Toramin Gearsmith's page

Certainly fiat is an option on your end.

I'm willing to discuss examples of how similar circumstances on Earth have worked out, if you are interested. If you are unwilling or unable to do an actor analysis (what do each faction want? How do they know when the succeed or fail?) or an analysis of what happens when borders are violated, I can only shrug and say "sure man, whatever you say."

Not everyone is an expert on everything. I certainly believe you have logged more lab than I ever have. So, ignorance real or imagined isn't a personal criticism.

To which problem?

In terms of a clear action plan, I would treat it as if I were a project manager creating an outline.

As for the military and political ramifications, I'm in a bit of a bind. Out of game, I have a few thoughts that might help prevent a war between Andril and Brumik. But it is not in Toramin's interests to share those with the council. He wants Andril to ultimately absorb Brumik. What are Geoffrey's interest in the matter? He is likely Toramin's equal, or perhaps superior, when it comes to the military and diplomacy stuff.

Or, if you want my thoughts completely out of game and off the record, I could share them with you.

So their plan is to go to four locations and agitate. When pressed for specifics and concrete goals for what counts as success Heff said there weren't any. Ianna specifically reminded him that sending in Toramin and Bjorkus in without clear, concrete goals usually results in a coup.

A sand box is the last thing anybody wants here. What we are asking for in character is an action plan with clear goals.

This is related to but distinct from Dalton and Toramin's confusion about how the council can believe that anybody would be put off by someone blaming those "bandits" and it not escalating to a border war. In fact, Heff's goal of agitating different factions within Brumik seem primed to set off a civil war. The council when ask about this seems in Dalton's words "oblivious" to the problem. It just doesn't pass the smell test or suspension of disbelief.

Now nothing about this means necessarily that they are operating in bad faith. Two things spring out to me as potential sources of the confusion.

A) There is something about the situation that you are trying to convey that we just don't get yet. (If so please feel free to expound.)

or B) They are in over their heads when it comes to thinking through the military and political implications of the merchants' plans.

"Then do you recall Maloise?"

Toramin smiles. "Good Morning, Geoffrey."

The dwarf did, in fact, remember that meeting. Though he wished that Geoffrey had not mentioned it. Unification of the human kingdoms under a centralized rule was the subject of the Treaty of Balgradash. Per his agreement with the Aestherics, he would act in their interests except when those interests conflicted with dwarven interests. The foundational alliance between the Voices of the Stone and the royal family of Andril was quintessentially a dwarven matter. Toramin would always work towards uplift and unification. However, he had long ago realized that Aestherics were not committed to either. The less they considered his motives and what actions he would take, the happier their coordination would be.

Spreading his hands, "Much like their intentions, their wants do not truly matter. They would need to forestall the raids entirely to prevent this course of events. So far they have not presented a plan capable of preventing Brumik from coming under Andril's influence either through war or alliance if the merchants of Brumik continue their course. In fact, Heff's gesture towards a plan would do much to precipitate that outcome."

Thinking quickly, the dwarven stone lord queries, "Before we left for the northern seas, there was some concern that the councils' memories might have been compromised on certain issues. Was there a resolution into that inquiry?"

If nothing else, that question, which needed an answer, would distract them.

"It does not matter what they are called, Krokar. It matters what they do. Consider. The merchants send their clearly organized mercenary companies into Xilres, Andril, and perhaps Gesthil to raid. Then Andril mobiles its professional army to defend its borders both in Xilres and Andril. They determine that the 'bandits' are well funded and equipped and retreat back into Brumik. There is a diplomatic mission to Brumik to request they cease their hostilities. The diplomats are told, 'gosh, sorry, we cannot do anything to police our borders. Bandits, what can you do?' The diplomats return and inform the Queen of Brumik's excuses. She consults with her generals on how to best secure the borders. The professional army begins to cross the borders in pursuit of the bandits. Thus a war begins. Alternatively, the leader of Brumik will lay the blame at the feet of the merchants and requests the aid of Andril to reassert his hegemony over Brumik. If he can secure and maintain Sky Cliffs as a secondary capital, all he needs do is wait until Andril moves to the south in force and the his military harries the mercenaries from their position. If the mercenaries are sent south to siege Sky Cliffs, it is a very defensible position. They can hold out until Andril can support them from the north. It would be clever on his part and a solution to the problem for the Queen. Yet another way this foolishness can lead to war."

"Which as I just mentioned could lead to open war because it is ludicrous to believe that any state will sit on its thumbs while being attacked by its neighbors who go 'sorry, those were our brigands.' States that are not seen by their neighbors as being able to maintain the integrity of their borders do not long remain states."

I don't know the entire history of Erador, but I have read several examples of this exact scenario in Earth history. It rarely ends well for the weak state. By weak state I mean a state that is having difficulty maintaining a central government that can exert force to its borders. Brumik is a text book example of a weak state.

