Haumea.. Hula Dwarves and sentiment.
Cerulean Glory as the capital is on a hill and has a great view of the sky.
Aoede - because it sounds so cool.
Just dragging the spreadsheet over to the new page.
And do we have a final list of jobs and possible titles (example: Supreme Witchy Pooh [Magister] Victoria). In the case of roles that are going to be filled by NPCs, perhaps a list of the top three candidates each of you want to approach.
Ruler
Consort
Councilor
General
Grand Diplomat
Heir
High Priest
Magister
Marshal
Royal Enforcer
Spymaster
Treasurer
Viceroy
WardenEDIT Here's to make voting a bit easier. Note: you don't need a Viceroy at present.
And of course remember: your top 3 kingdom names and maybe some reasons why.
Haumea (Alright, Hula Dwarves.)
Gaen Vale (Something about Vale makes it sound cool.)
Arcadia (Classic)
Posh's suggestions:
Poshopolis
Gnomoria
DieGnomeDie (No, it's German. It means The Gnome The!)
Actual suggestions:
Gaen Vale (Close to Green Vale which considering where we are, would make sense.)
Arcadia (still sounds cool)
Themiscyra (Who doesn't want to be surrounded by Amazonian women? As long as they aren't the Amazons from Y: The Last Man On Earth)
Oh names. I knew there were something I had repressed. I'm bad at making them up - but they're important so I'll try. Just need to think..
Haumea is fine by me, but I do want Ulthar to be a town at least :)
"The Marches" would also be fine.
Whatevs, I'm not so picky. I think Empire of Zokon sounds tacky, but beyond that
Re:jobs: did either Illithir or Serena voice an opinion on job they want?
As said, Hermea and Haumea are still too close for me unless I pronounce either wrongly :P I'd personally prefer if Haumea ends up a region rather than the nation. (Bonus points if the region contains Mountains, which contain Dwarves, who start doing hula-hooping as a cultural thing)
But whatever the vote results in.
Anyway, my preferences:
Gaen Vale (It's such a good fit - I don't even want to explain it because I potentially spoilered myself researching the Stolen Lands.)
Arcadia (Damn those people across the Ocean, there's no reason we should even know about them - this is OUR place, if they don't like it they can send a complaint.)
Avalon (Because it's right there with the others, a mystic place with its ideals and hopes).
It's pronounced Hor-may-a
Town of Ulthar.. ok..
The Marches.. could be a regional name we adopt?
I'm also thinking of changing to Duke again.. as the feminine version of Duke is much cooler than that of Earl.. Earlessa I think? or looking it up.. countess seems to be what was used which would be a little confusing.
Gaen Vale is a Warhammer Thingie
The Gaen Vale
The Gaen Vale itself is a beautiful, high-sided valley of wild flowers, apple trees, and fresh mountain springs.[2a] The landscape spreads out in a rolling patchwork of bountiful forests, fast-flowing rivers, and wide groves of graceful statues and temples of purest white. Music fills the air, not the tunes of Elvenfolk, but the melodies of the earth: birdsong, the rustle of wind in the branches of tall trees, and the gurgling of life-giving waters flowing from a rocky peak at the island's centre. Together the sounds form a natural orchestra that plays the symphony of creation with every breath. If one is welcomed by the oracle, an Elf-maid armed with a moon-coloured bow will appear and guide supplicants into the valley below.[2c]
Unicorns, pegasi and griffons roam freely within the vale, unafraid of passersby. Indeed, the deeper one journeys in, the more of its fay inhabitants can be found. Dancers and archers who practice their arts within groves of glorious splendor. White marble temples sit within overgrown arbours, priestesses of Isha pouring wine and honey on the sacred places as they given praise to the fertility of the land. Kneeling maidens receive instructions from the island's inhabitants
@Noble Titles: Yeah, it's countess.
Lots of options though.
Earl, in origin, is anglo-saxon and akin to "Jarl".
If you go for Duke/Duchess, then my Austrian heritage pushes me to suggest going for Archduke/Archduchess.
