Kingmaker Solo Campaign

[Satin Knights]

"Tanager chose me for my wisdom in choices. He chose me for my work ethic. I don't remember you telling me about a dwarf in your visions."

"Cardinal, his soul is not lost. He knows exactly what path he wants to follow. Lord Gabbiano made it clear with our conversation in the carriage coming over just how much financial help I am to expect on this adventure. I have less than ten coins in my purse. Therefore, I do not have what the dwarf wants. I need one who will work hard for many years to build a city. Yes, I am pretty sure I can make him rich, eventually. But is he willing to put in five years of hard work and unwavering loyalty in order to earn his own citadel of stone?"

"I can trust Shari's thirst for knowledge. I can provide access to what she desires. She will see what is new to her. She will explore what she cannot here. But can I trust one who has already agreed to work for my competition? Will he succumb to a bribe and sabotage my work? How cheap will that bribe be? I am not foolish enough to think my promises of vast riches years from now is not enough to sway the soul of this one. So, I do not insult him with such promises."

"No, I can only promise him a hard life of work. He will eat as well as I do. He will have a home as sturdy and fine as mine. That is all I can offer to him. I doubt Captain Parsons is giving him the same offer."

Kellermyre Stormforge

[sblock=GM]Leaving open the door for an oath of loyalty from the dwarf. Not promising riches.[/sblock]

 

[Systole]

Before the cardinal can respond, Uder gives you a look of contempt. "Let's get a few things straight, squire. I never agreed to work for Boraga. What I said was, I was gonna. Never got the chance to sign on.

"But that's a whole bunch of assumptions you just made there, innit? You think the games you nobs play mean squat to me, or anyone in my boots? Bugger off. Boraga offered me a paycheck, and it weren't like this nob was around to give a counteroffer until yesterday. A dwarf's gotta eat, and I've no problem taking money from them who pays me fair and treats me well.

"And if you think I can't work hard and sleep rough, then bugger off twice. I've been in more wet, stinking trenches than I can count, out in the places in Landadel where one lord will murder another over a half-acre of swamp. I've eaten more rat-and-donkey stew than you can probably imagine. And what, you think Boraga's accommodations are gonna be swankier than yours? I knew what I was going to be getting into, both with them other nobs and with this nob here, no matter what pretty promises any of them made." He stares coolly at Lord Gabbiano. "Yeah, and that includes you, guv.

"And the sabotage and bribery and whatnot? Bugger off three times, friend. I've never shied from a hard fight, and I've never stabbed no one in the back. I've deserted, yeah. But only when staying meant getting killed on account of some drippy-nosed idiot lord thinking that his infantry was a match for enemy cavalry on open ground. There's no contract I'm putting my name on that says I'm dying for anyone's crap decisions."

He rolls his head from side to side, cracking the vertebrae in his neck. "But out of all the things you said, the part I really didn't like was where you made out that I can't think past the end of me own nose. You've heard me offer for service, and you're still welcome to take it or no. I can't say it bothers me much either way. But I would appreciate you apologizing for calling me stupid, 'cause that one I take kind of personal."

The last sentence, while delivered in a calm and even tone, makes Captain Parsons put his hand on the hilt of his sword.

. Uder Gormengeist .

 

[Satin Knights]

"You will get no apology from me. I did not call you stupid. A dwarf was brought before me in chains as a prisoner. My employers say I should take you along. I should fix you. I said you do not need fixing. You asked for straight pay for straight work. I said I cannot guarantee that pay and I will not make promises I am unsure I could keep. You used so few words, a few assumptions about you and your character had to be made. The manacles didn't help the impression there."

"I asked if you will take the short road or the long road to prosperity. I asked if you can be trusted. I gave you an offer of the long road to prosperity if you will give me loyalty."

"I was shown a prisoner who says he will fight for money. I asked if you were better than that. I need a loyal dwarf that will fight as well as work long and hard, and I can promise no more than an equal share of what we build."

Leaning in, so as to be staring into his one good eye, "So, you one eyed, wretched excuse for a dwarf, will you swear loyalty to me and swear to defend me and all who follow me?"

Kellermyre Stormforge

 

[Systole]

The dwarf doesn't flinch. "You said you din't think I could see so far ahead. Implies stupid in my book." He snorts. "But I can see you just like to bandy words, eh? No insult meant, you say? Sure, then. Have it your way, friend."

"Here's me counter-proposal for you: I'll fight for ye, and I'll guard ye, and I'll work for ye, and I'll even promise not to stab you and yours in the back ... if the word of a wretched, one-eyed excuse for a dwarf makes you sleep better. And I'll do all that for naught but an equal share. But loyalty?" He spits to the side, narrowly missing the whitecloak's boots. "Might be there's a man somewhere in this world what could get such a thing out of me, but you ain't him, friend. So that's me final offer. Otherwise, you can kiss my arse, and I'll take me chances with the law."

. Uder Gormengeist .

 

[Satin Knights]

Kellermyre takes a long look down the docks, first in one direction, then the other. "Well, I don't see any other applicants. You're hired."

After Captain Parsons has undone the manacles and given the dwarf his possessions, "Captain, mind if I keep those manacles, lock and key? In our travels, we may find someone else who would be needing to wear them." And before the dwarf gets a word in, "I said someone else."

