Kingmaker

[Orikanyo]

"Home is yours, I cannot say where you go." the gnoll motioned forward nonetheless. "Luck I have, come when attack happen." he spoke in his gutteral tones, his demeanor was still somewhat on guard from it all... And with new people. "...Save trouble... Gnoll not very welcome with no snouts."

 

[Spiderheart]

"Happs is alive. The only one of you who died is the one who got disemboweled." Gerak tucks the amulet away again. "So what's the significance of the symbol? Or do you not know?" He's not going to let the man evade the question.

Gerak gives the man time to answer before continuing the interrogation. "How far away is your camp? Is it directly on the road, or in the woods? How many sentries are usually posted?" Taking down the camp will be trickier than handling this group; if there were thirteen bandits in total and five came here, that means eight – including the most dangerous among them – will be at their camp. Still, only thirteen bandits... that can't be enough to cause the systematic problem their charter suggested. "What do you know of other gangs in the area? Any turf wars we should know about?"

 

[Psychie]

Athaclenna, Svetlana strolls along the ramparts until she reaches your side. She stares at the stars above, then leans forward on the parapets.

"You were really good out there," she says as if continuing a conversation you didn’t know you were having. “I admire you. You kept it together. Faced it head on. I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to do that. Have you been in many situations like that before?”

The elf gives off a bit of a blush. "I hardly did anything, just cast one spell. And we had such an advantage of numbers against them, it would have been the worst kind of luck to lose." She turns to face Svetlana. "You have strength of your own. You came out here, you and Oleg, and put down roots where many would think it impossible to make a living. Especially as young as you are compared to me. That takes a lot of courage to face the future like that."

Athaclenna is quiet for a moment, then answers the question, "I have had to defend myself against wild monsters a few times, but most have had to retreat from my spellcasting or have been put to sleep, letting me get away. This encounter was my first facing off against people, and to be honest, I wasn't sure how well I was going to do. I'm just glad that I didn't freeze up back then."

 

[WlfSamurai]

Gorgorigo
“Well,” Oleg says. “Yeah, we are lucky. Damn lucky. You came at just the right time. And you can handle yourself well in a fight.” He thinks a moment, then continues. “I think in some places, people can’t see beyond what seems out of place to them. Honestly, it’s a small part of why I left it all behind. Here, you’re welcome. And more so, I’d like you to keep with the rest of this group. They could use your help. I don’t know any of us know what’s really out there.” He looks distantly out to the treetops beyond the trading post wall.

“It’s why I like it,” he says. “Both scary and exciting. All together. A great combination, I think.” He nods.


Gerak
Roll sense motive.


Athaclenna
“I don’t blame you,” Svetlana says. “I don’t think I’m cut out for all this excitement. But, I do appreciate your kind words.”

She turns to face you too. “So, what made you take the charter? You’re a mage with fantastic powers. Couldn’t you be doing something else...better?”

Kameron Esters- , Sherwood , Psychie , Spiderheart , Wondertainment , Orikanyo

 

[Spiderheart]

(Letting Mokele make the roll, since he's better at it and also has a telepathic connection to me)

 

[WlfSamurai]

Gerak
You have no idea which parts of his story are truthful and which are not. You’re having a hard time reading him, Mokele included.

“It doesn’t mean anything to me, other it’s Happs’,” the bandit answers about the amulet.

“The camp is in the woods near the river bank. It’s about a one-and-a-half day walk or little under a da’s ride. There isn’t a road. We just know our way and how to get back here. There are two tree-stands that we keep manned as lookout into the forest for anyone approaching the camp. Other than that, it’s really just a clearing with a fire pit. We sleep under the stars.

“I don’t know of other gangs. If there are any, Kressle hasn’t told me about them. We’ve been kept in the dark.”

 

[Spiderheart]

Mokele's attention has been drawn away by the smell of the fire; Gerak is on his own here. He stares at the bandit for several seconds. "I think that's all I have to ask for the moment. Niko, Miren, any further questions?"

"We'll be back later, of course, for clarifications. And to clear up any... discrepancies between your account and our other prisoners' stories." He locks eyes with the bandit. "If you think we'll run into any of those, consider this your last opportunity to preemptively fix them."

 

[Wondertainment]

(I'd also like to roll Sense Motive, DM can nix my roll here if you want)

 

[WlfSamurai]

“Told you everything I can,” the bandit says.

What do you all do now? Any other questions to ask?

 

[Spiderheart]

Assuming the others don't have any questions to add, Gerak would tie the man back up – a bit more comfortably than before – and go repeat the same interrogation tactics on each of the other bandits, saving Happs for last. He's mainly interested in any inconsistencies in their stories, though he pushes Happs harder about the amulet if the man tries to stay quiet. Any of them who try to withhold information get an excitable "Can bite now?" from Mokele, and a raised eyebrow from the half-orc keeping the "slavering monster" under control.

