Of Kings and Commoners - Kingmaker AP

Game Master RPGGGM

Big green monster head rushes into view. It yells: "STUPER-BUSY!" Then it rushes off again.

Serena's player is not opposed to in-game conflicts if that means anything. I think that there is good potential for role-playing here, and I, too, would be sad to see it hand-waved away. As for Serena's stance, she is first and foremost a follower of Sarenrae. And as a paladin, things are much more black-and-white in her worldview. She is willing to be tolerant of other beliefs, but if those beliefs conflict with Saerenrae's interests, expect her to side with the Dawnflower.

Aye. Seems we are on the same page then.
No handwaiving away the conflict by hiding Sarenrae under the Rug or declaring official support for a single religion.
If there are rough diplomatic waters, it'll be a welcome opportunity for RP.

Oddly enough I like Serena and Zokon has always had a liking for the Paladin.. now I have to play it correctly that he will seek guidance from her in matters of the spirit and such.

I forgot Zokon had a preference for Sarenrae due to her staunch fight for good

I would say that we are in those rough diplomatic waters, and that is the RP that Zokon and Durgan have been doing.

Durgan doesn't know that Zokon is a Sarenrite. He advocated for Zokon not knowing that.

Ah, you meant in-group diplomatic roleplay?
I meant the diplomatic relations with Brevoy, Taldor, Galt, etc...as in, I thought you were afraid THOSE would be unhappy about a Sarenite, down the line, but we can of course establish the basis for that now, internal.

In that case I'll need to catch Zokon when we go dress-shopping and get in a good word for Findeladlara...

More of a Sarenite favourer rather than an actual worshipper.

Say What You Will, I Live Free...

Under the boots of your deific masters....

There is a sound like conga drums, a cloud of dust, and a noise like a gunshot, and Jhod is gone.

You will have to speak with when everyone gets back.

I meant the conversation with the Archbanker. Durgan tried to smooth things over and make him not too nervous about Serena's intentions. It would help if he knew more about her relationship to Qadira and to any church hierarchy.

Our first diplomatic hurdle to navigate is getting Brevoy comfortable enough to name specific PCs in the charter.

We'll see how it goes.

Any chance we could get more background for Serena based on her origins.. and maybe some stuff for just the gms eyes if yer feeling interesting.

It seems you might need a new General.

Did you want to talk to Kesten about that or the Warden position in relation to kingdom building leadership roles?

Actually...
we don't have an army to begin with. And when Mass Combat does come around, I would assume we have several 'units', not one all-in-package.

Could we split that role, to have multiple acting generals in wartime? So everybody gets to do something then?

Otherwise, I suppose I could do General until we find someone better. Just to avoid the vacancy penalty.(There is none for Consort or Co-Ruler).
Kesten is still only one man and there's 2 jobs that need filling, and I would rather not pick up some random NPC given to us by someone else with absolutely no ulterior motives.

*looks at Akate*
Hey, about that job...how would you feel about...
(Just kidding)

Alia as Warden (Zokon's bodyguard) makes a lot of sense to me, at least for the time being. She'll be by his side all the time, which is not necessarily the case for an NPC. And if there is an attempt on his life and she is seen to save him, that could go a ways towards improving Brevoyan attitudes towards her.

So Kesten might be General. We do need to talk to him and see if he would want the role, and then see if we can help him patch things up with his family.

The question is if we want a Brevoyan noble in charge of the army.
Previously, that was my worry and why I suggested Scarlet as General rather than Warden.

As said, who exactly is responsible for the well-being of the imperial household can certainly be switched over from one role to the other. So me and my leadership-granted Elites could take that role, AND be general.

Aside from not wanting a foreign noble as head of the military, the second factor is that the Wardens role is to enforce laws in settlements and organize guards.

Alia is Chaotic Good. She follows the laws in order to not get into trouble, but generally does not hold them in high esteem, rather holding to a flexible morale code less prone to change over the decades. In my eyes, she is NOT a good law-bringer.

