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Now I'm waiting to see your Kardassian owlbear attack force! Why should orcs have all the fun?
Alternatively, I wonder how much of an asset an awakened owlbear (perhaps with some levels of ranger) would be. Probably fearsome, especially with Human as its favored enemy, but difficult to work with because of owlbear irascibility.
Kardas already has set an interesting precedent by bargaining with intelligent magical beasts like RedEyes, suggesting that their agreements with humans are binding on both parties. That's an important aspect of citizenship. A NG kingdom playing up this aspect could attract other such creatures and benevolent druids--if that's a way that the Statkari want to develop their kingdom.
Now I'm waiting to see your Kardassian owlbear attack force! Why should orcs have all the fun?
Alternatively, I wonder how much of an asset an awakened owlbear (perhaps with some levels of ranger) would be. Probably fearsome, especially with Human as its favored enemy, but difficult to work with because of owlbear irascibility.
Kardas already has set an interesting precedent by bargaining with intelligent magical beasts like RedEyes, suggesting that their agreements with humans are binding on both parties. That's an important aspect of citizenship. A NG kingdom playing up this aspect could attract other such creatures and benevolent druids--if that's a way that the Statkari want to develop their kingdom.
Or Malthir may just stick his sword into it and be done with it.... :)
So many things to think about.
First he is concerned that giving to Varn and his Gorum chronies would only create another monster or an abused fighting beast. The flip side is the funds could be used to help those who were hurt in the attack.
If we bring it back what do we do with it? We don't know anyone who can train it, hell we don't even have a cage to transport it back to SwordHaven. What would we train it to do? Something about its only purpose to fight doesn't sit well with Malthir...we will see.
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In its current state as a cub, its no real threat to any of you. Its claws and teeth aren't developed yet and it is starving so it will only be able to resist feebly any efforts to carry it.
Remember Owlbear's are not inherently evil. I would say that killing a weak, defenceless animal (or magical beast) is a morally dubious act.
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If we bring it back what do we do with it? We don't know anyone who can train it, hell we don't even have a cage to transport it back to SwordHaven. What would we train it to do? Something about its only purpose to fight doesn't sit well with Malthir...we will see.
Malthir is probably right to have some concern about taking it as becoming its master will create an obligation for humane treatment. If one of the PCs makes a good Knowledge (Nature) roll, they might know what would be involved. But the project will be more challenging than taking in a stray dog (and, frankly, more dangerous to all concerned).
As for its only purpose being to fight, I'm not sure how is it different than a warhorse. If the Statkari can train an owlbear to employ its owlbearishness in service to Kardas, how is that different from Malthir training his horse to charge enemies (and even to kick them) instead of running away at the scent of blood?
One possible non-battle purpose could be frightening away other dangerous predators from the area around a settlement. I think that most natural animals--and many small groups of humanoid raiders--would think twice about attacking a town with a trained owlbear defending it.
But as I said before, it's the Statkari's call to make. :-) Good luck!
Trust me as a player having a Owlbear on our side would definitely be pretty cool...but as Malthir he keeps thinking back to what has already been done to the creatures family as well as the treatment that Red-Eyes suffered at the hands of humanoids.
We will see what happens once we get back to SwordHaven, he decided to get back and see what they can figure out. The thought of giving the creature to a Gorumite is not sitting well with him though.
There will be no sticking the cub with a sword... Kip will be very upset with the Baron if that were to happen. :)
The cub is quite young... we have some time to decide its fate.
It would remember that you killed it's father if you awakened it, wouldn't it? I've never dealt with awakened animals, do they still have much empathy for non-awakened creatures of their own kind or would it see the expedition as what it was - putting down a dangerous predator that can't be reasoned with?
An Owlbear is a magical beast not an animal so isn't a suitable target for awaken.
Jace, I think that I may have dropped off your IM? I have tried to IM you several times and received no responses.
This happened with Alex before as well for some reason...odd
Can you add me back to your IM? Mine is:
I think the problem is that the version of MSN I use at work don't work with Yahoo. And I'm sometimes logged in from home while at work.
I've come home several times to find a message waiting, onle to see that you were offline again.
My MSN has deleted terok as a contact several times over the past year- very irritating!
Does Ricter wish to join us in IM?
The 10% Magic Item Rule-
When looking for magical items for sale, if the cost of a given item is less than 10% of the cities base value, a roll is not required to find one.
Malthir, now would be a good time to modify Swordhaven's stats in light of the attack if you please.
Yep, I can start removing buildings now :(
TO confirm, did you mention it was half price to repair the damaged buildings? Thx.
Yup, half price if your just replacing the building destroyed.
Alex, I have been thinking about the leadership feat. You may already have some ideas concerning how the followers were going to happen. In character this was my idea. Malthir was going to write to Faramain and request that he be honored with the title of Sword Knight.
According to the entry from Iomedae, here is the organization of the knighthood:
"The church is organized into circles, each consisting of 10 to 50 priests or knights of similar ability, attitude, and rank. The leader of a circle is called a sword knight, and each sword knight is part of a higher-ranked circle reporting to a superior sword knight. The high priest or priestess is called the first sword knight of Iomedae; her
circle is the first circle, comprised of 14 second sword knights, each of whom leads a second circle, and so on.
