Of Kings and Commoners - Kingmaker AP

Game Master RPGGGM

GGGM: One more question: do any of these guys look like the Benzen kid who we think joined the bandits?

Most of them are about 10 to 20 years too old, and the kid (who looks about the right age) is of average height, with paler skin, and darker hair than you would expect from a member of the Benzen clan.

Celyne steps into view, Luna at her side, growling low in her throat. "So what's going on ... are we all going to be friendly like now?" she asks sweetly, but with a slight edge to her voice.

"A woman!" Exclaims a thin man near the back, seeming to ignore Scarlet's presence. "Come to join up?!"

"Of course that's what they're here for. Why else would someone be out in all this cold wet? I mean look at 'em. Looks like them been living in dusty bear's cave for the last week." Adds Fat Norry sagely.

"But it's a woman!" The thin man points out. "And she ain't got no 'atchets on 'er."

"She's got a big stripy mountain cat though." says the boy.

Scarlet rubs her neck instinctively. "No harm, no foul. Honestly we were worried you were going to ambush us." Easy does it girl...

"We're recruiters, for the army. We follow the Stag Lord." He shows off a bit silver on a string worked into a crude stag's head if stag's heads were made of driftwood. It looks like it was crafted by the same hand that fashioned Kressel's. It is obvious by the way the man holds it that it is a badge of rank. "I'm Dovan, from Nisroch"

"Byron?"

"Byron's my oldest, but not the wisest. I think he ran off and joined the brigands. If you are going into the wilderness to deal with them I implore you to be merciful. He only did it out of desperation, I'm sure. He's a good kid." Ilse puts a supportive hand on her father's shoulders as he comes close to tears.

Looking about the table at the Benzen family, Vekkel and nine blonde children present all mirroring their dad's longish face and bright blonde hair you don't suppose it would be difficult spot Byron once you met him.

Stag Lord... blonde with a long face... that might be Byron. What luck!

"My name's Scarlet. I know Dovan's name, but what about you guys?"

Kn Local: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (5) + 4 = 9

Zokon lowers his weapon and then climbs up the hill to the right so he can get a high vantage point

Climb: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (19) + 7 = 26

Then he has his bow in hand but not drawn

"Just overlooking the talking."

Celyne smiles... gives the boy a little wink. "Yes I do... and the kitty is VERY protective. Still, no reason why we can't have a civil chat. Why don't y'all tell me about this stag lord... I've heard the name before, but I must say, I'm relatively new around here and not up on who is who and what is what."

diplomacy: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (5) + 15 = 20

"We're recruiters, for the army. We follow the Stag Lord."

"Army, is it?" Numalar harrumphs.

"Just who does this Stag Lord plan to fight?"

"I'm Dovan, from Nisroch"

"I'm not familiar with Nisroch. Where is that?"

Celyne smiles... gives the boy a little wink. "Yes I do... and the kitty is VERY protective. Still, no reason why we can't have a civil chat. Why don't y'all tell me about this stag lord... I've heard the name before, but I must say, I'm relatively new around here and not up on who is who and what is what."

"Wait. You don't know?"

Everyone suddenly becomes quiet, and the men look to the others in the party quizzically....

Map updated.

Noted your questions Numalar, but the answers have to wait, possibly for a long while depending on what happens next.

Alia, and Posh, I'll assume, are hanging back at this point trying not to reveal themselves.

"Like she said, we're not from around here. That's why we came here to say hello. What? That's never happened before?"

Sense Motive: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (9) - 1 = 8

Jeez, what's with the quiet?

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (14) + 7 = 21

Zokon figuring out the danger raises his bow slightly They think we are recruits, how would we not know about who we are joining."

Zokon figuring out the danger raises his bow slightly They think we are recruits, how would we not know about who we are joining."

Yep, now what are you gonna do about it?

Nothing atm.... my guys need to figure it out too

No worries. Feel free to discuss out-of-character in the discussion thread if you like, but be aware that sharing a particularly clever idea that your PC came up with with the remainder of the party will probably require some Bluff (pass secret message) rolls or other methods to avoid tipping your hand.

And yes, as you (the party that is) are basically in the middle of nowhere, the brigands (at least a few of them) can't imagine any other reason someone would be out this far, in this sort of weather besides joining their cause--especially considering all the rumors that have spread about the Stag Lord raising a force in the wilderness.

"Wait. You don't know?"

"Precisely, my boy. We had heard about a possible job out here, but we could hardly make any commitments without knowing more, now could we?"

Numalar smiles.

"So we figured we would come out here to see what the fuss was all about."

"So what is this Stag Lord looking for anyway, in his people I mean; and what does this job entail?"

