DM Talomyr's Kingmaker

Game Master Talomyr

Tove shrugs too, growing tired of Kalaman and his possibly-possessed sword. She takes a long drink of ale and checks in on Celeste, cocking an eyebrow and trying to gauge her reaction to all of this.

Happy to see that Celeste is equally as uninterested in any further conversation with the tiefling as she is, Tove leaves the men to continue their own conversation and hunches in closer to the half-elf to speak with her more privately.

"Tell me, Celeste, there must be more to your story than 'caravans need to be guarded.' How did General Naevirion of Elkmark grow to become the impressive woman she is today?"

As the last rays of sun begin departing an ever-darkening sky, a brown blur soars over a recently closed gate. Seeing no one in the courtyard, Garethane alights upon the ground before resuming his normal form. ”Hello the house! A friend has arrived. One who is in great need of Svetlana’s cooking!”

Tove

The new christened General Naevirion sits back up in her chair and matter-of-factly says, "Not a lot to be said about it really. My mother died giving birth to me, leaving my father to raise me on his own. He really didn't have a clue as to what to do or how to do that, but he did the best he could."

"Dad was a constable in a small, little village in Varisia." She adds with a humorless laugh, "Constable, village protector, and whatever other hats the villagers wanted him to wear. It made for a lonely childhood, but Dad taught me what he knew - which was plenty. Taught me enough that even stuck around the village for a while once I was grown, helping the old man out as I could - if only the rest of those ungrateful bastards would have done the same, I might still be there with him." she says, leaving more on the subject unsaid.

"Afterwards, I left the village and set out on my own eventually hooking on with the Silver Blades, that's the name of my company by the way, Targos was the leader back then - he taught me things less noble than Dad would have liked, but when you're a mercenary you do what is needed for coin. Eventually Targos 'retired' - not that any mercenary ever really retires - and I've been running the Silver Blades ever since." she says.

"I've tried my best to take reputable jobs for the company, but it hasn't always worked out. This decision to take this role as general might cost me a few of my men though."

Garethane:

Kev and Alton are on watch as you arrive. Hearing the familiar, friendly voice, they approach.

"Garethane, welcome back" Kev says before climbing a ladder and looking around outside the gates. "You by yourself? Where are the others" he asks concerned.

Hearing the ensuing conversation, Oleg Leveton comes out to see what is going on. "Quit pestering him, Kev. Garethane, come on in. Lana's got a nice pot of venison stew ready if you are hungry."

Ivo replies to General Naevirion, "This is a regular job with pay, lodging, and food. I can't see what's not to like about it for your squad, unless they're all thrill-seekers."

Celeste looks over to Ivo and winces, "Let's just say some of them have a certain...moral flexibility that might make them seek out riskier, assumed higher paying jobs."

Tove listens attentively to Celeste’s story, but chooses not to press her on anything she doesn’t feel comfortable sharing just yet. She misses the feeling of the woman leaning against her, and can’t help feeling like she’s said something wrong... This whole thing was a lot harder than she’d imagined it would be.

In the end she simply sighs. “It sounds as though you’ve been through a lot. I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to pry, I just, well... never mind. Your have a good reputation among the folk in this caravan though, I must say. Striving to remain a reputable company in a wild land like this can’t have been easy. I really admire the strength of character that shows.”

Nearing the bottom of her flagon, Tove frowns.

“Thank you again. I’m really glad you decided to stay on here. For what it’s worth, I promise that there’ll be no shortage of reputable work for you from us. And hopefully we can soon replace any of your men who decide that such a life isn’t for them.”

"I won't go as far as saying we've always been successful in remaining reputable - beyond honoring our contracts, that is. There have been a few jobs we've taken over the years that at least some of us have regretted." With a half-apologetic smile Celeste adds, "At least there haven't been many of those since I've taken command of the Silver Blades. Targos was a bit less...choosy."

"Hopefully my soldiers and I can reward the faith you have put in us."

“I trust you will. I have a good feeling about you, Celeste,” Tove says, smiling softly. At the bottom of her second flagon, but seeing that Ivo has joined them down at the camp, Tove decides it might be worth trying to stretch the night a little longer. “I... Er, I’ve finished my ale. Did you want another?”