There is much competition to join a circle led by a famous valorous sword knight and it is a mark of honor to be selected for such a knight’s circle. The sword knight ranks correspond to military ranks in standard armies (general, colonel, captain, and so on)."
I thought that once he became a sword knight other Iomedaen knights would join Malthir and form the core of his personal body guard as well as the start of the first formal fighting force for Kardas.
Noleski being my squire would eventually lead this group of men as he became older...let me know what you think???? Thx.
My DM Profile has been updated with relevant info for the game, my house-rules (both general and for the AP), and a link to the group site.
Now everyone's back together, lets get this show back on the road! I want to see a bit more frequent posting now its easier to do so.
(i'm a little worred as the last post from Fenna was 4 days ago, 8 days for Kalev and 8 for Kip. I know Cas is on vacation.)
OK, want to get this out myself.
If you guys feel like Malthir is leading the conversation too much let me know. I sometimes feel like because I can post more than most I tend to steal some of the thunder. I hope that I am giving back enough by providing openings for others to jump in when I do...
This isn't Malthir's game, it is everyone's and I have very thick skin. Please speak up if you feel that way and we can definitely work together to make sure everyone get's to have as much fun as I am having.
Also, I think that Ricter is going to be a good addition to the team...even if his character doesn't always "fit in" that will provide a lot of good RP opportunities in the coming months, I think it might be good for us to have someone in the Guardians that is not quite as homogeneous as the rest of us....
No complaints here Malthir. As you know, this is usually a concern of mine as well. ;)
Won't be able to post until Monday sorry. Balls really in your court anyway- you have a guest for the remainder of the month as well as Ricter to talk to.
Feel free to narrate it as I haven't the time today but- Grigori returns to his completely normal, recognisable self during Kalev's watch. Whatever ilusion magic and transmutation magic auras he still had on him have faded.
Has anybody checked him for a hidden cyanide capsule? :)
Has anybody checked him for a hidden cyanide capsule? :)
I think Ricter did a full cavity search. He does not seem like the sort to do a half-@ssed job. :-D
BTW, I will be out of town from Thursday evening to Sunday afternoon, please bot me as needed. Going away on a bachelor party to New Orleans so I probably won't have much time to post much and am not planning to bring my laptop anyways.
I'm going to be running a Carrion Crown PbP soon, and I'm looking for a couple more players. Is anyone in this game interested?
I might be interested... when do you think you might start?
I might be interested... when do you think you might start?
Once I've got the players together, it'll depend on how long character creation takes, but probably a week or so.
Hmmmm.... the summer is pretty tough on time for me (3 kids :). September I will have much more time to commit.
Keep me posted?
Hmmmm.... the summer is pretty tough on time for me (3 kids :). September I will have much more time to commit.
Keep me posted?
Ah, them pesky kids, always wanting hugs or food or bedtime stories or some other nonsense...
I sympathize. :-D
:)
I think I have stretched myself a little thin as it is. Thanks for the mention, I was planying in Tanner's Carrion Crown game that fell apart, Alex is trying to pick it up but I think real life is finally catching up with him and PBP's :)
If the CC falls apart I think I will be fine with the 4 other games I am in right now.
Cross posted for convenience.
Everythings ok it was just a very spontaneous two day trip to another town with limited internet access (and sleep). I just got home (5PM here) and have a family dinner to go to at 7PM- once i'm back from that at 11 or so my games will get updates- and then i'm off to Southampton to visit my friend James (EngineHouse here on the forums) and go to a friends birthday.
I'm not normally this busy. More frequent posting should resume monday.
CC won't collapse don't worry. Its just been a manicly busy week.
I think I have stretched myself a little thin as it is. ... I think I will be fine with the 4 other games I am in right now.
A big, fat +1 to that. :-D
Just letting you know I will be camping from Sunday the 7th through to Friday the 12th. Unsure about internet/cellular coverage. I'll do my best from my phone but please DMNPC Kip if needed.
Sorry for the inconvenience.
Hopefully after all these vacations are over we can get back to some serious PBPing! :)
Cheers
Hi, DM Aron Marczylo here and friend of DM AK.
Unfortunatly I'm here to tell you that Alex won't have any decent net access until late friday night.
Just here to pass on the message.
Should we begin a list of Grigori's crimes to be read out at his execution? Here are a few off the top of my head. Please feel free to adjust or add as you see fit. :)
1. Repeated and continuous attempts at subverting the rightful rulership of Kardas. (general) (Slander?)
2. Inciting chaos. (general)
3. Consorting/conspiring with known agents of an evil god. (Gyronna)
4. Consorting/conspiring with necromancy/undead. (same as above)
5. Conspiracy to commit murder. (Jhod)
6. Assault with compulsion magic. (Karina)
7. Blackmail. (the miners)
8. Assault with deadly force. (explosive ruins)
9. Conspiracy to kidnap. (Vaysh's first born)
10. Scrying with criminal intent.
11. Unlawful mining. ;) (Attempted B&E?)
12. ???
Heh, not a bad list...
