DM Talomyr's Kingmaker

Game Master Talomyr

Applying distance penalty to Ivo's shot, but it doesn't seem to matter :)

Garethane fires off two arrows, with one just missing by the narrowest of margins. The rest of the party gives chase, and just as all hopes of bringing down the manticore is lost, Ivo takes a desperate, long range shot that tears through the creature's throat, bringing it to the ground.

Fight over. We are out of rounds.

Tove stands bewildered amidst the other charter holders. Just like that the fight was over. Why hadn't she taken a second sho?. She knew that she could have made her second arrow count but... it had seemed like such a mistake...

Hadn't the others seen how easily Mallornia had been torn from her mortal existence?

Her hands tremble. This fresh loss so close to the last had shaken her. Wiping her eye with the heel of her palm she does her best to flash Terri a smile.

"No need, it seems."

The priestess gathers those who need it around her for a burst of positive energy channeled from the plane of Heaven, trying not to dwell on how the thought of sharing a saddle with her young friend had made her heart leap.

Channel Energy: 3d6 ⇒ (4, 4, 5) = 13

Seeing the tears in Tove's eyes, Terri's bottom lip quivers and she wraps up the priestess in a tight hug.

"It's alright, Tove. Just let it out," she mutters to comfort the priestess while the others gather around or inspect the manticore's remains.

Kalaman will move to the body of the manticore, and ensuring it is actually dead, will remove its head to bring back to olegs

The party gathers around to heal before Kalaman goes off to claim the head of the manitcore as a trophy.

You are now down a horse, making the journey potentially slower, but certainly less comfortable. The rest of the day passes uneventfully as you finish mapping out this particular region before settling in for the night.

How are you preventing the manticore head from rotting before you get back to Oleg's? Are you continuing on with your previously stated path (i.e. on to A3 next)?

Garethane takes a few silent moments to thank his fallen mount. "I'm sorry I let you stray into such danger, my faithful steed. I wish I would have known just how dangerous those things could be."

Garthane will gather the bit, bridle and saddle from Mallornia and give him one last pat before walking away from the horse. "May your spirit ride in the wild lands as your body provide sustenance to world you leave behind."

He cast Longstrider once he catches up with the party and they deal with the manticore's remains.

Between longstrider and wild shape, we should be able to fairly well keep up our original pace, even if in it's gonna be weird to have to saddle a PC...

Terri's pretty small, She could share a horse with one of the others if they don't mind and Garethane can ride Placid, who gives 0 effs about anything. He's just been grazing the whole time the manticore fight has been happening. :)

kalaman doesn't have any means to do so, but maybe tove can "preserve" it in the morning

Tove would absolutely invite Terri to ride with her given even half an excuse. She can also prepare Gentle Repose in the morning to preserve the head.

Tove and Terri, please feel free to continue your conversation in spoilers as you have been doing.

The night passes just an uneventfully as the previous evening had, and you awaken to a sunny morning with a light, cool breeze.

After breakfast and breaking down camp, the party heads off northeast, beginning their route back to the trading post.

The weather remains pleasant throughout the day and your activities mapping the region are equally pleasantly undisturbed. You stop briefly for a mid-day meal before finishing up early in the afternoon.

As four days have already passed, Old Duncan is most likely back at Oleg's by now. Given the ease of the day and that information you opt to press on and get a bit of a head-start on tomorrow's exploration. With any luck at all you'll be back at Oleg's tomorrow night before the Leveton's have closed the gates for the night.

The next area you seek to map out looks remarkably like the one you have just finished, sparse trees, tall grass, and very flat. Pushing on into the early evening hours you get about a third of area mapped out before it is too dark to continue on usefully.

Another pleasantly uneventfully evening and night pass as you rest and prepare for the final leg of your journey. The morning arrives warmer than yesterday, but still not bad at all for traveling and exploring, though you wish yesterday's breeze was still around.

Shortly after the mid-day meal, you finish up mapping the region and head out for Oleg's. Without more area to map out you head due east so that you can catch the South Rostland Road to finish out your ride back to the trading post.

You arrive back at Oleg's mid-evening, after the time when Svetlana would have served dinner, but perhaps you'll be lucky enough that there are left overs that she would be willing to heat up upon your arrival.