Don't get me wrong, I can do either role as a stand-in, and don't plan to hold on to either once we find a more suitable NPC(because then adding the extra bonus on Zokons side actually becomes desirable) - but I would prefer General(with Praetorians) over Warden between those, and Kesten as law enforcer and guard captain(basically his job now, just on a grander scale).

Edit: (Also, it's not just Kingdom Ruler....it's kingdom Leaders. The Warden keeps everybody safe with the guards - outsourcing Zokons security to the Military with a special royal squad would not really impact the fact that Warden still keeps each other leadership role safe. It also means that if Alia is to be Warden, some of her Followers will eventually be shadowing you and everybody else to keep you save. No ulterior motives(I don't even want that job) but not sure Durgan in-game would be so happy about that...))

Heck Zokon the trained assassin will have his people eventually watching y'all.

Doesn't it make ya all squishy inside to know you'll probably have a bunch of medieval deadshots looking out for ya?

While a foreign (Brevoyan) noble in charge of the military might make Alia nervous, a foreign (Kyonin) noble in charge of the military might make Brevoy nervous.

Neither option makes Durgan nervous as we don't have any army to command.

I think a CG character could make a fine Warden. You would adjudicate in ways that respect freedom, kindness, and empowering the locals. Fairness over the letter of the law. My CG Milani cleric in War for the Crown had a similar responsibility and I think he did it well.

But if you don't want the job then you don't want it.

Remember that you can use the NPC gallery as a resource (you do know a fair number of people--heck, even people in your characters' backstories...), wait to fill the position, or hold some sort of recruiting drive to find someone to fill the spot.

Also, since we are on the topic, did folks want to ask Kesten Garess about a position in the domain's hierarchy?

Aye, but I am not foreign - I am bonded to the ruler of this kingdom.(and have my reasons to be loyal to him)
Kesten Garess on the other hand - lets say it's less certain which side he would choose if push comes to shove.

But yeah, no army yet. @fairness over letter of law: Aye, but I figured we have enough material for tension already ;) Figured I'll not add fuel to the fire.

As said, I could fulfill either job if needed, just to avoid the vacancy penalty. Because while we know lots of people, remarkably few of them seem suited for these tasks.
I just re-stated my personal preference for General over Warden.
But if, for example, it turns out Kesten was actually an army commander before, for political reasons, being deployed as a guard captain in some backwater trading post - well...I will be flexible.

@GM - Durgan does want to talk to Kesten Garess. He is looking to establish stronger ties with the man's family anyway, because of the dwarf connection, and is interested in what role Kesten might prefer.

@GM - Durgan does want to talk to Kesten Garess. He is looking to establish stronger ties with the man's family anyway, because of the dwarf connection, and is interested in what role Kesten might prefer.

"ME!? I'm just a soldier now. Maybe a captain but that's about all."

"Kesten, a captain in Brevoy commands, what, a hundred soldiers or so?
That is more than Zokon - or I - would have under arms for quite some time to come. So if you were the highest-ranking officer in an army of fifty, would that not make you the General? But with only the day-to-day burden of being a Captain? Seems a fine deal to me.
Anyway, that is how one often learns a trade. Start with smaller tasks and work your way up. Perhaps one day Zokon or I will have an army of a thousand or more and you will have years of experience at command.

We are looking for a General to command the troops, and you have some experience commanding soldiers.
We are also looking for a Warden, who would enforce the laws in the larger settlements (not that we have such things yet) and also ensure the safety of the leadership.
Would you be interested in improving your standing through accepting either of these roles?"

Knowledge (Nobility): 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (20) + 3 = 23 +1 circumstance bonus for dwarf connections or Lodovka gossip or something else, to get that other spoiler?
"I have heard of the Garess family. There are some of my dwarven brethren in their ranks. Evan Garess is your father? You may not be close to the line of succession, but I imagine their regard for you would increase if you had an important position in this new realm. I would like to meet with them and tell them of your new role."

