[PF-1e] Lords and Paragons

[Maya Conti]

Game Name Lords and Paragons

Game System Pathfinder

Theme Kingdom Building, Court Intrigue, Fantasy, Kingmaker

Flavour Realm Management and Roleplaying, with Occasional Dungeon Crawling

Plot Summary Lords & Paragons Advertisement The king of Legnica, Godfrey III, died without an heir. With no king to rule the realm, the Kingdom of Legnica is on the brink of a civil war, where many lords wish to seize the Emerald Throne for themselves. Factions are established and secret dealings are made. The lords are waiting for the opportunity to make their moves, hoping to destroy their enemies once and for all before ascending to the throne and crowning themselves the new king. Meanwhile, an ancient enemy awakens deep in the underground. The hallowed blood of the royal family has all but perished after the death of Godfrey, and with his death, the seal that kept the evil contained has come undone, diminished by the lack of the royal blood. Now freed from its jail, the ancient evil wishes to return back to the surface to once again bring an age of terror to the land. And with many lords vying for the throne, the signs of its awakening are left unnoticed. You are one of the lords of Legnica with your own designs. Perhaps you wish to become the new king of Legnica, thinking of yourself being the most worthy sitting on the Emerald Throne. Perhaps you are more content supporting another lord, becoming a kingmaker instead. Or perhaps you are concerned by the strange events that happened after the death of the previous king. Or perhaps you are just there, wholly amused by the whole thing unfolding before your eyes, and you wish to see everything from the front seat. Whoever you are, your involvement will be crucial for whatever happens next to the Kingdom of Legnica, and your name will be sung for years to come. Assuming the ancient evil doesn't kill everyone, of course. Rules Party: The party will consist of four players, starting at level 6. Races: Core races, with human being the most prominent. Classes Only core, base and unchained classes allowed, excluding samurai, ninja and gunslinger. Alignment: Any, except Chaotic Evil. For those who wish to choose Evil alignment, they should be able to work well with others. Ability Scores: 25pt buy system. Starting HP: Maximum at Level 1, average from Level 2 to Level 6. Starting Wealth: 20,000 gp. Go and bling up your characters. Level Progression: Milestone. Availability: Anyone can apply. Background Skills: We will be using Background Skills system, allowing you to have an additional 2 skill ranks per level, which must be spent on background skills (Appraise, Artistry*, Craft, Handle Animal, Knowledge (engineering), Knowledge (geography), Knowledge (history), Knowledge (nobility), Linguistics, Lore*, Perform, Profession and Sleight of Hand). Retraining: Is allowed at Level 7 and up. Alternate Racial Traits: Allowed. Archetypes: Archetypes published by Paizo are allowed. You can only take one archetype per class. Feat Tax Fix: No. Posting Rate: Be consistent and be able to at least post once every two - three days. If you are unable to keep playing, your character may be made into NPC before leaving the party so that a new character can take your character's place. Closing Date: Application will be closed on 10th February, 2023. *New skills from Background Skills system Application is now OPEN. (closed on 10th February, 2023) Application Name: Race: Class: Alignment: Description: Provide a good description of your character and/or the character's picture. Personality: Outline the personality of your character. What's your character position in the upcoming civil war for the Emerald Throne? Do they covet the throne and wish the crown for themselves? Do they prefer supporting another lord and becoming a kingmaker instead? Are they more worried about all the dark signs that have started showing themselves after the death of King Godfrey? Or do you have any other motivations? Background: Describe your character's background and past. Your character is a noble lord of Legnica, a landed noble who currently rules a county in the kingdom. You can come up with the name of the county your character rules. How did your character become a ruler in the first place? Did they inherit the land and the title from their parent? Did King Godfrey grant them the land? Did your character get the land through honorable or underhanded means? Realm: Your character rules a county-sized realm. For now, just provide the name of the realm and its alignment. Typically, the realm matches your character's alignment, but it's not always necessarily the case. Retainers: Your character will start with two loyal retainers. These characters will be NPCs with class levels. Please provide their names and brief descriptions of their personality and background, as well as their pictures, if you wish. Please also state their classes (only core and base classes allowed), and they must be at Level 3. Traits: Your character can gain three traits from different categories in exchange of one drawback. If you don't want a drawback, your character gains two traits instead. Drawback: See above. Additional Notes This is an experimental campaign from me, using Kingmaker system. This will be an original setting, though for the sake of convenience, please just use Golarion deities to worship.