As you ride up to the gates, Kesten and his men are just about to pull them closed for evening. "Cutting it close tonight are you?" Kesten sarcastically says. "Welcome back. Oleg will want to see you right away. Duncan got in yesterday and brought a response from Restov. Oleg won't say what it is, but he seems excited for you."

Roger that. :)

The next few days sees Terri riding with Tove as Placid replaces Garethane's lost mount. The bard is more solemn and withdrawn after the visit with Lanyssa. She doesn't sing any songs, but she plays soft and mournful melodies on her instruments as she looks out over the darkened plains each night. Thankfully, as they near Oleg's, she begins to cheer up, even making a few jokes.

After arriving and hearing the news, Terri looks to the others to see what they wanted to do.

As they arrive back at the trading post Tove smiles up at the captain of the guard. "And I suppose you'd leave us out in the cold had we arrived any later, Kesten?" She joked.

She slid from Ros' back and reached out to help Terri down before addressing the man again.

"That sounds promising indeed. I assume we will find him inside?"

Kesten laughs. "No, I don't suspect we'd leave you out in the cold, such as it is. I just don't like the idea of getting off my lazy ass to open the gate back up right after I've closed it."

Answering the priestess's last question, Kesten responds, "Yeah, he and Old Duncan have opened up a cask of something-another that Dunc brought back from Restov."

Bassius nods appreciatively at the mention of the cask, though it seems a little distracted. Dismounting Emperor Stavian, he goes to help Kesten open the gate.

Garathane says to Terri, "Thanks for the loan of Placid over the last few days. A fine mount indeed! In way of thanks to you and Tove, I'll curry both of your mounts so that you can hurry in and see what the surprise is."

With the party safely inside the gates of the trading post and the mounts being stabled by Garethane, the others head into the main building of the trading post.

"Welcome back!" Oleg blurts out, obviously a bit into his cups for the evening. Old Duncan regards you all with a nod and says "Yer late...been waitin' here all day for ya." as he hands a rather official looking document to Bassius.

The document reads:

Let it so known that the bearers of this charter, having delivered the northern reaches of the Greenbelt from the scourge of banditry, having provided detailed maps of the lay of the land, and having done no small amount of work in the exploration of said land and the culling of hostile monsters and indigenous hazards, are hereby granted the right to rule.

So witnessed under the watchful eye of the Lordship of Restov and by the authority granted by Lord Noleski Surtova, current Regent of the Dragonscale Throne.

A smaller, less grandiose communication is inside that reads.

Once you have settled on a location for the beginnings of your fledgling nation, send word back to Restov and I will dispatch the funds, supplies and workers to the location of your choosing.

Nikolai Trevan, Swordlord of Restov

"Lords and Ladys, how about that? To think all this time we've been housing royalty!" Oleg says.

Svetlana pokes her head in and ask, "Where might you be thinkin' of as your new home?"

"Royalty indeed." Tove grins at her fellow charter holders.

At Svetlana's more practical question, she does her best to wipe the smile off her face and appear more professional, although given the jubilant mood in the room, it's hardly necessary.

"We have discussed the possibility... The Stag Fort seems the most logical location to settle in the region. It is central to the lands afforded us by this charter, and the old stag lord knew it. It holds a commanding view of the Kamelands, the Greenbelt and the eastern Narlmarches. Not to mention the message it would strike into any remaining bandits in the area to reclaim the home of their former leader."

Tove crosses her arms, as if to challenge anyone to disagree with her. Deciding better, she moves to pour herself a mug of whatever Old Duncan had brought back from Restov.

"Your trading post here would make a fine hub, facilitating travel between our new capital and the nations above us. In the future you may even be able to expand here, should you wish it."

Kalaman, during the reading sits at a table a little away and listens to the proclamation. Then after the reading, congratulates the charter holders. "lords and ladies, congratulations,

After reading the writ, Bassius can't help but grin, staring at the document for a moment while Tove answers Svetlana. Finally turning back from the parchment, he says, "I agree with you, Tove. With the stipend promised by Restov, we should be able to make the needed repairs to the fort itself, and provide subsidies to bring farmers, fishermen, and merchants from Brevoy and the River Kingdoms. Though perhaps I should call you Lady Hellstrom," Bass says, grinning once more.

Sorry for my silence. I had to work late last night and this is the first chance I've had to post.

Terri gives Garethane a grin when he praises Placid. "He's the one horse I have never had a problem riding," she laughs before going to see what the fuss was about.