Regarding the Warhammer Origins, aye, it is - I did state so though :)
(Also, one more Bullet Point of Note)
* The forests of the Island are noted for being different to those found in Avelorn, whose realm is enchanted with the magic of the Elves. The Gaen Vale's magic, in contrast, is primal and untouched by such meddling.
The same is true for Athel Loren, but I'm happy to potentially have that as Region Name for Woodlands I administer.
Side note: There are no "farms" allowed in Woods, only "Sawmills". Petition GM to reflavour them as "Forest Farms" or something.
Watches(this is from the map link):
1st - Durgan + Zokon
2nd - Serena + Scarlet
3rd - Alia + Illthir + Victoria
I would like to have a shift with Zokon, so he can bring me up to date on Nobility stuff.
So either:
1st - Durgan(Darkvision) + Zokon + Alia
2nd - Serena + Scarlet(Darkvision)
3rd - Posh + Illthir + Victoria
(In that Case Durgan and Zokon could take turns 'schooling' Alia about Brevoy - but Zokon may be reluctant to talk openly about some people that Durgan may know.)
or:
1st - Scarlet(Darkvision) + Zokon + Alia
2nd - Serena + Durgan(Darkvision)
3rd - Posh + Illthir + Victoria
(In this case only Zokon serves as a source of information, and Scarlet as professional bodyguard affords us a sort of privacy.(Not for that, we are not married, you dirty-minded individual - this is a watch shift))
I like the first option. Durgan is hopefully going to have a significant enough role that it is useful for him to understand Zokon's positions and background. He isn't going to take offense or rat Zokon out for saying that any particular noble is a lecherous fraud or a corrupt tyrant, even if that noble is a friend of Durgan's.
And there could be benefit in Durgan (who I think is on better terms with a noble family than anyone else) giving a few tips to Zokon and Alia about angles of approach and points of leverage. Off-camera.
Mostly, Durgan would know which nobles go into debt and at what terms, and possibly for what reasons (fiscal mismanagement, ostentatious lifestyle, blackmail, sound investments in their barony's future, etc.). He would be less attuned to who hates who for a perceived slight at the Coronation Ball.
But, but...what about the Dammaz Kron?
The great Book of Grudges?
That said: No real preference. I do think Alia could benefit from tutoring from both of you. But really, it's mostly flavor to explain where she's getting her Knowledge(Nobility) from on the next two Level-Ups.
In the end, we may want to review the Shift Plan in general.
The sub-roles (Marshal=>General; Warden=>General; Enforcer=>Councilor) are currently set up with NPC's.
But we may want some rotation so different people do get to talk with each other. Not mechanically, but for flavor.
Or have followers keep watch while we hold council and sleep :)
Durgan should know more than Zokon.
Zokon will be able to tell about his family and probably a few out of date details about the various families, but Durgan has lived it. Zokon was an outcast.
so yes getting info from Durgan great idea and Zokon would be happy to talk Alia through his family details, some of which he won't want to tell Durgan, unless they come to some form of accord, he is after all from a rival family.
For those of you who haven't, don't forget to Otherwise you could end up with this!
Democracy dies on a little-used web page.
On titles Posh's cover should probably be the Secretary of Prop Comedy given the amount of stuff he lugs around. He could given his background be a court fool (there are very few other ways to get close to the royalty of other nations and not draw attention to one's self).
On leveling I think I want to make a clean slate of it, and let everyone get themselves leveled to 5th with 5th-level treasure upon your return from Brevoy. There are some RP things we should be doing first (finalizing your ruling council), but the next several months of in-game dice rolling revolves around kingdom building. During that time there would be ample time to do things like retrain skills or an archetype (BUT NOT A RACE!), or find better equipment or improve the things that you already have. Anything your PCs keep of course will have to be accounted in the total. Also, you can use some of your increased wealth to build your own little pet projects (shrines to gods, a fishing boat, a dribbly candle factory, etc....)
