Of Kings and Commoners - Kingmaker AP

Game Master RPGGGM

"Kor! They e'en hae real dwarf bread!" exclaims Angus in appreciation.

"Yes, my father had Igor make some a few years back."

Durgan is extremely suspicious of this whole scene.
Did anyone refill his goblet without his asking? If so, he will once again Purify it and keep an eye out for anybody surreptitiously pouring drinks.
I imagine Purify Food and Drink neutralizes alcohol; Durgan thinks it for the best.

Igor and Scraps carve and serve the Tojbasarrirge. Igor uses a number of repurposed medical implements to accomplish the task (foremost among them a bone saw).

"Might the future lord of the Stolen Land enjoy dining with his hostess?" says the lady admiringly.

Lord Selline seems up to the challenge and takes his place in the larger of the two seats at the head table.

Map updated.

Hotspur's men settle into the bench opposite Zokon, and grunt an acknowledgement of his presence.

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (17) + 10 = 27
Durgan notices, but isn't sure of the best move at the moment. He waits.

Sense Motive: 1d20 ⇒ 19 This guy walks around like he owns the place.

"Okay, I'll ask, I'll ask. I'm bad at subtlety." She stands up and walks over to her brother.

"Hey bro who are you trainin'? Is it the- Stag Lord's bandits? You know they're bad news, right? Well okay, not all of them. Some of them, like this wizard we ran into a few days ago- he turned one of his buddy's bodies into a bomb and sent it into a store turned outpost. Killed the owner right out. The owner's wife wouldn't talk for days. By the time we caught up to him he was ready to sacrifice another member at us."

"I don't know if the new employer really knows what he's getting into- this bandit king doesn't seem like the obedient type. What happens if he and your employer come to blows? What happens to the contract if the Stag Lord dies, is what I'm saying?"

Scarlet knows she may be prying into Company secrets, but she can't help but worry.
Diplomacy: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (17) + 5 = 22

The Blue Beetle turns dark purple. He slams his dwarf bread down so hard it breaks his plate.

"We. Are. Not. Bandits." He says through clenched teeth.

"Perhaps you would allow me, as a servant of Abadar, to examine the wording of this contract. If Hotspur here did not tell you that you would be turning the Stag Lord's bandits into his personal army, that constitutes a very serious omission of fact."
I'm not a lawyer myself, but Durgan is (among other things). Would a lie by omission, with the intent of compelling a party to aid you in crimes, make a contract invalid? Deceiving them into being an accomplice to a crime?
"Or am I wrong, Selline? Do you have a different and totally unrelated band of ruffians in mind?"

Zokon starts examining Hotspurs men, what they are armed with? Do they have armour? Are they looking tense as in rains of castamere playing tense?

sense motive: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (19) + 8 = 27

The Blue Beetle turns dark purple. He slams his dwarf bread down so hard it breaks his plate.

"We. Are. Not. Bandits." He says through clenched teeth.

"That's what I'm sayin'. The Scarabs fight for the right compensation, but also the right cause. I just want to make sure everything's on the up and up before we're dragged into something we shouldn't be."

"We? I thought you weren't coming." he says and looks darkly over at Alia.

Zokon starts examining Hotspurs men, what they are armed with? Do they have armour? Are they looking tense as in rains of castamere playing tense?

A Middle-aged looking Gnome with a scar on his lip, leaving a permanent sneer takes a seat with the group and takes a moment to survey the table as he forces a grin, but says nothing.

"Huh? Oh yeah. I don't know all of her plans. I've seen who this Stag Lord associates with, and he's up to no good." She pauses. "Be careful, bro."

And with that, Scarlet returns to her seat and turns to Zokon. "Thiis whole thing stinks, and not in the good way. I was hoping to meet up with my brother, apologize for bailing out on him- again- and join the Company. The new guy Ledda hates my guts even though we just met, and I know my bro. If he signed the contract, his mind is made up."

When Scarlet returns Zokon starts to talk but remembers the Gnome just in case Zokon puts his hand over his mouth

"Do you think there's anything you can do, to either join him or stop him from going? If not we'll need to leave and try and get to the Stag Lord asap and try and defeat those bandits... somehow, before the Scarabs get there."

"Perhaps you would allow me, as a servant of Abadar, to examine the wording of this contract. If Hotspur here did not tell you that you would be turning the Stag Lord's bandits into his personal army, that constitutes a very serious omission of fact."

