DM Barcas - Kingmaker: New Beginnings (Inactive)

Game Master Isaac Duplechain

Walthon helps pull Taisper up from the ground. "Don't worry about it. We'll just try again."

Longsword vs. Taisper (nonlethal) 1d20 ⇒ 11

Without warning, he swings again in the same fashion. This time, Taisper dodges out of the way in time and returns a good swing in return. After a few moments, the Captain and the inquisitor are in a steady rhythm of exchanging attacks. They slowly speed up until they are nearly at full speed. Despite being unfamiliar to each other's fighting style, both of them do a good job of predicting and counterattacking. After a few minutes, the Captain calls a halt. "Well done! You'll be a good soldier yet. Just no more going easy on you!" He is breathing hard and sweating from exertion, as is Taisper. The surrounding guards clap politely for the show of their new addition.

Tandlara watches over Verik, guiding him when she needs to, occasionally slightly readjusting his hand with a gentle touch, but she is little needed as the cleric grows in confidence, and she stands nearby, helping in increasingly smaller ways, a genuine smile on her features, like that of a proud mother shapes her face.

The matrix is expanded and bound, the runes glowing and adjusting, with the clerics blood and chanting stabilising and shaping the magic in truth. All the while she senses power building in the item, and happily acquisces to fetch Taispar.

She returns with the sweaty young man, just finished some martial training or other and he is lead to Verik to near complete the ritual.
Zander will be happy, hopefully this gift will give him some peace.

Jemini carefully studies Taisper's actions as he practices with Walthon. She had seen flashes of his fighting methods before, on their adventures, but now was the first time she could actually study his rhythm, the way his offense and defense flowed back and forth. Formidable, but there's something different - in our battles he usually has a different fighting spirit, something akin to determination made physical and manifest. I wonder...

After shoveling the last of Svetlana's breakfast into his mouth, Zander sets down his bowl and stretches, "That was great Svetlana. Thanks so much."

Standing up from the table, Zander heads back to the guest house to finish up his map and spots Verik's crafting supplies on the table. 'Will this headband really work? How will I use it, I wonder? Can I just think of any face and make it my own? I don't even know for certain what my face should look like... I mean, I suppose I can guess it out from the parts that aren't as scarred up?' Still staring at the tools, Zander does his best to piece together an unscarred version of his face in his head, running possibilties through his mind's eye, 'Should I have hair? Maybe a beard? Or a moustache? No, probably best to keep it simple. How real will this look? Will people be able to tell there's something off?'

His concentration is interuppted as Verik comes into the room. Zander quickly grabs up his supplies and smiles at the priest, "Hey Verik, I was just grabbing my mapmaking stuff. I'll clear out and let you get to work." Not waiting for a reply, Zander darts out the door and looks for a suitable place to work on his map - not an easy task nowadays; it seems that the Trading Post is getting busier by the day. Keeping his head low and doing his best to smile at the curious looking strangers he passes, Zander begins the long walk across the crowded courtyard. 'They're all looking at me...'

He hears Jemini call his name, but gives her only the briefest of waves before ducking into the storage shed, shutting the door behind him. Exhaling deeply and lighting a lantern, he lays the maps out on a low bench and sets to work.

Some Time Later

Emerging from the shed with his completed maps in hand, Zander is pleased to see that the afternoon crowds have cleared out and only a few people he doesn't know are milling about the courtyard. Holding his map out before him as he absently walks back to the guest house, he makes for the door and nearly bowls over a beautiful elven woman standing near the doorway. Stumbling over his words, he lowers his eyes and stammers "Oh umm, sorry miss, I err didn't see you there." Raising his eyes cautiously, he looks up to the elf's face, thankful for his mask covering his reddened cheeks. As he makes eye contact with the woman, he nearly drops his maps in surprise. "Tandlara? I, um, I didn't recognize you."

'I am a bit of a sight,' she smiles at the man, and rests a hand gently on his arm.

'We're just about finished your magical disguise. So in a little while no-one will recognise you! If you'd like that.' She gives him an warm, uncanny smile.

'Verik, dear, are you almost finished in there?' turning back to Zander she adds, 'He's well able to handle the whole process himself, I was barely needed in truth. One would never beleive he hadn't done this before, or at very least practised in private.'