"You would not need to buy the countries, Heff. For Dalton's plan to work, all one would need to do is pay the second and third largest mercenary companies to attack the first largest. Mercenaries are contentious and fragmented by their very nature."

Toramin would be confused by Heff's obtuseness if he didn't suspect the man of lies and treachery.

The dwarf gives Alia a polite bow, "If it is as you say, honored elder, then again I state that the actions of the warmongering merchant's seem to be against their stated interests for the reasons I specified above. War with Andril-Xilres would be a disaster for them. Are there any hints there are external influences."

He glances back to his sister, but she is quietly watching the council with a slightly troubled expression.

The siblings share a long look before Toramin speaks. They both seem to think there are significant problems with the story.

"Dalton isn't wrong. Mercenaries can be bought. Moreover, relying on the cover that they provide is a flimsy political shield. If they aren't associated with the government, their neighbors could declare the mercenaries bandits and do peace keeping missions to police the borders. Or they could declare a war of restoration to restore the Brumik monarchy and protect it from 'brigands.' Such a fiction is actively destructive to their sovereignty. Worse for Brumik, war with Andril will speed the crown's consolidation Xilres. What you are describing sounds like suicide for the warmongering merchants. Either you have not revealed the full picture here or these merchants are being induced to act against their own interests."

"I will do my duty. I also believe he will be an active detriment."

"I would sooner have Heff at my side. At least with Heff I can rely that he will disappear to pursue his own agenda only to return after he could be of use to complain about the manner in which we helped him. This one doesn't even have to dignity to disappear, though he complains just as loudly."

"You bark like a small dog: loudly and with little sense."

Gesturing at Pazeek, Toramon grates out, "This one is rude and unpleasant. I cannot say that his contributions are worth the trouble. If his services are the reward for saving his village, you should have done it for free. They likely offered him up to be well rid of him.

As for the rune giant, we should destroy it. Slavery is wrong no matter who is enslaved. Rilka, as for the lore, I do not know much more than what has already been said. The last two rune giants who bothered my people were destroyed by the Titan golems my father, the Master Maker, created. Golems cannot be dominated and rune giants can be torn asunder given sufficient strength. However, only two such golem have ever been created at the order of the Voices in the Stone. Creating a third might strain the resources of even this group. The Master Maker's skills come dearly. It would be cheaper to assemble a skilled team and ward their minds before hand."

I've missed bitter Dalton. Toramin is good for some salty quips, but nobody drags like Dalton.

Is Liamsho going to respond to Toramin? I think we are waiting for the npcs.

"The scope of your ignorance I do not precisely know, but given your confusion on the leadership of Grastle Hollow -- your closest trading partner -- the self purported isolation of your clan, and the fact that it is well known that rune giants haunt the western mountains so much so that the elven nobility of the southern forest organize hunts to track and kill them to prevent their spread, it must be vast."

While Toramin is confused when Rilka says foolish things, he is less confused by Pazeek. The swordman was a blowhard.

"In the mountains where we were raised, it is considered foolish to speak of things you do not understand, especially in front of those who do. But perhaps there are no traditions of wisdom in these mountains. Do you know what a rune giant is? It is a giant perverted by evil magic into an abomination. It can control the minds and actions of other giants. It can even attempt to dominate other species, though giants are especially vulnerable. The giants who attacked your home were as much of slaves as your tribe. Do you think it would be just to punish those of your clan for mining for the giants? In the mountains where we were reared, we were taught of the strengths and weaknesses of other peoples who might be our enemies. But again, ignorance might be preferred in these mountains. Of course the giants should not profit from the woe of your clan, and they should be punished for wickedness they did beyond the scope of their own duress, but murdering slaves for being slaves would create a bad precedent given your own tribes recent troubles."

Toramin gives Rilka a confused look. "We are taking them because he wants to murder them, Rilka. Disappointment is to be expected when averting a mob."

Toramin calls up to the floating death priests, "Would you be willing to teleport these two so that they can be debriefed on the location of the rune giant. It might also prevent some violence as well. If you are willing, I will go with you."

The dwarf paladin wasn't going to let these giants out of his sight.

Toramin lays a hand on Ianna's arm to still her momentarily as he launches into a series of rapid questions in Giant.

Toramin nods at the mage. "She has a gift for it, and she is both yielding and willful. Though dead enemies are better than live ones, she seems intent on turning our enemies into our friends."

Sister, what are you are doing? They are evil!"

Toramin will detect evil on the giant woman. If she doesn't detect as evil . . .

Toramin slams his weapon against the ground again to drag the female giant back to him. Reflex save of 20 or she moves to Toramin. If she fails by five she is knocked prone.

