Kingmaker [PbP] (Inactive)

Game Master Jeff Przybylo

Don't know if you'll be able to stay a pally though...

Talia closes her eyes and looks away, pinching her nose as she does so.

Breathing deep, she opens her eyes and turns back to Edric, worry plainly on the Viscountess' face. "I'm afraid, friend, the next full moon, you'll both need to be quarantined, if our healers can make no determination on infection..."

"You are quite right Talia," Edric nods. "We should certainly take full precautions. Besides, we've been away some time, it would be wise to attend to Fairhaven's needs for a while."

Take a kingdom builder turn and let this play out? Edric would like some time to retrain a feat...

Also - there's no alignment impact from being a lycanthrope, so it would depend entirely on what OGGM made me do while transformed as to whether I would fall or not...

Vosil nods wordlessly, attuned to the note of concern (or even fear) in the usually sanguine elf's voice. Retrieving his Pathfinder Chronicle from a saddlebag, he flicks through it. He has spent many months carefully reading it, and adding notes on the local flora and fauna. If there is wolfsbane growing nearby, he would have noted it down.

Knowledge Nature: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (9) + 12 = 21

(If it should be Knowledge local, it's the same modifier)

Wolfsbane?: 1d100 ⇒ 51

There is no known wolfsbane within Concord, but you do know of a patch just north of the town, along the marshy bank of the Tuskwater.

Vosil has said he was busy at work, but anyone can run with the info above. Also, I've put out PMs to both Dregan and Gavriil. I don't have any word as yet.

Back now

Vosil consults his notes. "I see no record of any wolfsbane within the town. The nearest patch is to the north, on the banks of the Tuskwater."

He closes the book, returning it to his saddlebag. "Shall we take a moonlit ride along the riverbank?"

An hour, says Naralesh...tick...tock...

Grabbing Apple's reigns, Talia lifts herself onto her steed, in one smooth motion. It seems she's spent more time on her horse lately than not. "Lead on, spymaster. Expediency is of the essence."

Edric swings onto his horse as well, still distracted by the fight, and the subsequent revelation that he might be infected he rides with only a fraction of his mind - allowing his horse to follow the rest, much slower now after the headlong gallop with two bodies on its back.

Still no word from those two.

Think Dregan was taking a 2-week holiday; I've done that flight back from Singapore and the jet-lag is pretty crippling. He might not be up to posting until the weekend.

Survival: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (20) + 5 = 25

Inevitably, now that combat is over, Vosil rolls high.

It is a simple matter to follow the light of the moon, bathing the pale blue flowers in silver. With no time to waste, Vosil dismounts quickly, gathering bunches of the wolfsbane in his arms.

Edric is absolutely no help at all. The stress of a days riding, followed by a murder investigation, reckless ride and finally battle in the streets of Concord is taking its toll and he sits with glazed eyes, barely awake while Vosil bustles around in front of him.

Is there anything that needs to be done with these flowers to make a cure?

Sure is. You have to make a tincture for Edric and Sgt Murton to drink. That would be a Kn: Nat/Survival/Prof: Alchemy (or cooking) check at DC 10. Then Edric and the good sergeant have to make a Fort save at DC 7 to keep it down. THEN...they get a Fort save at +4 to save vs the curse. I'll keep the DC on that secret for now...

Lycanthropy is fun!

Lycanthropy is fun!

As mother used to say: "it's all fun and games until someone gets disemboweled and eaten"

Knowledge (nature): 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (12) + 10 = 22

Vosil is able to prepare a suitable tincture from the collected flowers; he passes a steaming, fuming vial to Edric and the luckless Sergeant Murton. "Cheers..." He waits to see what happens.

Old Guy GM wrote:

Lycanthropy is fun!

As mother used to say: "it's all fun and games until someone gets disemboweled and eaten"

And not necessarily in that order...

Standing silent, Talia wrings her hands as Vosil works. She was never a cook, knew nothing about nature, nor much about werewolves, other than local - and probably untrue - mythology. One word ran through her head. Please please please please...

Fort to drink: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (19) + 9 = 28
Fort to save...: 1d20 + 9 + 4 ⇒ (9) + 9 + 4 = 22

Edric swigs down the liquid without comment, although he does wince at the foul taste. Pouring the remaining tea into a flask he leaps back on his horse to return to Concord and the Sargeant...

