'A fine line between paranoia and preparation, that's what my dear ole' Da used to say. Although he was mostly worried about running out of stew and Ale during the festival rush rather than having bandits break loose from their bonds and slit his throat in the middle of the night.'
Balfour looks over the new arrivals quickly, sizing them up both as assets and as potential marks. He knows the Sargent/Paladin by reputation and decides that his men are likely to be as trustworthy, and as competent, as the Paladin himself. Turning back to Esso, Balfour chimes in on the fate of the prisoners.
'I agree. A speedy and formal trial and execution for the ringleader will set the tone for other brigands and bandits going forward. With all these new faces, we'll need to add some barracks, reinforce the walls and put in some new crops - the prisoners will come in handy there and can learn the skills they need to become useful after their terms are served. I'd suggest we add a sweetener to their sentence - if they complete their five years of indentured labor, they'll be granted a smallholding to and the supplies necessary to get it up and running on their release. It'll help keep them in line and help us settle these wildlands with productive people.'
Dan sends a friendly nod toward Keyrra then turns toward Eso and Arms.
"I m here to help. Me and my men are here to keep this place safe and that you have the support of the Council. Just tell me what you want and if I can I ll help."
He casually motions for his men to take the bandits away.
"You should hang them all, so next time you give them a chance they'll know it's for real. They might get ideas if they are freed. They are usually coward at heart."
He looks around.
"Savanah told us to make ourselves at home. We are, but we would like to make her place a real outpost for you guys even when we are called back."
Thank you,sergeant,says Arm with genuine warmth. You and your men are very welcome here. I'm sorry if it was rude to ask, but this is a great undertaking, to bring order to this land, and we all want to get it right. Speaking of which, have you already met with Savanah? This is her home, after all.
(As Arm served in the Silverymoon city militia, I guess he would be familiar with the law of the city - what is needed for a fair trial? History5)
"If you wish to have them hung I would not object but I do say to be cautions with our punishments. They will likely become a sort of precedent and while I do hate those who prey on the weak I would rather us be known as compassionate and forgiving than cruel and heavy-handed. There is a story behind every ruler and every bandit. Dan that would be great, I would quite like us being able to better defend ourselves here" Keyyra says then will go and see if he can help with the preparations of the fort.
"I understand the punishment for banditry is death, but being this was uncivilized lands and these rather timid folks, I would argue they could have been forced by the so-called 'Circle'. I say interrogation of the leadership, then labor for the remainder. As time moves on, the punishment for banditry can be readjusted, but for now, gaining seven possible settlers is more beneficial than eight corpses. This is also following our word, we gave them a chance to surrender, and while few did make a break for it they quickly changed their minds about it. Leniency is the policy we should follow in this situation. Belfour, your finalization of my plan, has my support."
Working as a group they had to come to decisions together, while Belfour had mostly said what she had thought of, putting it to a vote between the party would be best, and now they knew how the votes would be split.
'The first vote of our little council here in the hinterlands and it holds life and death consequences. That's rather heavy. But I agree, a vote of the council is the best way to determine our path forward.'
Balfour looks around, trying to see how many of their party are in shouting distance.
'Let's gather everyone inside and make this official like?'
I would rather let you all RP this part because I think it is important to the group and for later. Let's say that it might hint to a general Alignment.
Dan looks at the back and forth and knows that it is not his place to say anything. He is rather please though that you are actually pondering the matter.
He looks at Arms and nods. " She is rather hard to miss and she was ready to bite our heads if we didn't respect her position. She would have made a damn fine sergeant in the militia let me tell you." He smiles as he says the last part, " and those boys of her are quite the little soldiers already."
"I'll let you all decide what you want to do but know that whatever you decide we will be there to help you out."
Dan Greylock
So Dan is the honest and nice type. If anyone wants to elaborate on him be my guest. I like it when PCs flesh out NPCs. If you wish to create a little background for him do it in a spoiler please. ( He might have other reasons to have volunteered for coming here , or been banished or sent away for political reasons … Have fun
Arm sits and spends the rest of the day with Savanah and her children; he will help with some chores, and makes sure that the family is comfortable. Savanah herself is tight-lipped about her past, though it's clear she's lived all or most of her life in these lands and is quite insistent that the house, farm and fortress are hers.
