For a month, the occupants of Chateau d'Echelon were in quite a pickle. The moneylender who financed the purchase of the estate and its expansion called in the loan in full, due to an "Act of the Gods" clause in the agreement.
Echelon - Peculiar cleric of an eastern god of the sea and expert on raising pigeons. He had acquired a charmed telepathic wolf, Pathfinder, and fell into the estate by the sheer talents of his hirelings.
Talis Makolin - Bard and lover extraordinaire.
Count Zabty - NPC- half-orc fallen paladin of Akana who had been trapped in stasis for hundreds of years by the spider-people who have infiltrated the kingdom. Acting ruler and protector of Eding and the surrounding villages, after a complete collapse in government over the second half of the year.
Carthon, Jenny and Timmy D'Echelon - NPC- Carthon was Echelon's hireling who established the Chateau. He married Jenny, a sergeant on the village militia and together they adopted lovable orphan/torchbearer/animal handler Timmy, age 10.
Dew Xyclone - NPC -former noblewoman suffering a similar fate to Count Zabty. Upon her rescue she has become the matron of the Chateau, keeping the household running as the others run the farm. Great cook.
Heirylat - NPC -former brigand and father of the famed Lady Iris, Red Knight of Crosedes. Also rescued like Zabty, working as farm hand on the estate.
"Baron" Felix - NPC - Another spider-person kidnappee. Former Baron from Ras-Prythax hundreds of years ago, now farm foreman at the estate.
Mohammad - NPC - former mentor of Echelon. Man from the near-east who had lost his legs in shark/catapult pirate escape years ago. A recent powerful burst of divine power turned him near catatonic, spending most hours meditating in a kitchen broom closet.
30 DecDec, 1070 - Chateau d'Echelon, Village of Eding, Kingdom of Crosedes
Talis: "A letter was delivered today from Velandro saying he and the Dag Family of kobolds were returning from training just in time for the five-day Yule holiday which ended the year!"
36 DecDec, 1070 - Chateau d'Echelon, Village of Eding, Kingdom of Crosedes
The due date to make payment in full on the Chateau arrived, but Talis and Echelon could barely cobble together 1,200gp of the over 12,000gp outstanding balance. Mr Tinpenny did not make an appearance to foreclose. It was decided to continue to empty the contents of the wine cellar, as only items they could carry on their persons and on one mount per person was permitted once the Chateau was surrendered. But drunk Echelon and Talis continued to expand on their not-so-secret plan to secretly kill Tinpenny... his men... and probably government officials/sheriffs overseeing the foreclosure.
1st Day of YULE! 1070 - Chateau d'Echelon, Village of Eding, Kingdom of Crosedes
The first morning of Yule opened to a very hungover Talis and Echelon, all the while Timmy threw a fit because Carthon and Jenny refused to let him out of the Chateau to explore in the rain and mud in the woods.
Early afternoon, Count Zabty made an appearance to inform them that he would not be part of their diabolical plan to kill Tinpenny.
Talis: "Wait, how drunk were we that we told a paladin about our murder plot???"
In fact, Zabty also advised them that he was leaving. Torm and the remaining leadership would be fine to oversee and protect Eding, even if the heroes of the Chateau were missing or drunk.
Once Zabty left, the rest of the friends and staff in the Chateau pledged to follow the heroes lead, whatever that would be.
Before dusk, Velandro and the Dag family finally arrived for the Yule festivities. The entire Chateau company greeted them warmly, save Mohammad, who could be heard in the closet, talking to his god, Tshang Kai Shing.
Talis and Echelon tried to inform Velandro of their trials and tribulations over the past few months, but before they could find a place to hang four small kobold cloaks, they were interrupted by twenty-three of the locals, who noticed the beloved kobolds' return.
Again, warm greetings and warm food was exchanged, until another knock at the door was heard.
This time it was Kane the monk, Ashe the Ranger, and a very pregnant red-head, Babette. All three look tired and road-worn and bloody, as they had encountered a number of wolves on the way from Hydincall, plus a steady snow had caught up to them on their final stretch home. Little was discussed of where Maloran's cousin's brothel went, where Rolf was, or why Ashe's hair was stark white, although they were able to tell everyone of Maloran's heroic demise. Slightly shocked but honored, they poured a toast to their fallen comrade.
