PLEASE NOTE before the next kinging phase, I propose we prepare the area to the south as a settlement, since it will take some BP and 1 month.
Duke Redleaf busies himself with personal matters, before finally taking a day of rest on the eve of hearing next month's petitions.
Upkeep Phase
Step 0 - Ruler: Declare the Duke's modifiers (Economy, Loyalty, or Stability).
Step 1 - Stability: Roll Stability Check. If successful, reduce Unrest by 1 (to a minimum of 0).
Step 2 - Consumption: Consumption has been deducted from the treasury. See "Ledger" tab.
Step 3 - Magic Items: unchanged.
Step 4 - Modify Unrest: Roll Loyalty Check to reduce Unrest, if desired (cannot be reduced below 0). Failure incurs permanent -1 penalty to Loyalty.
Edict Phase
Step 0 - Spymaster: Declare Spymaster's modifier (Economy, Loyalty, or Stability).
Step 1 - Assign Leadership: Assign new leadership or fill vacancies, if desired.
Step 2 - Claim Hex: Claim up to 3 new hexes of territory, if desired. All hexes must be fully explored to be claimed.
Step 3 - Abandon Hex: Abandon any number of hexes of existing territory, if desired.
Step 4 - Build Terrain: Pay for up to 5 terrain improvements in existing territory, if desired.
Step 5 - Settlements: Found up to 1 new settlement in existing territory. The site must first be prepared for settlement. Additionally, pay for construction of up to 5 new buildings in your existing settlements. The construction of a single house, tenement, noble villa, or mansion does not count against this limit, but must still be paid for.
Step 6 - Army: Raise up to 1 new military unit, or upgrade or repair existing ones, as desired. Pay any recruitment costs.
Step 7 - Edicts: Issue any new edicts as desired.
Tatzylford does indeed send a petitioner this month: one Karl Roschinder, a friendly and gregarious man that is well-liked by his fellow townsfolk. He hopes to open a general store to serve the growing community's needs, as well as an apartment above the store for his family to use.
Ears of the City.
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"I am unfavourable for either of the proposed names. Perhaps Shrikeport or Shrike Harbor?"
Upkeep Phase Summary
Edict Phase Summary
Income Phase Summary
The Duchy expands both north and south. In the north, new roads are laid, farms established, and the old tower atop Talon Peak is fortified. In the south, streets are planned out, hills leveled, and the old ferry on the Shrike is given new planks. All that remains is to give the place a new name, and to put out the call for settlers...
Income Phase
Step 4 - Economy check for tax collection:
Event Phase
EVENT
SETTLEMENT
SOLASGAARD
SQUATTERS
An empty lot in Solasgaard has been taken over by beggars, troublemakers, and people unable to find adequate work or housing. They camp by the Tuskwater, outside the Temple of the Greenfaith, filling the space with their tents, wagons, and shanties.
Ears of the City.
"One of my cousins' friend's father was an assayer, and apparently he says there's some pretty good spots for mining south of Lake Silverstep!"
A Brute Squad helps relocate the squatters...
Augrym, did your research tell you where exactly?"
John suggests, "Perhaps, if no one else objects, Reykalaston?"
Akiros and his constables prove more than capable to the challenge of organizing the squatters, getting some to work and others to leave town. Still, enough of them remain in the city to strain Solasgaard's existing housing stock.
"Augrym, did your research tell you where exactly?"
Augrym cannot say where exactly, or indeed if more was even said---or if this rumor be true or false.
The month's petitioners heard and plans in motion, the Huntsmen gather on Castle Redleaf's battlements on [color=teal]8th Arodus[/color].
To John, "I think it a noble homage to your late wife. So it shall be written, and so it shall be done."
"Greetings Marchlanders! I have a proposition for you. The town of Varnhold is hungry for people such as yourselves, and you'll not find a better home than there. In fact, I believe this so much that I'll build your homes there as well as provide opportunity to ply your trades."
The Duke suggests making good on the lead Augrym brought. Let's explore there...
[dice=Enhanced Diplomacy]d20+20+2 "Greetings Marchlanders! I have a proposition for you. The town of Varnhold is hungry for people such as yourselves, and you'll not find a better home than there. In fact, I believe this so much that I'll build your homes there as well as provide opportunity to ply your trades."
Negotiations go quite well. Although the people press for new housing in Solasgaard itself, it is agreed that waterfront property is not essential (who wants those higher rents anyway?), and room is found for new housing in the western part of the city.
The company strikes southeast, crossing the Gudrin River at the ford and following the Little Sellen east after striking it further south. At length, you enter a new stretch of the Tors, and spend several days mapping its peaks and valleys.
