A shop and a house, that's 9 BP. Sounds good to me.
Revised look at the Erastus 4708 Steps based on what Berrin said:
(Treasury at 31 BP after Step 4)5. No Change
6. Claim Hex G-13 (-1 BP)
7. G-13 Build Irrigated Farms (-2 BP), Roads (-1 BP)
8. Build House (-3 BP), Shop (-6 BP)
9. No Change (0 Consumption w/ 2nd City Block)
10. Kingdom Event: Jemini's Res failure (-4 BP)
Other. -2 BP for Lebeda Feast (hehe yay)
Treasury at 12 BP going into Arodus 4708
Sanctuary's gross Consumption is now at 2 with the addition of the new city block, -1 for the Bakery, so a net of 1 Consumption. Looking at a 17 Economy and a 14 Stability going into next month with a Control DC of 23 - should pick up another +1 Economy next month with our next road, and +1 Stability with an Edict Change after the next irrigated farms. Stability is going to be a potential problem though until the Castle is built.
Hey would Taisper have told Verik where he was going, and if so would he be inclined to have something crafted or purchased for him? If not that's cool, but just trying to work in a masterwork heavy mace somewhere for later.
He wouldn't have, I'm afraid. Taisper has thrown himself into what he perceives as his role in keeping Newhaven safe, and that requires that only he know exactly what it is he's doing at any given time, and even that's a dodgy prospect. :-p
I think I am sharing a room with the Unibomber 8^0
<_<
*writes manifesto*
>_>
Since you had -1 Consumption, I upped your Promotion to Standard to make your Consumption 0.
1. Starting Treasury: 12 BP
2. Stability: (+1 BP)
3. Consumption: 0 BP
4. Economy (+7 BP)
You now have 20 BP.
5. Leadership: ???
6. Claim Hexes: ???
7. Buildings: ???
8. Hex Improvements: ???
9. Edicts: ???
10. Event: TBD
Since you had -1 Consumption, I upped your Promotion to Standard to make your Consumption 0.
1. Starting Treasury: 12 BP
2. Stability: 1d20+15 (+1 BP)
3. Consumption: 0 BP
4. Economy 1d20+17 (+7 BP)
You now have 20 BP.
5. Leadership: ???
6. Claim Hexes: ???
7. Buildings: ???
8. Hex Improvements: ???
9. Edicts: ???
10. Event: TBD
That's a nice Economy check for us there! Well if we want to continue expanding territory north towards Oleg's, we go for:
6. Claim Hexes: F-12 (-1 BP)
7. Buildings: ???
8. Hex Improvements: Irrigated Farms (-2 BP), Road (-1 BP)
Treasury at 16 BP before any other considerations. Economy is +1 with the 4th Road, and depending on where our Consumption is before Step #9 we might even be able to go 'Aggressive' Promotion for another +1 Stability.
Keep in mind that you're only a few months away from winter, in which the Consumption reduction from farms is reduced by half.
Keep in mind that you're only a few months away from winter, in which the Consumption reduction from farms is reduced by half.
Eesh. Well that means another two months after Aroden before that hits in Neth. The rules state 50% from farms and buildings (Bakery), so we're looking at a BP hit soon, or a pursuit of irrigated farms over these next few months to offset the hit.
The nice thing about the Promotion Edict is that we can change it on any month to offset a perceived Consumption impact before the next month hits (at the expense of Stability though). The Castle is looking better and better, not only for the Stability and Economy bump, but for the 1/2 Consumption cost on Promotion Edicts. That's a long way to 27 BP though now if we're continuing to spend a minimum of 4BP on claiming/developing hexes, not counting buildings.
So maybe we should just push on toward the gold mine and save up the bp's?
Updated Map
Love the map and the icon effects! Only thing though is that I believe our claimed hexes have to shift to the right by one hex :)
Where is everybody? Let's get a move on and get the story moving. I've got big plans!
I honestly apologize for my lack of posts; I need to do a bit more research yet to make sure these Gifts are done just right, and I keep chickening out on those last few Craft checks. I gotta research to find out what trap will best accomplish what I need here so I can have the correct DCs for my rolls, and I just keep not having time to do that. This is a slow week for me, though, with the holiday and all, so I'll be able to get it done soon.
In the meantime, I need that noblewoman's name anyway, so I'll have TS go do that.
Plus Verik is about to make a discovery...
Whatever Taisper's talents, accounting is not one of them, so this would be trivial for a devoted cleric like Verik to spot, I'm thinking. However, he might not instantly know Taisper did it. Two ways he could find out; Topaz Sisters is an anagram of Taisper Stozs, plus the entries are in his handwriting, I'll leave it up to you whether or not you'd recognize it.
