Kingmaker Solo Campaign

[Satin Knights]

Kellermyre gathers his little entourage together for a pep talk. "Well, this looks to be a place where so many things can go wrong. Hiding on the ship is not the style of any of us, I assume. So, let's take this time to see what we can learn."

"How many examples of things we want to avoid, can we find? Is the architecture poorly done? Did they use the wrong materials for the job? Are the guards crooked? Did they not bottleneck the entry point to the city so it can be guarded? Are the poor folk fighting for scraps of food?"

"Maybe if we study examples of failure, we will not have to make those same mistakes, thereby not suffering the same consequences. The rich are the ones who succeed more often than they fail. So, lets go study their misery."

"In other words, watch and study, but don't offend. Be polite, but don't brag and draw attention to us. Take away knowledge, not coin or items. And don't stick someone with a knife unless it is absolutely necessary." he says chuckling. "Oh, sticking together is probably a good idea."

Kellermyre Stormforge

 

[Systole]

Peet looks surprised. "What? What's wrong with taking coin or items from these people? We're never going to see them again. I thought that was your major objection, that we depended on the sailors to sail or something like that. Okay, fine. Whatever. We'll be the only upright citizens in this entire town."

Uder snorts. "I certainly plan on staying upright, Red. I'm walking in to town that way..." he says, hefting his waraxe conspicuously onto his shoulder. "And I'm sure as hell walking out that way."

Shar looks dubiously at the ramshackle town. "This place smells bad, Kellermyre. It's not right at all. And it's creepy. I'd rather stay on the ship."

The dwarf nods. "The wee gel'd be out of place for sure. And it won't hurt to have someone look after our goods."

"Speaking of that, if you aren't after profits, do you want to buy supplies, or gather information, or ... I dunno ... get on a soapbox and preach or something? Not that I've been here before, but I do know my way around cities, so I can probably find what you're looking for if you give me a hint."

. Wholesome Peet . . . Uder Gormengeist . Shari de Leye

 

[Satin Knights]

"Information is what I want to gather. What do these people want that they don't have? What are the biggest failures of the town leadership here? What other noble houses have sent expeditions in to the West? How big are those expeditions? How many ships come through this port in a month? How frequently do the same ships return?"

"The more information one has, the better decisions one can make. You make more profit selling things to a man that he actually wants to buy."

Kellermyre Stormforge

 

[Systole]

Peet nods. "Information? No problem, boss. I'll lead the way." The tiefling brings you and Uder through the market square, where fresh water and rations are traded for gold and other goods, and from there into a rather shady district where several inns and bawdy houses stand.

Uder looks around warily, but with a look of slight approval. "Aye, I'd wager you'd find information in one of these places."

Peet snorts contemptuously. "Yeah, if you're a scrub. The guys in these places, they're the little fish. If you want the real information, you've gotta find the big fish -- the guy who owns the little fish. He's going to around here somewhere. Hang on a second ..." She leads you past a few dark alleys, in some of which you can see furtive movement. One alley has a lighted lantern hanging over a door that leads into a basement tavern. A pair of scarred bouncers lounge outside, keeping an eye on the occasional patron coming in or out.

"There," Peet announces. "You want information and maybe even the guy who really runs this town, he's in there." Uder looks dubious, and the dwarf's expression is not lost on Peet. "You think I'm wrong, Grumpy? I've got fourteen copper that says I'm not. So ante up or quit your sour-pussing."

. Wholesome Peet . . . Uder Gormengeist .

 

[Satin Knights]

Looking towards the dwarf, "Well, she has the nose for trouble, that's for sure." Turning to Pete and speaking quietly, "It's the scrub's opinions of the guy who would be in there that I am looking for. Walking up to him, knowing nothing about him is the difficult, and usually painful, way to get information. At this point, we don't even know his name. We are not here to challenge him. In fact, we don't want to even draw his attention. We will be leaving soon, and it is best if someone like him never knew we were here."

So, putting his arm around her shoulder and spinning her around back towards the scrub bars raising his voice slightly, "So, lets go get the dwarf some cheap ale."

Kellermyre Stormforge

 

[Systole]

Peet looks dubious. "Well, if you say so. Looks like you just saved yourself 14 copper, Grumpy." She brings you to one of the drinking houses on the main strip. "My guess is that this place is going to be the best place for the little fish. Not so crowded as the other places on the street, but it's quieter and it's a few steps closer to the docks, which means you're going to get the most desperate and drunken sailors, and therefore the easiest pickings."

"Bloody hells, if it ain't so," Uder growls, pointing toward the end of the bar. You can see one of the sailors from your ship, obviously already the worse for drink, in the company of a rat-faced local man. Even as you watch, he buys an ale and presents it to the unsteady sailor. You can't hear what the rat-faced man is saying, but it's clear that he's asking questions, and the sailor is drunkenly answering. The dwarf peers at you with his good eye. "Yer want me to get the weasel's attention, and maybe give him a bit of dwarven diplomacy?"

"By which you mean grabbing him by the back of the neck, knocking his face into the countertop a few times, and then asking him who he works for?"

"Aye, Red. That'd be my approach for the first bit, but to tell the truth, I hadn't got so far as thinking through the questions."