Thoughts?
@Zokon - Durgan is backing Zokon's bid for rulership so there is that for an accord. He can also swear to keep particular details in confidence to avoid embarrassing any of Zokon's relatives.
The Lodovka family mostly focuses on the Lake of Mists and Veils, and fishing (and likely lake trade). House Medyved is more southeast, and I don't think their lands really border each other. They may be rivals to a degree but no particular tension that I know of.
Zokon can withhold whatever he wishes, but the better-informed Durgan is, the more he will be able to help.
@Titles - if Zokon is Duke, then Durgan would like to be a Marquis.
If Zokon is a Marquis, Durgan will be an Earl.
If Zokon is an Earl, Durgan will be a Thane.
@Leveling and down-time - sounds good, will think on it.
@Gold - I can add the loot to that linked elections spreadsheet. Note that Durgan asked people in-character about a means of returning the looted trade goods to merchants who could make a proper claim (less a 15% reclamation fee). Having heard no objections he put that offer in his letter to the priest of Abadar in Restov. While normally PCs expect "Finder's Keepers" I figured Durgan should at least make a token effort to return the stolen trade goods.
You can still be a thane no matter Zokons title.. what is a maquis to you that you seem to think it loftier than thane? (I'm not sure of the various titles)
Woohoo! Levelling up! And maybe a respec? But not a race respec, so RIP my Dopplegänger dreams.
Hasn't Scarlet always been a dopplegänger?
@Voting - Added mine : )
Where I didn't feel I had a great idea I've added something silly instead. We'll see if it pays off!
@Enforcer - There isn't an suitable NPC with a slightly less stained backstory around? Don't mind the guy, certainly seems capable of doing a good job, but bandit-to-councilor is a pretty meteoric rise.
@NPCs - Illthir hasn't met too many of the civil ones, so I'm kinda lost on this one. Unless we want to invite that nice lady we met in her castle over? Might cause some tensions at court though .. :P
@Leveling - Aight! That seems reasonable!
Voting is done. I'm only half-joking. Lionsgate is the capital of a major country in my homebrew world. And Miss Tessmacher got her own place!
I recommend that Posh's office just be titled 007.
I'm good with leveling and respecing (though Serena has no need to do so).
@Enforcer Akiros: Well, some stains are not bad, I think. It's a dirty job, in a way, that needs to be done, regardless. I agree that we will want to run a background-check on the guy, but unless he betrayed us, and is still busy repairing the fort while keeping the people in line, I'm good.
@Leveling: Sounds good. How will crafting fit into that? Alia will take Craft Magic Arms and Armor regardless - but maybe someone else would consider Wondrous Items, depending on how useful it will be for us.
@Posh: Royal Fool! That is perfect! No offense meant at all, Posh, but that's the most undercover kinda job
@Alia: I was thinking of wondrous items crafting. Perhaps we can pool our efforts
Durgan will be happy to contribute the necessary spells for Arms & Armor, Wondrous Items, or Scrolls, but he is really strapped for feats.
Possible choices:
Cunning (+9 Skill points at level 5 - 4 normal, 5 for this feat)
Power Attack (he has the best AC and fights with a two-handed weapon, might as well draw aggro)
Additional Traits (Militia Veteran-Survival and Fate's Favored) - for improving his tracking ability and his combat ability
I really don't want to take on the tracker role but Deadeye's Lore is "Personal". So I can't cast it on Zokon.
If we could create a custom item that gives Deadeye's Lore continually, then Zokon could continue to be the tracker. Just letting Zokon cast it 1/day would not be enough due to the limited duration and how long a pursuit might take. But I know continual-use items are not always priced reasonably by the guidelines.
Deadeye's lore is most likely an Erastillian spell as well, you sure you would cast it? Old Dead Eye is a nickname for Erastil.
I got archery feats in mind.
Totally sure. Durgan is way cooler with an Erastil-derived spell than a Hanspur-derived spell, and the spell isn't exclusive to Erastil followers despite its name.