More peasants arrived at the Chateau. Some with holiday food, some with bottle of alcohol they had stowed away during all the disasters of the year prior, and a few of the surviving elders brought small carved toys or blankets to the kids (as is part of Yule tradition).
Through the chaos of the party, a snow-covered dwarf appeared in the main room, walking a pony behind him. Norm Dingleberry had returned! Those that knew of the failed mushroom farmer that only spoke Dwarven were amazed that he now spoke Trade Common perfectly, although he did have an outrageous French accent. Baron Felix offered to take the pony, named My Lil, to the barn, but Norm steadfastly refused.
Five more new adventurers arrived, claiming to be former associates of Carthon. One was Kyrill, the dwarf that had aided Echelon in ridding the halfling villages of spider-people. The leader called himself Benvorho, Ambassador of the Little People. Most people found them stranger than Echelon, but they brought wine for all, so they were allowed to stay.
Finally, the fur-clad moneylender, Nebuchadnezzar Tinpenny arrived with an entourage of six guards plate mails and a pile of very official documents in a large box. Confusion swept over the Chateau as he offered Talis and Echelon one final chance to pay in full before he used his authority from the King to kick everyone off of the estate, even if it was the first night of Yule.
Talis and Echelon froze, wondering what would happen if they assaulted the crooked man in front of a crowd of innocents? Would they live? Go to jail? Spark a revolt that would get put down by the King's knights?
Fortunately Norm flipped open some chests strapped to the back of the pony still standing in the room, that somehow had thousands gold and jewels inside...
The Chateau d'Echelon was saved! They kicked the money changer and his men out of the house and hailed Norm a hero!
Another knock at the door was answered to a group of kobolds, ("drinking friends" of Velandro's from the Akana monastery outside Lansluck). The were dressed in the style of a Mariachi band and a very stirring rendition of the kobold holiday classic "Fleaz on My Bod."
Yet again, someone else banged on the front door. It was a cold and somewhat annoyed Rolf Wolfsblood.... wearing Tinpenny's fur coat. The barbarian took the floor and was the first to explain the story of how Kannex teleported a brothel to another world and the adventures that took place there. Those included the one that started the obvious series of tattoos that were now covering his body, as well as the dent that was in Norm's rear.
Norm dropped trow to prove it. It did not dissuade most party-goers.
As stories were trade and more logs thrown onto the fire, there was one last knock at the front door. It was a group of obvious city-folk, along with Lady Iris, Red Knight of Crosedes. After a moment of relief once they were allowed to warm up beside the fire, one of the group read a royal proclamation...
"A proclamation of his majesty King Nevin IV the Ogre-Slayer, of the Great and Royal Kingdom of Crosedes, on the Twenty-Ninth day of DecDec, One Thousand Seventy in the calendar of the Ancien Empire."
"In reference to the following acts, as reported by Lady Iris, Red Knight of Crosedes, County Zabty of Halfwater, Crown Prince William of Arinka, heir to the Crown of Aragain, and His Lawful Holiness, Adolphus, Archbishop of Hydincall:
From the Journal of Baron Echelon of Eding...
"It was a great time had by all as the party drew into the night. Oh Yeah, I almost forgot. I was also declared Baron and given two women whom I have to pay for their services. I think their duties are more administrative, which is good because I don't want to take too much time from training my pigeons....."
DM Notes: I've mentioned in previous blog posts the dynamics of this particular session, but I will do my best to explain it here.
This was the first session with college back in session. We ran this game in the evening of Fall Move-In Day. It was semi-live-action, with Talis and Echelon's players pacing the basement common area (or normal playspace), and a cast of half-informed players waiting on the other side of the door to the unused TV room. Talis and Echelon were quite sure they were going to be force to kill Tinpenny, but as things calmed down enough to review their plans, there was another knock on the door. Not only did all the characters return from their travels far and wide, but I kept adding villagers. tradesmen, and established NPCs to make their visits to the Chateau and their heroes for the last half-year of crisis.