Taisper hangs around for a bit after sparring, just to test his conditioning if nothing else, and is happy he's able to at least keep up with the more experienced soldiers through the entirety of their workouts, sparring with multiple people. It's exhausting, but completely worth it in his mind, and the tactical knowledge will prove beneficial in a real fight, one where the Hammer of the Lawgiver is expressed through his hands, and the Master's will is with him.

Having completed this and having assisted his cousin, he heads to the guest house and digs around in his things for a while. Afterward, he heads into the woods, speaking briefly with the guards on his way out. "Just taking a little walk, guys. I've got my weapons and everything and I won't be gone long, just wanna cool down a bit after all that!"

"Oh wow Tandlara! That looks so good on you." Jemini has trouble resisting reaching out and touching the elf's hair, after a few seconds she gives in to temptation. "What's Riddleskin think of it? Or is he lost and confused about where his mistress went?"

Verik nods, "Yes almost there, hang on..." He lifts the headband now stitched back together and emblazoned with a golden V followed by a tiny golden key on the back, and heads out of the room. From the other side of the doorway his voice can be heard saying, "Shift!".

Then Jemini steps into the room wearing a white angelic looking dress, "Verik do this! Everyone else do that!" "She" says loftily, in a high pitched exaggeratedly aristocratic imitation of Jemini's voice winking. "Shift!

Then Taipser stands there jogging on the spot, and still wearing the white dress "I judge this to be surprisingly comfortable!" He says winking again. "Shift!"

Then Tandlara herself. "Yes, that Verik's a genius! I burn I pine, I perish!". Another wink, and then, "Shift!"

And Berrin stands there still in the dress - although it is now pink and showing some signs of straining. "Dammit Bessie?! What did you do with my clothes!" He growls in a deep gruff voice.

Then Verik removes the headband returning to normal and handing it to Zander with a grin. "Okay so it won't do voices, you need to handle that yourself, but I don't think that should generally be a problem for what you want. Try it - command word is just shift, I figured that was easy to remember and does not come up too much in normal conversation... Just picture what you wnat to look like when you give the command word, it can do any clothing, but you need to be sure that you stay within ina foot of your own height, and girth. So you probably cannot look convincing as a halfling or a small child, for example."

Survival: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (14) + 7 = 21

Taisper is whistling casually to himself as he walks a bit up the road, but then gets quiet as soon as he's out of site of the guards and ducks into the woods. Taking his time, he covers his tracks and takes great care not to damage the brush. After a bit of looking, he locates a spot where only an experienced tracker would be able to find him, or someone extraordinarily lucky.

nary a difference

He sets his shield down in easy reach, leaving his morningstar on its little belt hook, and then, after stripping to the waist, kneels on the forest floor. From his belt he pulls out the little wire flail he pulled from his belongings.

man i haven't had to use this in...since...oh man has it been that long wow, not since i came here, if this is my first true acknowledged failure then wow must be overdue anyway...

He didn't want Verik or any of the others to see or know about this, not because he was ashamed -- quite the opposite, really -- but since he wasn't sure how well-known some Branch practices were and the last thing he wanted was a lecture. He does a quick bit of math in his head...

let's see 20 for being caught unprepared and 10 for not knowing my terrain so 30

...and begins to flagellate himself, hard, the wires raising welts on his bare back but no blood. It took rather a lot to draw blood with a tool such as this. Wasn't the point really. The point, as Taisper well knew, was to focus the lapsed mind. Make the hesitant and weak-willed realize the error of their ways off the battlefield so they could correct their behavior and be more effective on the battlefield. It was a Kuthite practice made pure and useful -- their decadent ways turned to acts of good. There was even a lopsided little rhyme he made up for himself that he murmured in his head as the wires cracked against his body:

With every lash
feel the pain of failure
with every welt
learn and gain stature

Taisper at first dreaded this punishment when he was in hunting school until he learned its purpose and taught himself that rhyme to keep focus. ...and Master Hunter Zik was so proud. He never admitted it but I could tell... Keeping true to form the youngster goes back over Walthon's initial attack. Why it worked. Why he fell. What his mental state was. Where his focus was -- or in this case wasn't. Every aspect. In reviewing the failure he learns more about his own blindspots, and moves to erase them, moves to increase his effectiveness and efficiency.

