Kingmaker

Game Master Galahad0430

Surveying the scene as they approach the Ford, Teryll looks to the others.
"I'm thinking we should be careful here. They likely have sentries posted. Maybe stay off the road, and work our way down through the woods?"
He looks for any signs of guards in the trees.

Perception: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (20) + 12 = 32

An investigation of the tomb you just left doesn't reveal much. It is very old and apparently well looted even before Tartuccio was there. Perhaps the only thing of significance are the multiple wall carvings that seem to tell a story of a rise of a local warlord to prominence and then the destruction of all that he built. There is a cryptic reference to the "stolen love." This reference seems to be about an item, not a person and seems to be the focus of the brief empire's destruction.

As you approach the ford from the North, Teryll's sharp eyes spy a hunter's blind hidden in the trees about 20' up. He also notices movement within it.

"Hold up. There's a tree stand over there, about 20 feet up. And there's someone hiding inside."

Lol, this whole time I forgot that Jaethal is with you...

Breaking the wax seal on a vial she takes from her belt, Faerin quickly downs a concoction. As she focuses on the area indicated by Teryll, her coloration and that of her equipment shifts to match her surroundings."I'll see if I can get closer to them."

She slips off into the brush, slowly making her way toward the tree stand.

Stealth (Blend): 1d20 + 6 + 4 ⇒ (18) + 6 + 4 = 28

nice stealth :)

Faerin is able to get fairly close. The hunter's blind ahs two people in it. Just beyond the blind, about 50' away, you can make out a semi-permanent looking camp. You see at least 7 people there. One of them is the woman with the twin axes that vanished from your initial encounter at Oleg's. She is the one that Svetlana describe to you, Kressle.

Signy stays hunkered down, waiting for a signal from Faerin.

Pyros stays back, keeping a tree between him and the blind.

Taking her time, Faerin makes her way back to the others, a whisper the first indication of her presence.

Relating the details of the camp to her companions, she described the scenario in detail. " I can get close again and cast a spell to entangle those in the camp with grasses, plants and vines, which can also be the signal to hit those in the blind with ranged attacks and move in. Sound good?" she asks.

Nodding at Faerin's suggestion, "That sounds like a good plan. At the least, I should be able to keep the one's in the blind heads down."

He then checks his bow string, and arrows to be sure his gear is ready when it's time to act.

Making her way slowly back to where she could see the bandit camp, Faerin reaches her senses out to the grasses, shrubs and plants around them, commanding them to take hold of every living thing within it.

Stealth(Blend): 1d20 + 6 + 4 ⇒ (8) + 6 + 4 = 18

Cast Entangle

This time Faerin's approach is not as quiet and Kressle, who was kicking the ground irritably, looks up and smirks.
"Well, look who's here."

She waves down her companions and makes no move towards her axes.

"I was expecting you to show up eventually."

Before casting

" Given that your kill squad didn't return, I'm not surprised. Care to surrender now and give up banditry?" Faerin asks, quickly getting over the surprise of being seen.

Perception (anyone trying to get the drop on me): 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (20) + 8 = 28

Harrim checks his flail.

"I'm ready"

At Kressle's getsure, it appears that all the others are standing down for the moment.

"Surrender? And what does that get me? A hangman's noose?" Kressle responds.

Now that she knows where the blind is located, Signy works her way well around it. She figures Teryll, Pyros, and the rest can handle it just fine.

Once she's made her way close to Faerin, Signy pops out as well to add an additional take on her offer to Kressle.

"Hi Kressle! Yeah we had to show up eventually, you're right. But a noose? I don't think so. Svetlana asked us to do our best to see that you come out of this alright. Said that you always did your best to keep things from getting out of hand when you went by there, to see nobody got hurt or worse. Considering the nature of your visits, I'd say that's a powerful voucher for you. I think Svetlana sees something special in you. You have qualities worth trying to save, not to just be tossed away like yesterday's trash."

"Times are changing here Kressle. We're more or less the law here right now I suppose. But don't think we're all there is, plenty more will be coming to these lands behind us. I can tell you for sure that the future around here isn't going to be like the past. It's time for you decide you're going to ride this new current instead of letting it pull you under."

"If you want to come in peace, I don't doubt you'd find a welcome at the trading post. After that you can decide for yourself what comes next for you."

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (19) + 8 = 27

"Fine, I won't cut your throat for now, but I'm also not kneeling to some Restov upstart! Why would you want to make peace? Listening to Svetlana I suppose. Even so, mercy is a concept I haven't heard in the Stolen Lands for a long time."
Kressle pauses for a moment in thought.
"Ok, here's my piece. The Stag Lord has been spending more time in the bottom of a bottle than in paying attention to what's happening around him. If he won't answer an insult from some Restov crook like Jamandi, then you're right -- we chose the wrong leader. So go ahead, do what your gonna do. I won't stop you, but I won't help you either. And here... give this to Svetlana."
Kressle hands you a gold wedding band.

Signy shrugs casually.

