GM Ukyo's Rise of a Hero campaign arc

Game Master Ukyo

"Good. Then we understand each other, Grush...my name is Titus." and he'll extend a hand to shake.

Grush takes your hand and turns it over, looking at it strangely, "You give me nothing, I ask for nothing."

Titus will slowly reach forward and take his hand, and shake it 3 times.
"This is how friends greet each other, and it also can be used to show agreement to an offer, but not always."
"Now, if I may ask...what were you going to do with all this wood?"

He snorts, "Silly, why not say hi?" and he shrugs, letting it go.

"Build wall, keep out black spiders."

"I see. Can't spiders climb over walls?"

He laughs at you, "Not bugs! Black Spiders. They attack, steal our women, own our children. Chief says we do nothing, I say we stop them. Build wall!"

"Black Spiders are another group or clan of orcs, then? Do they outnumber you? Why doesn't your chieftain want you to stop them?"

"Bah, Black Spiders big clan yes, chief say walls for humans, orcs get tougher. But I build wall anyway. Chief mad but he old."

"If we help each other out, do you think you could live by and work with humans? I need to use my mill to create wood for my chief, but I don;t have anyone to work it, which is why it wasn't being used when you found it. I do have a man who knows how to run a mill to get it to work to get most wood for least amount of work. I also need miners to work a mine, I need soldiers to defend all of us, and farmers. I am willing to train anyone who wants to try. Then we as a whole can live with our children in peace, and get tougher. We can work together and own this whole wood and water. What do you think?"

On a side note, I got invited to SWTOR beta. I loaded it last night and rolled an inquis this morning :P

He blinks at you uncomprehending for a second, he says to one of the other orcs, "What he say?" then suddenly he blurts out, "My mill!"

"No, it's my mill. But you can use it. Come here..." He'll lead him up to the building. "You see how this all becomeing broken? Because you use to cut wood, but you dont fix. If you dont fix, it will all break, then no one can use." He'll wait for that to sink in. "I have a human that knows how to run mill so that it stay working, and won't break. His job is to run mill. It's what he knows. He knows how to get more wood out of each tree. There's plenty of wood here for both of us."
He'll let that sink in.
"Will you work with this man? You can use mill, keep some wood for wall, I get some wood for my chief and my people. We both get what we want."

He'll think for awhile, just when it's been so long you think he's forgotten the whole conversation he'll nod, "Ok."

He turns to another orc, "you in charge now, I come back later, make wood."

The other orc bobs his head, "Ok Grush." he turns around, "back to work, no fighting today!" The goblins, orcs, and even the minotaur all get up and start heading towards the mill, the Minotaur tries to go through the front door again, it doesn't work any better going in than it did trying to come out.

Grush turns to you, "We go now?"

"Hey big guy! Go around back, it hurts less."
To Grush...
"Sure. Where did you want to go? Meet the mill man?"
Assuming that's the case, he'll lead him all the way back to the castle...Titus will ask him questions about his family, his clan...how many orcs there are, if the goblins are part of their clan, basic questions to get a handle on how that relationship works. And where the minotaur came from...

How much is standar wage for a miller or a worker in a quarry, skilled, unskilled, and recompense for a slave?

You'll get about half an hour's conversation out of him before the spells end. Essentially most orc clans have goblin slaves, his clan is no different. He says they don't hurt them though like Black Spider or Red Fist. Black Spider and Red Fist are the biggest clans, lots of warriors, but his clan is tough and strong and with wall they do good. Minotaur is a slave too, they feed him and he work.

unskilled is 1 cp a day, skilled is 2-4 cp depending on experience, slaves earn nothing but they can pay off their remaining time as a slave at a rate of 1 cp per day, unless they are a slave because of debts then the rate is based on how much they owed

I'll warn him of the magics ending, and that I'll need to recast, and then do so, unless im out of spell points.

not even remotely close you recast easily, you'll get a feel that it lasts about an hour each time you cast it.

Is that something I can cast on others? I would have, so Tertius and now the miller can understand and speak with the orc...

both spells have an optional increase the difficulty by 4 to add an additional target, otherwise they are self only, You roll 4 keep 4 on your runecasting, with a base difficulty of an 8 it's a very easy spell for you even at a 12. Unfortunately there's no option to increase duration and the miller is not magically inclined.

