After returning, Katya finds herself thinking of the locket, and the picture inside of it. The sense of familiarity nags at her for a couple of days before she decides to do a more thorough analysis of the potions the man had--she's trying to learn if Bokken made the potions, and maybe check with him if he did. And that's when it clicks...the woman in the picture actually looks a little like Bokken.
The markings on the piece of cloth also look like they might be some sort of map, though it'll take a bit more study to figure out.
Katya rubs her eyes after spending some time pouring over the cloth markings and comparing them with the latest maps handed to her by the local scouts and hunters. Her mind clicking through possibilities...
With time and a bit of effort, Katya is able to decipher the scrawls and faded shapes on the piece of fabric. It appears to be a map to a cairn south and east of Nadezhda, between the Shrike and Gurdin Rivers. The person who made the map seems to have been writing to someone else telling them of the cairn, which (they claim) holds a magical greatsword. The writer cautions of traps, as well as a tale of how someone else stole the sword and was taken by some sort of guardian that came out after the thief.
Upkeep Phase, Turn 4
Step 1--Determine kingdom stability.
Step 2--pay consumption. 2 BP for now (Size 4, 1 City, 3 Edicts, 3 Farms; 4 + 1 + 3 - 6). Treasury is at 15 BP.
Step 3--fill vacant magic item slots. None at present.
Step 4--modify Unrest. Not needed at present.
Edict Phase, Turn 4
Step 1--assign leadership.
Step 2--claim hexes.
Step 3--city improvements.
Step 4--build terrain improvements.
Step 5--create and improve settlements.
Step 6--create army units.
Step 7--issue edicts.
Income Phase, Turn 4
Step 1--make withdrawals from the treasury.
Step 2--make deposits to the treasury.
Step 3--sell expensive items for BP.
Step 4--collect taxes.
Event Phase, Turn 4
I think the Fitcher would make a good councilor.
Upkeep Phase, Turn 4
Step 1--Determine kingdom stability.
[dice=Stability check]1d20 + 20
Step 2--pay consumption. 2 BP for now (Size 4, 1 City, 3 Edicts, 3 Farms; 4 + 1 + 3 - 6). Treasury is at 15 BP.
Step 3--fill vacant magic item slots. None at present.
Step 4--modify Unrest. Not needed at present.
Edict Phase, Turn 4
Step 1--assign leadership.
Step 2--claim hexes. You claim the hex with the empty spider's nest.
Step 3--city improvements.
Step 4--build terrain improvements.
Step 5--create and improve settlements.
Step 6--create army units.
Step 7--issue edicts.
Income Phase, Turn 4
Step 1--make withdrawals from the treasury.
Step 2--make deposits to the treasury.
Step 3--sell expensive items for BP.
Step 4--collect taxes.
Event Phase, Turn 4
[ooc]I like your idea for creating an ambassador to the "mud people". Bea gives her approval and leaves it up to you to figure out details, but offers to help if needed.
-Posted with Wayfinder
Upkeep Phase, Turn 4
Step 1--Determine kingdom stability.
Stability check=35
Step 2--pay consumption. 2 BP for now (Size 4, 1 City, 3 Edicts, 3 Farms; 4 + 1 + 3 - 6). Treasury is at 15 BP.
Step 3--fill vacant magic item slots. None at present.
Step 4--modify Unrest. Not needed at present.
Edict Phase, Turn 4
Step 1--assign leadership.
Step 2--claim hexes. You claim the hex with the empty spider's nest.
Step 3--city improvements. None.
Step 4--build terrain improvements. You construct a Mine in the gold hex, and a road in the newest annex; total cost is 7 BP, leaving you with 8 BP.
Step 5--create and improve settlements. None.
Step 6--create army units. None.
Step 7--issue edicts.
Income Phase, Turn 4
Step 1--make withdrawals from the treasury. None.
Step 2--make deposits to the treasury. None.
Step 3--sell expensive items for BP. None.
Step 4--collect taxes.
You add 10 BP to the treasury, for a total of 18 BP.
Event Phase, Turn 4
An infestation of rats has rendered much of your stored grain and other foodstuffs useless, leading to food shortages. However, your able leadership has minimized the long-term impact of the shortfall. Upkeep costs next turn will be increased by 50%.
End of turn!
"Given our last encounters with the lizardfolk, whoever we pick as our ambassador to them will need a guard detail, small enough to not be threatening but enough to give pause from rash action. They'll also need to understand being firm with the lizardfolk, as we cannot tolerate any more abductions of our children. Though... ultimately... healthy respect and tall fences might be best."
The Fitcher is unable to find anyone who's willing to talk about their own interactions with lizardfolk, but he's able to gather a lot of secondhand information. They don't tend to buy much, since they don't have a lot of resources to trade beyond the occasional rare plant or animal, or any treasure taken on foraging trips. It's not like the kobolds and their silver mine.
From what I have learned, I am rethinking the idea of trade with the mud people. It does not seem likely to be profitable. An ambassador, maybe, to keep relations calm, and keep an eye on their activities?
The Fitcher will take full advantage of the rat infestation, casting Speak with Animals, Charm Animal, and Control Vermin every day that the group is in town. Primarily, he'll try to use Control Vermin to convince the rats to go away. (handle animal for 3 HD of rats/day), and to entertain himself, he'll build a group of friendly/charmed rats that follow him around and do simple tricks to entertain the common folk.
Upkeep Phase, Turn 4
<...>
Edict Phase, Turn 4
Step 1--assign leadership.
