Jack Ciarathan's page

Jack takes in the surroundings carefully, though he has seen this place before, probably a few times. He dismounts and nods a silent greeting to Oleg and Svetlana, the former answering him with the same nod, and Svetlana rushing forward to clasp his hand before attending to her duties.

In a moment's breath, after the others have spoken. "We did not know you were being attacked. But we will help. What is going on?"

He waits for the answer though is eager to get to tending to the caravan's beasts, and Rocco nudges him impatiently, ready to have his saddle off.

Been taking a class and getting a PBP I am GMing going so I am sorry for the slow response. Will post later today!

Never got the idea that she's a mail order bride, and that's kind of creepy, IMO. I feel like it would go against Paizo's values to do that. I haven't read Kingmaker, but most depictions I've seen of the couple, including in the video game, is they are happily (consensually) married and devoted to each other.

Lana. She's the cook. Most depictions I've seen of her is she's sweet and hospitable. I don't see a need to runa against the grain.

Yeah--if you want good trade relations--and the good guys to protect you, you're not going to be off putting. But I expect he's a "no second chances" kind of guy. He's also going to be honest about what's ahead and if he thinks your chances are poor he'll say so--but not to be an ass, but because that's what's helpful.

I picture Bokken as a little more paranoid and bitter, but still with a sense of humor in there somewhere.Though perhaps that's Miracle Max without his wife anyway.

Oleg I see as on the surface jovial/welcoming but very aware of the challenges of the area and a realist because of that.

Good question! And if we can color him how we want, perhaps we should collab on what he'd be like.

Feels like we've stalled out a bit. Hurley, you here? What else are we waiting on?

I know I got in with a fairly reticent character. If I'm not giving folks enough stuff to bounce off of, please let me know.

Hi Everyone, I've crawled across the 2025 finish line. I'm past the H.R.1 Bill fallout, the SNAP shutdown, the string of fall to winter holidays, and a nasty cold that turned into an inner ear infection.

I'm not sure if I mentioned it before, but I work for the Oregon Department of Human Resources. While fall does tend to be busy, this one was crazy with all the extra disruption.

I'm back now, very sorry for my long absence and very appreciative of your patience. Since it's been a while, I will hold off on posting in gameplay until I'm sure Trillium is still in.

Ooof! Glad you made it into 2026!

I work in public health. The last year was hell. So I can absolutely sympathize.

The GM himself has remained fairly quiet and we've mostly just been RPing amongst ourselves. So provided all is well, I expect and hope you can jump right in.

The Road to Oleg's

She ends quietly, her thoughts clearly on losses distant in both space and time, striking realms and single, humble hearts. After a moment, she laughs, picking up from Jack’s unexpected loquacity, such as it is, and Ta Bayang’s redirection of the conversation with Malylev, “I hope that, if we can, you will ask us for help too, Jack. It certainly seems that we have our share of thorny problems ahead of us.”

Jack gives a brief nod in response to Tsia, with the slight smile indicating probably it is a response of gratitude.

Mal looks over at Jack. "Hmm. What do you think, Jack? Parsley, dill, chives- all those grow here natively but I'm sure you know those. Marjoram, maybe, for one you haven't tried? Good with garlic in soup or flavoring meat. And caraway makes the best bread. People up here tend to make hearty soups, savory meats, and lots of potatoes. Lots of garlic."

I'll take some liberties with the climate and just pull on my own herb nerdery

Jack uses the opportunity of being called on by Malylev to pull his horse closer to the front, though he still turns back to the others to be sure they can hear his answer.

"Not just garlic, but wild ones: ramps." Jack gives a smile. He loves to forage. "Sorrel. Those brittle of bone should not eat too much, but it has a nice tartness. Borage, also called Desna's Footsteps. It is beautiful when it flowers ..." He pauses, blushing, forgetting himself in thoughts of pretty purple, star-shaped flowers, then turns and sets his eyes on the road dutifully.

The blonde human chuckles. "I'm not much interested in politics, either," which was odd since Mal had been talking about it so adroitly, "but you picked the wrong group if you didn't want to have to deal with politics, bud." Mal gestures vaguely, generally indicating Restov and Brevoy all around them. "No matter what we do it's going to piss off somebody powerful, probably with an army or at least a few dozen thugs to send our way. So we'd better make friends and allies down here if we want to keep our heads on our shoulders."

At this, Jack simply shrugs. He had said, or thought he had said, he understood what they did would have repercussions. But he does not bother himself with what he cannot predict. Instead his eyes follow a hawk flying ahead on the road a good 60 or so feet away, swooping down to grab a vole before flying off with it. He points at the sight. "A good omen."

