Thron's Altered Kingmaker

Game Master Litejedi

"Do not resist the spell I am about to cast on you." Vincent commands and recasts his spell. Then he takes the simplest possible solution.

"Please remove your mask and then open your mouth."

The man does so, revealing a heavily scarred face. When he opens his mouth, you can see he has no tongue!

"My friends are going to give you paper and a way to write." Vincent says smoothly. "You will write the answers to their questions and you will be entirely truthful."

He glances at Sophiel, the request clear.

Sophiel rolls her eyes at the maimed elf, ”are you f…” and catches herself ”alright - let him write down who it is - but make sure that you command him not to kill or maim himself.” She glares back at the elf in turn but retrieves a writing instrument and paper from her bag, handing them to Vincent.

Vincent ensures that the elf will not try to commit suicide or any such nastiness and then remains quiet to allow the interrogation to proceed.

Finding out the assassin is from Daggermark means nothing to the isolated vampire, but his companions reactions are telling enough in their own right.

"So," He says once the questions dry up. "What comes next?"

"He dies, of course. Either we do it or the guild will do it themselves. 'An assassin that can get captured isn’t an assassin worth keeping' a friend of mine would say. After the trial, that is." Chrysa accepts that Soph will require one.

She grimaces, ”what kind of example would we set if we didn’t have one. And a fair one. But it was not a very…” she has a look of condescension she shoots towards the assassin, ”adroit assassination. Almost as if they sent him here to die. Did he cross the wrong person, I wonder?” She purses her lips, ”most guilds seem to be … disinclined to attack political leaders. Could this have been to appease their employer? A token attack? What do you all think?”

She straightens herself up, ”I shall find out what the guild wants us to do with him - and thank them for keeping me on my toes. You all may know by now I have connections there. Also, we could pay them a visit.” She glances at Chrysa, ”a respectful visit. If you all think it would help the situation.”

Chrysa thinks... "I would send them a gift. A fine dagger, a vial of poison, something that gives them respect but doesn't waste our time or put any of us in a position of danger."

Baltor finds Sophiel's concerns strange. "Isn't him still under Vincent's spell? Perrhaps he can ansverr these questions as vell."

He turns to the assassin. "Ourr rrulerr believes yerr attempt to assassinate herr vas beyond incompetent. Vhy verre ye sent herre, if ye clearrly lacked the skills to perrforrm yerr mission?"

"Answer him." Vincent says, motioning to the paper. He doesn't listen to the answer though, more interested in trying to wrangle a trip to Daggermark and the assassin's guild. If Chrysa is going then he fully intends to go as well.

He writes “She got lucky is all.”

Sootscale has no patience for this interrogation. "Can we turn assassin back to turtle again? Assassin seems much nicer that way."

Sophiel laughs merrily at the assassin, ”is that so?” She turns to Chrysa, ”a fool sent on a fool’s errand. I am harder to ‘kill’ than you were told, or maybe you weren’t told anything…” She winks at him, ”a shame you probably won’t be able to confront your employers.”

She clears her throat and Marcanth pushes down his spectacles and lands nearby, retrieving a paper and pencil from her bag, ”by the authority vested in me by the people of this country you are charged with attempted murder, attempted assassination of the head of state, illegal use of poisons, assault with a deadly weapon, harassment of a governmental official, interference of a government official in the performance of their duties, and trespassing. Vincent, please allow him to enter a plea, either guilty or not guilty, at his leisure.” She leans over to the others, ”unlucky for him he didn’t try to kill me after the base laws were amended. He might have gotten a lighter sentence.”

Once he does, she continues, ”you will be held until an expedited trial, in three days, and will be afforded a defense attorney. Marcanth, any interest? You are one the best we have.” The gathlain inclines his head in agreement. ”you have some rights against self-incrimination, though they are quite complex. If found guilty of the most serious crimes, you will be executed painlessly, and your ashes returned to your home.” She inclines her own head, ”we are not monsters - whatever you were told. Marcanth will defend you to the best of his ability.” She turns to the others in the party, ”I am done here, if nobody has any other questions.”

