a story. As chronicler I sometimes get asked about the towers. So I decided to tell some short stories about them. Six of these are named after the early heroes of the Emerald Lodge and the sevenths in honour of the discoverer.

The Emerald Seven (co-ordinates are taken from The unofficial PFO Atlas:

Baron's Folly -01/08 - the most eastern tower - likely the best known of them all - the story of Baron's Folly has been told numerous times.

The Moonshine Mill -04/09 - not really a true tower - this building is used by Alirya to make the best robes in all of the River Kingdoms. The mill is powered by waters coming from the Golgotha Mountains and passing the Emerald Spire - being infused with some of the magic there. Also north of the mill are some of the best areas to gather the finest wool and cotton as well as moonstones and ordered essence to turn into runespun robes of unparalleled quality. Alirya is said to be in the process to craft some even higher quality embroidered silk robes in the mill soon.

The Frozen Forge -07/07 - A mystical forge rumoured to be of ancient dwarven origin going back to the times of the quest for sky - a place you find Zaar Frozen Blade plying his trade. The forge uses ice and not fire to refine the metal and it once was used in one of the Sky Citadels of the dwarves and it is a mystery how the forge ended up in the River Kingdoms. Ancestors of Zaar were the owners of the last known Frozen Blade made on the forge before the blade got lost in a fight with evils from deep below. Zaar's quest is to once again make the forge useable and to rediscover the mystery of the frozen blades.

The Nameless One -09/09 - this tower was to be named after another hero of the Emerald Lodge. But somehow Pinki never told anyone and made a mystery of this tower. So maybe someone needs to travel there – or invite Pinki to a drink in The Spire’s Retreat to find out more.

The Missing Hero -11/09 - this is an empty tower. Rumour is that this was the last place where Frazzlerunning was seen before leaving the River Kingdoms. There is also a legend that a member of the Emerald Lodge with true intentions visiting this place in the hour of need will be able to summon the hero back to the River Kingdoms. Nobody in the Emerald Lodge so far has tested this legend.

Thod's Vigil -13/07 - This tower came into possession of the Emerald Lodge by trade with Hope's End for another tower. Thod spend a whole night on his own in the tower and rumours are he has to renew this vigil once a month to keep the tower in the possession of the Emerald Lodge.

The Wandering Merchant - -10/04 - this tower was the last tower to come into the possession of the Emerald Lodge. The tower was half burnt down and used as a hide-out of a local bandit group when Guildenstern the merchant stumbled upon it on his travels looking for a place to sleep. He was just about to settle down for the night when he was rudely disturbed by an arrow fired by a ranger from the North. He fortified the tower a little bit for the rest of the night and left the Emerald Lodge flag above the tower when he left next morning. The flag flies above the tower since.

Someone said recently that there is an eights tower - The Gift of the North. It isn't confirmed yet if this tower exsts or where it actually is.

Theodum slumped down even harder as the first time to find himself hours later with a now already familiar headache. So much about getting used to the drink. It should truly be outlawed - but somehow it was adicitive.

Theodum visited the Spire's Retreat. It was himself who had put up a sign - no Emerald Spitit allowed anymore due to health and safety reasons - but he should have known better. He now lived in the River Kingdoms and people here didn't like rules.

Worse - it seemed that since he had put up the sign that a continous group of people had visited the inn and most of them where found later on dumped outside.

Was he here to drown his sorrow - or to play the fool and enlighten the area around. He couldn't care.

Barman - one Emerald Spirit please.

With this he took a large sip

Fortitude save 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5

Save those bookpages, Kradlum. They are actually used by a Sawyer for a Tier 2 refining recipe. They are T2 Wood.

The recipe is Recycled Paper Sheets using Scrap paper and Weak acidic. I am pretty sure you can use the recycled paper sheets in the same crafting recipes as the regular paper sheets, which would be T2 Spellbooks.

Do not let King Theodem read this though, he would consider recycling these snippets of Lore as the most severe Blasphemy.

