Nation Building BeckonCall's Fantasy Nation-building RPG thread

[SpiralErrant]

I wish I could help you with your house woes, @SpiralErrant -- you don't happen to live in the Bay Area do you? I am an excellent goon/henchman for those masterminds I take a kindness to.

Unfortunately no, mores the pity as the goon/henchman market is really suffering some hard times here in the UK. The woes aren't anything major, just aging pains for an old building. Hope the cough clears up soon, being patient zero can be a real pain.

 

[Beckoncall]

@Beckoncall
Hang on a sec, you live in the Bay Area!? Dude, I'm in Alameda. Been stationed here for 3 years now. Where you at?

San Francisco -- I work in San Jose. Howdy Neighbor. xD

 

[Beckoncall]

Finished generating loot from the battle of the 'platz, my next post will be island caper. Not teasing, just saying I'm on it.

 

[KamiKahzy]

Well shit son, looks like we'll have to grab some pizza or something some day.


So you live in the city but work in San Jose? That's a hell of a commute.

 

[Beckoncall]

Well shit son, looks like we'll have to grab some pizza or something some day.
So you live in the city but work in San Jose? That's a hell of a commute.

I've had worse. Sure thing about breaking bread. Preferably when the schools are out. xD

 

[KamiKahzy]

Indeed, should be less hectic once the kids are on break.

 

[Beckoncall]

Loot from battle of the ‘Platz = (so far)


Armor =


40 large shields with slats or holes in them (double as masks – these can be used to move while behind shield cover or potentially fire from behind shield.


40 intact Bone Mail – drape of chain strips covering expected bypass areas, bones themselves are chemically treated to give them approximate protection of heavy leather, porous areas filled with iron filings to add strength – also held together by tendon material. Lighter than it looks, Armor is ablative so has a tendency to fall apart as it protects the wearer.


30 intact Heavy Bone Mail – Most of these are in superior condition because wearers were decapitated by highborn. Like regular bone mail, but gives roughly the protection of metal banded armor. – Full layered-rib cages, skull shoulder-guards, sleeves of ringed femur and humerus bones for arm and leg protection. Waistcoats made of skulls, shoulder-blades, and artful arrays of finger-bones, most of seemingly canine origin.


Overall, the armor the Mud-elves have is pretty functional, but goes a long way to convey a frightful and gristly image, which may not be attractive to adopt by the forces of certain races. Approx. 3 suits of armor would need to be used to fully cover an Aymaran, 2 for a Tyren – if such was desired. (this difference is not a reflection of size as much as it is body-frame being disanalagous to regular humanoids, though size coverage is a factor) – number of suits reflect that a number have been broken, eaten by Aymarans, or some mix-match assembly is required to remove elvish bones for sacred burial. Even if nobody ends up wearing it, it might be a novel trade commodity as a curiosity from the new world... or have other strategic value.


Field Items:


Ancient Tattered Muurdainian Standard – the entire cohort surrounding this banner was slain in a volley of arrows, and track of it was likely lost as it was ultimately found wrapped around the leg of a fattened brute, then abandoned on the battlefield. While seemingly not magical, it doubtless is of some significance to the mud elves, and therefore might also be of significance to their enemies, or the Eternal Empire itself. It seemed during the battle mud-elves, like most armies, are slow to allow standards to fall if such can be avoided.


1 case of rust bombs – closer examination by chemists/mages reveals it also has blinding or potentially toxic effects for mamallian beast-folk (likely used on gnolls, it could also harm Tyren and Ratkin) with study, the formula might be reproducible.


1 unit of “Anger Booze” -- (roughly 1 unit of POWERFUL booze) carried in tiny canteens and vials made of hollowed wood, gourds, or large nut-shells, this concoction is likely the reason mud-elves are so fearless, and perhaps why the average rank and file soldier of theirs was no match for disciplined colony resistance. Produces an “angry drunk” – but is not at all unpleasurable to drink. While it’s exact composition is uncertain, initial fears that it contained blood or other unappealing elements has been disproven. Enough to keep a Tavern running a while, or to keep a sizable unit of troops reckless and angry for a protracted period of time.


1 “Buzz Bomb” – perhaps a secret weapon that was failed to deploy after the chaos of the initial charge, it is basically a VERY large (approx. cauldron-sized) insect hive that has been completely covered in a thin layer of try clay with mesh ventilation on the top and sides of the sphere. The type of insects inside the sphere is unknown, but they are LOUD and VERY angry. It is doubtful they will live more than a few days if an effort is not made to sustain them. The clay-hive itself is wrapped in a thick blanket of rubbery leaves, held in tension so that theoretically the unfurling of the leaf would launch the missile, albeit inaccurately.