"Oh, the usual. He he." Fat Norry giggles suggestively. He extends a pudgy hand that somehow--though he is obviously just out of bed--is still slick with cooked animal grease. "This be our Dirty Jeb"

"'Cause I fights so dirty." claims Jeb, but from downwind you can tell there's another, possibly more accurate, reason.

"This is the new guy, Planchet."

"Hullo." The man with the badly worn socks, and quickly failing hairline waves sheepishly.

"-and the kid's Valkeri."

"Put 'er thar." Says Valkeri, extending the cleanest hand in the group.

"You already met Dovan. Dovan is the Stag Lord's Number Tw-err, Three!" Norry nervously stops speaking, and looks down at his greasy hands.

Dovan glowers murderously at Norry for a moment, and then quickly turns smug again. "A temporary state of being. Soon, I'll be Lord Magister of that little trade post Northeast of here. For now though we are gathering our strength. Soon we'll be the masters of Brevoy's southernly border, from the Tors of Levines to Pitax!"

Scarlet shakes Valkeri's hand. How did they get so dirty? How can I do that?

"So then. Why does he want a whole army? I sounds like it should be easy enough to get...um protection money."

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (15) + 5 = 20

"Oh, our dread Stag Lord dreams big." Dovan smiles. It's not a comforting expression. The other bandits look hesitant to add more.

"So, you are? Oh and maybe tell your friend up there to come down so we can talk, and I don't have to repeat myself."

Map updated.

Zokon will move 10 feet further forward but staying up higher

"I'm perfectly fine up here, I can hear you and what i'm hearing sounds like blah.. blah my ambitions might make me do something foolish and not talk if there wasn't an archer up high making the talky option sound better."

Intimidate: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (8) + 4 = 12

Celyne takes a step forward ... whispers softly to Scarlet "The boy just stole your kukri I think... it's in his belt at his back."

Just a short reminder: River Freedom #6: You Have What You Hold
This freedom draws the moral distinction between stealing and robbery. In the River Kingdoms, it is more preferable to face your robber, to be allowed the opportunity to resist (and perhaps to repossess!). It is acceptable (and perhaps worthy of praise) to take what you want by force.

Just in case Scarlet wants to call him out on it, she's utterly justified in doing so...even by the law of the lawless. Also note that that's the most important one of the Freedoms - so...big deal if the boy does not have the guts to demand it, and rather takes it sneakily... :)

When Celyne whispers to Scarlet. She has a moment of confusion, then laughs. She glares at Valkeri. "I like this kid. He's got fast fingers. And guts, too."

"Taking my kukri and tucking it in your belt." She exhales a bit, carefully, finally looking at Dovan. "This is your test, right?"

Intimidate: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (5) + 8 = 13

She returns her gaze to Valkeri, widens her stance a bit like she's preparing a charge. "Well we passed the test, give me my blade back. Or, do I have to get forceful?"

The other bandits laugh as Valkeri hands the bent blade over to Scarlet.

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (12) + 7 = 19

Zokon keeps the info to himself for the moment.

sense motive dc 18: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (16) + 8 = 24

Celyne lofts a brow as she glances sidelong at Planchet, then she shrugs and just keeps a wary eye on him, not trusting him at all... well not really trusting any of them, but him least of all.

Zokon In addition to that, you realize your previous intimidate attempt has only made the group angry, and more suspicious of you. In fact, if there is such a thing as a Rush/Hell Week among bandits you are likely to be the first hazing casualty.

blah blah blah.. arrows still pointed at you... plays fake violin on bow string.. twang

sense motive: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (9) + 2 = 11

"Soon, I'll be Lord Magister of that little trade post Northeast of here."

"You mean the one run by that Oleg fellow? What's wrong with Oleg? You don't look like the merchant type to me... or did you plan on using the place for something else?"

"'E's got to have some coin now don't 'e." Says Valkeri.

"Well, I'm sure they eat better than we do out here" Complains Norry.

"And there's that cute little filly he's got in his stable." Adds Dirty Jeb.

Sense Motive: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (10) - 1 = 9

Scarlet checks her blade. I gotta take better care of this. Clearly, these guys have wasted their talents.

"So, you are? Oh and maybe tell your friend up there to come down so we can talk, and I don't have to repeat myself."

Dovan, his arms crossed, continues to stare at the party members as if to say 'You REALLY don't want me to repeat myself.'

Just a short reminder: River Freedom #6: You Have What You Hold

This freedom draws the moral distinction between stealing and robbery. In the River Kingdoms, it is more preferable to face your robber, to be allowed the opportunity to resist (and perhaps to repossess!). It is acceptable (and perhaps worthy of praise) to take what you want by force.

