Month 2 - Into the Border Zone

[Doby]

 ~ Conclusion of Month 1 ~

It had been only a few days since the last time all of you stood together in the Tower, though it felt like so much longer.  Strangely enough, the cold, grey stones under your feet are starting to evoke feelings of warmth and comfort more and more each time you enter.  As construction on rebuilding it continues, it serves as a symbol of how each of you are working to build and restore this community and your own lives.

You find yourselves meeting in the tower with increasing regularity.  Fortunately you are able to take something of a break from dealing with crises and threats, and simply focus on building and developing your burgeoning community.  Alaron and Tyras leads most of the meeting and present the group with the major items to make decisions on, though you have visitors from time to time who are happy to share their expertise, when necessary.

You spend the next week or so both directing and helping with many projects and tasks.  You watch as the simple shelters Ingrid requested are finished ahead of schedule, built with wood harvested and shaped by the hands of the very people it will now offer protection and refuge to.  The simple clothing for all the townsfolk is still being created, though you're told it will likely be done in the next few weeks.  The rebuilding of the tower itself will take a bit longer, though your people tell you everything is proceeding on schedule and it should be done in two more months.

Month 1 Summary

Notable Events

Founded town
Saved kobolds/cleared cockatrice nest
Put fire spirit to rest/defeated wolves and goblins
Defeated drake and claimed its horde/took in green kobolds

Projects
Shelter (tenement) - Completed
Clothing for townsfolk - in progress (expected to be completed next month)
Rebuilding Tower - in progress (expected to be completed in two months)

 

~ Into Month 2 ~

The primary topics now are what to focus resources on for the next few weeks.  With one project done, manpower and materials can be made available to take on another building project, or focus on completing the Tower reconstruction sooner.  Many options are suggested, all of which will benefit the town in some way.

Building Suggestions & Considerations

A few pieces of info and things to note while pondering options.  Some construction options (ex., city wall) are building structures for the town.  Other suggestions are terrain improvements that benefit the kingdom, some of which can be built on hexes already owned and controlled by the kingdom (ex., farm & fishery), or they may share space with other terrain improvements (i.e., they may be built in the same hex as the town). 

In the future (or now, I suppose), you may look to build other terrain improvements that must be built in their own hex (ex., quarry & sawmill).  These improvements require the kingdom to expand and take control of additional hexes to build upon.  Taking control of additional hexes creates the space for these additional improvements to be built and allows the kingdom to expand.  It's also important to remember that a large kingdom has bigger costs, such as each hex the kingdom controls increases consumption and control checks.  Lastly, for controlling and building on additional hexes, there is a cost and time requirement if the hex has no other improvement as it needs to be prepared to have something built on it, and an additional cost to have a road built on it. 

For the suggestions included in the poll, all of them are either city improvements, or terrain improvements that can be built in the hex occupied by the town.  I've listed all associated costs below:

Farm: Cost 2 BP.  Reduce consumption by 2.

Fishery: Cost 4 BP. Reduce consumption by 1.

City Wall: Cost 2 BP. Unrest –2 (once per settlement), Defense +1.  A fortification of one side of a district with a sturdy wall.

 

Additionally, the topic of sending a group to Citadel has come up, but that idea brings additional questions.  The drake hoard still needs to be catalogued and allocated, and if a caravan of goods and/or gold are going to Citadel for trade or purchase, then what is going to Citadel and what is going to be purchased should be discussed.  This is especially true if the party plans on sending a delegation in lieu of making the trip themselves.

DM

If the group isn't planning to make the trip themselves, then a list of items/goods to sell and/or a shopping list will work, even if it just has general stuff (food, building materials, etc.).  If the items to be bought or sold are generic, I'll likely just convert them to or from BP to make it easier on everyone.  If there are specific items, particularly magic or special ones, then that will be different.

 

Edited January 18, 2023 by Doby (see edit history)

[Doby]

~ The Tower ~

~ Into Month 2 ~

DM

I'm intentionally leaving the time frame here a little vague.  There's about a week of time we have to play with leading into month 2.  That gives the group time to plan and decide a course moving forward, and to work on individual threads for anyone who is interested.

After some discussion and deliberation, you decide a granary would be the best thing to focus on building for now.  You've been able to procure a good amount of meat, both animal and dragon, and with a little salt from Samaad and knowledge of food preservation you've been able to dry and cure quite a bit of it.  Not enough to secure the settlement's future for many months to come, but enough to get you through the coming weeks and hopefully into the Winter.  Once the granary is complete, you'll have a safe and protected place to store your excess, and whatever future food stores you may be able to accumulate or acquire.