[Humble Athena]

This looks really solid

Interest

[triedtherest]

I'm chewing over some ideas for a Character, probably Phantom Thief going into the Noble Scion Prestige Class. How would the Leadership Feat (if allowed) work with the Retainers in play.

[Humble Athena]

Double-checking, Core Races just means
Dwarves
Elves
Half-elves
Gnomes
Half-orcs
Halflings
Humans
Yes?

[Kaiya]

The text only mentions Lords and Kings. Are there also Ladies and Queens? Or can only men hold political power?

[Maya Conti]

Originally Posted by Kaiya

The text only mentions Lords and Kings. Are there also Ladies and Queens? Or can only men hold political power?

Well, the terms Lords and Kings are just there in general. Ladies can also hold political power.

Originally Posted by Humble Athena

Double-checking, Core Races just means
Dwarves
Elves
Half-elves
Gnomes
Half-orcs
Halflings
Humans
Yes?

Yes, only those. This is an experimental campaign, after all.

Originally Posted by triedtherest

I'm chewing over some ideas for a Character, probably Phantom Thief going into the Noble Scion Prestige Class. How would the Leadership Feat (if allowed) work with the Retainers in play.

You can only get Leadership feat at Level 7.

[FoggyKnight]

Yamyra Name: Yamyra “Mockingbird” de Tyrinir Race: Halfling Class: Bard Alignment: Neutral Good Realm: (Tyrinir): Lawful Good. Once upon a time, it was a wealthy kingdom, but several skirmishes with surrounding neighbors that see the smaller people as weaker and easier targets have drained its coffers in rebuilding. Description: A miniature woman proceeded by a beak-like nose. Sensing your gaze, she pauses to strike a haughty pose, a gloved hand on her hip, and head arched back to look down her nose at you from three feet high, bright eyes made larger by an outline of kohl. Two padded sticks cross each other behind an elaborately braided violet coif resembling the latest fashion. A canary colored waistcoat pulled tight at the bust and decorated with silver buttons covered a snowy high-collared shirt. Padded black trousers add curves to what is not there while heeled black boots add to her height. She crosses her eyes at you a moment later and sashays forward to stand on a seat at the table. Personality: Yamyra is a cheerful but sarcastic soul recently burdened with greater responsibilities. Conscious of her county's lack of wealth, she balances frugality with the pretentiousness required to convince other nobles to take her seriously, usually by using her more subtle magics to make an old outfit new again, or shine up well-worn but serviceable items. With her county still recovering from a previous invasion and a sickness that reduced the independence of the county, she is anxious about potential civil war and how it might affect her homeland. She also has little experience outside of her kingdom despite being well-read and is a bit overwhelmed with how big the world is in person. Background: Yamyra was the eldest of three born into a poor county recovering from an invading neighbor. She was expected to excel in her studies, provide a good example to her brothers who were to inherit the noble title, and marry well to bring wealth back into the county. Instead, she set about trying to prove herself just as capable as they, turning into a tomboyish ringleader steeped in mischief, her quick tongue developing equally for trouble and escape. When she was three, she discovered drums. No surface was safe from a curious child that wanted to know what something would sound like when hit with a stick. She would often be found in corners of the castle humming to herself and drumming her hands, sticks, and random objects on stationary objects. Her tutors were quick to take advantage of this, using her interest in music to turn her towards stories, songs, and history and traditions of other kingdoms through their arts. When she was old enough, she joined the corps of drums and found the recognition she desired in drumming competitions. Occasionally, she traveled to other neighboring fiefdoms for events, where she would join fencing competitions. Four months ago, a sickness swept through her county. Yamyra suspects magical plague from Dethend, their former foe, but cannot prove it. With sabres rattling in other parts of the kingdom with the death of the king, she wouldn't put it past them to want to see her territory fall out of sheer spite due to repelling the first invasion. The territory might be poor, but Tyrinir is known for their hunting and riding hounds and their pony bloodlines. Even if humans can't ride them, the secrets would be invaluable for further breeding. Retainers Father Anumeni: Halfling Cleric 3. A wise grandfatherly priest, he might have more than halfling blood in his veins. Yamyra's father swore Anumeni was old when he was a child. He has a long view of both commoner perspectives as well as what the gods might suggest. He has a secret pumpkin pie recipe. Clarence: Cavalier 3: A young knight of the Order of the Paw and Yamyra’s third cousin. A farmer turned knight. Earnest and easy-going, he was often involved in Yamyra’s schemes as a child, following her lead. He and his dog Spot are so well connected, they practically read each other's minds. Traits: Fast Talker: You gain a +1 trait bonus on Bluff checks, and Bluff is always a class skill for you. Focused Mind: Your childhood was dominated either by lessons of some sort (whether musical, academic, or other) or by a horrible home life that encouraged your ability to block out distractions and focus on the immediate task at hand. You gain a +2 trait bonus on concentration checks. Fate's Favored: The fates watch over you. Whenever you are under the effect of a luck bonus of any kind, that bonus increases by 1. Drawback: Pride. You can't abide challenges to your dignity, authority, or honor. When someone threatens, accuses, or challenges you, you take a —2 penalty on Diplomacy checks and Sense Motive checks involving that creature until the creature apologizes to you.