Step 2--claim hexes. You claim the hex with the empty spider's nest.
Step 3--city improvements. None.
Step 4--build terrain improvements. You construct a Mine in the gold hex, and a road in the newest annex; total cost is 7 BP, leaving you with 8 BP.
Step 5--create and improve settlements. None. Buying a Mill for Nadezhda; cost is 6 BP, leaving the treasury at 2 BP.
Step 6--create army units. None.
Step 7--issue edicts.
Income Phase, Turn 4
Step 1--make withdrawals from the treasury. None.
Step 2--make deposits to the treasury. None.
Step 3--sell expensive items for BP. None.
Step 4--collect taxes.
[dice=Economy check]1d20 + 17
You add 10 BP to the treasury, for a total of
1812 BP.Event Phase, Turn 4
** spoiler omitted **
An infestation of rats has rendered much of your stored grain and other foodstuffs useless, leading to food shortages. However, your able leadership has minimized the long-term impact of the shortfall. Upkeep costs next turn will be increased by 50%.
End of turn!
Upkeep Phase, Turn 5
Step 1--Determine kingdom stability.
Step 2--pay consumption. Treasury is at 5 BP.
Step 3--fill vacant magic item slots. None at present.
Step 4--modify Unrest. Not needed at present.
Edict Phase, Turn 5
Step 1--assign leadership. Kept the same.
Step 2--claim hexes. Annexing Oleg's Trading Post.
Step 3--city improvements. Can't afford the Smithy this turn.
Step 4--build roads. Putting a road in the new hex for 1 BP; treasury is at 4 BP.
Step 5--establish farmlands. None at present.
Step 6--create army units. None at present.
Step 7--issue edicts.
Income Phase, Turn 5
Step 1--make withdrawals from the treasury. None at present.
Step 2--make deposits to the treasury. None at present.
Step 3--sell expensive items for BP. None to sell.
Step 4--collect taxes.
Another excellent turn! You add 13 BP to the treasury, bringing it to 17 BP.
Event Phase, Turn 5
After the previous food difficulties, things are quiet.
Maybe explore directly west of the stag lord's fort?
Maybe explore directly west of the stag lord's fort?
Works for me.
Wait, which way is north?
Leaving your backups in charge for a few days, you set out to the northwest. You follow the Skunk River into forest from the Tuskwater, a familiar sight after the many months you've spent in the area. The weather is as close to perfect as you've seen for a month or more. This is particularly welcome after a rather impressive rainstorm the previous couple of days.
The river is somewhat swollen by the rains, so you're taking care not to get too close. Suddenly you hear from up ahead a sound of somewhat high-pitched voices. They sound angry, but you're not immediately able to pick out the words.
Katya shifts on her horse as she turns to the rest of the group, "Always excitement in the woods eh?" before she nudges her horse forward at a much faster pace, heading towards the loud yelling.
Bea laughs a bit at Katya's enthusiasm, suddenly put at ease after a long period of running the country. "Let's see what the commotion is."
The Fitcher's eyes take on a yellow-green reflective quality as he wrinkles his nose in curiosity. He makes a soft grunting noise as he guides his horse along with Katya and Bea.
Out in front as usual, Vasily urges Sev forward and whistles for Strelka to stay close by and hidden.
Vasily, you can pick out a few different voices; they don't sound human, though--too high-pitched. "...back away from the bank, fool!" "I'm fine, get the...." "NO! Not going in...."
Fitcher, the wind is in the wrong direction for you to get much in the way of scents; the dominant odor is of mud and wet grass.
Your advance through the trees is punctuated by unhappy-edging-towards-panicking neighing. In the middle of the river is a small wagon, apparently thoroughly stuck and slowly sinking--the waters threaten to overwhelm its sides. Two ponies hitched to the wagon flounder in the swirling waters. Another pair of wagons sit safely on the far bank, well away from the water's edge, surrounded by a group of gnomes (all of whom show signs of wounds). There are a few kobold bodies on the ground as well.
On a hillock next to the water stands a rather flamboyantly-dressed gnome, his helmet askew and one eye blackened. He's shouting out conflicting orders, and is probably further along towards full panic than the ponies. He's ignoring you, although a couple of the other gnomes have noticed you.
The Fitcher will maneuver his horse along the river, and get as close as he can to the wagon. How long does that take, and how close can he get?
Katya comes up along side The Fitcher seeing the scene and looking back and forth between the wagon and the horse, "I could summon more horses and we could tie them to the wagon... or I can make one of you larger and stronger and you could try to lift the wagon out of the river... what do you think?"
I do not wish to be big. Or small. Better to cut the horses from the wagon. I would swim the river to do this, but I would prefer it were done from the dry land.
Katya nods, "That I can also do."
Katya raises her staff, pointing at the water and chanting, "Confn ekess ve
de wer pab
jennu jaw."
The wagon isn't too far from shore, but with the speed of the water it would be hard to wade.
The Fitcher nods his agreement to Katya's idea, then begins to ford the river. As he does so, he calls out, Little men! Do you have any items in cart that can not be replaced?
One of the gnomes shouts, "YES! That's where all of our maps are! Weeks of work!"
The Fitcher is able to reach the mired cart without any particular difficulty. The horses are panicking--you can see that untying them from the harness would be easy enough, but handling them may be challenging. Fortunately, Katya's summoned crocodile is a celestial creature, and won't be as terrifying as a normal croc would.