Blasphemy - why hasn't this been brought to my attention earlier. This has to STOP immediately.

Theodum had been invited to the naming ceremony of the new tavern at Emerald Lodge. He wasn’t a fan of such crude drinks like Cayden’s Brew – or worse the unrefined taste of real dwarven ale. But as leader of the Lodge it was his duty to be seen in public – at least on special occasions.
He actually enjoyed it being surrounded by cheering folks from the Lodge. He did spot Flitwyck, Armenfast, Endel, Zaar Frozen Blade, Pinki, Baron and many others from the Lodge – all seemingly in a good mood – and most with at least a drink or two too many already.
Walking into the tavern he spotted some good places where he would be able to spread the word about what was going on in the River Kingdoms. He even had a name for it – the Chronicler. This place deserved a story to be told.
On the opposite side of the bar be spotted Dieanira the bard of the lodge. What a great addition to the place – she really was good in uplifting the mood of the lodge. Not like her fighting prowess which still seemed to need some form of improvement. But you had to take your members as they came - with all good and bad characteristics.
Moving towards the bar he noticed that people stepped back and a sudden silence fell upon the tavern. Reaching the bar he noticed a delicate elven crystal glass with a green glowing liquid in it. He had heard about that famous drink – capable to fell the strongest of fighters it was said. It was called the Emerald Spirit
He discarded it as rumours – after all he had seen Thod down two glasses in quick succession as part of a dare – and he hadn’t noticed any ill effect on him.
Smiling he approached the bar and took the glass in his hand. Turning around to the assembled but quiet members of the lodge he held it high to give a toast and poured it down his throat.
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Fortitude Save 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 1 = 8
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.
.
He couldn’t remember what had happened next – apart of waking up with the worst headache of his life – hours later – and in his own bed. Maybe rumours that a watered down version of the drink was used in port cities to knock out innocent people and have them awake later on a slave galley wasn’t that far fetched at all.
Surely a drink he would not recommend to any visitor to try at the Spire’s Retreat. Rather a drink he should outlaw on safety and health grounds – alas the people in these lands seemed to react allergic to any laws restricting their freedom.

Theodum looked at the future library. Finally he had bought something of beauty. All these gems - that would make the Emerald Lodge Library the most beautiful in all of the River Kingdoms.

Shelyn would be jealous.

Theodum looked up from the paperwork. This had to stop. This had to stop NOW. All these expenses for coal, iron, weapons, armour. This was just wrong. He had founded this place for research - but Thod was perverting it into an army camp.
Yes - there were monsters around - and maybe not everyone close by was actually friendly - but this didn't mean that 99% of efforts had to go into building a local military.
The Emerald Lodge was peaceful - the Emerald Lodge was here to explore the Emerald Spire - not to compete with Golgotha or Brighthaven to compete for militaristic might.
Time to make an example. With this in mind he marched off to the Armour Smith.
Jazz - show me what you are working on. I'm very concerned in the costs you currently produce. Hm - one Dwarven Steel Banded - delivered to Baron already. A second one - already nearly finished - sized for Smendor. But I see you got from Thod the refined materials for a third one - and even refined materials for a fourth one are ordered. Are you aware what all of this costs us ???
I hereby conficate the third Dwarven Banded Steel Plate +1 in the name of the Lodge. You will carry on producing it as normal - but it won't be used any military purpose of the Emerald Lodge but rather sold off to the highest bidder to enable some spend on non militaristic uses here in town. And if Thod complains - send him to me. I can deal with him.

Theodum left the Smithy a lot happier as he had arrived. This deed was done. Now it was time to send a few letters out to other settlements to advertise that some armor of the highest quality was up for auction to the highest bidder.

