Ruins of Empire (Inactive)

Game Master EltonJ

"We have been vanquished, do what you will," the captain said.

Taking the initiative as I have a few minutes of respite...

"Well done," Aglondier applauds Lady Barad when they are together in the captain's chambers, sailing back to Ilien. "You have taught me a valuable lesson that I shall not soon forget: speaking to the hearts and minds of men does not require spells, but simply a quick mind and well-chosen words."

"Again, I am in your debt. And so, I assure you that, when all this is resolved, I will welcome your merchant into my nation."

"Now, we have the beginnings of a case against El-Hadid, but I fear that we will need to find out his allies before we can act decisively. I know that Lord Beldere has been writing to El Hadid about his weapon stockpile and that he has been critical of my government. Likely, there are others. And then, there is public opinion..."

He thinks upon it before continuing, "Right now, we have a slight advantage as my enemies do not know that I am alive and that we have prisoners. I am curious to know what you would do, under the circumstances?"

The captured captain speaks up. "El-Hadid had deep pockets."

I imagine that the above is a continuation of the conversation between Lady Barad and the captain? My post was intended for her eyes only... In any case, I will wait until the interrogation is officially finished to continue.

I think we should just roll with it. Would you like to respond to the captain's response?

Aglondier turns his attention to the captured captain, "That he does. He may very well be the richest man in Ilien. But all his riches will be for naught if and when he is found guilty and sentenced to spend his remaining days in the darkness of my dungeon."

"With El-Hadid imprisoned, the Port of Call Exchange will require able leaders," the count continues. "Why content yourself with the petty sums that the man has agreed to pay you when you could move to control his entire fortune?"

"I am a sailor. I respect men who know the dangers of life at sea – El Hadid cannot claim to be such a man. And I will need captains to command my ships both for war and profit."

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (13) + 8 = 21

Your diplomacy worked on the Captain. "I see. Well, I could captain the Port of Call Exchange for you if that's what you want."

"I can open the door and facilitate your ascension, but you will need to play your part," Aglondier warns. "Captain Harlan, we are sailing into dangerous waters. Our course must be agreed upon and our hand must be steady on the wheel. You will need to prove your loyalty – both to me if you are to find your place in my lands, and to the Port of Call Exchange if you intend to lead the organization. It will not be easy, and the fact that you made an attempt on my life will not be soon forgotten."

"But we are getting ahead of ourselves. There is much work to be done. How and when were you to report to Clovis if your trap proved successful? At the Dancing Pony as usual, or elsewhere? And what sort of man is this Clovis?"

"At the Dancing Pony as usual. He's a man with no love for you."

Aglondier raises an eyebrow, "Do you know why? Or have some idea? Surely, he will have shared with you some of his misgivings? I have found most men relish in speaking against those they hate..."

"All he said is that the Aglondiers have messed up the city and wants a change."

"When you spoke to the man," Aglondier continues, "did you get a sense that he was highborn? Low born? A local or a foreigner? And was he always alone, or does he have accomplices?"

"He wasn't Highborn, as you put it. He's a foriegner, from Roesone, I think. He's always alone," explained the Captain.

Aglondier raises an eyebrow, "Is that so?"

He turns to Laday Barad expectantly...

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (16) + 6 = 22
So many agents of Roesone in the lands of Ilien... Does Lady Barad seem at all surprised? I know that Aglondier is not likely to see through her charade if she is, indeed, bluffing. And I am not accusing anyone of anything! But he would definitely be wondering if there is more to all of this!

Well, since the Lady Barad is at a wedding -- I'll bot for her.

She looks, nonplussed. "Well, a dissenter," she says.

Aglondier shrugs and leaves it at that. For now.

"What do we do now?" he asks, curious to hear Lady Barad's wisdom. "These conspirators must be brought to justice swiftly, but we must have strong evidence. And we must know who else is involved."

"Perhaps this is a conversation that should be continued in private?" he proposes, suggesting that their prisoner need not overhear their plans.

I am King Niall Riordan Aeric Swordwraith of Aerenwe!

Ok, in the interest of organization, I am hereby declaring this Domain Turn #1 by Aerenwe Reckoning! Everybody is hunting pirates as of AR 1
Domain Action 2 .

