Choose your path to greatness, obscurity or death. A multiple choice LP

[Kz3r0]

A - Go and talk to Jacob

1. Work for Lord Medah to gain some standing (and wealth)
2. Study heraldry, history and eloquence
3. Practice swordsmanship and archery

Also, we should probably buy some proper clothes for socialising, charisma alone may not always be sufficient to win people over.

This.

 

[TOME]

A) Ask what kind of work they are offering.

1) Read the books bought earlier.
2) Try to learn magic. Spells would be nice. Healing and alchemy would be nice too.
3) Work for Lord Medah to gain some standing (and wealth).

 

[Esquilax]

A - Go and talk to Jacob

1. Work for Lord Medah to gain some standing (and wealth)
2. Study heraldry, history and eloquence
3. Practice swordsmanship and archery

Also, we should probably buy some proper clothes for socialising, charisma alone may not always be sufficient to win people over.

I am with Kalin as well.

 

[Vernydar]

Very well, all of you want to go and talk to Jacob. As for the goals, the most voted are

• Learn to fight
• Study the books (especially the social skills)
• Learn something occult if possible (alchemy or magic or other)
• Gain wealth and influence, by serving Lord Medah

I will try to keep them in mind, if possible. Now, on to the work interview

And, this is the first update where I may consider taking more than one day, if you can't agree on some answers. Yes, these can be rather important choices for the continuation of the LP!

28 – Declaration of intents

You decide your best bet is to go and meet old Jacob. Hopefully you will be employed by Lord Medah, and that will be an important step towards your growth and your objectives.

You reach Lord Medah's mansion, and introduce yourself to the guard, asking to meet Jacob. He tells you to stay here a bit, and after a few minutes you are shown in. After waiting maybe 20 minutes you are guided to a cozy, warm study where Jacob greets you and invites you to sit down.

You tell him that you though about this in these last 2 days, and that if there's some work to be done, you'd like to have your chance at it. Jacob nods, and tells you that he'd like to know a bit more about you though. You are a bit perplexed but agree to this, and soon you are being questioned on everything regarding your life. What you can do, what your parents taught you, he even has you demonstrate your proficiency at reading with some old tomes he has in here. Finally satisfied, he sits back a bit in his chair and nods once again.

"You indeed, a rather smart youth, and very capable in the art of reading and writing. Of course you are inexperienced in most other matters, but that's to be expected considering your age. And that skill alone is worth more than just about anything you could know now, there's so few people who can read and write. You can be taught the rest."

"But before deciding what tasks I could ask your assistance with, I need to ask you a few more questions. Think well before answering, the answers to these questions are important indeed."

You brace yourself and focus, conscious that your possible future as a retainer to Lord Medah is at stake.

"The first thing I'd like to ask you is: How long would you like to be in service of Lord Medah? I need to know before proposing anything."
1) (Open choice. Discuss this between yourselves. Needs not be a number, but at least something indicative like:a few months, a few years, or more than a few years)

"Then, what is it that you want to accomplish here? What is it that you are after young Kyoss, by asking to work for Lord Medah? Tell me your goals please."
2) (Open choice)(Need NOT be what you told me in the last update. This is just what you want to tell Jacob!)

"And finally, do you have any preferences? For example, would you like to work with numbers, money and inventories? Or maybe you'd like a task where you have to work with people? Or, be sent to investigate when and where needed? Or something else entirely?"
3) (Open choice. Just give a generic preference or two please. No metagaming, no asking things Kyoss can't know, no mentioning a single skill, you are being asked general fields. I do not guarantee you will do what you propose. It's just a guideline to me IF I deem it feasible. Keep in mind Kyoss is a nobody now, requests to be a diplomat in a foreign nation or something similar will be laughed at )

There we go, please answer all three

 

[Vernydar]

Since quite a few people asked about magic, the occult, alchemy and paranormal I'll make the point up to now. This has NO particular bearing to this specific update of course, you just asked me yesterday and today, so here I answer you.

You do not know for sure.