Her older son is Adar, and he has the calm, stoic air of a boy who has decided that protecting his family is his responsibility. He and Arm talk about his time in the militia and learning to shoot a bow, and it's clear that he would very much like to be able to take up arms to keep his brother and mother safe; Arm reassures him that there will be plenty of time for that in the future, but for now he should accept his mother's decision that he's still too you.
The younger boy is Tom, and he is similarly untalkative. His interest is clearly nature and animals; he shows Arm some of the interesting beetles and worms he has found, while his mother rolls her eyes and apologises on his behalf. Arm is happy to see him looking into the natural world, and promises to spend time with the lad teaching him what he knows.
As the day comes to a close, Arm and Savanah discuss the changes that are taking place in the fortress and what it will mean for Savanah. He shows her the charter they have from the allied lands surrounding this, and he reassures her that they are here to bring law to this land, not bandits out to rob her or drive her from her home.
This is the only protected and fortified place we know of, though I admit we know little of this land. We must take responsibility for it, and Sergeant Graylock will remain here and make sure you and your family are protected while we do our best to clear the dangers from the surrounding area. I promise you that we are here to stay, and that any agreement you make with us will be legal and binding, protected under the laws of Silverymoon and other lands. The question is, what can we do to put ourselves on a firmer footing. I imagine that in a place like this, you do not have any documents that prove your ownership of the house, or farm. He raises his hand quickly; I am not suggesting that you are not the owner, only that this land is lawless, or it has been up until now. We are bringing law, and that means documents and contracts and other such things.
In short, Arm is proposing that they draw up deeds that name Savanah as the lawful owner of the house, the guesthouse, the farm and the fortress, but also that Savanah should sell the fortress to the party, for a sum to be agreed and paid in future. At the moment, this is only a suggestion that he is running by Savanah; if she seems agreeable, he will take it for discussion with the rest of the party.
Toonary thinks about his time before this mission. He didn't know that being a Minatour was wrong, he didn't know how to act in cities. He only had what he was taught, what if he had been taught wrong like these bandits were? They did break laws but laws of a government that does not exects out here.
Toonary “Toonary think they not know laws. Laws new. Crime small? If they no kill why we kill? Chauntea teach life, I am life.”
Balfour nods as Toonary speaks. 'Their crimes weren't exactly small, my friend. Savannah and her boys would have starved to death if those bandits had their way - and all of them are well aware of that. They chose to use their strength to hurt others and take advantage of the weak. That's our job!'
Balfour says this last line as a joke, hoping to lighten the mood a little. A joke that rings with the clarity of truth.
'I think our proposal balances punishment and redemption nicely - death for the leader, hard labor and a chance at a new life for everyone else. I say we gather everyone in the courtyard, hear Savannah's testimony against the bandits, give our testimony of their camp and hold a vote on their guilt and sentence in public. It'll set a good precedent for all to see our judgment and justice in public.'
Eso shakes her head yes along side Balfour and Toonary as they speak, liking the additions made by Balfour. "I believe a trial with multiple judges sets a good precedent, though I am no master of laws. While appearing mostly as a formality currently as none but the accused could doubt their guilt, it will be a good basis of trust in our judgment for future actions taken against our new settlement."
In addition, Eso moved the conversation back to the point earlier raised by Arm in that future laws of the city. "While still small we can get by on common knowledge of the community to who owns what, but as we expand the town will simply grow too large, setting up a system now of deeds and titles to land so ownership can be tracked will save us time in the future. Moving on to the order of the fortress it cannot be recommended that a civilian be the owner of the keep, once the deeds of ownership are written up she should sell it to us. But she will be allowed to remain inside as the city continues to grow and until the walls are raised for the township." Eso felt a bit bad about requiring the Savannah to sell the fort, but it could lead to further difficulties she would rather avoid.
"I would agree with Toonary, whatever their intentions I cannot necessarily blame someone for doing what is needed for their survival moral or not. We are a new leadership and I beleive it would be best to show mercy for the moment and have them all work off their debts. On the point of Savannah and her home I beleive we should later make a more formal capital when able and leave Savannah and her boys their current home. " Keyyra says sitting down. "But we will need a system of deeds, for the moment though I beleive it would be simple enough for us to hold copies of the deeds before we have a more formal system of tracking them."
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
P: The Traveling Ward: Natural Napalm Enthusiast. (AURYN: The Hunt For The Last Unicorn.)