Malylev whistles. "I don't know much about that, to be honest." He looks at Jack. "Do you, Jack?" The human shakes his head and purses his lips, thinking. "I know onion skins can cause a stain if you boil enough of them- brown and purple or red? And the inner bark of a birch tree can get you yellow. Or brown again. Sorrel, I think, can do red." He looks plaintively over at the elf explorer, a good natured smile on his friendly face. "Help me out here, Jack."

"Pokeberry, come autumn," he replies, trying not to lose himself again. "And black walnut."

On the Road to Oleg's

Jack slows his horse slightly to listen to the conversation.

"I too find politics tiring." Jack found it took him so long to understand the machinations of local politicians, someone dies and everything changes. "But I understand what we do may affect what happens in the region. Still, I am here to answer the call to explore. And ..." He pauses, considering what he is willing to share so far. This is probably the most Jack has spoken since you all went on the road together, apart from when he had specific opinions on how to hook up the wagon to the cart-horses pulling them.

"Well, I seek information on something. An artifact or reliquary called 'Briar.' But I will not let my personal interests interfere with our working together."

Rocco huffs, apparently adding his own opinion to Jack's statement.

Mal posted but we havent seen Trillium yet. It is still the holiday season though.

Road to Oleg's

Jack has not spoken much to the group yet but had, at least made it clear he should take point to stay alert. So he glared, not for the first time, at Mal for pushing up to the front, and quietly urged Rocco to move ahead with a clock of the tongue. The bay gelding issued a recalcitrant whinny, apparently liking walking next to someone else for once. He was summoning a question to Mal, perhaps to ask him at least to take watch while he was moving ahead of the group, when Zsofia had called their attention from behind them.

He replied, bluntly, perhaps, but simply out of a direct curiosity: "Yes. But I do not know what it means. To us. Out here." Was she expecting special treatment? Or was she taking this elsewhere?

Hello Gem!

Also I'm imagining a cart on the trail for some reason but I don't know if we would have a cart. I've got a horse and saddlebags but would anybody be interested in going in on a horse and cart for hauling stuff around?

I got the impression that maybe we're tagging along with a vague group of NPCs who might be making some deliveries to Oleg's, or just passing by that way en route to somewhere else? For now, I've plunked Tsia down on said shadowy wagon, because she would, and she's really not an animal person herself. :)

Lanterns swing from the wagon’s posts...

There is definitely a wagon in the scene.

As for having a cart once we begin exploring the Stolen Lands, there are benefits to that but it will also limit exploration--harder to ford rovers, explore caverns, etc.

Sorry for double posting: starting Monday I will be involved in Christmas stuff for the week and will be slow, if I post at all. Happy holidays everyone!

Probably also not in the spirit of things, but is woodcraft close enough to a craft that artisan's tools could work? I think most mundane tools are only about a gp each, aren't they? Oooh, maybe a set could double for the stuff one would need for a range of loggersports, or whatever they call them.

That's what I was asking: if I can use the 5 gp pricing for a generic (set of) tool(s) and call it a hatchet (and/or, as you mention it, other woodcutting tools of reasonable size and quality). :)

5 gp is also 1 gp cheaper than a handaxe, which is the balanced-to-be-used-as-a-weapon version of the same type of item. So it felt appropriate. The 1 gp for a generic tool works for screwdrivers and carpenter's hammers (smaller and not bladed). If we had been allowed to buy wondrous items with our 900 gp allowance I just would have bought a traveler's anytool and be done with any and all tool needs, but that wasn't an option.

Warbles off-key in a Pythoness sort of way: "He's a lumberjack and he's OK!" :)

I see what you did there. ;)

Probably also not in the spirit of things, but is woodcraft close enough to a craft that artisan's tools could work? I think most mundane tools are only about a gp each, aren't they? Oooh, maybe a set could double for the stuff one would need for a range of loggersports, or whatever they call them. Warbles off-key in a Pythoness sort of way: "He's a lumberjack and he's OK!" :)

That's what I was asking: if I can use the 5 gp pricing for a generic (set of) tool(s) and call it a hatchet (and/or, as you mention it, other woodcutting tools of reasonable size and quality). :)

Great idea, but I doubt that'll fly for 5 gp. ;)

Jack Ciarathan wrote:

I would love either way to hear Zsofia's official pitch to the party to pull is together tho. :)

I'm game, but it might make sense if she waits until we're on the road first anyway, so she doesn't have to include the Swordlords in her pitch meeting. (Well, at least not directly.)