The things you know are:
- Alchemy does exists
- There are monstrous insects around
- Lord Medah told you that those ruins were tainted, but explained no further beyond saying it was not a disease

The thing you have heard of, but are not sure about, are:
- The gods do exists and miracles happen
- There are seers who can predict the future
- The great city of Avarlos fell supposedly in one night, something that sounds like paranormal involvement

The only thing I will confirm as a DM is that if "canonical magic" exists, it must be somewhat under cover at least in this part of the world because you never saw anything regarding magic, nor heard people talking about it. It could be that there's no "canonical" magic, or that it's not known here, or that it's practiced in secret here.

You COULD of course ask informed and/or cultured people if you wanted to. And no, you never did. But you must think if you want to ask of course

 

[Kashmir Slippers]

Just got caught up on this LP. It is great!

For choices:

1) At least a few months, leaning toward a couple of years. We are a young man with little else to do. This lord is probably the best bet we have now to get advanced and conditioned.
2) Advancement, enrichment, and refinement. We are an ambitious young man with no family and no real prospects.
3) Doing some moving around and investigating would be nice. Kyoss could gain some experience without his survival traits rusting from lack of use.

Thanks for doing this LP and sorry if I am not doing the formatting correctly.

 

[Vernydar]

Just got caught up on this LP. It is great!

For choices:

1) At least a few months, leaning toward a couple of years. We are a young man with little else to do. This lord is probably the best bet we have now to get advanced and conditioned.
2) Advancement, enrichment, and refinement. We are an ambitious young man with no family and no real prospects.
3) Doing some moving around and investigating would be nice. Kyoss could gain some experience without his survival traits rusting from lack of use.

Thanks for doing this LP and sorry if I am not doing the formatting correctly.

The formatting is fine. Thanks to you for posting here

 

[Hoodoo]

1) We dont know? That would be the true answer I think. Lets just say a year or so, probably more.
2) Tell him we've asked around and Him and Medah sound like good and influential people and you see many opportunities working with them
3) We want to work with Irene
Something between working with people and investigating would be good though I think.

 

[TOME]

1) First a month as a trial period and if everything goes well, then a some number of years.

2) See the world? Achieve greatness? Follow father's footsteps? Don't know about this one yet.

3) Something between working with people and investigating would be good though I think.

 

[ScubaV]

1) At least a few years. As long as Lord Medah will have us. Kyoss may technically be a man, but it's doubtful we'll find a better person to tutor him into becoming a real man than Lord Medah. An aristocratic general who seems both well-respected and competent? Yes please.
2) Tell him something to the effect of #1. We wish to mature into an educated and skilled man from the experiences under Lord Medah's employ.
3) Let's work with people. Ideally, we'll eventually have people to do the dirty work for us. We'll always have need of social skills to get others to do what we want. Maybe we can combine this with field work if people want.

I agree with Smashing Axe's arguments for 1.

 

[m4davis]

1) First a month as a trial period and if everything goes well, then a some number of years.

2) See the world? Achieve greatness? Follow father's footsteps? Don't know about this one yet.

3) Something between working with people and investigating would be good though I think.

agreeing with this

 

[Esquilax]

1) At least a few years. Kyoss may technically be a man, but it's doubtful we'll find a better person to tutor him into becoming a real man than Lord Medah. An aristocratic general who seems both well-respected and competent? Yes please.
2) Tell him something to the effect of #1. We wish to mature into an educated and skilled man from the experiences under Lord Medah's employ.
3) Let's work with people. Ideally, we'll eventually have people to do the dirty work for us. We'll always have need of social skills to get others to do what we want. Maybe we can combine this with field work if people want.

This.

Good, except for 1). For 1) Let's stay on as long as Lord Medah would have us.

I think that working with people will play to our strengths while also allowing us to develop some skill at warfare and combat. I would also like to add that we should probably get that book on tactics that none of us really wanted from the bookstore. Irene seems like the military type as well, so I'd ask him if we could possibly work with her since we've already made a good impression with her and she seems competent and skilled...

And who better than an older woman to teach us what we need to know?

 

[Arpad]

1) A couple of years at least. So long as he'll have us. You probably wont find as influential employer so easily. Some smalltime job for merchants maybe but nothing very grand or profitable. Your no Rance yet.
2) To become an educated and skilled man. Achieve diplomatic skills and get your country to better position.
3) Work with people and numbers.

