Kingmaker AP - Into the Stolen Lands! (Inactive)

Game Master Haldhin

first thats for asking the questions the last 5 times I applied with this chaarcter I never got any clarifying questions just a no your not in the game.

now to the answers:

My questions are related to your backstory. First, is the existence of a barbarian tribe near Restov in canon anywhere, or is it something you came up with for the character?

I really would not consider them "barbarians" rather a settlment of people that live off the land and trade with passing merchants. dealing in furs and other natural comodities. based much on native american tribes of the Nez Peirce. it was something I created for the charcter. I tried to find some way to incorporate already existing stuff for the concept but there just was nothing.

Second, why would the Mayor make a treaty with a small group of barbarians, and then send one to the Stolen Lands with a charter that would potentially lead to him becoming a leader of a free city?

see the first answer as they would not be considered "Barbarians" despite being primitve and very shamanistic, they do have a purpose in the region. in the past the tribe would provide traded goods with the local farmers and outer hamlets. second the warriors of the tribe would help locals with bandits and brigands also providing guides and trackers for hire. unfortunately a series of events as pplaced a strain on the relationship. The Mayor is hoping that by settling in the Stolen lands the problem will move from his "doorstep" to there. and also possibly bring the tribal traditions of White Eagle's people to a more civilized status. and create a valuable trading partner in the future.

I see white eagles role in a new city as somthing regarding agriculture and trade. (perhaps a minister of trade) after enough time with a party of more civilized people he will most likely begin to adopt more of their ways and not be so "barbarian" as it was put.

I like the backstory, I'm just struggling to reconcile it with this particular Adventure Path.

As for how he would have a charter, I'm not sure I have a good answer. I'm not very familiar with the AP. Could I have traveled to Port Ice only to be rebuffed when I began to make inquiries into the old woman's fate and grown frustrated? Perhaps he would have sought employment as a distraction or as a way of earning the favor of those from whom he wanted information.

I'm open to suggestions, though - I'd love to be a part of the game!

I reworked Dross' background slightly. Short version: Enge Garess was his friend at the Acadamae. She died. He took the news to her family and ended up working for them.

That provides rationale for his campaign trait, noble born with association to Garess and gives him an in for procuring a charter.

Looking over traits, how much of the fluff do you want incorporated. Loreseeker looks amazingly good, but Dross isn't so big on ancient ruins. Likewise the initiative edge that Exile gives is good, but Dross isn't hunted by anything except shame over dropping out and a conviction that he can only justify himself to his family if he makes good somehow.

Also, I'm kind of a story guy and not huge on optimization. I pretty much play out of the Core Rulebook. Dross is a mish-mash of "sub-optimal" choices based largely on his history. (Seriously, who opposes conjuration?) He'll be trying to make smart choices in the future, but my time and references are limited. I guess what I'm trying to say is if the party is going to need an uber-mage to survive, I'm not the guy to play it. On the other hand, I won't be out-shining anyone, even if I can bend reality to my will.

In any event, I can rewrite the background to make it more friendly to what you are looking for. The most important (immutable) things about her are: 1) she is lost, and looking for direction 1a) helping friends is to her building family that she desperately needs; 2) she is generous and a bit naive; 3) she feels the stars call to her every night.

The bandits that killed his parents and ravaged his home are likely long dead (it happened ~42 years ago) but it's entirely possible that their sons and their sons are still alive and kicking in the Stolen Lands! Having a good reason to go a-knocking on the doors of bandits doesn't hurt, right?

And as far as getting the charter, I'd imagine he'd have received it directly from the higher ups in the church of Ragathiel, and be tasked with settling the Stolen Lands and building a new church there. It would absolutely be a great goal to establish an official church of Ragathiel in a new country, especially since they are a fringe religion at best in all current countries.

I was mistaken with that campaign trait, I thought I could gain it by being friends with the dwarves. The problem I have is that none of the campaign traits really fit my wizard. Ah, I got it. So Rand doesn't know much about his mothers side, hid father would never talk about her. He finds out on one of his latest expeditions with the dwarves, that his Mother was actually of noble birth. I'll go ahead and update the back story to fit this in.

Thanks for the input

As for the being able to go both good and evil, that's absolutely true, but I see her as being both and neither. She basically seeks to emulate Gozreh or the wind in this; one moment she's the cold, harsh wind that chills you to the bone and shrivels crops, the next she's a cool breeze bringing refreshment on a warm day or the wind that brings the rain that waters the crops.

