Kingmaker: Stolen Lands of the Shining

Game Master BloodWolven

Oleg takes the spot on the wall, "You are looking better lass", he says to Masota as they pass each other.

If and when you want me to make any rulings go ahead and ask here.

I was just concerned that there was disagreement between characters because players had differing expectations of what general law and order of the region looked like. I could be wrong.

I wouldn't worry about it Quince, we just need to work through it as a Council. I would expect as much from Masota and S'ala regarding prisoner treatment.

Yup, you guys basically just need to work out things and come to a consensus.

Everyone when combat happens feel free to post for one round at a time. Then I will recap. Then we will move to round 2. Just a reminder.

I am not adverse to hashing it out but I want to make my basic idea about the region is correct. I am assuming that prisons are very rare. But floggings, and worse would be the norm. If I am wrong and the world is different I would make adjustment to what is appropriate. If the idea of a beating is considered by average, good lawabiding people as cruel and barbaric by people of the region I would not chose it as an option. I am thinking that a few wacks or a branding is relative kindness compared death, long term indenture, permenant maiming or prolonged torture.

I just think it might help to know what is common in this context before we argue about it along time.

Yes prisons are very rare. Well I think the norm would be killing someone, or beating them. Flogging requires the creation of a flog, unless you are morbid I think it would be more of whipping than flogging.

I think a basic beating would suffice, then if there are more occurances there would be branding. That would be leanant in this region. I think the first offense would be beating and if they got caught. But if they got away with it, then likely they would be killed. I just think the area as a few hunters, monsters, and bandits. Not much civilization, at least that is how I am going to run it.

Please civilize this area!

Kevros does not want to flog them. Marking them or drawing a composition (a mug shot) is good for tracking. That way, we know if they go against their repentance. Kevros does not want to be another swordlord and at the same time for our safety, we have to follow the rules of the charter until we can enforce our ideals or the Swordlords will exact their punishment on to us. This is is why Kevros is wanting to discuss things and not coup de gracing the bandits right now.

I am unaware of a difference between flogging or beating I thought they were synonyms.

Flogging is usually done with a cat'o'nine tail whip

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cat_o'_nine_tails

Beating is usually done with fists, feet, and other bludgeoning items.

And yes, I am a "peaceful" person ... ;-)

Lol

LOL, yes there is a major difference! Thank you Kevros for the information.

There is even a big difference of just a whipping. Since a whip only does non-lethal damage. Though anyone who has gotten a whipping would say after a half dozen whippings it is not non-lethal.

Any physical damage can become lethal. People can die from shock caused by the pain of whippings, or blood loss, or even infection. It is not completely non-lethal. I guess you can say, direct whip damage is non-lethal but indirect damage can be in certain circumstances. Although if you are dealing with a Bull Whip, you can actually kill people with it. There are reports of native people using a bull whip to kill caribou and an already injured wolf.

Wow! Yup whips can be nasty, just like any weapon.

Quince, I am all for that!

Review of the Keep:

A1 = Courtyard

A2 = Guest Quarters\Barracks

A3 = Stables

A4 = Store Room

A5 = Prisoner Pits

We have pits? Currently they are tied to posts spread thoughout the yard.

This came up before. We spoke about some NPC reaction. Are we aware of the river freedoms. One of them is oathbreakers die. If Quince is aware of this. He reccomends make the prisoners take an oath. Bind them with thier own code nit just impose ours.

Maps are in the campaign info.

Honestly the stolen lands is more of a no man's land, though likly some if not many of the people of these lands would follow or go by 'laws' set in the river freedoms.

As in the river freedoms, breaking an oath is by far worse than stealing or other minor crimes.

If we are aware of the freedoms. I would expect an oath. They might stillbreak that code but thinking is that respecting the code might go a long way in earnjng respect amongst people here. There are pioneers here that if they wanted to live in brevoy would but they chose here if it was only bandits who would they rob. Its an issue of winning hearts and minds.

Question:
Kevros asked Oleg if he and his wife are okay with the prisoners working around the trading post. He really did not respond. It would not go well for us if he is against the idea. LOL

I didn't push it because Bloodwolven was in a hurry so I was fast tracking our duties unless Bloodwolven through up some resistance. In addition, Oleg did say he didn't mind earlier.

Just dotting 'I's and crossing 't's.

Just dotting 'I's and crossing 't's.

I hear ya and I am trying to. Some people just have no patience for government ... LOL

Sorry guys, yes Oleg wants to see the prisoners pay, so he will allow them to have their pits, but only if the pits are at least 10 feet deep. So that they really cannot climb out of them.

They can make the place be more of a fort rather than an outpost. Also building the coral puts them out of the outpost, same goes for making new compost pits outside.

No pits for prisoners, a temporary holding building until a better solution can be built. Since Oleg is so into compost pits, which I have no idea why, we will be digging them were future protected agriculture will go.

And yes, when Stalker arrived, the prisoners were secured for tonight for dinner and rest.

If you've got a labor force, nothing prevents you from expanding the outpost area either. Just takes time and materials (and expertise, I guess).

They should have time, and materials are probably near at hand. Presumably Oleg built this, so perhaps there's expertise as well.