"How much was the contract for?" Chrysa asks. "It is nice to know HOW much someone wanted you dead."

Sophiel shrugs, "sure."

Given that his magic will last for the better part of a week or maybe two Vincent is not overly concerned about remaining with the prisoner.

After giving a series of simple instructions preventing the elf from harming himself or others, requiring him to co-operate with the prison officials and otherwise making him free to conduct his own defense as he wishes the vampire leaves - the wheels of 'justice' hold little interest to him.

"Hm, assassin's guild. Different from dream monsters. Why everyone want to kill us? They must be afraid of our great power!"

Sootscale considers any questions he has for the prisoner. "Can we hire assassin's guild to kill person who tried to kill us?"

"It is unvise to deal with assassins, and also a crrime." Baltor answers the silly kobold.

Sophiel says brightly, ”also, I cannot go to Daggermark. So it would be hard to hire someone for that. That said, Baltor, it isn’t a crime in Daggermark, but it certainly is against the assassin code of conduct to attack a ruler, and likely a violation of the river freedoms.” She busies herself for the trial, keeping the assassin monitored at all times.

True to her word, the trial is fast, but fair, particularly because he seemingly pleads guilty. Marcanth makes a spirited defense, noting that Sophiel is made of sterner stuff, and attempted murder doesn’t warrant the death penalty, but the arresting testimony of Susan and her appreciation towards the administrator for saving her life (as a potential witness) is arresting. The jury finds him guilty on all counts but interfering with a governmental activity, as Susan and Sophiel admit that the activity which they were doing was planning next month’s harvest holiday, an activity which is was not immediately vital to the well-being of Gliocas.

The jury seems to believe that life in prison would be appropriate, with an opportunity for parole in 250 years (the assassin’s elvish nature extended the sentence), but the elf seemed to request a quick death instead. After conferring with Marcanth, who could not find a reason to deny such a request, the elf was put to sleep with a paralytic poison and executed with multiple witnesses, by the country’s rarely-used enforcer, the aasimar Andrea Brightdawn, using the headsman’s axe. The woman wept openly in sadness before and after the act - and the mood was at best somber. It was clear that none of the citizens - old or new, enjoyed this process, and there was a sense that such an event had to be witnessed. Sophiel sad nothing, though she was obviously somewhat upset, growing more uneasy as the time of execution drew closer. As the axe fell, she closed her eyes and whispered something to herself.

Others in the crowd also wept. It was a dark day, but the people of the country seemed to draw the lesson that justice was not always kind, sometimes it could only be fair.

The body was burned, but for a drop of blood on a piece of blotting paper, last rites performed by a Pharasman from Shadowfall, and the ashes, in a cloth bag from Shadowfall’s textile guild, next to a dagger made of Kobold ore, smithed by Baltor, in a greenwood box along with the paper, are returned to the guild with the note, ”I trust our business is concluded. -Administrator Medvyed.”

If they wish to use blood biography, they can.

Chrysa stood to Sophie's right during the execution. With arms crossed tight and sporting a frown. Not at the killing of the man, no not at all. SEEING the people of Gliocas weep openly for an assassin...

Reading reports and seeing it from her own eyes is a vastly different thing.

The Fall's people would be cheering. There would be popcorn and street meat vendors. A celebration For Victory! Not mourning it.

If she didn't love the woman at her side like the sister she never had or wanted in truth, she would rip up that treaty and then order her armies to teach these people exactly what they should be weeping for.

She shakes her head, stifles her internal disgust as much as she possibly could. It is so hard, unnaturally so. Her normally steady emotions are all over the place.

Squeezing her friend's shoulder, she says "I need to step away." and then does so in due haste.

As she does so, the ever-observant Sophiel (and anyone who wishes to) notices... Chrysa has gotten a little softer and rounder just a little in the belly region.

Minor Edit to Previous Post

The assassin was unconscious when the paralyzing agent was administered, and the execution was remarkably bloodless.