To say that she was struck dumb wouldn't have been too far from the truth.

"So, is this just Ivo and Tove, or all of us?"

Technically the message and new charter are only addressed to those who had a copy of the charter, which in this group are Tove, Ivo, and Bassius. Previous charter holders were Bran, Theodore, Jacobus, Torsten, and Razarak. So technically its up to the three remaining charter-holders as to what they'd like to do...and with that, I'll shut my yap and let you all roleplay it out. :)

Tove smiles. Lady Hellstrom. The name had a distinctly civil flavour that she wasn't quite sure about. Still, she had spent the past week styling herself as the second coming of the Stag Lord... Stag Lady? Gendered titles weren't too common in Ulfen...

Maybe it wasn't so bad though that her new authority was now also recognized by the Regent of the Dragonscale Throne.

"Lady Hellstrom... High Priestess of Erastil and Stag Lord of the Greenbelt. Pleased to make your acquaintance, Lord Vibulus," she laughs.

At Terri's question she pauses in her jest.

"That's a good point actually, Terri. I do know that Jacobus passed his charter on to Bass here, so he is as much a new lord as Ivo and I. As for the rest of you... I suppose it is of little concern now. With the authority granted in this missive, those of us bestowed new lordship can simply instate the rest of you as our co-rulers."

"I dunno. Do you think the world's ready for me to be a noblewoman," Terri asks with a cheeky grin.

Tove burst out laughing then. It was such a relief to see Terri back in her usual good spirits after the past few days.

"I don't know if the world could ever be ready for you, Lady Riverrun, but they'd best get used to it."

She pours another mug of drink and hands it to the bard with a smile.

Terri takes the mug with a laugh of her own and puts an arm around Tove's shoulders.

"Here's to the two most unlikely ladies in all of Avistan, then!"

"Here's to us!" Tove agrees as she raises her mug to meet Terri's.

"And to our fellow lords," she adds with a smile, before quickly raising the mug to her lips and downing the contents.

Terri looks to the others to see if they join the toast before downing he drink as well.

to you all! kalaman replies , happy for them all and glad to see their work is paying off

kalaman has no illusions he will have to work to gain the trust of the party before he is approached about helping them rule, he wouldn't slap a newbie into a position of power either

"To our new nation!" Bass joins the toast. "May Abadar bless our future labors!"

Tove tenses up, but Terri's arm around her shoulders is enough to make her hold her tongue.

This land belongs to Erastil, she thinks through gritted teeth.

After the toasts, Tove wonders aloud, "Our new nation... I suppose it'll need a name, won't it?"

Dangit, my last post didn't, uh, post.

Garethane walks into a toast. There's a sentence I never thought I would write :)

After catching himself up on the news and perusing the documents, he says, "I don't know what we should call the nation, but how do you feel about calling the Stag Lord's old haunt 'Fort Redemption' or maybe even just 'Redemption'?

Oleg and Duncan watch on with equal amounts of pride and amusement to the party's reaction to the news, but ultimately remain silent while the newly formed royals discuss how to go about this whole thing.

I'm excited to see how this fledgling nation plays out. Who do you think will wear the crown, and will they qield that power fairly and justly? We will see, I guess. Kalaman thinks to his sword, while watching the festivities unfold in front of them

"Fort Redemption, it has a ring to it. A fitting name as well, I like it." Tove smiles.

"Perhaps Erastilin, or Elkmark... for the nation's name?" She adds hopefully.

Ivo has been quiet for some time but finally speaks up.

"A little uncomfortable with religious symbolism in the name of a new nation. Or is this supposed to be a theocracy, like Razmiran?"

"It would be a strange kind of theocracy headed by representatives of two gods with such... divergent areas of interest. While I'm a follower of Old Deadeye myself, perhaps we could form a government that promotes the best aspects of both dieties, without being beholden to the priesthoods of either. We currently have a kingdom without subjects, except those of the most pioneering sorts. They are a good fit for Erastil. But for us to grow past a grubby fort, even with a stipend from Restov, we'll need the advantages that only a city can provide and a helping hand from Abadar wouldn't hurt."

