GM Aria's Kingdom Come - The Stolen Lands (Inactive)

Game Master Hu5tru

Whoa, refresh and all of a sudden there are three responses. Good stuff.

Thanks for the correction on that, Stannis and Ryuko. Maybe I'll actually look into the bonded items at some point when next I make a wizard instead of just going with the familiar (even though they're so entertaining to have).

@Aria: G'night. The comment on Charisma was more about me being able to be a viable party face; I'm not too worried Channel DCs right now. 14 is certainly respectable at this level (hell, it's more than most of my characters have if they don't cast spells on it), but I wanted to note that I had a long-term solution for our social needs. Free bonus to Bluff, Diplomacy, and Sense Motive? Yes please. Besides, it seems more Abadaran than the Travel domain on its own.

If you make a wizard and grab the amulet for example, you can make it into an amulet of natural armor without taking the Craft Wondrous feat. Or if you are planning on making an arcane archer or eldricht knight, you get a masterwork weapon from the start, and can freely enchant it later. It is rather boss. Though if I were to take it, I would make it a ring. Rings are not quite as common "drops", versatile as heck, easy to hide under gloves, and not nearly as obvious as a staff or wand.

And yes, the Trade subdomain was MADE for Abadar. Defense and Leadership are also good subdomain choices for the second option. I have been wanting to make a cleric of Abadar myself sometime. Gonna be interesting to see how the chaotic-minded riverfolk receive our lawful approach, and the implementation of laws and order.

@Aria: G'night. The comment on Charisma was more about me being able to be a viable party face; I'm not too worried Channel DCs right now. 14 is certainly respectable at this level (hell, it's more than most of my characters have if they don't cast spells on it), but I wanted to note that I had a long-term solution for our social needs. Free bonus to Bluff, Diplomacy, and Sense Motive? Yes please. Besides, it seems more Abadaran than the Travel domain on its own.

Okay, the whole charisma issue is one that me and hubby have argued about a lot concerning a particular NPC of mine. We agree that 14 is 2 standard deviations from the norm, so your character is more... self assured than over 60% of the population. How you play that is up to you.

In terms of "face" I am not going to penalize people for talking to others. This is an AP run by PbP. I fully encourage you asking the NPCs questions and discovering vital plot information - I mean, I fully endorse you taking it upon yourselves to explore the world. If something you say when you are interviewing them is... off, I may call for a social skill check.

Just as an example:

James is speaking to a very attractive human male who appears to show some interest in handling his whip, so to speak. He leans forward and whispers sweet nothings in his ear in Syvlan, hoping to secure his favor for the night. At this point, I would interrupt and ask James for a diplomacy roll. Not every resident of the Stolen Lands has had excellent experiences with Fey creatures, they might recognize what he's speaking and be appalled. Or they might know what he's saying and be more inclined to follow, if ya dig.

I am more interested in your role play than your roll play, but if you, like Stannis have charisma 8, I will ask that you not role play that you're the most ultra suave, chic Foghorn Leghorn in the pride, and lay into the chicas like... Evan Stone. There's nothing to justify that.

Which is not to say that I am going to penalize "low" charisma players. Stannis has invested a lot to ensure that he's no slouch in a social situations. Sure, he might be playing the quiet guy in the corner, watching ya'll work your magic on an NPC, but if he finds something off, he can communicate as well, and effectively at that, even if I do ask for a roll.

That brings me to another statement - the only rolls that will stand without some manner of modifier applied by me (but not arbitrarily mind) for roleplay are combat rolls. Since this is a PbP, if you have the unluck of rolling a 1 on your attack roll, I suggest that you simplify and say "my attack does nothing." Unless I think it's something plot relevant. For example, you're fighting a rust monster with your sword, because you're silly and roll a 1. well, your sword is already taking damage, I might say your arc goes wide and if there is a wall near glances off and earns the broken condition. But, those manner of events will be rare, I am assuming, as you have a competent wizard with you to assist you in identifying hazards. We hope. We all know the dice roller can deliver unto you total rectal rolls when it is inclined to.