Bonny did ask that we write up some of the history of our settlements. Having been a chronicler in the early stages of the landrush I felt it was time to return to the roots of Theodum. Yes - he is officially a PFS wizard 13 or 14 with one level of Chronicler and he gained the title of Venture Captain in the Eye of the 10.
I would urge others also to write somethin up. Bonnies message is here. You can even win a Limegreen Goblinsworks Drawsting Bag. Actually not sure why I advertise this as this gives others the chance to win it - and anyhow I expect it will go to Alirya - our tailor aka my daughter should we win.
I hope Brighthaven takes this writeup as what it is - a well meant bit of Emerald Lodge propaganda. I'm not claiming it is totally unbiased. Happy to read what happened from a different viewpoint.
For Harad and the Map project. Baron's Folly is in -01/08. I will do write ups for the Moonshine Mill and the Frozen Forge and will let you know where these are. They are 'towers' we took and I have everyone in the group defending Baron's Folly the option to choose a tower and to name it and to make a story around it - related to their character.
So I hope I will manage to get this done over the weekend.

The Chronicles of Theodum the Wise - Chronicler of the River Kingdoms - Wealday and Oathday 14th and 15th of Abadius in the year 4715 AR

The short time around the 14th and 15th of Abadius will forever be of high significance when future historians will research the rise and downfall of the kingdoms formed around the Emerald Spire. I'm priviledged not only to be a Pathfinder Chronicler but also to have first hand accounts of what happened on this crucial day and the diplomatic aftermath that followed.
The morning of Wealday will likely be forgotten by many soon. It was the start of the so called War of towers - a 'war' that in 100 years time will most likely be forgotten by all but some scholars.
The war of towers was initiated by Rhyn the prophet - or Rhyn the mad as he is also known. This was a testing ground for the strong, the mighty, the powerful - the deserving of the River Kingdoms to make a claim to areas they would like to control.
Having formed the Emerald Lodge for the Pathfinder Society this brutal competition that favoured the settlements with the largest armies was of a lot concern for the Lodge. Wedged between the mighty Brighthaven and the evil Golgotha the signs didn't bode well for the lodge in the competition for power and land.
A meeting with the worshipped ruler of Golgotha - Phyllain - had resulted in a truce and in some towers and places of interest that the lodge could claim for themselves. One of the towers offered was a derelict ruin - far to the east of the Emerald Lodge - a ruin not contested by Golgotha.
But if there ever was a poisoned chalice - this would count as one. It was clear from even a quick glimpse of the map that the ruin was outside the military power to hold by the lodge - and also that the mighty and shining Brighthaven would contest the place - albeit likely assuming that this would be a powerplay between them and their evil counterpart - Golgotha.
Counting a claim of 1 quarter of the ruin for the lodge - judged on distance - and given 2 more quarters by Golgotha and Bernstein - there was a good incentive to accept the poisoned chalice and just to prepare. As what danger is there truly in poison if you have magic to counteract it.
So first of all volunteers where needed. Baron - Master of arms of the lodge volunteered first to lead the expedition. Thod - gatherer and monster hunter of the lodge was next. Then Zaar Frozen Blade - the smelter of the lodge, Frazzlerunning, Pinki and Alirya - the tailor. Two more volunteers never arrived - and they lost their entry into the history books forever.
Early in the morning the group set out. To take the tower it was important to be first. Any militaristic engagement was expected to fail.
So Baron was leading his small group into the ruin - to claim it for the lodge. They started erecting the flag for the lodge when they saw two wanderers passing by. Undisturbed they worked on - only to find out that the two wanderers actually had been scouts belonging to Brighthaven - and they had brought reinfocements.
What followed is the reason it found an entry into the history books - as the heroic actions of the small group assembled around Baron laid the foundation for an Emerald Lodge not squeezed into a tiny area of land.
Overrun and undertrained the heroes of the lodge soon lay all on the ground - dead in their own blood - cut down by axe, sword and arrow. But so miracolous is this area that such a defeat doesn't last for long. Our sould have mercy if Pharasma ever asks us for the price.
Throwing themselves against the invaders they didn't achieve much - apart of needing the blessing of Pharasma multiple times.
Any sane general would have withdrawn his half trained troupes. But this is why the place has now become to be known as Baron's Folly. Undeterred he grouped his sorry troupe into one and started a last assault.
Taken by suprise of the sudden organisation - or just weak and tired - the group around Baron achieved the impossible - they turned the luck on the battlefield and for the first time it was the soldiers of Brighthaven which had been removed from the ruin again - all of them. And they didn't return.