Ivo clambers into a seat and says, "Y'know, one of the great things about this whole expedition is the friends we make along the way."

"Of course," he says, accepting a small ale mug, "that leaves us open to accusations of nepotism and insider dealing in our government, but we've really brought in quite a few cool heads to help with running..." He waves the small ale mug around. "... this."

"And ideally any wars that do creep up will be ones that we can prosecute justly."

Sorry for the delay in posting.

"Kev, Oleg, good to see you both. Just me this time and I come bearing a missive or two."

Once he's got a chance to properly fortify himself and catch up on the news, he'll make the offer. "Oleg, I can't think of a person we've met in the stolen lands that we trust more than you. You've turned this old place into a going concern through hard work, a canny sense of business, and of course, Svetlana's incomparable skills. I can't think of someone better to become the Treasurer of our newborn nation. What do you think?"

Oleg scratches his bushy, red beard contemplating the offer. "Tempting offer, Garethane, but what would I do with the tradingpost? I can't very well leave it to go south to your new kingdom, can I?"

Svetlana listens, interested in the conversation, but seems to relax a bit at Oleg's response.

Are you making an offer to Kesten as well for the role of Warden?

Seeing Svetlana's body language, Garethane pauses to think. "Well, I would think you could stay here for the time being, with a monthly visit to take care of the books. Long term, it might be that we could find some additional folks to help with the day to day of the place to free you up. Or long term, you find someone to take over the role as treasurer. Whatever happens, this is your place, and it will likely become the hub of a town in it's own right. In my way of thinking, you staked your claim in the wilderness amidst uncertainty and danger and you should be rewarded for your foresight, diligence, and bravery.

It sounds like something you and your fair wife will need to discuss. As for me, I think I'm going to take advantage of a soft bed and a full belly so that I can leave first thing in the morning."

The elf stands up and bows, Brevoy fashion. "Whatever you decide, thank you for your friendship and hospitality."

Terri arrives back at the fort about four days after she had left. She hops off of Placid and takes care of him before going to find, well, she wasn't sure. Someone, anyone, she guesses.

And I think we're all back together by this point, right?

If we go by what I originally wrote, that would put Terri back at the fort on the same night as Tove er, recruited Celeste... So technically yes, we are all back together, but also it'd be before Garethane has flown to Oleg's and back I think.

For sake of argument, we'll say that the current timeframe has Tove, Ivo, Kalaman, Rickart, and Celeste sitting around a table(s) talking and drinking when Terri arrives back at the fort. Garethane is currently up at Oleg's.

At the Trading Post:

Before Garethane can get away from the table, Oleg shakes his head and responds, "While I appreciate the offer, I can't rightly take it. Lana and I have a good thing going here, and I'd hate to leave it."

Giving an apologetic look to Svetlana, he adds, "That being said, I would be willing to help you out for a bit here at the beginnings of your nation, with the understanding that you find a replacement for me as soon as possible."

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At the Fort:

Celeste contemplates the offer of another ale briefly before conceding, "I've probably had too many already, so one more isn't going to do any more damage."

At Ivo's mention of wars, Rickart asks, "Do you anticipate many wars?" Hearing the question, Celeste leans forward, waiting to hear the answer.

"I completely understand and we'll be happy to accept whatever help you can provide, especially with the proviso that it will be for a short while. I'll be flying back early, so I'm for bed. Thank you again for the delicious dinner, Svetlana."

I'll assume that Garathane can wing back starting before dawn, dropping off any mail that we need taken north before heading out.

Assuming the mail to the north includes a letter to Theo but... is there a reason you didn't talk to Kesten about becoming our warden?

Ivo answers the war question after a moment's thought.

"Not against us... soon," says the gnome. "No organized opposition to the south or west. East of us is supposedly under the control of another expedition, but there's also Galt, which is constantly exporting instability."

"Biggest worry is really Brevoy," he says. "The Issia-Rostland divide is an old feud, and propping up a new kingdom here on the south lets Rostland shore up a formerly chaotic border and turn its attentions north. Rostland supplies most of the food of Brevoy and Issia supplies most of the dissolute nobles, which is a good recipe for a civil war."