Well ok then... when we get back I'll cast it on the Miller for him then.

The way it works is you have to cast it on yourself and then take the increased difficulty to include the miller. Also it still only lasts about an hour. You don't have to remain present for the conversation, you can cast and go take care of other things if you'd like no problem.

Photius Remus, your sawmill foreman, will be very uncomfortable and will want a bodyguard in the room. This annoys the orc who sees him as a coward.

The biggest issue that you missed was Derbin whipping one of the men for stealing; ten lashes and loss of half a month's pay, a light sentence for the crime by normal standards.

The experienced militia seem unconcerned by the presence of a single orc, the rest seem to think that they should form ranks and go to war with him. Derbin's handling that before you've even realized it's happened.

After an hour or so with Grush, Photius come to you and will ask you, "How am I to run the mill with goblins and orcs? The orc's an idiot!"

"Photius, I know, this is a bit beyond the norm, and I may be an idealistic fool, but we need laborers. I've learned from Grush that there are two other clans out there, larger than Grush's clan. We need laboreres and we'll need fighters if those two ever decide to run us out. Trying to incorporate Grush's people into our plans may fail, but we have to try. This isn't Caratos city, it is what it is. We already have people cutting trees and working the mill, we just need to have them work more efficiently. You're the man to do this. I don't know how, but we need to make this work. Now, no more of this 'fool orc' business. They aren't slaves, they aren unskilled workers. Talking down to them will be counter-productive. Do you understand?"

To Grush,
"He is not a coward, you are an Orc. Orcs are known for strength and ferocity in battle. He is just being cautious, he is not a warrior he is a worker, he means no disrespect to you. You will need to guard him, and he will teach you how to run mill better, keep it working, ok?"

I figure we'll need some time to try to figure out how they are going to communicate. I can go out there for a time, I guess. It's the only thing we got to work with atm...

Photius clearly doesn't like the idea, "I think it's a bad idea m'lord, you said you wanted my honesty and that's it, but you want me to do this I'll do it and I'll put my best effort to the task.

Grush grunts, "All workers be fighters when Black Spiders come to kill them." and he shrugs his large shoulders, "He get tougher, or he die." and he'll give you a toothy grin as if he's made a very funny joke.

So you've got them to work together, but your the only one who can cast the spell so they can communicate. How soon do you want to go out there and how long do you plan to be there?

We'll leave back out the next morning. I'll dedicate a week to it, see how that goes.

The next morning as your getting ready to leave you'll be in the courtyard getting organized. The raw soldiers are already training, two seasoned militia are with you as bodyguards (Tertius as well or you can leave him behind your choice)

Essen and Anthony are there, Essen is begging to go with you, Anthony is promising to help out while your gone (you sense sincerity in Anthony's promise)

Alliandra is watching from the top steps leading into the castle, her expression says she misses you already... crazy woman can't make up her mind how she feels!

Derbin finishes briefing the two militia and heads over to the trainees, you'll hear him yell, "What dat sorry sack o'dog s!+!e dink he be?" and he'll turn and walk very fast towards the barracks still cursing, "bastard dinks he kin stay out all night drinkin den be sick in da mornin an miss trainin!" and he'll disappear into the barracks but his voice still carries, "Wake up ya lazy bastard!"

The militia smirks in the direction of the barracks then will salute you, "We're ready when you are m'lord."

I'll talk with the consigliere and ask him to include Anthony in the runnign of things whie I am gone, as he has shown an interest, and let him help, but dont be afraid to tell him no.

I'll agree to takeing Essen, which means Tertius is going too.
Looks like Derbin has things well in hand :P I won't comment at all at his punishment of the theif. Its his call.

I'll smile warmly at Alli and tell her I'll be back before she knows it, doing nothing more than giving her hand a light squeeze.

I'll cast the necessary spell, and Ask Grush if he's ready to go.

Grush will grunt, "We standing for nothing, we go."

The trip back out will be uneventful, Photius will try to have a conversation with Grush but he talks too fast and Grush can't keep up. with your guidance he'll get better.

When you get to the sawmill you'll see it's still working but slower than before, Grush is mad and will start screaming at all of them.

