Megan's Kingmaker PbP

Game Master Megan Robertson

Oleg reckons he can get the weapons you need in a couple of weeks.

Crossbow bolts: bundle of 10 for 1gp
Dagger: 2gp
Shortspear: 1gp
Morning Star: 8gp
Shortsword: 10gp

Shipping is 3sp per item (or bundle if buying arrows or bolts).

The mites: from what Dyfrig says that looming over all the hills in the northern Kamelands, a graying hulk of a sycamore tree clings precariously to its last years of life. The 100-foot-tall tree is a well-known landmark and is visible for miles around — but is also well known to be infested with mites. These malicious creatures spend their days perfecting grisly pranks, torturing small animals, and tormenting a local tribe of kobolds who dwell in a cave some distance to the south of the tree.

As for mites themselves, they are small and very ugly humanoids with large heads. They're fey in nature and reputed to dislike bright lights and cold iron. Generally making their homes underground, they fight with daggers and darts and have some small innate spellcasting abilities. They are said to get on well with vermin - some say they are vermin themselves!

So, E2.

The main feature is, of course, Oleg's trading post! But you head out to scout the rest of the hex to the south-west...

... as you ride off you see a party of four mounted men leading a couple of pack horses arriving at the trading post. Did you take Dyfrig along or leave him with Svetlana?

Ahead of you, the terrain is grassland. Plenty of small game - rabbits and the like - and it looks to be quite good grazing.

How long do you want to spend on E2 and where next?

Rhasa will request three cold iron short spears and 20 cold iron arrows, then. 5 gp and 15 sp shipping

[oocI expected we would be keeping the former bandits with us, but if Dyfrig has employment with Oleg and Oleg is willing, I don't have a problem with leaving Dyfrig to tend to his garden.[/ooc]

Survival 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (1) + 9 = 10 check for foraging

We will stay in E2 however long it takes to map it properly for the charter's purposes and then move to F2.

Agree with Rhasa on how long to spend in each hex. Once we feel we have mapped it out thoroughly, then we shall proceed to the next for the time being. As far as the bandits, if Oleg is ok with them there and helping him than that is ok with me. If not, then we will take them with us and keep an eye on them.

Megan: Once Cal finishes calculating how much gold we got, if it is enough, did my MW darkwood shield and arrows arrive yet so I can finish purchasing them from Oleg? I ordered them when we first arrived at Oleg's and payed half for the shield. I would also like to place an order for a lance. Normal material not masterwork yet unless we got enough gold from the haul at the bandit camp to finish paying for the shield and half the MW lance cost.

Rhasadilara: Dyfrig, who seems to have taken a shine to you, asks if he can tag along and cook for the party. He's scared of Svetlana! The others are happy to stay and labour as directed... oh, and you've foraged enough rabbits for dinner :)

Gorguk: Sorry, didn't notice that in what transpired before I took over the game! Your masterwork shield and arrows have come and you have enough to pay for them in full. An ordinary lance costs 10gp plus shipping...

"Fresh air, sunshine and plenty of rabbits!"

"Glad to be headed out again, refreshed and ready to see what might be seen nearby Oleg's."

Rhasadilara: Dyfrig, who seems to have taken a shine to you, asks if he can tag along and cook for the party. He's scared of Svetlana! The others are happy to stay and labour as directed... oh, and you've foraged enough rabbits for dinner :)

Gorguk: Sorry, didn't notice that in what transpired before I took over the game! Your masterwork shield and arrows have come and you have enough to pay for them in full. An ordinary lance costs 10gp plus shipping...

Perfect, I will place the order for the lance, thanks.

Dyfrig, I will gladly have you accompany us and provide all the cooking. I can't cook at all and it will be a blessing to have an experienced cook providing a hot meal at night.

Rhasa is willing to take charge of Dyfrig when she's not scouting for the party - if the others approve, he's welcome to join us. Rhasa's fine with leaving him his cooking knives and taking his weapons, but she'll keep a dagger or something like it available in case he needs to fight to defend the camp.

"Dyfrig, here you go - once we get a camp set up, you can work your magic once again."

Survival to locate a campsite 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (3) + 9 = 12

I think I'm going to have to get a little help here - I'm a forest girl by nature.

I dont know which skill you want so here is both:

perc 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (5) - 1 = 4

survival 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (4) - 1 = 3

to aid Rhasa in scouting/mapping the area and finding a campsite.

Alright, grrrr, I still can't even find my horse and to make matters worse, I don't even know where north is. I hope everyone else can do better. Sorry guys.

Dyfrig says he's not too good at picking campsites either...

1d20 + 5 ⇒ (6) + 5 = 11

... and proves it by suggesting a hollow which looked OK, but turned out to be a bit muddy at the bottom!