[Humble Athena]

Not Kari? Then I'll probably ditch Gav instead of trying to make him work as a human, and figure out someone else.

[Seekr34]

Game looks interesting, especially starting at 6th level, instead of 1-3 all the time. Unfortunately for me, building a kingdom or helping build a kingdom is not my forte. Just adventuring and going on missions, is enough for me.

Hope the game goes well. Have fun folks!

[Togot]

Name: Skurvin Blackmane
Race: human
Alignment: Lawful Evil
Class: summoner

Realm: Caerleon: Lawful Neutral

Retainers:
Name: Mira Rand
Class: fighter
Alignment:Chaotic good
Mira is the older twin sister of Millet. She is twenty-three, beautiful with long golden hair that she keeps tied in a ponytail. She is much more of a tomboy than her younger sibling preferring to fight with a spear and revealing in a good fight. Like her sister, she is completely devoted to Skurvin who took them both in after they had been driven out of their village due to a superstition that twins were the spawn of devils who bring misfortune.

Name: Millet Rand
Class: wizard
Alignment: lawful good
Millet is the younger twin sister of Mira. She lets her wavy golden hair spill down her back and wears red robes. She is the more lady-like of the two, and the smarter. Like her sister she is totally devoted to Skurvin after he took them both in after their village kicked them out. When she showed a talent for magic, Skurvin provided her with a proper education where she excelled.

Description: Skurvin is on the shorter side at five six and does not have an athletic build. He prefers to wear well-made clothes and tasteful jewelry to display his wealth and nobility. He meticulously grooms himself; his short dark hair is always well combed and his goatee short and trimmed. He has sharp dark eyes that pierce through those they gaze upon and a tight serpentine smile.

Personality: Skurvin is a cold and calculating manipulator who is always seeking to improve his position. He sees other people as useful tools to win over, or dangerous obstacles to be removed. While he will always put his own interests first, he is not a fool. He will help his allies in order to keep their loyalty and will not betray them unless his life depends on it. He understands that he is not a strong person, and so he relies on the strength of others to achieve his goals.

Background: born the third son in a minor noble family, Skurvin was the spare of a spare and as such was given the scraps his two elder brothers didn’t want. Seen as the runt of the family, young Skurvin was often bullied by his brothers and the other high-born children. Skurvin made the mistake of trying to fight them only once. The beating he received taught him a valuable lesson; he couldn’t win playing their way, so he resolved himself to win playing his own way.