He takes a sip from his small mug.

"But before things get that far, that's what the diplomats are for."

Assuming the mail to the north includes a letter to Theo but... is there a reason you didn't talk to Kesten about becoming our warden?

Other than being a moron, no. So let me get this straight, "Kev" and Kesten are the same dude? If so, I'd like to do a little retconning...

Kev and Kesten are NOT the same individual. Kev, Alton, and Jake are the three soldiers under Kesten's command at the trading post. Kesten is not hard to find at the tradingpost, should you like to do so.

"I leave for a few days and already you're a dreadfully dull crowd," Terri says with a hint of laughter under her mockingly exasperated tone. "Shouldn't there be some singing, or someone spinning a yarn or three?"

She skips right up to where Tove, Ivo, and Celeste are seated and helps herself to some of the food.

"So, how are things going other than boring?"

"You called it," says Ivo. "Which is fine. There are a lot of plates spinning. Not having everything on fire at the same time is nice."

"Well, there's something to be said for that," Terri agrees, "Have we started planning out the town, or are we still just clearing things?"

Ivo shrugs. "I'm just drinking."

not much has been happening yet. kalaman replies how went your meeting with the fey? Anything interesting happen?

Garathane would like to find this "mythical" Kesten please. It seems he has a document to present before heading back in the morning...

Morning comes and as Garethane is getting ready to leave he takes notice of the changing of the gate guard. Alton heads for his cot while his commander, Kesten Garess takes over.

"Morning." Kesten says, stretching a bit to work the stiffness out of his back.

"Maybe," Terri says somewhat cryptically. "It all depends on them, I suppose."

"Kesten, I was hoping I would see you. I have a letter for you. And an offer." Garathane holds out the parchment. "It's not affixed with sigil or crest, but it is vested in authority and filled with opportunity."

It's also salvaged and scraped from supplies left behind by the Stag Lord, but revealing that might spoil the gravitas of the situation.

Tove fills Celeste's flagon and hands it back to her with a smile before Terri returns and steals her attention with her cryptic news.

"Typical fey," she scoffs, "Terri, would you like an ale, while I'm up?"

Celeste looks quizzically at the others around the table.

"What's this with the fey?" she asks nervously.

"Thanks Tove, I think I could use a drink," Terri says before turning to Celeste.

"I thought we should work with them instead of against them, so I asked one that we'd met if they'd like to help us make this into a town where everyone's welcome. I also wanted some help growing groves throughout the place, and I thought it'd be nice if they all had a little whimsy to them," she explains.

At Oleg's Trading Post:

Kesten unrolls the parchment and reads. "Warden?" he asks. "I...I think I'd very much like that." he says with an appreciative smile.

Gathing his composure and a more business-like demeanor, Kesten says, "We can't very well leave Oleg's undefended. I'll have to give Alton a field promotion to head up the detail here. How would you and the others feel about bringing a few of the repentant bandits you all brought here as part of my new detail? Velsin, Gavin, and Myna in particular have shown promise."

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At Fort Redemption:

"Good night, all." Rickart says with a quick bow. "I better catch a few winks if I'm to start making my way back to Restov in the morning. I'll check back in before we leave to see if there are any last minute requests."

Somewhat inebriated, Celeste says, "Whimsy is one thing, but don't you think it's a bit dangerous to invite the fey here? They're not exactly known for being predictable...or even friendly in many cases."

"I know, but I was hoping that if could work with the nicer ones, we might be able to avoid fighting with them, and maybe even have some allies that would give us some help watching out for anything dangerous."

With Kesten

"Rehabilitating folks is good," says Ivo. "These won't be the last freebooters that we encounter who're trying to make a hard living in these lands. We should offer them a better opportunity before resorting to violence."

At Fort Redemption

"I agree, Terri," says Ivo. "Just because we don't always see eye-to-eye doesn't mean we can't make some mutually beneficial arrangements."

@Ivo - Kesten and Garethane's conversation is taking place up at Oleg's.