Engrossed in pumping the sailor for information, the weasel is unaware of you right now.

. Wholesome Peet . . . Uder Gormengeist . . . . . . . ? ? ? ? . . . . .

 

[Satin Knights]

"I wanted to avoid this, but yeah, a little dwarven diplomacy looks like a good idea right now. I'll go watch the front door. Peet, try to cut off his escape out the back. And, watch out. Expect this weasel to have some friends and for this to turn into a full brawl."

Kellermyre takes a beer mug in his left and and goes stand by the front door. The spring loaded wrist sheath on his right arm contains a dagger if he needs to pull a quick surprise. But for the moment, the morningstar lays strapped to his side as he watches.

[sblock=actions]move to door, survey crowd for accomplices, Perception to notice accomplices: 1D20+10 = [19]+10 = 29, Sense motive on assumed accomplices: 1D20+3 = [14]+3 = 17[/sblock]

Kellermyre Stormforge
[sblock=mini-stats]Kellermyre Stormforge Move 30', Darkvision 60', Init +1, Perception +10, Sense Motive +3
Energy Resistances: Acid 5, Cold 5, Electricity 5
HP: 9, AC 16, Touch 11, FF 15; Fort +3, Reflex +1, Will +5, +7 vs. Charm or Compulsion

Morningstar +2, 1d8+2
Dagger +2, 1d4+1
Shortspear +1, 1d6+2
Jolt +1, 1d3, 30' range

Special: Agile Feet, Ignore difficult terrain 6/6 /day.
Orisons: Detect Magic, Jolt, Stabilize
1st Level: Bless, Bless, Longstrider (D)

Weapon in hand: offhand beer mug
[/sblock]

 

[Systole]

"Aye, this is going ter be fun," Uder says. He moves into position with surprising grace, and the rat-faced man has no idea that Uder is closing in on him. The dwarf reaches up to grab the man by the back of the neck, but something in the town apparently breeds preternatural reflexes. No sooner has Uder laid a hand on the man then he has squirmed out of the dwarf's grip and is running toward the back door ... whereupon Peet steps out of the shadows, shovel in hand. The rat-faced man runs full-tilt into the broad end of the spade with a comical clang! and drops like a sack of flour.

"Oy!" the bartender shouts irritably. "Don't break anything! And if you're gonna take him outside, one of youse is gonna owe me three an' a half silver bits for his tab!"

Scanning the crowd, it seems that most of the patrons are either amused by the incident or else don't seem to care. One or two shout poor attempts at jokes, but soon enough return to their cups, showing only mild curiosity at the situation. The lone exception is a figure seated in a dark corner of the bar by himself, nursing a pint of ale, who is quietly observing the scene as it unfolds.

"I gotta admit, those were some pretty smooth moves there, Grumpy. Of course, you totally flubbed it up at the end."

"I didn't except him to be so damned greasy," the dwarf replies with unfeigned distaste. He wipes his hand off on the wall.

. Wholesome Peet . . . Uder Gormengeist . . . . . . . ? ? ? ? . . . . . . . . . . . . ? ? ? ? . . . . .

[sblock=GM]Uder completly aces the stealth check, then completely shanks the grapple check. Luckily, Peet hits with NL damage, knocking him out.

Kellermyre notices a second informant-type in the back of the room. The second man doesn't seem to care about the first man, except in a strictly professional sense.[/sblock]

 

[Satin Knights]

Kellermyre pulls four silver pieces out of his pouch and places them on the bar. Addressing the barkeep. "Don't worry mate. As long as our ship leaves tomorrow without being molested, this greaseball will be back on his favorite stool drinking his drinks." Turning to the sailor, "Get! Get back on the ship you fool. Your night won't be as a gentle one."

"Come on Grumpy. Bring our guest."

Turning back to the crowd, looking at the dark corner, "Tell his friends that if he gets a peaceful night's sleep, he will be fine and rested tomorrow."

Kellermyre Stormforge

 

[Systole]

The man in the corner looks momentarily confused, then raises a glass briefly in your direction. Meanwhile, the bartender makes the four silver disappear. "Them's two ain't mates, friend. The opposite of that, in fact."

"Oh, crap. This town has two bosses, doesn't it?" Peet says. "This loser belongs to one of them, and that other loser belongs to the other one."

The bartender looks cagey and possibly even a little fearful, as if he's said too much. "Don't know what you mean, stranger," he mumbles, and moves away to industriously polish the far end of the bar.

Uder throws the unconscious man over his shoulder without particular effort, and the drunken sailor stumbles to his feet. "Whzzt rrrflr?" he says blearily.

The dwarf peers at you. "Here's a lesson for you, squire. I'll work for you right enough, but if yer want any mite of respect from me, then I'll thank yer not to call me that. I take it from Red because it's not as if there's any respect lost between us, but I reckon you're trying for a loftier sort of path. And also, I'd prefer to get this slimy sack o' skin off my shoulder soonest, so where do you want me to drop him? Or do you want to talk to the competition?"

. Wholesome Peet . . . Uder Gormengeist . . . . . . . ? ? ? ? . . . . . . . . . . . . ? ? ? ? . . . . .