That established, I am posting my domain turn to date:

1. Random Event: Special, assumed to be Pirates to fight in the Gulf of Coerannys!
2. Domain Initiative: 1d10 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 2 = 10
3. Collect Regency Points:

Total Provinces 20 * 1 = 20
Total Sources 26 * .8 = 20.8

Total RP Collected : 40.8

4. Tax/Tithe/Trade:
• Tax (Moderate)
Banien's Deep 1
Shadowgreen 1
Westmarch 1
Northvale 1
Calrie 6
Dhoenel 5
Halried 5
Total Holdings =20, Total Income = 20
Guild Income
Shadowgreen virtual (1)
Northvale virtual (1)
Total Holdings = 2, Total Income = 2*2/3 = 1.3
Law Income
Banien's Deep (1)
Shadowgreen (1)
Westmarch (1)
Calrie (6)
Dhoenel (5)
Halried (5)
Total Holding = 20, Total Income = 20 * 1/3 = 6.7
Total Income 28 GB
5. Maintenance Cost:
Holdings
6 provinces + 6 Law = 2 gb,
Assets
Caer Callin (Castle 6) = 4 gb
Court = 5 gb
Military
Army Active : 1 Marines = 1.5 GB
Navy Active : 1 Caravel =0.5 GB
Garrison : 2XKnight,3XPikeman,1XArcher = 5 GB
In Port : 2XGalleon, 2XCaravel, 2 X Coaster = 1.9 GB
Total Maintenance = 19.9 GB
6. Free Actions:
(Cole) Muster Unit of Anuirean Marines 3 GB (to hunt pirates in action 2)
(Cole) Activate a Caravel (to hunt pirates in action 2)
(Niall) Decree Court to Improve (+1) 1 GB

7. First Action Round
a. Domain Action: Cale: Rule Province (Northvale), recruiting the ELVES of Niall’s mothers clan to come and settle in Northvale. This will not impact the sources in the province. Administrate DC 11, 1 GB, Can’t spend RP
1d20 + 4 ⇒ (15) + 4 = 19
A success, depending on GM adjudication

Niall : Create Holding (Guild, Calrie), Admin DC 10 -3 opposing guild + 6 supporting Law, spend 5 RP as necessary to ensure success., 1 GB
1d20 + 1 - 3 + 6 + 5 ⇒ (19) + 1 - 3 + 6 + 5 = 28
The local temple and the local guild could decide to spend RP to support or oppose (gm’s call)
A success, depending on GM adjudication
b. War Moves:
c. Fight Battles:
d. Occupation/Retreat:

8. Second Action Round
a. Domain Action:
Niall: Adventure (fight Pirates)
Cole : Rule (Northvale Law Holding), assuming Niall’s rule in the first round succeeded. Admin DC 11, 1 GB, Spend 10 RP as necessary to ensure success
1d20 + 1 + 10 ⇒ (14) + 1 + 10 = 25
A success
b. War Moves:
c. Fight Battles:
d. Occupation/Retreat:

Another sail crests the horizon, the pennant it flies is :

A White Unicorn on a blue shield

Ok, I made an error on RP collection. Here is the revision

Total Provinces 20 * 1.0 = 20
Total Law Holdings 20 * 0.2 = 4
Total Sources 26 * 0.8 = 20.8

Total RP Collected : 44.8

Round it up to 45.

Round it up to 45.

Ok, in the future I will. Currently I have been rounding to 1 decimal, I can do 0 in the future. Does that apply to GB as well as RP ?

1 Gold Bar equals about a 1000 gold pieces. At least that's what I think.

1 Gold Bar equals about a 1000 gold pieces. At least that's what I think.

Ok, if you don't mind, I'm going reply to this to the discussion thread, as it's not really game play.

Dotting.

Another sail crests the horizon, the pennant it flies is :

A White Unicorn on a blue shield

Aglondier is relieved – and more than a little curious – when he sees the colours of Aerenwe. Looking at his tired men, he knows that they would not have had the heart for another bloody battle with pirates. With the prisoners in the cells below, Aglondier stands on deck with Lady Barad, ready to welcome the newcomers...

I assume you are flying Ilien's colors

As the caravel pulls alongside, a voice rings out "Hail, I am King Niall Swordwraith of Aerenwe, and I am searching for the band of bastard pirates that dared raid Calrie's coast! I'll hang them high when I catch them. Do you Iliener's have any news for me?"

"I am Count Rogr Aglondier. This is Lady Barad of Roesone, our friend and ally," Aglondier makes formal introductions. "I am pleased to find that we have common enemies, and I see your presence here – in addition to your having signed the Pact of Ilien – as a good omen for things to come!"

"But perhaps we had best continue this conversation over a game of tennis," he continues with a pleased and pleasant smile, "as the pirates are well taken care of! They had planned to ambush me in this very cove, but we were victorious against all the odds, thanks to the great bravery of the sailors of Ilien!" Aglondier answers loudly.

The colours of Ilien fly above the lord's ship, as it does on three others that seem to have suffered some damage during the battle...

"I am Count Rogr Aglondier. This is Lady Barad of Roesone, our friend and ally," Aglondier makes formal introductions. "I am pleased to find that we have common enemies, and I see your presence here – in addition to your having signed the Pact of Ilien – as a good omen for things to come!"