The gentle grassy slope Rhasa found seems to be about the best, although it's a bit breezy and the tent canvas flaps.

Dyfrig soon has a fire going and works his magic with the rabbits. He's brought a couple of the moon radishes which he boils and mashes, and you soon realise why the kobolds like them so much, they have a warm earthy taste that leaves a nice glow all the way down.

Want to set up a standard watch for the night? (Then I don't have to ask you every evening!)

Let's see, we have an elf (requiring less sleep and less light), a half-elf (requiring less light), and a half-orc (requiring no light). And two humans that require eight hours of sleep to recover spells?

Assuming five two-hour shifts, here's an initial suggestion to get the conversation started:

• Calindar & Lothar
  
• Calinda & Gorguk
  
• Rhasa & Gorguk
  
• Rhasa & Dyfrig
  
• Rhasa & Barnabus
  

Hmmm... perhaps the assumption is unworkable. Did Finlee remain with us? One more person would help the distribution.

"Tortise and I can take watch usually she travels with me in comfort but her senses are keen her eyes peirce tha darkness and she can feel the footfalls of a bird on the earth itself."

Pulls out his scorpion the size of a house cat...

"I would want her protected though during our watch, perhaps she could stay within the tent and tell me when something happens or wake you should I quit stirring about."

I thought that Pathfinder did away with the elves needing less sleep than everyone else. I was looking through the rulebook and can't find anything that still says that. The only thing I can find is that Elves are still immune to magical sleep. I am fine with however Megan rules it, it just effects how we do sleep rotations. Do we need 2 people on for each rotation? Earlier in the OOC thread here is what was decided based on 2-hour watches: Watch rotation...

1-Lothar
2-Calinder
3-Gorguk
4-Kylia-->Rhasa
5-Barnabus

Does this still work for everyone?

Megan: As far as perception checks during my watch, Megan go ahead and make any checks for Gorguk you want to keep the stroy going.

Calinder would like a cold iron dagger and 10 cold iron crossbow bolts. 3 gp 6 sp

Before the party leaves to explore the surrounding terrain, Calinder asks Oleg to order a cold iron dagger and a bundle of 10 cold iron crossbow bolts.

"I can keep watch whenever you would like me to, just wake me when it is my turn. All I ask is that I have some time in the morning to meditate and prepare for the day."

Huh, been playing Pathfinder since it came out and no one's pointed that out to me. In all honesty, though, I usually don't play elves... The suggested rotation from Gorguk's post is fine with me.

Elves: Absent any clear guideline from the rulebook, I'm going to say that they generally sleep about 5 hours in comparison to a human's requirement for 8, but to be on top of their game need a bit of time spent in quiet contemplation/reflection as well. Sitting by the campfire keeping watch would suffice, but if anything does go down, they'll be feeling a bit weary the next day!

I don't know your backgrounds as players rather than characters, but standing a watch in the middle of the night can actually be quite restful provided nothing happens... she says, recalling one night on duty when a fox came by and sniffed at her hand :)

Dyfrig is happy to stand watch as requested, but says that if he switches to the last shift, he can get breakfast ready!

Finlee stayed at Oleg's, helping on maintenance work around the outpost.

And, yes, Cal, your order is placed.

The previous watch order that was list by Gorguk is okay with me as well. And thank you for getting my order placed. :-)

As the group finds a place to stay for the night and sets up camp, Calinder says, "Dyfrig is there is anything I can do to help prepare the evening meal?"

He also finds a place to lay his bedroll where he will be comfortable enough to meditate. He then takes care of his horse, making sure that he is staked out in a place that has plenty of grass to eat. He doesn't say much as he is once again contemplating the task of taming this wilderness.

Noted. I'm fine with the normal sleep requirements. Either way is really fine.

Rhasa unhitches the cart from Sunset and hitches her to it before spending a good deal of time taking care to rub her down and talk to her, strengthening their bond. No game effect, just taking care of the critter.

She will put her bedroll near the cart and her horse. After she's cared for the horse, she spends a lot of time staring out into the darkening distance as though she is listening to the land before she finally turns in.

She doesn't avoid conversation with the others, but she doesn't start any, either.

Barnabus brings Horis over to the cart as well freeing him from the burden of the saddlebags for the night, he stows the gear in the cart.

Barnabus turns in early realizing his watch will have him up before the others......

While Cal and Dyfirg take care of preparing the evening meal, Gorguk will run Durok and give him some fre reign to work off some of his pent up energy since all we have been doing is normal riding. Once that has been accomplished, Gorguk will take care of tending to him before he returns to the others. Take heed Durok, we are out in the wild where all manners of creatures are present. Try to rest easy while we are on watch but keep and open ear out as well if I call. There's a good boy. Enjoy the grass but don't wander too far.

