[Pathfinder] Kingmaker Redux, part 12: Monster Trouble

From the journal of Lythande Syldorei

Year 4710, 15th of Rova

We had received reports of an army slaying settlers within the territory we have claimed for Neotellus. Our investigation led us to a series of tracks, some of a large creature with feet similar in shape to our own, and others that are like the feet of dogs or wolves but larger.

As we followed these tracks, Maria found some effluvia of one of the wolf-like beasts on a tree limb, a greenish opaque stuff that looked very unpleasant. She realized that this was the diseased spittle of a trollhound, thus leading us to realize that the two-legged creature the trollhound accompanied was likely a troll. Reislin then recalled all that she had read of trollhounds, warning us that their spit can cause disease in the victims of their bites, but that otherwise they are no more than large dogs, a bit hardier but not equipped with especially armored or resilient hides. The presence of a troll and trollhounds also explained the tales we had heard of bodies torn asunder. Ripping their victims apart is a particular preference of trolls.

As we continued northward following the troll's footprints we realized we were approaching the great sycamore tree that had once been home to the mites. The trees are without leaves at this time of the year, and the ground is muddy from autumn rainfall. Despite this the troll's tracks vanished. Reislin reminded us that trolls can regenerate their flesh after it is cut, though wounds caused by fire or acid cannot be healed in such fashion.

Then both Maria and Zander alerted us that they had heard a noise nearby. Zander chose to stamp loudly toward the direction from which the sound had come, hoping to drive out whatever had made the noise. A large arrow flew past him coming from a southerly direction, and we heard more noises approaching both from ahead of us and behind our group.

A troll appeared from behind us, surprisingly carrying a bow and wearing leather armor. It ran toward us but veered off to take cover behind a large tree. Two trollhounds burst out of cover and rushed out, the first aiming to attack Zander. Chahana fired her bow at it. The troll fired its own bow at her but the shaft went wide. Zander sliced the hound and it howled in pain. Reislin moved closer to where Zander and Maria stood close together and chanted an incantation to empower their weapons.

The second hound clamped its heavy jaws on Chahana and knocked her off her feet. An instant later its comrade did the same to Zander. Despite being prone on the ground Zander slashed it again and Maria also stabbed it with her sword. I ran to Chahana's side and dealt the second hound a heavy blow. Reislin moved to Chahana's side also and bent to cast a healing spell upon her. The troll fired on Maria but again its aim was poor.

Chahana clambered to her feet, but the hound grabbed her and bore her down a second time, this time wounding her so badly that she fell unconscious and was bleeding badly. I slashed the beast again. The troll had also struck me with an arrow that dealt a harsh injury and I called to the Dawnflower for her healing mercy. I cannot protect my companions if I fall to injury.

The troll now pointed to Reislin and spoke, attracting the attention of the first hound. In response the beast knocked Reislin down. Maria had charged up to the troll and slashed him fiercely. Chahana got to her feet again, defensively warding herself against the trollhound's bite. Her bow had fallen from her hand and she drew a dagger. The hound snapped at her but its fangs did not touch her. I moved to attack the hound again as it now stood over Reislin's fallen form. Reislin cast a spell, tiny missiles shooting from her fingers into the hound's body. The beast collapsed in death.

As Reislin got to her feet, I saw that the troll had caught hold of Maria and was preparing to tear her arms from her body. Her face was pale and she was covered in blood. Chahana picked up her bow and fired an arrow into the troll. I had drawn my boar spear and now ran closer to Maria, sending out Sarenrae's healing energy to her but avoiding allowing it to touch the troll. Reislin also ran closer, overcoming her fear of the troll to cast a curative spell on Maria from a scroll. The troll reacted by striking her and she slumped to the ground, looking deathly pale.

Then the troll shocked us by speaking in the common tongue, saying, "Stupid humans, think they own the land." Zander had moved closer and swung at the troll but his blade glanced off its armor. The troll continued, "No human kingdom, trolls rule this land."

Chahana joined us and poured a healing oil on Reislin's wounds, reviving her. Chahana then dragged her out of the troll's reach. Maria attempted to heal herself with her own magic but as she was still in the troll's grip her spell failed. Reislin drew out another scroll and cast a spell on Maria that energized her. The troll turned its attention to clawing and biting at Zander. Zander fell before him, and Chahana called for us to retreat healing. Then I said to the troll, "If you harm humans we will return with fire!"