Finally a good habit to get into, which I have come to employ a lot, is to hit the "preview" button before you post something. It allows you to see if anyone has preceded you in posting in the amount of time you are working on your soliloquy on how you're going to seduce the girly NPC of plot relevance who has shown interest in your group, and say, one of the Fawkes brothers has already coiled her up in rope and is riding away with her strapped across the back of his horse to tie her to a railroad and demand that she marry him or he'll leave her there. That's the sort of stuff you want to address right away. Not that I blame you if you don't happen to be on at that particular hour of the day, but if you are going to reply to the Fawkes brothers suddenly acting out of character, like a cartoon villain later on, please identify it in your post somehow

like:

Stannis is absolutely appalled by the Larger Mister Fawkes behavior, he says to him "Unhand that mademoiselle immediately, else I shall call the guard and you will answer for your dastardly deeds!"

If something important like that happens, I will refrain from knee-jerk posting just to post something and allow everyone to respond to the important thing in their own way, or at the very least, post on here that your character isn't interested in responding, and it's okay to move on.

So, if there ever is a time that you're wondering why I'm not just barreling ahead with story time, it's probably because I think its something important that should not be rushed. If you find the pacing off, feel free to tell me, "Hey, we're spending too much time on this, if I ask these questions (please provide) what manner of answer am I going to get from the NPC?" I may ask for a roll, and if others agree to what you're asking, they might assist if you need help, and then I will throw up the answers for the group, and we'll move on.

Good deal?

btw, I made up an email so if ya'll have private concerns about something in game you don't want to air in a public forum, for example James, if I send an NPC at you that you find intriguing and don't want to seem a creepazoid or to take up in-game time learning if they tie their boots with a double knot, or... for any of you with any NPC or particular interest that does not seem to be shared by the group or just... for whatever reason you might need to, feel free to email me at

Better deal?

Okie, I've been up for an hour now working on this, so I will say hi to my hubby.

As an aside, given that this is a years long in game campaign, for you caster types, there is a 3PP O-level spell called Barren Fields that renders an adult humaniod infertile for a period of 30 minutes per CL. We can assume that you have it, and would use it in the event of such relations at no cost to spell slots, etc. because lets face it, such by-blows could harm what you're trying to do. Unless you want little versions of yourself crawling around. In which case, more power to you.

Cool beans. Also, apparently someone didn't use that cantrip when Ladislaus was born (that, or someone's discreet magical purveyor of items lied about how long it would last). ;)

James will be interested in anyone who handles his whip. Also, I'm going to be taking a leaf from one of my players books and taking the Charming trait, so you'll hear "+1 if I'm sexy" a lot.

The +1 is if someone is sexually attracted to you, it doesn't make everyone automatically so. My bard has that one as well, with CHA 20 natural, there are still plenty of people that don't desire her sexually. And thems would be called the churches of Erastil and Iomedae. *giggles*

Fey will love James. Whether or not James loves the fey back, however, remains to be seen.

Sensualist beautiful creatures with no qualms? James will love them until they screw him... metaphorically, not literally. And I know the rules, it's just something one of my players does that makes me laugh. It's great to hear "24 Diplomacy, +1 if I'm sexy" at the gaming table.

Yeah, I ask all the time in our game, too. You know, coz sense motive 25 base sometimes can screw up. :P

I will be thinking on an NPC to rile your jimmies. Maybe, probably some... paladin of Shelyn. Ha, ha. Actually... *begins plotting*

OOOhhh.... a chance to corrupt the innocent makes James smile. The little smile you see in the avatar. That one.

Alright, since my husband is still out, it seems I have some time still to work on an introduction to this campaign.

Also, mmm. Well, I have maptools and I have paint and Gimp is free as well. When it comes to combats that have features such as buildings, ruins, difficult terrain and what not I will be basing them off the maps provided in the AP, but hopefully in such a way that does not infringe copyright so that I can create and post maps with coordinates for you for the trickier bits of combat.

I know I've elected to cut out a bunch of the "we roam around putting down randoms" exploration bits for the sake of brevity, but would you guys be interested in horses? If so, I can work out some deal where you are provided with a combat trained war horse for your journey if you sign a promissory note of responsibility to repay the value of the loan, which will be managed by Oleg. If not, ya'll are free to hoof it and order horses later, if you find the need.