Finally, when Tinpenny arrived (me), things were in a state of chaos, because no one really knew the whole story of what was transpiring. Between chests and bags of holding full of treasure that most of the Talislanta adventurers had forgotten about, Norm was able to save the day. Everyone was surprised, but relieved that the next knock at the door wasn't Rolf, but the "fun" Kobold mariachi band.
The appearance of the tattooed Rolf wearing Tinpenny's coat (he waylayed them out simply out of spite and took just the coat), I initiated the storytelling phase, where everyone tried to tell there part of story, a "What I Gamed Over My Summer Vacation" if you will.
Once we were halfway done with that I dropped the Royal Scribe and his assistants on them. Despite Talis and Echelon feeling like they were all alone combating the fates of Hell from descending onto Eding, King Nevin had received correspondence of their efforts. Heck, their first mention in reports to him was by (spider-person) Lady Iris, who thought them as easily controlled chumps back at the lizardman raid of Eding back in episode #4. The real Lady Iris extolled their virtues in her rescue, and post-wedding clean-up. Prince William had taken control of Eding more out of diplomatic ploy than benevolence, but extended his appreciation for all the efforts in keeping the peace. Heraldists were confused by Count Zabty's ancient credentials, but still accepted his reports on the heroes of the latest Chateau, the true protectors of Eding. Of course, the Archbishop appreciated the return of the Bell and their combat with inter-dimensional pseudo-deities.
With Lord Athelstane dead for nearly five months, and no other proper landowner with valid claim to the land grant, it was simple to bestow a title onto one of the heroes. Baron would force the person to look into the halfling villages, long neglected by Athelstane, and the owner of the Chateau, a man who must already know how to organized a staff, seemed wise to be granted that title.
We're moving onto a chapter in the campaign, complete with new characters. (Yes, Mellandria the Mage was part of this scenario, but I'll give her a proper introduction next episode).
EDIT: Of course, Echelon's player, Steve would just happen upon a pile of campaign papers that force me to tweak the campaign episodes. The actual royal proclamation is the only thing that affects this episode, and outside of a reminder that the old Feraso Empire is referred to the Ancien Empire in royal correspondence, the ret-conned announcement is far superior.
NEXT #31 - Mage Trap!
Echelon - Peculiar cleric of an eastern god of the sea and expert on raising pigeons. He had acquired a charmed telepathic wolf, Pathfinder, and fell into the estate by the sheer talents of his hirelings.
Talis Makolin - Bard and lover extraordinaire.
Count Zabty - NPC- half-orc fallen paladin of Akana who had been trapped in stasis for hundreds of years by the spider-people who have infiltrated the kingdom. Acting ruler and protector of Eding and the surrounding villages, after a complete collapse in government over the second half of the year.
Carthon, Jenny and Timmy D'Echelon - NPC- Carthon was Echelon's hireling who established the Chateau. He married Jenny, a sergeant on the village militia and together they adopted lovable orphan/torchbearer/animal handler Timmy, age 10.
Dew Xyclone - NPC -former noblewoman suffering a similar fate to Count Zabty. Upon her rescue she has become the matron of the Chateau, keeping the household running as the others run the farm. Great cook.
Heirylat - NPC -former brigand and father of the famed Lady Iris, Red Knight of Crosedes. Also rescued like Zabty, working as farm hand on the estate.
"Baron" Felix - NPC - Another spider-person kidnappee. Former Baron from Ras-Prythax hundreds of years ago, now farm foreman at the estate.
Mohammad - NPC - former mentor of Echelon. Man from the near-east who had lost his legs in shark/catapult pirate escape years ago. A recent powerful burst of divine power turned him near catatonic, spending most hours meditating in a kitchen broom closet.
30 DecDec, 1070 - Chateau d'Echelon, Village of Eding, Kingdom of Crosedes
Talis: "A letter was delivered today from Velandro saying he and the Dag Family of kobolds were returning from training just in time for the five-day Yule holiday which ended the year!"
36 DecDec, 1070 - Chateau d'Echelon, Village of Eding, Kingdom of Crosedes
The due date to make payment in full on the Chateau arrived, but Talis and Echelon could barely cobble together 1,200gp of the over 12,000gp outstanding balance. Mr Tinpenny did not make an appearance to foreclose. It was decided to continue to empty the contents of the wine cellar, as only items they could carry on their persons and on one mount per person was permitted once the Chateau was surrendered. But drunk Echelon and Talis continued to expand on their not-so-secret plan to secretly kill Tinpenny... his men... and probably government officials/sheriffs overseeing the foreclosure.