Urgh I thought the party had reassembled. Well just ignore me

Nope, not yet. Someone is being slow to resolve their scene up at the trading post. *glares at Garethane* ;)

Tove hands a tankard over to Terri before taking her seat back at Celeste's side. Leaning in just enough that they bump arms again, she whispers, "I shared you skepticism at first, but the fey who Terri here is referring to have given us no reason thus far to believe they mean us any ill. And it's an important goal for us as the rulers of this new nation to remain on good terms with the locals."

"Well we shall be glad to have you Kesten! As far as your rehabilitation program goes, I think that if you trust them, then we must trust them as well. That being said, I think we should run Velsin, Gavin, and Myna past Oleg to make sure that he and his wife have similar feelings.

I hope this can set a good precedent. Offering a better opportunity to former freebooters may draw some of the most potentially trustworthy of them back into these communities that we're building. Not to mention providing some additional information on those that we will need deal with to protect those same communities. We should probably talk about a wider amnesty."

And talk they do. Garathane continues to discuss details with Kesten until the sun is well above the horizon. Which at that point he "just happens" to swing by the kitchen to wheedle one last meal out of Svetlana before winging his way south. Before he goes, he whispers the news to her but let's Kesten share his news with Oleg directly.

Kesten nods, agreeing with Garethane's request to double check with the Levetons as to their opinions about the former bandits. Oleg and Svetlana agree with Kesten's assessment and also agree with the idea of the men Kesten arrived at the tradingpost with staying on as the guard detail.

"We'll be down in a few days." Oleg says, in regards to himself, the new warden, and the warden's men. "But remember, you've only got me for a few months...four at most."

Following one last meal, Garethane heads back to Fort Redemption having secured the fledgling nation's warden and treasurer. Only a response from Theo, back in Restov remained to complete the council.

Okay, that should have us all back to the fort. Your first month's worth of building/decisions are due, unfortunately you will not have a Grand Diplomat for this first go around, unless you randomly appoint one.

Yay!

"In a sense, we're the invaders here. It's only polite to try and be good neighbors while we're at it."

The night sitting around the table at Fort Redemption drinking and talking is the first of many in the earliest days of your fledgling nation.

Traders, including Rickart, come and go bringing wares and prospective workers to the build site, and before long there are number small dwellings, little more than huts in the area surrounding the keep. On the north outskirts of town you hear the constant ringing of hammer on metal, working iron and other metals in the town's newest addition, a blacksmith.

Sometime during the second week, Terri tells her fellow councilors of a calling that constantly haunts her mind, though she can scarcely tell if it is from the fey she had previously bargained with or her long out of the picture mother calling to her. Unable to concentrate on the matter of running a kingdom, or even exploring the region, Terri takes her leave of Elkmark. She says she is off to consult with the Witch of the Greenbelt, Lanyssa in hopes of discovering the source of the calling.

The third week of the month brings something far more disturbing as the Warden, Kesten Garess gathers the other members of the ruling council. Conspicuously absent from the gathering is Baron Bassius.

"All, I have some rather disturbing news. When going to give my morning report on the status the barony this morning, Bassius was not in hall as he customarily is of a morning. Concerned for our Baron, I went to his chambers to find the door ajar...opening the door...I saw a terrible sight, the Baron had been slain - cut throat to groin by a vicious blade. His body still lies in his chambers. I have failed him and you all in my role as Warden of Elkmark. I will take my leave immediately if that is the decision of the Council."

"Take me there immediately. Tove, you come too. Nobody else enters the room without our say-so," says Ivo instantly.

DM not sure if you want us to actually do a murder investigation, or if it's just sorta "murder montage and there's turmoil and then we move on to the new nation."

We can go either way, although I'm not above a little mystery and intrigue. All that specifically need to come out of it Tove's new role. On a parallel track, we can have our various new-comers (Celebeth, Azen, Sigefrid, and Baldur) post their arrivals into town or even the journey there. Again, I'm flexible.

With a nod, Kesten turns on his heel and leads those on the council who would follow to Bassius's chambers.

Looking inside the room is a grisly sight at best. Bassius's face is stuck in a rictus, horrified stare - his ribcage splayed open and the resultant gore covers the deceased Baron's bed.