The troll chuckled at this and answered that trolls did not fear fire anymore. It swung at Maria but could not touch her. Then it dropped its bow and stepped toward Chahana. Chahana had drawn out a vial and swallowed it. Zander, despite lying on the ground in a pool of his own blood, swung his dueling sword to slash the troll's ankle. I turned Sarenrae's wrath upon the evil creature with my spear. Reislin's tiny but effective missiles also struck it. It toppled to the ground, but even then tried to bite me. This effort was too much for it though, and it lost consciousness.

Chahana took a vial of alchemical fire and poured it over the troll's body to prevent it regenerating from its injuries. I gave her more of my goddess's mercy while she did this. When we were sure the troll could not rise again, Reislin examined it with her arcane sight and discovered that there was a fading rune brand beneath its armor that granted it some protection from fire. This is a most curious discovery. Trolls are ordinarily creatures of little wit, using only crude implements and unable to use magic. How did it come by this brand?

Both Zander and Reislin had contracted bloodfire ague from the bites of the trollhounds, so we returned to Lorewynd to seek the aid of the physician there.

Year 4710, 17th of Neth

Settlers along the Thorn River have complained of a river dragon slaying their livestock. We have come to deal with whatever the creature is.

There are signs of a large creature crawling in and out of the river. Reislin planted the sapling rod nearby so that we could avail ourselves of its healing fruits. As we approached the river bank a reptilian head rose out of the water, followed a moment later by another, then more until there were five heads altogether. But we realized suddenly that these heads did not represent five creatures - the five necks were attached to a single body. As the beast rose out of the water and clambered up onto the shore, attracted by Maria's proximity, we realized it was a hydra!

Reislin began to shout advice and warnings to us, telling us that if we severed one of its heads two more would grow in its place. Reislin and Maria had fortunately cast protective spells upon themselves only moments earlier. I drew my spear. Chahana fired an arrow into the great beast's body. Reislin was suddenly surrounded by several duplicates of herself. Zander had disappeared from my sight. Maria cast another spell upon herself and stepped back from the hydra. She called out that hydras are slow-moving, but fast-healing.

The hydra charged her, all five heads snapping at her. I called upon Sarenrae to grant me her favor and moved toward it with my spear at the ready. Maria's body became difficult to make out as Reislin cast a spell on her. Maria stabbed the hydra. Zander suddenly reappeared behind the creature and stabbed it as well. It spun to attack him but its snapping heads did not touch his flesh. It had already begun to look ragged from my friends' attacks.

The hydra grabbed Zander and moved to carry him into the river, but he slashed it and Chahana sent another arrow into its flesh. It fell on its side, no longer aware, but we could see its wounds stop bleeding as Reislin had warned. We all drove our weapons into its body to prevent it from rising again.

When it was deemed truly dead, we decided to take all five of its heads back to Lorewynd as trophies of our success.

4710 22nd Kuthona

The winter solstice has arrived, but we have planned no festivities to celebrate as is the custom among the people of Brevoy and neighboring lands. We must remedy this next year.

Once more we are called to depart from Lorewynd to deal with a danger to our citizens. This time the tales they tell are of creatures as large as houses that have both scales and fur.

The land is white with snow now, but that will not deter us. We have already found the creature.

We heard growls, and Chahana nocked an arrow to her bow. A creature emerged from amongst the snow-laden trees, growling like a bear and hooting like an owl. It was an owlbear. Chahana's arrow struck it in the head, almost between its eyes. Zander moved to flank it while Maria and Reislin protected themselves with magic. The owlbear was already staggered by Chahana's deadly strike, but that did not prevent it from grabbing me in its claws after it dodged my spear blade. Zander then slashed it and it collapsed, though it was not yet dead.

We realized then that its nest was behind it, holding an egg. It had been protecting itself and preparing to feed its young. At that moment we all regretted attacking it, and we recalled the tortured owlbear we had been forced to slay after the Stag Lord's brigands had driven it mad. We wondered if we could remove it to a location where it wouldn't be tempted to slaughter livestock. Chahana suggested we slay the mother and keep the egg to raise the young one as a tame creature, but the rest of us had no heart for that.

