Kingmaker

Game Master Galahad0430

I say we head back to the capitol for a quick restock. See if Bokken has any acid based alchemicals to help deal with the fact that we're likely to face fire resistance, then strike out for the Dwarven fortress.

Upon return to the capitol, there are several issues.The first is a Pitaxian noble that comes before you. The man reeks of vanity, from his perfectly styled black hair and waxed moustache to the obviously expensive gold hilted rapier at his waist.

As he approaches, his mean, sly smile; obviously practiced, is just visible.
"Ah, the ruler of this 'barony.' I'm flattered by your attention. Sir Stefano Moskovi, of Pitax, at your service."
He performs a derisive bow.

When asked why he is here, he responds.
"I was travelling back home to glorious Pitax from Restov -- all in service to King Castruccio Irovetti, when I thought to spend a day and visit the capitol of Pitax's bold new neighbor."
He sniffs, then grins.
"I must say, I should have spared myself the trouble. There's nothing worth seeing."

Kind of stuck until Pyros deals with this interaction.

Paging Pyros, did we lose our leader?

Sorry, new work schedule has me all out of sorts.

Pyros glances at the man with no particular interest. "Yes, well. Weeks ago there was nothing here but some bandit shacks. Even Aroden couldn't build Absalom in a day, and I'm no Aroden."

"Yes. I'm sure." He says with a sniff.
"King Castruccio will be pleased to know that the new neighbor poses no threat because it is barely self sufficient itself."

He looks around the longhouse with obvious distaste.
"Your Grace, it's been a... well... a pleasure."
he again bows, somehow able to make the gesture of respect into an insult itself.

"As much a pleasure to you as your company was to us, I hope." Pyros says, with a smile.

Standing near the rest of the companions, Ekundayo listens to the conversation between the Baron and this so called noble. He maintains his taciturn expression, waiting to see what develops.

As Faerin silently observes the exchange she quietly studies the Pitaxian trying to gain insight into his motives.

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (7) + 13 = 20

Octavia manages to regard the Pitaxian delegate with a level of disdain similar to his own, rolling her eyes as he goes on about his king.

@Faerin: It is obvious that he is trying to provoke Pyros into a diplomatic incident.

After the brief exchange, disappointed that he couldn't make Pyros commit a faux pas, he leaves. He executes perfectly correct courtesies, but still manages to make it mocking.

"Well, that was definitely an attempt to goad you into some sort of incident. We can probably consider Pitax an unspoken enemy at best and except more of the same in the future." Faerin says to Pyros after the arrogant top leaves.

"Maybe someone should talk to Linzi, she's from Pitax. She might hAve some insight."

"Yes, I'd forgotten that she was. I'll ask next time I see her."

After the annoying Pitaxian noble leaves, Jhod, Tristian, and Linzi bring an update about your battle on Bald Top Hill.

"Your Grace, we are victorious! The spider invasion is halted along with the strange dryad that led them. And the portals to the First World have closed."

"I wonder -- was this invasion caused by the curse? I mean, the curse must be ancient and ominous. The spiders were scary, but not ancient and ominous."

"I agree with Linzi, this seems more like the plot of an insane dryad than a true curse."

"Then hoew can we explain the dismal atmosphere on top of the hill? We both felt the pressyre there, Jhod. Perhaps the curse made the dryad insane and led her to create the spider invasion?"
He shakes his head in negation.
"In any event, I have bad news. After the spider invasion was defeated, I visited the hill again and it has grown quite, but is still as gloomy as before. I think the curse is still present, just laying low right now, like a monster that rests before it feeds again."

"What? Still?"

"I... am soryy for bringing this bad news. Unfortunately, we have failed to defeat this curse for good."

"Tristian, do you have an idea when this continuing curse will affect Bald Hill again?"

"It is far more subdued this time. I think we have at least six months before we must again visit the hill."

"I have a few spells I can think of that would tell more about the area, but nothing that would reveal it's full history and possibly where this curse came from..at least not yet." Faerin comments.

"So we have time to visit other places in the kingdom till then?" Ekun asks.

"Tristan has studied curses more deeply than any of us. if he thinks we have a few months, then no this doesn't take priority. A horde of trolls amassing to attack our people, that us our priority ." Faerin replies. "I'll go see Bokken and see what he has that might help us."

Then it is off to the dwarven ruins I suppose. This time you decide to cross the Skunk River at the ford just west of your capitol insteaf of travelling further west to the crossing near the ruined tower where you found Ekun.

AS you approach the Skunk River ford, you here the distant sounds of fighting. Standing on the road that lleads down to the ford is a bedraggled Gnome who, upon seeing you approach, begins to wave excitedly and yells to you.