He focused on academic studies, spending most of his time in the family library with his nose in books. He perfected his social skills with the staff and learned the value of a favor. He learned how to lie, and how to threaten, not with violence, but with the revealing of their secrets, for he found that everyone had one. The maid who pocketed neglected coins to pay for her sick son’s medicine. The stable hand who had a drug addiction. The butler who had stolen his sister’s undergarments. Soon all became puppets dancing at the end of Skurvin’s strings. But it wasn’t enough. Despite having his minions, Skurvin was still nothing more than the third son of a minor noble. Skurvin longed for freedom and yearned for companionship. That’s when he heard the voice.

She whispered in his ears when he was alone in his bed drifting off to slip. She made many pretty promises of power and love. Skurvin wondered if he was losing his mind, but he answered her, and she began to teach him such secrets. He learned to cast magic. He learned to summon monsters to do his bidding. And finally, when she had earned Skurvin’s trust, she taught him how to perfume the ritual. The spell gave the voice form, and what a beautiful form it was. Blue skin, powerful claws, red hair, she was otherworldly. The two were together at last, and Skurvin wasted no time. Unleashing Kria on his family, he delighted in watching her slaughter them, following his every command. In one night, he went from the spare of a spare, to the sole survivor and inheritor of his family.

It wasn’t hard to stage the entire attack as an assassination. A few fake tears and a heartbreaking story was all it took to convince the authorities that Skurvin was a lucky yet tragic survivor. There were many who approached the young man after that, some hoping to help, others to exploit, all seeking to gain. Skurvin played the game of thrones well. Those who were useful, he rewarded and kept close. Those who were an obstacle, Kria eliminated. In time Skurvin found himself the ruler of Cearleon, but Skurvin is a man of endless ambition, and he will not be satisfied until he rules the entire kingdom.



Traits: convincing liar, diabolic dabbler, Masterful Demeanor

Drawback: power-hungry
Quote: Chaos is a ladder
RP Sample:

 

Skurvin sat at is desk in his chambers writing a letter when he heard his window open. He turned to see what he expected: his eidolon Kria stood before him. She was seven feet tall with blue skin and red hair. A long muscular tail swished back and forth excitedly as she smiled with her red lips before giving her report. “It is done,” she said. “Escaldos is dead.”

Skurvin’s tight lips pulled into a serpentine smile. “Well done, my dear. I know I can always count on you.”

“Then Kria frowned, not in disappointment, but puzzlement. “Could you explain something to me, master?”

“Nothing would give me greater pleasure,” Skurvin said.

“Why did you have Escaldos killed? Was he not your friend? He reminded me much of you.”

“Do you know why good defeats evil so often, my love?” Skurvin asked. Kria shook her head. “Because evil eats its own. Evil people cannot trust each other. We are always just waiting to betray each other. Escaldos was selfish, ruthless, and ambitious. Escaldos knew enough to black mail me, and he’s exactly the kind of person who would do it . Who could trust a friend like that? I don’t want friends like me. I want friends who are good, noble and just. Friends like that can be trusted with your life. friends like that are extremely valuable. You just have to stay on their good side."

“Like the twins?” Kria asked.

“Exactly.”

“And when they’ve served their purpose, then you kill them?” Kria asked.

“Why would I do that?” Skurvin asked. “So long as we are still on good terms, and they’re not getting in my way, their deaths gain me nothing. And they might be needed again someday.”

Theme song: gorgeous nightmare

[triedtherest]