D

M

Once the granary is complete, I'm going to give the settlement 2 BP in reserve towards consumption.  Right now, the settlement is only 1 hex, so your monthly consumption is 1.  If you don't have enough to food coming in to offset that cost, then it comes out of your treasury.  We've been roleplaying it a bit differently, but that's how it works per the rules.  So you'll have 2 BP invested in your granary (dried, cured meats and such) to offset future consumption costs.  If you build/acquire a more permanent food source, then that will play in as well.

I'm leaning towards rolling a control check to determine the success of Morrow's hunting, gathering and trapping (which is basically his full time job at the moment).  That check could have a variety of results ranging from him not getting anywhere near enough food over the course of the month to feed the settlement, to him acquiring enough food to increase the surplus, and maybe a few other interesting possibilities.  That's something I'll probably do on my own in secret at the start of the month, but I'm open to a dialogue about ideas you might have.

Amongst the other subjects in discussion is that of the Citadel-bound caravan.  Namely, who will be going, what they will be taking with them, and what they will be hoping to purchase.  Tyras seems to have strong feelings on the matter, which he voices as diplomatically as possible. 

"It's important to understand that many of my men, our men, have history there.  I'm very hesitant to send them back into the lion's den, so to speak.  I'd go myself, but...that would cause more problems then it would solve."  Tyras takes a pause and a long sigh, but doesn't elaborate further.  "My suggestion would be for your group to go.  No one can better deal with whatever might arise on the journey and upon arrival.  Alaron and I can run things here in your stead.  That said, my second choice would be to send a small, more capable group; Desmonda, Vannan, maybe one or two more."  

 

Alaron adds, "And knowing what they are to purchase would be useful.  Obviously general items, such as non-perishable food or seeds to plant is fairly clear, but more specific items should be identified to avoid any mistake.  I also think we should make certain they are outfitted sensibly; fast horses, our enchanted sack to carry more items without adding more weight, and a combination of gold and gems or other valuables to avoid weighing them down unnecessarily."

[Basil_Bottletop]

With the Tower continuing to see improvements on the outside, the inside was taking shape as well. Particularly, the main room where the Council had taken to using as a meeting hall. All of the loose stones had been mudded again, the rotted hanging candle rings had been replaced with newly worked timbers and iron brackets, and someone had placed scented waxes along the windows that would melt in the incoming sunlight and keep the air fresh.

 

Quim had noticed all of these things, but mostly because he'd been itching to do anything else. The last few days had been a nice reprieve from the travel they'd been doing, but he could tell that his urges to get moving were stirring. Even this meeting -which hadn't been that long if you didn't count the helter skelter it had taken to get everyone here at the same time- was growing on his nerves a bit. The details laid about what it would take to build a granary had been about as interesting as watching the leaves turn.

 

As talk of the trip continued, Quim tried to shake his boredom. They had finally gotten to the topic he was most interested in and he was having a terrible time getting focused for it. It was Alaron's voice that finally snagged him from oblivion. Quim liked the man's accent, it always made things sound fancier and wiser.

 

"The Citadel is full of hard men with fierce rules. But at least they pretend to be lawful. I don't dare go to the Crossroads with a wagon full of gold and treasure. We'll be robbed before we catch sight of the city." Quim shifted in his seat, "If we are to go to the Citadel though, we must be careful of our story. They will no doubt want to know everything about us so they may come here and steal it out from beneath us."

[Doby]

~ The Tower ~

~ Into Month 2 ~

 

Tyras nodded in agreement.  "It's a fair point.  You should probably be ready to pay a tax up front, though a bribe might be cheaper.  Keep in mind that the old city guards were mostly displaced a few months back.  Some of them took up with the League, the newly contracted guard group.  Others took up new professions, while others...well, some are just trying to survive."  Tyras' eyes slowly fall to the ground for a moment as he lets out a barely audible sigh that betrays some emotional attachment he has yet to divulge.

"Just be sure you bring enough coin to pay any debts.  The League doesn't take pity on paupers."    

Edited February 9, 2023 by Doby (see edit history)

[Doby]

~ The Tower ~

~ Month 2 ~

With the discussion about the Citadel coming to a conclusion, preparations to make the journey began shortly thereafter.  The cart was still being used primarily to haul stone blocks that the kobolds had cut, and everyone thought it was best to wait a few days until there was a larger stockpile of materials for the Tower before the group left.  Additionally, while the cart was drawn by mules, many of the horses were also being used for scouting and surveying the area around the Tower for any threats.  If the party was going to take half the mounts with them, it would be better to wait so they wouldn't need to send mounted guards to escort the wagon every day.  Less horses meant the ones left would be working harder with less rest, so better to ask less of them and keep them fresh.