 

[Orikanyo]

"...Many things that are dangerous hold great beauty... Revelry in the rose is to accept the thorns..." the gnoll stared out into the woods beyond the gate, letting words seep out.

"...Or so my friend say." he snapped out of his stupor to take his balde out of the fire, sniffed it a few times and got up to douse the heated blade in a nearby water barrel. The silent hssing of the water's contempt filled the air until he withdrew the blade.

"Land is good, should be good deal in woods to find. hope no kobolds, hate them." he spat upon the ground, easily showing his distaste for the proprietor of this place.

 

[WlfSamurai]

Everyone interrogating the other bandits
Gerak, you are primary roller. Everyone else can help.

For each bandit, roll an Intimidation check and a Sense Motive check.

All those helping make all the same checks to Aid Another and you can add +2 to each of Gerak’s roll.

You just spoke with bandit “B”.

Bandit B: COMPLETE
Bandit C: Intimidate -, Sense Motive -
Bandit D: Intimidate -, Sense Motive -
Happs: Intimidate -, Sense Motive -

Kameron Esters- , Sherwood , Psychie , Spiderheart , Wondertainment , Orikanyo

 

[Spiderheart]

(Mokele will continue to serve as a motive-senser)

Results:

Bandit C: 22, 10
Bandit D: 26, 15
Happs: 26, 15

 

[Sherwood]

Intimidate is +4, Sense Motive is a straight roll

9, 18, 12 for Intimidate

5, 6, 14 for Sense Motive

 

[WlfSamurai]

Through the course of this interrogating, you find each of the bandit’s names: Vyncent (B) who you already interrogated, Gilew (C), Anthond (D).

You find Gilew and Anthond confirm what Vyncent had to you previously. You also get a sense that Kressle is a hell of a woman. She doesn’t take shit and she dishes it three times over. Gilew’s missing pinkies and Anthond’s branded face offer up evidence of her vindictiveness.

The only thing that is added from what Vyncent had offered is that there is a stash of loot at the camp, hidden. Coin and valuables.

With each of them, you’re unsure if they are telling the truth or not. But, part of it must be since it’s echoed between the three of them.

Happs offers much the same. It’s when you pull the amulet that he slips up. You’re there in the room with him, toward the end of the interrogation, when you pull out the stag necklace. You catch a hint of recognition in his eye. And a twitch of the cheek.

It was subtle, but you all were looking for just that kind of thing.

Kameron Esters- , Sherwood , Psychie , Spiderheart , Wondertainment , Orikanyo

 

[Spiderheart]

Gerak looks at the bandit's leader with feigned disappointment. "You can't be serious, Happs. You know we've already spoken to the others; they told us this was yours. You will tell us about this."

A step closer to the bandit puts Gerak – and his tusks – distressingly close to Happs. "The only way you're leaving this stockade alive is with our permission. I don't know what it is you're so afraid of... but I suggest you reconsider whether it's more important than more immediate threats."

"Besides," he points out, pacing in circles around the man, "I think we made it clear that the Stolen Lands are no place for you. It took us all of... what, five seconds? ...to take you and your little gang down, and we're nobodies. I've met men and women who could single-handedly thrash us as easily as we did you. Frankly, I expected at least one of you to get away – because I didn't think anyone could be as frail as your people." He stops to flick Happs in the back of the head. "Maybe you're wanted in Brevoy or Restov, but there are plenty of places you could go where a rascal with no knack for actual violence can make a safe living. Pitaxian nobles are arrogant and paranoid enough that they'll never have enough guards for things that will never be stolen. Galt has no authorities to speak of; if you can make it there, some pissant village will probably give you meals and a roof for holding something sharp and looking dangerous whenever people like you show up. But here? With the monsters and the adventurers?" He leans in, talking directly into the man's ear. "All it will take is one more day like this one, and whoops! No. More. Happs."

"Tell us what we want to know, and we'll set you and yours on the road with a few coins and a solid stick or two. Enough to get you out of this death trap." He backs away again. The others respected Happs, at least somewhat; if he can be talked into running, they'll probably follow. "You're a smart man. Don't throw your life away."

 

[WlfSamurai]

Happs stares hard at all of you in the room with him, looking between you all. Deciding. Weighing his life and the lives of his good-for-nothing men. He has no loyalty to them, but knows their continued survival rests solely with him.

A smile spreads across his face. It’s a vicious look in the criminal. His ‘men’ are truly nothing out here. They are meaningless in the context of the deep wilderness and...

Can he tell you? Can he disclose that which isn’t his to reveal. He knows you all have him now. You all know he’s hiding. He’s dead anyway. One way or another. And you have managed to intimidate him beyond whatever he could fear out there.