Yasir bin Estefan - Merchant Prince Name: Yasir bin Estefan Race: Human Alignment: Lawful Good Gender: Male Class: Unchained Rogue (Phantom Thief) 5/Noble Scion 1 Realm: Surrahkeen, Lawful Neutral Character Sheet: Character Sheet - Still Needs Gear Party Role: Skill User, Mercantile Resources, Non-magical Support/Debuffing, Through Healers Hands Feat and the Heal Skill UnlockNon-magical Healing. Diplomat. Physical Traits: A physically plain-looking, if extravagantly dressed, Human from the sandy Dune-lands, close to the border of the Known/Unknown Lands. He is well into his middle years, so there are now ever increasing patches of grey in his formerly dark hair and beard, and after a few years of too much good living, he is starting to look a little portly (a victim of his own success perhaps). Mental Traits: While his looks are plain, his wits are sharp, and few are the people who can beat him at the Negotiations Table! Despite his former insistence that he has retired from Adventuring (which he said with a twinkle in his eye) he was almost overeager at the prospect of risking his plump hide in a desolate hole once again. After the treatment his father received, he holds a personal hatred of all forms of Slavery. While he has no desire to become King, he wants stability for the Kingdom itself, because he equates a stable Country to a stable Economy, although being raise to a position like Master of the Coin (or something equivalent) would definitely be desirable to him. Background: •Born into a wealthy, Noble family, which ran into debt after his father allowed the family business to fail while heartbroken from the death of his wife. •Turned to Adventuring in order to restore (and eventually expand upon) his family's fortune, as well as to save his father from indentured servitude at the hands of his father's cousin, the corrupt and greedy Caliph of Surrahkeen, Yasir's home town. •Saved a devotee of Lymnieris from slavery and helped her re-establish the Empyreal Lord's Sacred Shrine, earning him both their gratitude. •Engaged in a lengthy crusade against the Caliph (who was eventually revealed to be a Rakshasa), with the help of a band of thieves and Adventurers, who called themselves "The Golden Band", eventually overthrowing the Caliph, whom they replaced with Yasir. •Used the profits from his Adventuring days to pay off his family's debt, release his father (who had been sold on to a distant Merchant, but who was now in debt himself), and establish a new family business, that was even larger than the original, with branches in most of the major towns, and even in the Capitol itself! •Lives with his Father in his impressive Mansion (called Dunkillin), and pays for all of the living expenses for them both. Retainers Name: Estefan bin Abadard Race: Human Class: Alchemist Party Role: Support, Crafter, Healer, AoE Damage Physical Traits: Overweight, bald, dress for comfort instead of for appearance, Mental Traits: Loving life after a lengthy period of enforced servitude. He is both fiercely proud and protective of Yasir, and seems eager to support him in his endeavours, whether it involves business or his more dangerous adventures. He tries to set his Yasir up with any available woman of marriageable age, in a desperate attempt to see his son married before he passes. This, along with Estefan's almost constant "Dad-jokes", are wearying to Yasir, but he puts up with it as he is just grateful to have his father back at last. Background: Yasir's Father, was devastated after the death of his wife, neglected his business, and got heavily into debt. Eventually, the moneylenders ended up taking everything he owned. After everything was gone, the "Caliph's" Tax Collectors came calling, demanding he pay based on his previous wealth. He had nothing, so he was forced to "Work off his debt" to the Caliph. Eventually, his "debt" was sold on to a Merchant from a different town, so he didn't learn of the unmasking and defeat of the Caliph until his son, Yasir, came for him. It was a tearful reunion, and Estefan could scarcely believe the change in Yasir, as well as everything he had endured and achieved. He went back to Yasir's new home and business, and was astonished by everything. This was a level of luxury and economic success that Estefan had never reached. His son lived in a MANSION, servants were on hand to bring them anything they desired, and the Family Business reached as far as the Capital! Estefan could retire and live out his remaining years in peace and comfort, but he would have felt that he owed it to his son to support him however he could. He crafts items for the business or that he thinks his son might find useful, and accompanies him whenever he goes somewhere dangerous. Name: Inara Race: Human Class: Cleric (of Lymnieris) Party Role: Support, Healer, Diplomat Physical Traits: Inara is as beautiful as Yasir is plain, with long lustrous dark hair, and unblemished olive skin, she dresses well but (unlike Yasir) dresses plainly. Mental Traits: A naturally caring and compassionate soul, she is still feeling the aftereffects of her time in bondage, she deals with this by concentrating on other things, usually either the welfare of Surrahkeen's Working Girls, or the Shrine of Lymnieris. After being rescued by him, Inara is both grateful and extremely loyal to Yasir. She is also fond of Estefan, although she wishes that he would stop trying to insist that she and Yasir "get together", because while they are indeed fond of each other, it is more akin to the fondness of siblings. Background: She was the devotee of Lymnieris that Yasir saved from slavery. Traits: Merchant Family, Patient Optimist Drawback:

[triedtherest]

Originally Posted by Maya Conti

You can only get Leadership feat at Level 7.

