Kingmaker (Inactive)

Game Master Dreaming Warforged

Ever aware of his role, Malaswyn dresses in his finest priestly robes, without arms or armour beside the fine scimitar, Sarenrae's weapon, that he always carries.

He casts magic circle against evil and comprehend languages on himself duration 130 mintues

He looks over Kalsgrim and shrugs, "Well, it's honest."

When Nunzio arrives, Kalsgrim utters a prayer from beyond the tent partition. Build trust, 13 day duration.

Nunzio will probably be disappointed when he sees Kalsgrim. He is still wearing his traveling clothes, which he considers appropriate for a paladin of Erastil. If any of his entourage brought more appropriate garb and insists, he’ll wear it. His he wears his armor, though with a single concession; his helmet of Erastil is in his pack, which allows his crown of Frieland to show. Also, he wears his signet ring of Frieland over his gloves.

Malaswyn nods to Marcel, "Good idea, you stay here and take care of the place."

Oberlin is up. Also, taking the carpet, broom, or walking?

Kal would prefer to walk. But if one of his team puts out that it would be better to take the carpet, he'll reluctantly go along with it.

Malaswyn walks beside the duke, Kalsgrim is a Nan of the people, even when ‘the people’ are nowhere to be seen.

”Quite grand. I wonder if we might contribute to the social whirl in some way? Not a tournament, something else?”

"While you two walk, I'll be flying right next to you. Oh yeah!" He then thinks on that a moment. "Slowly. Very slowly. Practically be at a stand still ... OKAY, looks like I'm walking too," he concedes reluctantly, stowing his broom within his bag and leading the way forward.

Oberlin will have the following spell list:

Oberlin needs more money for enchantments in his repertoire.

There are no spells of sufficient duration to have any real usefulness that Oberlin knows. His armor and protection are from items rather than spells.

Wearing his noble attire and with rod in hand, Oberlin cuts a dashing figure of mage.

"Remember. I need mere seconds for us to return to the tent by teleport. If I am unable to extricate us non-violently Sire, either due to the magic being blocked or by interruption (hopefully not turned to stone), the following spells will be clearing a pathway for you, regardless of any other considerations. We are in just as much danger here, as we were when we faced the Tiger Lords, it is simply more subtle."

Sorry to be a pain, but where are you leaving your "stuff." This is a feast. Are you going with your backpacks, satchels, armours, and arms? I've had most answers about armours and arms, not not about gear. The carpet, for example, where do you put it?

Malaswyn will leave his longbow, arrows and celestial armour behind.

He's not worried about them because Marcel is staying in the tent to keep an eye on things.

Assuming that we are still running Marcel in the background for now.

Okay, Kriger will leave his haversack with all his mundane junk in it. But he's still wearing his armor and taking his axe because he feels naked without his axe. He'd actually feel clothed if he was naked and still had his axe. It's all a matter of perspective. ;P But all his other weapons get left behind. And he'll have his bag of holding tied around his waist or strapped to his belt or whatever. And Kriger's broom will be in his bag of holding. And if you guys want, you can put the carpet in there as well.

Kalsgrim was planning on wearing armor and his road-worn travel clothes unless urged otherwise by his advisors. His bow and sword are tucked down into the biggest slots of his quiver. He was going to carry along his haversack out of habit, but if he notices the others leaving theirs, he'll leave his with Marcel as well. His flail would go into his haversack.

Where is an extradimensional space when you need one?...sigh. Oberlin will leave his bag of holding and backpack behind. No scrolls either, just rod, rings, righteous indignation.

"I feel ill prepared to just leave these things behind. I feel that I should have prepared some spells to fortify our tent in some way. Tomorrow, it might be better if I simply teleport our equipment back to the duchy." Oberlin muses.

"I feel exposed. he said, looking at the small pile of equipment he was leaving behind. "I do not like heading into this vipers nest with less than full battle raiment."

Looking from Oberlin to his gear and back to Oberlin again, "Why don't you just give it to me, O? I don't trust these people either that's why I'm leaving just my junk behind. The haversack is pretty useful but... whatever. Look, I'll just carry your bag and tie it along with my own, how's that?"

OR, we could put the bag of holding within the other bag of holding! Hey, what could possibly go wrong? ;)

The bag of holding is what looks most inconspicuous. Oberlin, I also need to know where your spellbooks are. Just because... Well, no real reason at all... ;) Kalsgrim, there are too many conditional statements in your description. Can you spell it out for me, now that the others have stated more clearly how they roll?

Kalsgrim leaves nothing behind. The garments over and under his armor are still dusty from the road. He makes few concessions to this being a diplomatic affair; his helmet, sword and flail are in his haversack and his bow is in its magical quiver. And he walks to the dinner rather than flies. The only things differentiating him from some random hunter wander out of the wilderness are the gleaming crown, ring and chain of Frieland.

