Alandra points her dagger at the southern beast and shoots a shard of ice at it.
Batsukan heeled Kiso hard and the horse lept forward. With a charging run, the Ronin brought his exotic weapon down in a slicing attack the struck the smaller worm a vicious blow. The creature still stood ready to fight, but a massive pool of blood now surrounded the beast and it wavered in weakness.
Anya ran forwards at almost the same moment, driving both her weapons into the beast in front of her and finishing it with her blades. It fell into the water nearby, tail twitching in a death throw.
Alandra changed her target at the last moment, swinging her symbol of the black rose around to point at the youngest worm. A frigid bolt of cold magic struck the creature, sending an edge of ice along its spine and finishing it off as well.
AS the young worm dropped, Batsukan turned his warhorse, ready to charge again but stopped when he saw the corpses. This fight was done.
Perception
With the heat of battle passed, Lev wipes his blade clean and returns it to his baldric before retrieving his bow and stowing it away as well.
He looks over the scene of slaughter with a twinge of regret. The beasts were only acting according to their nature. If he and his companions hadn't chosen to settle in the region and bring people into it, the three Tatzelworms would have been able to continue their lives without interference as according to all things of nature.
Shaking his head, he moves to examine the bodies. If he was going to destroy them, he might as well learn as much as he can from them before leaving.
RPG Superstar 2009 Top 32
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Anya pulled free her blades, and wiped them clean on the rough hides of the beast that had given them so much trouble. "Vengeance is never good enough, but we at least prevented this from happening again." Unlike her brother, she felt no sympathy for the beasts, or regret on taking them down. They were monsters, and a peril to be defeated rather than admired.
Perception
Survival
Heading off for a day or two, will get this sorted when I get back unless I can get time on a computer while I'm away. Sorry for the delay.
Cheers
The battle had ended well for the band, with all three arauding dragonkin slain and no one too badly hurt.
Lev realised that the hides of the two adults could be skinned and used to manufacture a type of armour that would be useful. To all intents and purposes, the scales of these creatures would act like chain or heavy hide.
Between he, Anya and Batsukan, they could easily skin the creatures and preserve the hides for such use when they returned.
It was Elsbeth who spotted the cache of coins and various other shiny objects. It seemed that while these worms were more bestial than their winged cousens, they still harboured a penchant for coins. A small nest of gold and copper pieces had been built amongst the scree of the deadfall, along with the gnawed bones of many of their kills. Unfortunately, amongst the bones she also found some fresh remains of the humans so recently killed and what looked to be the skulls of a few lizardfolk as well.
Lev explains to Batsukan his thought about skinning the worms and using their hides for armor. "This way, at least, their deaths will have greater meaning." he explains.
Once that is done he finds his horse and checks it for injuries. When Elsbeth finds the coins, he assists with gathering it together and packing it away before mounting up.
"Is there anything else to do here?"
Alannah smiles as the hunter seeks to give meaning to the creature's deaths, nodding.
"Given the alarm these creatires have caused recently I think their deaths would also be pretty symbolic. A skull mounted in the audience chamber would make a statement, and the other mounted in the tavern would do wonders for the morale of the soldiers. It'll be good for them to be reminded of the quality of the people they fight for even while having a drink."
Alandra is grateful for the help in giving the bodies a proper burial. She wishes she could transport them back to the fort, but a quick burial in the wilderness will have to suffice.
She uses her wand to heal herself and Batsukan.
Anya nodded at Alannah's comment. "Yes, that makes sense. We can't keep trophies of every kill we make, but these have potential beyond the moment. They are degenerate, twisted and immature, but still they are dragons." She herself wouldn't dream of claiming the Dragonslayer title over them, but if that happened to gain a foothold in the pulic mind, she certainly wouldn't mind it either.
As they went to work skinning the tatzelworms, she had another idea. "We should check with Oleg, but I have half a mind to commission a set of armor from this, and put it out as a price for some kind of competition. A fencing tournament, maybe? It would serve as a good promotion, giving our people exotic faces and a distraction from the hardships."
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In response to Lev's suggestion, "Yes, to make armor would not only honor the creature in death but something so rare would be worn proudly by whoever should come to own it. You honor the beasts Lev and inturn gain honor yourself." He nods in a semi-bow fashion and looks to Lev for direction in where to start skinning the largest worm.