However, if we can make it into a continual-use item for Zokon, Durgan doesn't even have to be involved.
@Voting - Added mine : )
Where I didn't feel I had a great idea I've added something silly instead. We'll see if it pays off!
@Enforcer - There isn't an suitable NPC with a slightly less stained backstory around? Don't mind the guy, certainly seems capable of doing a good job, but bandit-to-councilor is a pretty meteoric rise.
Akiros went from paladin to barbarian so meteoric is his thing.
@Akiros career - Aight. I'll bow to the consensus but reserve my right to poke fun at you all if the high and mightly neighbours turn their nose at him :P
@Magic/Spells/Level 5 - Illthir will get the best Skald feature ever - Spell Kenning. She'll have access to all sorts of wondrous magic (of level 2 or less :P).
Given this ability and her Scribe Scroll feat she'll probably mostly want to do that (but can also supply odd spells for prerequisites of course!).
Still she won't get Deadeye's Lore on Zokon either. Unless, of course, we get a Wand and some Use Magic Device skills for our great and glorious leader.
Yeah well i have 2 feats and little way to archerize them (Need +6 bab for most), so it looks like i'll be looking for feats to take that'll help with stuff.
Improved Initiative and Iron Will are never bad for an archer.
Barroom Brawler is good for picking up Dedicated Adversary on the fly (or any other combat feat you might want).
Combat Reflexes sets you up for a killer Snap Shot build once you hit BAB +6.
Shield Focus (Buckler) can set Zokon up for Unhindering Shield at BAB +6, and that can provide a decent AC boost with a magic buckler.
Knowledge (Nobility) affects your Ruler skill per the rules the GM is using, so you might take Cunning to get max ranks in that skill. Or just start putting your background skills there.
The Ftr2 feat can be retrained at Ftr4, letting a Weapon Master have 2 Advanced Weapon Training feats at that level. Though I'm not sure if there is a "must-have" for an archer other than Warrior Spirit.
Some of the Magic Item Mastery feats are pretty good, and we can make items to power any of them.
@Zokon:
I concur with Barroom Brawler - that can be helpful.
I think either Combat Reflexes into Snap shot is good, or going for switch-hitting (could do quickdraw and two-weapon-fighting) as a backup option.
(I am specifically thinking about situations like very stormy weather, close quarters(like that crypt), magical fog or darkness etc...being able to swap to melee quickly can be worthwhile.)
(You do have a spring-loaded wrist sheath...but that has limited options, AND would instead allow you to e.g. have a potion on standby)
Shield Focus to Unhindering Shield is a great combo for many builds - but considering Zokon will mostly be exposed to ranged attacks, going Improved Unarmed Strike => Deflect Arrows is also an option.
(Aside from making him a much more effective Bar Brawler, something fit for a King, it allows to outright negate the first attack. That is great against someone with iteratives and manyshot. Not so great against 120 goons focus-firing the king - but an option to consider - your arrow hand will be free most of the time)
Another option is Accomplished Sneak Attacker. You do have 1d6 Sneak. It's a flat damage bonus but can apply in a variety of situations(e.g. when you end up in a flank and decide to use your melee weapon - or when we win Init and you turn their mage into a hedgehog - or when you break invisibility and spread the love) - with your archetype feature adding your class level to sneak attack damage on ranged attacks, we'll definitely want to capitalize on that and get you in situations where you get to sneak attack, which would then benefit from this.)
(That thought also gives the option of Signature Skill(Stealth), Skill Focus(Stealth) and a Shadowed Armor)
But mostly, it depends on where you wanted to go :)
Hell, take Skill Focus for Knowledge(Nobility) and Extra Traits, or go for Racial Heritage to eventually pick up Icy Stare (How cool is that in theory - you can stare people to death. Except it's 10 feet, a standard action and sucks, but hey, flavor.)
Inexplicable Luck and Defiant Luck are an option, too(negate a Crit and all but guarantee a roll per day to succeed).
