Current month - Kingdom issues

Zarantyr, 1001 YK
Even with Corax having been banished and the rumored trolls to the northwest not making a reappearance, the rulers of the tiny kingdom of Khatovar have too much responsibility to be able to go exploring.

Even if they could, the onset of winter would make wilderness travel difficult. The increasing cold brings many complicated issues in its wake, ranging from problems with the newly created roads, to ensuring that the growing populace of settlers is well-fed, to maintaining a steady flow of firewood from the forests (which is a little more complicated with the man who controlled logging in the area now missing and his responsibilities in the hands of former subordinates), and so on.

Grigori remains a constant, though not major, irritant, singing songs and relating tales at the inn but also taking time out to complain about the rulers' effectiveness and motives. Luckily, the cold ensures that he can't gather large crowds outside and has to settle for whoever comes to the inn, and Rowan publicly talking him down has made him a figure of fun to some.


OOC: Someone roll me a d20 for a Stability check (you can add +19 to your roll). And Mike, assuming Rowan is continuing to try and make Grigori look bad, I need a couple of Diplomacy checks from you. Anyone wanting to Aid him can try to as well.[u]

Unfortunately, this winter turns out to be a particularly cold one and having to deal with it in the wilderness in a town that is still mostly under construction (which means having to work a great deal in the cold) seems to fray the tempers of a number of people. There are a number of minor arguments and scuffles in various areas around town, and though the presence of Grabthar and the town guard helps matters, they can't be everywhere at once.

Grigori continues to try to cause trouble, but Rowan makes a couple of visits (usually with Kara in tow) to the makeshift inn to mock him, which seems to amuse the new settlers and mediate his influence significantly. It's clear, however, that some people are willing to give him a hearing.

The bitter cold makes it easier for Leonis, who visits the Swamp Witch (who he now knows as Elga Verniex) a couple of times, to persuade the old woman to set up a home in town too, where she can usually be found working on potions and spells or yelling at the couple of apprentices he finds for her. The elven mage gets to spend a fair amount of time with her, learning a large number of spells for his spellbook. The process takes a lot more time than it normally would, since it usually involves Elga stroking the foul-tempered old cat (which utterly refuses to answer to its name of Mr Fluffykins) and discussing arcane matters with it, and then berating Leonis for not being able to comprehend the spell instantly. The result of all the time, however, is a significantly more full spellbook for him. Leonis is also now handling the matters that Corax was in charge of, involving correspondence with Aundair and information in general about the area and the kingdoms beyond, all of which keeps him busy than the others.

Though the weather slows things down,the kingdom of Khatovar continues to expand, aided significantly by the roads that House Orien is constructing. Kesten's militia are now patrolling up to within a few miles from Oleg's Trading Post and workers are already preparing to begin another settlement around the post, a fact that has Oleg and Svetlana both excited and very busy too.


OOC: The above translates to the following mechanical changes with the kingdom.

The kingdom Stability roll is failed with the natural 1 Avi rolled, so Unrest increases by 2

1 BP is spent on kingdom Consumption

Grabthar filling the Royal Assassin role lowers Unrest by 1

The Swamp Witch takes over as Magister and Leonis becomes Spymaster

The kingdom claims the hex with the Spider’s Nest, which puts the kingdom at 6 hexes

The kingdom gets a free road in hex 6 due to House Orien

The edicts remain the same: Promotion = None (-1 Stability); Taxation = None (+1 Loyalty); Festivals per Year = 0 (-1 Loyalty)

Now here's the decision for you to make re. buildings and such. You have 16 BP left at this point. Here are some of the things you can spend on:

* Spend 2 BP on converting the latest hex to Farmland. Permanently lowers Consumption (which you pay monthly) by 2, which means your current Consumption drops to 0.

