DM Alexander Kilcoyne's Kingmaker PBP- Chapter 2 (Inactive)

Game Master Alexander Kilcoyne

The other Guardians begin to wake up, somewhat groggily, to see Ilya racing out of the camp and towards the river...

Ilya, its dark but with the light of the moon you are able to see, although the light is dim. You can't see any sign of the speaker, but you can make out a soft blue light source floating above the ice- you surmise that if she fell through perhaps she dropped her torch or was using magical lighting...

Ilya please make a perception roll if you move to investigate.

Ninjaed I see- its up to Ilya whether he would turn back from Casimir's words, but theres no way Casimir would be up in time to put a hand on his shoulder if hes heading off.

Does the light look similar to the lights we saw floating around Candlemere?

Does the light look similar to the lights we saw floating around Candlemere?

Right now, only Ilya sees the light - and only if he did not wait when I asked him too. The rest of us are still busy waking up and arming ourselves. We also need people with knowledge (dungeoneering) or (local) to roll to see if they know what those lights were.

Ilya inches forward to take a look.

Use detect magic.

Perception 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (16) + 9 = 25

Seeing that Ilya does not wait, Casimir takes a moment to make sure that the rest of the Guardians are roused and on their feet before heading off after the elven wizard. He checks his armor and makes sure the adventurer's sash containing his alchemical items, potions and scrolls is in place. Satisfied, he moves swiftly, drawing his blade as he goes.

Fenna pulls herself to her feet, still sluggish from sleep. Following Casimir's example, she readjusts her breastplate and takes up her buckler before heading into the darkness.

Knowledge(Local) 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 3 = 9

Malthir rises in his chain shirt, grabbing his shield and sash. As he buckles on his sword he realizes it is the dead of night, so he draws his blade illuminating the area as he follows the others out...

Kalev, having made it a habit to sleep in his armor when they are in dangerous places, gets up groggily, grasping his trusted ranseur in hand and looks about to get an idea of why he was awoken.

Knowledge Local: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5

Ilya, despite the darkness and your haste you remain sharp eyed enough to not have stumbled into a weak patch of ice en route to the light that would have sent you into the freezing waters below. The blue light a short distance from you swiftly disappears, and your detect magic reveals nothing. A few moments later, the other Guardians begin to arrive...

As the other Guardians arrive...

"There was a blue light a short distance from the shore. It is gone now and I cannot detect any magical auras or residue. Perhaps we should search along the frozen river for any signs."

Casimir peers into the darkness, but his human eyes fail to see anything that Ilya has not already seen with his keen elven senses.

A blue light? Strange. I still think we should we should be careful - something does not feel right about this.

A search along the river reveals no sign of tracks- or the woman who cried for help.

Is the light still there? If so I recommend that someone cast light on an arrow and fire it right by the light to illuminate the area. We can then safely move over by it.

Ilya picks up a pebble from the banks of the river. Casting light, he tosses it towards the spot where the blue lights disappeared.

The light reveals nothing but ice.

As the other Guardians arrive...

"There was a blue light a short distance from the shore. It is gone now and I cannot detect any magical auras or residue. Perhaps we should search along the frozen river for any signs."

Could it be more fey illusions? Or maybe something the Lizard Folk are trying to do to trick us? We should be cautious and return to our camp. No one should leave the camp alone.

Assumes we go back to camp and then hunt in the morning for a suitable tribute to bring to the lizard folk unless something else happens that night.
We should still have 2 scrolls of share language left unless anyone speaks their language?

As written in the information Casimir shared, lizardfolk tend to only speak Draconic, although their shamans often speak Common too.

1d100 ⇒ 35

The rest of the night passes without incident; and in the morning you set off into the forest to hunt for a suitable offering...

Survival checks please. Its deep in winter and many fauna are hibernating or lying low- the DC's will be higher as a result.

Early Morning, 9th Abadius...

WIth my limited knowledge I just try to assist someone else by keeping my eye out for game or tracks... survival1d20 - 1 ⇒ (17) - 1 = 16

Before going out to hunt, Kalev takes one of his arrows, breaks the shaft and sends a short prayer to Erastil, asking for bountiful prey.

