I am now GMing a Kingmaker Campaign with 6 players. I tend towards Monty Haul and Take Names storytelling, but I also like to keep it interesting.
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My players are:
Lianda- Human Gunslinger accidentally sent to the River Kingdoms by way of Mana Storm, now wandering around the area with a cart full of supplies most of which are locked in a chest she can't open.
Tyron Aldori- Human Fighter convinced he is the direct descendant of Sirian Aldori, supports his claim with a very fancy sword and breastplate. Also a raging Rostland indepedence supporter.
Seoni- Human Sorcerer born in Varisia and wandered far to the east, primarily out of self preservation as she found burning villages are inhospitable. Currently forced to abandon her study into her homelands past, she hopes to amass the allies and support she needs to return without being sent to a Korvosan dungeon.
Kyra- Human Cleric of Sarenrae Sole survivor of a brutal raid on her hometown she has pledged herself to Sarenrae. She has travelled to the distant north to bring the warmth and acceptance of the Dawnflower to a savage land.
Ezren- Human Wizard a disgraced man filled with a hatred for his own family. After spending years trying to prove their innocence only to be proven irrevocably guilty, he has soured to the world. When he turned to the study of the arcane it was as an escape to the disappointments of reality. Now he has wandered to the Stolen Lands hearing rumors of the First World. He is looking for the 'Ultimate Escape' as he puts it.
Merisiel- Elven Rogue growing up as those around her lived and died has scarred Merisiel deeply. Now she hopes to focus her talents on something that might finally outlive her, a nation built to last.
Pharast 1, 4713
Our heroes came within site of Oleg's Trading Post the previous evening and, after some brief confusion agreed to help the Leveton's in exchange for free room and board for the night. The party learned they would be fighting or at least scaring off a group of bandit thugs that had been robbing the trading post for the last few months.
As our heroes are often engaged in some form of bickering the subject of the evenings debate was tactics. Each individual had a different strategy they wished to employ, especially if they involved telling each other how to do their jobs. The Levetons faith in these heroes faded with each passing hour. As the witching hour came the heroes were still in full tilt and only settled after an ominious thrum passed through the fort. At which point the heroes wisely decided to settle in for the night, with only a simple plan to close the gate and lock them in.
The sorceress Seoni was particularly put out by this plan as she had been about to suggest they do that very thing albeit while outside of the post while setting it on fire. The solution was among her favorite 'problem-solvers' and in her mind had never failed.
Shortly before dawn Oleg Leveton roused the heroes, in as gruff a manner as he had ever put on. They prepared for the bandits quickly. Lianda and Kyra on either side of the gate to slam it closed. Merisiel hiding behind a wagon near the gate. Tyron lurking behind the storage shed ready to charge into the fray. Seoni and Ezren perched on the stable roof prepared to launch spells at range and take advantage if the high ground. Oleg guarding the door to his home where his wife Svetlana Leveton was tucked away.
The pack of grubby bandits numbered 7 in all. The seventh being marginally less grubby and better equipped taking the place as leader. A hooded man armed primarily with a bow. As they rode into the trading post they hardly bothered to look around in their arrogance, laughing coarsely at crude jokes directed towards Svetlana. All but the leader dismounted to load the furs and trade goods from the storage shed. Unfortunately Merisiel planning to sneak into position ahead of time was noticed by his sharp eye. At the same time Merisiel crept into position Seoni cast a flare above the bandits and the battle had begun.
Immediately after closing the gate Kyra leapt off the rampart towards the bandits, as Merisiel removed her first target from the fray unconsious but alive. Tyron immediately charged his first foe rending him nearly in two while bulling him backwards ten paces. As Lianda injured a bandit with a shot from her rifle, Ezren launched a magic missile at another bandit. Lastly the leader seeing Merisiel ahead of time and being protected from the flare by his hood loosed an arrow at her, lodging it firmly in her hip.
As Merisiel lashed at yet another bandit with a dagger, removing him from the fight permanently, Tyron swung at the leader upon his horse wounding him. Ezren launched a magic missile at the leader killing him. Seoni launched a magic missile as well at the remaining unharmed bandit, knocking him unconscious. Lianda dropped her rifle and drew her revolver, shooting and killing the bandit rendered unconsious by Seoni. Kyra slew the bandit injured by Ezren's first magic missile.
Tyron though tempted to attempt throwing the leaders horse at the last bandit standing, instead skirted the beast and drove his Aldori-styled rapier into the unfortunate bandits gut.
The heroes triumphant and unscathed, save for Merisiel, cheered. Oleg noticing the first unfortunate bandit to be attacked regaining consciousness attacked him in a fit of rage, for all he had suffered, beating him to death with a shovel. The heroes had failed to mention to Oleg that they had wanted to question one of the bandits and as such could not hold his actions against him.
Oleg and Svetlana were overjoyed at the liberation of their home as well as the grisly warning Oleg hung from the palisades, in the form of the bandits remains. In his happiness Oleg offered them free lodging for as long as they cared to take it, and Svetlana offered two meals a day as well whenever they stayed. The heroes gladly accepted as they prepared to further explore the Greenbelt. Oleg may soon regret his hospitality but that tale will have to wait for another day
I must now hold off on posting due to the fact that my players have discovered this thread and now I have to bludgeon them.