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Hi all,
First post, just wanted to share my delight in a development in my KM game. I'll get to the reason why in a sec but Gregori has become the new Bandit King in my game!
Background:
I started this campaign as a player and the DM running it was inexperienced so I have allot of game history and semi screw-ups to clean up after, not the least of which is 6 PCs and now 5 NPCs running around adventuring!
First thing I did was force a character to retire as Master of Commons and Hand of the Baron (sits on the Ruler's chair when ruler is away homebrew ruling to avoid annoying turnarounds b/c of kingdom building weeks.) Then I introduced 3 NPCs that could have been a rival party if mishandled (they weren't)instead what happened is that I have 2 5 person parties running around. We are in RRR which means I had to add lots of extra encounters and conversions. From Book 3 onward, I intend to buy and use various dungeons and side-quest material (for book 3 it's Citadel of Pain which meshes nicely with KM.) (extra aside if anyone has suggestions for books 4 and 5 they are welcome)
Back to the point..
Their kingdom started at Oleg's trading post (which honestly math-wise is by far the fastest start due to reduced cost farms)leaving the Stag Lord's fort open. Since they bi-passed the 2nd big bandit camp that meant 50 or so dispersed bandits roving around!
When they confronted Gregori (who tried to lead a mob to kill that barbarian werewolf Kundel) they won the social challenges handily and banished him (and a farmer pitchforked him in the arse on the way out!) This forces Gergori in a tight spot, if he returns to Pitax a failure he is likely to die, but he cannot do what he does being banished and all. Plus, honestly he was pissed about the pitchfork.
After a successful knowledge local check, he makes his way to the Staglord's fort hoping to co-opt some bandit allies. When he gets there he discovers the Bandits are being trained along side a tribe of red scaled kobolds by a group that includes a Ninja, an Oracle,a Monk and a Fighter!
The previous DM gave a ninja character magical tattoos that mark her as a surviving member of an enemy Ninja clan. Before the events of KM (we traveled there and were Level 2 at the start of Stolen land) they attempted to assassinate the fledgling Ninja, so I'm just continuing the forgotten sideline.
The Ninja clan members scouted out our heroes setup and realized that they were over matched 11 months ago. They decided to hunker down and seek new allies. In the 11 months they have quietly acquired a few loggers (with families held hostage,)allied with a Kobold tribe called the blood scales, organized the 50 or so bandits, successfully recruited the mad hermit (who has a dire lion), quietly taken settlers as slaves(generating some BP), and now that Gregori is around they will seek additional aid from Pitax.
The Ninja's have also sent for more supplies and recruits from their Domo, this means the have had the BP's to build up a quiet kingdom of their own, they have also seeded spies throughout the PC kingdom to keep an eye on their rivals. I am also using Dudemeister's Monster kindom variant to add an ally and ramp up this encounter to even more deadly proportions. Starting this month Pitax will start helping with additional slaves and gold.
-The Oracle has a magical item that makes 1 zombie a day and she has been collecting the trail of corpses the PCs have left to make zombies to chain to the palisade of the fort.
-The loggers and carpenter's have repaired the palisade and the castle itself.
-The Mad Hermit gathered the remaining Bear traps from the trapped hex and seeded the surrounding hillside for additional defense. Pit traps have also been dug out and covered.
-Scouts watch the trail and carry caltrops to slow down any approaching force.
-Kobolds have devised a variety of other traps and will act as sappers in any battle.
-With the additional Gold a small evil adventuring party is enroute. This includes a Barbarian, a Sorcerer, a Fighter, and a Ranger.
-Rumors will be intentionally spread about Gregori the new Bandit king and his kind hearted ways stealing from the rich and giving to the poor (pure propaganda of course.)
-This month they intend to steal Bokken and his entire supply of potions. This will give them an alchemist for more mayhem.
(For the record this is harsh and can easily be toned down but once again 11 characters!)
Should lead to several encounters and a mass combat scene or two.
For the record any suggestions regarding keeping 10 characters busy would be appreciated. Anyone know of dungeons or a nearby AP? I have it covered to 9 th level
Hoping by upping the challenge rating it'll kill a few off. Big headache but it forces some creativity.
The Forest King a.k.a That Green Drake ha a 3rd tribe of Kobolds (100) that are green scaled and worship it like a god feeding it sacrifices.
I started as a PC in this one had the casters covered for main group in 4 player group ( each player had 2PCs and there were 2NPCs. DM quit on us I picked it up. 11 characters put me in a pickle as a GM b/ c I now have the casters against myself. Don't want to leave them short their main casters.
I'd say at first to have Grigori keep his name off the rumors, just spread word that a generous, rich-robbing Bandit King has arisen. Only once his reputation as a Robin Hood expy is solid should a name start being attached to it.