DM Fang Dragon's: War for the Crown

Game Master FangDragon

The loot from this part of the adventure was just what we recovered from the two fights. I believe that was 2000 gp plus several masterwork weapons. I'm gonna ballpark each cut at around 500 gp, plus the 500 from Martella, so 1000gp-ish. I'm in Calgary this week and supposed to be good aurora tonight, so heading out of town now to watch the sky!

@DM, please have a look at Triphylla's alchemy shopping trip items below. I would think all of this is doable in Oppara, especially with Triphylla's connections, but if you see anything you think could be game-breaking I'll leave it off. Some things she will buy, some she will craft, and some she will buy ingredients for and craft later on.

Cytillesh stun vial
Applecheek
Blood-boiling pill
Essence of independence
Vermin repellent
Silence dust
Speech resin
Silversheen
Holy weapon balm
Mineral acid
Noxious pig
Shriek bomb
Specialty smoke pellet
Suffocating powder
Frightshade
Quicklime
Bloodwine
Ghast retch flask
Violet venom - harvested from violet fungus

Yeah all that good stuff is available.

Thanks, DM. Triphylla's Resource tracker is updated with all of her purchases. Anything with a DC of 20 or below I only purchased ingredients because Take 10 on Craft for an auto success. I also purchased a Minor Bag of Holding, which Triphylla will store things she does not need instant access to, and then fold that into her standard backpack. Also purchased Masterwork thieves tools.

May I employ a Belter in the interim days to craft a belt for Triphylla to carry 12 potions at the ready? No special qualities, simply leather slots for vials and flasks with flaps to keep them snug and safe. Does 5 gp sound reasonable?

Perhaps you want to have a look at the bandolier container Triphylla, you can store up to 8 potions and you can wear two, one across the other I guess.

That will work! Thanks Lope.

Good suggestion Lope!

I will break out Triphylla's list of alchemical equipment/vials/flasks etc to indicate which are on the Bandoliers for easier access, not that it matters much.

A little table talk here: I'm guessing the AP has some guard rails as to what actions Eutropia will follow going forward. I might suggest that one thing she could do is to publicly throw her support behind Maxillar and allow him to take the throne, while secretly employing us to organize his ouster/assassination. That avoids civil war if done right.

If Maxillar declares war on some "enemy" state Eutropia could encourage him to lead from the front as a show of strength, while serving as his steward in Oppara. This might take convincing but we're capable. Then we could provide intel to the enemy and arrange his death in battle. He could be martyred or disgraced and either way Eutropia could quietly assume the throne and also work to undo Maxillar's foreign policy mistakes.

Seems a bit of a reach within the confines of the AP, and maybe the Princess will just tell us what she wants us to do and make such scheming moot. This is just me having fun without any foreknowledge of events.

I like the idea - the only problem I can think of (keeping my OOC knowledge out) is that a sitting emperor will have a much higher level of protection/security, as well as perceived legitimacy. All of which would make killing him much harder.

I don't even know if I prefer that idea over all-out civil war. I think either makes for compelling storylines.

In either case we would be working with partial information, so it is impossible to know what's better. Good thing is this is an AP, so we do not have to overthink it much, if there are options going forward we should get hints about it.

10-4

Interesting...

@Cyrene I owe you a Malphene post, probably tomorrow though.

Eutripia is quite knowledgable about Taldan affairs if anyone has any questions they'd like to ask.

I'd like to give Valaria and Cyrene a chance to speak to Eutripia if they like. But soon Eutripia will give you the initial book two quest.

Could we suggest an arranged marriage?

Cyrene doesn't want or need to say anything. She's the unexpected bonus Eutropia gets for hiring the others.

Besides, she's going to be involved whether Eutropia wants her or not so... ;)

OK NP. I'll move us forwards tomorrow. It's getting late now, and I need some sleep.

DM, did you mention early on that you live in England? As an American, I'm not up to speed on royal titles and salutations and whatnot. What is the proper respectful way to address Eutropia?

Your royal highness I think is the correct form of address.

Also usable would be "Your Highness" or possibly "Your Grace". ;)

Too presumptive yet to say "Your Majesty"?

Yeah - she's not crowned yet.

Seems about right.

Take a look at the Persona Rules the AP uses them. I've not used this system before, but lets give it a try see if it works. At some point you'll likely want to start the Taldan equivalent of a political campaign and these rules can help adjudicate what happens.

The AP has some rails (although fairly nice ones):

The Tanager Jubilee is ostensibly an anniversary festival to celebrate the palace’s—and by extension, the county’s— founding, but it also serves to strengthen local alliances and bring together all the county’s subordinate nobles. Lady Martella wants you to go to the event, use their charms to ensure an easy fit into local society, and then use their skills and alliances to subtly change the county for the better. Only then, once they are sure to have won over the hearts of the locals, are they to take the Palace of Birdsong back from the Lotheed family on behalf of Princess Eutropia. With secure alliances, they can then openly show their allegiances and invite their neighbors to join them, using Meratt as a template for what positive changes may await Taldor under Princess Eutropia.