With the animals butchered and the humans buried, the group turned back for home. It had taken them nearly an hour to round up the horses, and when Lev had come back, he also had some form of wild cat cub with him. The animal seemed a little worse for ware, but it was responding to Lev like it's own mother. The horses were skittish at first, but became more relaxed as the day passed.
Another day and nights travel saw them return triumphantly through the wooden stockade that surrounded their growing township. Those folk who werent out working cheered their rulers as they rode in. At the sight of the massive Tatzyl worm head, the cheers grew louder. it was clear that this sight bolstered these folk, giving them more faith in their rulers than any amount of words could have done.
Within three days, a new notice was pinned up around the township. A tourney wa to be held, and the winner to be gifted with a suit of dragon hide armor from the vanquished worms. Spirits soared.
Lev
The horses had bolted during the fight with the Tatzylworms, and now Lev found himself moving through unfamiliar forest trying to track them. The animals had gone in different directions, but their tracks were easy enough to see. He paused, hearing a sound in the distance that he couldn't immediately recognise, remembering back to Mawj and how she had gone missing when recovering horses after the big storm. The noise came again, a strange sort of cry, followed by a snorting bellow.
He moved then, not away from the sounds, but towards them. His natural curiosity and bravery were wht stood him above others in this region, and was why he had become a leader in this land. As he drew closer, he could hear the snort again, and finally placed it as that of an angry Elk. Its blood was up, and it was bellowing its definace at some sort of creature.
As he came to a small rocky outcrop, Lev saw what was making the other noise. A young Tawny Pelt lion cub was standing atop the rocks, ears back and teeth bared in a snarl as it threatened a huge Elk. The bigger creature had gotten its antlers caught in a briar patch, and the deep gouges across its face attested to how hard it was trying to escape.
The cub edged forwards again, swatting out with its claws as it tried to tackle what it was hoping would be a meal. Lev grinned at the audacity and bravery of the cat. Even as entangled as it was, this Elk was for more than the cub could handle. The deer lashed out with its front hoof, clipping the cat and knocking it backwards. The beast rolled backwards but came up onto its feet and immediately charged teh elk. It lept through the air and landed on the front shoulder of the elk, teeth and claws sinking into the big animals hide and tearing new gouges there. At the same moment, the elk finally tore free of the briars and reared backwards. Lev had seen enough. This little tawny pelt deserved to live after the bravery it showed. He drew and fired in one fluid movement, the arrow striking deep behind the front haunch of the elk and sinking into its heart. The animal snorted and went to blot forwards, but its front legs buckled almost immediately and dropped to the ground dead.
As the big hunter approached the kill, the little cub stood snarling at him, daring him to approach the kill it was claiming for itself. Again the hunter laughed at its bravery and tenacity. It was clear the thing hadn't eaten for a while, as its ribs showed and the coat was poorly groomed. He felt a kinship with this creature, wandering alone through the woods doing all it could to survive despite what life had obviously thrown its way. He moved forward cautiously and knelt beside the animal, crooning quietly and reaching out a hand. AS it touched the quivering hide of the cat, the animal relaxed almost immediately, crouching down on the kill and beginning to lap up the blood from the wounds on its side. From that point, Lev and the cat were bonded.
In Council
Bergan cleared his throat and stood to adress his leige and the rest of the council. He was nervous, but Eva had been encouraging him the last day or two and so he took solace in that. Addressing such people had always caused him to stumble in the past, but then he had travelled with these folk, bled with them and aided them to conquer this land in some ways. They were not the same nobles he had come to know and loath in Brevoy.
He made his report then, brief and concise, so as to sit down all the sooner. The people were happy with the rule of the land to date. The, opening of farm lands had made them more relaxed about survivng the rapidly approaching winters. Crops were being planted as a priority to get a quick harvest in before the snows fell. The tail end of summer usually saw steady rain rather than the flash storms and flooding of Spring and early Summer. As long as the Autumn was long enough, they would have a crop. Loyalty and general good feelings were being shared by the fact that such decisive action was taken against the dragonkin. The announcements of both the tourney for the dragonhide armour, and the fact that the orphaned girl had been taken in by Priestess Alandra herself had also bolstered the township. With that he sat and breathed more easily.