"General, huh? Well, I could lead the land's army." He looks around at the pair of men he commands now--guardsmen Tokin, and Platzholdur; down by half since the bombing and the deaths of corporal Paun and guardsman Pease.

"Seeing how I am leading it now." he laughs.

While indifferent at first, Kesten seems to like the idea of being a General.

+1 circumstance bonus for dwarf connections or Lodovka gossip or something else, to get that other spoiler?

Durgan could always pray for guidance before approaching the subject. ;)

"I have heard of the Garess family. There are some of my dwarven brethren in their ranks. Evan Garess is your father? You may not be close to the line of succession, but I imagine their regard for you would increase if you had an important position in this new realm. I would like to meet with them and tell them of your new role."

"Maybe...." Kesten frowns and looks away. "Maybe one day."

Also, before we go too much further in the adventure in gameplay, go ahead and level up to 5th level if you haven't. Just use the wealth by level figure of 10,500 gp. This is the total amount of wealth that your character can have in total (aside from your noble party clothing mentioned in the Gameplay thread). No more than quarter (2,625 gp) of which should be spent in any of the following categories: weapons, protective items (things that improve AC like armor, magical bracers), magical items (other than those noted in the previous two categories), and limited use (potions, scrolls, wands)/mundane equipment (alchemist's fire, food, horses, saddles, sunrods, tents). In addition, no one item (aside from those you might have gotten through gameplay--btw, the Stag Helm costs 1,750gp) can eat up more than one quarter of your wealth (2,625 gp).

Post your changes (hp, skills, background skills, spells, etc...) here in Discussion.

LEVELING UP

Hit Points
Let's do this: You can roll 'em with the minimum hp gained being the die's average (rounded up - so on the d6 that's 4, d8 = 5, and so on).

Background Points
We use 'em.

Zokon steps up behind Durgan and put s his hand on his shoulder.

"Durgan speaks the truth, Kesten, your knowledge is better than most of us, will you lend yourself to this endeavour and be part of building something wonderful, plus you'll be able to show off to the folk back home if we succeed, as well as making yourself a comfy home."

kn Nob aid: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (9) + 2 = 11

Okay so with either a Guidance or Zokon jogging his memory, Durgan knows the other rumor.

"There is one matter we should discuss, Kesten. Walk with us a bit."

Durgan leads Zokon and Kesten some distance away from Tokin and Platzholdur. He speaks gently but firmly.

"This rumor of the weaver's daughter. I don't need to know all the lurid details, but just two things: was it with her consent? And was there a child?

And if you two were truly in love and forced apart by the class difference, perhaps we could bring her here. A weaver's daughter she might be in Brevoy, but this is not Brevoy."

Leveling up:

Don't think I did HP the right way before. So fixing that now. Starting max, then 4d8 ⇒ (4, 8, 2, 3) = 17 makes (8)+5+8+5+5 = 31 (+15 Con = 46).

Resistance bonus from domain ability increases to +2 (so +1 to all saves)

Feat: Cunning
+5 skill points (2 base, 1 Int, 1 FCB, 1 Cunning): Diplomacy 4, Perception 1
+4 retroactive skill points (from Cunning feat): Fly 4
+2 background skill points: Linguistics 1 (Sylvan), Knowledge (Nobility) 1
Channel to 3d6
Gained 3rd-level spells: Normally prepare Fly (D), Communal Resist Energy, and Invisibility Purge (might change as we get some scrolls done)

Gear: the +1 Full Plate that he previously had is just over the item cap (at 2,650), so I guess he will go with MW Full Plate and ask Alia to enchant it later.

I am quite uncertain on what gear I should get, if Alia is getting Craft Arms & Armor as a bonus feat, Illthir has Scribe Scroll, and Victoria was thinking of Craft Wondrous Item, should I hold off on buying magic items and just get crafting components? What is everybody else doing? It feels cheesy to expect everything to be crafted for half price. Maybe I will just reserve 2,625 in crafting components and buy the rest of the stuff that I want.

+4 retroactive skill points (from Cunning feat): Fly 4

Does Durgan have a way to fly at present?