Turn 16 Lamashan 4711AR
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Balance=69 BP

Ending Balance = 67 Size is 23 - two more turns and we can do three hex claims per turn - going to sieze Varnhold by (may do it earlier) size 32, due to the nature of the increased building capacity.

Event: 1d100 ⇒ 12

The business of the assassination attempt complete, Sophiel begins preparation for absorbing Varnhold. An endeavor that will require many resources and careful planning - expanding too quickly could prove ruinous. She realizes that such a large, undeveloped space, while they seem to be taking care of themselves, could not be fed and cared for in one month's time. She began to build out more infrastructure to responsibly extract the raw materials of wood and stone that need to be extracted in order to prevent Gliocas from collapsing in on itself.

Tri Firinnean leverages the existing bureacracy to easily erect a small branch of Trinity - a military college. The sharpest minds were pulled from the classes on engineering and law, and enlisted to aid in miltary matters - from which fine officers began to emerge. There was also built an impressive and beautiful theater which within a month became renowned in the region for putting on a range of interesting and dynamic events. Experimental multi-media magically augmented spectacles, intimate one-room dramas, farces, debates of rhetoric, tragedies, and even rip-roaring stunt-filled adaptations of pulpy swashbuckling planar adventures with wild characters (Sophiel missed none of these).

A few weeks after the trial, word reaches the council chambers of discontent within the streets of Tri Firinnean. Marcanth reports ”There is a woman in the streets, proclaiming many of the decisions that have been made in the administration of the nation, and the mergers to come, have been…well…foolish and poorly handled. She is incensing the people and there seem to be many who are growing to agree with her…”

Sophiel scoffs, "how? We've done everything as was fated. Almost without error. But rabble-rousers are always trouble. What do you recommend we do?" Despite her confidence, she does look concerned.

Marcanth shrugs. ”It is your place to decide that, Administrator. Confront her publicly. Arrest her and interrogate her. Exile her. Leave her be? All pose risks and benefits. There may be no correct answer…”

Sophiel nods, "it would not hold with the freedoms if we bound her, but we cannot let such slander stand unchallenged. Can you contact her, ask her to come and speak with me and the advisors? She may have a point - or some insight, no person is perfect."

Marcanth bows and departs. About an hour later, he returns alone. ”Administrator, she declined the invitation. In fact, she proclaimed to the crowd that this was…as she put it…’An attempt to silence her truths.’ She accused your invitation as a trap to imprison her for attempting to…errrm….’Open the eyes of the people of Gliocas.’”

Sophiel is obviously annoyed, ”imprison her? In a classroom? This is ridiculous, come - we have no recourse, we have to address her publicly.” She tidies herself up, and follows Marcanth out to talk to the odd woman.

Hearing rumors of disruption beneath the earth, and exceedingly curious about the underground realm, Vincent travels to kobold lands (although he does so rather carefully) and offers King Sootscale his services.

"I'm rather good at... maintaining order." He offers with a smile.

Soon after the assassin incident, King Sootscale approaches the vampire. "Sootscale saw what you did with prisoner. Very impressive. Sootscale needs to know who plot to overthrow Sootscale and make Mikmek king. Both kobolds and especially outsiders. Sootscale not always trust you before, but . . . . your skills very useful for learning truth."

Baltor's mine finishes the works on the barracks, to fortify the place and start working on more workstations for the craftsman to come. Aside from shipping ore by river, he intends to also ship goods of excellent dwarven craftsmanship.

Vincent Maridos II wrote:

"I'm rather good at... maintaining order." He offers with a smile.

Soon after the assassin incident, King Sootscale approaches the vampire. "Sootscale saw what you did with prisoner. Very impressive. Sootscale needs to know who plot to overthrow Sootscale and make Mikmek king. Both kobolds and especially outsiders. Sootscale not always trust you before, but . . . . your skills very useful for learning truth."

"Very well." The vampire says with a bow. "Where would you like me to begin? And what are the limits? I assume you do not wish for me to simply enchant your entire tribe until I find the guilty? And afterwards? Should they confess to you, or shall I simply ensure that they vanish?"