Now if you think this would have been the end, then you know little how the River Kingdom work.

You have what you hold is a mighty motto - but it means you have to ensure to keep what you aquire - or you might as well lose it soon again.
A frentic second battle started - but this time it was the pen and diplomacy that fought against each other - a battle yours truly is much better suited for. Refusing to cede the ruin the next morning as a large contigent of Brighthaven troops stood ready to take it - there was the pen - the only weapon left - that could ensure to keep the tower.
Golgotha offered to defend the tower for the lodge - but you have to be careful when dealing with the devil. Sooner or later it will corrupt you. All these Hellknights might think they are in control - but someone more sane like me likely doesn't want to tempt fate.
So instead a frentic number of letters where send out from the lodge to other citizens of the River Kingdom - appealing to their opinion of the true ownership of the tower. There was even a collection for the heroes of the battle for coal and iron to be forged into weapons and armour.

I'm proud to tell that this led to several very generous donations - albeit donors wisely wanted to stay private - not to be drawn into the conflict.
The only group undeterred was Brighthaven. They still seemed of the - justifiable but ill-advised - opinion that the stronger one should get all the spoils. So with trepidation I made the pilgrimage up into the mountain to meet directly with the High Lords of Brighthaven. Oh - I took care to have sweets for the kids on the streets, smiles for the crafters in their workshops as you don't go into the mouth of a lion unprepared.
Two pieces of parchment I carried with me - one a declartion of war by Brighthaven against the Emerald Lodge - one a document to cede the ruin to the Emerald Lodge. Both I laid before the High Lords of Brighthaven - unwilling to leave until one of them got signed.
So on that day I risked all of the Lodge for a small ruin in the woods.

On that day the pen proofed mightier as the sword as I emerged with the parchment I wanted to be signed.
But on that day I also learned how foolish is was to stare the powerful in the eye with nothing in your defense as your pen. A sword easily cuts of your hand - and then - what would I be as a chronicler.
So the ruin got a name that day - Baron's folly - as it was as much a folly of myself as a folly of Baron to lead his unprepared troops to victory.
Writing this on Starday the 24th of Abadius we are still in the pocession of the ruin. We are also in posession of 12 other buildings - among them the Moonshine Mill, the Frozen Forge,

Thod's Mignight Vigil and the Lonely Wanderer. Several of the other buildings still need names - but it will be Baron's Folly that will be remembered in the history books.

Suggested other reading for research:
The Lore and History of the New River Kingdoms according to Theodum

Edit: Bonnies post

This fool Thod - so bad with paperwork. I should throw him out if he wasn't that useful.

Theodum was settling down after he had communicated via a sending spell with his counterparts in The Empyrian Order. How had this happened - how was it possible that the world had turned on it's head. How had it been possible that his evil enemies in the North were regarded as good and the good and honorable folks of Brighthaven in the South were described as the evil ones.
And all of this because he had written up the battle around Baron's folly in a less then flattering manner.
The Empyrian order had been honorable on the battlefield and he had no bad feelings that they had fought his own forces. After all - it was just Thod who died multiple times - not Theodum himselve. And wasn't that what fighters were good for?
But somehow all of this had developed a life of it's own. Words had flown around, insults followed - and all of this because of a decrepit tower far, far away.
But good that they had talked and Theodum had no ill feelings towards The Empyrian Order. After all they were honorable folks.

Thod fails to mention at all that he let us know, prior to War of Towers, that he was going to fight us over perimeter towers. I like how all of this paints a certain picture, but leaves out key details.