Kellermyre Stormforge

 

[Systole]

Captain Parsons unshackles the dwarf, who gives him an ingratiating smile. The whitecloak looks to Lord Gabbiano, who nods. "We'll cover the expense, Galen."

Parsons hands over the manacles to you. "Your kit is by the gangplank, Uder. I don't expect to see you in Venza again."

"Oh, I don't plan to disappoint you, officer. You'll surely not see me unless I start to lose me edge." He strolls over to the gear and picks up the bundle, slinging it across his back. "Well, squire, tide's changing. Best hurry yourself, or you're going to miss your grand adventure." He heads up the gangplank, whistling as if he didn't have a care in the world.

The captain of the vessel -- a tall, lanky, dwarf -- leans over the gunwale. "Your new recruit is quite correct, mister. All aboard."

. Uder Gormengeist . . . Phineas Renlow . .

 

[Satin Knights]

"Okay, if you got my gear and the mutt aboard, then it is just us two." as he looks to Shari. He bows to her and waves his hand for Shari to board first.

Following her to the gangplank, he shouts out "THUNDAR! Where are you boy?"

A bark comes from below deck.

Standing at the bottom of the gangplank, "Any fancy papers or last instructions Lord Gabbiano?"

Kellermyre Stormforge

 

[Systole]

Gabbiano hands you a scroll case and a small pouch of gold. "A duly witnessed copy of the charter, and a bit of gold. The gold isn't going to help you much, except for dealing with other Easterners. Most of the natives don't seem to bother with the stuff. We'll a more complete supply of basic tools and weapons on the next shipment, which should be a week or two behind you. And that's it. Good luck, Master Stormforge. We're depending on you." He shakes your hand and turns away. Cardinal Fortino makes the sign of Tanager and follows him.

A few minutes later, the sailors finish casting off the lines and the boat begins to slip out into the harbor. Cardinal Fortino and Lord Gabbiano watch from the end of the pier, as does Captain Parsons., although the Whitecloak seems more interested in making sure Uder stays on board than watching the fortunes of House Gabbiano and the Church of Tanager sail into the sunset. And thus it is that he is caught totally unawares as a female tiefling comes out of a nearby alley in full sprint and barrels by him. "Comin' through! 'Scuse me, Captain P.!" she shouts. A second later, a pair of toughs burst out of the same alley in hot pursuit. Even from here, you can tell that one of the thugs has a very recently broken nose: the bruise spreads across his entire face and blacks both eyes. So intent are they on their quarry that that fail to notice the whitecloak even as they nearly bowl him over.

"No where to run now, Peet!" one of them calls as she nears the end of the pier. The stern of the boat is easily a twenty feet off the dock and getting further by the moment.

There's a glint of sunlight off glass as the tiefling's tail curls around and pulls a tiny vial off of her belt, and upends it into her mouth. As the end of the pier approaches, instead of stopping, she accelerates, practically blurring with speed. Leaping off the last board, she seems to sail majestically through the air. Still, it's not entirely clear she's going to make it until she hits the stern of the boat, trips over the gunwale, and spills onto the deck, only stopping after about a ten-foot skid across the rough planks.

"Ow, that sucked," she moans. "Gods below, I think my left side is completely covered in splinters."

"It's a new boat," Captain Renlow says. "Now, want to tell me what you're doing on it?"

"You know, I was afraid you were going to ask me that," she says, sitting up and wincing. "It's a bit ... complicated."

On the pier, the thugs suddenly realize that they themselves have nowhere to run as a very irate Captain Parsons advances toward them with a grim look.

. Umberto Gabbiano . . Phineas Renlow . . . . . . . Peet (?) . . . . .

[sblock=GM]She used a potion of some sort for the speed boost, giving a bonus to her acrobatics roll to jump. Her stat block is a bit ... complicated, and her skills won't be immeditely obvious.[/sblock]

 

[Satin Knights]

"I suppose you are another applicant for the job?"

 

[Systole]

"What j..." the young tiefling begins before transitioning smoothly into a smile. "Why, yes. Of course! Through various channels, I heard about the amazing opportunity you were offering and decided to apply in person. I was unfortunately detained, as you might have noticed, but I couldn't bear to miss the opportunity to show what I was capable of. I do apologize for being so forward as to have come on board without an invitation, but I felt confident that I am the perfect candidate to fill the position you have to offer."

The captain watches the dock slide farther away. "Wind's picking up. You've got maybe a minute and a half to decide whether to hire her or chuck her overboard and throw her a float. After that, the currents get iffy for swimmers."

Uder seems thoroughly amused by the whole situation. "I heard ye greet Captain Parsons as ye went by. Ye know him well, do ye lass? 'Cause he couldn't stop talking about yer skills to the squire, here. The captain went on and on about how it was a turrible shame ye didn't make it to the interview. Hells, ye wouldn't believe some of the tales he had about ye. The squire's eyes near bugged out of his head when he told that one about the ... well, you know."

There's a look of terror brief enough that many might miss it, but the tiefling gets it under control almost immediately. She smiles and nods. "Well, Captain Parsons is a wonderful guardsman, but he does tend to stretch the truth a bit, I'm afraid. Let me assure you that that was an isolated incident, and it only happened because circumstances required a decisive, uh, decision. Also, I had nothing to do with the barrel of lard or the horde of shaved orangutans. Those were completely out of my control. So I hope you won't hold any of that against me."

. . Phineas Renlow . . . . . . . Peet (?) . . . . . . Uder Gormengeist .