Oleg was next, but his report was a little more grim. He clearly stated that work in the building of the new shrine was going ahead as planned. The announcement of the tourney and commision of the armour was going to cost them, but at the moment the Dutchy could handle it. He was heavily concerned though that consumption by the people was exceeding their capacity to prodce food. He suggested that more land should be prepared for farming with roads built and lots provided. Cattle and sheep would be next on the line, to provide better meats and woolen clothing. If they didn't start to consolidate the lands they held and slow expansion and building a little bit, he was concerened they would run out of both funds and resources before the winter was out.
Balodeks report was simple. Crime was low, even with the influx of people coming into town. He had recruited ten men and women to aid him in patrolling the streets. He was hoping to get some sort of barracks at some stage, but after Olegs report on funding, was concerned about the costs of such a thing. He had split his people into shifts for both night and day duty and so far it was working well. He had heard some rumours of some folk maybe trying to orgnise themselves in a way to smuggle goods, but so far it was nothing but whispers and false leads.
Alannah was beginning to feel the strain of keeping the castle guarded as well as now setting patrols for the roads they were building. She only had so many troops, and training them to a standard suitable for both jobs was telling. At some stage, she would need to push fro recruitment, and that would put a strain on funding even moreso, as Oleg quickly pointed out.
Lev was similarly pressed. His group of hunters were not trained so well in policing the wilds as they were in merely hunting. In fact, two of his team had been poachers rather than wardens, but they had turned over a new lease since so much land was free to hunt. Training these men and women would cost as well, as would equipping more folk to keep up with the demands of the expanding realm.
Alandra was calm as she explained her congregation was again growing. The announcement of the shrines construction had brought more people to her, as was the way she had handled adopting the orphaned girl. Already a small house had been built to house the two of them, near where the shrine was being built. The Abadarian contingent had been insisting that their god be the dominant religion in the shrine, and that was causing her some contention, but the fact people were again coming to her sermons and asking her for guidance had the woman happy again.
Elsbeth didn't have much to report. A group of merchants out of Restov were coming, hoping to get approval to start a logging operation based out of the township. The presence of teh rivers and lake meant they could fell trees within the forest and easily transport them to where demand in the north was high. It would mean increased money flow for the kingdom, but these were also powerful political movers in Brevoy. She warned caution in handling them. Also, Pitax far to the west, was apparently starting to take an interest in the fledgling settlement. She had met two hunters from the region in the markets the other day by mere chance, but her charms had gotten them to talk. She certainly felt they were doing more than just trying trade, especially since they would have had to travel hundreds of miles through unsettled lands to get here. It was a point of interest for her.
With the reports finsihed, Anya was left to ponder a letter she had recieved from her father. It was the frst direct correspondance she had recieved from him since claiming her title. He had congratulated her on finally showing the spirit of her namesake. In a move that almost stunned her, he also extended the hand of friendship to her new fledgling township. He had heard of their need for more assistance in running the place and suggested a few names from some of her distant cousins in filling places. He also suggested that the household could loan the township resources if things got tight. He was treating her like a real leader, and not just some recalcitrant child. She would need to consider how much into her fathers debt she should place herself, if at all.
Anya sat in council with strongly mixed feelings. On the one hand (and she felt the most important one), they were doing well. The tourney was going to seem frivolous to a ledgers-man like Oleg, but she hoped to make a tradition out of it - one that would pay for the initial investment in time, and then some. Yet the speed they were burning through their resources (as if they were really theirs) was frightening. They needed to stop riding this bull very soon, and limit their expenditures to what their little kingdom could support - or their creditors and benefactors would all too soon own the crown, regardless on whose head it rested.
"Oleg, I know this will be another expense, but we need to start generating more food. Would you agree we can expand our farmlands further north, and west into the edge of the woodlands? We should not mince words here - there is plenty of game to be had, and for the time being, I need to have my people fed much more urgently than I need to enforce some noble privilege on the boar and venison".She walked the council table up and down, uneasly surveying the map. "If i remember correctly, there was some gold to be had - lets safe that for springtime, when we can more easily afford a strong influx of settlers."