"Help! Help! We have become mired in the ford and a band of kobolds are attacking us. Please, we need help!"

He immediately turns and runs back towards the ford and the sounds of combat.

"Let us go help these folks!" And he takes off sprinting to the river. When he arrives there he will draw his bow and prepare to attack.

Pyros nods, and takes off after Ekun and the gnome with little more than a "Let's go!"

"Well, he's certainly impulsive, isn't he?" Octavia says with a laugh, drawing her bow and running after the others. "C'mon then, let's not get left behind!"

As she runs she utters a brief incantation, as a shimmer of arcane energy envelops her body, before fading to invisibility.

Cast Mage Armor (5hrs)

Faerin quickly hurries to join her companions as they race to aid the gnome.

"Fury! Go to the other side of the river and attack these kobalds from behind! Distract them!"

Regongar shifts +2 Dex and feels the energy of air and electricity flow through him. He races forward to the river bank.

You rush to follow the gnome. As you come down the embankment and see the ford, you see a large covered wagon stuck in the rushing waters. A group of gnomes battle desperately against a bunch of kobolds. Already, you see several bodies, mostly kobolds, drifting down the river.

Your arrival turns the tide and you easily defeat the remaining kobolds. However, before you can even take a moment to survey the situation, another mass of kobolds appear on the opposite bank of the river. On a cliff overlooking the ford, you also seea very familiar looking large, purple kobold.

"Go my friendsss. Get them all, take the wagon!" He shouts, and then casts a spell. The attacking kobolds suddenly move with preternatuaral speed as they rush to attack.

I will have the map up momentarily. All squares in the river are difficult terrain. Anyone that falls prone must make a DC15 Swim or Climb check to avoid being swept downstream 30'.

Harrim: 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (17) + 0 = 17
Pyros: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (12) + 4 = 16
Reg: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (16) + 1 = 17
Octavia: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (20) + 6 = 26
Faerin: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (16) + 2 = 18
Ekun: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (15) + 5 = 20

Gnomes: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 2 = 9

Kobold fighters: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (10) + 6 = 16
Kobold archers: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (2) + 6 = 8

OK, order of battle is:
Harrim, Reg, Octavia, Faerin, and Ekun.
Then the Kobold fighters.
Then Pyros and gnomes.
Then kobold archers.

Longbow +15/+10 (1d8+4/x3): 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (14) + 15 = 291d8 + 4 ⇒ (7) + 4 = 11
Longbow +15/+10 (1d8+4/x3): 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (6) + 10 = 161d8 + 4 ⇒ (7) + 4 = 11

From his position on the shore, Ekun attacks the closest kobold, in the water. "Torag take thee, beastie"

The kobolds are numbered, please specify them by such. Also, that bow casts Aspect of the Falcon 3x per day as a swift action, do you wish to do that?

No to casting the spell, at least this round. I do not see any numbers on the kobolds, and I even put my readers on, stuck my face close to a 200% zoom.

Also, don't forget Dog

Ekun will attack the kobold that dog is also attacking
Bite +9 (1d8+4 plus trip): 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (6) + 9 = 151d8 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 4 = 10
Trip +9: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (18) + 9 = 27

Dog steps up to the kobold in front of him and bites and trips it.

Ekun kills one of the kobolds, but Dog misses.

Looking up at the archers on the rise, Faerin decides to eliminate the ranged threat first, uttering a druidic invocation as she summons a burst of light in their midst.

Cast Burst of Radiance (10ft radius to hit all 3 archers). DC 17 Reflex save or be Blinded for 1d4 ⇒ 3 rounds. Successful save, Dazzled for 1d4 ⇒ 3 rounds. If they're Evil they also take 5d4 ⇒ (4, 1, 3, 4, 3) = 15 damage whether they make the save or not

For some reason the map tools were pretty unresponsive

Octavia quickly utters the words of a spell, running her fingers along her bow as it thrums with power.

Cast Gravity bow

For some reason the map tools were pretty unresponsive

Someone came on while I was still working on the map. Maybe you?

Also, that spell (Burst of Radiance) is just too good. :)

I'm not sure how to make an icon for Fury, but he needs one like Dog.
I want him to go attack whoever is on that ledge up there and try to knock them off.

Harrim moves forward and casts Bless.

Reg, I added an icon for Fury, you should be able to move him.

So, no one is going to wonder how Tartuccio is here? Even though you know you killed him?

3d20 ⇒ (1, 8, 12) = 21

All three kobold archers drop unconscious from Faerin's spell.

THAT! That's what I wanted Fury to go see! Tartuccio!
(and I want Fury to knock him off the cliff)

Oh I definitely figured we'd ask the question, after we took out his minions .