1 unit of STEEL and 1 unit of iron, as scrap from broken weapons and armor… some of this would have to be “reclaimed” from brutes, “post-processing”


Weapons:


Piles of Javelins – Most mud elves have at least two of these things, though they are not of a quality that made them terribly effective. Still – volume of fire enabled calculable wounds on the highborn, and to a lesser extent amarans.


Tooth-Blades – Made of some kind of animal tusk or fang, they rapidly decomposed on the field especially once scavengers began to pile them together. Whatever material they were made of is perishable, but might explain how some Mud-elves were able to inflict noticeable wounds on brutes in melee. Sadly, most of what is left is brown and cracked… Cleric determines they are the product of some priestly spell or divine enchantment.


Approximately 50 antique weapons of earlier colonial origin – master-crafted, most of these instruments were too badly damaged to salvage and weapons and instead will be used as scrap metal or stripped of finery. Of the best of these, it is basically a random sampling of finely forged Muurdaain, Dwarven, and to lesser extent other race-craft. A disproportionate number are blades, but hammers and maces are also well represented. Many are embossed with semi-precious or even precious stones, a variety of inscriptions are on some of the business-ends, hilts, or bell-guards.


Random Valuables: The average mud-elf does not carry much in finery, but considering over 100 of them died during the battle for the ‘Platz small amounts add up. Amber, antique coins, bits of precious metal and a surprising number of “Scepter Crystals” (quartz crystals that have grown around a smaller and often contrasting color crystal – perhaps signifiers of some kind.) -- the loot of the rank and file did not amount to much, but the adornment and valuables on the far fewer elite troops that fell on the battlefield, once stripped of finery, was many times more valuable – yielding a great number of gems and mundane jewelry coming to a grand total of 1 wealth point. This wealth point can either be distributed among the colony’s troops, or placed in “Market” (which is a collective fund those with guilds have access to) This wealth will default to market unless a 2/3rds majority wishes to divide the wealth as plunder for the troops (which can have morale and other long-term effects.) – as there are not enough wealth points to give to each involved faction. If unanimously agreed as some kind of split, a particular faction can take the wealth point in its entirety instead.


“Swag Bag” (Loot of potential note to characters) : Most of these items were dropped or stripped from fallen witches, attendants, elites, and leadership.


Dragonscale Ribbon *2


Ivory Scroll Case inlaid with Bronze *10


Malachite Rod *7


Platinum Cloth Gown *13


Porcelain Vase carved with Knotwork *8


Silver Sundial wreathed in Continual Flame *40 (size of a medium shield, it magically floats, and while left on the battlefield it’s purpose can only be guessed, may have been a carrier for ammunition or some other kind of equipment, an impressive personal conveyance, or perhaps was actually used as a shield or sundial.


A live, fleshy, purple eye, the size of a fist *1


A Black Star Sapphire *8


Golden Yellow Topaz *8


Engraved Ivory Hand Scepter – *5 related perhaps to hiding from or moving undead, this was likely a device the witches intended to use to put finer point control on their undead horde.


A Large, Iron-Bound Book Wrapped in Chains – One of the Scarred rumored this was seen on the field being used as a shield. In Draconic, The Title on the cover seems to be “The Phytocli Shards” – Some exiles however are pretty certain it was just found in the ruins. *10


The perfectly preserved ring finger (seemingly of a young woman) embedded in Iolite. *1 the ring is a simple wedding band.


An Arcane Scroll of “History Revealed” *1 – it seems to have a couple of uses, can be cast on persons, places, or objects.


Green Jade sword – *4 it gives off a faint aura of luck magic


A Clearly magical suit of twisting “Braid-mail”? *20 – When the wearer of this armor was slain, it purportedly slithered off of him. Seemingly made of knots of copper and iron wire, it likely can shift form to fit it’s wearer.


A clearly magical crossbow crafted in the shape of a bat, made of petrified wood. The channel where a bolt would be laid radiates cold and causes frost and condenscation on the weapon… there is no apparent source of Ammo, but instead 4 vials of (Mercury?) with room for six. *6


A massive iron necklace-chain *2– from which hangs neglected short sword that has a blade composed of steel layered with copper, with a hilt wrapped in brown seal leather. The blade has been carbonized with a flat black paint to keep it from reflecting light except along the edges. The Pommel of the blade looks like a Hammer, and may have been used as one if one’s hand was armored. The simple square quillons each end in images of dogs, wolves and Hyenas, the crossbar has a similar engraving in a circle. There is a scabbard of some kind of black Chitin. This weapon was clearly being worn as a trophy. It is unclear which corpse this object came from, or how they might have been killed.