She trusted her friends above all else to handle any situation, but the vacancies in some key positions were more than troubling. Perhaps, even though she would dearly hate to owe her family any amount of money, there was something they could do. "Friends, I have thought long and hard about something, and would like your opinions. My father has offered to support us - and I am inclined to follow through on that offer. No, Lev, before you object to anything - I will not take his money, and only accept a small part of what he had in mind. Enough to be grateful, and keep him warm for further aid, if we need it - but not enough to go into his plans too deeply. Unless you object, I will ask him for Alexej. A cousin of min, even though you'd never think so if you saw it. He fast approaches his fiftieth winter now, and has so far amounted to little in the family - but he is a wizard, though of no major talent. Smart enough to teach children their letters and numbers, and to not make us seem like the worst backwater on Golarion's far reaches."
Lev frowned slightly at Anya's announcement but shrugs and inclines his head. "You know them better than I. Whatever you think is best in dealing with your family I will support." He leans down to offer the cat at his feet a piece of dried meat.
"I'm more concerned with the loggers out of Restov. Another source of income will be welcome but we should be mindful of them. I think I'd also like to speak with these 'hunters' Elsbeth met. Just to be sure they are who they say they are."
Alandra continues to show the orphan girl, Meg the ropes about being an acolyte of Pharasma. When someone dies in the town, they would go and give the deceased its final rites. Then they would have some laborers hired by the church to take the body back to the shrine where they would prepare it for burial, then bury it in the graveyard behind the old fort. The wealthy got a fine carved headstone and the poor just a plaque marking the grave.
"If the family has money, they pay for this," she explains to Meg, "but mostly they don't so we have to pay the corpse bearers and grave diggers ourselves. That is why we have to ask our worshippers for any donations they can spare, and if they don't give enough I have to pay for it myself."
They also preside over births of their faithful, again not having acolytes in the church who could act a midwives, they have to hire them from the towns populace and pay them from the church's funds, asking for remittance from those who could afford it.
Although she has nothing against Abadar as a deity, and recognizes the need for religious diversity in the community, she isn't happy bout their congregation sharing "her" shrine. At the council she complains about it to Anya.
"That shrine is supposed to be a Temple for Pharasma! It has a graveyard, not a bank! They need to build their own temple."
She also voices her concern about the Abadarian priest, "There is something about that. guy... I don't trust him, I think he's up to something." In private she asks the leader, "Can we have out spymaster follow him and find out if he is up to something?"
Alandra also spends some time looking for potential candidates form her congregation to become her acolytes, although there really wouldn't be a place for them until a proper temple was built.
Anya looked Lev over, then decided it was best to cut this behaviour in the bud. As flattering as deference was, it was not what she needed from the council. "Lev, voice your thoughts. Any of you. I need to know when you think I do the wrong thing. I may not always agree, but I at least want to have that much warning."
She picked up his train of thought. "What risks do you see about the loggers? As far as I can see, they are some gold in our coffers." She had resolved not to poke into each of her friend's affairs too deeply, but tried to stay on top of things this way.
As Alandra voiced her distaste, she perked up. "I had hoped you and the other priest would work things out on your own - as you know I am not that big on worship and any particular god. If you want, I can try to mediate, but 'fore i can put a spymaster on him, we'd first need one. That's something I wouldn't let my father help us about for any price in the world, just so you know. We need someone competent, utterly loyal and discrete. Very tough to find, that."
Alannah sighed as she realized that her words would only add to Anya's stresses.
"As we expand and build roads I need to send men and women to patrol them and protect the workers. At the same time our population grows and we need more soldiers to ensure secirity, especially with outside forces taking an interest in us."
"Training people to fuction in both capacities takes a lot of resources, and soldiers expect wages.As long as the assistance is limited and controlled, it may be worthwhile to have an external source of resources."
Wrath
How much do I remember now? Would the dwarf from my old group make a good spymaster?
While Elsbeth understands Alandra's point, she also thinks the Abadarian church will help in raising their funds.She also felt those two "hunters" should be watched closely,but she is going to need assistance.
Alannah
The hunters
The two men Elsbeth spoke of have left town by the time the council determines to look into them. They are only a day out of town though, on foot and leading pack mules, so catching them up should be easy enough. It may be worth investigating other activities they were involved in as well though. Need survival checks if you want to track them. Knowledge local, Diplomacy or Initimidate checks if you want to investigate their activities in town.