Survival: (Guidance) 1d20 + 13 + 1 ⇒ (20) + 13 + 1 = 34

doesn't include assists yet, as I don't know how many are assisting.

Before going out to hunt, Kalev takes one of his arrows, breaks the shaft and sends a short prayer to Erastil, asking for bountiful prey.

Survival: (Guidance) 1d20+13+1

doesn't include assists yet, as I don't know how many are assisting.

heh, I think he answered your prayers with that 20!!!! I hope they like the massive Stag you grabbed :]

Casimir does his best to help, both with the telling of several legends of Erastil's hunting prowess (Inspire Competence +2) and going along to look for tracks and help flush out the prey.

Survival 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (15) + 3 = 18

Fenna walks alongside Kalev, keen eyes alert for movement or tracks while she prepares to loose her crossbow towards any game Kalev's arrows leave able to flee.

Survival 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (6) + 7 = 13

Remember that Inspire Competence is still tracked in rounds- i'm going to rule Casimir uses five rounds worth of bardic inspiration throughout the hunt at critical moments. I'll make a check for Ilya as I know hes also swamped.

1d20 ⇒ 13

That is a 44 total! Kalev should go join Erastil and hunt the Grim White Stag for fun...

The morning is spent in pursuit of a suitable token of tribute for the Lizardfolk tribe. Kalev manages to spot a massive, magnificent brown bear drinking from a small stream. The rest of the morning is spent in pursuit of the beast, and it is eventually hunted down and slain, each of the Guardians contributing to the kill but an expertly placed arrow from Kalev finishing the beast off. It must weigh several hundred pounds at least...

Remember that Inspire Competence is still tracked in rounds- i'm going to rule Casimir uses five rounds worth of bardic inspiration throughout the hunt at critical moments. I'll make a check for Ilya as I know hes also swamped.

1d20

That is a 44 total! Kalev should go join Erastil and hunt the Grim White Stag for fun...

The morning is spent in pursuit of a suitable token of tribute for the Lizardfolk tribe. Kalev manages to spot a massive, magnificent brown bear drinking from a small stream. The rest of the morning is spent in pursuit of the beast, and it is eventually hunted down and slain, each of the Guardians contributing to the kill but an expertly placed arrow from Kalev finishing the beast off. It must weigh several hundred pounds at least...

Can we build a stretcher or something similar to tow the bear behind one of the horses intact? Looks like Ilya speaks draconic so we should approach the main gate with the bear as tribute and have Ilya open the negotiations. Ilya, any thoughts?

That sounds perfect to me. I'm thinking that an enormous haunch of meat will go a long ways towards showing goodwill. Perhaps Kalev could keep the skin and fashion a cloak for memories? :)

1d100 ⇒ 76

Taking care not to step on any areas of thin ice, the offering is brought before the front gate of the lizardfolk village. A pair of curious lizardfolk heads watch you warily, peering over the palisade; evidently theres a small walkway on this side. One of them is holding a javelin and rattles it against the palisade to get your attention.

Midday, 9th Abadius.

Diplomacy 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (18) + 9 = 27 (total 29 if unfriendly or hostile)
Diplomacy 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (20) + 9 = 29 (reroll with Patient Optimist if unsuccessful, total 31 if unfriendly or hostile)

There is a long audible pause, and a lot of movement behind the palisade. Five minutes later, the gate guard eventually responds-

The gate to the village is opened, and before you lies the lizardfolk village. There seems to be a gathering of lizardfolk, including one that is about the size of an Ogre awaiting you in front of the largest hut.

Casimir smiles cheerfully at the Lizardfolk, as he rides in through the gates along with the rest of the Guardians.

So far, so good...I suppose that big fella is the chief. Let's hope he likes our present, he mutters to those closest to him.

I assume that we are waiting on Ilya to kick off the negotiations....not sure if we can even assist with the language barrier?

Ilya whispers to his companions as they advance. "They turned the trolls a way a week ago, who apparently were trying to recruit them or some such. The large one is King Vesket. Any disrespect will result in violence."