Heading back into the camp, Lothar are you up for a quick spar tonight. All day in the saddle makes me wish to stretch and use my muscles. If not, that is okay as well as we do not know what is in store for us tomorrow and some may wish to conserve strength. If Lothar is content to spar then great, if not the Gorguk will retreat to just outside of the firelight and meditate a while before eating and retiring for the night.

Lothar has no problem sparring with Gorguk before assuming his watch duties. Pardon my absence as of late. Work has taken some strange turns as of late, and I'm just trying to adjust. If I can, I'll post when I get back home in the morning.

Calinder, Dyfrig is pleased that you want to help. He asks that you fill a pan with water, add a pinch of salt, and set it to boil. Then if you could peel and rough-chop that couple of moon radishes, you can toss them in to boil before they get mashed.

I am getting distracted by an ant that has chosen to wander over my screen. No idea where it came from, but I guess I'd better find out... don't really want 'em indoors!

So everyone potters around, settling for the night. Those of you with animals to tend notice that the grazing is extremely good here.

Gorguk and Lothar spar, while Barnabus and Rhasadilara sit quietly, until dinner is ready. Once served, Dyfrig gets on with clearing up and cleaning all the dishes and pots (he doesn't want to attract ants!), and by the time he's done Barnabus is already fast asleep.

Lothar, you have first watch. It passes peacefully, and it's soon time to rouse Calinder.

Calinder finds that it's very quiet. The sky is clear, with an almost-full moon. Dyfrig, I regret to say, is snoring, apart from that and the odd whicker from the animals as they doze and graze, silence has fallen...

As Calinder is keeping watch he listens to the sounds around him, Dyfrig snoring , the horses. But in the silence does he hear anything else, insects, animals, other noises. Or is this silence unnatural in some way? Again his inexperience with life outside world fails him, he strains to hear something out in the darkness ...

Cal makes a Perception check: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (3) + 5 = 8. Cal most likely notices nothing.

... and being unsure finally settles in to enjoy the seeming peacefulness of the night.

If nothing happens he wakes Gorguk for his watch, else? Nice storytelling Megan, had me a bit creeped out, of course it helped that I watched a creepy movie last night.

During my watch, Gorguk will periodically cast Detect Evil in random directions away from the camp. Not too often to be fatigued from doing it constantly, just once every 5 min or so as he takes watch. Perc:1d20 - 1 ⇒ (18) - 1 = 17

Barnabus will sleep with his familiar beside him, hoping tha tortise tremorsense and darkvision keeps him safe as it has so many times in the past.

Barnabus will sleep with his familiar beside him, hoping tha tortise tremorsense and darkvision keeps him safe as it has so many times in the past.

That could be so much fun purposely walking that close to you just to have him jump at every little thing. Of course Gorguk would never do that in the wilderness but other places maybe :)

Mid-way through Calinder's watch, there is a tremendous grunting and huffling off to the southwest, a couple of hundred yards from the campsite.

Barnabus slumbers and dreams of those things witches dream of......

things that go bump in the night........

Calinder goes and wakes Gorguk and says, "Gorguk, there is a great grunting sound off to the southwest. I was not able to see anything, but I think that we need to be alert to danger."

Calinder goes and wakes Gorguk and says, "Gorguk, there is a great grunting sound off to the southwest. I was not able to see anything, but I think that we need to be alert to danger."

Wha..What?..Uh, ok. Which direction is Southwest? Ok I will go look while you wake the others.

With that Gorguk gets up and grabs his shield and sword and heads to the SW. Detect evil facing SW. stealth 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (9) + 1 = 10 perc 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (20) - 1 = 19After about 100ft or so Gorguk will wait quietly looking around hoping that he is between whatever is making the noise and the rest of his companions. (no armor but shield is ready AC is 13)

Calinder quietly as he can goes around the camp and wake the others in the group and informs them of what is happening.

"Whada yah mean yah hear noises in tha woods? There are supposed tah be noises in tha woods. Tha sure sign o trouble is when somethin has scared away tha normal noises an they are tryin tah sneak up on yah!"

Shakes head, but gets up anyway....

Lothar awakened with a start upon feeling Calinder's touch upon his shoulder. The cleric did not tarry too long, lingering around enough to inform the magician that there was possible danger and that Gorguk was checking it out. Lothar nodded and was active, transitioning from being prone to a kneeling position very quickly. He looked to his partner, giving his eyes enough time to adjust to the gloom, before taking the time to look about the area beyond the campsite. As he did so, the magician began to channel his chakra and he began casting a spell that would enhance his ability to examine an area at range so that he could make out fine details. Lothar began examining the ground, looking for any signs that he could pass on to Rhasadilara once she awakened from her slumber.