Anyway, if Verik discovers this while Taisper is off preparing to send deadly traps to the Lord Mayor and Archbanker, that might be a juicy bit of story, I'm thinking...?
My thoughts are that when it's all said and done, Verik is going to have to come to full terms of what Taisper is as an Inquisitor this year (if and when he discovers it or it is revealed to him), and as long as he is still chosen by Abadar Verik just has to accept it. Of course LG Verik won't find that easy, but it's a good crinkle in his character development to have.
Other things I was thinking between Verik and Taisper to provide that bond to family and sanity:
* Verik is trying to learn Celestial, and has bought some books in Celestial to give to Taisper as an awkward way to teach it to him.
* Verik is trying to get more martial after Stagfall, and would encourage he and Taisper to do morning prayers and exercises whenever he is in Sanctuary.
* Verik was going to put out there that the wife of Nicholas has been asking about him (perhaps she has a job to make ends meet assisting Svetlana).
* If Verik has more understanding of Taisper's "hunts" he may make an enchanted item for him with his own funds (won't cost too much) and present it to him.
So maybe we should just push on toward the gold mine and save up the bp's?
Well it's up to you and the gang, but yeah to me right now it looks like we have a strategic choice of (a) Expand/Develop New Hexes, (b) Save up 27+ BP for Castle and (c) Develop Sanctuary w/ other buildings. At this point I don't think we can manage all three, probably not even two out of three after Aroden. We're going to have to stay lucky on Economy and Stability Checks, but that will be harder the more we expand.
With taking this next F-12 hex in Aroden and developing irrigated farms, we perhaps are at a point where we can put all efforts before the winter months to save up and build the Castle. Maybe grab another hex by the lake if we need it to further reduce consumption through farms or a fishery. Each hex we grab though makes our Control checks harder, and an assumption of spending 4-6 BP on each hex is realistic - I mean claiming a hex is just 1 BP, but what is the advantage of claiming a hex and increasing the Control DC if we don't utilize it somehow? If we just save BP's in Rova and Lamashan and make our checks, we probably would have just enough BP's to get that Castle in before Neth.
DMB: lemme know if you want more clarification on the appearance and goal of Taisper's "Gifts". I've tried to make it clear how they're supposed to work and look and everything, but I'll understand if I didn't quite get across what I was looking for.
Okay, so...
Verik votes for the following:
6. Claim Hexes: F-12 (-1 BP)
7. Buildings: ???
8. Hex Improvements: Irrigated Farms (-2 BP), Road (-1 BP)
9. Edicts: No change
Anyone have any opinions as to what to do for step #7? If not, I'll just have them do nothing for the turn in terms of buildings, saving up instead, and roll for events.
We are going to jump ahead all the way to the dead of winter, the beginning of a new year (4709), so you have the 9th, 10th, 11th, and 12th months to decide what you want to build. (Keep in mind that the 11th through 2nd months are winter, and the reduction in Consumption from farms is halved.)
Okay. I know it's Thanksgiving, but I'll just roll on ahead with the 8th month so that we can get to the 9th.
9. Edicts: Promotion -> Aggressive (Because you have -2 Consumption)
10. Events: (1-75 Event, 76-100 No Event)
1. Starting Treasury: 16 BP
2. Stability: (+1 BP)
3. Consumption: 0 BP
4. Economy 1d20 (+7 BP)
You now have 24 BP.
5. Leadership: ???
6. Claim Hexes: ???
7. Buildings: ???
8. Hex Improvements: ???
9. Edicts: ???
10. Event: TBD
Updated Newhaven's information and corrected the map.
Since we’re sealing the storyline at Erastus to jump ahead into Winter, I wanted to put here the two items that Verik feels he simply must do before the month is out, so that it can be utilized by characters and NPC’s as desired/needed.
Council Revelations About Jemini
Verik will relate to the Council what happened at Stagfall – that he actually saw Jemini’s spirit when no one else could, what he saw her say to him, and what he thinks it means. He recites these words to the Council:
"... to save us all... have to bring... have to return... our hope... warlord... I am returning when..."
Based on that, and on what Tandlara and Berrin told him was said by the Stag Lord at Stagfall (“Choral is Coming”), Verik believes that Jemini may be searching for Choral (heh oops)! Obviously he is unsure on this point, but he has heard Choral defined as the Warlord from Iobaria. He offers instead that maybe she is searching for someone to fight the Warlord Choral, which may make more sense. In any event, he will be unenthusiastically forthright in telling everyone that Vinodragov was not to blame for Jemini’s resurrection failure. He will not be deterred from the fact that some of them may think he’s seeing things and is crazy.