'Toonary has a point. This is Savannah;'s home. We're forced to adopt it as a base of operations for now, but it seems to me we'll outgrow it very quickly. I think we should plan on either building a whole new base of operations somewhere nearby, or building Savannah a new residence nearby - either way she needs to be compensated for our taking over her lovely little homestead. But it seems to me that's a bit of a way down the road. For now, publicly acknowledging this homestead as hers and creating and filing a deed with the Council seems to be the most prudent first step, unless there are any objections?'
Arm shakes his head. No objections. But we need to hear what Savanah wants as well. That's part of it.
If Savanah's present during their discussion, he'll look to her to speak; if she's not there, he'll go and ask her to join them for a bit, so they can hear what she has to say.
For some reason you all turn to Savanah. She shies away from the attention then squares her shoulders.
"This is my home... But you are welcome to it." she sights. "You are doing good work for the area and the future of this land." She seems to harden he stare and gazes at each of you.
"When I ask you ll take my children in. Or at least help them in their endeavors."
Eso in a somewhat defensive manner stands up waving her hands as if to say no, a look of embarrassment just barely readable from her face, she felt so bad. "There is no reason Savanah to be this drastic, we have no need to kick you completely from your home or farm. My only point of view was as the area grows the fort will grow and expand so it may be better to move the farm out a bit and set you up with a new house to live in later down the line. It was not my intent to make it sound as if I wished to expel you from your home. I instead wish the opposite, that you and others like you can make safe lives here on the frontier, I sincerely apologize." Eso then lowered herself to the floor on her knees before bowing her head to Savanah. Her earlier words now causing her to make a host unwelcomed in her own home, was not the intention. She stayed that way for a few moments before standing up again and returning to her place among the group. "I have no objections to the proposal either..."
Savannah moves to Eso and puts her hand on her shoulder.
"I understand. And I m sorry for speaking so harshly. I m just afraid for the futur. I can see you mean well but things are moving very fast and I m not used to that."
She helps Eso get up and gives her a smile.
"No worries. I will do as you wish and hope that you take good care of us."
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
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'A fine line between paranoia and preparation, that's what my dear ole' Da used to say. Although he was mostly worried about running out of stew and Ale during the festival rush rather than having bandits break loose from their bonds and slit his throat in the middle of the night.'
Balfour looks over the new arrivals quickly, sizing them up both as assets and as potential marks. He knows the Sargent/Paladin by reputation and decides that his men are likely to be as trustworthy, and as competent, as the Paladin himself. Turning back to Esso, Balfour chimes in on the fate of the prisoners.
'I agree. A speedy and formal trial and execution for the ringleader will set the tone for other brigands and bandits going forward. With all these new faces, we'll need to add some barracks, reinforce the walls and put in some new crops - the prisoners will come in handy there and can learn the skills they need to become useful after their terms are served. I'd suggest we add a sweetener to their sentence - if they complete their five years of indentured labor, they'll be granted a smallholding to and the supplies necessary to get it up and running on their release. It'll help keep them in line and help us settle these wildlands with productive people.'
Dan sends a friendly nod toward Keyrra then turns toward Eso and Arms.
"I m here to help. Me and my men are here to keep this place safe and that you have the support of the Council. Just tell me what you want and if I can I ll help."
He casually motions for his men to take the bandits away.
"You should hang them all, so next time you give them a chance they'll know it's for real. They might get ideas if they are freed. They are usually coward at heart."
He looks around.
"Savanah told us to make ourselves at home. We are, but we would like to make her place a real outpost for you guys even when we are called back."
Thank you, sergeant, says Arm with genuine warmth. You and your men are very welcome here. I'm sorry if it was rude to ask, but this is a great undertaking, to bring order to this land, and we all want to get it right. Speaking of which, have you already met with Savanah? This is her home, after all.
(As Arm served in the Silverymoon city militia, I guess he would be familiar with the law of the city - what is needed for a fair trial? History 5)
"If you wish to have them hung I would not object but I do say to be cautions with our punishments. They will likely become a sort of precedent and while I do hate those who prey on the weak I would rather us be known as compassionate and forgiving than cruel and heavy-handed. There is a story behind every ruler and every bandit. Dan that would be great, I would quite like us being able to better defend ourselves here" Keyyra says then will go and see if he can help with the preparations of the fort.
P: The Traveling Ward: Natural Napalm Enthusiast. (AURYN: The Hunt For The Last Unicorn.)