And that is just what we know of. He was a busy (bad) boy! :)
Agreed the charges can be read at his execution...I personally believe he has had contact with the trolls, he may have been the person that was involved in the killing of Beldame as well, although can't be proved at this point.
#1&2 might be able to combine into direct acts to subvert the rightful rule of Kardas as well as crimes against the people of Kardas by trying to de-stabilize the realm.
Am out at lunch at the moment but I'll update when I'm home later. Of particular interest to me-
1. Who's the headsman? Akiros has volunteered but jhod would slyly suggesr 'using' ricter in this role.
2. Blindind and deafening a securely bound prisoner could potentially be seen as unecessary abuse, kip has asked the group if he should do this and is still awaiting a response.
3. Varn would express interest in meeting ricter as I don't believe they have been introduced. While you've been busy with affairs of state (grigori), varn and his men have been out in force helping to deal with the aftermath of the owlbear. If kept in the know he offers his hardeded mercenaries aa security. Fenna has been receiving complimentary reports that the men are exceptionally well-mannered and the local people appreciate their efforts (and the abundant coin they appear to be spending).
Agreed the charges can be read at his execution...I personally believe he has had contact with the trolls, he may have been the person that was involved in the killing of Beldame as well, although can't be proved at this point.
Probably best to keep the things we can't prove off the list, it might look bad if it seems we're using his suspected crimes to justify execution.
1 and 2 should probably be skipped too; or it might give the impression that we're acting against the River Freedoms.
4. What have you done/are you doing with baby owlbear?
4. What have you done/are you doing with baby owlbear?
I suggest mushroom stuffing and cranberry sauce..nom, nom.
Regarding the other questions:
I believe the Royal Assassin position also doubles as headsman, so I'd recommend having Sootscale do the honors.
Limiting the list of crimes to stuff we can prove/things that he has confessed is probably best - more than enough to warrant a death sentence anyway.
I have no problems with blinding him - it's not more than what a blindfold does anyway, and thus only becomes relevant if he escapes somehow. Deafening is a bit much, but Casimir hardly cares.
We should probably get around to laying down formal laws sometime soon.
We should probably get around to laying down formal laws sometime soon.
Good call. Ricter will get pretty agitated otherwise.
Also, if the mercenaries are on good terms with the locals we could probably use them to form a perimeter without giving a negative impression.
Perhaps Varn could be present when Ricter goes over the Hellknight offer?
4. What have you done/are you doing with baby owlbear?
Ask Kalev to talk with Kundal if he would be interested in training it for the kingdom, his nam was thrown out earlier.
I think that blinding prisoners is a little extreme for common criminals, but in this case, with Grigori's extraordinary abilities, Malthir isn't completely opposed to it, as Casimir said, it is not much worse than blindfolding him. Making him deaf as well seems to be cruel and unusual and Malthir would be opposed to that.
He is being hanged so its not like we have someone actually beheading him, it is more of the person that pushed him off the crate.
I would not ask anyone else to do a job that I wouldn't do myself. The responsibility for this lies in Malthir's hands as Baron of Kardas. I am fine carrying out the sentence, as I did years ago for the bandits that attacked Oleg...
One other thing, a leather bag will be placed over his head, no point in showing off someone's neck being snapped.
Agreed that the Statkari should start to work on a system of laws for Kardas. Don't know that we need to work them up, I think that Jhod ad the other's can come up with something fair and just and we can help approve them as part of the full council.
Am out at lunch at the moment but I'll update when I'm home later. Of particular interest to me-
1. Who's the headsman? Akiros has volunteered but jhod would slyly suggesr 'using' ricter in this role.
2. Blindind and deafening a securely bound prisoner could potentially be seen as unecessary abuse, kip has asked the group if he should do this and is still awaiting a response.
3. Varn would express interest in meeting ricter as I don't believe they have been introduced. While you've been busy with affairs of state (grigori), varn and his men have been out in force helping to deal with the aftermath of the owlbear. If kept in the know he offers his hardeded mercenaries aa security. Fenna has been receiving complimentary reports that the men are exceptionally well-mannered and the local people appreciate their efforts (and the abundant coin they appear to be spending).
One thing, the timeline seems to have gotten out of wack on this. It should be the moring after he was captured that we got the scrolls and questioned him. Malthir wanted him hanged that afternoon so that the whole affair would be over for dinner so they could talk more with Varn and Ricter.
Kardas can handle its own security. Malthir thanks Varn for the offer but politely refuses. He also thanks him for helping the people. He plns to spend some time doing the same thing after this not so nice event.
Malthir would actualy prefer if his men were not there, other than Varn and a few Key men can be there if they so wish.
In my infinite* wisdom, i've decided I want to map out Castle Swordhaven. What rooms do you imagine it has? From my descriptions so far its slightly raised up on a hill in the centre of Swordhaven, with a small courtyard frequently used to train local militia as you first pass through the gates. I imagine it has 2-3 levels, with the largest room being a feasthall/meeting area for the Guardians. This room would also contain the two thrones, assuming you have thrones.
What other rooms do you imagine there are?
* Sleep deprived and maybe a little insane. Also inspired by the Camelot TV series.