A couple questions about the Aldori Sword Lords in the Kingmaker module

[Back Stabbath]

First, what is the swordpact, exactly?

Are all the kings in the area sword lords? What about the counts, barons, dukes, etc?

[Bingo Underbough]

"Calling himself Sirian Aldori, he promptly challenged the bandit lord to a rematch, whereupon he disarmed and defeated the bandit in seconds. Reestablishing his rule, Baron Aldori issued an open challenge of 100,000 gp to anyone who could beat him in a duel of swords. Thousands answered the challenge from across the world. Some were earnest and honorable duelists, while others tried to cheat with magic or other tricks. It didn’t matter. Sirian defeated them all, forever cementing his reputation as the greatest swordsman in the world. At first, Sirian refused to teach his techniques, but eventually he selected a small group to train. He made them change their names to Aldori and to swear an oath not to reveal anything they learned to someone not of the swordpact. Through the generations that followed, Sirien’s pupils became known as the Aldori swordlords, a force feared throughout the continent. Until Choral arrived, the swordlords ruled Rostland and were every bit as impulsive and prickly as Sirien. The Aldori uniformly distrust the Surtovas, and their patience with the new king wears thin."

[Back Stabbath]

Thanks, but that didn't answer either of my questions.

[CalebTGordan]

Actually it did. You have to read into it.

The swordpact could be seen as a close group of people who share the same ideals and passions. If there is an oath, it would be something along the lines of upholding honor, never cheating, staying true to your passions, and teaching their skills to only those that show similar qualities.

As for the king, he isn't a swordlord. Swordlords don't really believe in kings. They were taken over by tyrant, whose family disappeared recently. This created a movement in power from one family to another and now the swordlords are ruled over by a man they despise.

[Back Stabbath]

CalebTGordan wrote:

Actually it did. You have to read into it.

The swordpact could be seen as a close group of people who share the same ideals and passions. If there is an oath, it would be something along the lines of upholding honor, never cheating, staying true to your passions, and teaching their skills to only those that show similar qualities.

That seems like an assumption. I am asking for specifics about what exactly you agree to when you take the swordpact.

Quote:

As for the king, he isn't a swordlord. Swordlords don't really believe in kings. They were taken over by tyrant, whose family disappeared recently. This created a movement in power from one family to another and now the swordlords are ruled over by a man they despise.

I'm not sure if that's true either, because according to the lore the Aldori ruled over the land for generations. Also, there's more than one ruler within Kingmaker.

[Back Stabbath]

bump

[CalebTGordan]

*Sigh* Not to sound like a troll here, but have you actually read the background on Brevoy?

Issia and Restov were two separate states. Restov is where the swordlords come from, but none of them were kings. They had leaders, like the Baron Sirian (who later became Sirian Aldori) but no kings. Then Choral the Conqueror came and with armies and dragons took both Issia and Restland and united them under the Brevic flag. He set himself up as the king and his family ruled until their mysterious disappearance. At that point House Surtova took the throne, but their claims are weak at best. They hang onto the throne only because they have enough backing for it, but that might all change soon. The swordlords have never liked having their lands ruled over by another, and with the shift in power they have sought to start a rebellion and civil war.

Only one king over Brevoy, and it is King Surtova. There are leaders of the noble houses, but the swordlords are not counted as a noble house. The swordlords wouldn't train any of the them anyway.

Kingmaker is an adventure path that happens South of Brevoy, in the River Nations. Specifically in the Stolen Lands that form a boarder between the River Nations and Brevoy. The PCs are originally tasked to go and clear out a portion of the Stolen Lands for a new kingdom, and happen to become the rulers of that portion in the second part. They don't become kings until Part 4, but there are kings to the South and to the South West.

As for who rules the Swordlords, the best candidate is the Mayor of Restov.

As for if the swordlords hold any offical titles, there isn't anything that I can find that point towards such.

So to answer your second question: No, none of the kings, counts, barons, or dukes are swordlords. They despise most of those with such titles and are especially chilly towards the king.

What exactly is the swordpact? It hasn't been officially written up. But from the paragraph quoted above and other sources it is clear it would have as least the following:

• Honor
  
• Trustworthy in battle (doesn't cheat.)
  
• To be extremely selective in who is taught the Aldori art.
  

If you are a GM running the Kingmaker AP, read up on Brevoy in the back of part 1. If you are a player of Kingmaker, ask the GM to let you read that section.

[CalebTGordan]

Okay, so there is a swordlord king, but he the king of the River Nation, Mivon and not a part of the Kingmaker AP or Brevoy. Little mistake there, but we all make them.

[Back Stabbath]

Thanks.