As the delegates currently in Tri Firinnean approach the town square, they can see a fairly sizable crowd forming around a central figure, mostly obscured by the crowd but it is clear they are standing on something elevated currently. Their voice carries over the gathered masses. ”Your leader proclaims herself a person of fairness and laws. But it is clear the only fairness and laws she concerns herself with are the ones that benefits her and her alone! She twists the information she gives you to paint herself as a hero, when in fact she has set herself up as tyrant and despot of the Stolen Lands!”

You finally make your way to the front of the crowd, which parts and shifts to now create a bubble around your delegation and the speaker. Whom, now that you are clear of the masses, you can tell is actually a very beautiful woman clad in a flowing black gown trimmed in gold. ”Ah! Here is your ‘Administrator’ now! With her henchmen as well, to try and intimidate me further to prevent me from speaking the truth!” she says, gesturing towards Sophiel and company.

In Sootscale Holdings:

Vincent joins Ipmeek in the caverns beneath the Greenbelt which the Sootscale kobolds have been hard at work expanding from their once humble holdings. The resulting network is extensive, even if they are built in the traditionally crude stylings of kobolds.

How would you like to proceed about rooting out the insurrectionists?

Sophiel steps up, towards the woman ”I would ask if you wished to have a debate at the theater - maybe somewhere where everyone watching could sit down but I doubt you’d agree. Anyway, how am I a tyrant? Do you have any examples of this? The assertion seems almost farcical to me - but you are either a provocateur, or have a reason for such a grievance.” She opens her hands, ”I am simply a person, and people make mistakes. Perhaps I have wronged you. But the people here have studied rhetoric and debate - as a rule they need specifics, especially when considering a counterfactual claim. What have I done to warrant this accusation?” She folds her hands in front of her and gestures to the woman to respond, bowing slightly.

Detect spirits on her: At 1st level, a menhir savant can detect the presence of undead; fey; outsiders; and astral, ethereal, or incorporeal creatures.

Chrysa does not engage with the rabble-rouser. Soph has to be seen as handling this on her own. Her only indication of the red-haired warrior shows she heard is to laugh out loud at being called a 'henchmen'.

Instead, she buys a sweet roll from the stand that happens to be right there and leans against the counter to watch.

Her eyes take in the rabble-rouser, watching her and the crowd for threats. She does have to admit a little jealousy in the aesthetic quality of Soph's out speakers compared to her own. This one she would have hired on the spot.

taking ten on perceptions and sense motives and bluffing to show no concern.

”Examples? Well, how about the most recent one? Did you or did you not just execute a man whose plea was given while under the effect of a mind controlling enchantment?” she asks as she claps her hands delicately in front of her. ”What court of law can be considered fair and just when you can execute a man whose ‘plea’ is made under duress!?!?”

Perform (Oratory): 1d20 + 26 ⇒ (10) + 26 = 36

Diplomacy, add +1 humanoids: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (11) + 18 = 29

Sophiel looks uncomfortable, ”we were in a difficult situation. You’re right, we should have let him plea on his own. I was told that this plea was what he wanted. But I did not wish for him to escape - there are few cells that can hold certain magic users nor for him to kill himself with poison. If I had let him go - and he escaped, you could easily have said I was incompetent. If he had killed himself, you could have said he was escaping justice. You who arrived in Tri Firinnean, unnamed, with knowledge about our government known only to a select few. Of course, nothing I said just now will be addressed, in your response, because you’ve already shown that you can ignore arguments when they’re inconvenient, where I at least respond - because you’re arguing in bad faith.”

”What would you have done differently… miss?” Sophiel looks ashamed of herself but annoyed ”but it doesn’t mean I am a tyrant. If you disagree, we are having elections in a few months - you can run to be a representative or even administrator, so long as you’re a citizen. Are you a citizen? Again, none here has ever met you before”

She opens her hands, ”in the end, you are more skilled than I am at rhetoric - it is likely that even if you lie or even misrepresent reality, you will convince everyone here that you are right and they will turn against me. I doubt you would even bother with an election, you seek to either destroy the country or rule it yourself, I expect. Let us dispense with these games and end this farce- I don’t agree with you but you have all the power, because you are more skilled than I. I could have make hundreds of excellent decisions, and you would pillory me for one difficult one, and people would agree with you because you’re more attractive than I am and you are more skilled at debate. So: what do you want me to do now?”