Attachments. Distractions. I was warned. Again I did not listen sufficiently well.

He's so clear-headed when he finishes that he almost regrets having to stop, but stop he does. The lashing is just a tool, and addiction to a tool is still addiction, still a crutch. So he stops. But he takes advantage of his clear-headedness to think of the group, to think of his purpose here as he understands it. As it has been explained to him. He thinks of Verik's and Jemini's words about religion and goodness, Zander's words of friendship. Berrin and Tandlara speaking of community and brotherhood from their own perspectives, offering advice from their experience.

He thinks of the Judged and the living, and why each are as they are. He thinks of Kressle in her little prison-palace, and poor Nicholas, Nicholas, and Ilyana, having to see that. He thinks of this "Ayles" person, whoever he may be.

What is right is not always law.
He thinks of Nicholas, Jr., his tiny hand in his, and of his mother and father
What is right is not always law.
He thinks of Orlivanch. It still hurts, but he does it.
What is right is not always law.
What is right is not always law.
What is right.
What is right.
What is law.
What is law.

Jemini relaxes the time away. She's content, right now, that things are going well. She sits in the middle of Oleg's and observes the hustle and bustle with a happy expression. She doesn't even shoo away Reggie when he comes and wags his tail at her - but the not-quite-dog gets bored after a minute and runs off again, alighting on the more exciting prospect of hunting frogs with little Nicki.

Riddleskin climbs up on the bench beside Jemini and curls up but keeps his eyes open, and darting around him, watching the shape-changing Verik with a wary rodent scowl, his nose twitching.

Tandlara smiles at the cleric. 'Very good, you did well today. Your well able to handle yourself now, though I'm glad to help in future if you want.'

'So Zander, have you decided what you would like to look like?' the elf peers into the man's eyes as she asks, almsot as if searching for something.

'Don't be afraid to use this magic to show, rather than hide who you are.'

Jemini lets Riddleskin perch in her hand while she scratches softly behind his ears. "What are they doing, Riddleskin? huh? Messing with things? You just trust your nose, you'll be fine," she murmurs to him as she watches the spectacle.

Zander delicately accepts the newly crafted headband and stands staring at it for a moment. 'So this is it. This is what I've been wanting. It's not a permanent cure, but with this I can lead a normal life... or I guess as normal a life as one can lead in these parts...' Reaching behind his head, Zander unlaces his mask and pulls it off of his face. Holding the mask in his left hand and the headband in his right, he smiles to himself and lets the mask drop to the floor.

As he looks around the room at his companions, he ties the headband around his forehead. Taking a deep breath, he closes his eyes and concentrates on a face.

'Don't forget where you came from'

In his mind, he sees himself as he is now. The image blurs.

'to show, rather than hide...'

His face comes back into focus, the heavy scarring on his left side has smoothed itself away, giving his face a sense of symmetry he hasn't seen in himself since he was a boy.

'Don't forget where you came from'

The scarring around his chin and eyes recedes back into his skin and his nose cartilage reshapes itself outward into a normal shape.

'...who you are.'

His scalp smoothes itself out and the small patches of hair begin to spread over his skull, crowning his new face with a golden blonde head of hair.

'High Above'

Opening his eyes, he holds the image in his head and calls out, "Shift!" Almost instantly, Zander's visage changes from the scarred, twisted monstrosity he's hated all of his life to the face of the image in his mind. His face. His true face. The face of Zander Orlovsky.

I'm thinking Jemini and anyone else with ranks should probably get a Knowledge Nobility check to see a resemblence here.

Zander that was awesome!

As Zander changes Verik smiles, its not perfect, but it will do for now, and hopefully Zander will take comfort in it.

After handing over the headband Verik does a little more pondering before dinner sketching out a few ideas. He is fairly quiet while they eat and then heads off to compose a dozen of letters, one for each of the nearest centers of Abadarian worship, and one for his own order in Absalom.

3. An architect to ensure the Church is resplendent and serves as an aspirational center piece at the heart of this new outpost of civilization. Hopefully to stay on and help with the construction of an ascetically pleasing town.

Let's hope they use the same dictionary as Verik ;)

Jemini smiles all the way as Zander prepares his metamorphosis; but the moment his appearance changes her expression becomes frozen.