Sounds good!

Speaking of equipment: GM I've got about 5 gp left of spending money. I think that's the suggested cost for a generic tool. Could I use that to buy a hatchet for chopping firewood? I don't see a specific cost for one. A weapon-grade handaxe is 6 gp and I'm not looking for something balanced to use as a weapon. We may never need it, but I feel like Jack would kit himself up to be able to run a camp and I forgot stuff for getting firewood.

PS: Updated Jack's HeroForge portrait to include his horse. I don't know how long an ordinary horse is going to last in this adventure, but he looks like a noble steed at least. :) (Unless he isn't just an ordinary horse, but that's not a decision I'm going to make. It's not a class feature anyway!)

I was curious if the AP officially started that way, but it doesn't make a difference to me where we start. Jack's reaction to unfamiliar terrain (a noble's party) would be amusing but there's plenty to do on the road.

I would love either way to hear Zsofia's official pitch to the party to pull is together tho. :)

Hurley? You still with us?

Does Kingmaker the AP start in the same way as the video game version? Banquet that turns to chaos?

I've been in two (ended prematurely) versions of Kingmaker and in both the settings were changed and started differently. I'm in another version but joined the party later than at the beginning (and that character is dead currently, so her adventures may be short lived).

Yeah at this point I feel like I would establish more character work RPing with the party IC. If you're not easy to fully start, GM, could we talk amongst ourselves IC?

I imagine all that will get sorted quite quickly as our characters get to know one another - maybe Jack is the one to put things together and bring Tsia’s actual name to light for the group?

He might or might not gain insight into her many names, but you might be assuming a lot about an elf who goes by the name "Jack." ;) He had another name once and never brings it up, so ...

Jack also ran away from his Kyonin-bound kin quite young so his knowledge of elf lore would be pretty spotty. He may have never even heard of the snowcasters. So Tsia's going to be something of a mystery for him. In a way that hopefully creates some openings for conversation eventually.

@Trillium sounds good.

If I haven't spoken to other characters (Zsofia, Ta Bayang) I'm not ignoring you, just still taking everything in!

So if Zsofia is the de facto leader of this ragtag bunch of wildcards, she might have had a say in who is on her "team", right? I think she certainly would have leapt at the idea of hiring Jack and Malylev, for their experience with the area and their wilderness skills in general. She is painfully aware of what a "fish out of water" she is outside of Restov. I don't think she'd know what to think of Ta Bayang, Tsia, and Trillium (the three Ts!). They certainly have useful abilities for a budding new kingdom, and I think their personalities would really appeal to her. She would think she can get along with them, and would hope that she can learn more about their different agendas as they learn more about hers.

Perhaps Jack and Mal arrive and Zsofia hears of them and seeks to hire them, then the others fill in as we encounter them--whether because they are helpful or to keep them from getting themselves into trouble (per my comment to Trillium). ;)

Lots to ponder but a couple quick things:

@Malylev: Jack's been in his village in Brevoy for a decade or four (he's lost track) but IIRC Bokken (he's the herbalist hermit, right?) is old enough Jack could have come across him in his travels. Perhaps he occasionally goes to check on him and trade for potions. So certainly perhaps he's run into Mal and discussed the opportunity to join an expedition together.

@Trillium: With what you say about her boldly striding forth into foolishness, I could see this sparking a protective instinct in Jack who might offer to watch your back. Not in a weird hovery way, but just an oof, this girl needs all the help she can get. Would that make sense?

Other stuff: I think Jack is a lover of stories. He might not pay attention to a lot of politics and history but knows local folk tales and the like. People's history. He's got no skill points in lore or knowledge local so it's not going to be coherent or super immediately useful stuff but I might try to come up with some tales he's fond of (which may or may not be accurate) that could feed into some of the world events. If that makes sense.

Okay, noting a lot of folks post when I'm asleep. Hope that doesn't make me look inattentive. :)

Jack has three personal interests in joining an expedition:
Learn more about the Hollowborn and find their source
Find Briar
Help protect people from bandits and raiders.

The last is going to be the most immediately relevant to what he'll want to do from the start. He doesn't care much about politics; a lot of strutting and posturing that all just changes in mere couple of decades anyway. It might even be IC for him to forget what faction he's working for; it's all a means to a better end for him.

He is (was once) a skilled caravan scout and why he'd join folks is obvious: he has skills useful to them. Perhaps one of you recruit him or encourage him to join your particular group?

Hi everyone! Very glad to be here!

The Google doc was good, if a bit overwhelming with the level of info. I think it could be formatted more simply; as long as you use headers it can auto-create a navigation menu.