He will also make a request that should they discover Clerics of Abadar in Newhaven who have not formally presented themselves to Verik as is Abadaran custom, they are to be arrested and sent out of the territory by way of the Trading Post.
Sending Correspondence to Absalom
Verik heads to Restov (either with Corwin or with a couple of trusted men from Akiros and Kesten) to contract with a merchant caravan who is heading down the Sellen – either to Taldor, Andoran or Absalom. He will not reveal the fact that he is a Cleric of Abadar, but he won’t lie about it if pressed either. He’s looking for merchants that run the trade routes and aren’t native to Brevoy. He’ll pay a good price for his correspondence to get it to a Bank of Abadar – final destination is Absalom but he thinks the Bank at Cassomir could proxy his letter if needed. He addresses it to his former commanding Banker (Ramuel Lorrell) who ordered him to go on the mission in the first place.
In it, the lengthy letter details out both his and Taisper’s success in bringing order to a portion of the Stolen Lands since they obtained the Charter and founded Newhaven, touches on the violence and insecurity of the Stolen Lands, and (of course) details the recent charges by the Archbanker against Taisper and his politics to take over the Church in Newhaven. He makes veiled references to Taisper’s “special status” and suggests Taisper’s “trainers” should know that he is being accused of Asmodean heresy, and that it puts Verik in an awkward position. Verik requests a mediator and states boldly that while he will accept the judgment of Banker Lorrell and the Archbankers of Absalom who know and sent them, he will not accept any ruling by Vinodragov or those allied to him in Brevoy. He concludes that if they rule his actions as just, he needs assistance in the form of clerks and materials to build and maintain a proper Bank in Newhaven.
Wrapping up the encounter with Emma I prefer to just fade to black in the bed chamber (this site is children friendly after all) but if she lingers in Newhaven Berrin will continue seeing her, I'm thinking she'll become a familiar face around the 'castle' as Berrin's consort or even girlfriend. The sleight of hand and bluff's checks tell me she's not on the level in the slightest bit but Berrin will be falling in love nevertheless.
At Verik's revelations Berrin will support the cleric as he can only asking that he keep the council up to date.
So, kingdom building... 24 BP? So close, yet so far.
I say we keep pressing for the gold mine and saving up for the castle, if we could actually manage it in the next couple of months it would provide a refuge for nearly the whole populace during winter (yay stability, loyalty and economics bonus) but if we're earnestly worried about consumtion then maybe claiming a square by the waters and building a fishery would be our best course of action.
I have quite a few plans for Berrin's new female companion. Alllll right!
I played through the year on Varnhold, your sister settlement. Varn is a cautious guy, so I played rather conservatively, but they're doing well. They're spending the winter doing basically nothing in terms of expansion or building.
DMB, any chance Taisper will be able to get news about whether his Gifts were successful in any way? Like I said IC, he'd know there was no chance of killing V or the Lord Mayor, and that wasn't his goal, but it would be cool to know if the gifts even got to them or were opened by underlings, or what. :-)
So here are a couple of different ways to simulate out the next two months (Rova and Lamashan 4708) with the objectives on expansion and Castle building.
Objective: Expansion North/Northwest, then Build Castle
Claim E-12, Build Farms, Road (-4BP)
No other development (0BP)
Going into Lamashan 4708:
Control DC25, Treasury 20BP
Stability Success: 55% (9+ roll needed, 1 BP would be gained)
Economy Success: 65% (7+ roll needed, 5 BP would be gained)
Economy Success to add 6BP: need 12+ roll
Economy Success to add 7BP: need 17+ roll
No hexes claimed (0BP), build Castle (-27BP)
So we’d need a very lucky roll to just get enough BP to build the Castle (just making both Control checks will leave us 1BP short), and then we’d blank out our Treasury – which would be problematic as we will have some level of Consumption starting next month (Winter) – probably 2-3 BP Consumption!
Other Rova option is to claim E-12 hex BUT only build Farms OR Road OR neither, saving up a little more BP to make the Castle build more feasible in Lamashan.
Bottom Line: If we get really lucky on rolls we can manage both, but it will be really tight and we’re going to eat some Consumption.
