Lords of Themselves: A Kingmaker Adventure Path.

Game Master Red Ramage

Happs continues to do his best to seem useful. Um, if...well...there aren't really any maps of the area, but I could take you there. It's a day's travel on horse. Other than us, there's Kressle and 8 others. What else...what else...Oh! Kressle! I think she works for someone else, but I'm kind of new here, so I don't know.

Oleg, in response to Cassius, says, No, I don't have a map, I'm afraid. I suppose that's part of why you're down here. I can give you the supplies you'll need to keep one, though.

Maja perks up at the conversation between Kivan and Cassius. "Xen? You mean Xen Fahls? My late husband was tracking that monster to put and end to his terror..." Maja's voice falls to a whisper. "But Xen killed him." Although she had prayed that Xen be captured or killed, it hadn't occurred to her previously to do it herself. "If you can find this man, Cassius, you'll earn my favor as well."

Pretty hears everyone talking about this Xen guy. She looks at Sera and Idris, raising her shoulders in a I-have-no-idea-what-that-is way. She turns and continue talking with the so called leader of the group, calming him down.
Diplomacy: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (20) + 3 = 23
Hey! HEY! Calm down, we're making progress. Don't desperate, breath, and let it flow. Now, we are here.
She grabs the dagger her tail presented and drew an asterisk in the hard ground with a "N" letter on top. She makes a small square, pointing to it, and continues.
The camp you said is a day ride south. She draws the line south. That's would be about 30 miles riding, are you sure about that? What others places have you gone to to collect money? And why do you think your boss follows someone else's orders?

After he is finished talking she directs to the others:
What about you, why aren't you showing yourself useful in anyway, don't you want to live? We will be nice if you deserve it. I still need to know how the place looks like, what are the defenses, who have you been blackmailing, what else is on the land, or maybe something else i judge important.

_______
Do we find anything relevant to the search with them?

"If you give us reason to show you amnesty, we may grant it -- although I would leave that final decision to the people whose freehold you have oppressed for this long time."

Sera listens and watches closely as Pretty interrogates the bandits and casts Detect Magic on the captives and their equipment. She returns her unknowing look over the half-orc and says, "Kressel is a woman then? And how soon is she expecting you back, Happs?"

Sense Motive: 1d20 ⇒ 1
Sera senses they hungry and craving caffeine. Oh wait... no, that's me. XD

Wonder if they have any food in these bags? Also, who is this Kressel?

I'll give you the full equipment list later when I have the book in front of me. Suffice it to say that it's just the usual gear, except a silver amulet shaped into a stag's skull. There is about a day's worth of food, so the story checks out. Nothing detects as magical.

Halls continues jabbering There ain't no other places around here to hold up. We just pick off merchant caravans. This is the only steady source of income for us. I think Kressle works for someone else cause she gave me that necklace and she has one too, but she doesn't have any symbol or anything like that for herself. Plus, we bought a bunch of weird booze, but she won't let anyone drink it. I think it's for the big boss. She expects us to be back late tonight.

Oleg interjects at this point and says Oho, no. No mercy for you. Pull get the rope like you deserve. All I have to do is walk a hundred yards south and I'm in no man's land. I can put you to death myself.

Happs whimpers and grovels, begging to be spared. Please! I gave you all the information I have. I have a wife and kids. Just let me go. I can't go back to Kressle anyway. She'll kill me for spilling all the details about the camp.

Pretty looks at Oleg with wide eyes, not believing what she had just heard. Please, Oleg. I know you have the right of vengeance for all you have been suffering through their hands, but I did not knew you would want this. Don't be like them. Besides, I told that if he shared the information with us he would "live to see another day". Of course it's a expression that works both ways, we may kill him tomorrow or grant mercy, but anyway I did not mean to harm the one who cooperates, and it appears only one of them did that. So we could deliver him for the authorities in Restov, or judge him by robbery, but as much as we know he did not kill anyone and maybe doesn't deserve to hang.

And he has fami....wait, WHAT??! You have family? Where the heck would that be?