GM when you are ready, could you mind attaching a gameplay thread? Even if we're not ready to start we can post in it and then delete that post; it will still register us as players and that way we can see the game in our campaign tab.

"I was never one to learn the bow. I did learn the crossbow out of necessity. As my trainer, Sir Cordwin drilled into me." she said, then laughed

" Granted, I was more infatuated with Dame Rosealita, with the strawberry hair and perfect heart-shaped face with the cute bow-like lips. Then it was Sir Farrage, tall, dark, and handsome. I got a lot of wrapped knuckles and bruised backside." She says as a hand reflexively goes to touch her butt and stops.

" So maybe another can figure the amptitude of archers than I!" she giggles, looking at Jack.

Jack simply frowns, all too serious. "He hit you? Then he is no good teacher."

==========

Good luck everyone! (I won't bore you further with RP banter.)

PS: I *just* noticed a typo which I just corrected on my character sheet. (Literally changed one word.) I don't know how I missed it the other 2,000 times I looked over my sheet.

Wow we could have a kingdom of Song! Performers, Musicians, Art and Beauty. Not only beautiful songs, clothing and crafts, but also a powerful beautiful legions!!!

" Come o come ye who threaten'
'We sing in welcome, we sing for peace'
' O Come o come ye who threaten
' our rose given, our rose rejected
'O Come o come ye who threaten
For now our thorns come to bare
O come O come ye who threaten
Dance we bring, Songs we sing
O come o come ye who threaten
Dance Macabre thus we bring
O come o come ye fools doth be
The Kingdom Dances, and you cease to be

Quick light and medium infantry full of pole arms. Bladed brush,fast and fluid, Cavalry fast, and harrowing. Decent archers.

Jack's mouth jerks in a closed, lopsided smile. He lifts his own bow, beautifully carved and shaped over literal decades. "I hope," he says softly, "We can do better than 'decent.'"

Final Submission

This is the final submission for Jack.

Jack Ciarathan, elf slayer Oh, that’s an awkward “ancestry – class” tag combination: “Well, I never!” Tsia exclaims. ;)

Jack prefers to call himself a "scout." Just one that's very good at sneakily shooting things. :)

BTW put his plot-relevant backstory into his character sheet, but if the cool thing to do is share it in thread: gist is his best friend may have been kidnapped (or something) by the Fellnight Queen decades ago, and his only advice he's received has been from an invisible benefactor to "find Briar." Problem is he doesn't know who or what that is. But hearing about hollowborn and shadowbenighted places popping up he feels like it's a good idea to help explore the River Kingdoms.

Yeah, I knew the site was down, but I see people have been posting since Monday but I couldn't get on for some reason. Probably just a cache thing. :)

Anyway, Jack is updated, with a fixed microstatblock, new and improved tied-into-plot backstory, and a bit more gear.

For some reason I couldn't get to the site until today. I am planning on updating Jack's background to better work in some overarching plot elements and will do so by tomorrow.

PS: for the sake of fairness, I should also note I am also IN another Kingmaker PBP here on the boards. I figure the style and focus are different enough it's not going to be an issue for me especially as the characters are quite different ... but if it were a matter of recruiting folks not currently playing that AP, I can understand passing over my submission.

This is DeathQuaker with Jack Ciarathan, Elf Sniper Slayer 1. I've not fully finished buying his gear and it may be subject to change, but I figure I'd post what I had so far, especially as I wanted to check in about a few items:
- I did give him a masterwork longbow, with the idea that he has some skill at bowmaking and he's 150 years old, so he's had plenty of time to perfect his own weapon. Let me know if that is not a reasonable justification.
- I assumed I could have masterwork gear, e.g., backpack and artisan's tools. Is this the case?
- I picked the actual Kingmaker Pioneer trait as it helps tie him to Brevoy. This trait gives him a free horse. It does not say what kind. I assumed ordinary light horse (75 gp value). I spent 35 gp to make him a combat trained light horse (110 gp value total). I can't find anywhere how many tricks a combat trained horse gets, but I assumed if I'm paying for training, attack, down, and stay make sense, and I think most domesticated horses would be trained with work. Is this all okay? (I also don't necessarily anticipate keeping the horse forever and ever; it's not an animal companion.)
- There are probably math errors throughout. I'll get them fixed.