"I... will be back in a bit."

She makes for a little stream that runs by Oleg's, not too far off. She wordlessly waves to Walthon not to worry as she exits the gate. Finally at the water she sits down, her head sunken between her knees.

Zander that was awesome!

Thanks :)

EDIT:

Tandlaras face becomes alive with a truly wide smile as Zander changes, her green eyes seem to glow with approval and pride. She hugs the changed man as Jemini runs off.

'You are you, Zander, that was a very hard thing to do. Well done. I told you that we would all grow to see the man you truly are,' she smiles and stands back, giving Zander time to revel in his new form and to allow the others to say what they would to the man.

"So where are we heading next? We could visit the Boggards and try to befriend them, I have a spell which should do the job now, enabling one of them to speak common fluently, although I will need to touch it - which might prove troublesome..."

After resting a bit more and enjoying the quiet of the woods and the stillness of his mind, Taisper begins heading back down the road to the outpost, whistling as he goes.

I don't presume Taisper's (or anyone's, for that matter) presence will be of interest to Jemini at the moment, but if she's anywhere near the road she'd hear the inquisitor strolling back.

Oleg spots the newly-changed Zander and grunts approvingly. "Hrm. Probably want to tell the guards so they don't shoot you as a stranger." Despite his no-nonsense words, he appears fairly happy for Zander's new appearance.

Assuming that the stream isn't entirely out of the way, Taisper can probably make a perception check for her. She's not actively hiding - but she's not really making herself noticed either.

Jemini whiles away the time at the stream, oblivious to the world she's lost in thoughts of her own.

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 2 = 7

Zander excitedly accepts Tandlara's hug and is so distracted that he hardly notices Jemini's exit. Nodding along with Verik's suggestions, he agrees, "That sounds fine to me Verik. Don't forget we still have that mountain to chart though. Hey, have you seen Taisper or Berrin? I want to show them the new me."

Survival: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (8) + 7 = 15
Perception: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (7) + 8 = 15

On his way back, Taisper slows down as he notices fresh tracks on the road and a bit of crushed underbrush off to his right. Curious, he pulls his shield off his back and readies it, then peers into the woods. He can see that a little ways in someone is sitting by the creek. He's about to go in after them when he stops to consider. Last night he came to these woods for some quiet and it helped him rather a lot, enough that when Nicholas, Jr. came to find him he was able to actually be helpful. Today, he has done something similar. In both cases, it was his ability to be left alone for a while with his thoughts, to meditate, that allowed him to reagain composure and balance, to recall his place and duty in the world.

It would, he realizes, be horribly rude to deny others the same use of these woods simply because he was curious. Whoever was in there came from the trading post so was likely not a threat anyway, and it also seems very likely they came to be alone.

Taisper lowers his shield and nods to himself, then slings the slab of metal onto his back as he resumes whistling, and continues to the trading post.

Peace of the vault and calm of the Master to you, my friend. I'm willing to bet you need it.

After a long day Verik eventually heads to bed, tired but satisfied. Before everyone sleeps he says,

"Right, so we go to see the Boggard tomorrow and then do some exploration close to Oleg's before heading back well in time for Taxfest - a couple of days before ideally. Is everybody okay with that? I'll need to prepare my spells in the morning so I would like to know now."

8 Gozran 4708

With everyone in agreement with Verik's plan, the expedition gets to bed early in order to get sufficient rest for their trip. The boggard's lair is at least two days away, longer if they finish the exploration of the mountains to the southwest of Oleg's. With Taxfest in just 7 days, they should return from the round trip back to Oleg's on the 14th or 15th of Gozran.

Dawn arrives on the adventurers in the guest house. The weather is fantastic, cool but sunny. It feels like a great day to begin a trek into undiscovered territory.

"Er, has anyone seen Zander? I ate with Ilyana and Nicholas, Jr., and then was working on parrying with Captain Waltham afterwards. I figured he was just out and about but I haven't seen him yet this morning and I'm starting to worry. What. Why are you guys looking at me like that? Why are you laughing? Hahahaa, come on is there a joke? I love jokes. What am I missing, here?"

Tandlara rises early, and gathers her equipment and gear for the journey. She then goes to talk to Oleg, for perhaps the first time to two have ever shared words.