The only real prospect is literacy, Kyoss is useless at anything else. You can probably get proper swordmanship training and such in the side if you show up you are valuable asset through your intelligence and literacy. Become an accountant and start embezzling funds and charm Irene.

 

[Monty]

1) At least a few years. Kyoss may technically be a man, but it's doubtful we'll find a better person to tutor him into becoming a real man than Lord Medah. An aristocratic general who seems both well-respected and competent? Yes please.
2) Tell him something to the effect of #1. We wish to mature into an educated and skilled man from the experiences under Lord Medah's employ.
3) Let's work with people. Ideally, we'll eventually have people to do the dirty work for us. We'll always have need of social skills to get others to do what we want. Maybe we can combine this with field work if people want.

Agree with this, but would suggest we also do some field work / investigations so we can build on our outdoors and exploration experience too... one day we may have to leave this cushy arrangement and could be on our own again.

edit: Smashing Axe has also convinced me, let's say we want to stay as long as he'll have us.

 

[newcomer]

1. At least a few years As long as we can (Smashing Axe made a good argument). Lord Medah values commitment, and we will never get the chance to flirt with Irene if we only stay for a few months
2. Wish to be more mature, skilled, and educated person
3. Work with people or money

 

[Smashing Axe]

We should remember what we have discovered of Lord Medah, that he is a man who values loyalty and commitment above all. This isn't a modern day job interview where it's customary to stay on for a few years, we're in a medieval society where a person's job at sixteen is their job at sixty, and although Medah seems fairly unconventional, we know what he wants from an employee. We need to give him a reason to invest resources in our training and education.

Thus I propose, that at this stage, we tie ourselves to Lord Medah. We don't have a better option at the moment, and if very necessary we can change our mind, although I can't really see an opportunity that would tempt us at the moment from this course. Remember that we don't have much to offer besides our skill at reading, but it is that skill they think they can build all the others around which will take time. They won't help us improve if we leave as soon as we're content, they'll expect a return on their investment, or they won't invest much at all.

Those of you who elect only a few years, please reconsider your vote, I don't think Medah will employ us properly otherwise.

1) We plan to stay as long as Lord Medah would have us.

2) I like Scuba's option, we wish to mature into a skilled and educated man from our experiences under Lord Medah's employ. While this is true, I don't think it's the full extent of what Jacob is looking for.

I think what they're searching for is some loyalty to the kingdom as well. We should say that we're curious how Eskal fell so low, and want to contribute towards glory returning once more to our country. Medah's one of the foremost figures in Eskal politics and likely to share in this thought. I can't see how this would go wrong.

Add that we also want to help put the murderers of that village to justice

3) Work with people and investigation. Both complement each other and we should get some interesting missions that don't involve accounting. Also may discover more about the occult/ruins

 

[Esquilax]

We should remember what we have discovered of Lord Medah, that he is a man who values loyalty and commitment above all. This isn't a modern day job interview where it's customary to stay on for a few years, we're in a medieval society where a person's job at sixteen is their job at sixty, and although Medah seems fairly unconventional, we know what he wants from an employee. We need to give him a reason to invest resources in our training and education.

Thus I propose, that at this stage, we tie ourselves to Lord Medah. We don't have a better option at the moment, and if very necessary we can change our mind, although I can't really see an opportunity that would tempt us at the moment from this course. Remember that we don't have much to offer besides our skill at reading, but it is that skill they think they can build all the others around which will take time. They won't help us improve if we leave as soon as we're content, they'll expect a return on their investment, or they won't invest much at all.

Great rundown of the choices. You're absolutely right, I think we've all been projecting our modern expectations of a job interview and employment on the situation at hand, and it just doesn't work that way here. We are a commoner and the only way to become a somebody in this society is to provide service to somebody who is already important so that they can make you into someone who's important as well. Loyalty and dedication, or at least the appearance of it, is pretty much the only way to get ahead if you're on the bottom rung.

2) I like Scuba's option, we wish to mature into a skilled and educated man from our experiences under Lord Medah's employ. While this is true, I don't think it's the full extent of what Jacob is looking for.

I think what they're searching for is some loyalty to the kingdom as well. We should say that we're curious how Eskal fell so low, and want to contribute towards glory returning once more to our country. Medah's one of the foremost figures in Eskal politics and likely to share in this thought. I can't see how this would go wrong.