Let me know.

@Ladislaus: I was thinking Stanislaw and Ladislaus might well know each other pre-play. With Stanis and his entire family being loyal attendants at the temple, and him having served in the ranks as a lawyer for the watch.

@Aria: I am not intending to be Fabio in terms of self-assuredness. As I describe on my profile, Stanis is awkward and rehearsed in his diplomatic side, as it comes about as natural as discussing magical theory comes to the average int8 warrior.

So you will be seeing more "After subtly studying the woman and her habits for a good while, Stanis empties his glass, snaps his fingers to give his breath a minty freshness with an application of Prestidigitation, and takes a deep breath before he approaches 'Mas serenas, calie. Forgive my elven, but I think I know few words in common to do your beauty justice.' he kinda blurts, face red."

And not so much "Stan the Man saunters over to the woman, and throws his ebony locks behind his neck, and eyes the woman like a cat would it's prey, going 'Hey, I saw that you were watching me. What's your name, doll?'"

I am aware, Stanis. I made an example because I didn't wish for anyone to feel excluded from social situations just because they lack a positive charisma modifier. Or automatically score in one because they have.

I am quite aware of your abilities to play to your strengths and weaknesses effectively :p

Meanwhile, James is sitting by the local Bard, hits his Lute to fix it up and points his thumbs up while going "Eyyyyyyy." ;)

@Stannis (not-Baratheon): Sounds good to me. Perhaps their both getting sent down to ensure that order is being kept during expansion? Since I'm going with the Bastard trait for Ladislaus, I figured that he in particular was also getting sent just to get him out of the way too. Still need to flesh it out a bit more, though (as the blanks under "33 Questions" can attest).

I am aware, Stanis. I made an example because I didn't wish for anyone to feel excluded from social situations just because they lack a positive charisma modifier. Or automatically score in one because they have.

I am quite aware of your abilities to play to your strengths and weaknesses effectively :p

Indeed, I know you know. And the preferences of the person in question is what sets the DCs, not the charisma of the subject. If a young woman at the tavern likes a big slice of man-beef, the DC will likely be lower for the elder Hawke, than for the rest of us. And likely even higher for the scrawny mage, as he is the stark opposite of her preferences.

If they like the well groomed and handsome, Ladilaus will likely have the easiest time. While Tam and James will likely be the focus of attention for the girls who tend to like em hotblooded. While Stanis' has a monopoly on the women who like em smart and well read. And I assume those are few and far between in a CN free state region where gods of farming, fighting and fooling around are prevalent >_>

Yeah, the more you guys can know of each other before you set out, the better for me, really. I know the AP opens in a certain way, and gives a suggestion for how you might casually meet down there, but really, the Stolen Lands is the midden heap of the River Kingdoms. It's a no mans land between several really heavy hitting political powers, and it's empty. That, to a cleric of Abadar, a wizard faithful, and an inquisitor (I hope) should be pretty obvious. To properly set the stage for the entire AP I don't want to leave you guys with the impression that "hey, this is going to be totally fine guys, we'll just slay some monsters and call this land ours.

Yeah, the more you guys can know of each other before you set out, the better for me, really. I know the AP opens in a certain way, and gives a suggestion for how you might casually meet down there, but really, the Stolen Lands is the midden heap of the River Kingdoms. It's a no mans land between several really heavy hitting political powers, and it's empty. That, to a cleric of Abadar, a wizard faithful, and an inquisitor (I hope) should be pretty obvious. To properly set the stage for the entire AP I don't want to leave you guys with the impression that "hey, this is going to be totally fine guys, we'll just slay some monsters and call this land ours.

Oh, I know. Would not be much of an AP if all you did was go down and grab land, and played Sim Kingdom until lv18.

I have no claims to power in my background. Stanis is a middle class, middle management nobody, reflected in his lacking aura of confidence. He has his secret ambitions to make something of himself, but is also prepared to accept that his will gain him nothing but blisters, a cold, and a horrifying brush with death, knowing that there are bandits in the fields, and trolls in the woods.

I prefer to have a character grow throughout the game, rather than have an idea where I want to go, beyond a few "easily achieved" goals, that does not need to detract from game, or at least can be easily integrated with the game.