"That stuff is foul, my dad and brewed it occasionally to pour around a camp site to keep wolves away. I'm convinced anything with a sense of smell wold keep away. turning to Tall a "Surely Concord has enough coin to get healing for them both back n the kingdom."

Blinking, Talia turns to Dregan. She'd forgotten he was there. "I, yes, I'd think so. I mean, there's plenty of money for ladies-in-waiting and the like, there has to be some gold, somewhere, right, for emergencies?"

Obviously, the day-to-day operations of the realm were mysterious to the Viscountess. She was more of an "idea" royal.

Sgt to drink: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (11) + 4 = 15
Sgt Fort sv: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (20) + 4 = 24

"By the gods that's foul..." Sgt Murdoc says from his bed in the infirmary at the jail. But he drinks it down anyway, his face turning a light shade of green as he lays back.

Asha, by his side, watches him carefully. "He should make it," she says slowly, "though his wounds were severe. That was quick work there, in the street." She nods to Edric. "Speaking of which..." She stands up to look the man over, peering into his eyes and checking his color. "You appear to be through the worst of it. Although..." she says with a wry grin, "I'll guess we'll know for sure next full moon."

Shifting back here.

With the full moon past, your thoughts turn to further exploration.

Where to? The maps from Narthropple's expedition give you the general items to be found in the hexes, but are not 'explored' per se. He doesn't have that level of detail. What it does do is allow you to cut down the time exploring each hex, and give you a potential warning about things you might find.

A gaunt, leaner and tired, but visibly cheerful Edric greets the rest of the group the morning after the full moon.

"So friends, what next for our little kingdom? Following up on Narthropple's expedition seems sensible. With his maps to help us exploration should be swift and we would be able to focus on the main areas he outlined."

Talia's eyes gleam as the results of Narlthopple's expedition are presented. "An elvish castle? Let's go there!"

So give me a plan by hex - like we usually do - and add the appropriate rolls and we'll get going.

Once again atop her horse, Talia drifts into the middle of the explorers and lets Dregan lead the way. As she rides to the west, the Viscountess keeps her attention on her surroundings. Still, by the third day, the playwright's attention begins to wain; she'd forgotten in the month she'd been home just how uncomfortable these journeys could be.

When I'm home, I itch to be away. When I'm away, I just itch. Smiling, Talia gives Apple a little prod. That would make a great opening line in a soliloquy.

B7 -> b7

perception aid another day 1: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (14) + 6 = 20

perception aid another day 2: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (18) + 6 = 24

perception aid another day 3: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (1) + 6 = 7

Edric's unusual cheerfulness survives a full week of exploration, the paladin seemingly brimming with new enthusiasm for life and commenting happily on the flora and fauna as they ride.

Perc aid another 1: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (14) + 7 = 21
Perc aid another 2: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (3) + 7 = 10
Perc aid another 3: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (7) + 7 = 14

Sorry been slack with posting.

Dregan gives Edric a hug when he emerges from his isolation. I'm sorry I should've killed him out in the forest before the moon rose, but I just could do it. I don't know, my inaction might have... I'm not sure if I should warden if I can't make the hard decisions."

Dregan clear happy to back out in the wilderness and adopts his normal position about 10 yards in front of everyone else.

Remember everyone's perception and survival {and a few others} rolls have an additional +2 in forest, Dregan also get a further +2 t survival to track.
Day 1
Perception: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (6) + 11 = 17
Survival: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (13) + 10 = 23
K. Nature: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (12) + 5 = 17

Day 2
Perception: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (2) + 11 = 13
Survival: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (9) + 10 = 19
K. Nature: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (15) + 5 = 20

Day 3
Perception: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (16) + 11 = 27
Survival: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (6) + 10 = 16
K. Nature: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (18) + 5 = 23

26 Desnus 4708

B7 This is area where you first met the Swamp Witch. her swamp hut is much as you left it. But she is not home. Percival the scarecrow still keeps watch.

27 Desnus 4708

A7

Nearly the whole of the area is explored when you hear an old man's voice ahead. If you didn't know better, you'd swear he was singing...

The voice is coming from just over a rise on the forest floor.

Map facts: B7 is half lake, half hills. The lake continues down from C6 and touches the line at A8. Then it fills the rest of the hex and just the top one-eighth of the B8 hex before connecting. A7 is a woods hex.