That's fair. I think that we should be honest about what we want, (i.e. we want to be an educated and skilled man and we see Lord Medah as the means for that) but we should also give a motivation bigger than our own personal glory. Perhaps we can say that we want to bring the people that butchered that village to justice before they cause any more trouble to the village.

3) Work with people and investigation. Both complement each other and we should get some interesting missions that don't involve accounting. Also may discover more about the occult/ruins

This part however, I disagree with. I think that many posters are seriously underestimating the value of money here. If we are familiar with money and numbers in a world of uneducated peasants, we'll be gods among insects. Besides, having familiarity with wealth and a keen eye for finance could prove to be the key to making Eskal a powerful nation.

 

[Smashing Axe]

The reason I want to do investigation is myriad, although I can respect that we have different long-term objectives for Kyoss (I want an AoD-esque loremaster who goes spelunking in ruins and finds ancient artifacts/mysteries which he amasses in secret to attain power). Investigation will make great use of our high perception, it will encourage them to train us for expeditionary missions, which will also include skill at arms and perhaps stealth/reconnaisance, and will work well with our natural charisma if we are sent to different locations. I also think the missions we get sent on will be more hands on and intense, which will make for interesting reading. (I get my plotting banker LP fix from Anthony Sommers).

I agree with you on the second point, wanting to help put the murderers of that village to justice seems decent motivation that would resonate well with Medah. It was after-all a very traumatic experience for Kyoss.

 

[Stygian Lurker]

1) We plan to stay as long as Lord Medah would have us.

2) I like Scuba's option, we wish to mature into a skilled and educated man from our experiences under Lord Medah's employ. While this is true, I don't think it's the full extent of what Jacob is looking for.

3) Work with people and investigation. Both complement each other and we should get some interesting missions that don't involve accounting. Also may discover more about the occult/ruins

This. I would also say to Jacob that we are ready to do some other work when working with people or investigation is not available.

 

[Jick Magger]

Going with Smashing Axe here

 

[Zwist]

1) Generally we do not know, we do not know enough of the world as it is. But I am leaning towards a few years myself, depending on what we think at the time maybe longer.
2) Because from what we hear of others we are seeking employment among the two most competent people around at the moment. And by far so. Truth is we got quite a lot to learn, and this seems to be a good place, maybe even serving the betterment of all in the process.
3) Scientia potentia est. We lust for knowledge, no sense denying it. An while we probably could work with accounting we are young and seek adventures, new faces and not numbers. So people and/or investigation would be well in our interest.

 

[Urist McLurker]

Going with Smashing Axe here

 

[Vernydar]

Very well. It seems you reached an agreement, so no need to wait further.
1) Most wanted to stay at least a few years, if not as much as Lord Medah would have you. Basically, long term commitment
2) Skilled and educated man is what most people voted for goals. Though the wording was different, most voted this. Second place, improvement of the kingdom (with your involvement if possible, and a good deal of personal prestige).
3) Working with people and/or investigation are the ones most voted.

Once again, thanks who all who voted. Now I'll write the update, think it might take more than a hour,maybe two, I have a bit of planning to do.

P.S. Sorry for the late hour. But you know, I was watching UEFA Euro 2012. If we did lose, I would probably not be in the mood to write tonight

 

[Vernydar]

29 – Meeting captain Kalz

You think carefully about what to answer, and then you tell Jacob you'd like to work for Lord Medah for quite a long time, at least a few years if things work out. Also, regarding your motivations, you'd like to become a skilled and cultured man. You would also like to see Eskal grow into a greater power, possibly with your help. And if that ends up favoring you as well, you're certainly not going to complain. You do have your own ambitions.

And finally as for your preferences, you would like to work with people, to learn how to properly interact with them, but you would not be against some field works, possibly investigation or exploration or anything else needed.

You are actually quite sincere with these answers. After these last last few days you do think that Lord Medah is your best bet to reaching greatness of some sort. It would be hard to find a similarly powerful and connected patron. But apart from that, you also feel that he may truly be someone worthy to be followed, at least for now while you're still young and need to learn so much. After that, who knows what will happen.

Jacob listens attentively to your answers, and then nods:
"Yes, these answers are acceptable, though of course you also have some ambition. That is normal, it would be strange if you did not have your own goals. But it is good that you did not lie to me. Very well, I think this will do for now."