On the third day, you discover a shallow cave that extends into a mountainside just off the southern bank of the Little Sellen. The cave is currently home to a large but harmless colony of bats, but Bytor spots an incredibly rich vein of iron ore within---a valuable resource for anyone who might claim this area!
You consider your next move on [color=teal]15th Arodus[/color].
The Huntsmen press deeper into the Tors, though never far from their western edge. The mountain range is higher here, and the elevation takes its toll on your progress. Still, by midday on [color=teal]19th Arodus[/color], you have mapped out another hundred square miles of terrain.
"Let us travel West, mapping as we go, until we need to turn home for matters of state."
"Let us travel West, mapping as we go, until we need to turn home for matters of state."
Aye! The out-of-doors is where I am most alive!
Turning west, the Huntsmen descend into the foothills, mapping as you go along. Some twenty miles west of the mountains on [color=teal]23rd Arodus[/color], you are engaged in your task when Augrym and Taranis both notice a strange and somewhat unsettling sound, almost as if the whispering of a hundred hidden conspirators were carried on the wind blowing through an otherwise unremarkable dale between two hills.
Investigating further, the pair notice odd notches in the hillsides here; as the wind blows over these narrow fissures, it generates the unsettling noise. Augrym peers into one of these cracks in the earth, and is greeted by a shocking sight: a glittering tangle of crystals! The narrow caverns that riddle these hills must contain a sizable deposit of gemstones, an economic boon for any who can set up a mining facility here.
DV60, Scent
and LLV Scent
DV60, Scent
Soon after you make this discovery, you are greeting by a new disturbing sound: the rapid thuds of heavy footfalls fast approaching. You turn to see a bull mastodon bearing down on you!
+2 if Surprise
+2 if Surprise
Round I
1. Augrym, Gozrek, John, Unrak, Taranis
2. Mastodon
3. Bytor
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Taranis immediately casts a spell to rain rubble down on the beast. .
Taranis then orders Toth to Guard Bytor.
Unrak sees the monster, and grins. See?? MOST ALIVE!!!
He cast a spell, grabbing a handful of pebbles and rubbing them onto the skin of his arm--which visibly roughens and toughens.
He draws his sword, his grin widening.
(Current AC 29)
Taranis blunts the incoming charge while his brother gets ready to withstand whatever comes.
Round I
1. Augrym, Gozrek, John, Unrak, Taranis
2. Mastodon (6 dmg)
3. Bytor
Gozrek heeds the words, but knows he's faster than Bytor, moving in to cast a spell of twin scorching rays!
for
for
The mastodon is approximately the size of the broad side of a barn, so Gozrek has no trouble striking it with both snakes of fire. The poor creature utters a terrible squeal of pain, confusion, and fury.
Round I
1. Augrym, Gozrek, John, Unrak, Taranis
2. Mastodon (54 dmg, hampered)
3. Bytor
- Round the First
- Current HPs: 76/76
John's eyes glaze for a moment and the telltale wisps of smoke envelop his bow as the spirit of Reykala provides her husband an edge in battle.
John calmly draws back the bowstring with an inner peace that overrides the terror a gigantic charging beast should have instilled.
for damage.
Edit: No Bane. Full attack.
First attack: (I shouldn't have rolled and bonused a double arrow shot earlier... but since I did, the only edits are -2 to hit, and -7 damage) so 34 to hit and 39 damage.
Second Attack:
for damage.
Rapid Shot:
for damage.
John puts three arrows into the great herd animal; it dies with a pitiful trumpeting moan, another beast of the wilds mercilessly sacrificed on the altar of civilization.
First, we're going to make good on this offering. We eat steak for dinner, and I'd like to figure out a way to carry these tusks...
"John, you are very effective with that bow. I could use some lessons on how deliver that kind of damage, especially when we are trying to take down mastodons. You had your bow out and you slayed this beast even before I could draw a single arrow."
First, we're going to make good on this offering. We eat steak for dinner, and I'd like to figure out a way to carry these tusks...
"Professor, I'm certain Gozrek and Lord Taranis had already slain the beast before my arrows found their mark. But I'd be well pleased to practice with you... I bet you could show me something I don't know, and I can have a friend to practice with."
First, we're going to make good on this offering. We eat steak for dinner, and I'd like to figure out a way to carry these tusks...
"I am fairly certain I know of a way to help with this..."
John lends a hand where he can.
So do Unrak, Gozrek, and Taranis.
Augrym ably directs the harvest of the mastodon's meat, and its tusks. The sheer size of the creature means that the process takes a full day.