The first morning of Yule opened to a very hungover Talis and Echelon, all the while Timmy threw a fit because Carthon and Jenny refused to let him out of the Chateau to explore in the rain and mud in the woods.
Early afternoon, Count Zabty made an appearance to inform them that he would not be part of their diabolical plan to kill Tinpenny.
Talis: "Wait, how drunk were we that we told a paladin about our murder plot???"
In fact, Zabty also advised them that he was leaving. Torm and the remaining leadership would be fine to oversee and protect Eding, even if the heroes of the Chateau were missing or drunk.
Once Zabty left, the rest of the friends and staff in the Chateau pledged to follow the heroes lead, whatever that would be.
Before dusk, Velandro and the Dag family finally arrived for the Yule festivities. The entire Chateau company greeted them warmly, save Mohammad, who could be heard in the closet, talking to his god, Tshang Kai Shing.
Talis and Echelon tried to inform Velandro of their trials and tribulations over the past few months, but before they could find a place to hang four small kobold cloaks, they were interrupted by twenty-three of the locals, who noticed the beloved kobolds' return.
Again, warm greetings and warm food was exchanged, until another knock at the door was heard.
This time it was Kane the monk, Ashe the Ranger, and a very pregnant red-head, Babette. All three look tired and road-worn and bloody, as they had encountered a number of wolves on the way from Hydincall, plus a steady snow had caught up to them on their final stretch home. Little was discussed of where Maloran's cousin's brothel went, where Rolf was, or why Ashe's hair was stark white, although they were able to tell everyone of Maloran's heroic demise. Slightly shocked but honored, they poured a toast to their fallen comrade.
More peasants arrived at the Chateau. Some with holiday food, some with bottle of alcohol they had stowed away during all the disasters of the year prior, and a few of the surviving elders brought small carved toys or blankets to the kids (as is part of Yule tradition).
Five more new adventurers arrived, claiming to be former associates of Carthon. One was Kyrill, the dwarf that had aided Echelon in ridding the halfling villages of spider-people. The leader called himself Benvorho, Ambassador of the Little People. Most people found them stranger than Echelon, but they brought wine for all, so they were allowed to stay.
Finally, the fur-clad moneylender, Nebuchadnezzar Tinpenny arrived with an entourage of six guards plate mails and a pile of very official documents in a large box. Confusion swept over the Chateau as he offered Talis and Echelon one final chance to pay in full before he used his authority from the King to kick everyone off of the estate, even if it was the first night of Yule.
Talis and Echelon froze, wondering what would happen if they assaulted the crooked man in front of a crowd of innocents? Would they live? Go to jail? Spark a revolt that would get put down by the King's knights?
Fortunately Norm flipped open some chests strapped to the back of the pony still standing in the room, that somehow had thousands gold and jewels inside...
The Chateau d'Echelon was saved! They kicked the money changer and his men out of the house and hailed Norm a hero!
Another knock at the door was answered to a group of kobolds, ("drinking friends" of Velandro's from the Akana monastery outside Lansluck). The were dressed in the style of a Mariachi band and a very stirring rendition of the kobold holiday classic "Fleaz on My Bod."
Yet again, someone else banged on the front door. It was a cold and somewhat annoyed Rolf Wolfsblood.... wearing Tinpenny's fur coat. The barbarian took the floor and was the first to explain the story of how Kannex teleported a brothel to another world and the adventures that took place there. Those included the one that started the obvious series of tattoos that were now covering his body, as well as the dent that was in Norm's rear.
Norm dropped trow to prove it. It did not dissuade most party-goers.
As stories were trade and more logs thrown onto the fire, there was one last knock at the front door. It was a group of obvious city-folk, along with Lady Iris, Red Knight of Crosedes. After a moment of relief once they were allowed to warm up beside the fire, one of the group read a royal proclamation...
"A proclamation of his majesty King Nevin IV the Ogre-Slayer, of the Great and Royal Kingdom of Crosedes, on the Twenty-Ninth day of DecDec, One Thousand Seventy in the calendar of the Ancien Empire."