Garathane ponders for a few moments before continuing. "We're a few hundred merchants short of a republic, and I don't favor a woodland Cheliax, so I think a semi-traditional monarchy would be the most stable. But I would love to incorporate the teaching of our two apparent patron gods, as I think the push and pull of both would stimulate our peoples while trying to provide peace and stability. Something that incorporates the wildness and wonder of the forest, while aspiring for the prosperity and learning that a bustling city could bring. Abastil? The Woodland Vault? Estig's Key? Goldenbow? He then trails off, lost among the myriad possibilities.

I like the sentiment. Garethane, have a permanent +1 story bonus to your Diplomacy.

Neat! Thank you much!

Well earned.

Tove glares across at Ivo with a fire in her eyes. How dare he compare the might of Erastil to a wicked pretender god like Razmir? She sputters but before she can form a coherent retaliation Garethane is speaking.

Her Erastilian brother's speech gives her a moment to calm down, mostly, even if it does feel like a small betrayal.

This land belongs to the Stag God...

Clenching her teeth, Tove does her best not to scream. Eventually she sighs.

"Garethane's right," she admits begrudgingly. She goes to continue but the words turn to ash in her mouth.

She won't admit out loud that a city may be their greatest advantage in taming the wilds. That Abadar would be the rightful patron of such a walled monstrosity.

"Erastar? Goldbow? I still like Elkmark..."

"I will say few people care about the actual name of a kingdom, more for what it stands for, and forgive me for putting myself into your discussion, but many beautifully named townships and kingdoms are seething cesspools where they dont have a shady underbelly, but are their shady underbelly. Ensure your kingdom doesn't follow these." kalaman states, barely above a whisper

That’s city-stink. Inequality breeding under the watchful eye of the God of Walls and Ditches... you don't see slums in a village, do you?" Tove grumbles.

"Then we shall avoid building slums." Garathane smiles at his fellow Erastilian.

"Nice thing about running a kingdom is that you can decide such things." Insert Mel Brooks quote here.

At Garethane's assertion that there are only two patron deities representing the group and seeing the fire in Tove's eyes, Terri shifts uncomfortably in her seat.

"Maybe we should leave names for later," she says, "We still have much to do and explore. I follow Desna and find comfort with the Black Butterfly. We should see what other wonders our kingdom holds, and we shouldn't forget the fey. They were here first. Should we exclude them? What if there are others in need of help that we have not found?"

I haven't done a good job of showing it, I think, but Terri is a Desnan and one of her parents followed the Black Butterfly.

Ivo jerks a thumb at the recently-arrived tiefling in agreement.

"What you do is more important than what you say. If you want a kingdom to enshrine justice and community then you have to act on it and it doesn't matter so much what you call the place. The church of Erastil teaches about communities coming together for mutual assistance and support, right? So getting mad at me for just mentioning this - well, get it outta your system now, because what are you gonna do when people have substantive disagreements? They're gonna look to you for leadership and they will follow the example you set. If the example you set is getting mad when someone says 'I'm not an Erastilite and that identity doesn't represent me' then you are gonna have real problems later when people start saying they want to make a temple to some other gods, that they wanna build a wall and streets, that they wanna have a say in the organizing of their society."

"You may not like it and it may make you mad, but better that I say this now and you get through it. 'cuz next week, next month, next year someone is gonna want to do things differently, and you need to save your anger for the real causes - not disagreements over a name."

"You may not wanna hear it, but that's what I'm here to do - to tell you how things are, not how you want them to be. You can get rid of me or tell me to be quiet, but it won't change the reality."

"I don't have to be an Erastilian to be on your side. And being on the same side is more than just sharing a name. It's about sharing convictions."

Tove feels her cheeks flushing red. Ivo is right, but that just makes her even angrier.

She shrugs off Terri's arm and gets to her feet. For a moment, she lingers, thinking to say something more, but again the words die before she can voice them. Instead she just grabs her pack and heads for the guesthouse to sleep it off.

Terri opens her mouth to try and stop Tove, but can't before the other woman is out the door. She instead looks to Ivo and shrugs.

"That could have gone better. If it helps, I agree with you and Kalaman, but... Sometimes being challenged can bring out the worst in a person, or their true colors."

The young bard looks worried at that last observation. She'd been no stranger to such altercations. The matron of the orphange she'd grown up in had tried to kill her when she'd confronted the woman before the whole town.

"Y'all enjoy the party, I think I'm going to turn in early," Terri says before following Tove out the door.