I know that, I just meant would we get our Cohort(s) as well as Retainers should we take it at 7th?

[Maya Conti]

Yes, if that's the direction you'd like to take.

[braintitan]

I am interested - will work up a concept and character.

[Grouchy]

App complete. A lot of this is in secret text below, as it sounds like the PCs could be conflicting with each other and I don't want to give them any spoilers.

Character Concept Name: Lord Baraka Gagamba of Tadessen Race: Human (Mwangi - Bonuwat)   Description: Lord Baraka Gagamba is a tall, slender man with cocoa colored skin and a shaved head. He is of average looks but not unhandsome, with thin facial features and warm brown eyes. He is dressed in the latest of fashions, favoring dark green and black, and accessorized with simple but expensive looking jewelry (his favorite ring is one of onyx and silver). He is typically unarmed, allowing his bodyguards to handle the nasty end of violence. He stands with poise and a sense of nobility, and every movement seems measured and carefully undertaken. His voice is well polished and velvety smooth, with a deep undertone to it. On his wrists he wears elegant looking silver bracers adorned with emeralds, and a finely made black cloak with silver fur embroidery thrown around his shoulders. Personality: Lord Baraka Gagamba is a humble, obsequious man of lower birth who was granted nobility by the late King Godfrey III and he is ever grateful for it. Although originally born in the jungles of the Mwangi Expanse, Lord Gagamba is well suited to the courtly life and the leisures and comfort it provides. He is kind and charming and a bit aloof as he seems content with his lot in life. Though he does not hold many personal relationships, of those who do know him they know him as a man who does not seem to be focused at gaining personal power for himself. Rather, they see him as one who supports the realm of Tadessen and the kingdom of Legnica as a whole. He is likely to assess the position of the lords vying for the crown and support the one he believes will be most beneficial for Legnica.   Background: It is common knowledge that Lord Baraka Gagamba was first born in the jungles of the Mwangi Expanse, though little is known of his life before he took to the seas. He made his way to the Kingdom of Legnica where he established a shipping trade and soon endeared himself enough with King Godfrey III that he was a regular at his court. As Baraka's shipping trade expanded, so did his wealth and his connections at court, especially as for the King himself Baraka offered a significantly discounted rate for the importation and exportation of goods. Most believed this was to be the extent of Baraka's influence, but approximately six months before his death King Godfrey III awarded Baraka with a lordship for the realm of Tasseden much to the surprise of many. Tasseden being a seaside town with a previously strong shipping trade that had begun to wither off needed a strong leader, and since then Lord Gagamba has turned things around and Tasseden is recovering economically from its issues thus far.   Realm: Tasseden (Neutral) - A seaside town that thrives on ships and the sailing trade. Retainers: Vardos, 3rd level Fighter Vardos is an Ulfen man whom Baraka met and worked with when he first got into the shipping trade and Vardos was a sailor. Vardos is the personal bodyguard of Lord Gagamba and answers to no one but he. He is a tall, long haired, bearded man who is stocky and has the disciplined presence of a warrior. He speaks only when necessary and is incredibly loyal to Baraka due to their history together (Baraka was the first man to recognize him as an equal and he worked previously as a ship's captain before his current duties today). He is known to be a fierce, aggressive warrior when he needs to be but also recognizes when he needs to blend into the background and allow Lord Gagamba to socialize without him a visible and somewhat threatening presence. Arvis, 3rd level Rogue Arvis is a Chelaxian man who is currently the dockmaster of the ports of Tasseden. He is a small, seedy looking man with stringy brown hair who is surprisingly personable and easy to speak with. He has a good head upon his shoulders and is well organized and sharp, with a clever mind for mathematics and an impressive memory. Although an alcoholic when he first met Baraka, he is now sober and completely loyal to Baraka who was the one who placed him in his current position of importance. Arvis knows everything that goes on at the docks and all the local rumors, so he is a wealth of information.