The Blue Beetle ignores Durgan until his sister replies. Then he spins on the cleric and glares.

I'm not a lawyer myself, but Durgan is (among other things). Would a lie by omission, with the intent of compelling a party to aid you in crimes, make a contract invalid? Deceiving them into being an accomplice to a crime?

Most contracts of the sort will have a line in them to the indicate that everything in the contract will be done in accordance with local, state, or federal laws (at least in the States here). From Mivon's point of view there are no laws in the lawless Stolen Land, or perhaps only the Six River Freedoms would apply. To Brevoy, there is a case for insurrection, or even hostile invasion by a foreign power as they feel the land belongs to them. So there is the argument that banditry is not illegal there.

"Or am I wrong, Selline? Do you have a different and totally unrelated band of ruffians in mind?"

There's an intake of air up at the head table. And Lord Selline is on his feet hand on his sword hilt. "Who is this dwarf, to impugn my honor, and speak to me so?"

Durgan shrugs and goes back to his food. "I think your father was looking for you. Trying to dissuade you from this course of action."

"My lord, he is one of the eleven who showed up at the gates this evening looking for Beetle."

Edit forgot to account for the dwarves.

"One of my father's spies then! Beetle you are currently under contract deal with this knave and his fellows."

....

Durgan patiently replies, "I'm a priest of Abadar. I met your father in Mivon. He asked for an audience and, as he is Lord-Mayor, I complied. I don't work for him. We had no idea you were here, Selline. We were looking for Beetle and the company to hire them ourselves. Shall I say all this again under a Zone of Truth?"
He shakes his head. "I'd be a pretty lousy spy. Your father has more sense than to try to hire a priest of Abadar for a job like that."

Zokon starts examining Hotspurs men, what they are armed with? Do they have armour? Are they looking tense as in rains of castamere playing tense?

They are armed with guisarmes (leaned against the wall behind them), longswords and javelins. They have the look and feel of ruffians playing dress up (which basically sums up the look of most standing armies in this CN region). They are relaxed until Hotspur's chair slides back, at which point they look up (and grow tense) and prepare to stand should their lord look like he needs them to.

Durgan patiently replies, "I'm a priest of Abadar. I met your father in Mivon. He asked for an audience and, as he is Lord-Mayor, I complied. I don't work for him. We had no idea you were here, Selline...."

I feel it fair to warn Durgan that leaving the word 'Lord' out of a nobleman's title (Hotspur is a scion of House Selline) when addressing them directly or indirectly is generally considered bad form by nobles--unless he is doing it intentionally to get a rise of them, at which point it becomes a swords through the guts sort of offense.

The hall goes quiet. All that can be heard is the sound of the fire.

"Thecondth, anyone?" says an uncertain Igor into the silence.

I feel it fair to warn Durgan that leaving the word 'Lord' out of a nobleman's title (Hotspur is a scion of House Selline) when addressing them directly or indirectly is generally considered bad form by nobles--unless he is doing it intentionally to get a rise of them, at which point it becomes a swords through the guts sort of offense.

I intended it more as a minor jab. If it is really that bad, is there a lesser noble title that works, that is only a bit below his station? "Sir Selline" maybe? The point is, if Hotspur has to drop his father's name to assert his rank, then Durgan can call him out for going against his father's wishes.

Scarlet silently hands Igor her plate. At least she won't die hungry.

Nobles. Ruin. Everything.

Scarlet checks Alia, her brother, this idiot lord, Illthir. In that order.

"I am sorry. Sir Selline. You are, of course, the son of Lord-Mayor Raston Selline. As the son of Lord Selline, you are entitled to certain courtesies and naturally have certain privileges and obligations."
Durgan emphasizes the word 'son'. There is nothing insulting in this. There is, however, the implication is that if Hotspur wishes to claim privileges on account of being his father's son, he needs to mind the other traditional custom in this regard, that he owes obedience to his father.
"I have told you what I believe to be his wishes. I could be mistaken. Perhaps you should go ask him yourself."

Zokon says to Scarlet "did he just order your brother to deal with you? Wasn't the contract just to train his men?"

Zokon also looks over the way out and where the guards Javelins are? On their backs? Against the wall?

Hiring mercenaries usually includes having them hit people you don't like, provide security, etc.... The javelins are in quivers on the men's backs.

