DM Aron Marczylo's Kingmaker - Part 1: Stolen Land (Inactive)

Game Master overfiend_87

"You must have been quite sheltered growing up Carina, for Rostland has many orc tribes and half-orcs and not uncommon there. As for you powers, I would say you show many of the same signs as my brother. There must be orc blood in your past somewhere."

How many days have we been out? I brought 10 days of rations and feed, those I think those have been stretched by hunting or not? I would vote for a direction towards Oleg's at this point, though I'd like to level before we get there.

Actually, the funny thing is that according to the Orcs of Golarian book, there are no Orcs in Brevoy, or none of any note. That is why when Aron selected you and me I knew that there were going to be some hitches in our backgrounds. This is why in my background, my father found me near the Five Kings Mountains which appeared to be the nearest place where orcs lived.

I actually spent much time in the woods hunting with my father, perhaps he simply knew where such tribes lived and chose to avoid them. With a young daughter, I am sure that he did not wish to encounter such monst. . . a tribe. If there were any orcs or half-orcs such as yourself in New Stetven, then I never encountered them, or their appearance was such that I did not realize they were not human.

@ DM Aron - my vote is to hit the one hex NE and then return to Oleg's - if we are close to leveling and should hit 1-2 more hexes for exp, let us know and we can get the 2 to the east as well. Right now, I think that selling what we have collected and resupplying is important

Sorry I'm late, going back a few posts in conversation :)

"Ganit, my friend, you are right. By all the gods of my family how could you start without me, Lukan!" He pulls out his own two mugs and fills them, hoping Ganit will take one from him. If not, he'll drink both himself without complaint. [b]"There is nothing quite like the first ale after a hard fought battle."

He smiles at the rest of his companions and raises his mug cheerfully, "It was exciting, was it not? Finally an enemy to get our blood hot! Bronwyn, you played your favorite role perfectly," he winks. "Carina, your magic is perhaps more powerful than you think... James, that charge of yours to finish off the cursed beast was excellent... and the same to you, Donal! Ganit, your arrows flew as true as always... but Lukan..." He turns to Lukan and his face turns serious. "I am always asking Cayden Cailean to guide our blades, and I believe he was with us today... but I think it is quite obvious Erastil was guiding your hand today. Hopefully Erastil and Cayden can put aside their minor differences and raise a drink together themselves for todays adventure."

Cambyl raises his drink again to Lukan and drains it. He remains quiet for a short while, but then joins the companions in their conversation, comforting Carina in her confusion, singing a song or two with Bronwyn and generally having a merry time.

If we can level before hitting Oleg's, that would be awesome!

Following a couple of ales, Carina is feeling better, but still appears confused and says that she wants to turn in early.

From her tent you hear moans and hear her talking in her sleep:

No - leave me alone . . . I am no orc.

No . . . I will defeat you . . . you are just a dream . . .

In the morning, Carina appears bleary eyed as though she had no sleep and is drenched in sweat. She awakes and goes to the fountain and takes a drink of the healing water after which she appears better, but still has a lost and confused look in her eyes.

Ganit hesitantly accepts Cambyl's mug but waits to drink from it. When he finally does take his first pull from the mug it was shortly after raising it in turn to Lukan's, Bronwyn's and Cambyl's memorial speeches. After letting the group blow off a little steam before getting back to business.

"I take it we're camping here tonight? We should probably make the usual preparations before we lose too much sunlight. The temple itself is well fortified but its a mess, though not far off from sleeping in the dirt. I'll take first watch, the rest of you can work the liquor out of your system before getting back on shifts."

I agree, I'd like to level before getting back to Oleg's. We head north-east first and see what we find. If 20+ years of RPG video games have taught me anything, we may get a little XP for finishing a quest.

After mapping out the area you are confident you can return back to the temple with ease as you have all taken the time to map out of the area. It takes a while to map out the area as it's in the forest not only for the entire day, but you have to spend some of the morning with the mapping before heading north east.