Javeed left on very good terms. His family paid his way, actually. This was cheaper then keeping him around. His family was pretty large, he had 5 older brothers, 3 older sisters and 2 younger sisters. He has good relations with his close family, but there might be a few who harbor resentment that he was given this chance to "follow his dream".

Now he sees it as an opportunity. He can barely begin to imagine the treasures that could be hidden there. Perhaps he can make a discovery that will allow him to get back into the society, or even better lead him to become the first Venture Captain in the Stolen Lands.

That is actually different from what I had put in my original post, but I like the idea. I know that I will need to alter Rameth's stats just a bit, and change a trait, but, what do you think?

I'm in two minds about this, but I would be happy with either hook panning out.

Firstly, you are right in that he absolutely needs it to be true in his heart. This isn't just to act as a salve for what he see's as a lifelong betrayal of his right to know the truth from his adoptive parents. Since first being told of his heritage he has found the grim reality of his transformation easier to bear as an heir to a kingdom, as someone of importance; rather than seeing himself as a freak. Of course, he's too proud to ever admit this externally without some extreme trust issues being overcome. It might not be true; but it is defining his life.

Secondly, in line with the player's guide I think its fairly indisputable that Choral or his kin was Varnius' progenitor somewhere in his ancestry, just because of the setting and locale. However, that doesn't necessarily mean he is the last in line. There could be all manner of savage, draconic halfbreeds lurking in the far reaches of the stolen lands and a good hook might be having Varnius confront what he could have/might turn out like: a mutated horror of scales and evil. He could even have a sibling secreted away in some abandoned mountain keep. Hell, there could be a collosal Red Elder Wyrm counting his treasure under one of them. There is only one way to find out ;)

Hope that was in line with what you were looking for. Do let me know if there is anything else you would like to know.

[spoiler=Randragoran]I like the mundane nature of the affliction, and that he doesn't really know what it is or how to treat it. Nice touch. I'm fine with the update regarding his mother. Gives the DM some meaty plot hooks to work with in a campaign. :)

Knowledge (Nature) +3, Handle Animal +1, Profession (Bounty Hunting) +1
Other Gear Manacles, Rope, Hemp (50ft), backpack, scroll case,

flint/steel, wineskin, marbles (2 bags), hunk of hard cheese, pepper

(1lb.)

TRACKED RESOURCES
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Arrows, Wooden - 0/40 of 40
Arrows, Blunt - 0/20 of 20
Marbles - 0/2 of 2
Feather Fall (1/day) (Sp) - 0/1

--------------------
SPECIAL ABILITIES
---------------------

Sylph Traits: Darkvision 60ft., Electricity Resistance 5, Sylph Magic:

Feather Fall 1/day

silver blond hair that seems to flutter slightly in an everpresent

breeze. She is clothed in simple clothing, all hazy fog grey in color.

She wears sturdy boots, breechers, a flowing chemise, a rough white fur

cloak and a silk veil. She could easily be mistaken for a ghostly

spirit or mist wraith.

villiage in north Brevoy, though no known family tree of the Medvyed

line bears her name. She is the decendant of Eudonius Medvyed who well

known for his extra marrital affairs. As soon as she was placed into

her mother's arms, her father, Thius Medvyed, loathed her very

existance. "His only child was a halfbreed monstrosity! What would the

rest of the family think?! The shame!" That same day, rumor spread via

hushed servants and staff through to the rest of the family that Aleta

died during childbirth. Her mother, more kind-hearted than Thius,

showed her love that her father could not.

Aleta was put to work with menial jobs as soon as she was of age

gathering firewood or bringing in fresh game for the day's supper. She

soon became a quick study of the flora and fauna of her family forests

and a capable hunter.

On her 15th year, her father in a fit of drunken fury beat her mother

senseless. In a flash, she seized her bow and began firing arrows at

her father causing him to flee into the surrounding woods. Giving

chase, she used her knowledge of the forest to guide her father right

into a hidden pit trap. The last thing she remembers of Thius was

hearing the wet crunch of bone-snapping and a whimpered moan of pain.

She left without checking if he was alive or dead. Aleta abandoned her

family estate and her name and took to the road that very night. Aleta bestowed the surname Brumeveil onto herself so that she would never forget where she came from.

Traveling afar, Aleta discovered that the skills she honed in the forests of her homeland could be put to use hunting and capturing humans just as easily as wolves and bears and paid quite enough to live off of comfortably. Especially if the humans were nobles...