His successor can eventual deal with the airs of title and entitlement. There is still too much work to be done building the kingdom for him to worry about it.

I love how hard Kalsgrim paladins!

spellbooks in the bag of holding. It weighs 25lbs, so Oberlin can’t just tie it in his belt. It’s gotta stay behind in social circumstances. He will give it to Kriger for safekeeping.

Nuzio gives you a questioning look as you emerge from your pavilion: "Going for the rugged look I see, waxed canvas, leather and brass details, a bit of mud staining to make it all look real... Yes, I guess it works..."

As you start walking, Nuzio waves to the guards following you and they slow down, giving you enough distance to converse more freely. He looks to Kalsgrim and asks: "My Lord Kalsgrim, may we talk in private, just you and I, as we walk?"

"I don't have anything to hide from my counselors, but I think it is fine."

Kriger remains silent but makes sure to keep an eye on the two.

Nunzio nods and takes Kalsgrim apart from the group. They remain within sight, the azure lake making a magnificent backdrop to their discussion.

Malaswyn sighs, ”Sonetimes, I pine for the temple. You can trust people there, implicitly. I can relax. Here, it’s like spending hours waiting for an ambush that might never come.”

The conversation seems over and Nunzio invites you to pick up the pace as you resume your walk towards the main pavilion.

The tent is as majestic as gaudy. Every effort has been made to make it look like more than a tent, but all these efforts fell short, somewhat, of the mark, and the tent still felt like a tent, just a shiny one.

Four men in armour stand guard at the main entrance, and more you can see patrolling the grounds. The tent can easily host hundreds, judging from its size, and a loud murmur pierces through the canvas, which grows to a roar as the door, a wood and gold mass, is opened for you.

Nunzio steps in ahead of you and shouts: "Oyez! Oyez! The Duke of Frieland and his high council!"

You can barely see through the darkness inside, given that it is still bright outside, but you make about 40 people or so, in a room half the size of the tent. there is music, laughter, strange animals in cages or roaming free, and the sounds of laughter, or drinking, and of general feasting.

But all drops as Nunzio shouts, and the tent is now completely silent.

Assuming you walk in.

The crowd, which includes low nobility, obvious contestants, pets, a few guards and many servants, is arranged around a dais on which sits a massive wood and gold throne. On the throne, a man not unlike Nunzio watches you with shy eyes, his thin crown standing crooked on his head.

The silence is almost threatening...

Sense Motive.

sense motive: 1d20 + 22 ⇒ (1) + 22 = 23

Before they walk in the tent, Kalsgrim will cast widen auras on himself, so that the magnificent presence of Erastil will wash over many of those in attendance.

Sense Motive 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (19) + 16 = 35

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (17) + 3 = 20

not sure if Oberlin can sense motive...

sense motive: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (5) + 3 = 8

Oberlin stares on, blissfully unaware of anything going on at the moment.

Does the man on the throne...Irovetti...look oddly under the influence?

Oberlin is probably missing that Irovetti is just drunk, but there is enough oddness right now...and this is the way that his brain works, that he will be thinking of arcane spells and or concoctions that would produce that particular look that Irovetti has right now.

knowledge, arcana: 1d20 + 24 ⇒ (12) + 24 = 36
knowledge, nature: 1d20 + 19 ⇒ (8) + 19 = 27

I'll let everyone post something before moving the scene forward. If you don't do or say anything, simply say so.

Malaswyn leans in to the duke, "Perhaps a time to lead the conversation, my lord."

Kalsgrim nods when Malaswyn prompts him.

He forces a smile that comes easily to him. "Good folk of the River Lands! We certainly didn't mean to disrupt the celebration. In a region rife with danger and hardship, let us have this night as a time to gather in peace and share the bounty hard won from these lands."

Is it a prayer? A threat? A polite greeting? Kalsgrim's carefully modulated tone leaves it open for individual interpretation.

Diplomacy 1d20 + 23 ⇒ (4) + 23 = 27. Another +2 if anyone is unfriendly or hostile. If it is a fail, his Patient Optimist trait allows him to reroll.

Edit: Looks like a reroll may be in order. 1d20 + 23 ⇒ (11) + 23 = 34, +2 if applicable.

Malaswyn inclines his head, "We arrive as strangers, let us leave as friends."

auto-passes aid another.

What in the blazes is everyone's problem? Why do they seem uncomfortable? I swear if they think they're going to ambush us, they got another thing coming. Kriger crosses his arms as he mentally prepares himself to go straight for his axe. If any of you drunks even pass out the wrong way, I'll make sure that you pass out PERMANENTLY. He then ponders his own thought a moment. Gonna have to remember that one. That would sound pretty good out loud I'm thinking, he concludes, nodding in satisfaction at the idea.

Oberlin scratched at his beard, peering around at the rest of the congregation. Perhaps they are all drunk?