You are still in the forest and see the odd Elk or two before entering here and then begining to map out the area which will take some time. It'll take the entire day and some of the morning to be mapped out.

If you head east you end up in the radish patch. I'll update the map when at Oleg's.

If we do not see anything else, my vote is to head SE and then E to see if we level before returning to Oleg's - logically we should go back from where we are as it is close, and then get the next two hexes on the next scouting mission. Gameplay would say Oleg's, character building says lets do the other two hexes and hope we level, then return.

My vote is two more hexes --> SE then E, then back to Oleg's (unless we level before that).

Carina Stigard wrote:

Good fey, these bigginses of which you speak here in the big walled area, how many cycles march is it to their walled area? We believe that these biggunses in the walled area you spoke of are very evil and seek only to steal from others and have no qualm about hurting others who get their way. It is evil such as this that we seek to eradicate from these lands. If you could help lead us to the biggunses walled area, we would be ever appreciative.

"For us it would be many cycles, but you are on the backs of four-legged bigginses it should not take many. It lies close to the friendly bigginses in the wood." he explains to everyone.

As Carina shows the map, Kah-Et-Kor points south of the patch of radishes.
"Around here. There are many of them always on guard. The wicked lady is the most dangerous." he explains looking up at them. "Down here somewhere are big frogs. Bigger than you bigginses." south-west of the are you found the dead trapper roughly he pauses as he traces a finger and shivered when pointing to another area, south-east of the dead trapper. "Old cave there with some bear. My friend tried to talk to it, but it went mad and killed him. Was a building many years ago and now this...unnatural thing hangs around there." he explains as he looks worried mentioning this place. "Not been any further. We try to keep up here north of the lands."

"Be very careful bigginses. Others have travelled south and never returned. Same for some of us fey." he explains before leaping away with his companions shouting back "Be careful bigginses!" as they dissappear into the darkness of the night.

** spoiler omitted **

I'll wait for Cambyl to post before I do anything, but I'm fairly sure we are VERY close to the bandits. Not sure exactly where they are at, but according to the fey creatures' previous explaination of the area they could quite possibly be in the SE hex. We would be walking into a mess of bandits if we go there... I don't mind killing them now, Lukan is pumped up by his encounter at the temple.

So we didn't find any trace of the grig's friend when we searched the cave/temple area? Unfortunate... I agree with Carina and Lukan, SE -> E -> N -> Oleg's. Probably quicker to cut through the spider's den hex, plains vs forest. I've got enough food and water to last for 4 more days without resorting to survival checks and I'm willing to share with anyone who needs them.

I'm down to 5 rations. I suppose we could all chip in or even kill one of those elks which could feed all of us for a day.

Anyone know how many days out we are? I started with 5 days of grain and 12 days of rations. We had frog legs one day and I have been doing a 50/50 split on the horses grain vs. grass. We are currently in the 11th hex by my calculations, but I do not know if we covered more than one on any of those days.

By my guesstimation, I should be fairly short on both, but not starving and in need of survival skills.

I started with 12 rations and 6 waterskins. The frog legs and fish covered 2 days of food and we went over the river in the dead trapper hex twice to refill our waterskins. I think there were a few cases of cutting through several hexes in a day. We didn't have to explore a few of them so we saved a few hours. By my estimated count it's been ~8 days since we left the outpost. Worst case scenario is a DC 20 survival and half speed travel for a day to feed everyone.

8 days by my calculations too.

"I don't think we need be alarmed, friends, but there are fey around us." He points out two playful fey high in the trees. "If these are all we have to worry about, the fey won't present us with much of a problem."

I started with 10 days of rations and feed. Just tell me what I've used and I will adjust accordingly. I don't mind more exploration. If we find the bandits, we might not want to engage them without a rest at Oleg's, but we can probably handle it.