"Well what about my half-orc question? Also, what is your name oh bandit who isn't Kern or Roy?"

Kivan asks these questions while munching on the food he has found so far.

If Oleg wants them dead, then lets just off em' and be done with it.

I'm tempted to just let the arrow go and kill Roy, but i feel like my alignment restricts that

Cassius then turns to Maja and Kevin and asks WHEN I find this half-orc, what do you plan to do with him?

"We did promise them their lives for information. I am loathe for us to go back on our word."

Pretty tries to remember if she saws the amulet anywhere before...
Knowledge (Local): 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (13) + 7 = 20

I do think it is a holy symbol of lamashtu but whatever... And maybe i'm wrong. The symbol is not magical, right?

"Cas, hold a moment, please."

Seraphina puts her hand on Pretty's shoulder and speaks low so the captives do not overhear, and motions Idris near as well. "You promised life for co-operation... the first to cooperate if you remember, but I'm not sure we're authorized to offer amnesty at all. Look again at the terms of our charter..."

"I think we must keep Happs in our custody until he helps us deal with Kessel's Camp. But the other three will hang. I don't think it can be any other way. But perhaps this man can show his reticence for his crime by aiding us in finding the camp. We could show cause that he is not "unrepentant" then." She offers her a tight, sympathetic smile, but her sympathy is for Pretty. Not the thugs in bonds.

M-my family? Back in Restov...but anyways, I never heard of any Xen's around here. And I told you, I don't know his name.

My name's Bill. And we aren't withholding, it's just that the teacher's pet here won't shut up long enough for us to talk. But everything he's said is true. The big boss is the Stag Lord. Never met him myself. Don't know a thing about him or where he lives, before you bother to ask. Bill is quite deadpan. It seems like he's probably been in this situation before.

For a moment, Maja tries to adopt Kivan's nonchalance. But she doesn't even convince herself. "Kivan," she whispers so the captives can't hear. "How can you just start munching on their food while we're deciding whether these men live or die?"

Don't let those silly alignment letters tell you what to do. Do whatever Cassius would do, just as long as you're ready for any consequences.

It's not any holy symbol, but you haven't seen anything like it before. It has no magical qualities.

Oleg chimes in Yes. Your documents say they have to hang. I'll even do it for you. And that Happs fellow is only good as long as you need him anyways. Bring him back later and I'll string him up, too.

Kivan looks up semi-surprised.

"Well kinda like this I suppose."

With those words Kivan pulls out another piece of food and eats it.
After he's done eating he looks back at the bandits.

"I'm not sure I want to hang them. Oleg could you keep these men in line?"

If we keep them alive, the minute we leave they could come back in greater number. Even these four bandits could kill Oleg and his wife once we leave. These men signed their fates when they took to banditry. I'm not going to risk the lives of innocents so that 4 degenerates get a "second chance"

Now hang on, Bill asserts his voice into the mix. I didn't know we could be repentant. I'd be more than happy to return to Restov and work off my crimes. I thought we were just sitting here waiting for execution. The other two voice thir agreement as well.

Oleg is not pleased. No! These animals have made me and my wife love in fear for months! That Kressle woman almost chopped off my hand. This oaf indicating to Happs, threatened to rape Svetlana if we didn't cooperate! Mercy will only result in suffering for those of us who are innocent.

Happs argues loudly Did not! He's lying!

Well, it seems they did scare you Oleg, but they did not much more then that, aside from financial extortion, which can be compensated. Anyway, i offered parley only for the one who would speak first, and we're not in our explore region yet, so it is your law Oleg, but you are not unwise, are you?

btw, sense motive on Happs' scream. 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4

sense motive on Bill -- is he sincere?: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4
Sense motive on Oleg -- is he lying about happs threatening rape?: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (9) + 2 = 11
sense motive on Happs for good measure: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 2 = 10

Idris glances between Oleg and the bandits, unsure about who to believe.

Seraphina's eyes flash at Oleg's words, her temper coming to the forefront immediately.
"Svetlana, is this true? Did any of these men put their hands on you?"