"In reference to the following acts, as reported by Lady Iris, Red Knight of Crosedes, County Zabty of Halfwater, Crown Prince William of Arinka, heir to the Crown of Aragain, and His Lawful Holiness, Adolphus, Archbishop of Hydincall:
- For dutiful and never ending service in the reclamation and return of the Ancient and Holy Bell of Chardastes for the Faith of the Kingdom.
- For the rescue and escort of foreign dignitaries from areas of outright rebellion.
- For the rescue and safe return of watchful agents of the Crown and innocent peasants alike from kidnapping, murder, and outright brigandry.
- For prompt and ever-vigilant protection of the village of Eding from evil men and the enemies of man, both material and otherworldly.
- For rallying forces to uncover and destroy plots to threaten the rightful lineage of his Royal Majesty and all vassals swearing allegiance to him.
- For the general care of welfare, regardless of boon or despair, of the all the Kingdom's citizens who reside in the general area known as Eding. "
From the Journal of Baron Echelon of Eding...
"It was a great time had by all as the party drew into the night. Oh Yeah, I almost forgot. I was also declared Baron and given two women whom I have to pay for their services. I think their duties are more administrative, which is good because I don't want to take too much time from training my pigeons....."
DM Notes: I've mentioned in previous blog posts the dynamics of this particular session, but I will do my best to explain it here.
This was the first session with college back in session. We ran this game in the evening of Fall Move-In Day. It was semi-live-action, with Talis and Echelon's players pacing the basement common area (or normal playspace), and a cast of half-informed players waiting on the other side of the door to the unused TV room. Talis and Echelon were quite sure they were going to be force to kill Tinpenny, but as things calmed down enough to review their plans, there was another knock on the door. Not only did all the characters return from their travels far and wide, but I kept adding villagers. tradesmen, and established NPCs to make their visits to the Chateau and their heroes for the last half-year of crisis.
Finally, when Tinpenny arrived (me), things were in a state of chaos, because no one really knew the whole story of what was transpiring. Between chests and bags of holding full of treasure that most of the Talislanta adventurers had forgotten about, Norm was able to save the day. Everyone was surprised, but relieved that the next knock at the door wasn't Rolf, but the "fun" Kobold mariachi band.
The appearance of the tattooed Rolf wearing Tinpenny's coat (he waylayed them out simply out of spite and took just the coat), I initiated the storytelling phase, where everyone tried to tell there part of story, a "What I Gamed Over My Summer Vacation" if you will.
Once we were halfway done with that I dropped the Royal Scribe and his assistants on them. Despite Talis and Echelon feeling like they were all alone combating the fates of Hell from descending onto Eding, King Nevin had received correspondence of their efforts. Heck, their first mention in reports to him was by (spider-person) Lady Iris, who thought them as easily controlled chumps back at the lizardman raid of Eding back in episode #4. The real Lady Iris extolled their virtues in her rescue, and post-wedding clean-up. Prince William had taken control of Eding more out of diplomatic ploy than benevolence, but extended his appreciation for all the efforts in keeping the peace. Heraldists were confused by Count Zabty's ancient credentials, but still accepted his reports on the heroes of the latest Chateau, the true protectors of Eding. Of course, the Archbishop appreciated the return of the Bell and their combat with inter-dimensional pseudo-deities.
With Lord Athelstane dead for nearly five months, and no other proper landowner with valid claim to the land grant, it was simple to bestow a title onto one of the heroes. Baron would force the person to look into the halfling villages, long neglected by Athelstane, and the owner of the Chateau, a man who must already know how to organized a staff, seemed wise to be granted that title.
We're moving onto a chapter in the campaign, complete with new characters. (Yes, Mellandria the Mage was part of this scenario, but I'll give her a proper introduction next episode).
EDIT: Of course, Echelon's player, Steve would just happen upon a pile of campaign papers that force me to tweak the campaign episodes. The actual royal proclamation is the only thing that affects this episode, and outside of a reminder that the old Feraso Empire is referred to the Ancien Empire in royal correspondence, the ret-conned announcement is far superior.
NEXT #31 - Mage Trap!
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