"Are they the same ones we meet a few days ago?" Ganit asks as he strains his eyes to focus on the fairies above them. "Hmm... That other creature looks vaguely familiar."

Knowledge Nature: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (17) + 4 = 21 To identify the mystery fey. where was this 17 when the bear attacked?

"Are they the same ones we meet a few days ago?" Ganit asks as he strains his eyes to focus on the fairies above them. "Hmm... That other creature looks vaguely familiar."

Knowledge Nature: 1d20+4 To identify the mystery fey. where was this 17 when the bear attacked?

Been keeping track of the days due to Oleg restocking every week and etc and according to this you've been out 9 days. Was day 7 for Oleg when you all left and it's on day 16 so anything you ordered will be available.

Lukan can't make anything out high up in the tree. He shrugs to the others and states, "Guess we should just leave them be? They don't seem interested in us." He continues to stare up into the tree trying to spot the slightest hint at what the others are looking at. "Maybe we should let them know we got rid of the frogs, the bear, and that evil, talking wolf?"

"We should let them know next time they wish to talk, but I imagine they know what goes on around here better than we do."

I step forward and open my hands:
Good forest friends. We mean you no harm. We are traveling through your forest to vanquish evil which would harm you fey or humans. We have met and defeated the cursed bear which lived in the cave a short distance from here. We have slain the giant frogs which endangered those seeking water, and we destroyed a huge talking wolf which would kill and eat any intelligent creature, whether they be fey or man.

We have spoken with your kind before and found friendship with a Grig named Kah-Et-Kor. Likewise we ask for your friendship, not your enmity. If you are so inclined, I as you to break bread with us. If not, we seek only peace and to help make this land safer - for fey and man.

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (12) + 4 = 16

"Hopefully they're not the same creatures that killed that trapper. If they are we should make sure they know we don't want to hurt the forest."

Of course killing that bear probably got the point across.

I step forward and open my hands:

Good forest friends. We mean you no harm. We are traveling through your forest to vanquish evil which would harm you fey or humans. We have met and defeated the cursed bear which lived in the cave a short distance from here. We have slain the giant frogs which endangered those seeking water, and we destroyed a huge talking wolf which would kill and eat any intelligent creature, whether they be fey or man.

We have spoken with your kind before and found friendship with a Grig named Kah-Et-Kor. Likewise we ask for your friendship, not your enmity. If you are so inclined, I as you to break bread with us. If not, we seek only peace and to help make this land safer - for fey and man.

Diplomacy: 1d20+4

The grig and lizard-like creature look down with interest andlistening to what you say before moving a little closer, but still staying 30ft in the air.

"I know of him." squeeked the female grig. "You aren't those nasty bigginses who hurt others, do you?" she asks somewhat curious as to what you are all doing here.

If you mean us bigginses no harm, then we mean you no harm. We only seek to cleanse this land of evil, whether it be man, fey or monster. As I just said, after a long battle we were able to defeat the cursed bear back in that direction. Pointing southwest. We had not passed through this area, so we are now as we return to our home to the north.

Is there anything that we can do to help you? Kah-Et-Kor told us that a bad woman lives behind wooden walls south of here, pointing south, do you know her. Any information you have regarding this bad person would help us deal with her and make sure that she no longer harms or injures fey, or anyone else.

If you mean us bigginses no harm, then we mean you no harm. We only seek to cleanse this land of evil, whether it be man, fey or monster. As I just said, after a long battle we were able to defeat the cursed bear back in that direction. Pointing southwest. We had not passed through this area, so we are now as we return to our home to the north.

Is there anything that we can do to help you? Kah-Et-Kor told us that a bad woman lives behind wooden walls south of here, pointing south, do you know her. Any information you have regarding this bad person would help us deal with her and make sure that she no longer harms or injures fey, or anyone else.

She looks at your curiously, studying you before nodding.

Few more diplomacy checks might make her worth the challenge.