You cannot take this skill without a natural means of flight or gliding. Creatures can also take ranks in Fly if they possess a reliable means of flying every day (either through a spell or other magical manner, such as a druid’s wild shape ability).

Quote:

Durgan Far-Walker wrote:

I am quite uncertain on what gear I should get, if Alia is getting Craft Arms & Armor as a bonus feat, Illthir has Scribe Scroll, and Victoria was thinking of Craft Wondrous Item, should I hold off on buying magic items and just get crafting components? What is everybody else doing? It feels cheesy to expect everything to be crafted for half price. Maybe I will just reserve 2,625 in crafting components and buy the rest of the stuff that I want.

That's fine just know that as these items would be made in-game (most-likely after you return to Avalon and get settled). This means you won't have access to them during the party's forthcoming battle with the werechickens.

Yes, Durgan gets Fly as a Travel domain spell. So it's a "reliable means of flying every day."

Yes, Durgan gets Fly as a Travel domain spell. So it's a "reliable means of flying every day."

Carry on.

Okay so with either a Guidance or Zokon jogging his memory, Durgan knows the other rumor.

Yeah just remember that you can always use guidance when doing research where you have a bit of time to study up on a subject. In cases where you are confronted suddenly by something and need to make snap decisions about what it is you are seeing you either need to loudly cast your spell/ask for divine guidance on the spot (rather than doing other things) or not do it at all and just rely on the dice as they are.

Generally, I make Wisdom checks (with a DC between 8-12) to retcon actions that might seem tactically unwise to a layman watching from outside, but in this case it is such an easy fix that we can just hand-wave it. That said:

Wis: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6

"There is one matter we should discuss, Kesten. Walk with us a bit."

Durgan leads Zokon and Kesten some distance away from Tokin and Platzholdur. He speaks gently but firmly.

"This rumor of the weaver's daughter. I don't need to know all the lurid details, but just two things: was it with her consent? And was there a child?

If you took her by force, that would be a problem. That is not the rumor as I have heard it. I just want to be certain. Abadar grants me magic to compel the truth. I do not use that now. I ask you to be truthful."

As Durgan speaks Kesten's expression goes from contemplative, to shocked, and then to something bordering upon livid.

Durgan sees the young man getting angry.

"Kesten, if you gain a prominent role, then an accusation could appear, true or not. Spread by our enemies, or your relatives resentful of your rise, or just the distortion of whispered stories over time.

And you loved her, perhaps we can help."
Diplomacy: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (20) + 4 = 24 Using the old Level 4 modifier.

@Leveling: I did ask how crafting was intended to be handled henceforth.
Using extensive downtime to make everything we want seems wrong, but not having a benefit seems wrong, as well.

@Role: Since it seems Kesten will want to be General, and I would be a temporary solution, and you specifically pointed out using people from our backgrounds...AND this all still takes place at the trading post - I will ask Maethadis and Andril to inform my brother, and ask him to come and present himself to Zokon.
He would make a wonderful Warden - and have excellent loyalty.

Oh yea time to flex some bardic knowledge :D

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Leveling + Crafting - I think I'm going to treat it as a separate post/category and only save at most 2625 gold for it. That's 25% extra junk at the cost of time which seems about right-ish. So exactly what Durgan said.

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Role - As long as Kestens dark and mysterious past is just a screwed up love affair and nothing malicious I'm on board with him as general. We'll need to *know* that though - and I'm glad you are taking initiative to poke around. Better to have him pissed off and not on board then happy and dumping that in our lap later.

I'm not sure if an elven queen and an elven law will go over well with our neighbors if they are as paranoid as some assumed :P But I'm not opposed to it - in fact it might even lead to fun RP through the strife! (Also loyalty to who?)