Jacob then explains to you what is going to happen. He will give you a room in the nice, comfortable building next to Lord Medah's mansion. All the non-military retainers of the Lord have their quarters there. That room will be yours for as long as you serve, unless of course you demonstrate you deserve something better. Your food and living expenses will also be payed for by Bitak's treasury, as well as any expense you may need for your work. You will perceive a salary too on top of all this, but he tells you quite directly that he'll see how much that will be after a few weeks. He then tells you to come back in the afternoon for your first assignment.
(This is so I can work out the money system better, bear with it )

You are quite happy with this, and use most of the morning relocating in your new room. It's simple, but spacious, clean and quite nice. And it also has a lock for which you have the only key. You also carry over the books you had left in Thomas's care for now, and can't help but feel you have taken your first step on the road to self improvement. You remember these last few days though, how sometimes you felt truly out of place with your clothes. You decide to spend the rest of the morning visiting the clothier.

You reach the store and ask for some clothes who might make you blend in more in a settlement. The shopkeeper guides you in selecting a few possibilities. At first you think of having the clothes paid by your new patron, but then you decide against it. You do not quite think that fancy clothes could be filed under "living expenses", and besides, you do not want to go on a spending spree and make a bad impression immediately.

Buy what you want. (You can buy more than one article of each type or none at all)(Remember you have 7 silver and 78 copper)
1) Common set of villager's clothes. What most people wear. 15 coppers.
2) Nice set of clothes, middle-upper class for villager. Not too fancy, but decent. 30 coppers.
3) Good set of clothes. For formal occasions or for looking like a somewhat wealthy young man. 70 coppers.
4) Very rich clothes. When you want to seem like a quite wealthy young man. Probably out of place in most places. 2 silvers.

After you are done, you have lunch and then early in the afternoon you head for Jacob's office again. Inside you see a tall, stocky middle-aged man wearing a uniform. Jacob introduces him as captain Kalz.

"Captain Kalz is a seasoned, no nonsense captain who has distinguished himself for a long time. For your first task you will accompany him on a mission for maybe a couple of months. You must know that Bitak during the course of the summer receives important supplies from the villages of Strok and Nokos. These supplies are even more abundant and varied now that we plan to build stone walls around Bitak."

"Captains Kalz will, for the next 6-8 weeks, go to those villages, talk to all the involved parties, make sure that everything is in order and that every bit of those supplies is being sent to Bitak. This could also involve having to smooth things over with the various merchants, and to solve any problem that may arise. You will go with him and serve as a helper, though I am making clear here that he is in command."

"Kalz is experienced and well trusted, but he cannot read. Your specific tasks will be the following then. First, I want you to check every written document he needs so that he can know if someone is trying to capitalize on his illiteracy. Then, you are to check in the records that the proper amount of goods are being sent, compared to what should be sent. Also, you'll send me a report every couple of weeks through a messenger, so I know how things are going. And finally, I want you to write down anything strange or of notice that you may see, and if needed ask the captain to send a messenger to let me know of that as soon as possible. That's it, if you need the captain will provide with other things"

As you and Kalz leave the mansion, he talks to you.
"Well, Kyoss, nice to meet you. You need not worry too much about the formalities here, just as long as we respect each other. I'm glad having you along, it will be reassuring to know I have someone who can read with me. I certainly don't want any of those greedy villagers and merchants to take advantage of me. By the way, really impressive that you can read and write at your age."

"We will leave tomorrow morning at the first light of dawn. I suggest you go to bed soon, I was told that you don't know how to ride, so the next few days will be hard on you, heh. Now, I have to go and prepare my men for the journey and I suppose you must do the same. But I guess I can spare a few minutes if you want. Do you have something you want to ask me?"

Which question are you going to ask?
A) Ask Kalz to tell you about himself
B) Ask Kalz about the road
C) Ask Kalz about the villages
D) Ask Kalz about something else. Make a proposal put a letter on it.

Also, tell me if you want to leave things in your room, or if you have any last minute thing to do. If these get enough votes I will consider them. Remember you must go to bed soon!

 

[m4davis]

2
A
of course leave the books we can't carry with us