"You're mistaken about a couple of things Kressle. I'm not suggesting you have any particular attitude about Restov one way or another. That's really up to you. I'm just asking you to stand aside because you're not the real problem. The Stag Lord is. Restov doesn't figure into Oleg and Svetlana's problems one way or another. No point in dragging Brevoy into this at all. What I meant is that if the Stolen Lands are safe, people will come. I'm no fan of bending knees to the high and mighty either, but we're here fixing problems that Restov wasn't around to create."

"We're happy enough to honor Svetlana's request that we not kill you if possible. But Svetlana didn't make up my mind about you for me. I follow the Lucky Drunk, and Cayden knows paths are usually crooked instead of straight. I'm not inclined to kill you because of your past. But I surely will kill you over your future. If you stand aside, we're good and thank you for the information you've offered. If, going forward, we find you've screwed us over in favor of the Stag Lord or that you've decided to start freelancing in banditry in these parts, then we will without a doubt kill you. It isn't about mercy, it's about choice. So choose wisely."

Then Signy grins widely. "All that said, that's the future and this is now. Today everyone gets to walk away to live another day when things could have gone badly sideways, The Lucky Drunk has worked his charm on us, smiling down from up there somewhere. Let's all drink to, by his grace, breathing a bit longer than we might have otherwise."

Signy digs into her pack and pulls out the strongest of the bottles she's carrying. She pops the bottle's cork with her thumb and offers it over to Kressle.

Turning to look at Signy, Faerin shrugs. "I suppose that's as close to reasonable as we can expect."

Kressle cocks her head at the proffered bottle.
"Sure. I'll drink to that." She takes a swig from the bottle.
"You're welcome to whatever is here, but there will probably be a group in a day or so to collect from here."
With that, she waves her companions to follow and they start to head off.

As the bandits turn to leave, Pyros walks slowly into the camp, careful not to look too threatening. Watching them go, he steps up beside Signy. "Well done. That was truly impressive." he says quietly.

The first thing you notice in the camp is an old man that appears to have been a captive. He looks at you uncertainly, as if wondering whether you are liberators or just new captors. He is dressed in a simple cassock and has a simple wooden holy symbol of Erastil hanging from a necklace.

Teryll is just about to speak, when Signy steps forward and makes her case to the bandit.
Watching things play out, he thinks to himself.

She truly has a gift for this. I expected a fight, but she defused it easily.

As the bandits leave, he says.
"Well done. I pray they take advantage of the opportunity they've been given today to do what's right. If not. . ."

Faerin approaches the old man, taking in his condition. "Are you hurt?"

Heal: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (13) + 10 = 23

"Praise Erastil! Someone finally drove off those scoundrels! Thank you, stranger. I am Jhod Kravken, from Galt. Those bandits attacked me as I crossed the river. They said they wanted to take me to their leader, make me heal their wounds. Not a chance! The strength granted me by Erastil is for honest folk, not robbers!"

Signy takes the bottle when Kressle hands it back and takes a hearty pull on it herself. As the bandits clear out she calls to them "Good luck! Go with Cayden Cailean's blessings!"

She passes the bottle on to Pyros, replying "thanks" to his and Teryll compliments. But Signy frowns slightly, almost pouts while looking at the trees Kressle and the bandits disappeared into.

"I thought they'd be more fun than that. With all this fresh air and nature around you'd think people would be in better moods. But everyone is always so grim and gloomy. It's downright unfriendly."

She sighs and helps looks around the camp When Faerin finds the captive with the holy symbol Signy calls over to Teryll.

"Hey Teryll, you have a fellow traveler over here!"

"I'm Harrim a cleric of the God of the End of times"

Jhod gives Harrim a curious look.
"A dwarven priest of Groetus? Now that's something quite unique. I'm sure there's quite a story behind that."

"Glad to see you unharmed, thank the Green." Faerin says with a nod. Turning to Signy she raised an eyebrow, " Well the fact that the Staglord is in less that healthy condition is potentially good news."

"A fellow traveler?" he replies with a questioning tone.

Looking over from where he's watching the bandits leave into the forest and seeing the man wearing a prominent holy symbol of Erastil, Teryll hurries over.

"It seems our efforts are doubly blessed in that we've addressed the bandits, and helped a member of the clergy"

Offering Jhod his hand he says;
"Well met friend, I am Teryll Tholor a fellow servant of Erastil, and one of this fine group of folks tasked with bringing peace and law to these lands."

"Well met, friends. I was on my way to Oleg's Trading Post when I was waylaid by these bandits. I must say, your handling of the situation was rather uncommon for these parts. Usually it's the sword that meets out "justice" here. Either way, I shall make my way to Oleg's, if there is anything you need from there, I am in your debt."

"We have swords when swords are needed. But we have more than that as well." Pyros says, with a nod to Signy.

I will assume you search the camp after Jhod leaves

A thorough search of the camp uncovers mostly bu7lk goods and such that have been taken from residents of the area, with food being the most common item. Among these you find a large crate of wines of moderate to good quality. On the crate is a bold lettered sign stating that it is for the exclusive use of the Stag Lord and threatening dire results for anyone that takes any of it. You also find a leather satchel that appears to be a message bag. In side you find papers with various orders for both Haps and Kressle. Most of these are for past actions, however one letter stands out. This letter is also the most recent, it says,

Kressle, a task. As soon as you're done with the taxes, find an old hut just upstream of the Thorn River -- and burn it to the ground. This is the Stag Lord's wish. He literally said, "Burn! Burn!"