Sense Motive, pride: 1d20 + 20 ⇒ (12) + 20 = 32

When Sophiel confesses, the woman holds her arms and hands towards her dramatically, and the crowd gasps. When you mention incompetence, she giggles and says ”I don’t need to point out your incompetence, you’ve just confessed it. You have prisons that are incapable of holding prisoners? I doubt Shadowfall’s jails are so…laissez faire.”

When pressed for a name, she curtsies and says ”Mariana. And you are correct, I am no citizen of this corrupt city-state. Merely a traveller who has seen the truth and wants to help these poor souls you’ve imprisoned here with misdirection and deceit!”

At the end, she giggles and retorts ”Jealousy is such a poor look on an ‘elected official,’” emphasizing the words with air quotes. ”But it is refreshing to see you confess your incompetence once again. To know that your leadership skills are so easily thrown into disarray by just one concerned passerby who is willing to speak their mind…it just might open the eyes of enough people here to have someone more skilled take your place. Perhaps someone willing to establish a more fair and strong form of government? But, it won’t be me. I have no designs on leadership. I just hope these poor folk see the truth I have seen and make the best decisions for themselves!”

Sophiel shrugs, "you are no mere passerby, no matter how expertly you lie. But see how she twists my words, saying that I am incompetent merely when I presented hypotheticals? And I caught you in a contradiction - either we are 'tyrants' who wish to jail people, or too soft-hearted and incompetent, which is it?"

"We cannot be both. We don't even have a jail because crime is vanishingly low here. But sure, we did the best we could when some foreigner, like you, is hired to kill me and nearly succeeds. In difficult circumstances, we make the best of the situation. And look, now we have another foreigner - someone who come here and tries to kill me with words. You are no better - leveraging your skill and... other attributes... no better than a common slattern to my mind, without any dignity or self-respect, likely at the behest of someone who hates me. You still haven't said what you would do better, and you have no solution other than accusations."

She laughs, "I have a thousand decisions I've made over the last few years - vanishingly few of them have been incompetent or ineffective. Some are compromises. All can judge me - I wish the best for the people here, and if am not the best person - so be it. I am LITERALLY building a representative government where people will vote for people, such a thing will be done as soon as we have all the checks and balances worked out."

She paces, for a moment, "But if you would have me resign, say it. I intend to do so anyway. If you and anyone here is actually concerned about tyranny or incompetence, well, your employer likely would be worse on both accounts. You can keep lying about that, as well, and fool most people - but not me." She gestures to the others around her, "many people here whom we helped will attest that we've done the best we can in difficult circumstances. I would invite them to help rebut this... malcontent, if they would."

Asking for Aid Anothers.

At the mention of her lands, the former baroness takes even more notice. Pushing off the counter while popping the last of the sweet roll, she moves closer to the woman spewing insults at her friend. "At the Fall, we would have chopped off his hands to keep him from casting, his feet from running. They all could have been grown back if we had been proved wrong. But we wouldn't have done either because we would have killed him on the spot for attempting to murder the ruler of the land." stepping closer she says quieter "We would take your tongue, if you were wondering. Which would truly be a shame, since it looks to be so... skilled." her smile is equal parts playful and threatening.

intimidation: 1d20 + 19 ⇒ (17) + 19 = 36 +1 if evil or a brigand, bandit, thief or other bad sort of bean

Turning to the crowd "Your administrator, Lady Medvyed, cares for you all. If someone is better suited to the task she would step down in an instant. But proving someone is better will take more than a pretty face with honeyed words, no matter who skillfully thrust. Time and patience are what is needed."