Subterfuge is of the utmost importance—the Lotheeds might not be beloved, but old alliances can easily prove stronger than deeds. Lady Lotheed encourages the PCs to carry out any covert actions in some sort of disguise, perhaps using alter egos or masks—the sort of symbols common citizens rally to— great opportunities for PCs to impress the guests above and beyond Charisma-based skill checks.

Take a look at the Persona Rules the AP uses them. I've not used this system before, but lets give it a try see if it works. At some point you'll likely want to start the Taldan equivalent of a political campaign and these rules can help adjudicate what happens.

I am interested to try the system to enrich the adventure. Not sure if all of us have the time to dedicate though, the rules themselves are a considerable read, and probably difficult to remember after a few months. Will try to do things with it here and there.

Ok people, it took a time, but I have put up a treasure spreadsheet to ease tracking those things. It should help us calculate our earnings so we can make purchases before leaving Oppara.

I have given public access so anyone can edit there to claim items or add whatever we find in the future. Also feel free to add new tabs if you want to track your personal equipment there.

It seems we have a bit over 8400 gp this time, which makes 1680 gp extra gold each of us. This is to be added to the 2600 gp we shared before, and it includes the individual reward from Martella. So you should count with about 4280 gp to buy stuff before we leave Oppara.

Please have a look and claim anything that seems interesting, I will consolidate the list and sell anything you have not claimed in about 3 days. Just write your character name in Treasure column J to claim the item. Once you have included the item in your character sheet, write Claimed in column I (this way we know if you have fully taken ownership or you are only potentially asking for the item).

I see the Envoy Ring relic is not in any of the characters sheets. If no one wants it, Lope will be glad to take the dust out of it :)

There are two helper tabs that might be of help (or not, shrugs):
- individual claims (to help visualize what each player has marked as claimed)
- unclaimed items (includes things marked for selling)
- common stash (these are things useful to the whole party)

Thank you, Lope, glad I under-counted before. Triphylla would have a look at that spellbook when you're done with it.

I'll look again at the scrolls - Invisibility for sure but I have to brush up on the rules for learning spells/formula from scrolls. Maybe it's not complicated.

What about that unidentified wand?

I don't think there's such thing as a masterwork alchemist's lab, per this. But if that's old information and this is indeed a masterwork lab I'll grab that for the +2 to craft. @DM?

I am done with the spellbook :)

Rules for adding spells from a spellbook are in magic chapter and spellcraft skill.

It is basically a Spellcraft DC 15 + spell level, and you pay (L^2 * 10) gold pieces, where L is the spell's level.

I guess it is similar for formula books it should be all in the alchemist class entry.

I am done with the spellbook :)

Rules for adding spells from a spellbook are in magic chapter and spellcraft skill.

It is basically a Spellcraft DC 15 + spell level, and you pay (L^2 * 10) gold pieces, where L is the spell's level.

I guess it is similar for formula books it should be all in the alchemist class entry.

Thanks for the summation and the link!

I found the Persona rules to be relatively easy to follow and I expect the AP will clearly identify opportunities. This seems to be the pertinent bit for starters:

"Starting Rank

Before a character can become a true agent of change, she must build some personal clout. Generally, a character has the individual prowess to begin actively building up her persona upon reaching 4th level. However, a PC’s persona does not necessarily begin as a blank slate at this point in time. Characters can begin using this rules system when they have 1 Rank in various facets based on their existing abilities or prior deeds. Characters whose mental ability scores are 14 or higher begin with 1 Rank in certain facets: a high Intelligence score grants 1 Rank in Genius, a high Wisdom score grants 1 Rank in Sagacity, and a high Charisma score grants 1 Rank in Charm. The GM can also assign a starting Rank of 1 in one or more of the other three facets based on a character’s prior actions. For example, a PC who unflinchingly faced great challenges earns 1 Rank in Heroism. Meanwhile, a PC who engaged in charity or self-denial demonstrates her willingness to sacrifice and begins with 1 Rank in Sacrifice. Finally, a PC who acted outside the rules of law or society with cleverness and subtlety begins with 1 Rank in Subterfuge."

Hopefully DM will see fit to award additional starting ranks based on our actions so far. We are allowed a total number of ranks equal to our character level.

Rethinking the minor bag of holding, I think a masterwork backpack should be sufficient along with the bandoliers. I'll buy a lvl 1 boro bead and a hybridization funnel instead.

Valeria, are you still having computer problems?

I am a bit confused about the legal situation we are facing. Bartelby presented himself as steward of the county of Meratt and tribune. But here Martella told us to be the stewards. Are we in conflict on this?

Also, I understood from here that Bartelby was given the steward title by Stavian after a decade ago Allis died, and Bartelby has lost money and sold Meratt County in auction. But according to the nobility rumors Triphylla uncovered (I assumed she would share and read ahead), the Lotheeds have run the Palace as seneschals for a couple centuries.

So I am confused here. What are we heirs to? What did the Lotheeds have for hundreds of years and what Stavian just gave them recently? Also, what did Martella buy at the auction for I don't think the title of steward was sold there? I see a few different properties Meratt county and Palace of Birdsong and a few tittles, steward and seneschal, and I would like clarification of who owns what.