Again, presumably, we'll only be increasing the size of the labor force on future bandit interactions.

Oleg did no build the Outpost, it used to be a military outpost and he came here about 4 months ago and has been slowly renovating the place.

Is it reasonable to assume that digging the pits and building a fence for the corral with the help of those we will be leaving to supervise the prisoners that they can do fair enough?

If they are able to do that. The next question is will a builder be needed to expand the barn or make further changes? Or is the assumption that the building is fairly rudimentary.

What do you think? Likely they will be able to do such.

Yes a builder will likely be needed, if not a team.

It could go either way. Which is why I asked. In modern society there are general contractors, strict building codes and less forgiving more rare building materials. I am assuming this outpost is primarily wood, wattle and fairly straight forward in design. And that commoners likely have had to build or repair their own dwellings. It really comes down to the size of the buildings and the sophistication of existing construction. If it is primarily log and wattle then it might be fairly easy to add on. If it is lots of finished planks, and shows signs of more than simple construction they a pair of builders to serve as foremen might be advisable.

This whole place was a military outpost. Now only two individuals live here: Oleg and his wife, until your gaggle of allies showed up.

Not for sure but we will say wood and wattle.

Perhaps the barn is simple but the living quarters might require more knowledge and finesse that seems generally the layout of.most farms.

Shouldn't be too hard to find a builder if we have PC's with us who know the area. We'll just have to keep a lookout.

Once we establish ourselves, more prominent builders will come along. However, we can wing it until then. I mean after all, who taught the first crafter how to craft ... exactly, him\herself.

sorry for the short posting yesterday, laptop died, should be ok with my temporary fix for now.

So yeah I have waiting a week to drop the ' only the just live free line'

I figure the heroic saddling up moment was about as good a moment a as any. When I was playing around with the heraldry websites they all ask for a motto. I figured we are trying to bring justice to a wilderness that prides itself on freedom. If you like the line I will work into the crest.

The moment setting out to battle just called for something. Elrond declaring us the fellowship was already taken.

It will live in my memory forever.

I may have to start a serious substance abuse problem in order to sear from my memory :)

No really, nicely done Quince !

LOL Thanks. My hat is still off to Masota though the born in a stable line was awesome (even though that is not where I thought we were at the time).

I don't mean to put a damper on your great attitudes. I am fed up being confused as to when PCs take their actions. This may or may not pertain to this campaign, I just want to make sure this is clear. Make sure that you label each post with Round 1, Round 2, or whatever round you are attacking in, otherwise you will forfeit your previous actions and I will take your latest post as what round we are in.

Roger, although it must be the other one ... lol.

Soooo. I worked this up with the free version of one of the Heraldry Software sites. It is by no means the coolest as far as art goes those versions are either more expensive than free or far less options.

It certainly could have more frills and decoration some heraldry crests gets crazy with banners and supporters standing on either side helmets on top yada yada. Brevoy's symbol is fairly straight forward. Yellow shield with two headed red dragon.

I wanted a different shape to the shield. Something less standard. But again the free version.

https://docs.google.com/drawings/d/1N6KvHZ5UUD72BlY-FAmubOlwkkMJBkruej2x5bC Bb_Q/edit?usp=sharing

Not sure why the URL is not directing to my Google Doc.

https://docs.google.com/drawings/d/1MnNkHIuA3hzfw-g1-WK0M7UrIv-9EpS36Abt1nu LMUo/edit?usp=sharing

Here is a revision of the crest I liked this one better because I like the different shield shape and I could customize it more.

For the heraldry snob I believe this would be described as:

A gules shield with a verdant bend in the sinister. Blazoned with a sable bear rampant low, a ardent sun and azure lotus in fres.

I think Bloodwolven my links are failing because for some reason they are pointing me to the campaign info page which I likely cannot edit.

Weird, send me the link in my email, perhaps I can upload it differently.

Now that we have seen some of the countryside I was wondering. What does the local landscap look like is it hilly, forests, prairie ect.

Also do we see signs of life; homes, farms other outposts, trials, roads. Or are we talking primeval wilderness?

In downtime that Quince is awake. He would want to inquire how news travels in this region. Basically want to know if it's possible to spread news throughout the general region.

If Tristan, Oleg, Stalker, or Siph or any one know Quince would be interested.

Quince would also be trying to get a feel for what can grow in the region if it's possible to farm. Most importantly what are the things that people can do for a living in the land without resorting to banditry.

Ooooooh... Map coming up... It is now in the campaign info.

Plains and forest, then farther south turns into bogs.

The last day has been true wilderness, no roads, no farms, no homes. News travels slowly, through the hunters and traveling merchants. Though as you can tell Oleg and Svetlana did not know of Tristan's parents demise what a month has passed or was it two?

farming is very viable, though the lands need to be tamed first. Near the rivers and in the plains would be ideal to plant most kinds of crops.

If there is more structure and community, people could become miners, farmers, loggers, builders, and village professions. These are the ones that I can think of for now.

Are the Narlmarches swamp or forest? I was under the impression more swamp the further west you go.

I am assuming the Sellen River flows south. Meaning any timber would have to go by wagon not up river into Brevoy, which Quince would know considering his back story.

I would imagine that a region like this would have its share of furriers and trappers.