When she turns to the bound men again, she speaks with an acidic tongue, her tone cold and dangerous. "We only need one to show us the way."

We would better stop rolling sense motive or we're gonna end up hanging them all. Oleg included ^_^

Sense motive cause why not?: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (11) - 1 = 10

Your checks don't turn anything up.

Svetlana looks to the ground and says It was more of an implication, really. I don't want to get involved in this.

Happs, ever free with his tongue, say We'll fight for it! You only need one, right? So let the sword decide who it will be.

I was thinking this was a warm up, but it seems kingmaking has already started... It's so hard to decide ^^

Don't be stupid Happs, you already lost your fight, so don't b%+$*+$$ me. Anyway, we have a problem, we are indeed exploring a region and they are Bandits. But are not the worst type. Will anyone decide this? Otherwise I vote for hanging the ones who did not wanted to live, and give Happs a chance to pay for his crimes. A real man would abandon his family to be a thief, but if you want to live so much to be desperate to talk you must have a good reason for it. Anyway, if we find you lied about your family, or you try to cheat in any way, I'll make you regret it. What do you say people?

"Why not let them fight. We'll have them fight and then let whoever wins lead us to their leader. I would be willing to oversee the matches, but we would have to have them outside and those not fighting would have to agree to stay tied up and the rest of our group would be surrounding you all. If any of you would run, you agree to lose your life, and I get to sell your corpse to a necromancer up in Port Ice. Sound fair?"

Kivan delivers this speech without a single change in his voice. He could have been commenting on the weather for all he seems to care.

Bluff on actually selling them to a necromancer: 1d20 - 2 ⇒ (20) - 2 = 18

Sure get the nat 20 when I'm using my worst stat.

Maja worries as the situation appears to be destabilizing with the accusation against Happs. She is surprised to find the woman with a tail being the voice of mercy. And quite shocked by Kivan's continuing indifference to their lives.

Sense Motive Oleg: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (7) + 7 = 14
Sense Motive Svetlana: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (12) + 7 = 19
Sense Motive Happs: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (10) + 7 = 17
Sense Motive Kivan: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (1) + 7 = 8

SM on Kivan: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (5) + 3 = 8
Pretty looks wide-eyed to Kivan. Am I the only one who has some hearth here? You cannot be serious Kivan, that would be sooooo wrong. You wanna decide who's better to live based on the fighting ability?

"Most men would appreciate the chance to go down fighting. But I think it would be barbarous of us to arrange such a spectacle. I say we give them the chance to speak for themselves as to what they are prepared to do to aid us in bringing down their camp and then vote on who we think will be of the most help. That man will receive a temporary stay of execution and his conduct on our journey will decide whether we recommend him for a prison sentence instead."

Really, Pretty? You think that your solution of sparing one because he spoke out first, is any more "right" then letting the 4 fight for the chance to live? At least letting them fight it out gives everyone a fair chance, instead of your method of favouritism of the person who spoke first. By your logic, you condemn Bill who ACTUALLY seems to be repentant of his crimes to die, while this Happs lives?

I say we vote. Us 6 and Oleg make 7, Svetlana wishes to not be involved so she doesn't have to vote. Side with the most votes decides
1. We kill the three bandits have one show us the way, and kill him after

2. Kill three bandits, have one show us the way and then spare him after hes helped us.

3. Spare all of them

I vote for option one.

"That's foolish. In the Case of Option 1 why would the survivor have any reason to help if he thought we would kill him? More like he would wait until he has a chance to strike and betray or attack us. A cornered wolf will fight."
What is option 2?

Kivan is right on this one, he would have no reason to help us.
I would vote for One and a Half, as living or not will depend upon his actions, and just so you know I'm based on which of us wanted to help us do the right think. But that's not an option, so I'll vote on 2. don't really wanna make this decision anyway. Besides, I'm almost changing my mind to kill them all, as they did not grant us reliable information, for example the number of people that are there and any sentinels info.