Stone-Strike: 1d20 + 20 + 1 + 1 + 3 ⇒ (18) + 20 + 1 + 1 + 3 = 43
Damage: 3d6 + 13 + 1 + 3 ⇒ (2, 1, 6) + 13 + 1 + 3 = 26

Stone-Strike (Confirm): 1d20 + 20 + 1 + 1 + 3 ⇒ (11) + 20 + 1 + 1 + 3 = 36
Damage: 3d6 + 13 + 1 + 3 ⇒ (2, 2, 5) + 13 + 1 + 3 = 26

Further Punishment: 1d20 + 20 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 20 + 1 + 1 = 27
Damage: 3d6 + 13 + 1 ⇒ (3, 4, 5) + 13 + 1 = 26

Wait. Wouldn't I get three AoO against her? Once when I pulled her close, once when she stands up, and a third time when she moved out of a square I threatened?

Since you want to keep control of the map, can you label the axises so that it is easier for me to tell you where I want to go?

Toramin's chain whips out catching the giant woman as she leaps back to her feet.

AoO: 1d20 + 20 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (12) + 20 + 1 + 1 = 34
Damage: 3d6 + 13 + 1 ⇒ (2, 5, 2) + 13 + 1 = 23

Toramin stands up; his wounds knitting with great speed. By the time he regains his feet it is like he was never wounded.

LoH: 5d6 ⇒ (5, 4, 6, 5, 6) = 26

He resumes his stance.

He is connected to the stone of the floor and and to the bedrock far beneath. But the dwarf's faith is not his only connection to the earth. Toramin slams the head of his weapon down on the stone before him and it begins to ripple.

Move Action: Earth Shift. The female giant must make a reflex save of a 20 or be pulled to Toramin. If she fails this check by 5 she is knocked prone.

Please let us move our characters on the board.

Rilka would you like to use your studied strike and studied combat to deal more damage to your target? You could also sicken her.

it's true, alas.

Toramin pulls strength up from the stones beneath his feet. Swift Action: Stone Strike

Stone Strike: 1d20 + 20 + 3 + 1 ⇒ (10) + 20 + 3 + 1 = 34
Damage: 3d6 + 13 + 3 + 1 ⇒ (4, 6, 4) + 13 + 3 + 1 = 31

Stone Strike: 1d20 + 15 + 3 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 15 + 3 + 1 = 23
Damage: 3d6 + 13 + 3 + 1 ⇒ (3, 2, 3) + 13 + 3 + 1 = 25

Stone Strike: 1d20 + 10 + 3 + 1 ⇒ (16) + 10 + 3 + 1 = 30
Damage: 3d6 + 13 + 3 + 1 ⇒ (1, 5, 1) + 13 + 3 + 1 = 24

He strikes repeatedly against the female giant.

Before
In preparation, Toramin will drink his shield infusion. "Bjorkus, please cast your vigor spell upon me before we arrive." Then he channels a bit of holy power through his armor. Swift Action: Crusading

Battle

Toramin steps forward and draws strength from the stone assuming his stance. He lays into the female giant before him with brutal efficiency.

Krrr-Buzz: 1d20 + 20 ⇒ (11) + 20 = 31
Damage: 3d6 + 13 ⇒ (1, 3, 5) + 13 = 22

"Giants are not so fearsome. I stand ready"

I believe you can make a dome with the wall of force.

A Wall of Force should do the trick.

heh

"We might want to think about how to keep the cloud giants on the ground. Or a way to punish them if they take to the air."

Do they have anything to say? Can you set the scene a little bit about what's happening around us?

Is there anything we can be doing?

"They are powerful. They have innate magic. They can coerce other giants, regardless of those giants wishes. They have a feud with both the elven nobility and the dwarven central families stretching back centuries or longer. You can tell them apart from other giants by the glowing runes on their skin. I would like two of your Shield Infusions."

Finally

"Whether there is one or if there are fifty, hill giants will fall like rotted trees in a windstorm. The cloud giants could pose a greater threat, perhaps. With Rilka's potions and Bjorkus' songs, they too will be ground to dust. Having some amount of wind magic to counter their innate gifts might be wise, Dalton."

I must have missed it if you did. Link?

"I wager that because of that mysterious geas and of course Malose, or whatever his name is."

"Anyone want to wager with me that a rune giant is involved? Also, where are my sister and Geoffrey?"

Toramin is quietly amused both by the tengu's boasts of his people's craftsmanship and their obvious misunderstanding of the politics of Grastle Hollow. The people who threatened them were criminals, not the leaders of that city with whom they did business. Perhaps keen insight is not amongst their fabled qualities.

"I am sorry to hear of your people's troubles. What help has Heff promised you?"

"Bjorkus is no one's back up. His sword is the most deadly we have."

Toramin looks at the tengu and proffers his hand. "Toramin Trealamhgabha."

Toramin blinks slowly. Sometimes I wonder how he survived this long.

"Follow the money. What happens to your estate after you die?"