"But perhaps we had best continue this conversation over a game of tennis," he continues with a pleased and pleasant smile, "as the pirates are well taken care of! They had planned to ambush me in this very cove, but we were victorious against all the odds, thanks to the great bravery of the sailors of Ilien!" Aglondier answers loudly.

The colours of Ilien fly above the lord's ship, as it does on three others that seem to have suffered some damage during the battle...

"My first business is with these pirates. Have you found their base - they took slaves when raiding - I would have my freeholders back. With regards to the pact of Ilien, that we shall have to discuss, perhaps at some later date. I have yet to see a set of formal terms to the pact. And we can skip the tennis match, that was Queen Liliene's obsession in her declining years."

what are the terms of the pact of ilien - I can't find them in this thread.

In 506 MR, Axlea proclaimed Ilien a neutral domain and open trading zone. As most of the nearby domains were recovering from long, exhausting wars of independence, every southern Anuirean realm, except Aerenwe, recognized Ilien's neutrality by signing the Pact of Ilien in 510 MR.

Though Aerenwe's rulers had no ill feelings toward Ilien, they refused to sign the Pact out of an acknowledgment of the High Mage Aelies's concerns. Over the years, the High Mage had accrued a vast network of powerful sources in the Erebannien and had come into competition with the Aglondiers over those sources. Nothing has ever come of Aerenwe's refusal to sign the treaty.

(Source: http://www.birthright.net/forums/showwiki.php?title=Ilien)

"We have not discovered their base, but we will assuredly help you find it and free your men," the Count of Ilien offers. He exchanges a knowing look with Lady Barad who heads down into the holds of the ship. "I expect that they will have docked their ships on the far side of the Tamle – far from prying eyes. But there is nothing there, so we must ask ourselves where and how have they been supplying themselves?"

"Perhaps you would care to join us and speak of peace and plans in privacy?" he proposes.

Can Lady Barad inquire as to the location of the pirate base?

"Indeed, we should speak and plan in privacy, would you care to come aboard The Leaf on the wind, and enjoy the work my private chef?"

Once we have feasted, we will pool what we know about these pirates, and perhaps we will be able to work together. We may also find the time to discuss other points of interest, such as this Pact of Ilien.

After an excellent afternoon tea
Profession Chef +11 : 2 ranks + 3 Class skill + 2 Wisdom + 4 Skill Focus, 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (19) + 11 = 30

Niall starts the discussion:
All right, I know these bastards are slavers - they carried off my freeholders. There is no place in Anuire, or even Rjurik or the Great Bay where they could sell them, they have to go to the Khinasi lands, and maybe onto the Vos.

You say they have likely docked on the far side of the Isle of Tamle. How do you know this? What else do you know about them?

The Lady Barad speaks up. "My dear King, do you know where their pirate base is?"

The Lady Barad speaks up. "My dear King, do you know where their pirate base is?"

No, milady, I do not. I have deduced it's existence, but not it's location. Hopefully, your prisoners will be able to help us solve that little problem.

Further, you mentioned they have "docked their ships on the far side of the Tamle" - docked implies a dock, and thus some infrastructure. What else might be there? It is, as you mentioned, far from prying eyes.

"I suspect that they are on the far side of the Tamle but I am by no means certain of it," Aglondier specifies. "There is only one way to find out. However, I will need to return to Ilien before I can embark on another mission. My crew will not suffice to sail these four ships into dangerous waters."

I am loathe to loose the initiative to the scum. Let us sail to Ilien immediately. We should be there before sunset. If we sail with the dawn, we should be in a position to scour the seaward side of Tamle Island in the morning.
Eyeballing the map, Tamle is about 10 miles from Ilien
Perhaps Lady Barad could continue her interrogation of your prisoners, focusing on their infrastructure - the intelligence would no doubt be useful. In the meanwhile, you and I can discuss your Pact of Ilien...

Aglondier nods and returns to his ship...

Aglondier and his men will sail the four ships to Ilien, and then embark anew to sail to the far side of the Tamle, as proposed.

Lady Barad is, of course, free to do as she wishes, but Aglondier invites her to stay behind, continue her interrogation, and look into the matter of capturing and interrogating Clovis and perhaps learning more about the crown's enemies...

Aglondier nods and returns to his ship...

Aglondier and his men will sail the four ships to Ilien, and then embark anew to sail to the far side of the Tamle, as proposed.

Lady Barad is, of course, free to do as she wishes, but Aglondier invites her to stay behind, continue her interrogation, and look into the matter of capturing and interrogating Clovis and perhaps learning more about the crown's enemies...

Ok, I'm getting mildly confused here. I though ooc was out of character, ie not part of the game stream like this comment. Whereas what you've written is definitely in-game (I think...).