(You are not locked into Combat-Feats, with the offered rebuild, you can shift around the Feat distribution.)
Also, I just stumbled on this which could provide more inspiration for place names(although I already got quite a few of those covered :P) :)
I added a tab for loot to the Elections spreadsheet.
I don't think we've allocated the Amulet of Natural Armor +1 and the Ring of Protection +1 from the Stag Lord but perhaps we did. I would suggest that these go to Illthir and Scarlet as they have the lowest AC among our front line.
I am trusting that everybody else has taken care of their own Bank disbursement of 2,000 GP each that happened at Lady Vsevolod's manor. That is not on this sheet. The prior gold and bank that Numalar had I don't know what to do with.
I probably missed some items but I got the big stash. Feel free to add anything I missed.
And I probably did not quite get right how some things go into "Bank" and others have to be actually sold. But the ballpark value of the undistributed loot is another 2,000 gp each without selling the ring, amulet, or helmet.
Also, on the names, we have a final tally of:
5 x Arcadia,
4 x Avalon,
4 x Haumea,
3 x Gaen Vale,
Avalon and Haumea both have 3 "primary" placements, Arcadia has none of those, but seems to have the broadest overall support.
I could, as a tie breaker, move either Avalon or Arcadia up in my ranking.
But, suggestion time:
Nation Arcadia, the region/grassland Avalon - once we get mountains, that Region of Durgan becomes Haumea(for Hula Dwarfs), while Alia gets to name her forest Gaen Vale.
So Arcadia then consists of the region of Avalon(later Pitax and Mivon, too) with the Capital City Cerulean Glory, with the autonomy regions Haumea and Gaen Vale to be established once we got properly started?
I really don't like Arcadia.
You really don't like Haumea.
Does anybody dislike Avalon?
Durgan will be naming his own region, and it will not be Haumea. I am fine with that for the overall kingdom though. Or for some other region.
I suggest Avalon for the whole region (most 1st-place votes and no real objections), no preference on what anybody else names with their region/cities, and will do what I want with my own region/cities.
Or look at it as Instant Runoff (Ranked Choice) Voting:
1st round: Haumea 3, Avalon 3, Gaen Vale 2. Gaen Vale eliminated. Alia and Posh vote Arcadia.
2nd round: Haumea 3, Avalon 3, Arcadia 2. Arcadia eliminated. Alia votes Avalon, Posh votes Themiscyra.
3rd round: Haumea 3, Avalon 4, Themiscyra 1. Avalon wins.
I know it would work out like that, same as with swapping my priorities as tie break - but I figured people could still chime in.
Since we're just on our way back to Restov, we're not yet in a hurry :)
I just figured we can still use the runners-up if people like them, but by no means try to push for them.
As you say, those who want to handle their regions will eventually have free reign over names, without others meddling. *shrug*
1) Loot Sheet - Excellent!
However - we are getting 5th level wealth when we hit 5th level (aka money injections/rebuilds).
Therefore I suggest we start tracking newly acquired stuff after that?
2) Arcedia - It is (at least the inspiration for) a mod nation in a game I play semi frequently (dominions 5). They're a nation of lazy people, nymphs and horrible horrible land so it would feel very odd to have that name :P
I will of course accept the name if it is the one we really like, but I'll reserve the right to imagine us all just herding a bunch of goats :P
3) Avalon - I like this one (evidently since I voted for it :P) and would be quite pleased if it won. The geographical-inspiration-distance also seems quite a bit shorter to Avalon from our cold northern setting. Imo.
4) Haumea - I don't mind this one, but iirc there's another nation already that has a pretty close name? Hermea or something - that island ruled by a really friendly dragon totally not looking to breed genetically superior ubermench?
I doubt we'll have much to do with them in this campaign but might be worth considering : )
The reason I don't like Arcadia is that it is a region on Golarion. And not an unknown one. Though remote, it has an Ulfen colony, a Chelish colony, and an Andoran colony. There's even a popular sea shanty about sailing there.