Illthir pretty much only have her not-so-fleshed-out parents at the moment to add to the background NPC pool and I don't think they'll fit. Could ask an ex preacher of Findeladlara to do some religious work, but don't think that'll go over too well :D

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Level up - I'll see if I can do the non-gear bits today. Hopefully : )

Well - just to address that one point - if I take the role of Warden, it's also an Elven Queen AND an Elven Law, only without separation of powers... ;)
Just figured why even take the position temporarily when I have no ranks in the relevant skill, and a perfectly loyal and well-suited character in the background that could take the office permanently.
Plus everybody knows Elves have keen Senses and Martial Training as Switch Hitters, so they make for a great secret service keeping all of you safe in your sleep.

Level up summary:

HP!: 1d8 ⇒ 4

+1 level 1 spell per day
+1 level 2 spell per day

+1 level 2 spell known
+1 level 1 spell known (favoured class bonus)

+1 feat

+2 background skills; Sing & Linguistics (picking up Sylvan as well)

+5 regular skills (4 + 1 from int);
+1 Perception
+1 Know: Arcana
+1 Diplomacy (first rank woop woop!)
+1 Perform String

Acquire Spell Kenning 1/day

I'll add my feat and spell selection later

So I've thought a little on my feat. If anyone has any ideas I'd be delighted to hear them! Note that Illthir will be extremely feat starved after level 10/11 (a whole bunch of cool feats unlock all at once) so she can't really start some long chain. I'm mostly looking for some fun and useful standalone feats!

Here's some ideas:

Arcane Strike with the intention of picking up Riving Strike. A decent damage bonus that morphs into some friendly spellcaster synergy. (Riving Strike is -2 on saves vs spells/spell likes on targets damaged by Arcane Strike).

Combat Reflexes. Illthir has a reach weapon and can trip. Though tbh it might be a little late, seeing as we have hopefully dealt with our allotment of goblin/kobold/mite hordes already...

Expanded Spell Kenning - she'll be able to steal borrow from druids and witches. Though we have a friendly witch already so that's not super handy. But stealing from more spell lists is kinda fun ... :D

Extra Rage Power - Intimidating Glare. She can't share this one but move action to demoralize is quite neat. Especially if she picks up improved dirge of dread eventually ... Though it's adjacent only which could be dangerous.

Extra Rage Power - Strength Surge. Can't share this one either (since it's picked up by a feat like the other one :P) but a nice +class level to str checks or cmd/cmb once per song is kinda neat. It's like a small quickened True Strike!

Lingering Performance - Kinda flavourless but oh so good. Worth a thought.

Any input : )?

I'm sorry everyone. Past couple of weeks I've been suffering with a really nasty illness. Not certain what it is, but online it's suggested to either be a cold (only I have trouble breathing), bronchitis (which I had as a kid, so possible) or pneumonia.

Going to see about arranging a visit to the GP.

@Posh: Get well soon.

@Illthir: No specific recommendation, but for "fun and standalone" I often take a look at those

Sorry to hear about you being sick. Let's hope you get well as soon as possible!

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Those are pretty fun. Sadly Illthir doesn't have the know:planes ranks to pick the shiny ones. But it's an idea and maybe the skill spread can be massaged a bit ...

np Posh get yourself well... I hope it's just something simple and annoying.

Are we using skills for kingdom roles or stats GM?

Oh gee might need skills for that too. Hmhmm. I might change my level up loadout depending on how that turns out!

@Posh - get well soon!

@Illthir - You might like Cunning, which I just took (Toughness for skill points) as I see by your number of 1-rank skills that you too might be feeling stretched thin.
Arcane/Riving Strike look good, as does Expanded Spell Kenning. Druids have some good spells that clerics don't get (or get later). I am not sure about witch-only spells.
Eldritch Heritage can be fun for a high-Cha character, if you took the required Skill Focus now. Maybe Boreal or Arcane to fit with her background. Fey, Protean, and Verdant have a chaos/wilderness feel and some neat abilities.
Power Attack is good when you have a 2-handed weapon, and later Furious Focus.

Hmm she actually qualifies for the Maestro bloodline since she has skill focus:perform already. Doesn't look too exciting when stacked with a "real" perform class though.