@Ladislaus: I imagine the church wants to be part of any legal issue, and with the charter being a legal document, I find it quite reasonable that at they send someone of the cloth. Stanis is there more for the book-keeping and analyzing, I would think. Oh gods, I will likely need someone to mule all the books I will write in the downtime, lest I venture into movement 20 territory :P

@Mordecai: I read through your profile, and saw that you were accused for murder. Maybe we have met through the proceedings, as Stanislaw is kind of a defensive legal consultant.

OK so apparently im missing some posts my brother mentioned someposts pertaining to a blade boot or something I cant seem to find it lol sorry he just mentioned it and how you were going to let me have it as a simple weapon? I dunno want to double check before I start drooling lol

Yeah, I said you could have it as a simple weapon because the mechanical part is a trigger mechanism that doesn't actually affect the weapon itself.

Now, to qualify, I am allowing you to have it as a simple weapon with the understanding that if you are disarmed, this boot blade is going to be a backup weapon, and not that you're going to be abusing this swift action to get a weapon thing every combat to make yourself look flash.

Yeah, I said you could have it as a simple weapon because the mechanical part is a trigger mechanism that doesn't actually affect the weapon itself.

Now, to qualify, I am allowing you to have it as a simple weapon with the understanding that if you are disarmed, this boot blade is going to be a backup weapon, and not that you're going to be abusing this swift action to get a weapon thing every combat to make yourself look flash.

OHHH No i wouldnt it is a backup weapon and only buying one also I am posting my equipment up on Tams profile now and you will see the two ankle sheaths two spring loaded wrist sheaths which in my understanding shoot the knifes out at someone, as well as the other places the knives will be hidden just as forewarning lol he has 10 of them has to find a place to hide them lol

Goody, then we're golden. I am highly anticipating everyone getting sheets and the 33 questions ready for me so I can start engineering an introduction to this AP that will sufficiently set the tone for the massive task you are setting yourselves up to... In as light and irreverent a way as possible.

Stanis/Hubby made the suggestion earlier that I should leave the randoms while exploring in because it gives the sense that this really is the frontier and it's filled with monsters, so... in that case, when we get to that point, I will have you guys decide and show me exactly which path you will be taking so I can do the math and roll the percentage die for randoms.

Ok skills are done ug so much to calculate with knives and sleight of hand lol props if you can understand it also questionnaire is done

Hit Stanis with the de-optimizing hammer, reducing his Int and raising his "dump stats". Will be fewer spells and skills, but now at least he carries a light crossbow, and will seem less out of place in the frontier.

@Tam: Springloaded everything reminds me of a gnome tinkerer I played back in 3.0. Jarlaquin Jeeps Jansen, of Jansen fame (If you have not played Baldur's Gate 2, please do so. You can thank me later :P ). "Simplicity is for the simple! I tell you, my tent/deckchair/hang-glider will be all the rave in Athkatla! Even my nephew who barely masters hydraulic engineering knows how to use one!". Good fun ^^

@ stannis lol fun fun. So serious question do you think it does mean it shoots it out it would be hard to get a handle on a knife being shot out from a spring unless it is in the boot knife which is designed to only protrude from the toe.

Anyways im assuming its a ranged attack against a flat footed oppenent usually cause poof a knife shoots out of a seemingly harmless sleeve lol nah I wont even use that much only in situation where im sitting down and need surprise to buy time. anyways normal range and damage but using boot blades stats +3 to hit 1d4+(3) (or what would the strength be on that since you arn't really adding thrown str?) and only Piercing due to projectile and 20 crit x2

let me know your guys' ruling on that

Huh, I do not read it as shooting out of the boot at all. And it has no range increment. I'm not getting where you are coming up with ranged attacks on this thing. I read that it's a blade that pops out of your boot that you can kick someone with and hurt them, or... reach down and pick the boot out of its little place and stab them with it. But given that it has no range increment it's going to melee only.

PRD says it's an off-hand weapon only.