Photius just shakes his head at you, "Inefficient, disorganized, no maintenance, this is going to take a lot of work m'lord." when he sees the minotaur he'll just stare in awe.

--------------------------------------------------------------
It's the fourth week of Decadrol.

It'll take you closer to ten days but you'll see a marked improvement. Photius will end up liking the minotaur "He does by himself what it would take 16 men to do!" The first wood to come out of the mill after Photius' improvements are immediately put back into maintenance on the mill. You just need to come to an agreement with Grush on a ratio. At full production, which is where you are now, the sawmill will produce 100 units of wood a month, previous production Grush was getting 20 units a month. He'll offer to take 30% which is 10 units more than he was getting and give you 70%

Photius will also tell you that the sawmill can be expanded, 10 units of stone and 15 units of iron and they can increase production to 250 units per month.

Photius has begun to learn their language, they've begun to pick up some caratosian, they're overcoming the need for you to be there constantly.

I will agree to 70%, and to the putting right back into maintenance.
We'll take helf of that to use for infrastructure in town and the farms and send the rest off to the Doukas. It's better than nothing.
Once the people in the city have homes, the farms are repaired, and very little wood is needed, then we'll send all of it to the doukas.

Now I have to see about getting miners for zinc and for stone...

Photius has developed a good working relationship with the orcs and goblins now, the minotaur has decided he likes him for some unknown reason. However Photius would still like you to leave the militia behind.

Grush has no problem with it, he's seen them and he respects them.

The goblins have especially warmed up to Essen, it's because of him actually that they started to learn caratosian.

Tertius says that leaving a couple militia isn't a bad idea, but that Derbin will want to swap them out, maybe send two guards with a wagon to collect wood and they stay for a month then swap on the next rotation.

That works, and we'll set that up with Derbin when we get back.

He'll ask Grush, "Do you have anyone that knows how to mine or cut rock? We could make same deal for stone as we have for wood. If it work well, we can even pay the workers, and for here too. That way get wood and stone, and make money. We help each other build, and defend with wood and stone."

Grush frowns as he thinks for a minute, "Stone like your walls?" Then he'll sigh and shake his head, "No, too many workers already, not enough to fight, need wall first."

"I understand. You know since we work together, if spiders come attack, you can retreat to my walls. Your people could live and work with mine, if it comes to that. But we'll build your wall first, talk about stone later."

He'll nod once, "build wall, then talk more, maybe you meet chief."

When you leave the mill do you take the two militia with you, or leave them there?

I assume Tertius and Essen are coming back, Grush will too, your attempts to convince him to stay are stubbornly refused, "You save Grush life, great debt." is his answer no matter what argument you make as to why he should stay.

Yes, he'll leave them there.
He'll talk to Grush about his family, if he has one, and if he's to stay with Titus he can bring his family.

"Grush family better with clan." if you press he'll concede, "Maybe someday, but not now."

You'll get back to the castle on the first day of the fifth week of Decadrol, only six weeks of winter left and you haven't seen a snowflake since the day you set sale out of Goran.

The town and castle are getting ready for the sun-day feast in a day. One of the townsfolk managed to make some yellow dye and cut up some old bedsheets, now there are yellow streamers all over the town adding a bit of color to an otherwise deary sight. You'll see a wagon full of small rocks and about a dozen children throwing them into the mud, Anthony is directing them. Some of the town center's already finished and while it's not paving stones it's a far cry better than the slosh and ick when you left.

He won't press him...

Titus will go tell Derbin about the men at the mill, and the rotation.

He'll enjoy the sun festival.

Derbin will request a private audience. Once alone he'll tell you that he thinks someone poisoned one of the men, he went out and got really drunk and the next morning was sick, at first it looked like a hangover but he's worried it may be something more than that, "Been drunk more times din yer kin count an I's know what it do looks like, dis'un was no da same somehow." The soldier recovered and his punishment was extra work, nothing too serious.

He'll also say that he thinks two of the soldiers are ready for regular duty tasks, and as an update the two Megalos children are hard working and will make fine militia.

------Numbers------
14 Trained
2 with megalos
4 with Octavia and Dardanos
2 at the Mill
6 available for assignment
Untrained
9 untrained
4 with potential (2 of these are megalos' children)
5 struggling to meet the minimum standards

Not included in above numbers
Tertius
Essen, Anthony, and Durzo
Derbin
Titus
Grush

What is the hurdle with the 5?
He'll ask Derbin if he's had the priest look him over.