* Spend 3 BP on a House, which lowers Unrest by 1, which'll put your Unrest at 0

* Spend 10 BP on an Inn, Tavern or Stable, which boosts your city's base value, Economy and Loyalty

* Spend 6 BP on a Brewery or a Dump or a Granary (boosts Loyalty and Stability), a Library (boosts Economy and Loyalty), a Mill or a Smith (boosts Economy and Stability)

* Spend 4 BP on a Graveyard or a Park (boosts Loyalty)

You can only do one sort of building (plus a House, if you want) in the turn. Your councilors suggest doing the Farmland, House and an Inn.

Let me know what you think.

The growing population means there is a need for more homes and other buildings to be constructed, and while the weather makes it more difficult it also makes their presence even more necessary to provide shelter for the new settlers and the former occupants of the land. More houses are built and a small number of inns also spring up. The latter provide much better living conditions than the only makeshift inn which the town had, and they contribute to the growing economy by encouraging travelers to stay longer in town. Interestingly, Grigori promptly moves into the largest of the new inns and begins to ply his trade (and his anarchic messages) there. Clearly, as Rowan had suspected, he possesses more money than one might expect for a simple traveling bard.

Building construction occurs well beyond the capital too. With the spread of the small kingdom from the low hills that surround the capital into the grassy plains where Oleg's Trading Post is located, the options for viable farmland increase tremendously. Many of the new settlers claim land and begin to set up farms, while some of the small farms that already existed suddenly find their options for the future significantly improved with the presence of roads to take their produce to new and larger markets, guards to keep the roads safe, and new customers who need to be fed. Unless something very untoward occurs, there should be no food shortages for the upcoming year.


OOC: The above translates to the following mechanical changes to the kingdom.

Built a House (-3 BP; Unrest -1) and an Inn (-10 BP; City base value +500 gp, Economy +1, Loyalty +1)

Sell Valuable Items: Sells 1 minor item for 2 BP

Generate Income: Made Economy check (with a 45 vs. DC 26), so gain +9 BP

That gives you the following stats for your kingdom:

Quote :

Economy +26, Loyalty +20, Stability +20 (19), Unrest 0, Kingdom size = 6; Command DC 26; Consumption = 0; Treasury = 12 BP

Main city statistics: Base Value = 700 gp; Defense Modifier +8; Districts = 1; contains Castle, Noble Villa, Exotic Craftsman, Inn and House (x3); 1 minor item

Note: Since Avi was cursed with the two really low rolls, I took the 19 that he rolled after that and applied it to the Economy check, hence the really good payday for your kingdom.

Stability.

NO WAMMIES!

The member 'Gareth' has done the following action : Dice roller

'd20' : 20

Oh damn! REPRESENT! Maybe I trained the board?

Gareth wrote:

Oh damn! REPRESENT! Maybe I trained the board?

Very nice

* * * * *
Unfortunately, while those attempting to grow the new kingdom and stabilize it are hard at work, so are those who would prey upon it. Midway through the month come reports of bandit attacks on the small trade and food caravans that regularly travel between the capital and Oleg's Trading Post. But even more unfortunately (albeit only for the bandits), there already is significantly more stability within the borders of Khatovar than was the case - and traveling off-road through snow with wagons of supplies is more difficult than it sounds. Less than two weeks after the attacks are reported, Marshal Kesten Garess proudly leads a small force of soldiers back into the capital, bringing along with them half a dozen bound and woebegone brigands, as well as almost all of the stolen goods.

Besides the bandits, there are some who are willing to prey on the kingdom while dwelling within it. During the interim period before the bandits are captured, Grigori seizes onto the subject and spends a fair amount of time talking publicly (and loudly) about how the populace is at risk and how their rulers are more interested in aggrandizing themselves than protecting their subjects. He also makes much of the supposed fact that the rulers, along with their stooges the Levetons, are intent on running out of town anyone who disagrees with or displeases them, using Corax as an example. Though Kesten's capturing of the bandits is a blow to Grigori's criticisms, by the time it occurs there is a fair amount of grumbling and dissension in town again. Grigori, unsurprisingly, ignores the capture of the bandits in his continuing complaints, and quite openly states that he expects to be targeted for being "a voice for the rights of the people".