The extra days gave everyone more time to sharpen blades, patch leather, and work the dents out of their armor.  Having a few days at the Tower was a nice respite from constantly zipping from one crisis to the next.  But it all passed by so quickly, and soon it was time to depart for Citadel.

Gathering your gear and horses, and enough of the valuables from the drake's hoard to purchase whatever supplies you needed, you set out at first light.  As you are about to give your horses a gentle nudge to get underway, someone calls from behind you. 

"Hold on. I'm coming."  Vannan has saddled up his own horse and seems intent to join the expedition.  No one has much reason to deny the request, so it's off for the Citadel.

DM

The treasury is 18 BP after the party started building the granary.  Taxes for the month will be equal to 1d20 + 1 (economy score) / 3 [edit: I rolled 5, so 1 BP is added to the treasury].  Keep in mind that BP is not necessarily just about gold and riches, but it can also represent labor and other resources.  In this case, the taxes represent the labor and resources being provided by everyone at the Tower.

Unless someone has another idea, I'm going to load the party up with 8 BP to take to Citadel with them.  That leaves 11 at the settlement.  And you don't have to spend it all, either 🙂

Getting through the thick woods surrounding the Tower is relatively slow travel.  With no road, or even a path, the group is primarily reliant on Quim and Vannan to help them navigate the best route South.  It's two days before you see the last tree behind you.  Without the greenery and shade, the temperature seems to have ticked up a bit.  The wind is a bit harsher, as is the sun, and the plants that grow in the increasingly harsher climate are correspondingly hardy.  Behind you the hills turn to mountains that seem to touch the sky, while ahead and below you lies a valley or rolling hills.  You find a steep path down that almost sends a few of you tumbling, but your mounts are able to get through it in the end.

Finally, you have found a road.  It leads Southwest, towards your destination.  You meet a few travelers, mostly merchants and the like.  Riding in their wagons loaded with goods and coins, and protected by many swords, spears and bows, you pass them by easily enough once they are satisfied that you are not interested in raiding them.  Few have anything substantial to say, though none of them are necessarily unfriendly.  The guards are more cautious, which you can appreciate.

---

~ Citadel Forge ~

~ Month 2, Day 6: Midday~

Even from a full day away, you can spot Citadel Forge.  It rises up high into the sky, partly from being built on a large hill, but the architecture adds significantly to the height.  Some of the buildings, particularly the inner keep and attached towers, rise impressively high.  Plumes of smoke rise from the many forges within the city, and the sky is dyed an orangish color, which reminds you of something akin to a midday sunset, or a flaming furnace

Farms, mines, quarries and other resources decorate the landscape outside the city for miles.  But everything in the city's vicinity is encircled by a high wall that winds it's way around the hilltop.

As you reach the gate, you see two lines of people.  One line seems to almost exclusively be made of carts and wagons.  Some of these are loaded with goods, other with raw materials taken from the land nearby, and all appear to be entering with the intent to sell their fare in the city.  This line seems to be moving more slowly.

The other line contains many people on foot, though some are on horseback or in a wagon that seems to carry only people.  This line moves a bit more quickly.  As you wait your turn and approach the gate, it seems one line is for merchants who must pay a tax on their goods upon entering.  The other is for travelers to register, or have their identities verified if they are known to the watch, and ultimately their tax status is checked as well. 

You can hear each group ahead of you met with the phrase, "Papers, please!" as they approach the guards.  The group immediately in front of you are quick, seemingly having already paid their dues previously.  As they pass into the city, the guard calls out to you.

"Papers, please!"

Edited February 14, 2023 by Doby (see edit history)

[Pheonixfire]

Draco Tiras
Male NG Human (Brass) Eldritch Scion Magus 1, Arcane Duelist Bard 1 (Aristocrat 0), Level 2, Init 3, HP 21, Speed 30
AC 18, Touch 14, Flat-footed 14, CMD 14, Fort 3, Ref 5, Will 4, CMB 0, Base Attack Bonus 0
+1 Rapier +4 (1d6+3+1, 18-20/*2)
Explorers outfit donned under Chain Shirt (+4 Armor, +3 Dex)
Abilities Str 10, Dex 16, Con 13, Int 10, Wis 11, Cha 15
Condition None
Speaks Common
Speaks Draconic

 

Draco spends the time idly chatting with the other merchants, making to enquire about new arrivals and then about becoming repeat merchants.