Dawn comes bright and hot on [color=teal]25th Arodus[/color]
After taking what we can, Taranis has the party build the tusks into a litter for Toth. "come let us go home. We have much to do, and I suspect there's more on the horizon."
Well stocked for themselves but unable to carry more, the Huntsman leave the remainder of the carcass for the wolves and carrion birds to enjoy. The journey back to Solasgaard is hot, but otherwise pleasant. You then enjoy two days of rest and relaxation before the petitioners arrive for the start of Rova.
Upkeep Phase
Step 0 - Ruler: Declare the Duke's modifiers (Economy, Loyalty, or Stability).
Step 1 - Stability: Roll Stability Check. If successful, reduce Unrest by 1 (to a minimum of 0).
Step 2 - Consumption: Consumption has been deducted from the treasury. See "Ledger" tab.
Step 3 - Magic Items: unchanged.
Step 4 - Modify Unrest: Roll Loyalty Check to reduce Unrest, if desired (cannot be reduced below 0). Failure incurs permanent -1 penalty to Loyalty.
Edict Phase
Step 0 - Spymaster: Declare Spymaster's modifier (Economy, Loyalty, or Stability).
Step 1 - Assign Leadership: Assign new leadership or fill vacancies, if desired.
Step 2 - Claim Hex: Claim up to 3 new hexes of territory, if desired. All hexes must be fully explored to be claimed.
Step 3 - Abandon Hex: Abandon any number of hexes of existing territory, if desired.
Step 4 - Build Terrain: Pay for up to 5 terrain improvements in existing territory, if desired.
Step 5 - Settlements: Found up to 1 new settlement in existing territory. The site must first be prepared for settlement. Additionally, pay for construction of up to 5 new buildings in your existing settlements. The construction of a single house, tenement, noble villa, or mansion does not count against this limit, but must still be paid for.
Step 6 - Army: Raise new military units, or upgrade or repair existing ones, as desired. Pay any recruitment costs.
Step 7 - Edicts: Issue any new edicts as desired.
A representative from Tatzylford arrives again this month---this time in the form of a gnome with a shock of bright green hair and a well-trimmed beard of deep fuchsia. "Gnori Berwerkstan's my name! I'm the best gemcutter you'll find in these parts. Set me up with a shop and I'll cut you a perfect cut, an ideal cut, a square cut, a princess cut, any cut!, whatever's your fancy!" He also asks for funds for a house above the shop, with Mayor Rezbin's backing.
Upkeep Phase Summary
Edict Phase Summary
On the first of Rova, his sons surprise him with a cake and some modest gifts in celebration of his 34th birthday. ”The best combination!” opines John, really enjoying the pleasant mix of family, cake, and gifts.
Privately though, he still mourns the loss of his beloved wife keenly. Holidays and birthdays bring that pain to the surface in regular intervals throughout the year - But John welcomes the grief… secretly fearing that as the years march by that the pain will ebb and he’ll slowly forget his Rekka.
The timing is auspicious, as The Duke declares the new settlement to be called Reykalaston after John's departed wife.
The Duchy's demesne expands southwards beyond Lake Silverstep, even as settlers strike for Reykalaston further west along the Little Sellen River. Already trade is returning to the area.
Income Phase
Step 1 - Withdraw from Treasury: Withdraw resources from the treasury for personal use, if desired.
Step 2 - Deposit to Treasury: Deposit personal resources into the barony's treasury.
Step 3 - Sell Items: Sell up to 2 personal magical items to benefit the treasury.
Step 4 - Roll an Economy check for tax collection.
Event Phase
EVENT
BANDIT ACTIVITY, PLUS
SETTLEMENT EVENT
SOLASGAARD
SLAVERS
Bandit activity has picked up again, mostly on the open roads throughout your lands.
Things are more acute in Solasgaard, where slavers have begun kidnapping citizens (including some bound for new opportunities in Reykalaston) and are preparing to move human cargo out of the city for sale.
Income Phase Summary
The last order of business is to deal with the present disturbances to the public peace.
Dealing with the bandits:
Dealing with the slavers:
Akiros and Jubilost prove more than capable of handling the upstart bandits, and soon the highways are safe to travel again.
The slaver's ring in the capital proves more difficult to address. Although the ring is eventually driven out, the leaders manage to escape with several dozen townsfolk and are long gone before you can gather a dependable force to follow the trail. The loss does not sit well with the populace.
With this tragedy hanging over your heads, you gather on the battlements of Castle Redleaf on [color=teal]8th Rova[/color] to decide your next course of action.