OOC: The above translates to the following mechanical results.

Event: Bandit Activity (continuous) – Successful Stability check (natural 20), so no loss in BP.

Grigori increases unrest by 1d4-2 every month, which is 1 this month

Quote :

Current scores: Economy +26 (25), Loyalty +20 (19), Stability +20 (18), Unrest 1, Kingdom size = 6; Command DC 26; Consumption = 0; Treasury = 12 BP

Main city statistics: Base Value = 700 gp; Defense Modifier +8; Districts = 1; contains Castle, Noble Villa, Exotic Craftsman, Inn and House (x3); 1 minor item

Olarune, 1001 YK
The days pass on slowly, but the realm of Khatovar (and the land around it) remains strongly in the grip of winter. Travel is difficult, the weather is bitterly cold, work in the open is painful, and the town is crowded (since many of the locals have moved there temporarily for the added shelter) even with the new constructions. The rulers of Khatovar constantly have to field requests (and some demands) for aid and support, as well as complaints, accusations, and all the other joys of ruling a number of uncomfortable and unhappy people.

OOC: Someone please make a Stability check.

If two women make a claim to a baby I offer that Grabthar split the baby up. The woman who is up for the idea gets beheaded, the other woman gets the baby. Just saying

I do call a small meeting to discuss the naysayer and what we can do to get rid of him. Honestly, at this point I am up for getting rid of him and dealing with a month or two of instability then having to hear him chatter on end and making money off the people.

And with that NO WAMMIES!

The member 'Gareth' has done the following action : Dice roller

'd20' : 19

Gareth wrote:

If two women make a claim to a baby I offer that Grabthar split the baby up. The woman who is up for the idea gets beheaded, the other woman gets the baby. Just saying

Thanks for the heads-up :p

Quote :

I do call a small meeting to discuss the naysayer and what we can do to get rid of him. Honestly, at this point I am up for getting rid of him and dealing with a month or two of instability then having to hear him chatter on end and making money off the people.

Okay. This'll take a little more playing out, of course, so I'll handle it after we take care of all the kingdom-building stuff for the month.

* * * * *
Luckily, while there is neither blood nor circuses to distract the populace of Khatovar, there is at least bread, since there is no lack of food to feed the growing populace. There is also work and the growth of the kingdom,and the fact that there are captured bandits to deal with does also provide a short diversion as well.

Once that is dealt with, the kingdom's focus is primarily on its expansion into the area around Oleg's Trading Post and the following construction of a second settlement there. The existence of the newly-built Orien road makes things easier, and soon a much larger wooden stockade is in place, encompassing miles of space that will presumably eventually be full of buildings. New buildings begin to crop up slowly,extending outwards from the old trading post proper, which Oleg has now transformed into a large set of stables.


OOC: The above translates to the following mechanical changes.

Quote :

The Kingdom Stability roll is a success, lowering Unrest by 1 (to 0)

There is no Consumption to pay

The kingdom claims the hex with Oleg’s Trading Post (putting the kingdom size at 7 hexes), which now lets them begin constructing another settlement there. They gain a free Stable there, due to the existing trading post.

The kingdom gets a free road in hex 7 due to House Orien

The edicts remain the same: Promotion = None (-1 Stability); Taxation = None (+1 Loyalty); Festivals per Year = 0 (-1 Loyalty)

Post on what building(s) you construct will follow soon...

Gareth wrote:

If two women make a claim to a baby I offer that Grabthar split the baby up. The woman who is up for the idea gets beheaded, the other woman gets the baby. Just saying

Ah, the wisdom of Grabtholomon.

Quote :

I do call a small meeting to discuss the naysayer and what we can do to get rid of him. Honestly, at this point I am up for getting rid of him and dealing with a month or two of instability then having to hear him chatter on end and making money off the people.