Just in case Scarlet wants to call him out on it, she's utterly justified in doing so...even by the law of the lawless. Also note that that's the most important one of the Freedoms - so...big deal if the boy does not have the guts to demand it, and rather takes it sneakily... :)

As we appear to be a distance away. Back at camp:

"Do you think they'll be alright?" Posh asks with a worried look to Alia "I mean, I know Scarlet will be. She's a hell of a warrior, but the others?"

@Posh: We are assumed to have gone along and stand right around the bend. I know Alia came along because she heared that there was 5 of them. She simply did not reveal her presence, staying hidden and silent. But don't worry, we'll get around to continuing our chat ^_^

"And there's that cute little filly he's got in his stable." Adds Dirty Jeb.

Numalar grins evilly at Jeb (ignoring Dovan as long as he can), and rubs his hands together.

"She is a handsome woman, isn't she? She looks like a fighter, though; prob'ly scratch your eyes out. She could knock me off this dog, that's for sure. Think you can take her by yourself?"

Numalar looks around at the others (not including Dovan).

"Does someone have dibs, or do you plan to share? And what about Oleg? Do you just get rid of him? Or... heh heh heh... make him watch?"

"Is that how the Stag Lord pays... in booty and such?"

bluff (take 10): 10 + 14 = 24

At this point you don't really need to bluff them. However this is, I'm sure you will admit, a rather stressful situation--more-so than even than those times when your significant other asks you if their outfit makes them look fat. If you do bluff them (usually used to convince a person of something--in this case I guess that Numalar is a lecher like he figures them to be), you'll need to roll it.

Dovan eyes Zokon and Numalar.

He cuts off Jeb with a wave of his hand. "Maybe we hear about what you have to offer us first...."

At this point it doesn't take much to see that Dovan is angry.

He cuts off Jeb with a wave of his hand. "Maybe we hear about what you have to offer us first...."

Numalar grins. "We have a variety of talents," Numalar says. "Not just the obvious ones like being good with a bow or having a cat with very big teeth."

He opens his hand, and with a flick of his wrist his hand bursts into flame.

Activating SLA produce flame.

"What sorts of things is the Stag Lord looking for? Maybe he needs someone who can get people... fired up about his cause? Heh heh. There's something about fire... that's cleansing, don't you think?"

Numalar turns his hand over slowly, watching the flames dance as if hypnotized. "Amazing how something so destructive can be so beautiful. We fear fire, but all our civilization is based on it."

Since I am trying to act like a villain, might as well make them think I am a pyromaniac.

And, since I need to actually roll...
bluff: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (17) + 14 = 31

Do you really need to roll bluff to convince someone about being a pyromaniac? I mean, it's the name of your alternate racial trait GIVING you produce flame. You love fire. You keep track of burnified stuff. Numalar IS a well-mannered pyromaniac. At the least, you should have a hefty circumstance-bonus there... *smiles* I know what you mean, of course. But still ^_^

"Nice. We could use a new wizard. All the ones we get are either crazy, or-- scary.... And you?" He asks each other person in turn.

Numalar? Y-y-you sure?
"Me? I'm here to be a mercenary. I wanna die rich and happy. And I'll do that anyway necessary."

I gotta sell this. I was hoping to keep this secret, but. Oh well, if this goes bad...

Scarlet uses her Spell Like Ability to enlarge herself.

Bluff: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (8) + 3 = 11

"When I get mad, I get big and bring on the pain! Point me at your target and I'll get it done!"

...But still ^_^

:) The bluff roll was also because my previous take 10 was disallowed, so it's also for the previous "I am a criminal like you" post.

Zokon looks like he relaxes and says but he doesn't

"Archer.. plain and simple,, money is my trade."

Bluff: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (17) + 4 = 21

"Well you certainly look sturdy enough." Dovan says to the gigantic Scarlet. He doesn't say anything to Zokon and barely looks up.

All eyes turn to Celyne.

@Posh: We are assumed to have gone along and stand right around the bend. I know Alia came along because she heared that there was 5 of them. She simply did not reveal her presence, staying hidden and silent. But don't worry, we'll get around to continuing our chat ^_^

So is Posh nearby, also hidden or does Dovan know he's there?

Posh and Alia are about 30 ft off of the current map. You can both hear most of what is being said and probably gather the problem--now that the party is engaged how do they disengage, or perhaps push on further.

Dovan has not indicated that he has noticed you, nor has anyone else that you know of, but that's mostly due to a lack of line of sight.

"I'm here because I'm a healer... I keep this bunch alive when they are doing what they do best... " Celyne says with a little smile... "And kitty here helps them deliver some pain when they need a little extra muscle."

Zokon attempts to subtly signal Alia to advance, passing it off as swatting at a bug a few times.

Bluff: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6