“He is the Stag Lord,” Happs says finally after deciding. “And you’re all fucked.” He spits on the floor. “A monster of a man. He’s a deadeye with the bow, and I saw him crush a prisoner’s hand to mush in one fist. Come to think of it, I’ve never seen him without his creepy stag helmet on—some of my friends think he ain’t got no face under it, but not me—I think that creepy helm is his face!

“Our camp is a forward outpost for the main fort much farther south. So good fucking luck. And there. I’ve told you everything. You going to keep your word?”

 

[WlfSamurai]

"...Many things that are dangerous hold great beauty... Revelry in the rose is to accept the thorns..." the gnoll stared out into the woods beyond the gate, letting words seep out.

"...Or so my friend say." he snapped out of his stupor to take his balde out of the fire, sniffed it a few times and got up to douse the heated blade in a nearby water barrel. The silent hssing of the water's contempt filled the air until he withdrew the blade.

"Land is good, should be good deal in woods to find. hope no kobolds, hate them." he spat upon the ground, easily showing his distaste for the proprietor of this place.

“Good,” says Oleg. “I’m glad.” He slaps you on the shoulder. “Now let’s get pissed. After what I saw today—” He unstoppers the whiskey he’s holding to punctuate his sentence and pours you a two fingers.

 

[Spiderheart]

"I will once you're done telling me what I want to know." Gerak doesn't let his delight – or apprehension – show. "This 'Stag Lord.' How many bandits does he have under his command? How many are at this fort of his at any given time?" He turns to look at his companions. "Go procure four staves from Oleg, please. Our... guests will be departing soon."

 

[Orikanyo]

“Good,” says Oleg. “I’m glad.” He slaps you on the shoulder. “Now let’s get pissed. After what I saw today—” He unstoppers the whiskey he’s holding to punctuate his sentence and pours you a two fingers.

The scent pained his nose, the taste was tongue curdling, the texture was as smooth as a battle axe's haft...

God it was so good.

"Gah! Stings the nose. Wonderful!" He took the shot without so much a problem, his tongue curdled at the sting.

"Phew... Like a punch in the face, feel alive haha!"

 

[WlfSamurai]

At the interrogation...
Happs sighs. “That I don’t know, okay? I ain’t been there in...forever. A lot? I don’t know. We grunts don’t go there. And we don’t get the reports. That’s all Kressle. She’s your lady. She gets reports.”

Does anyone go to get the staves?


At the fire pit outside...
Gorgorigo, Oleg pours himself another and offers you more.

“So, where are you from? I haven’t seen many Gnolls around here.”


Up on the wall...
Athaclenna, Svetlana is quiet for a long while. Then she sighs.

“Actually, I have a favor to ask,” she says. “I know, you’ve already done so much. So to ask more... I don’t know. I just... I have to ask. They took my wedding ring. If you all could keep an eye out for it... I mean, if there’s time. It’s gold and has the three Elvish word for love engraved on it.”

Kameron Esters- , Sherwood , Psychie , Spiderheart , Wondertainment , Orikanyo

 

[Wondertainment]

Miren crosses her arms and departs. After a brief moment, she finds Oleg at the fire pit with that Gnoll from earlier.

"Oleg," she says gently, "Apologies for interrupting. Do you have four staves that I could borrow? Our other friend is... working on something, I think."

 

[Psychie]

Up on the wall...
Athaclenna, Svetlana is quiet for a long while. Then she sighs.

“Actually, I have a favor to ask,” she says. “I know, you’ve already done so much. So to ask more... I don’t know. I just... I have to ask. They took my wedding ring. If you all could keep an eye out for it... I mean, if there’s time. It’s gold and has the three Elvish word for love engraved on it.”

The elf is quiet for a long time, enjoying looking up at the stars. Finally, she says to Svetlana, "I can make no promises to return the ring, but I will promise to do my best to find it for you and return it. If possible, I will bring it back to you."

 

[Sherwood]

Niko shifts a bit, wondering just how big of a pie that they were about to take a bite out of. He looks over at Gerak and says, "Well, it seems we have our work cut out for us. I think it is time we told the others exactly what we've heard here."

 

[WlfSamurai]

At the fire pit outside...
Miren, Oleg steps away to go find staves. After a few minutes, he returns with four quarterstaves.

“Best I’ve got right now,” he admits and hands them to you.


Up on the wall...
Athaclenna, Svetlana nods and smiles. “That’s more than enough. Honestly, I don’t know what would have become of us if you all hadn’t shown up.

She pulls a stray hair dancing over her face in the wind behind her ear. “So, how did you end up with this group? Seems like dangerous work.”

Wondertainment , @Orikanyo, Psychie