I don't know about that. At the moment he's just rabble-rousing, but if we prove him "right", a reputation for tyranny

We need to start talking about the importance of freedom of speech, and freedom in general. (People must have come out into the wilderness for a reason, just like other explorers and settlers in our past.) We can co-opt some of his message for our own. Make what is implicit explicit - that a demagogue like him would be imprisoned or killed in many kingdoms. But we're a freedom-loving people, so we have no problem with him as long as he is just talking, and not stealing from the people like (what's his name) or planning treason.

Of course, we'll continue to challenge his cowardice and uselessness. He does absolutely nothing but sing pretty songs and make speeches, while the rest of the people in the country do hard work. We're putting our lives on the line, building a city and fighting bandits, while he just flaps his mouth and does nothing.

Rowan is also going to start publicly wondering who he really works for. He obviously has an outside source of money, to live so well here. He's just a silver-tongued city boy who's come here to cause trouble. Rowan's spent enough time around soldiers to be able to speak plainly and directly.

OTOH, I wouldn't be opposed to him dying in a bar fight, or being mauled by a bear.

I want to find some way to cast Charm Person on him, and interrogate him about who he works for. At this point, he's only an annoyance, and it's just as important to find out who's using him to sabotage us.

I've put up a separate thread on dealing with Grigori, so we can discuss/roleplay that out there.

As for constructing buildings, which will presumably occur at the new settlement, here are your options:

* Spend 3 BP on a House, which lowers Unrest by 1. Though your Unrest is already at 0, a House does also provide a prerequisite for many other buildings.

* Spend 6 BP on a Brewery or a Dump or a Granary (boosts Loyalty and Stability), a Library (boosts Economy and Loyalty), a Mill or a Smith or a Tannery (boosts Economy and Stability)

* Spend 4 BP on a Graveyard or a Park (boosts Loyalty)

* Spend 8 BP on a Shrine (raises Loyalty and generates a minor magic item for sale each month, which raises +2 BP each month)

You can only do one sort of building (plus a House, if you want) in the turn. You have 10 BP to spend. Your Councilors have some diverging opinions this time. Oleg wants a House and a Smith, while Svetlana wants a House and a Granary. Jhod wants the Shrine to be built.

Let me know what you think.

Korm'akhan wrote:

I don't know about that. At the moment he's just rabble-rousing, but if we prove him "right", a reputation for tyranny

The problem is he is causing harm (negative instability).

Korm'akhan wrote:

We need to start talking about the importance of freedom of speech, and freedom in general. (People must have come out into the wilderness for a reason, just like other explorers and settlers in our past.) We can co-opt some of his message for our own. Make what is implicit explicit - that a demagogue like him would be imprisoned or killed in many kingdoms. But we're a freedom-loving people, so we have no problem with him as long as he is just talking, and not stealing from the people like (what's his name) or planning treason.

This is only until we establish ourselves and then we can crush them with our (Grabthars) iron fist like eggs?

Korm'akhan wrote:

OTOH, I wouldn't be opposed to him dying in a bar fight, or being mauled by a bear.

Grabthar likes bars. Grabthar likes drinking. Grabthar likes fights....sounds like a plan. If we put a bear fur around Grabthar, and give him a maul, would this work towards your second option?

Admin wrote:

I've put up a separate thread on dealing with Grigori, so we can discuss/roleplay that out there.

As for constructing buildings, which will presumably occur at the new settlement, here are your options:

* Spend 3 BP on a House, which lowers Unrest by 1. Though your Unrest is already at 0, a House does also provide a prerequisite for many other buildings.

* Spend 6 BP on a Brewery or a Dump or a Granary (boosts Loyalty and Stability), a Library (boosts Economy and Loyalty), a Mill or a Smith or a Tannery (boosts Economy and Stability)

* Spend 4 BP on a Graveyard or a Park (boosts Loyalty)

* Spend 8 BP on a Shrine (raises Loyalty and generates a minor magic item for sale each month, which raises +2 BP each month)

You can only do one sort of building (plus a House, if you want) in the turn. You have 10 BP to spend. Your Councilors have some diverging opinions this time. Oleg wants a House and a Smith, while Svetlana wants a House and a Granary. Jhod wants the Shrine to be built.