But the idea is good. I'll poke around and see if there's any other. I've seen a few that uses Perform:Oratory which is so close but not quite.

I used to really enjoy that feat but I haven't thought about it for what must be years now. Hmhmmhmm. Really tempting - but I'd probably want the greater versions as well which runs into a gridlock around level 10/11.

Have to think about it at least : )

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Could always use more skill point yeah. Always :D

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Power Attack -> Furious Focus have been on my mind too but I *think* I like Arcane Strike more. Though it will be annoying that it eats a Swift action all the time. Hmhm.

And two handing /w power attack feels so good (as long as the strikes connect :P).

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I've also been toying with getting Spell Focus Conjuration -> Augmented Summoning.

Sure Illthir will only ever summon a bunch of really weak chaff - but her song + Spirit Totem scales so well with really weak chaff!

Plus I could pick up one of the Linnorm death curse powers eventually and get some mileage out of it without hoping for you guys to faint :P

Thoughts on that idea?

The summons she gets as a skald is *probably* too flimsy to make it worth it but hmmhm maybe there's some other way. Spending money on an overlevel wand/stave?

@Posh: OMG! Be well!!

I will level up tomorrow. I'm bushed.

HP: 1d8 ⇒ 7

FCB: +1/6th of new Magus Arcana

Arcane Pool: +2 Bonus, and Weapon Properties

Blade: +1 Enhancement, +1 Int(2 Points Arcane Pool), Energy Attunement
(Also gains +1 Knowledge(Arcana), and a Bonus Language of GM Choice)

+1 Level 1 Spell Slot
+1 Level 2 Spell Slot

New Spells: Bladed Dash, Visualization of the Body

Bonus Feat: Craft Magic Arms and Armor
Regular Feat: Dynasty Founder

Skills: 2(base)+3(Int)+2(background)

Background: +2 Knowledge(Nobility)
+1 Perception
+1 Intimidate
+1 Acrobatics
+1 Linguistics (Arboreal)
+1 Knowledge(Nobility)

+1 Soul Forger Bonus

Many of those are locked in, but it is preliminary - e.g. with Skills, I'll want to take another look over them - especially Linguistics and the third point for Nobility are placeholders for now that I will default to if I can't remember what exactly I had in mind.

@Equipment: That is complicated...
a.: I am bound to my Estoc and it enhances itself. That means my wealth distribution would be different - e.g. not spend equal amounts on some backup weapon and primary protection. The defined categories are Weapons/Armor/Magical Items/Limited Use|Mundane - that is only 4, forcing equal distribution - can we use "Crafting Material"|Personal Bank as the 5th one for some flexibility?
b.: Alia previously declined superior equipment(armor) because she insists on using what she made instead. Can she have crafted her stuff? At full price, of course, but flavorwise it would make a difference regarding what is picked...(as would some other aspects)

LEVELING UP

Added a level of paladin.

Hit Points: 1d10 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 2 = 7

Added a mercy to lay on hands, removes shaken condition

Skills
+3 to Ride
+1 to Knowledge (history)
+1 to Knowledge (nobility)

Feats
Weapon Focus (scimitar)

Purchases
Wand of cure light wounds
Ring of sustenance
Cloak of resistance +1

(Figured I picked up about 3600 gp from WBL, so these should be affordable)

My fellow gamers/adventurers: I hate to have to say this, but I think I’m gonna have to bow out of my PBP games. We all know how real life can rear its ugly head, and I’m just not finding the time to work on my online hobby these days. I can barely keep up with reading posts, let alone posting any actions on my own, and I’d rather not limp along in some half-ass fashion without being able to give the time and energy that these games and our characters deserve. I wish you all the best and thank you for including me in your stories. -Rob

Noooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo... I was just starting to see the awesome funky Victoria style.

Also what skill is it that i'll need to be all leaderlike?

Sorry to hear that, Victoria.

Man, people droppping left and right :(
And another game of mine shut down completely earlier this week.
I hate holiday season.

@Zokon: Knowledge(Nobility)