The chronicler writes the history - and I'm in the pay of the Emerald Lodge.

I'm not sure what you refer to. I was approached by Nihimon about the towers South of us that we took during alpha. My answer was - I accept a claim if they are taken by the closest settlement.
So if in order of distance they are Hammerfall closest, then Emerald Lodge then Phaeros that I would accept a claim from Hammerfall but would feel free to take them if Hammerfall didn't take them.
We also took the tower in question here during early alpha. It was then taken away from us by Phaeros - and we took it back and as far as I'm aware kept it until the end of alpha.
I can't recall any discussion ever about this tower. If I blindsided you because you might have assumed Golgotha and not us would take the tower - well - I'm fully guilty of this charge.
Is Golgotha guilty of having 'used us' by 'offering' the tower to us. I honestly can't tell why they didn't wanted to take the tower. It was on my list of towers even before I talked to Golgotha about our northern border to avoid unnecessary clashes. I deliberately didn't include it from my side in discussions with them either. So I would have blindsided them as well in the hope we would be faster - and they could have been on the receiving end of this thread if they would have appeared too late and lost.
But they offered it to us - so there was no need to snatch it from them or play victim.

Theodum looked at the note he had got from Golgotha. They had offered to help in the defence of the tower that Thod and friends had captured yesterday. If the reports had been right then the whole issue had been horrible.
Thod and the other heros of the Emerald Lodge - Baron, Frazzlerunning, Pinki, Alirya and Zaar Frozen Blade had ventured to the empty tower. It was far from any settlement - so there was no suspicion that anyone would detest to take this tower from them. Theodum had though long and hard which towers to take in this new stage that had let to the bloodshed - to the bloodshed of Emerald Lodge crafters.
The reports stated that they arrived with an empty tower. They spend time to clean it up, restore the battlement. During these actions they saw some wanderers. Ask where they were from the said Brighthaven. Thod had welcomed them to the tower for a good dring of dwarven ale once the work had been finished. But they left before that was done.
A while later - the group was just about to work on the gates and finish the build up of the tower - a larger group of armed men from Brighthaven arrived. The slaughtered Thod and his friends down to the last men.
Pharasma be praised that they didn't die permanently as they threw themselves back into the tower - not accepting the unjustice done to them. In an heroic battle after many death they finally chased the aggressors away.
It took a while to remove all the blood stains from the tower - but it is now in fully functional order and Theodum was proud of his troops.
Their weapons and armor was battered when they came back - Theodum would ask for donations from his other members - donations in coal and iron - to equip them better and honor them with the best weapon and armor that the Lodge could craft.
And for today he would go to the tower himself to show his solidarity. He would take with him some peasant with clubs and see if the agressors would come back. This seemed the better solution as to accept the help from Golgotha.

He smiled and went on towards a fruitful day of work. Just in case he also prepared a teleport for later in the day. No need for him to get killed with any of the peasants if they would be attacked again.

I'm looking forward to the application of your daugther. I blame Thod - he is bad with paperwork.

I can have him online and will check now and in 15 minutes

edit: Also send her to the tailor if she needs some new robes.