Serena listens to the exchange, watching carefully the reactions of the mercenaries and Selline. Her hand unconsciously pats her weapon as if to remind herself that it is at her side.

Zokon says to Scarlet "did he just order your brother to deal with you? Wasn't the contract just to train his men?"

"Did he?" Scarlet expresses concern. "I didn't hear it, and I didn't see the contract, and his lordship is jumping to conclusions." Scarlet munches on some of the seconds.

5 minutes with my bro is all I get this time, eh?

"Durgan explained this already, eh milord. We spent exactly one day in Mivon, learned where the Company was, and then left to find them. If you want to search my gear, go for it. You won't find anything incriminating in there. Uh, Lord Selline."

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (11) + 5 = 16

"Let's just all calm down, here. Alright?"

No way am I raising my hand against my bro. I don't care how much money you drop at my feet.

Scarlet manages not to burp midway through. Great!

"Durgan explained this already, eh milord. We spent exactly one day in Mivon, learned where the Company was, and then left to find them. If you want to search my gear, go for it. You won't find anything incriminating in there. Uh, Lord Selline."

All I can think of are those charters from Brevoy. :D

Oh. Well, since the Beetles are not bandits, and the charters wish to eliminate banditry, this shouldn't be a problem.

No, but the charters do suggest a sort of clash over perceived ownership.

Just to reiterate some of what has gone before because there's a lot to read:

• Some of the Party have charters indicating that Brevoy considers the Stolen Lands theirs and that the party members in question are the duly designated agents of Brevoy.
• Currently the Stag Lord holds a tenuous rule in the wilderness regions though sheer numbers of desperate men.
• The City/State of Mivon (traditional foes of Brevoy for the last two centuries) is a meritocracy where only the best noble swordsmen can attain power.
• Hotspur the son of the Lord Mayor of Mivon has hired The Company of Sapphire Scarab (~100 dwarf mercenaries) to mount an expedition to the Stolen Land and train up the Stag Lord's brigand rabble in an attempt to forge a new kingdom (as while he is a competent duelist he's not good enough to succeed his father or the others in the list).
• The Sapphire Scarab will provide all the rest of the things that an army of mercenaries generally do when hired (basically they do anything they need to to complete the mission including, but not limited to: killing people, putting out fires, building things, peeling potatoes for supper, latrine duty, etc...). Just so long as the money is forthcoming they are there. (Yes, there is a large advance payment.)
• The Lord-Mayor of Mivon was trying to intercept the Sapphire Scarab before they left town/the region, and has patrols of guardsmen out searching the lands around the city.
• No one really knows exactly what is in Igor's main course.

I'll give Illthir (and anyone else) a little more time to chime in.

Assume that Durgan (who can sense these things) is only just beginning to wind up Hotspur and that he hasn't quite gotten to the hang all of their heads from the walls level of angry just yet. Folks with better diplomatic skills (Serena, Illthir, Numalar) should probably jump in right about now.

If anyone's got questions lemme know (either here or on the Discussion thread).

Yup, this is going peachy keen.

It's also quite possible that in the course of their conversations, the Stag Lord told Hotspur's representatives about the PCs (not Durgan and Serena, but those who his men had tangled with before). "You take care of this problem for me as a sign of good faith, and I'll work with you to carve out a kingdom." Something like that.

There is, as Durgan sees it, a better-than-even chance that Hotspur already knows who those PCs are, and plans to kill them. Hence Beetle's strange glare at Alia.

That's why Durgan immediately told Beetle, after that glare, that he'd have to know the nature of the job, and that if it involved helping brigands or bandits he wouldn't be able to join. Even before Durgan started talking to Hotspur.

It's also quite possible that in the course of their conversations, the Stag Lord told Hotspur's representatives about the PCs (not Durgan and Serena, but those who his men had tangled with before). "You take care of this problem for me as a sign of good faith, and I'll work with you to carve out a kingdom." Something like that.

There is, as Durgan sees it, a better-than-even chance that Hotspur already knows who those PCs are, and plans to kill them. Hence Beetle's strange glare at Alia.

Durgan doesn't think Hotspur knows who they are yet. He's not sure about Beetle's glare though.

"Who is this dwarf, to impugn my honor, and speak to me so?"

Warning: long speech ahead. Gotta make up for my lack of posts.