However, the plan is that our heroes set sail again from Ilien, on tomorrows dawn, looking for a pirater/slaver fort, right...

Before the Leaf on the Wind sails for Ilien, myself & my bodyguard (but not the personal chef) will sweep the beach and vicinity where the initial pirates were :

Rogr Aglondier of Ilien wrote:

Is the bay on the mainland or off the island? And given that Ilien's archers are also sailors, can I assume that I have the manpower to sail both ships back to Ilien, if the pirates' ship is indeed empty as it appears?

It's on the island, and the pirates are camping on the shore.

and see what we can find...

Yeah. I don't know why I wrote that post OOC! In any case, it describes my intention both in- and out-of-character!

At least we can get back on track here. Our other new player is waiting to introduce his new Player Character. And he wants to do it on land. After you investigate the island for pirate infrastructure, it's time to do another domain turn.

Assorted Perception checks my visit to the (former) pirate camp:

Niall : 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (8) + 6 = 14
Scout Leader : 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (14) + 11 = 25
plus 11 because adept uses guidance
Healer : no check, using guidance to help the Scout Leader
Paladin :1d20 ⇒ 12
12 Assorted Goons : 12d20 ⇒ (18, 2, 17, 5, 1, 10, 13, 14, 11, 5, 3, 6) = 105 -1 modifier on each

Highest Perception was 25

Tracking check (needs survival trained)
Scout Leader : 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (1) + 7 = 8
plus 7 because adept uses guidance

Highest Survival (tracking) was 8

You had trouble tracking your quarry. What you find is five beach houses and inside the beach houses were chains with manacles attached to them. You also find a small sack full of treasure. Goblets made of silver are in the treasure as well as about four different rings.

Detect magic (Niall) & Evil (from the Paladin) on the treasure.

A few spellcraft rolls just in case they are needed for magic item identification:
1d20 + 10 ⇒ (10) + 10 = 20
1d20 + 10 ⇒ (2) + 10 = 12
1d20 + 10 ⇒ (13) + 10 = 23
1d20 + 10 ⇒ (1) + 10 = 11
The plus 10 is because the healer is using guidance in support.
Use them if needed in the order rolled...
Also, a few Appraise rolls for non-magical items
1d20 + 9 ⇒ (11) + 9 = 20Goblets
1d20 + 9 ⇒ (1) + 9 = 10Ring 1
1d20 + 9 ⇒ (18) + 9 = 27Ring 2
1d20 + 9 ⇒ (1) + 9 = 10Ring 3
1d20 + 9 ⇒ (6) + 9 = 15Ring 4
The plus 9 is because the healer is using guidance in support.

After looting the treasure, we re-board the Leaf on the Wind and sail for Ilien in Rogr's wake...

At least we can get back on track here. Our other new player is waiting to introduce his new Player Character. And he wants to do it on land. After you investigate the island for pirate infrastructure, it's time to do another domain turn.

I thought the adventure was happening in the 2nd action of the current domain round AR1, and we had to do the third afterwards, before we start a new domain round.

Yes. That's right. We are still resolving the brigands/pirates arc.

Two of the rings are magical. Two of the silver goblets are also magical. The two goblets are magically linked to springs in Cerilia. Thus they are always full with fresh water. The magical rings are rings of wizardry. All in all, the treasure is worth 200 GP.

Yes. That's right. We are still resolving the brigands/pirates arc.

Two of the rings are magical. Two of the silver goblets are also magical. The two goblets are magically linked to springs in Cerilia. Thus they are always full with fresh water. The magical rings are rings of wizardry. All in all, the treasure is worth 200 GP.

Do I get what level of Ring of Wizardry (I to IV)? I assume that 200 gp value isn't including the magical items.

Its Ring of Wizardry I. And it isn't including the magical items. Sorry about that.

As King Niall Swordwraith investigates the pirate's camp in the bay, Aglondier sails with haste to Ilien, to put his affairs in order and dock the three ships that were taken. As always, he finds his way home with unerring focus, guided by the blood of Masela.

As soon as he arrives – before disembarking and announcing his defeat of the pirates – he sends a message to his constables, bidding them to promptly find and arrest the traitor Clovis at the Dancing Pony, along with any of his associates, close friends, and relatives.

Parallelly, he makes sure to keep Captain Harlan safe and out of sight for fear that his enemies should recognize in the turncoat a dangerous liability.

Before revealing himself, Aglondier allows the crowd to gather and to wonder, Is the count alive or dead?

The Leaf on the Wind makes harbour in Ilien just before sunset, roughly 2 hours after the return of Count Rogr.

King Niall lets the marines and sailors have night on the town (with the exception of those holding watch). He takes his bodyguard and goes to call upon the Count, hoping to discuss their plans for tomorrow, and perhaps other diplomatic matters...