The loggers
At this stage not much is known about the merchant contingent since they haven't arrived yet. However knowledge history or knowledge nobility may be useful in finding more about them from what you heard when you lived in Brevoy. Also, investigating about town may be useful. This needs a knowledge local first, in order to locate someone who may actually know about such things amongst all the new citizens. If that's successful, diplomacy or intimidate to get info.
The Abadar connection
Anya has basically said she's not going to put resources into investigating the Abadarian leader. Alandra is going to need to do so herself. Up to you how you go about this Alandra. You could try to dig up dirt and discredit him, you could try to negotiate a truce with him where the shrine is all yours, you could aquiesce to his demands, or you could negotiate another compromise.
To Lev:"I don't think it'll be a good idea to chase them ourselves, but perhaps we can send a patrol? This should be handled by Alannah or Batsukan maybe. I'm willing to ask about them around town however, assistance would be appreciated the same"
Lev shakes his head. "You misunderstand me, highness. Whatever my...feelings...regarding the Medyveds, I trust your instincts. You are right that we cannot accept one as a Spymaster and will, in truth, need to keep a careful eye on Alexej, but if we can use him effectively then better to do so than not."
A small smile touches his lips. "Trust me, I will not hesitate to voice any disagreements I might have."
He leans back in his chair, one hand idly scratching his cat under its chin. "As for the loggers...I don't trust anyone motivated by greed. Nor do I care for those whose interest lie in deforestation." He holds up a hand to forestall any protests. "I'm aware that the trees are a resource we must make use of and the coin would be handy. I only think it wise to approach our dealings with them carefully. Perhaps some discrete questions in town will provide us with encouragement."
He shakes his head at Elsbeth's suggestion. "Once the hunters are out of town they are my responsibility. There is no reason, thus far, to arrest them at any rate. I only want to be aware of what they're doing. I'll ask Nikolai to keep an eye out for them."
As soon as she can Alandra arranges a meeting with the priest of Abadar. "As much as we welcome you and your congregation in our settlement, you realize we cannot share the same structure as our temple indefinitely. At some point you are going to have to build your own."
"I mean this is just not practical. There is a graveyard here; we give funerals and prepare the dead for burial. Shouldn't you have a bank or something?"
She looks at him a little more sternly.
"Another thing we need to be clear on, as one of the founders of this new kingdom, I am considered the religious leader of the people here. Without Pharasma's good grace this place would still be a bandit camp, she is the true patroness of this kingdom."
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Gather Info from the towns people
Knowledge Local
I shall report any notable information.
"I know costs are high at this time but I wish to train up a contingent of mounted fighters to act as scouts and when needed an advanced fighting unit. Let me know when there might be coin free to do so and I shall put my plan into action. As for matters of concern at this time, I shall head out among the throng and see what I might learn. The kids seem to like my foreign attire and that opens up channels to their parents. Well until we are large enough to have a reliable intel system then the people are our eyes and ears as you all know by now I am entirely fond of. I don't know if you wish to do so as I am not sure how much trust you have yet invested in me but if we are lacking in any capacity to do with state matters, I could always write to my family back in Absalom and see if they wish investing in your expansion. It might surprise you how deep Tian Xia's fortunes and favor reach."
Batsukan
For all
A note on specialist units.
At the moment, you have the bare bones of things like guards, road patrols, wardens and foresters, diplomatic staff and in Alandras case only one accolyte (hehe).
You generally get more as your population grows but getting specialist troops are going to require additional expense. 1 bp per unit you wish to create. For example, specialised mounted road wardens would cost a BP to start up. Elite guards for Anya would be another. A detective force rather than just street guards. These are all things I can see you guys wanting eventually, but they cost. These aren't really covered in the kingdom building rules, but i believe we need to simulate that kind of development in some way, and build points are what i hae to play with.
Additionally, the areas you control are yours to develop as you see fit in terms of what you name them, how you structure them, what uniforms they wear etc. NPC's of note that you create and name can be statted up by you as experts or warriors with the standard array if you wish to go into that much detail. You only have one of each at the moment and some of you haven't really developed one yet. They would be 2nd level at most. Alandra, your girl is a little different. She'll eventuall get to be a cleric level 1, but it will take time. Consider her a commoner at the moment.