Lothar will cast sift and perform a Perception check 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6, (-5 due to the spell) which would make that a big fat 1, which means that the fine details he's making out is far too much for his brain to handle at the moment and will cause him to re-adjust his focus.

Likewise, Rhasa quickly rolls to a crouch and peers around before acting.

Perception 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (3) + 9 = 12

Whispering as she gears up (handaxe, sword, bow and quiver of arrows), she asks, "Lothar, have you seen or heard anything?"

Likewise, Rhasa quickly rolls to a crouch and peers around before acting.

Perception 1d20 + 9

Whispering as she gears up (handaxe, sword, bow and quiver of arrows), she asks, "Lothar, have you seen or heard anything?"

Lothar did not immediately respond to Rhasadilara's query. He couldn't. The visual and tactile stimulation from the spell he cast had overwhelmed him and it was taking all of his will to keep from displaying any adverse reaction.

When he felt that the spell's effect was over, he looked toward his partner. This one has seen too much. It will take some time to fully understand all that this one has seen. How about you?

"I have not seen anything. We should watch all sides, in case the noise was intended to draw our attention to one side while another creature approaches from another direction."

With that, she concentrates her surveillance on the northeast quadrant since Gorguk went southwest.

Barnabus casts light on the tip of his spear and makes certain the fire is burning well...

Straining you senses, Gorguk, you make your way through the grass towards the noises...

... and almost fall over two small creatures, covered in spines, that appear to be rolled together in a ball. This is where the noise is coming from...

A pair of hedgehogs making out!

When you get back to camp to tell the others, Dyfrig asks if you brought them back.

"Good eating, hedge-pig. Bake 'em in clay, then when you knock the clay off the prickles come away too."

The rest of the night passes without incident, and the next day dawns fresh and clear and dry... and Dyfrig is frying some bacon :)

ROTFL!

When she hears the explanation for the awakening, Rhasa smiles to herself, carefully arranges her weapons near her bedroll once again, and is fast asleep moments later.

"Tha is my experience had somethin been a prowlin tah eat us, it would have scared off the little critters an went on about sneakin up.."

To Cal during the nightWell Cal, I am already awake so might as well take my shift. With that, Gorguk will get his armor on and start his watch.

In the morning after a lazy start, Gorguk will prep Durok and once that is done head for the bacon that is frying up. Thanks Dyfrig. This taste great. You know I could get used to you travelling with us. Its nice to have some of the amenities of home while you travel, and nothing is more like home than a good meal.

Ready to head out and explore when everyone else is. 1 area clear without too many problems, alot more to go. Hopefully hedgehogs are the worst nuisance we find in the middle of the night.

"Sorry for the false alarm", Calinder mutters as he heads to where he had laid out his bedroll. He sits down trying to relax and erase the embarrassment from his face. He shakes his head several times and finally lays down to rest.

The next morning he apologizes again before starting his morning meditation. After meditating he eats and then gets ready to leave.

After Calinder's apology and breaking fast, Rhasa pats him on the back no hard feelings, friend before going over to hitch up Sunset and get ready for the day.

Don't feel bad, Calinder, hedgehogs mating make the most unholy din - it would startle anyone the first time they hear it!

Which way now, folks?

"Gorguk, if I recall we had discussed going east from here when we were back at the trading post. That still sounds like a good plan at this point."

I believe that we were headed to F2 next.

Have we completed our mapping/exploration for this hex? If not, we will continue in that vein. Otherwise, I believe the plan is to move to F2.

Ninja'd. What Calinder said.

F2 and around till we find something or something finds us. Hopefully it is the former.

After a day and a half of uneventful travel, you spot a hut in the distance, smoke rising from a hole in the roof. (As in, fireplace, not the hut being on fire.) The place seems to surrounded by an attempt at a garden.

Gorguk will dismount before gettign too close to the hut. Anyone know who this might be out in the winderness by him/herself without any means of protection? They must be able to look after themselves to avoid the bandit problems that we have faced. Any recommendations on how to proceed?

If no one knows who this person is, I would like to avoid an altercation if possible but I think we should be wary anyways. Perhaps a couple of us go and talk while the rest remain outside ready to intercede if something should happen. Those that can hide and approach without being seen get closer to protect those that are talking.

"I do not know who this might be."

Regarding the plan to approach the hut, "If they see someone sneaking up, it could doom your discussion. I would walk with you and another, but wait outside while you meet the owner. I can signal the others if there is trouble."

She shrugs, "Or I can wait here."

"Mayhap we should knock or make ourselves known an see who o what lives here."