Note: *(X) is the PERCIEVED value of the item based on its materials or how fancy it is. *100 (if you had that much loose loot, and perhaps one day you’ll have lots more than that) can be converted into 1 wealth point.


1 wealth = the cost of a sailing ship = approx. 10k “gp” as we think of it in most RPGs. But like everything else, don’t get hung up on abstractions.


Since we’ve never handled loot before and don’t have a guild or governing body to divide it, I’ll let you guys TRY to slice up the pie first – though the Aymarans and Highborn may get more loot if they kill more mud-elves in their coming gambit. Some loot (especially “Swag bag” items) may require additional examination which can be done in open post, OOC chat, or PM.


If dividing it up amongst yourselves is too slow, complicated, or conflicted – I will share out loot randomly with dicerolls as a simple convention and we can just conceptualize that to what each faction’s scavengers found… or each player can PM me 5 preferred picks, and uncontested items will be divided up first, with the most coveted items remaining to be debated/fought over if particular items are coveted by multiple parties. If nothing else, it gives a few of you something to think about while I get these next posts fleshed out.


-Beck


PS – let me know if there are elements to loot you like that are or are not featured here. Is loot like this ok? More interested in “diablo” style loot? Particular loot systems you favor? Some of these items may or may not have story value or impact in events, as well.


Any questions or comments totally welcome/appreciated.

 

[KamiKahzy]

Well considering all this loot was taken off of dead bodies and not looted from a treasure horde or a settlement of some kind this all makes sense to me. I'm happy with the results (even though my rats won't have any claim to the loot ) and I think there's a nice variety of goodies thrown into the mix to keep things interesting. I especially like that there's secrets to be unraveled with certain objects like the chained book, the Muurdaanian standard, the eye (very curious about that one), and probably that scroll case as well. For me shiny things and other treasures are always nice, but I like my loot to have layers to it. Stories, lore, risks, mysteries, all those things help me assign value to loot and makes it more interesting for me in the long run.

 

[SpiralErrant]

Agreed. It's a very fun way of getting some lore nudges by mixing them in with the items (that bat crossbow stands out as one for me) and a healthy supply of regular practical things. This seems like a good way to keep going with it and to keep up the style the Rp has been using so far of challenging people to think in realistic details.


Those same details have proven nicely educational so far as well. I didn't even know about wattle and daub housing before this, plus learning more about longhouses in the name of flavour text.


On a side note. Wow the mud elves must be hurting right now. This makes a second nasty loss for them. Time to keep an extra eye on the riverside.

 

[Heyitsjiwon]

Yea, plus with my two Sundered Kings riding to you with news about the battle and hopefully being able to raise the Attolian and the High Elf detachments in time.


That said, I am more than happy about the way the loot is being handled. Gives quite a bit of agency to us and makes another point of diplomacy.

 

[Beckoncall]

While it's still up in the air I VERY MUCH like the idea of a central loot depository that people can withdraw from fairly -- this makes sure that people not only get what they want, but that items that might be very interesting to some players do not languish with other players.


(For example, there was a hidden storeroom and safe in the Exile's sunken silo -- nothing became of it, though I am sure other players would have accessed it. I would be sad if only for the sake of randomness or expediency certain story-vectors went unexplored.


I'll also Re-stress the importance of finding common ground and cooperation between the factions -- if the seeds are planted, when longer stretches of time pass, it may bear fruit. Remain fractured and in competition, those crops shall also come to harvest...

 

[KamiKahzy]

All things in good time Beck. I know I plan on working that particular angle once my rats make landfall, but they're a little busy with their own adventures for the moment.


Your words have been heard good GM, never fear.

 

[SpiralErrant]

Likewise, I think everyone's got plans to court and grow with each other. It's just a matter of finding the chance to do it.

 

[KamiKahzy]

Btw, I'd bet a few silvers that the shortsword with the fancy pommel is something the gnolls would like to have back.


@SpiralErrant


I'm also anxious to see how you respond to the springborn hoping to join your ranks. That's a rare offer on the table.

 

[Prince Vaethorion]

We will give the swords backs to the Gnolls. They can look at the pommels up close as they stick out of their chests.