The options are after the numbers Kivan

I thought this whole character conversation was in private, so i assumed he wouldnt know we were going to kill him. And the second option is to hang three bandits, and spare one, after hes helped us, he can go on his way

We're having this conversation with them in front of us, which was a terrible mistake, but it's too late now.

Okay if they don't know then it is a more viable option. Meant clarification on option 2 which Cassius has given.

2. Kill three three bandits, have one show us the way and then spare that one after.

I would hold to option two. The law is clear, as distasteful as carrying it out may be. But, I would fain have as much mercy as the law will allow us on these wretches. With this blade, death will be swift and all but painless."

She draws forth the long, single-sided, slightly-curved blade that marks her as a swordlord trainee. The edge is wickedly sharp, and it is beyond doubt that this blade may bring swift death.

"One brief slice, a second or two of pain, and your soul will be in the boneyard. Compare that to a day of slow strangulation on the end of a rope. I will pray to Gorum that He take your soul as a foot soldier in His divine host, if He has need of such. Pray, yourselves, and perhaps you will find in death what you never found in life."

She adds, "I find Bill the most believable of these fools. I would not accept Happ -- men who threaten rape deserve a much longer death than I would grant."

I had actually stated I was "speaking low" to keep the conversation between Pretty, Idris and any of the party who came close enough to hear, so maybe the GM will allow that the things we didn't intend for them to hear, they didn't hear?

"Option 2 as well, but I don't think allowed to go scot free is warranted. I think we judge what we should do after the deed is accomplished as I said before."

Option 2 it is. I agree with Idris, we should take Bill.

We already have 4 people vote for option 2, which automatically makes it a majority.

Sorry, unclear. My interpretation was that you were all pretty much standing around talking, with increasing volume. Except for when Sera whispered to Pretty, everyone has been indicating normal speech, and Oleg didn't speak quietly when he addressed the charter's instructions either. There's been so much back and forth between the party and the bandits that I figured it would be impossible to keep negotiations private. At the very least, they picked up the gist of what you've been saying.

Oleg announces loudly, I vote for option 1. I want them all dead as soon as you've gotten your use out of them. Oleg obviously doesn't understand the finer points of persuasion.

I would like to hear Maja's opinion first. Even if it is actually later when she comes, cause it's not gonna change, but for RP. But I offered a chance of redemption, as flawed as it was, and the one who took it was Happs. And a threat is a lot different then the act itself Idris. They may be as fake as Cassius pointed arrow, since nothing happened. Still that is a deep fear to live with. Oleg, do you have anything to say about which one would we choose for the task?

After Oleg finishes answering her question, she adds to Happs:
Anyway, why are you the leader of this group?

Oleg doesn't even bother to pretend to decide. Anyone but Happs. I'll see him dead before sundown, one way or another.

Happs proudly announces, surely hoping for special treatment, Of course! I know the area best.

NOT TRUE! Shouts Kern, He's new. He doesn't know s%*@! Bill should take you. He's the veteran. I'm not really interested in wandering into the wilderness with you. I'd rather have my guaranteed quick death here than get recaptured by the Stag Lord and tortured to death.

A look of intense fear sweeps over Happs' face. Dear sweet mother help me...I volunteer to be the first to die!

"Well that escalated quickly."

Pretty gets pretty suspicious about Kern's reaction, thinking that it might be a trap:
Sense Motive on Kern: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (14) + 3 = 17

As far as Pretty can tell, Kern is deadly serious. He obviously loathes Happs, and respects Bill. He's also genuinely afraid of being recaptured by the Stag Lord.

Pretty sighs heavily and turns to Cassius.
Ok, you won this one. Shall we departure immediately? They should be back by nightfall, so we must hurry. Otherwise they are going to stay alert. By the way, I can't help but to notice that we're going to the very core of the land we have to explore.

Jacob, is the money from the bandit's equipment already available for us to buy equip? Otherwise, i would like to check for MW daggers and chain shirt.
And sorry for posting in a row, i'll keep quiet for a hour at least.

I don't mind repeated posting. That's how most real life conversations go anyway.

I think there might only be around 7 days left now. Kivan was hungry ;)