Go into as much or as little detail as you like about this stuff guys. I won't interfere unless I think its starting to get unblanced. As you develop these things, I can tie them into the game a little, particularly building up rep for certain units or NPC's. This is what makes the Kingmaker campaign so unique, you really get to drive much of what the game world is.
Cheers
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TWIG CR 1/2
Male Human Expert 2
LG Medium Humanoid (Human)
Init +1; Senses Perception +5
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DEFENSE
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AC 15, touch 11, flat-footed 14. . (+4 armor, +1 Dex)
hp 15 (2d8+5)
Fort +1, Ref +1, Will +3
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OFFENSE
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Spd 30 ft.
Melee Dagger +4 (1d4+2/19-20/x2) and
. . Unarmed Strike +3 (1d3+2/20/x2)
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STATISTICS
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Str 14, Dex 12, Con 13, Int 14, Wis 10, Cha 13
Base Atk +1; CMB +3; CMD 14
Feats Toughness +3, Weapon Focus: Dagger
Skills Acrobatics -1, Bluff +6, Climb +0, Diplomacy +6, Escape Artist +4, Fly -1, Handle Animal +6, Intimidate +6, Perception +5, Profession: Butcher +4 Ride +3, Sense Motive +5, Sleight of Hand +0, Stealth +4, Survival +1, Swim +0
Languages Common, Gnome, Halfling
Combat Gear Chain Shirt, Dagger;
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Married with a daughter. Ex-military officer now retired and a butcher by trade. His oldest daughter was abducted 8yrs ago whilst living in his home town city of Silverhall. He has a dislike for the failings of law enforcement and is passionate about justice dealing.
Hero Lab® and the Hero Lab logo are Registered Trademarks of LWD Technology, Inc. Free download at http://www.wolflair.com
Pathfinder® and associated marks and logos are trademarks of Paizo Publishing, LLC®, and are used under license.
Anya listened to Batsukan's suggestion patiently, but her eyes did not light up with agreement. "A very worthwhile project, but before we try to assemble cavarly units in earnest, we should first build our infrastructure to match. We would need at least a competant weaponsmith to keep them equipt and a formalized war academy to train them. I would think that for the moment, putting a little money in sponsoring the wardens to own private horses may have more effect. In time, we will girt ourselves for war, but right now, I think Winter is our most pressing..."
Her monologue would probably have continued the mollifying explanaitions for a while longer, had it not been for Irian Formerly. The young elf (who looked boyish despite being easily thrice Anya's age in years) had become Anyas informal private secretary in the past few months. Nicknamed for his habit of introducing himself als "Irian, formerly of Kyonin", the elf had left his home after some kind of scandal - possibly due to his penchant for writing poetry that not only kept crossing the lines of good taste towards the bawdy every other stanca. Still, life as a bureaucrat seemed to suit him, and his capable hands took much of the mundane shuffling of papers from Anya.
Right then, he just briefly touched Anya's shoulder, and she turned to him. "Irian, what is it?" He smiled, and announced that a representative of one of the relatively wealthy familes had arrived. Anya swiftly told him to keep them entertained until she closed council.
"Alright, more to the point. What can we achieve in the next month?" She focussed her attention back to the cloth map rolled out on the table, with small felt markers scattered to represent their holdings, major landmarks and known perils.
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"Your grace, to refine my request so that we better understand one another. My suggestion is not for a cavalry unit on a mass scale. You will need a fast moving security unit to maintain order as your reach grows and this is far more important necessity than growing your footpads to a greater number. Out of my own purse, if so required, will I grow my mounted road warden numbers so that in weeks to come you will see their value. As warden appointed I see it as my duty to prove the point in your best interest."
From her seat at Anya's right Alannah studied the newest member of the group, no longer unproven in battle or devotion, but still posing numerous questions.
It was clear that they were all still coming to terms with having a complete view of their growing settlement, the roles of leadership in some ways very different from the battlefield.
While the wilds were Lev's domain and the town, and eventually city fell to Batsukan, the safety of the realm itself was her responsibility, as was the safety of its ruler.