Now...if you want knives flying at cha randomly, I am more than certain I can accommodate that request :P

No sorry to clarify the wrist springloaded knife not the blade boot as I know it doesnt shoot im asking if the springloaded wrist sheath shoots it out sorry :P

EDIT: looked it up on forums and all it does is makes it a swift action draw for the set of knives also ive redone my feats as i looked back at vulf and Im hitting s~&@ lol so ill stick to the flavor of Tam and he throws them more than stabs with them least until hes better

Feats updated!

No sorry to clarify the wrist springloaded knife not the blade boot as I know it doesnt shoot im asking if the springloaded wrist sheath shoots it out sorry :P

EDIT: looked it up on forums and all it does is makes it a swift action draw for the set of knives also ive redone my feats as i looked back at vulf and Im hitting s%~* lol so ill stick to the flavor of Tam and he throws them more than stabs with them least until hes better

Feats updated!

Huh. So far, you are mechanically almost identitcal to a PC who played when I ran this AP (don't worry, I won't meta unless GM Aria tells me to pointing out something that int 19 people will realize if the game stagnates, or something like that). Make sure to grab quick draw if you are going to base yourself on throwing. Sad that throwing builds are so nerfed...

I say mechanically, because you are a far cry from being anything like him as a character. He was a murderous swine who worshipped Norgorber, and imagined that he was going to create "teh bestest spy network EVAR" by using his gaggle of lv1-2 experts from his leadership feat for international espionage. As Bill from Left 4 Dead says: "BULL-FREAKING-HORSE-S&!~!"

Whoa! Hey Tam, where'd you learn undercommon? One of your crazy, casual adventures into the Underdark when you were a boy? Or did you just wake up speaking the language of the drow and other maliciously evil things that thrive in darkness?

Edit: Hey guys, in the interest of saving time and not rolling a bunch of die to feel like rectums later when you don't identify what the animal you're fighting is, I am just going to call for the relevant check after describing what the beastie is. First person to make it, I will reply to and allow them a free action before combat to let others know how to fight it.

I'm having the worst experience with knowledge checks in these darn pbp games, and GMs lording over what the heck monsters are for... whatever reason. It seems to me elitist and silly. Isn't the goal of this game for you guys to be heroes who put down bad stuff and maybe treat with good stuff? Shouldn't you be able to identify that which is bad instead of having to reference an encyclopedia of bad monsters each combat and compare crudely drawn pictures to the reality?

Elaborating on the last post: Even if you are able to draw one dagger as a swift action with those sheaths, you only have one such action per round. And when you get 2wpn, and perhaps rapid shot, 3 daggers come flying. Until you get THERE however, a swift-action draw is cool-pants.

@Aria: Err, that IS the proper way to deal with knowledge checks. Unless the creature takes extreme efforts to conceal it's nature with disguise checks and stuff. Then you call perception checks first.

I am gonna tweak the 33 questions now that I have changed the stats, no longer having a penalty to charisma, self-esteem issues are no longer really appropriate.

Whoa! Hey Tam, where'd you learn undercommon? One of your crazy, casual adventures into the Underdark when you were a boy? Or did you just wake up speaking the language of the drow and other maliciously evil things that thrive in darkness?

It is called underCOMMON for a reason. It is a widespread trade-tongue, often used by smugglers and thieves. The deep and dark things prefer to use their own languages first and foremost.

@Tam: You also get Hallit for free, as a regional language.

I stand corrected, Tam. And this is why we have the dude with 15 years experience as a GM over multiple editions of D&D and Pathfinder Co-Chairing to make sure I don't do silly things. :P

I stand corrected, Tam. And this is why we have the dude with 15 years experience as a GM over multiple editions of D&D and Pathfinder Co-Chairing to make sure I don't do silly things. :P

17 years if you count non-D&D GMing as well :P

Oh god... you played a Jan Jansen family member....

Must... resist... urge... to roll a Minsc clone.

Also, I'll try to have everything ready tomorrow night. School started up again today, so that will put a wee time limit on my planning.

Don't rush. James has mentioned that he is entertaining family for a few days, and I am really wary about starting when people are in the midst of such obligations. Haven't crafted it yet, but the intro is meant to get you guys together and thinking and acting like a group prior to the start of the AP so it does not feel so artificial when you guys come up with the totally awesome plan having just met each other 2 minutes ago.