 

Once they have arrived, he looks over the rules, trying his best to figure out which line they needed to queue up in. The merchant line seems like the ideal one considering what they want to do, but new arrivals sounds like a potential line as well. Hopefully they can just ask. Maybe get a few coins to grease some palms? "I think this line is best, but be prepared to shuffle around a bit. We're new so be ready for long lines and lots of questions." Now, what papers did they need?

 

...

 

Did they have any papers?

[Robot]

Ingrid Hearthkeep

Female LN Dwarf Battle Shaman 1, (Adept 0), Level 2, Init 0, HP 32, Speed 20
AC 19, Touch 10, Flat-footed 19, CMD 10, Fort 3, Ref 0, Will 5, CMB +1, Base Attack Bonus +1
Masterwork Heavy Mace +2 (1d8+2, 20/x3)
Masterwork Breastplate (+6 Armor, 0 Dex), Heavy Shield (-2 Nonproficiency Penalty, +2 AC)
Abilities Str 15, Dex 10, Con 16, Int 10, Wis 15, Cha 10
Condition None
Speaks Common, Dwarven

"We're not here to sell, Draco, lad.  Nor to re-sell.  Not merchants today, just provisioning for a company.  Lumberers, miners, and the like in the foothills of the mountains.  Coming as travelers, so that's the line we should be in.  No intent on staying or making this take any longer then it needs to."  Ingrid had shown more a sense of comfort and ease on seeing the city, and seemed in her element among paper pushers and coin counters.  The bustle past the gate, the criers and the sound of boots on stonework.  This was more home than she could have ever imagined feeling so far from her own.  Part of her ached to know if any of the Clans made residence here, maybe she could get word home even if she couldn't go herself.

Vannan had been the pragmatic treat he'd always been, short for words but with the right idea most of the time, even if that idea was necessary violence or striking the first blow.  He hadn't shown much interest in anything before this trip, but she was glad to have him along.  People stayed in line when there was an air of danger about a man.  Coal had been strangely quiet ever since the incident with the dragon, it hadn't escaped Ingrid's notice, but she had been so busy there had never truly been a moment to address it.  Draco was enjoying his element, and that strange language among the two groups of Kobolds that now affiliated themselves with the Tower. 

 

[Doby]

~ Citadel Forge ~

~ Month 2, Day 6: Midday~

"Papers!" the guard repeats himself with an annoyed tone.  "Do you have papers?"  He waves the group forward to approach closer.

Edited February 14, 2023 by Doby (see edit history)

[Illogictree]

Coalscuttle

Coalscuttle Kobold Paladin 2 || Guardian Tier 1 LG AC 21 HP 24/24 Speed 20ft Str 11 (0) Dex 13 (1) Con 11 (0) Wis 10 (0) Int 9 (-1) Cha 15 (2) Attacks Dagger +3 (1d4), +1 Longsword +4 (1d6+1), Light Crossbow +4 (1d6) Mythic Power 5/5 (+1d6)

---

Coalscuttle leans close to Draco. "Um... what is 'papers'?" she whispers to him.

[Pheonixfire]

Draco Tiras
Male NG Human (Brass) Eldritch Scion Magus 1, Arcane Duelist Bard 1 (Aristocrat 0), Level 2, Init 3, HP 21, Speed 30
AC 18, Touch 14, Flat-footed 14, CMD 14, Fort 3, Ref 5, Will 4, CMB 0, Base Attack Bonus 0
+1 Rapier +4 (1d6+3+1, 18-20/*2)
Explorers outfit donned under Chain Shirt (+4 Armor, +3 Dex)
Abilities Str 10, Dex 16, Con 13, Int 10, Wis 11, Cha 15
Condition None
Speaks Common
Speaks Draconic

 

Draco leans to Coals. "They're documents that state who we are, and where we are from." Then he stands up to address the guard. "Where do we go to get some new papers? We've lost ours after several attacks from others, up to and including Orc raids."

Edited February 15, 2023 by Pheonixfire (see edit history)

[Doby]

~ Citadel Forge ~

~ Month 2, Day 6: Midday~

 

The guard sighs slightly and recites, "Head inside and the administration building is immediately to your right," with so little emotion that you have to assume it's a line he's said more times then he can count.  "They will get you papers and check your tax status..." he pauses, looking at Draco, then over at the guards on the other side of the gate dealing with the merchants.  Satisfied that no one was paying any particular attention to him, he continues, "Though you'll spend at least a few hours there.  If you're in a hurry," he surreptitiously rubs his thumb and fingers together as he raises his brow.  It appears he's subtly offering you the chance to bribe him, though it would be hard to convince his superiors or anyone in a position of authority of his intent.