She needed more soldiers, weapons and equipment, and each of those things cost money. More importantly they needed a spymaster, one who had the ability to gather and process information from a wide variety of sources.
"Bastukan, on your patrols you must encounter those who are, in need of being watched more closely. Any settlement eventually attracts those who supply a need that arrives with the growth of a town into a city. Illegal goods, back alley pleasure houses, these things will always exist, but these same people often tend to have a better idea of what gose on in a kingdom than its rulers."
She pauses for a moment as if steeling herself before continuing.
"From what I remember of my past, if we needed to know what was going on in a city, the dark corners were the right place to find it. Perhaps with a little...creative persuasion, you could obtain a source of information like that, Of course on the surface there would have to be no clear realationship between them and your men, the more lawless they appear the better."
Looking at Anya she garnered a thoughtful expression.
"I think that the tournament can serve another purpose, one we should not make known until a winner is determined. I was thinking of naming the winner of the armor the Princess' Champion, essentially your personal bodyguard."
She grinned slightly waiting for the inevitable objection.
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In response to Alannah.
A smile breaks out on his face as Alannah speaks to him. He gains insight into the crown's protector and likes what he sees. His eyes might reveal a growing fondness of this woman as he replies "I have made mental notes on certain faces. I might press a couple to test their constitution and see if I can use what they reveal. Infact, to preceed the coming of such enterprises, the crown might wish to consider kick starting such a business with a 'deep enough basement' if you know what I mean."
Kingdom update
Month 1 - Claimed the city hex and cleared it
Month 2 - Built the castle, Claimed another hex
Month 3 - Built smith, Claimed a hex and comissioned farms
Month 4 (in progress) - Explored land (can do two more explores if you wish). Began construction of Shrine.
- A tourney is going to be run at end of month.
Still available for allocation this month
- Claim 1 hex (1 BP)
- Explore 2 more hexes (will need at least one of you to lead the explore teams. If encounters occur, I'll call on all of you to deal with them. If exploring, you can't assist in the planning phase of the tourney.)
- Convert 1 hex into roads and farmlands. (costs 5 BP since this is all hills)
Current BP remaining = 26
Recommendations for buildings
Grainary (winter supplies), Inn (more people passing through means the need for temporary accomodation, especially with traders), Shop (a more centrlised location for folk to purchase goods. Currently there is a hodgepodge of trading occuring). Se my DM profile for more info on each structure.
Currently you are in the last month of Summer.
For Anya specifically - Oleg has recommended you start taxing the citizens to help recoup funds.
If you push for active recruitment in some of the forces under your rule, pressure will start to be relieved. Police, military, marshalls. 1 = light recruitment, 2 = moderate, 3 = heavy. The more your push, the greater impact on things like loyalty and economy though.
Anya, up to you what where you allocate exploring, settlement, farms and edicts.
All of you can vote on what building to construct.
As requested
Map update for kingdom
The hunters
Elsbeth had spent some time dining with a local man who was trying to set himself up as a businessman in town. He thought of himself as a bit of a mover and shaker, though his manners and etiquete were far from what the courtier had experienced in her past. He had been approached by both hunters, with an eye on starting a trade with them. A few more wines into the conversation, and a subtle use of inuendo and half smiles had the man almost eating out of her plam though. She had found out that part of the deal these men wanted was in the sending of messages about troops and organisations of Freiheitholme. He had agreed to the deal, as they had told him it was more about bringing trade goods through with little harrassment and maybe avoiding future taxes rather than anything else. In short, the man was a fool Elsbeth concluded.
Nikolai reported to Lev that the men had moved Northwards, apparently heading through lands that the group themselves had settled or explored. "They left the kingdom lands yesterday Marshall, heading out through the farmlands and into the region the caravans are travelling via. They were apparently very free with their furs and trade goods, looking to estabish some connections in the region, apparently. I can send Murtle along to follow em some more if you wnat, but their technicallyoutside our lands now and if she gets spotted, well River Kingdom law basically means if she goes missing there's not much we can do about it."
The Abadar Connection
Having said her piece, Alandra sat back and watched the reaction of the man in front of her. Elias Wrathbone was a corpulent man, big of girth, and well dressed. He showed his wealth as a badge of honor, something he used in persuading certain members of the burgeoning community to his cause.