Sorry - I pointed south figuring that our terms and theirs would not have the same meaning, especially after dealing with the last group of Grigs.

Can I make another diplomacy check? I made a 16, didn't think I could try again for 24 hours.

If I can --> Diplomacy1d20 + 4 ⇒ (17) + 4 = 21
Otherwise, will have to wait for Bron, think he is the other one with good Charisma

Here, we have a map on which Kah-Et-Kor pointed where the cursed bear and the giant frogs were. Any evil or bad monsters, fey, or people you know of would be of great assistance to us.

"Creatures of the forest, we mean you no harm. We are searching for an evil woman who hurts your kind. She lives behind walls of wood."

Diplomacy to assist Carina 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (8) + 4 = 12

Sorry - I pointed south figuring that our terms and theirs would not have the same meaning, especially after dealing with the last group of Grigs.

Can I make another diplomacy check? I made a 16, didn't think I could try again for 24 hours.

If I can --> Diplomacy1d20+4
Otherwise, will have to wait for Bron, think he is the other one with good Charisma

Here, we have a map on which Kah-Et-Kor pointed where the cursed bear and the giant frogs were. Any evil or bad monsters, fey, or people you know of would be of great assistance to us.

Whoops, ammendment, the area ther bandits are has no walls, it's a open camp from what you know of what Kah-Et-Kor.

she moves closer as she looks at the map and nods.
"Yes, she and her men are this way." she points to south east. "There are twelve of them, but if you catch them unaware they will be unprepared and half of tem will be out hunting. They have cut down the trees, killed innocent plants just so that they could make a camp to attack innocents."

The other creature moves in now.
"You cleansed the forest by killing the bear? He has found rest at last." he sighs and flies in circles with it's butterfly styled wings. "Wish there was something we can pay you with, besides welcoming you into our forests."

Anything you can do to assist us is appreciated. We wish to make this land safe for man and fey. Our hope is that people will be able to move here to farm and hunt game and to establish a place where all peaceful beings, be they man or fey, can live together in a safe and prosperous land. If you have knowledge of this area, particularly the area around where the evil woman lives with her troops, this would be helpful. At present we plan on returning to our base to the north.

I point north toward Oleg's.

But on our next expedition, we plan on finding and defeating these evil people who would harm innocents, fey and man. If you or your friends could assist us by scouting and finding where evil hunters are, we can defeat them one at a time and greatly decrease the chance that any of us, or any other good being, is harmed.

I cannot speak for my companions, but I believe that if you have any magical items which we could use against these evil people, these we could use as well to protect this land. We can try to compensate you, but I do not know what you would need or want.

"Safe passage and information regarding the surrounding area would be as useful a payment as gold or other such treasures should you feel inclined to reward us." Ganit tells the butterfly winged reptile as he plants the bottom of his longbow into the grass near his feet. "What do we call you?"

Aid Carina's Diplomacy: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (7) - 1 = 6 FAIL!

"Good creatures of the forest. We are happy to aid the good creatures of the forest."

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 3 = 9

"Well, friends. I think we should scout out the bandit's camp. If we can catch them while some are out hunting, we should be a match for them. Or, if we can catch their hunting party unaware we could halve their number that way as well."

Remember, if the good fey help us to find some of them while they are hunting, unless they are individually powerful such as the bear, I can probably put them to sleep. The we can bind and disable them and bring them back to Oleg's to face trial. Taking them out one at a time while they are napping is much less dangerous than face to face - unless you are Bron and enjoy being someone's snack.

"I am with Cambyl, let us take these bandits unaware before they do the same to us. As for having them stand trial, they are bandits. We'll be better served making sure they never trouble honest folk again."

She nods as she listens to Catrina.

"They are down here." she points on the map to a unmapped area south-west of the radish patch and east of your position.[b]"Be careful, they are getting restless and might leave soon."[/b[ she explains simply when looking back to her.