Theodum paced up and down. He had just taken his daily bath - treated by some priests of Calithria when his contemplations had been rudely interupted. There had been a ruckus outside - he was told the Golgothan leader himself had caused it. Good he had meditated in warm water and was spared to meet with him.
But that meant there was business to tend to. The War of Towers had been declared - and it would start later today. It was time to assemble the troops and send them out to claim land for the Glory of the Pathfinder Society.
Rumours were flying high. The evil Golgothans in the North had just recently raided Hammerfall. Surely this was a testrun for worse to come. Was the visit of Phyllain an attempt to spy out the lay of the land. Oh he would see some fierce opposition if they tried to lay hands on towers of the Lodge.
But the information he got was confusing. He had also heard they would spearhead an expedition straight into the area of the Everbloom alliance - leaving death and slaughter in their way. Or the rumour that the whole Non-agression pact was just a big bad ruse. Unfortunately his informant had left out the information if the ruse was by the north or the south.
Oh and then there was the paladins of the south - saddling up on their unicorns to smash the evil - unfortunately trampling everything in their way - including the lodge. And the worst - there was rumour a faction from the Emerald Lodge had undermined it and had made a pact with the Golgothans and they were about to dispose him as the leader and install someone more friendly to them in his stead. This was too similar to the Shadow lodge plot that it could be just ignored.
All these were just rumours - but as ever - some of them contained a piece of truth somewhere hidden inside. Jazz was assembling brand new longbows and longswords for the troops or anyone joining them. It seemed war truly had arrived.
So it was time for Theodum to teleport to safety - ahem - teleport to the Grand Lodge of Absalom to ask there for help and reinforcements. Good he could leave all the fighting to Thod.

I'm comparing you to Emerald Lodge, your neighbor.

NOTHING can compare to the Emerald Lodge.

Theodum paced up and down in the growing library of the Emerald Lodge. In general his lodge made great progress. They had hired a great armorsmith Jazz Strongblade and smelter Zaar Frozen Blade. Production of goods - while slow - could compare to the best elsewhere in the River Kingdoms.
A weaver created the best thread you could get and Alirya was turning it into great robes - with Theodum himself adding the necessary magic ingredients. These were first signs of civilization being brought to the River Kingdoms. But he would fool himself if he didn't also notice the numeous monsters all around - mainly goblins, wolfs and ogres as well as bandits all over the place.
So far the new settlers seemed to cope well with them - avoided these dangers were possible or erased them if they felt this was the better solution. Not that this seemed to help so far - they grew pack like mushrooms in a wet cavern patch.
The more interesting past was the growth of relations. Representing the Pathfinder Society in these areas Theodum tried to build a base for them without playing favourites or getting involved into the rivalries of other settler groups. So far it seemed to work well - he had welcomed a lot of strangers to his place - but the Hammerfall incident and a formal inquiry about using some of the facilities at Emerald Lodge had him rattled.
The spot he had chosen for the Emerald Lodge was a great one - very central to many of the new settlements springing up. Good to meet up and exchange resources or trade. As such every visit and deal was encouraged. But he had to stay one step ahead to avoid a repeat of the Hammerfall incident on his own soil.
If there was one weakness of the Emerald Lodge then it was it's strength - the location. He could easily get between the lines of other bigger groups.

I seem to recall green in the swamps.

You are colour blind my friend. It is yellow that you find in the swamps. Where do you expect yellow fever to come from ?

I sold one the day before yesterday!

I know someone who sold one the day before yesterday!

Theodum was pacing up and down - but not in his lodge but somewhere in a seperate plane. He had prepared his usual teleportation spell to the Lodge - but it had failed.
Some unknown magic barrier was preventing him to reach the place. He had done some sending spells to Thod and other members of the Lodge. So far he could confirm at least 6 of them where stranded similar to him.
Building his own base so close to the Emerald Spire always had been fraught with danger.
Powerful magics attracted disaster. But he thought he was far enough away. Maybe not. There was talk that certain simple magic did stop working in the Spire.
Maybe it wasn't just the Spire. And only yesterday he had seen a goblin infestation at the Spire. These goblins with their strange corrupting magic.
He was sure it was goblins work which had caused all that. All he could do was hoping that whatever spell the goblins had enacted had only a limited spell duration.
Being stuck in a different plane for eternity was not a place where he wanted to be.

All was fine and everyone behaved - and while I was having my back to everyone while visiting the workshop to craft some crystals murder happens behind my back ...

So much for inviting strangers into town ...

I would be very surprised if there is not at least one DT spy in the leadership of virtually every settlemnt in game.

Damn - I have been found out. I'm actually a DT of someone else. Just don't tell Thod.