A.

Jhod gives Harrim a curious look.

"A dwarven priest of Groetus? Now that's something quite unique. I'm sure there's quite a story behind that."

"Aye...My clan thinks I'm crazy but the End of Times guides me!"

Anyone still there (besides Harrim)?

Signy is absolutely delighted to find the crate of wine. She declares "no doubt about it! Cayden Cailean is pleased with the course we've taken!" She crows that "he has placed this here as a reward showing his favor!"

"This is probably more weight than we want to be carrying with us on the way to find the Stag Lord though. We should find a safe place to stash it until we're on the way back."

She does detach and keep the sign from the crate though. "It's going to be so much fun to throw this in his face when we finally meet him!"

She has a laugh at the quote from the Stag Lord in the letter to Kressle. "Highly articulate isn't he? 'Burn! Burn!' Ho that's rich! Should we swing by the place and see why he wants it gone so badly?"

"We can stash it and mark it. If we do it in the woods I'll be able to find it again." Faerin says.

"I agree with stashing the items for now. Makes more sense than trying to carry everything until we're heading back to Oleg's."

He muses over the letter for a moment
I am concerned about the letter. What's so special about this place, that the so called Stag Lord wants it burned to ash?"

"I agree with Signy. If he wants the place destroyed, it's worth looking into before it happens."

"If the Stag Lord has become as much of a sot as that Kressle woman says, perhaps we could just poison the wine. I don't have anything strong enough to kill him, but it will at least make him much weaker and people lost in the bottle like him will drink the stuff even when it makes them sick."

Pyros frowns, but nods to Jaethal. "I'd prefer to deal with him in honorable combat, but I doubt he'd oblige me with a duel, and there *is* merit in that suggestion, I suppose."

"A man who sends his minions to murder trading post owners and burn down huts would sooner put an arrow in your neck that fight a duel" Faerin comments.

OK, what's the plan?

First, do you follow Jaethal's idea or do wish to just take the wine (the only immediately valuable thing here)?

Second, where to next? The hut is North and East from your current location. The fangberry cave is almost due West from where you are now. The hut is somewhat closer.

Finally, don't forget that you left bandit prisoners with Oleg and he is expecting your return to be not that long of a time (no more than a couple of days).

"In general I'm not in favor of poisoning a person, no matter how big a threat they are. Don't get me wrong, I realize this isn't going to be a fancy duel either. It's okay if we're not planning on giving him a fair fight. Lives are at stake. But I'm not just sinking to any level to get what we want done. Old Deadeye knows that when a branch is rotten, you need to cut it off to save the tree "

He pauses and looks around the clearing.

"I think we should hang onto the wine for a bit just in case we need it. Maybe stash it as Faerin suggested and go see what this hut is about."

Harrim turns to the group. "Poison, Moison, I don't care. If he wants to hurt us. Fine"

Signy is appalled by Jaethal's suggestion. But she doesn't want to offend the undead (Seriously WTF?) elf.

After all she might decide to poison us if we make her mad...

She's relieved that a pause in responding to Jaethal on her part leads to some of the others demurring first.

"I think... the message we send in these parts to others, both regular folks and potential bandits is better if we do it the harder way. Poison would make the regular folks skittish about us, and not show the banditry-inclined crowd that we're not just another band like them... We're here to clean up, so we should be clean about it. Old fashioned steel."

As you cross the ford, you find the second part of the bandit camp. Here they keep the more valuable stolen property.

I assume you always detect magic when you find things

Among the valuables, you find a ring with a magic aura (I just noticed that none of you have spellcraft). While the other property could probably be identified and returned, the various coins and gems are not so easily returned.

The various coins and gems amount to around 1200gp in value).

Map 2

Here is a map of the area, ignore the boggard hunting grounds. Oleg's is just to the North of the area depicted.

You begin heading in the direction of the old hut. The going is difficult as the trails here are minimal and the forest is dense. Because of this, you follow the easiest path which is along the north side of the river.

After about seven hours, just as dusk is approaching and you are looking for a place to camp, a group approaches you. You see two well armed guards, a man that looks to be a scout, another young man in robes, and a richly outfitted woman. The scout yells out as he sees your group and points at you.

"Hey you, stop right there! Kalannah (as he glances at the richly dressed woman), look at this one (he points at Teryll)! Will he do?"

The woman lays her cold and watchful eyes upon Teryll, "This one? I suppose... but I don't like his look."

She studies your group -- carefully, but nonchalantly, as if examining goods at the market.

"Listen you tramps. We are from the Technic league. Our slave died, and we need a replacement. One of you will be coming with us. The rest of you are free to go. I advise against resistance -- it would be a quick trick to kill every one of you. Choose now the one you will give."

Pyros gives the others an incredulous look, but things the better of opening his mouth. Better to let the diplomats take this one, I think.