In the end we decided to convey the owlbear and its egg to the temple of Erastil to ask Simon for his help. He did not wish to try to make it tame, but suggested we take it to the mud ponds where we had encountered the giant frogs. There it could find game, and Simon thought the warmth might give the young one a better chance to grow strong. Transporting an immobilized owlbear through the wilderness is not an easy task, but we accomplished it.


Some time after we delivered the owlbear to its new home, we decided that we should explore more of the land that lay to the west of the Thorn River. It is not far from Lorewynd and at that time we did not know what lay therein. Much of that territory proved free of harmful creatures or other dangers, and the soil appears to be well suited for farming. But we could not explore it without finding one troublesome situation.

We happened upon a very large thicket of fangberries, which were just beginning to ripen. The edges of the thicket had been picked clean of berries by local wildlife. The rest of the berries were untouched, in part because the bush was so thorny, but also because they were completed cloaked in cobwebs. The spiders within were only about the size of the end of a thumb.

As we had never been able to bring Bokken any fangberries for his potions, we determined that we would push our way past the thorns and gather some. It was our misfortune that once some of us had been pricked by the thorns, this drew the attention of the spiders and innumerable spiders swarmed out to climb within our clothing and bite us with their poisonous bites. In the end Reislin began trying to burn the spiders, which also burned a small section of the fangberry bush. But we still managed to bring Bokken a goodly measure of berries, and we did not entirely destroy the bush in our effort to escape the spiders. Bokken has rewarded us for our efforts by agreeing to give us potions for half the cost he would ordinarily ask.

We have had little news from the other groups who set out to explore to the south and west. Contact with those people has been lost. Maegar Varn and his mercenaries have yet to receive a write of claimancy from Restov for their territory to the east, as their writ depends on making peace with the centaur tribes that live in the grasslands. I hope that the lack of news from the others is only due to none passing through our territory and not because any of them have come to harm. I pray that the Dawnflower will look after Covenant and his comrades as she has looked after me and mine.

Next: part 13, Into the Narlmarches

[Pathfinder] Kingmaker Redux, part 11: A Country Is Born

Note: This week's session was primarily kingdom-building rather than roleplay and covered a time period of six months in-game, hence this post in the form of a letter from Lythande to her family rather than her customary journal entry.

To Ariyon Telvannen, Iranel Lyraen, Elanthir Sylvanas
Nation of Kyonin 
City of Iadara 
Quarter Moon District 
Street of Silver 
House of the Singing Tree 

Oathday, 12th Abadius, 4711 of the Common Era

Dearest Mother and Father and my beloved brother -

I pray that this missive finds you well. I am well. I write to you now from the small nation we have chosen to name Neotellus, from our capital of Lorewynd on the shore of the Tuskwater where the Shrike River flows into the lake. It is unlike our family's home in Iadara, but I am proud to have been a part of its creation. 

When I first chose to make my way to Restov to learn more of the opportunity to explore the lands known as the Greenbelt, I did not foresee that my comrades and I should in a year's time be attempting to create a new nation there. The initial writ we received from the Swordlords of Restov spoke of no such matter. It was only after we had eliminated a band of brigands that we were granted a writ to claim this land for ourselves, not as settlers but as the leaders of its governing body. 

My new friends have expressed much surprise and not a little dismay that a full year has passed since we first met in the city of Restov. It is curious to me to observe the passage of time through their eyes, for a year is of much greater significance to them. 

For the past half-year we have been much occupied by the tasks of organizing this land and creating all of what is necessary to support the settlers who have come here. Among the many tasks we have completed here, we removed the threat of the bandits, made peace with a clan of kobolds and helped them rid themselves of a sinister mage who thought to usurp their chieftain, slew many dangerous beasts, helped a priest of the god Erastil to restore a lost and ruined shrine, and assisted a spirit of a deceased man to pass on to his proper afterlife. We were also obliged to destroy a dozen undead abominations that occupied the hillside upon which we sought to construct our fort. Praise the Dawnflower for granting me the power to harm them with her divine might. 

From the time we were granted our writ of claimancy we have constructed our own fort, brought merchants and craftsmen to Lorewynd, and created a militia to defend the citizens. There are now farms in the Greenbelt, though not so many yet as to bring a surplus of crops. This troubled us some months ago when the crops were poor. 