Should have emphasized like a group more thoroughly. One of the reasons I was so cheezed off at the failure game was that despite my best efforts to the contrary, everyone just assumed that my cleric was lording over them when her intent was to pull them together as a group so we could get stuff done more efficiently. A little bit of party conflict is cool, in fact, if you Abadar folk lovingly embrace the thief, I would be kinda shocked. But please, for my sake, try to at least behave like rational human beings capable of understanding another's perspective. I don't ask you to agree with every darn thing another character says for the sake of maintaining peace and harmony, but yeah... teamwork. None of you are going to get through this AP alone.

ug so many options so little combat tricks and feats haha and no Im not tryingto be be ultimate rouge just trying to be good at it lol.

anyways yes undercommon wouldve been learned by time with smugglers

@stannis yea i more so plan on throwing on a few and then getting into position to flank lol feat opening volley sounds so fun lol

Oh yeah there will be a little party conflict when I urge them to gamble with me hahaha *offers them some dice while I let them choose what color of dice i should use* hehehehehe....I mean *cough cough*

Being good at what you do is hardly a bad thing. Also, consider the penalties: Two weapon fighting, rapid shot and quick draw allows you to make lots of attacks... at -4. Meaning that if you should dedicate yourself to combat, and have all of the feats at lv5, the to-hit is like +4 (Considering masterwork daggers, bab+3, dex+3 and +1 from point blank).

Friendly game with a wager is all good. As long as people don't gamble themselves from house and home, and disrupt the greater society. I think Stanis is smart enough to realize that a few measured vices is unavoidable to grease the wheels of civilization, and it is better to let them exist in moderation, than be a douche and hammer down a "NO FUN ALLOWED" sign by the city gate :P

However, he is not a huge fan of blatant and frequent cheating. Sooo... yeah >_>

Me blatant? *innocent look*

So siked for this game lol though now I have a scheme for a different character Towershield fighter based on roman centurions lol leadership with another towershield fighter FORM SHIELD WALL lol ignore me lol im just bored

It's alright. Stanis is mulling through his choice as well, which is why I am giving people til the weekend. And myself to get this thing kicked off right. Unless you WANT to all just magically teleport to Oleg's... It is entirely possible, but that would just be lazy on my part and I don't want to be a lazy GM.

Nah im good with my rouge I just liked the idea of making a new roman empire lol :)

haha I just crazy image of tam sitting on the throne lol sorry just hit me funny "ummmm what do i do up here lol"

Just thought I would inform the brothers that as of this moment I am working on your introductory piece.

James, I am going to make you the filling at the center of the twinkie, so to speak. Heh, and that metaphor I decided to use before I remembered that James is omnisexual and that it was decidedly... fitting :P

Care to say, from what I know of Inquisitors, I figure you have the skill set to pull this group together... or at least lead one to the other, I think. I could be wrong.

To qualify, one of my favorite D&D/PF jokes is "What do you mean your ranger doesn't have survival?"

I have no idea what you guys are talking about but sure hope that doesn't mean what i think it does O.O"......

Actually only one i can see that has survival as class skill is mordecai lol

btw what did we all say what we were aiming at for the roles in the kingdom yeah i know it isnt in this book but was curious cause so far as I know this is roughly what we have correct me if im wrong on any of this

Mordecai=General

Stanis=Magister

Laudis= High priest?

James=Warden/Marshall (hard to tell since I cant see stats on his profile)

Tam=spymaster or possible leader due to the funny idea i have stuck in my head (Matrim Cauthon from wheel of time series)

but again thats following traditional kingmaker set up which is only one I have access to with just the intro book have no idea what other types of governments would look like

also looks like a queen can help out as well with the leader again see above

Anyways thoughts comments? i start school so will be least late afternoon before a reply from me or mordecai

If you don't have a monarchy, i will assume that you guys will maintain the same sort of roles. The "ruler" may be downgraded to just the guy that has charisma gooder enough to go out and talk to the peasants and keep them all chill. Or you all could talk to them. Or, eliminate the ruler all together and disseminate information from you in a totally new and creative way, or borrow a page from history and hire some bards to speak the news to everyone.