Vosil wraps his cloak around him to keep out the late Spring chill, shifting in the saddle as he does so; it's good to keep alert out here.

He breathes in deeply, savouring the crisp air and the dark, silent, forest alike - when the silence is broken by what sounds like singing.

With a frown, he consults his notes. "Narthropple said that this part of the woods contains 'the hut of a madman' - that noise might be him. Shall we?"

Making sure that his whip is close to hand, he looks to the others.

Let's go check this guy out!

Tying Apple to a nearby tree, Talia nods. "If he's a madman, let's be careful."

Hand on her longsword, Talia heads towards the sound of singing, crouching and moving from tree to tree as she goes.

perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (11) + 6 = 17
stealth: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (2) + 6 = 8

Anyone else sneaking up?

Errm... no!

Edric dismounts and simply walks, knowing that any attempt at stealth is going to be futile at best.

Talia sighs as her general clanks past her. Rising from her crouch, the Viscountess brushes a twig from her cloak and follows behind Edric.

Hah!

The old voice cracks and rasps through a hideous song:

'the voice says go and I gooooo,
the voice says stop and I stoooooop,
the voice says stand I staaaaandddd,
the voice says drop and I droooooppppp!'

"Oh! Hello!" leaping to his feet, "What brings you here pretty? Come to see me? How kind! How very deliciously kind! Have you met Cat? Here is Cat! Cat this is...someone! Yes! Someone!"

The old man capers about as he speaks, dressed only in rags and mud. He prances around a rather large-looking panther, who languishes in a pile of leaves and licks her paw.

Dregan will follow bow at the ready. The mad man is hardly likely to more dangerous than the witch and Talia wanted to talk to her.

-Posted with Wayfinder

And now we....

Ahh, Talia thinks, Crazy indeed. Talia gives a quick bow, still wary. "We are just travelers passing through, friend. I'm Talia, and this is Edric, Dregan, Vosil, and Naralesh. Nice to meet Cat, and yourself of course. You are?"

Inwardly, Talia groans, thinking back to the batty, though ultimately kind, Belldame.

Yes, crazy. The woods are full of it. Steeling herself for what is surely going to be an almost inedible supper, the Viscountess gives the old man her winningnest smile.

Diplomacy if needed: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (20) + 14 = 34
Diplomacy if needed, herald's expertise: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (6) + 14 = 20

"Just a lonely druid am I. We wander these woods looking for evil!" The old man prances up to Talia, putting his face right into hers. His brown teeth and fetid breath are...quite a test. "You're not evil, are you? Are you?"

Edric checks to see if the druid is... or if Talia has become so without everyone noticing...

Detect Evil!

"We are not, but this a witch not moe than 30 miles from here. Have you checked if she is evil?

"Ah yes! The swamp witch is evil! Very evil! With an evil bird that pecked at Cat!" the old man cackles. "Stay away from that one! She eats babies! And Cats!"

The old man drops into a crouch and sidles sideways up to Dregan. "Why would you ask us that, hmmm? Need our help, do we? We do! Good! Good! We will travel with you and keep you safe! Many things we can show you! Danger! Danger everywhere!"

Edric moves over to Talia and whispers in her ear. "This one is worse than the witch." with a significant intonation on the word 'worse'.

We need a hand signal for "this one is evil"!!

Raising an eyebrow, Talia turns to the old man and says, "Of course. We appreciate your keeping an eye on things. What can you show us? What danger do you know of?"

Her message and tone, while congenial enough, seems not to be addressed to the stranger, and yet it is.

bluff to pass message: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (16) + 12 = 28

Dregan nods to Talia and says to the man "Unfortunately we won't be much help against the witch, I suspect she might have charmed them."

-Posted with Wayfinder

The old man sniffs about, wandering in a small circle. Cat stretches to it's full length before standing up. "Wind is changing. Yes. Yes. Wind is changing. Storms brewing! We must camp. We settle here!" With that the druid sits with his back to a large tree and picks up a leaf, holding over his head. Cat moves leisurely over to the old man's lap and plops down into it. Within minutes, he's snoring.

Now what? :)

Edric moves over to Talia and whispers in her ear. "He's evil, but not any immediate threat. I propose that we leave him here and explore further, see if we can locate his dwelling. No need to engage yet at least."

Need some definitive plans/actions to move forward.