We have also suffered from several attacks by local monstrous creatures upon our citizenry, and a period of disease swept through our small community. Despite these travails our community has survived. We have the good fortune to lie beside both the Shrike River and the lake called the Tuskwater. The forests of the Narlmarches are not far from us to provide lumber and game, though we have yet to fully explore those woods. There are minerals to be mined here as well. The land is rich in resources to support us.

It had never been my intent to become a leader of any community or organization. I am acting only as an advisor to my friend, Chahana Surtova, who has become the leader though we have yet to decide upon the final form our governing body shall take or what title she will bear. My friend Reislin Aleglosa, who is of our own kindred, has become the treasurer and is ably managing our funds. Maria Zatana and Zander Aldori are seeing to the security of this new nation. 

We must acknowledge that as we grow more prosperous neighboring nations may seek to take our territory from us or exert their influence over us. We must also decide whether we owe our allegiance to Brevoy as it was they who gave us the writ to claim Neotellus. 

As I have said this was not what I sought to do when first I journeyed to Restov, but now that we have made this choice I shall make it my duty to care for the people of Neotellus to the best I am able as a part of my oath to the Dawnflower. 

Neotellus is small and not wealthy nor sophisticated, but should you wish to make the journey northward to visit and perform for the people here we should be be glad to have you. I would be happy to receive you and enjoy your company. 

My love and honor to you, Mother and Father. Blessings of Nethys and Desna to you, and Sarenrae also. 

Your daughter, Lythande Syldorei
The Greenbelt
Nation of Neotellus
City of Lorewynd
Beside the Shrike River at the Tuskwater

Next: part 12, Monster Trouble

[Pathfinder] Kingmaker Redux, part 10: Building a Kingdom

From the journal of Lythande Syldorei

13th Desnus, Fireday

Returning to Restov after an absence of a month reminds me of how simple and rustic our lives have been. We have not trod cobbled streets, nor been among crowds of people. Most of our nights have been spent sleeping on the ground or in the wagon, with the sky or trees our only roof. Being in a city feels strange.

                                          Restov

We decided to return to the Silver Dragon Inn as we know it, but to save our funds we've taken only two rooms, one shared by myself, Maria, Chahana, and Reislin; and the second for Zander. Reislin also traded the proprietor one of our kegs of whiskey in exchange for a portion of our room cost. We need to deal with the Stag Lord's body tomorrow as it's disturbing the other horses in the stable. We also need to sell the three extra horses we brought with us so that we need not pay for their lodging.

We've made an appointment with Advocate Milani to have a team of her people come to fetch the Stag Lord's body. She asked us to tell her about our activities in the Greenbelt and we did so, though none of us are truly good storytellers. Reislin also displayed the maps she's made during our travels. She returned to the inn with us to view the body. Of itself the man's remains are nondescript, but the fact that Chahana is wearing the Stag Lord's ugly headress and Zander has his armor is convincing. We have been given the reward promised.

14th Desnus, Starday

Today we sought out the mercenary company called Sharka's Machine to see Commander Burns for the reward for capturing Falgrim Sneeg. The mercenary company turns out to be part of a dueling school. Commander Burns met us and showed us to the armory where we could claim the weapons we were promised as our reward. My comrades encouraged me to take both a scimitar and a shield, once Commander Burns agreed that a shield could be chosen instead of a weapon. I intend to use some of the reward money we received from the Advocate to purchase myself a chain shirt as well, so I'll be better equipped when we return south.

                                       Commander Reynald Burns

After we had chosen the items Commander Burns began to question us about what we mean to do now that Restov has granted us the right to bring settlers into the Greenbelt. We are not permitted to claim that we've been granted the right of colonization, as that might cause difficulties with neighboring nations. But for all practical purposes we are acting on behalf on Brevoy to colonize this territory, even if it is not in their name. Commander Burns wanted to know how we mean to rule and tax the land and how we will build an army to defend it. As we've only just received the writ in the past week, we've hardly given this any thought. I know that I did not travel to the Greenbelt with thoughts of ruling a new nation. I only wish to help the people who dwell there to live in safety free from evil, and to bring them the blessings of the Dawnflower.