Grush can practice with me and the the men in the mornings, if he can understand its not for blood.

Has Xion come up with anything yet?

He'll snort at you, "Grush understand training!"

He'll revel in the experience and marvel at the quality of your weaponry, he'll scare everyone the first time he goes for a killing blow and stops an inch from the soldier's head, but he'll never harm anyone. He might hurt but never cause injury. A couple soldiers will get irritated and mutter under their breath, but they're brought up short by the corporal.

You'll get a chance to see for yourself, the five that're having problems are just refusing to not be lazy. They do everything to the minimum, they cheat whenever they think they can get away with it.

Xion says he has some ideas but he's just not strong enough, magically, to see if they'd work.

The priest says his skill with healing isn't good enough to really tell anything... sigh, "I'm not a priest of Alowyn."

-------------------------------------------------------

The sun festival will be even bigger than last month. Alliandra will dance with you, megalos brings his family and Tessa as well. The townsfolk looks healthier and happier than last month, and the rocks Anthony had the kids put in make things a lot easier. Paulos Argyris sells honey mead and fish and again provides tables. His daughter dances with Anthony and he shows no signs of discomfort with her awkward gate.

A drunken townswoman will approach you, "Your a right good man m'lord, better than that scum sucking bottom feeder and his sons." and she spits in the dirt, "You don't take what you've no right to, and that alone makes you a good man, but more you've done give us hope," her husband will try to drag her off, "Thank you m'lord!" and as she's dragged away she turns her attention to berating her husband for trying to hush her up.

Looks like i need to send away for a priest of allowyn...
Titus will spar with Grush and take a measure of his tactics, and school that, as he probably already knows how to fight.

He'll enjoy his time with Alli and his family.
He'll let the womans husband know it's alright, he'll hear from anyone, good or bad news!

Grush's fighting style is all aggression, he wins by being stronger and tougher and more violent than his enemy. But you'll find that his respect for you makes him open to new ideas. Especially when he pairs against Essen and loses, that frustrates him a lot, being beaten by a 9 year old boy.

Megalos will let you know that he needs to see you after the festival.

He'll cheer up Grush and agree to meet Megalos

Best way to cheer him up is to teach him to be a better fighter. He adapts quickly as you teach him new tactics. Not as fast as Essen does, but then he's not the prodigy that Essen is.

Megalos meets you for breakfast, "I know it's still a Sun-day but this isn't the sort of thing that can be put off any further. The northernmost dominus, a boy of 15 who's taken over for his father, was injured defending the lands against goblins and orcs. He survives though he's likely to be bedridden for a month. If that was all I'd simply ask for troops, but his mother's a nightmare and she's running things up there. I tried to remove her but she's got some of the men in her pocket and short of violence there's nothing I can do."

"Is she of the opinion that she can not be removed?"

He nods, "She is. And she's willing to back up her... opinion... with violence."

"In a time when I'd be happy with some stoneworkers and she manages to find mercenaries...how many men does she have?"

He'll shake his head, "I'd say she has four overly large field hands, not mercenaries. The impression I got from dealing with her, and them, was that she's seduced them into doing what she needs." and he'll sigh, "It's not that I can't handle it, the two militia you assigned me are more than capable and even without my assistance I'm confident they could resolve the issue, but it'll be bloody and I'd prefer not to go down that route..."

"Sometimes other poeple make that choice for us, Poseidon, and we have left is to react to that choice. I understand you don't want it to get bloody, but it's a course she's chosen. I can go out there and handle it if you need me to. I don't want you to choose between your morals and your duty, especially not this early in the game."

"No I can do it, I was just hoping you'd have a better solution. There's no moral difference between committing the action and bringing others to do it in my place."

"Well, lets see. If you want to try it, I can have a letter drawn up to send to her, explaining the situation or to summon her here to explain herself. Do we have the time for that, or do you need quicker results?

He'll nod, "I can skip on to the next one for now and come back later, I've only visited about half of the lands so far, that would give you time to resolve this peacefully. Then if all else fails I can go and handle it the violent way." He says that last as if he'd just bitten into a bad bit of fruit.