The form of government does not concern me so much.

Filling these slots, regardless of their importance in the public eye, will be crucial. The AP has several NPCs that can help you do that, and gives me a handy chart detailing what they might want to do if you ask them. I will be adding more. Not just girlies to entice your characters, though that might also be the case, but other NPCs so you have some choice as to who goes where, and not just have to default to what the AP sends at you. Because to say that some of the guys out here in the Stolen Lands are unwholesome is an understatement.

Ultimately, the choice will be yours, though. I am taking this b~$&~ as much off the rails as I can.

well lets see what everyone else thinks and then go from there or we just wait and see if any of us actually survive lol

Stanis preferred form of government is a democratic oligarchy wherein the ruler is selected by majority vote (2/3 preferably) to rule for a predetermined time period. Inherited titles and aristocratic rule is just barely better than tyranny, which is just barely better than anarchy in his mind, as public approval and deserving your title is key for any real representation of your people.

AFTER having an inspirational rally point in form of a singular leader through the difficult start-up period, supported by a meritocratic council.

Basically, Stanis is very concerned with politics and the needs for dynamics to implement order. And as such, he will likely be the voice in the king's ear on such matters. He himself does not want the throne, even if offered. A ruler does not get much time to study magic >_>

@Tam: I intentionally made Stanis so he can work in most any of the intelligence-modified roles. Treasurer, being a follower of Abadar. Diplomat is a bit of a stretch, as they usually need to be good at reading people and employ all the social skills. Magister, obviously. And to a lesser extent spymaster, but he would likely not be very happy in that role :P

Since there are no beacons of amazing charisma to be had, I guess anyone except Stanis is a fair choice. Which I think is kinda cool.

Tam, just remember to dance the spears when the sun is high, dance the spears when the sun is low, dance the spears, who fears to die? Dance the spears, no one I know!

*ahem* Anywho, I'm still thinking over Ladislaus' particulars. Will hopefully finish 33 questions in a day or two, then get a chance to hit the crunchy bits hard. He could probably fill in as Councilor as well, or treasurer.

Still debating his thoughts on government, too. Definitely going to make him a bastard of the King's uncle (if'n you don't mind, Aria), but I'm not sure yet how that has affected him. Most likely, though, he'll want whatever is for great justice and stuff, leaning on the lawful end of lawful good.

Meh, we shall see.

As long as you don't give him high charisma and then try to tell me that he couldn't possibly get over being a bastard and mistreated early in his life. That would... really make me upset. Positive charisma is go for "You hit me, you dirty c-word! Come over here so I can kick your arse for even contemplating marking my beautiful face, you stain!" not "Mamma smacked my hand with a spatula once and it scarred me for life."

I've already written the brother's intro. want to proofread it when I am less blech and I'll get them started. For now, I am thinking I'll pose James as the catalyst for your two "groups" getting together and out of Restov.

This old lady has reached her limit of fun for the evening, and thus must retire. See you gentlemen again soon.

I am torn between keeping the current average of 10s in wis and cha, or keep the 8 and bump wis to 12. Since the careful nature is better reflected in low charisma and higher wis.

Not that I am worried optimization, as optimized 15pb wizards put Wis8 Cha7 to get Int max and higher con/dex :P

And wis IS a very "patient, lawful support person" stat...

I think I will try it, and if it feels "wrong" I will change it back.

For future reference, my fine fellows, the IC thread is up and can be found Here.

Mordekai and Tam, front and center. You are opening this piece. I hope I do not need to remind anyone that meta makes everyone angry.

And apologies for the railroady nature of the intro, but, sometimes you gotta lay a little track to get something running. After all, the former NASA shuttles did not break free of earth's orbit just because some rocket scientists somewhere thought it would be a cool idea to strap bombs to the bottom of a projectile.

Excellent post, Tam. Godmodding NPCs is allowed at this juncture since it is an introduction, however in the future if you wish to bluff people about something so important, refrain from continuing after you have made your check.

Pardon my screen, oh yeah... picked this up from another PbP GM, if I put "GM Screen" in the spoiler tag, please don't look. I promise I'm not trying to screw you over.