'Dawn is past, human. It is a lovely day is it not? I would like to order some scrolls of an arcane variety if that is acceptable?' She smiles her unnerving smile, her eyes remianing placid and unmoving, her mouth just barely curving.

She's going to order a scroll of comprehend languages and a scroll of unseen servant.

After her conversation with Oleg she goes and saddles up Avansatra, returning to the group ready to travel, she grabs some bread to eat as she rides.

Jemini returned before evening the prior day. She seems back to her usual self and is well impressed with Zander's new look. The next day she's up bright and early, laughing with the rest of the crowd at Taisper's slip-up. She takes in a double-helping of Svetlana's hearty breakfast - figuring that even though Tandlara and Berrin make good food; there's going to be a few days without Svetlana's delicious fair.

Oleg takes Tandlara's request in stride, though he is visibly uncomfortable with her strangeness. "Might take a while. Most merchants have more mundane items. I'll see what I can do."

Waking with the sun Berrin walks out to the tables and plods down to another hearty breakfast by Svetlana. Looking around the gathered group he pauses at the unfamiliar face seated with them, not that companie wasn't welcome, it was just unexpected. Studying the stranger as he eats Berrin tries to pick up on hints from the conversation, suddenly he stops dead with his spoon half-way to his mouth as he recognizes the strangers equipment. "Zander? That you? Well I'll be.. I knew Verik was working on somthing for you, but hells man. You look good."

"Let's head out - we can't be that far off from the boggards and with a bit of luck we can be back in 3 days or so. Or don't you mind Verik? I imagine you will want to get your organizer fetish a good workout."

As breakfast finishes and everyone is gathering to go, Taisper finds Zander. "Berrin's right. You look great! Does it feel like...well, anything? I would suppose not. That's real neat, though, and so you can look like just anybody basically? Man now you can be a spy! You can infiltrate the Stag Lord's lair!" It's obvious Taisper's not entirely serious, but is at least curious about the possibility.

I think I'm a little confused with sequence of events here, but I guess Zander turned in real early and no one saw him until the next day.

Zander laughs along with the others at Taisper's confusion and thanks Berrin for his compliment, "Thanks big guy. I can hardly believe it myself!" Turning back to Taisper, he gives the inquisitor a sly wink, "It's me Taisper! Verik finished my headband last night. I wanted to show you guys, but I couldn't find anybody around so I just headed to bed early. Pretty great, huh?"

After Breakfast

Zander pauses a moment at Taispers suggestion. "You actually might be onto something Taisper. I don't know if I have the gusto to pull of a very convincing disguise... but..." His head snaps towards the makeshift prison building and then back towards the breakfast table where the others are discussing their next moves, "You're a genius Taisper, come on," Grabbing Taisper by the sleeve, Zander rushes over to the breakfast table and sits down next to Verik. "Guys, Taisper just came up with a plan to get us into the Stag Lord's fort! What if we use this headband and one of us pose as someone who could come and go as they please from the fort?" Looking across the table at Jemini, Zander cracks a grin, ""Jemini, I have a feeling this idea is going to be pretty repulsive to you, but... what if you posed as Kressle?"

0_o El! Oh! El! That is so awesome.

"...G-genius? Me?" Taisper gladly allows himself to be led back, completely overcome with curiosity at what Zander has in mind. When the archer makes his suggestion, Taisper's jaw drops. "Wh-...she...but...I...oh WOW!"

"hmmmmm... I think I am okay with the deception to infiltrate the headquarters, but there's a high risk that I might see something, or be required to do something, that I couldn't just let slide." Jemini weighs some thoughts in her head, "I suppose it might work theoretically. But I wouldn't recognize anybody nor know whatever current password might be needed. So what purpose would the risk serve? The only thing I can imagine is trying to find Nicholas there and luring him out to safety. What is the alternative? We try to make our way in and lay lo those that don't surrender?"

"Well, hopefully the deception wouldn't need to go that far. Really it would probably just get us inside where we could spring our surprise. We could always question Kressle on the last password she knew if they have a system like that set up?"

"The only other method I could see would be a frontal assault and that doesn't seem like a very good idea. Also, I seriously doubt that anyone is going to surrender to us. The Stag Lord is an established power in the area and probably has many men loyal to him. We can't pull any punches on this one."