"My dear girl, as much as we all appreciate your fine efforts in bringing this land into the fold of settlement, surely you must understand the need for progress. Lady Pharasma is the goddess of death, a deity dealing in the finality of life, and end of things. We are starting something new here, a beginning that your lady is not even remotely associated with in her purview over the souls of the departed. ". He smiled at her then, a condescending look of one who was addressing a much younger person who obviously didn't understand such complex matters (in his mind at least).
"I'm afraid that the shrine you build here should really represent what the people want, and death is a morbidly depressing thing to be worshipping. No, I believe I shall take my petition to the Princess Anya herself, and discuss matters with her. Many of the more...influential members of town are already listening to me, and they seem to be in agreeance. You may be surprised at what the Princess has to say about who should lead the church my dear."
Inside, the young priestess fumed at his arrogance, but something she saw in his eyes intrigued her. He was hiding something from her, some vital fact that he was terrified she found out, and it showed in the tenseness of his eyes. All she had to do was find what it was. Easy said than done though.
Hidden Factions
Bakugan and Alannah's idea sparked interest in the Ronin. He had his men and women put their feelers out in trying to find such people as Alannah had suggested. Again, rumors and whispers came to him from the streets, but he had nothing concrete to work from. Intuition and streetsmarts told him that looking near the smithy was a place to begin a more earnest searh though. The new houses in that district held many folk interested in running businesses from their homes, and much construction and other work was being done there still. It would easily be a place where materials could be "reallocated" to setting up some form of safe house or basement system for smuggling goods. He would need to be very careful in how he asked or tracked down this operation though. Enough whispers had come his way that he was sure something was being organized, and the fact that the person in charge was clever enough to avoid his men so far spoke well of their skill. Perhaps there was some merit in what he and Alannah proposed.
"I've met a fool who thinks he can double cross us. Those foreigners were supposed to trade goods with him avoiding our taxes; in Cheliax i'ld have already sent Hellknights after him, but the matter undoubtedly requires immediate attention"
Bakugan
All
Alandra is fuming as the priest of Abadar takes his leave.
There is no way he is going to get away with this.
She again takes her concerns to Anya.
"He is trying to take over my shrine, and trying to become the High Priest! Don't let him, there is something not quite right with him I know it!"
"Can we at least send someone to Restov to find out more about this Chrisof Reckson?"
She tries to speak with any of the "influential members" of the community she can find, trying to find out what the priest has told them, and what they know about him.
As Anya heard Alandra's concerns, her expression turned grim, and she immediately postponed the meeting she had originally planned. "Alandra, I'm sorry. I had hoped this man to be reasonable - a chance for you to grow into your new rank of high priestess in the eyes of your peers. It seems, though, that this man needs a sterner reminder. " Once again, she privately cursed their blindness in any underhanded business. "I'll see who might be able to get some facts about this man. I can't promise I'll find anything, but I'll try."
She motioned Irian to come closer "Make sure I have the afternoon off. Gathering knowledge may take time, but if he wants to talk to me, tell the Priest I summon him."
Back towards Alandra, she added. "We'll have to make him recognize these titles are not just for show. By disrespecting your rank as religious leader, he disrespects my choice. Just as you must look beyond your own faith and decide what is best for the community, he must trust that judgement." With a grin, she added "I leave it to you if you want to be part of my little chat with the man. Being there could be interesting, but you will have to trust me, even if I say things you don't like."
While Irian was preparing an official writ of summons, and delivering it to the wayward priest, she briefly consulted with Oleg. "Oleg, I thought long and hard on your taxation plans. We should try to generate revenue quickly, but we need to maintain our pull on new settlers. I would suggest taking taxes slightly below Brevoy levels. People won't love it, but its still a better deal, and we have less labors and noble privilege to boot. Do you think that would put us into the black before our current supplies become critically scarce?"
Alandra nods when Anya finishes, and kneels before her.
"Thank you so much Princess, I knew I could trust you. I'll be there when you talk to him and I promise to keep my big mouth shut."
"And just to be clear, I know we need a church of Abadar here, I am all for that. I just don't like that priest."
Alandra is thinking when she gets a chance she will travel to the old shrine of Erastil and see if Kavken is still there.