Objective: Only Build Castle before Winter
No hexes claimed (0BP)
No other development (0BP)
Going into Lamashan 4708:
Control DC24, Treasury 24BP
Stability Success: 60% (8+ roll needed, 1 BP would be gained)
Economy Success: 70% (6+ roll needed, 4 BP would be gained)
Economy Success to add 5BP: need 7+ roll
No hexes claimed (0BP), build Castle (-27BP)
So still some good luck needed, but it’s much more in the realm of possibility. Consumption is still going to be an issue, but we should have enough BP to cover for the next month and then can decide if we try to expand again, store up more BP, etc.
Bottom Line: If we get marginally lucky on rolls we can build the Castle, but we’ve effectively stopped expanding until that gets done.
Looks like can miss two or three months of claiming hexes and still make it to the Mountain before Gozran 4709 (Taxfest and 1st Stagfall Anniversary), as it is 4-5 hexes away depending on the route we take (either through Oleg’s and Stagfall or through two forest hexes). We have to anticipate that claiming the Mountain will mean our Control DC is at 28 or 29, so our Stability/Economy has to be up there.
Also, we're going to need to fill that final Leadership slot if/when we start getting Unrest.
Oh, Taisper, you'll find out. I wouldn't let such a juicy plot thread go unused.
Changing Berrin to Economy and reducing all three edicts to token Promotion, light Taxation, and no Festivals would give +18 Economy, +10 Loyalty, +14 Stability, while bringing winter Consumption down to 1.
Changing Berrin to Stability and changing the edicts to standard Promotion, normal Taxation, and 1 Festival would give +18 Economy, +11 Loyalty, +16 Stability, while bringing winter Consumption to 3.
Leaving things as-is would be +18 Economy, +12 Loyalty, +16 Stability, and a winter Consumption of 5.
You guys need Jemini's Charisma!
I need to know what you build so I can write the narrative accordingly. Everybody weigh in, if just to agree on a proposed plan of action.
I vote for sim #2 and Barcas's suggestion #2; Hunker down and save up to build the castle before winter and changing Berrin to stability and changing edicts to standard promotion, normal taxation and 1 festival.
Akiros and Kesten vote for a castle. Jhod vehemently votes against it. Svetlana would like to wait until more housing is made available for the coming immigrants. Oleg grimaces at the cost.
That leaves 3 votes against, 4 votes for, with 2 votes (Tandlara and Corwin) outstanding. Corwin, I imagine, would vote for a castle, bringing it to a majority. We have a decision!
1. Starting Treasury: 12 BP
2. Stability: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (12) + 15 = 27 (+1 BP)
3. Consumption: 0 BP
4. Economy 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (18) + 17 = 35 (+7 BP)
You now have 20 BP.
5. Leadership: ---
6. Claim Hexes: ---
7. Buildings: ---
8. Hex Improvements: ---
9. Edicts: ---
10. Event:
-->
----> Increased Efficiency: Oleg works out a system to throw a festival for the people at little to no cost by means of a modest one-time tax. (This has the effect of reducing Consumption by 1, allowing one month worth of +1 Loyalty by increasing Festivals.)
1. Starting Treasury: 20 BP
2. Stability: (Unrest +1)
3. Consumption: 0 BP
4. Economy: (+7 BP, +2 Critical)
You now have 29 BP. Unrest is reduced by 1.
5. Leadership: Berrin -> Economy
6. Claim Hexes: ---
7. Buildings: Castle (-27 BP)
8. Hex Improvements: ---
9. Edicts: Aggressive Promotion (Cost is reduced to 2 by Castle), Normal Taxation, 1 Festival
10. Event: None
1. Starting Treasury: 2 BP
2. Stability: (+1 BP)
3. Consumption: -3 BP
4. Economy: (+7 BP)
You now have 7 BP.
5. Leadership: ---
6. Claim Hexes: ---
7. Buildings: ---
8. Hex Improvements: ---
9. Edicts: ---
10. Event:
-->
---->
----> Stability
------> Plague Outbreak: The influx of settlers and the onset of winter has begun to take its toll. However, between Verik, Jhod, and Tandlara, the worst of the effects do not cause a widespread sickness.
1. Starting Treasury: 7 BP
2. Stability: (+1 BP)
3. Consumption: -3 BP
4. Economy: (+4 BP)
You now have 9 BP.
5. Leadership: ---
6. Claim Hexes: ---
7. Buildings: ---
8. Hex Improvements: ---
9. Edicts: ---
10. Event:
-->
---->
----> Stability:
-------> Criminal Activity: A group of bandits and thieves has appeared in Sanctuary. However, they meet a rather grisly end when Taisper, Alexius, Zander, and Corwin hunt them down in their newly growing city. Several prisoners were taken, and brought to the castle for judgment.