Let me know what you think.

I like the Shrine idea. It gives us a minor magic item to sell which is useful. Plus a shrine may help get us more clerics and the gods know we could use some of them floating around.

Gareth wrote:

I like the Shrine idea. It gives us a minor magic item to sell which is useful. Plus a shrine may help get us more clerics and the gods know we could use some of them floating around.

Okay. I doubt anyone will disagree, so I'll assume that's what you do unless any dissenting posts show up.

Roll me a d20 for an Economy check to see how you do financially this month.

Cool. Let's get it started.
No WAMMIES!

The member 'Gareth' has done the following action : Dice roller

'd20' : 17

Nice roll. That about takes care of all the stuff for the month, so I'll post the summary soon.

The only other thing is that Grigori could raise the Unrest again, but that won't happen if you do manage to deal with him, so pop into the thread for dealing with Grigori and let's see what you do. Depending on what occurs there he may or may not be a factor for the future.

After some discussion, the primary structure to which attention is paid in the new settlement is a shrine to Balinor, which is to be currently tended by Jhod Kavken until he can train an adequate replacement. Though the priest still clearly has hopes of eventually building a larger temple at the ruin in the forest, he is very happy and grateful at this opportunity to build a shrine to Balinor.

Svetlana and Oleg both take the decision to focus on Jhod's preference with equanimity, but after the meeting, Svetlana talks to the rulers privately and asks if the new yet-unnamed settlement could be named Olegton. "It would really make Oleg proud, I think, and I would very much appreciate it."

The construction of the shrine and the setting up of the basic groundwork for the new community goes particularly well, especially considering that it is quite cold, with the snows of midwinter still on the ground. The number of settlers, which had diminished slightly with the winter, increases again and more trade flows along the Orien road, into and out of Khatovar. Things are looking good for the little kingdom.

OOC: The above translates to the following mechanical changes.

Creation of a Shrine (-8 BP; 1 minor item, Loyalty +1, Unrest -1)

Sale of 2 minor items for 4 BP

Economy check (44 vs. Command DC 27) made, so gain 8 BP

Speaking with Svetlana, "You and Oleg have done much for this community even before we came. Naming part of it on behalf of Oleg is a fine idea but I would like the others to chime in. My only concern is if it seems we are handing out special favors to people...with Grigori spouting his smear campaign he may jump on this and decide to use it as ammo".

OOC: To the group at large - Do we think of Grigori says bad things about Oleg then the rest of the town may frown on that. Oleg has been here for a long time and he may be loved enough that it would backfire on Grigori.

Gareth wrote:

Speaking with Svetlana, "You and Oleg have done much for this community even before we came. Naming part of it on behalf of Oleg is a fine idea but I would like the others to chime in. My only concern is if it seems we are handing out special favors to people...with Grigori spouting his smear campaign he may jump on this and decide to use it as ammo".

OOC: To the group at large - Do we think of Grigori says bad things about Oleg then the rest of the town may frown on that. Oleg has been here for a long time and he may be loved enough that it would backfire on Grigori.

As far as your PCs know, Svetlana and Oleg (esp. the former, since she is the one who people with petitions and such go to first if they hope to be heard by you) are quite popular with the populace. Grigori has already taken a few pot-shots at them, but not with great success.

Then I would modify my stance, if the rest of the group is ok with it I am ok with naming this portion of our area after Oleg.

Gareth wrote:

Then I would modify my stance, if the rest of the group is ok with it I am ok with naming this portion of our area after Oleg.

(OOC: Assuming nobody else demurs)

Svetlana thanks Leonis and the others. A couple of days after the meeting, there is a small ceremony where the new settlement is officially named Olegton. Oleg is, of course, present and literally blushing with pride, with Svetlana smiling happily by his side. After the ceremony, she again thanks the rulers for their generosity.