My good fey friend. You know this area much better than us. Would it be possible for one or more of you to accompany us down to the evil bigginses camp and help find some hunters who are away from the camp. You would not need to endanger yourselves and could run if any of the evil people attacked you. But, if you could locate any evil biggins not in the camp so that we could neutralize them before we attack the main camp, it would be greatly appreciated and would help us eliminate this blight from your fair forest.

"I too agree with Cambyl. It would be best to catch the hunting party before going after their camp. We had better move quickly though, it would seem they're aware that the situation at Oleg's has changed and if they're to leave it would most likely be back to the Stag Lord's main camp." Ganit turns to Carina and goes on to say, "If we can capture one of them nonviolently we should interrogate him before doing anything rash. It's become vividly clear that Restov will except nothing less than their blood so dismiss any thoughts of alternative solutions."

Lukan shrugs. "Seems like this would be the best course of action. Although, I would not expect too much success as we would be walking into foreign terrain and we will be up against an indigenous bandit population." He looks to Carina for a second and then back up to the tops of the trees. "Our chances would be considerably better with the aid of some locals."

I nod to Lukan and then look back to the fey:

It appears that I was mistaken. My companions feel that these evil bigginses camped here. Pointing at the hex where the fey just noted the bandits are. Are too great a risk to allow to remain any longer. They fear these evil bigginses must be be stopped now, not later. If there is any way that one or more of you could assist us by helping to scout and show us where the camp is and where the hunters are, it would be greatly appreciated.

Once again, we are not asking you to endanger yourselves by fighting these bad people, just to assist us by scouting so that we can make this land safer for you fey and any people who may move here later.

Let us not forget, my friends, that we already dealt these bandits quite a vital blow. We have defeated six of them before, on Oleg's trading post. I believe those numbers should represent something between a half and a third of their number, no less than that. They wouldn't send few men to not risk Oleg taking the matter into his own hands. If they'd send more than half their number, there would be a good chance those would take the goods to themselves and not return. I believe we should be facing six to ten men at most. And the woman, of course.

"If they're planning on attacking the post we should move on them now, taking out the hunting party first and then the main camp. If we can weaken their forces and then their resolve we should be able to handle a dozen fighters by keeping them divided."

"Well, let us be about it, and let us be quiet." He smiles at the companions.

You have passed the DC for the diplomacy check so you have all reached 2nd level. As discussed in OOC you can choose to roll or take the average on hitpoints.

"The bandits have stopped camping. All twelve are possibly sitting there prepared." the female grig explains as she looks over the group."Beware, they have big towers made of wood, keeping an eye out on everyone."

"Great." Ganit says ironically. "When we find it, we infiltrate their camp at night. Hopefully we'll have a sleepy guard on shift, otherwise the cover of dark will help us avoid detection. I say when we finish here and make our way to that camp. No time like the present, right?"

Congrats everyone!! Thanks for the diplomacy checks Carina/James/Cambyl.

"Let's make haste then, while Erastil favors us."

I assume that we are going to have to sleep to regain spells/abilities? If not, then ignore this colorful post.

Guys, I think that we should get some rest if the fey can watch us, and then head out so that we can catch them unawares at night. If they have lights - campfires or torches - then we will be able to see them and they will not be able to see us as well in the dark. Also, as mentioned, my eyesight is much better at night, I can see almost 90 feet in the dark. Thus, I should be able to cast sleep on anyone in a watchtower before they can see us. Then Ganit can sneak in and either eliminate the enemy or bind them as necessary.

After thanking the fey for their assistance, I will set up my tent and get some sleep so that I am prepared for the night adventure.