DM:
"I understand the punishment for banditry is death, but being this was uncivilized lands and these rather timid folks, I would argue they could have been forced by the so-called 'Circle'. I say interrogation of the leadership, then labor for the remainder. As time moves on, the punishment for banditry can be readjusted, but for now, gaining seven possible settlers is more beneficial than eight corpses. This is also following our word, we gave them a chance to surrender, and while few did make a break for it they quickly changed their minds about it. Leniency is the policy we should follow in this situation. Belfour, your finalization of my plan, has my support."
Working as a group they had to come to decisions together, while Belfour had mostly said what she had thought of, putting it to a vote between the party would be best, and now they knew how the votes would be split.
'The first vote of our little council here in the hinterlands and it holds life and death consequences. That's rather heavy. But I agree, a vote of the council is the best way to determine our path forward.'
Balfour looks around, trying to see how many of their party are in shouting distance.
'Let's gather everyone inside and make this official like?'
Yes and you may reroll with advantage please.
I would rather let you all RP this part because I think it is important to the group and for later. Let's say that it might hint to a general Alignment.
Dan looks at the back and forth and knows that it is not his place to say anything. He is rather please though that you are actually pondering the matter.
He looks at Arms and nods. " She is rather hard to miss and she was ready to bite our heads if we didn't respect her position. She would have made a damn fine sergeant in the militia let me tell you." He smiles as he says the last part, " and those boys of her are quite the little soldiers already."
"I'll let you all decide what you want to do but know that whatever you decide we will be there to help you out."
Dan Greylock
So Dan is the honest and nice type. If anyone wants to elaborate on him be my guest. I like it when PCs flesh out NPCs. If you wish to create a little background for him do it in a spoiler please. ( He might have other reasons to have volunteered for coming here , or been banished or sent away for political reasons … Have fun
Arm's History check with advantage: 8. He was sleeping in militia class that day.
Arm sits and spends the rest of the day with Savanah and her children; he will help with some chores, and makes sure that the family is comfortable. Savanah herself is tight-lipped about her past, though it's clear she's lived all or most of her life in these lands and is quite insistent that the house, farm and fortress are hers.
Her older son is Adar, and he has the calm, stoic air of a boy who has decided that protecting his family is his responsibility. He and Arm talk about his time in the militia and learning to shoot a bow, and it's clear that he would very much like to be able to take up arms to keep his brother and mother safe; Arm reassures him that there will be plenty of time for that in the future, but for now he should accept his mother's decision that he's still too you.
The younger boy is Tom, and he is similarly untalkative. His interest is clearly nature and animals; he shows Arm some of the interesting beetles and worms he has found, while his mother rolls her eyes and apologises on his behalf. Arm is happy to see him looking into the natural world, and promises to spend time with the lad teaching him what he knows.
As the day comes to a close, Arm and Savanah discuss the changes that are taking place in the fortress and what it will mean for Savanah. He shows her the charter they have from the allied lands surrounding this, and he reassures her that they are here to bring law to this land, not bandits out to rob her or drive her from her home.
This is the only protected and fortified place we know of, though I admit we know little of this land. We must take responsibility for it, and Sergeant Graylock will remain here and make sure you and your family are protected while we do our best to clear the dangers from the surrounding area. I promise you that we are here to stay, and that any agreement you make with us will be legal and binding, protected under the laws of Silverymoon and other lands. The question is, what can we do to put ourselves on a firmer footing. I imagine that in a place like this, you do not have any documents that prove your ownership of the house, or farm. He raises his hand quickly; I am not suggesting that you are not the owner, only that this land is lawless, or it has been up until now. We are bringing law, and that means documents and contracts and other such things.
In short, Arm is proposing that they draw up deeds that name Savanah as the lawful owner of the house, the guesthouse, the farm and the fortress, but also that Savanah should sell the fortress to the party, for a sum to be agreed and paid in future. At the moment, this is only a suggestion that he is running by Savanah; if she seems agreeable, he will take it for discussion with the rest of the party.
Toonary thinks about his time before this mission. He didn't know that being a Minatour was wrong, he didn't know how to act in cities. He only had what he was taught, what if he had been taught wrong like these bandits were? They did break laws but laws of a government that does not exects out here.
Toonary “Toonary think they not know laws. Laws new. Crime small? If they no kill why we kill? Chauntea teach life, I am life.”
Thom Everyman- Midgard One Shots
DMing- The Voyage of the Fallen Star
Balfour nods as Toonary speaks. 'Their crimes weren't exactly small, my friend. Savannah and her boys would have starved to death if those bandits had their way - and all of them are well aware of that. They chose to use their strength to hurt others and take advantage of the weak. That's our job!'