Well, there we have four months of activity! It is now the first month of 4709, and winter is in the air!
Go Team Justice!
Was going to vote #2 and #2 so that works out. Sorry on the late vote, was traveling this weekend. I think the castle is important for the long term, so it is good to get that out of the way.
I have to say that while all the rolls didn't land our way, the Economy rolls certainly did and we were pretty fortunate on some of this -- yay for Castle! Those Economy and Stability Checks look real nice right now - just in time too for that last Economy check roll. Consumption isn't great, but it seems like it isn't supposed to be for Winter months, and we should be ready to expand again soon with a little more BP. I didn't know Berrin could change his Leadership to Stability from Loyalty, so that seems to fit much better for us right now (especially with two Kingdom Events hinging on Stability checks).
Pretty good events to role-play with the disease outbreak and the criminal activity that was snuffed out!
Yeah, but we need to get moving along in the timeline. This is a game that lasts for years and years in-game, so we can't stop at every interesting juncture. Just the big ones.
Oh yeah I get that certainly - just thinking more about the way the characters can incorporate that into their backstory. Of course the new story has quite an interesting dilemma on that point - a dozen slain and prisoners to judge - wowzers!
Hey Taisper I had a thought on starting Verik and Taisper together at the makeshift "Church" early that morning with something on the lighter side before the judgment event at the Castle, but didn't want to presume - okay if I run with that for a starting point?
I'll post something for Tandlara and Corwin if they want a starting point. If not, guys, feel free to jump in wherever you are ready!
Since the discussion sort of died off without any objections, I'm going to go ahead and assume that Verik's crafting plans were approved.
Adding the circlet and the amulet to my sheet, I'm also buying winter clothes, a nobles outfit, a signet ring and jewelry for 150 gp.
Since the discussion sort of died off without any objections, I'm going to go ahead and assume that Verik's crafting plans were approved.
Well if you guys are good with the plans from awhile back I'll make the goods and RP that in - not sure what Spellcraft Checks I'd need to make but I read in the early OOC that Taking 10 was allowable possibly.
I have to brush up on what we all decided but it perfectly makes sense that Verik would have done Berrin's amulet and the Charisma Circlet first. I figure Verik could be making a couple items a month in Winter, assuming he's getting materials and masterwork-fashioned items in from somewhere - probably Restov.
Great post by the way Berrin - I couldn't agree more with the visuals of the Castle over the growing town and the way you described the amulet and the circlet with Tandlara and Verik. Great stuff.
Just be thankful there is no nobility involved! The customs of justice are very elaborate in Brevoy when it comes to the nobility.
Can I just drop Taisper in someplace or would that not make sense? Obviously, as a non-member of the council, he probably shouldn't even be there, but if there's a gallery, or if he could act as court stenographer (or Golarion equivalent), he'd do that. Essentially he needs to work to maintain his non-disguise of anonymity and obfuscation, but he also would want to see this go down, even if just to watch how his cousin Judges.
Taisper is actually a member of the Council, as the Assassin (unofficially, and unbeknown to the others). As for the trial, he can definitely watch. There is a public gallery, and a number of members of the audience. He can probably use subtle means to influence the actions of the Council members. (Using Bluff to send secret messages.)
Working on Verik's post ASAP (just couldn't get it done right before work).
Aight, cool, dropped TS in there.
Fine work on the courtroom posts, Verik!
Here, Here, Verik. Just because Zander did not approve of your prosecution it does not mean that I didn't.
DM I am very sorry for lack of posting. I've had a number of significant work and personal issues that have vastly cut down the time I have had available for games and indeed anything generally. I've tried several times and badly failed to muster the time and attention this game deserves and have barely kept the game I run going. I feel very bad about that and must have come across as unreliable which I regret as well as you and the other players deserve better.
While the worst of it is over I'm looking at far less free time than I used to have and accordingly I'm going to have to drop out. I apologise again. I know you wanted decent replacements after people vanished and I've been nit much better. Your games are great and I hope to continue reading them when things get more normal.
Thanks! Yeah it almost sounds like Verik knows something about something with law and trials there :)
You think Tandlara will make a return at some point?
I spoke to Eoin a few days ago, and he said that he would try to post during the Christmas break from school.
Corwin, I appreciate the input you've had for the game. I will continue Corwin's story as an NPC. If he's still alive and you want him, just say the word!
Once again I find myself both fascinated and thoroughly creeped out by Taisper's internal dialogue hehe.
Well this should be interesting with Grigori - something tells me there's a whole lotta 'not good' coming our way soon.