Discussing potential attack plans for the Stag Lord's fort, the expedition sets out from Oleg's. Svetlana waves them off, while Kesten and Walthon both salute them, as do the on-duty guards. Oleg barely looks up from his ledgers to register that they are leaving. The expedition travels west on the plains on their way to the mountain farther to the southwest. The day is ideal for traveling as a light breeze comes down from the north.

The trip across the plains is both quick and easy, especially in its familiarity. Only a few hours after leaving Oleg's, the expedition stands at the rather abrupt shift between the plains and the mountain. Without the usual foothills, the mountain juts out of the plains with little warning. Rocky outcroppings make it immediately much more difficult to travel in, quickly raising in altitude.

Only a few trees dot the mountain as they begin exploring its winding paths. The mountains are very jagged, almost unnatural so close to the flatness of the plains.

Did you guys bring Reggie? The other checks are after someone makes the initial Perception check.

Perception 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (10) + 0 = 10

Jemini considers, then adds, "When we raided Kressle's camp, one or more of the bandits escaped - furthermore Oleg suggested that several merchants have visited the Stag Lord since we captured Kressle. We cannot assume that the Stag Lord is oblivious to our moves. We need to worry that he may have an ambush waiting for us."

1d20 + 9 ⇒ (9) + 9 = 18

'I think its possible to overestimate your enemies too. Obviously information is everything here, but we shouldn't pass over a great oppurtunity assuming that the Stag Lord is three steps ahead of us. He is a drunk bandit, not a great general. We shouldn't underestimate him of course, and be wary of ambushes. But we shouldn't overrate him either. Could we 'capture' some of us, to get us into the fort? Maybe make a make that holds more than it should and have Jemini arm us while we're in the fort and everyone is asleep?'

I can't make that on a nat 20 but what the hey.. And yes, we brought Reggie. 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (17) - 1 = 16

"Posing as bandits might work, especially since we have the amulets to bakc up the claim, but I'm loathe to head into his fort without more knowledge. Maybee we should have Kressel draw us a map before we ship her off?"

Reggie lopes happily behind the group, pleased to follow them for another chance to get some meat. Oleg was being fairly stingy back at camp, especially compared to Berrin's generous helpings. There is nothing like good meals to purchase the eternal loyalty of the thylacine.

Just bumping to remind everyone after the server maintenance. It appears that it doesn't tell me that I have new posts to read from before the maintenance.

"I..." Jemini looks almost shocked, "have reservations regarding presenting some of you as 'captured'; if some of us are actually bound then if the ruse fails we'll be in dire straights. But if we don't have the 'prisoners' properly bound, then the ruse is sure to fail."

1d20 + 5 ⇒ (2) + 5 = 7

"Well..." Zander pauses to think, "Instead of pretending to be bandits, we could pose as one of those merchants that Oleg mentioned. Maybe even find out when their next shipment is due, have Kesten 'delay' them at Oleg's while we take their place and head down to the Stag Lord's front gate? What do you think of that plan?"

Perception: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (10) + 8 = 18 Grr.

Taisper hangs back, doing his best to simultaneously be aware of his surroundings, the strategic planning going on, and the cavorting Reggie, wary of him falling into a trap or 'wyrm nest or Lawgiver-knew-what else.

"Hmm, yes. Didn't Oleg mention somthing about dodgy merchants shipping alot of booze to the south-west that didn't whant to say where they were going? If we put pressure on one of'em maybee they would let us tag along posing as guards.."

"Oh! Yes!" Jemini is excited at the prospect, "that is a good idea right there. I can see that working - though for that I'd not specifically need to use a disguise."

"err.. well... We might have to change our clothing somewhat. The Stag Lord might have heard of us and sent out orders to be on the lookout for someone of our description, so.. well, you might have to use a disguise anyway."

Zander shrugs, "I'm sure you guys could get away with just a change of clothes and some cloaks to cover up your armor. I'm really probably the only one of our group that would have stuck out before, but with this new headband I can just look like any old merchant. As long as we let Jemini, Verik, and Taisper do the talking, we should be able to pull off the ruse unless their security is super-tight."

C'mon Verik, you can make that Perception check!