Maybe it is pointless, but I do not know if we are supposed to correct Bartelby's statements here and show the papers, or what he is saying is true and I just misunderstood on who owns what.

Also, @everyone please, go through the treasure sheet, there are some items there I am sure some of you want before we proceed to sell everything.

Also, @everyone please, go through the treasure sheet, there are some items there I am sure some of you want before we proceed to sell everything.

@DM, would you please rule on whether the Masterwork alchemist lab grants the +2 bonus to Craft Alchemy checks, or if it is simply a standard, no bonus lab, per the rules?

I'm good otherwise.

But according to the nobility rumors Triphylla uncovered (I assumed she would share and read ahead)

When we're all out of earshot from Bartleby and other guests, yes.

Bartelby is the current steward of Meratt, because the Lotheeds were appointed as such by the Stavians a long time ago. However because of Taldor being Taldor, the grant was such a long time ago that the 'steward' part of the title is assumed to be a formality nowadays. So Eutropia has no faith that Bartelby would just give up the estate (and associated wealth, titles, prestige etc) that would go with it, simply because she asks.

Legally he should but she's not in a position to make sure he will. So she's sending us to make his position untenable so she can take over without anyone objecting.

Yeah, the PC is still out, I'm back on my old one and now getting a replacement computer given the problems with it. It's been a busy week due to family visiting.

So what, exactly, have we worked out here? I am more than a little lost just now.

@Triphylla Yes.

Eutropia does have a prior claim due to being a Stavian. That isn't the approach favoured by Matella. Instead she want's to take advantage of Bartelby's gambling debts. He had to mortgage the palace of birdsong but he couldn't keep up with the repayments. It went to auction and Martella bought the deeds to the palace on Eutropia's behalf and now YOU have the deeds.

In theory Bartelby can be kicked out for trespass but in practice he has too much local support for that to work which is where you come in.

In that case Triphylla will purchase the lab from party loot.

Do we have any idea of the sum of Bartleby's debts, or is that something that can be learned? Perhaps we could arrange to purchase his debts and ingratiate ourselves with the current debt holders.

That's what Martella did and why you have a copy of the deed to the palace. To make it clear, legally he is now a squatter.

Got it about the deed to the palace. But I guess showing the deed right now will arise questions we do not want to answer when we still are total foreigners here.

What still confuses me is the Betony inheritance. What exactly have we inherited?

I had assumed we had inherited the County of Meratt, which made me want to correct Bartelby calling himself Count. But maybe this is not the case. Bartelby seemed too friendly and even to know about our arrival in his first interaction. Why would he receive well a contender to the title if he does intend to fight for it by calling himself the Count?

I think I might have completely misunderstood the role of the Betonys in all this, and I do not want to blow out all the operation by calling Bartelby to order showing the inheritance documents in public.

So what, exactly, have we worked out here? I am more than a little lost just now.

- We rescued Martella from a cult of Norgorber

That's what Martella did and why you have a copy of the deed to the palace. To make it clear, legally he is now a squatter.

I guess I wondered if he had any outstanding debts to individuals in the county that we could buy out to curry favor, but no matter.

Claiming:

Belt of Dex +2 (2000)
+1 chain shirt (625)
+1 silver dagger (1160)

Total: 3785gp, so 495 left over I think?

@Lope, care to confirm this? I honestly don't understand your loot sheet, which I'm sure is my fault rather than yours.

Noted Cyrene! You can include it into your character sheet. If someone else also wants any of the items, speak your voice and we can revisit this.

I honestly don't understand your loot sheet, which I'm sure is my fault rather than yours.

It is enough for me if you write your name in J column in treasure tab. You already did, and so I am happy, I can handle the rest of the stuff :)

As for the left over, I see two ways for the party to share coin:
- Character buys party items, coin shares are different for each character
- Character lends party items, coin shares are equal for each character

Each method has its own advantages and problems. I agree the 'buy' is more fair but to me the 'lend' is more simple.

If we do 'buy', we need to find a value for things like the relics or artifacts, which is problematic, characters might not have enough money to buy items only useful for them, plus after buying the item, the gold used is for the party and needs be split again, which is some extra work.

If we do the 'lend' some characters might end with more items than others, though, we need to keep an eye at who has less wealth.

Personally, I prefer the 'lend' method, because I find it simpler to track, and I like people using treasure found in the adventure rather than only the built optimal items.

But let's do what the majority prefers :)

You have (very good) forged documents attesting that late Lope and Julia are second cousins, once removed of Lady Allis Betony (implying their great-grandfather was grandfather to Allis).

Eutrioia owns the deed to the palace, you're here on her behalf to kick Bartleby out!

Ok, so I understand it is just a cover to justify we are local nobles from the family that was previously stewards. But we have no rights to any land or state. Bartelby is living now where our (fake) family was doing it before, but we have no legal right to it anymore. I think I got it, thanks!

Are we restricted to the Palace? Is there a stables nearby where the joust will happen?

No you're not restricted to the Palace although you're going off piste if you wander off.

The AP assumes you'd want to chat and influence the nobles, you don't have to of course. I'll need to make some adjustments if the group wants to learn a bunch of things from the servants and other commoners.