Sooner or later somebody would wonder why we picked such a name for our realm. Were we trying to emulate the Arcadians? Mock them? Claim ourselves an outpost of Arcadia on Avistan? Just too much potential for misunderstanding.
Well, but this is our game, and that is a whole different continent. Unless we intend to go sail over there it will likely have no impact on our game, at all. We can simply ask GM to rename that remote locale into "The Americas", Naggaroth or Empire of Cusco and that point will be moot.
Don't misunderstand me, I can totally understand if you personally have an aversion to it, or 'connect' it with something, the same is true for my reason regarding Hermea/Haumea - which is not even an identical match but without a mental connection for the latter, mentally defaults to the former when I read it.
But it's not like we're anywhere near there, or even near an Ocean, so if "it exists" is your sole reason for disliking it, then I'm certain we can fix that, too ;)
(As said, I'm all good with Avalon. But there's still regions/cities/etc. to be named. Aside from the countless Berlins co-existing worldwide(aside from the well-known one in Germany) we could still petition a rename for the continent ;) )
I believe that would be Cuscotopia (or Tawantinsuyu I suppose)
The only thing about Arcadia for me is that Arcadia was the name of my "Atlantean" continent that sank beneath the waves in my homebrew campaign.
I really don't like Arcadia.
You really don't like Haumea.
I have no real vote here, but I'm going to stick my nose in anyway. I would personally suggest staying away from famous names from literature (Avalon, Westeros, Discworld, Rohan, Amber, Earthsea, Hyrule, Xanth, Krynn, Oz, Prydain, Wonderland (Queen Erevenywg's first pick, followed by...), Whoville, and Gotham City) all come with a lot of baggage. Best to start fresh. Hence I suggest the Dale Lands!
While that is true in Theory, it is not equally true for all of the ideas.
E.g. Avalon does have many forms and interpretations. They share some concepts but are otherwise quite nebulous(pun intended).
Rohan, Oz or Hyrule, meanwhile, are quite clearly defined from a canon source.
I do understand where you come from, but right now, I'm kinda glad we reached a sort of consensus without much drama. Starting over after the vote finished seems...undesirable.
Alia, I believe the above was meant facetiously.
Eldiocesan advocated rejecting literary names and starting fresh in favor of the Dale Lands -- which is directly from Forgotten Realms.
It was a joke.
Ah. That one went right over my head.
Back in the days, none of us had money for more than the basic rule books - no supplements of any sort.
Never been to Faerun in a Pen and Paper campaign, it was all homebrew for us back then.
So yeah, Dalelands is news to me, I'm afraid :)
I do feel silly now, but will leave my post regardless, for context and in order to save others from stumbling into that same mistake. (And here I was, wondering why RPPPGM was posting with Elmin...Eldiocesan rather than his GM profile)
Looking at a forgotten realms map always makes me tingly with nostalgia. Never played it much in pen and paper, but I did spend quite a few hours in baldur's gate trying to get by with my non-native grasp of english :P
@Posh: Royal Fool! That is perfect! No offense meant at all, Posh, but that's the most undercover kinda job
@Alia: I was thinking of wondrous items crafting. Perhaps we can pool our efforts
I think Posh would take that as a compliment!
Alia, I believe the above was meant facetiously.
It is, but at the same time it isn't. Just remember that whatever you decide might stick for a long while to come.
Oh, we could install some muppet, then rise up as pretender rebels and rebrand the whole thing.
*shrug*
It's not that unusual...Aragon+Castile=>Spain, Muscovy+Nomnomnom=>Russia, Timurids+Timurdeath=>Mughals...Ming+Manchu=>Qing
It works both ways, too...Greece=>Seleucids, Rome=>Byzantium, CCCP=>Russian Federation-
we'll work something out :)
worst case, we end up as Russians. (But at least our Anthem would kick ass.)
Hmm yes we should work on an anthem. If only I were as musically talented as Illthir ...
As a side note, the french anthem is also surprisingly badass.