Once again the witch doctor is there, but this time there is no battle. Instead he is standing above a smaller orc who is lying cowering on the ground. You are weak and stupid. Today you went with the warriors on a raid and returned empty handed. With that the witch doctor reaches out and strikes the smaller orc and then grabs the small orc by the neck and drags him into a scene of carnage with dead elves and orcs lying about. You may know how to fight and defeat enemies, but any stupid warrior can fight. With this the witch doctor kicks a dead orc lying on the ground. If all you can do is fight, then you shall end up dead like the others and I will not have to waste my time teaching you.
.
The witch doctor grabs the small orc and pull it upright by its head. Look about - while your companions are dead, there is much to be found and learned. Watch. The witch doctor then speaks in his guttural tongue and you see several items glow among the dead bodies. Watch and concentrate says the witch doctor. You then see the glows change, one elvish sword glows brightly and red while a necklace gives off a dull blue glow. Each of these glows shows an item with magical powers, and the color and intensity shows the power and type of magic.
.
Turning back once again to the smaller orc. The witch doctor stares at the smaller orc with a frightening look. YOU WILL LEARN THIS, OR I WILL DESTROY YOU. Begone now and do not return until you have learned what I have taught. The witch doctor then reaches out an smashes the small orc across the face.

You hear a scream and sense Carina jumping up from her rest. When she exits her tent, there is a small amount of blood from a cut on the side of her mouth and a large bruise on her cheek.

Lukan scrambles to his feet at the sound of Carina's screams. The familiar sound of his sword being drawn, scratching against its scabbard echoes through the forest. He charges towards her, looking about for the reasons of her screams.

"Who did this? Where did they run off to!"

Jameson wakes up with a wary start has he has far too often that week. Rubbing his eyes at staring in the direction of Carina's bedroll he mutters with exasperation, "We're going to have to teach her how to scream quietly if we're to get any rest it seems."

With that he rolls back over and goes to sleep again.

I assume that we are going to have to sleep to regain spells/abilities? If not, then ignore this colorful post.

Sure, but there's the rest of the day to go. I assume you wish to spend time here and map out the hex before moving on?

Jameson wakes up with a wary start has he has far too often that week. Rubbing his eyes at staring in the direction of Carina's bedroll he mutters with exasperation, "We're going to have to teach her how to scream quietly if we're to get any rest it seems."

With that he rolls back over and goes to sleep again.

Or you could gag her. I mean if someone snuck into the camp to attack her I'm sure you would all act in time to save her life afterall, right? *evil smirk*

I'd say we go ahead and finish mapping here then go out and challenge Kressel & Co.

YOU SEE FIREWORKS GO OFF - GANIT GETS THE 1000th POST!!!!!!

Looking at Lukan and feeling the side of her face. I apologize - I had another nightmare and was awoken when the orcish witch doctor struck a smaller orc - his apprentice I assume.

Carina then looks at her hand and sees some blood on it. Hmmm - I must have bit my lip or something during the nightmare. I didn't mean to frighten you all. But, if this nightmare was like those in the past, I may be able to discern magical auras about items. Carina stands up, still tentatively feeling her face - as she looks up, she sees Lukan staring at her face. Based upon the way you are staring at me, I am guessing that I have something more than just a bit lip, don't I.

What all do we have for magic or unidentified items at this point?

Yep - map and then move down to banditland. I figure that we should be able to find rations and feed for the horses there since, unless they are all undead, most bandits and bandit horses require some type of sustenance.

"***dammit quite down, both of you! Are you trying to give away our position!? That hunting party can be 100ft away for all we know, not to mention whatever the hell else is stalking around at this hour. Lukan, take the girl back to her tent and wake Cambyl to have him check her out." Ganit pauses for a while then quickly adds, "But be quiet!"

I think Bron has the armor and ring we dug up from the Barbarian Cairn. Those were the only explicitly magic things we found.

After getting the armor and ring from Bron.

Cast detect magic - to determine whether anything else we have is magic

Spellcraft(ring): 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (19) + 6 = 25
Spellcraft(armor): 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (7) + 6 = 13

--> or just take 20 on them if I can, not sure what DM Aron's rule is on this.