The elven wizard approaches to within 20 feet of the giant lizard and halts. Reaching to his back, he removes his finely-crafted longbow from his back, takes one knee on the ground, and places the weapon on the ground in front of him.

Ilya gestures toward the meat on the improvised drag-frame.

Diplomacy 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (8) + 9 = 17 (total 19 if unfriendly or hostile)
Diplomacy 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (18) + 9 = 27 (reroll with Patient Optimist if unsuccessful, total 29 if unfriendly or hostile)

Malthir will wait for the negotiations to get a little further along before he asks Ilya to talk through these points.
Ilya, please introduce me to King Vesket. Let him know that I am the leader of the human people of the Kingdom to the north known to us as Kardas.
Let him know that we wish to have peace and trade with his people. Many humans come and our Kingdom grows and will one day stretch all the way to their borders and we do not want to have conflict with them. Will they consider talking peace and trade with us? We have much to offer each other.

Ilya nods to Malthir and whispers, "I'll get to that part. Right now I'm asking about the trolls and what they were up to."

Way to rock those diplomacy rolls, ilya. I'll just stay over to the side, not spraying anyone in troll blood.

As Ilya and Malthir address the Lizard leader, Casimir scans the gathered crowd, keeping an eye out for anything unusual or signs of foul play.

Perception 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (4) + 7 = 11

Well thats handy because in the post I lost 8 hours ago I did ask for perception checks from everyone except Ilya (stupid Skype update decides to close all my applications when i'm mid post although I specified NOT to close them... urgh). Can I get perception rolls from Fenna, Kalev and Malthir.

The massive lizardfolk moves to tower over Ilya, brandishing a trident. Puffing out his chest he replies to the Elf-

The lizardfolk King stares down at you, waiting for anything you else you wanted to discuss.

Casimir & the others- you count three gate guards, another nine or so who appear to be hunters, and six who seem larger and more decorated in feathers and trophies than the others- Vesket's bodyguards perhaps. Vesket has also assembled something of a menagerie as a show of force. Three lizards stand near the King, each a little under ten feet long. You recognise them as Narlmarch Muggers, and they are tenacious combatants with poisonous bites. His harem is also present- three dangerous looking lizardfolk females; covered in expensive jewellery but also clearly trained for war. Finally, he holds a leash on a pair of vicious looking crocodiles and their only slightly less dangerous child.

Perception: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (19) + 13 = 32

Perception 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (6) + 11 = 17

Profession (merchant) 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (7) + 13 = 20 check to explain to King Vesket the benefits of a trade compact.

Moving close to Casimir, Kalev whispers

DM AK, are everyone focusing their attention on Ilya, Malthir and the chief? How are the chances of Casimir slowly moving to a place where he can cast vanish without attracting attention?

*hesitant face* Be careful you don't upset the hosts, Casimir.

What was it you told me on MSN, when we talked about rushing off head first into danger? "Hesitate with a damsel possibly in distress? Never!". Now, this may or may not be a damsel - but Casimir is not gender biased. ;-)

So you suspect the Beldame may still be alive? Fair enough, then.

Um, no..I'm pretty sure she's dead, seeing as how we buried her mangled body yesterday. But there are others out here who might need a bit of rescuing.

Yeah... that happened, didn't it? My bad. It's been busy lately. :)

DM AK, are everyone focusing their attention on Ilya, Malthir and the chief? How are the chances of Casimir slowly moving to a place where he can cast vanish without attracting attention?

With so many lizardfolk watching your group, it won't go unnoticed.

** spoiler omitted **

Profession (merchant) 1d20+13 check to explain to King Vesket the benefits of a trade compact.

Ilya bows and awaits King Vestek's permission to withdraw from the village. Behind his back, he gives a thumbs-up to the rest of the Guardians.

The lizardfolk King simply gestures towards the gate of the village, then disappears into the large hut with his harem.

If you were wanting something to go until tomorrow morning you could always explore the hex.

If you were wanting something to go until tomorrow morning you could always explore the hex.

That would make sense.