 

[Prince Vaethorion]

Why does everyone want to please the Gnolls? Please remind me cause I missed the part where we signed up to be their bitches.

 

[Heyitsjiwon]

2 Reasons for me:


1. We need friends/ more people. There's plenty of things that want to kill us out there why add more to that list?


2. This is arguably the more important reason. They know what the cull is and how to deal with it.

 

[KamiKahzy]

@Prince Vaethorion


Who said anything about being friends with them? And who even said we'd give the sword back to them in the first place? Who's to say we won't carry the sword and that battle standard with us when we go to return the heads so they see we're capable warriors and are now in possession of things they might covet? Who's to say we even need to play nice with the gnolls so long as we ensure they don't attack us when we're trying to avert this culling and bring the wood elves low? The only reason we should exchange words with them at all is to make sure they don't take us for a threat and decide to attack us in tandem with the wood elves later on. Or, alternately, use them as cannon fodder against the wood elves if a full on confrontation is needed to eradicate them.


I have some choice words in mind if I can finesse a way for Milkweed and a few of my Aged to make contact with the gnolls. Personally, I see them as potential allies only if they can prove reasonable and cooperative. Otherwise they'd be nothing more than mad dogs to me and as such should be put down if they prove aggressive to us at all.


@Heyitsjiwon


I wouldn't go that far in assumption. The only thing we know for sure is that their leader has some means of averting the cull from his own people, and it could be a magical thing or it could be something truly mundane that we couldn't hope to guess. But like you said, the only way to know for sure is to get them to talk, one way or another.


(By the way, it is just one sword right now. Likely an heirloom for their tribe or something of that nature.)

 

[SpiralErrant]

^^^ What he said.

Btw, I'd bet a few silvers that the shortsword with the fancy pommel is something the gnolls would like to have back.
@SpiralErrant


I'm also anxious to see how you respond to the springborn hoping to join your ranks. That's a rare offer on the table.

Aw man, I'm gunna welcome those elves into the fold so hard. Make them feel all loved and accepted till aint even funny!


Really tempted to post up the reaction to that tonight but that's possibly going even further into the future of the vague timeline so I might hold off until the river chase is done and the rats are landed then we should be working on a similar timeline.

 

[KamiKahzy]

@SpiralErrant


Well you might want to get on that just so it's established what the initial reaction of the tribe is and no other factions get ideas to woo away the springborn to their side.

 

[KamiKahzy]

@Heyitsjiwon


I hate to break this to you dude, but I think you missed a rather big question you should have asked the fountain before you let the Oracle have her say with things.


"Why do you need blood?"


Probably should have asked that right off the bat, seems like a pretty key piece of information.

 

[SpiralErrant]

@SpiralErrant
Well you might want to get on that just so it's established what the initial reaction of the tribe is and no other factions get ideas to woo away the springborn to their side.

In my heart I know you're right.


As for handling the cull, yeah as far as we've seen there are a few native races but none of them know how to stop it, just survive it. Which is a good starting point I'll admit. But their methods (from what the characters have managed to learn) are either hiding underground for the duration or forming a symbiotic relationship with one of the titans (possibly such as Cassandra's done) but if the mud-elves are anything to go by that may have some downsides of its own depending on the titan.


There's still the snakes in the swamp to look into and if things go well I'm hoping to open trade relations with them (no secret given my posts).

 

[KamiKahzy]

...aw hell, I just had an idea and I don't think it'll work.


All the Tyren have left the area already, right? Which means there's no other bulls around that could chuck that buzz bomb at the retreating mud elves?


Feck.

 

[SpiralErrant]

If we're going back to the battle timeline then there's three battle able but tired tyren walking around the town and able to talk to the leaders but they've just walked/ran from the hills to the town and don't have slings so I don't think they'd stand a chance of catching up to some speedy elves.


Though looking at the map the only bridge the elves will have to cross is a dead ent (a tiny bridge) and may have to risk fording a raging river right before it drops to a waterfall into the sea. So long as the pursuing forces can just make them rush then nature will hopefully do half the job for them.


Working on a near future post just to reply to the wood elf situation but everything's open to retconning if need be. For the "present" timeline then there's a bunch of named tyren about the platz and open to interacting with other leaders if folks want (Chief Orm and Shaman Bruul included).

 

[KamiKahzy]

Welp, that leaves options open then. I only ask because I can't see much use for the buzz bomb unless we capitalize on it now. Maybe we could research it but I'm not sure what we'd learn since we don't have much reference to work with in these new lands.