Balfour says this last line as a joke, hoping to lighten the mood a little. A joke that rings with the clarity of truth.
'I think our proposal balances punishment and redemption nicely - death for the leader, hard labor and a chance at a new life for everyone else. I say we gather everyone in the courtyard, hear Savannah's testimony against the bandits, give our testimony of their camp and hold a vote on their guilt and sentence in public. It'll set a good precedent for all to see our judgment and justice in public.'
Eso shakes her head yes along side Balfour and Toonary as they speak, liking the additions made by Balfour. "I believe a trial with multiple judges sets a good precedent, though I am no master of laws. While appearing mostly as a formality currently as none but the accused could doubt their guilt, it will be a good basis of trust in our judgment for future actions taken against our new settlement."
In addition, Eso moved the conversation back to the point earlier raised by Arm in that future laws of the city. "While still small we can get by on common knowledge of the community to who owns what, but as we expand the town will simply grow too large, setting up a system now of deeds and titles to land so ownership can be tracked will save us time in the future. Moving on to the order of the fortress it cannot be recommended that a civilian be the owner of the keep, once the deeds of ownership are written up she should sell it to us. But she will be allowed to remain inside as the city continues to grow and until the walls are raised for the township." Eso felt a bit bad about requiring the Savannah to sell the fort, but it could lead to further difficulties she would rather avoid.
"I would agree with Toonary, whatever their intentions I cannot necessarily blame someone for doing what is needed for their survival moral or not. We are a new leadership and I beleive it would be best to show mercy for the moment and have them all work off their debts. On the point of Savannah and her home I beleive we should later make a more formal capital when able and leave Savannah and her boys their current home. " Keyyra says sitting down. "But we will need a system of deeds, for the moment though I beleive it would be simple enough for us to hold copies of the deeds before we have a more formal system of tracking them."
P: The Traveling Ward: Natural Napalm Enthusiast. (AURYN: The Hunt For The Last Unicorn.)
DM:
Toonary thinks about deeds to land ownership and adds in.
"Savannah home, not our. Not ours give, and take. Bandit work sounds. We build new fort us or new home her."
Thom Everyman- Midgard One Shots
DMing- The Voyage of the Fallen Star
'Toonary has a point. This is Savannah;'s home. We're forced to adopt it as a base of operations for now, but it seems to me we'll outgrow it very quickly. I think we should plan on either building a whole new base of operations somewhere nearby, or building Savannah a new residence nearby - either way she needs to be compensated for our taking over her lovely little homestead. But it seems to me that's a bit of a way down the road. For now, publicly acknowledging this homestead as hers and creating and filing a deed with the Council seems to be the most prudent first step, unless there are any objections?'
Arm shakes his head. No objections. But we need to hear what Savanah wants as well. That's part of it.
If Savanah's present during their discussion, he'll look to her to speak; if she's not there, he'll go and ask her to join them for a bit, so they can hear what she has to say.
For some reason you all turn to Savanah. She shies away from the attention then squares her shoulders.
"This is my home... But you are welcome to it." she sights. "You are doing good work for the area and the future of this land." She seems to harden he stare and gazes at each of you.
"When I ask you ll take my children in. Or at least help them in their endeavors."
"
Eso in a somewhat defensive manner stands up waving her hands as if to say no, a look of embarrassment just barely readable from her face, she felt so bad. "There is no reason Savanah to be this drastic, we have no need to kick you completely from your home or farm. My only point of view was as the area grows the fort will grow and expand so it may be better to move the farm out a bit and set you up with a new house to live in later down the line. It was not my intent to make it sound as if I wished to expel you from your home. I instead wish the opposite, that you and others like you can make safe lives here on the frontier, I sincerely apologize." Eso then lowered herself to the floor on her knees before bowing her head to Savanah. Her earlier words now causing her to make a host unwelcomed in her own home, was not the intention. She stayed that way for a few moments before standing up again and returning to her place among the group. "I have no objections to the proposal either..."
Savannah moves to Eso and puts her hand on her shoulder.
"I understand. And I m sorry for speaking so harshly. I m just afraid for the futur. I can see you mean well but things are moving very fast and I m not used to that."
She helps Eso get up and gives her a smile.
"No worries. I will do as you wish and hope that you take good care of us."