Numalar stands, raising his hands.

"Peace, My Lord, peace. We do not mean to impugn your honour. I know a man of your stature must seek out some bold venture that is worthy of him. I can understand how this Stag Lord might seem to present a promising opportunity."

"But my Lord," Numalar clears his throat for a moment. "It may be possible that you are not very well informed about who this Stag Lord really is. We have traveled through much of the Stolen Lands and have seen the fruit of the Stag Lord's labours, and I think it would be best if we share with you what we have seen.

"In short My Lord, I don't think that you realize just what sort of creature this Stag Lord is. You could be making a deal with a demon. If you will not oppose him, at the very least seal your borders against him so his taint may not penetrate here. I swear by the Spire of Kembalyne that all the things I have told you are true, and I beg you, for your own sake and for the sakes of all people in this region, do not take up with this Stag Lord as his ally. Whatever dark fate he has in mind for the Stolen Lands may consume you along with it."

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (17) + 8 = 25

If Bluff would apply rather than Diplomacy then add +6. Though Numalar is basically telling the truth and also giving Hotspur his opinion.

"Hmm," says Durgan, "Lord Selline only expressed interest in deterring the Company after I told him about the nuckelavee. Whatever differences you have with your father, your lordship, I don't believe he wishes you to run afoul of a creature like that. Against some foes, even skill with a blade is not enough."
Durgan's tone is conciliatory and more polite, though not groveling.
Diplomacy to Aid Numalar: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (19) + 4 = 23

"And uh, not only does he leave the corpses out, but he's also prone to animating their bodies, like puppets from beyond the grave. We had to deal with the bodies of a recently married couple and their entourage a few days ago. This Stag Lord guy is no good."

Diplomacy Aid: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (15) + 5 = 20

"...My Lord."

Illthir pokes the strange meal and tries to not get caught up in the flak. Sure she agreed with most of everyone - the lordling felt a bit like a prick and right now he was in their way - but she had no desire to tell that to his well armed face. But at the very least she could try to get a feel for how the natives of the hall felt. Maybe they could even try and match the young lady up with another more suitable date?

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

"My Lord we managed to convince one of the Stag Lord closest lieutenants to talk and he painted a grim picture of his dealings in the stolen lands, not someone you'd want to associate your good name with."

Diplomacy Aid Numalar unskilled max 10: 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (14) + 0 = 14

*snort* "You think me naive!? I have no doubts all you say is true about that horned demon, but it doesn't matter, once the Stag Lord has sold me his position and men I will have the seed of my future kingdom. Then let father try to look down upon me! MWAHAHA!"

1d20 + 5 ⇒ (5) + 5 = 10

A dwarf soldier (black) rushes into the hall. He seems a bit put off by the fact that Erevenywg opened the door just before he was about to seemingly crash though.

"SIR! SOMEONE HAS LIT THE SIGNAL FIRE!" he shouts.

"WHAT!?" Beetle explodes. "That light can be seen for leagues!"

"Sir the tower door is barred! We are trying to get in!" says the dwarf.

"Out of the way! I'll break that door in with the skull of the traitor who lit it!" growls Beetle.

Hotspur takes a moment to tell Beetle that he is "reconsidering the hobgoblins' offer" before the hall clears.

Hotspur, and his guardsmen head for the stables.

Beetle and the lion's share of the dwarves (including: Warbeard, Angus, and Arbalasti) make for the tower, where high above a signal pyre burns bright against the night sky.

Lady Vsevolod flops down into her chair looking miserable.

Igor and Scraps begin clearing the tables.

What do you do?

Map updated.

"Thame really. They would have been amathed by the deththert." Igor says shaking his head.

"The fire looks very pretty from here do you not think, Scar-lets-karab?" Erevenywg says looking up from the doorway. She's on her tip-toes as if that would get her closer.

"And you think the Stag Lord is gonna-" Scarlet grunts in frustration as the lord naïvely thinks he's in control just as a dwarf rushes in and mentions the signal fire.

"Oi. Now we're in trouble." Scarlet turns toward the tower. "Whomever lit that pyre is sending a signal, and I'm pretty sure we're gonna get ambushed soon. We gotta secure this place."

Scarlet turns to Lady Vsevolod. "My- Lady, how many entrances are here to your estate? We gotta secure this place and fast!"