[Robot]

Ingrid Hearthkeep

Female LN Dwarf Battle Shaman 2, (Adept 0), Level 2, Init 0, HP 32, Speed 20
AC 19, Touch 10, Flat-footed 19, CMD 10, Fort 3, Ref 0, Will 5, CMB +1, Base Attack Bonus +1
Masterwork Heavy Mace +2 (1d8+2, 20/x3)
Masterwork Breastplate (+6 Armor, 0 Dex), Heavy Shield (-2 Nonproficiency Penalty, +2 AC)
Abilities Str 15, Dex 10, Con 16, Int 10, Wis 15, Cha 10
Condition None
Speaks Common, Dwarven

Ingrid makes it a point to ignore the guard's gesture and heads for the administration building.  "Draco, I'm going to bend your ear if you keep that up."  Unnecessary embellishment, outright lying to no purpose?  She recalled telling Astrid that she couldn't take the girl anywhere, and there was a mingling of nostalgia and irritation.  Everyone was probably just on edge, Vannan was his usual stony self.  Coal seemed, perhaps, more confused then she might've ever been.  No doubt a former slave would have little context for the workings of a lawful society...

 

[Pheonixfire]

Draco Tiras
Male NG Human (Brass) Eldritch Scion Magus 1, Arcane Duelist Bard 1 (Aristocrat 0), Level 2, Init 3, HP 21, Speed 30
AC 18, Touch 14, Flat-footed 14, CMD 14, Fort 3, Ref 5, Will 4, CMB 0, Base Attack Bonus 0
+1 Rapier +4 (1d6+3+1, 18-20/*2)
Explorers outfit donned under Chain Shirt (+4 Armor, +3 Dex)
Abilities Str 10, Dex 16, Con 13, Int 10, Wis 11, Cha 15
Condition None
Speaks Common
Speaks Draconic

 

Draco grumbles a bit and follows Ingrid, waiting until they were out of earshot before commenting. "Wasn't exactly lying. I'm pretty sure I used to have some papers way back before I was attacked. And there was an Orc attack recently against us. Just mashing several truths together to make it all sound more exciting."

[Doby]

~ Citadel Forge, Administration and Treasury Sub-station ~

~ Month 2, Day 6: Midday~

 

As you pass the guards at the gate, you get a better look at their red-tinged armor that they wear, which clearly marks them as distinct from other armor-clad individuals and groups.  And there appears to be an ample amount of security, particularly in this area around the gate and the nearby administration building.  Many are milling about, but they all have their weapons and other gear on, which makes you wonder if they are waiting for something.

As you approach the indicated building, you see a entrance with large, open double doors with guards both inside and outside of the entrance.  As you step inside, there is a long line of similar groups and individuals.  There's a guard a few feet away who makes eye contact with you, and he nods toward the line to confirm you're in the right place.

It's at least two hours in the winding line before you see the end of it.  There's a wooden wall with four alcoves or booths recessed into it.  Each alcove's top half is cut away and replaced by bars that reach from the wooden counter behind the wall to the ceiling.  On the other end are men and women.  They appear to be completing paperwork, and can see them taking money as well.  It's another hour, but finally you find yourselves standing in front of one of these administrators.  You note that a pair of guards flank both ends of the lobby area you're in, and can see some on the other side of the wall as well.

As soon as you approach the alcove, the administrator, a man who appears to be at least in his thirties with hair that is just starting to show a touch of gray, asks you, "Replacement papers, first time in the city, or other tax business?"

Edited February 22, 2023 by Doby (see edit history)

[Basil_Bottletop]

The chance to travel again was met with reluctance at its destination, but Quim was able to swallow any reservations he held about that detail. The following days became a blur as he made sure his team could continue their efforts with half their supply of horses, and under the shadow of the daunting task of a limited defense. He knew more needed to be done, but he hadn't the time to consider what it could be before the wagon was packed and people were waiting on him. 

 

Tasked with scouting their path, Quim again fell into the stability of routine. Even the threat of failure wasn't enough to deter him from simply ticking off each detailed piece of his duties with regularity. Vannam was a nice addition; lessening the weight of the yoke tenfold.

 

As the city came into view, Quim's mood changed. He went inward. He offered nothing in the ways of help out in the gate lines and once inside found that he kept his face affixed the ground most of the time. The group moved as one through the line, but Quim found every excuse to remain at the back of their cluster with the wagon or any of the horses. When they finally got to the front of the line and the attention of the ledgermaine, Quim quickly found an excuse to tend to the unruly young worg guarding their possessions from the back of the wagon.