King Irovetti rises. He seems quite upset and uncomfortable, not at all the image of the newlyrisen king others have portrayed.

In one hand, he holds a scepter in Numerian style, while his other hand holds a tiny white and brown dog. The dog yaps his challenged supremacy in your general direction.

After a long pause, the king says in an uncertain voice: "Leaders of Frieland! Stories have-"

But then the dog jumps out of his hands with a defiant yap and rushes through the crowd in your direction, coursing through legs, to finally jump in Nunzio's waiting arms.

Nuzio laughs and says: "Timmy! You certainly know your true master, yes? YEEEEES? Who's a good dog?! Who's a GOOD DOG!?!"

The crowd seems to ease suddenly, as if it had been holding its breath all along.

Well now, that’s just rude!

Stealing a man's dog? You don't need to be a paladin to know who is evil in this equation!

Raising an eyebrow, Kriger decides to blurt out, "Stories have what?!" He then notices the others looking at him incredulously. "What? I'm just curious to know what he was gonna say is all," he confesses, shrugging.

There's a long pause, as the crowd seems uncertain, then one close to you drops to his knees.

Nunzio looks a him with a pout and says with a sigh: "Sucker..."

Then, like a wave, everyone starts to kneel towards Nunzio as he walks through them and towards the throne. With the little dog in one hand, he grabs the crown from the king's head and places it on his head as the king too kneels and leaves him the throne.

Nunzio let's himself fall in the throne and looks at you for a long moment, his crown askew, then lets out a high-pitched laugh.

Narrowing his eyes and ready to go for his axe, "Hey! What in the Nine Hells is going on here?! What's this all about?!"

"I believe an explanation is in order." He says to Nunzio. He meets the man's gaze (if he will) and says "Lord Erastil, show me the evil at play here." He will use detect evil on Nunzio, Ivoretti, and their little dog, too.

Malaswyn shakes his head and addresses the man on the throne, "King Irovetti, you make sport of your guests? I hope we will not have to spend our entire stay watching out for attempts to gull us?"

Not my most conciliatory but when someone tries to get the upper hand, you can't just laugh it off. That's what he will try to do, perhaps.

The real King Irovetti sends the once-king Nunzio towards you with a wave of the hand as he keeps his smiling eyes on you. He grins and laughs as he says: "Oh come on! It was a joke. A. Joke! Surely, our new neighbours have a sense of humour, yes? Is it not one of the pillars of community?" and he turns to the crowd for support, who seem to relax now and laugh with the King, albeit with some nervousness remaining.

The little dog yaps his agreement, and gets a cookie for his troubles.

Laughing weakly, "A joke. Yeah that was a good one. The ol' switcheroo I see. Classic." Kriger just smiles awkwardly, not really knowing where to go with this.

"Now I am less certain if we are to be entertained at the festival or if we are the entertainment." Oberlin says under his breath, then waits to see how the Duke will manage the insanity.

Kalsgrim straightens. There is an awkward moment before he replies. "Sometimes a grand jest is a window to the soul, and as such a way to reveal one's nature to new acquaintances. We must be truly road weary to have not caught on sooner." He gestures to the small dog and adds "Are we to learn next that this noble soul is the true leader of the pack and owner of the crown, or shall we may introductions and dine?"

King Irovetti looks at all of you and laughs: "Wonderful is it not! Such good sports you are! A true good heart, just as the tales of your great adventures suggest. Ahahah! I cannot wait to see how you will make short work of your competitors in the tournament. But now, as the Duke reminds us..." and he gives Nunzio, who just a moment ago was sitting uneasily under the corwn of Pitax, a knowing look.

Nunzio clears his throat and shouts at the crowd: "Oyez! Oyez! Receive here his Grace, the Duke of Frieland Kalsgrim Lodovka, conqueror of the eastern centaurs and the western boggards, along with his no less magnificent and courageous coterie, the Lords Malaswyn, Speaker of the Dawn Light, Oberlin, Master of All Arts Arcane, Kriger of the Axe, Leader of the Tiger Lords, and M- ... Dear lords, welcome to the court of the illustrious King Irovetti of Pitax!"

And the crowds gathered bow deeply at you and clap in pleasure.

Irovetti stands and walks towards you, shaking your hands and smiling warmly.

Kalsgrim will make sure he's the first to shake hands with Irovetti; if he's pulling another hi-jink that would necessitate a saving throw, Kal wants to take the hit.

When they are settling in, Kalsgrim will ask "This is our first journey to Pitax. What can you tell us about the kingdom you've forged here?"

Malaswyn shakes the king’s hand formally, ”A pleasure to make your acquaintance.”

When the introductions are done, he tries to meet as many people as possible, making small compliments and introductions to initiate conversation. He avoids gossip and his favourite subject is Sarenrae.