I wrote the core of his backstory for another application, with early Kingmaker rather than later, deeper plots, in mind. Jack just wants to help people with what he's good at and he hates bandits, so he'd have an especial drive to deal with the Stag Lord. (Come to think of it, while I have him signing up for the expedition proper, he could also just show up wanting to teach the Stag Lord a lesson.) I am open, but feel wary about assuming, to tying him into deeper plots. Could be Rocco the Horse is actually a fey. He may have encountered fey in his travels. He may know a little of the legend of Nyrissa and feels sympathy; having lost ones he's loved, he feels a little like his heart has been torn out too. I can codify this in his application if it makes sense... and/or if I am picked, I am well aware of how characters evolve once they are actually in play, and such things can emerge organically.

No worries, can wait. This said, Antonio was the last person to post in gameplay so it didn't seem like he was missing...

Anyway I'll await a signal to pop in the gameplay thread.

Hi BD! Good to see you. :) Yeah, I was thinking maybe he heard about the expedition going out in general and went to patrol the roads to assist. Maybe he's even checked in at Oleg's before but is out on watch and returns to meet y'all there.

Hello! I am DQ and the GM has invited me to join you! I look forward to playing with you. :)

This is Jack and he doesn't like bandits. Looks like you're at Oleg's and see mention of bandit trouble, so perhaps he has heard of the same trouble and has shown up to help? Any other thoughts/advice/preferences on how he might meet y'all?

This is DeathQuaker with my submission, Jack Ciarathan. He's set up largely as an archer ranger but can switch hit (with weapon finesse) as needed and should supplement the group skill-wise fairly well.

His archetype doesn't allow for animal companions, so his horse that he gets from his campaign trait is just a horse and will remain one. Right now the horse's main purpose is carrying some of Jack's stuff since he isn't very strong. ;)

Jack was in a Kingmaker game long ago and he (and I, using mapping software) served as the party's cartographer, hence the mapmaking kit in his pack. Of course if I got into the game, but someone else is serving that role or wants to, that's no issue.

I have a good track record for posting regularly. I am not afraid of expressing my opinion but try to do so respectfully and not to be a pain in the ass. I enjoy being in collaborative engaged group of RPers.

I hear you, Bein. I think I will officially withdraw for now as well--much longer and the game will be archived into the "inactive" shelf anyway. I think it would be hard to gather momentum and I too have a lot of projects upcoming.

This has always been a very good group to play with.... maybe down the line we can regroup for either this adventure or a new one (maybe a shorter module to see how that goes).

Yikes! Get plenty of rest! I've had just one bruised rib and that was pretty damn painful, I can't imagine how 9 broken ones must feel!

Guys, last in-game post was October 16. I believe we're waiting on a GM answer to whether a spell would be available in this world -- and otherwise, I think Bein and I were ready for patrol.

It's hard for me to keep my character in my head with these long gaps. Hymenopterix is clearly preoccupied with other things right now, and I think Finn is still recovering.

Would it be better for us to declare an official hiatus so people can have a guilt-free break and come back in a month or two to see where this game stands?

"I think so. Although there could be other matters we are unaware of. Patrolling with Bein could reveal other factors. If Xarafine or her superior who is here has some means of communicating with animals, that would be a great blessing."

As an aside, speak with animals is a bard level 3 spell. I realize in this world it would be exceedingly rare if it existed at all--but perhaps for a long term, something like a scroll of one could be requisitioned from home. Just a thought. I realize it's unlikely or would take a long time in coming.

"If you lead a patrol in the woods, let me go with you, so I can track. Xarafine also wanted the thylacine studied. In fact, I should check to see the 'accommodations' for her are adequate."

Welcome back, Hymenopterix. I hope everything's okay.

Did Jack see signs of a second creature -- sorry, what are they called again -- in the lair? The following presumes no. If he DID then ignore the first paragraph.

"Many wild creatures once mated part ways. Seeing a dam and cub does not mean there is a sire nearby--and I did not see signs of one.

"We could search the area to be sure. These humans definitely were attacked by this creature though... those claw marks would have to come from something like that. As for why they were left? It is hard to say. I am not sure about these creatures, but I know wolves will attack other predators in their territory and leave their corpses--to show other predators they are not welcome and what will happen should they encounter each other. It could be they were not hungry but rather felt encroached upon or attacked. For that matter, it's possible the humans attacked first."

Knowledge Nature: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (19) + 8 = 27

Oh my gosh, I am glad you are okay and recovering! And am SO glad you were wearing a helmet, I see so many bicyclists who don't.... Hope you continue to heal up.

Hymen seems to have had some kind of emergency as well, so I hope everything is okay with him.

After checking the bodies, Jack will check on the menagerie being built for the creatures. Then he'll probably get to his duties--talk to the people etc.