Noticing her fingers still are covered in the delicious icing, she suckles one of them as she winks back at the trouble maker, not caring if she won or lost the discussion, simply enjoying the icing.

diplomacy aid: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (12) + 14 = 26 same bonuses

Mariana appears about to reply when Chrysa steps up and joins the verbal fray. She makes gestures that appear to be agreeing with Chrysa, who seemed to be making her point for her, until she steps close and whispers her threat.

The woman pales and stammers ”S-see? If they don’t get their way, they make will openly threaten anyone who dares speak out against them!”

She turns from the group and calls out to the crowd ”Careful, my new friends! They might hold a trial for you as well, if you dare speak up against them!” before grasping her skirts and heading for the inn.

Chrysa laughed, quite amused. "Threaten? I simply told you what the Fall would do. Are we in the Fall, silly Mariana?" she shakes her head then she goes to buy another sweet roll.

bluff: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (5) + 18 = 23 same bonuses

As the lovely tongue lasher retreats for now, Chrysa moves next to Soph, tears off a hunk sweet roll and offers it up to her friend. A truly epic sacrifice. "That went well, didn't it?" Chrysa seems to mean it.

"I'd suggest following her, investigating who she talks to and when, and if needed silencing her. But... that would be an invasion of privacy and Murder I'd assume around here." in that she is kidding. "Sorry I wasn't more help." she truly does mean that but is holding something back.

Baltor remains silent during the altercation, wondering if there was a spy among Sophiel's most trusted. It was too much of a coincidence for such rabble-rouser to appear at this moment. On the other hand, it was a perfect example of the dangers of using and allowing mind-controlling magic.

In his opinion, Sophiel was wrong in allowing the vampire to control the assassin and hoped she'd learn the lesson.

"Very well." The vampire says with a bow. "Where would you like me to begin? And what are the limits? I assume you do not wish for me to simply enchant your entire tribe until I find the guilty? And afterwards? Should they confess to you, or shall I simply ensure that they vanish?"

"Very good, very good. Sootscale has some leads. Sootscale will have soldiers quietly arrest them. Then you question, find leaders. No vanishing--punishment must be VERY public once we find the leaders, so kobolds know not to try again. Maybe execution, maybe exile, maybe mix. Need to learn more first."

When Baltor says nothing, despite knowing the circumstances they were in, it obviously cut the young leader hard. No matter how right she was about the facts, Sophiel knew she was bested and this was obvious. She blanched as her mind seemed to race, seemingly entertaining all manner of “worst case scenarios” as she saw the effects of her failure coming - each scenario more gruesome than the last. This calculation was plain on her face.

She looked for a moment like she wished to flee - but she composed herself as she raises her hands ”this woman, Mariana, aside from the fact that her criticisms are contradictory and nonsensical, and that she’s here only to destroy me, she had a point - I explained why what we did was the least bad option - but if you agree with her nonsensical arguments - nothing is keeping you here. She certainly has no alternatives, and has no intention to lead you - she even admitted this - but the Freedoms apply - and the elections will be held - if someone does wish to offer alternative ideas - they will have a chance. Until the elections, we will have to ask for patience.” She inclines her head and quickly moves away, leaving Baltor and Chrysa to do what they wished.

"Very good, very good. Sootscale has some leads. Sootscale will have soldiers quietly arrest them. Then you question, find leaders. No vanishing--punishment must be VERY public once we find the leaders, so kobolds know not to try again. Maybe execution, maybe exile, maybe mix. Need to learn more first."

"I can help with executions if need be." Vincent offers with a shrug. "We could do something that would stick in minds for a long time."

"No, no!" shudders Sootscale instinctively, wondering for a moment if he was wise to invite this dangerous creature's help. "Gotta keep quiet about you. Maybe you drink a little from kobolds before they die, to satisfy you. But Sootscale will give traitors a fiery finish!"

Sootscale was already considering the explosives he might use--a stark reminder to his enemies of his capabilities.

Chrysa frowns at Sophiel's hasty departure. Keeping her thoughts to herself, somehow. "Well, that was something." she says mostly to herself. Then noticing Baltor is still there "In case that woman is more than someone on a soapbox, I'll go keep an eye on her, or at least assign someone to do so. Have a pleasant evening."