Commander Burns recommended to us that we take some of his people with us to command our army that does not yet exist, and when Chahana and Maria questioned why he desired to do this he told us he would answer that question if we could defeat him in a duel. This seemed to all of us an impossible task at present, as the leaders of his mercenary company are clearly more experienced at dueling than any of us. Even Zander, who has been trained in the Aldori duelling style, considers himself no match for this man. When asked what he would do if we lost the duel, Burns said that he would require us to take three of the next five officers of our army from among members of his company. We did not care for this bargain and told him so.

Many of his questions troubled us, and when we parted from him and returned to the inn we began to discuss them in earnest. After long conversation we came to the conclusion that we shall put Chahana forward as our ruler. Maria will take the role of military leader once she has soldiers to command. Reislin has already taken charge of our shared funds and will continue to hold that role. Zander is most likely to become the spymaster, a role I wish that our new land need not have but with Brevoy as our neighbor it seems necessary. I have no desire to lead an army nor guardsmen, but I hope that I can lend my council and what wisdom the Dawnflower grants me to help Chahana make wise decisions. We ave also decided that we must tax the populace, but we will try to be generous and avoid making the burden of taxation too great. We will also seek out people to invite to settle in the Greenbelt, and create a calendar of holidays that the people can enjoy with festivals and feasts. We have already jokingly agreed to make the date that we defeated the giant frogs a holiday.

16th Desnus, Moonday

We have received a formal invitation to the Lord Mayor of Restov's manor on Fireday the 20th for a ceremony of claimancy, where we will be officially granted the right to settle the Greenbelt. Today we all sought out a taylor's shop, not the same shop we visited before, to purchase appropriate apparel for the event. On the recommendation of the taylor we also visited a jeweler's shop to add accessories to our costumes. I purchased a velvet tunic in crimson and gold and a gold circlet set with a garnet. We have also decided it would be best to hire a carriage to transport us.

20th Desnus, Fireday

The event at the Lord Mayor's mansion was both impressive and unpleasant. We hadn't visited the Lord Mayor's residence before. It is the largest and most ornate building I have yet seen here. Not only did the Sword Lords of Restov appear for the event, but some of the lords of New Stetven, the capital of Brevoy, also made an appearance. There was a great sense of pressure to give our loyalty to the Dragon Throne of Brevoy, though no one spoke openly of this. The attendees of the event gave us all a great deal of advice on how we should handle our new responsibilities and who we should choose to aid us. I did my best to keep my mind open to everything I heard and show gratitude to those who offered it, though I can't say that I enjoyed the experience. I did enjoy the banquet we were served.

After we dined we received the formal presentation, which much to our surprise included a great quantity of supplies and people. Afterward we were invited to remain in Restov for the following week to meet the people who were volunteering to move into and settle the Greenbelt. In fact we suspect that some of the settlers have already departed and will soon reach Oleg's Trading Post. I am not certain Oleg will be pleased by this.

I am exhausted now. I think I will rest well this night. I hope so. We have a great deal to do. Dawnflower grant me good rest.

                                       Lord Mayor of Restov

                                     Advocate Jenessa

25th Desnus, Wealday

This week has been extremely busy. We have met so many people and been told so many pieces of information. It is overwhelming.

Three days ago we were approached at the inn by a man Maria and Chahana had met before, who is known here as the Coin Barron. He had requested that Maria and Chahana allow his niece and nephew to accompany them to the banquet we attended here previously, and apparently his nephew had become involved in a duel. This man sought to offer us his influence and send some friends and business associates of his to settle in the Greenbelt to aid us. Though his offer seemed helpful, neither Chahana nor Maria fully trusted him, and suspected that he was looking for an opportunity to have more influence over us that we are comfortable with. Chahana asked if we could have a few days to consider and he agreed. Today he returned to hear our answer, and Chahana told him we are not willing to accept his offer at this time would like to discuss it again in six months time. I don't think this pleased him. Reislin has heard that those who thwart him or displease him can suffer consequences, not harm but loss of funds and reputation. I hope that he will not use his influence against us because we declined his offer.

                                   The Coin Barron

26th Desnus, Oathday

It is time for us to decide where we shall place our capitol. If we are to have settlers and roads, they need a place to go. An army needs a headquarters. After some discussion we have concluded that the best location is the Stag Lord's former fort, ruin that it is. It has proximity to water and lumber, and is a good location for a true fort. But first we must rid the hill of the undead that lurk there. I look forward to eliminating that evil.

                                     The Stag Lord's fort, overhead view

Next: part 11, A Country Is Born