Archon's Curse [Pathfinder Kingmaker]

[Imperator Pax]

Lamashan 4714
Thousands of feet marched to the beat the drums keeping the men on foot inline... and while that organization dated to or predated even the medieval period the march base was based on the armies of the civil war. So to were the equipment and packs that the men carried, the ones not outfitted with early style bergen style rucksacks, using bent branches for the frame, even if those were far more limited. They were allocated to specialty troops, and he didn't expect that to change, even if next year, or the year following he might see the royal army's professional troops outfitted with entrenching tools for the times when there were no druids or other magic users to facilitate preparing breastworks.

That would not be this campaign.

They had departed from Olegton in the knowledge that other troops would be moving to join them. The brevic hinterlands in the south rostlandic plain were already beginning to see peasants pushed south fleeing the fighting, or really theplundering ongoing. Troops would move up to garrison Olegton and reinforce the defenses, and those would be the first real truly serious defensive works around the northernmost town of the kingdom.

Something... loathe as Eire was to admit it not readily factored into his planning for the realm. Olegton had been an early project that had fallen to the wayside of his planning, and his aims to build the kingdom. Not that Oleg minded, and as lord mayor was effective it was just the town had been subject to benign neglect being allowed to largely take shape and grow more along rostlandic and brevic lines ... and it was true Tatzlford was also more brevic in character, more akin to Varnhold in that respect or he supposed less so but still similar to the drelev domain on the lake than they were to his imperial cities.

The sheer difference though had surprised him when he'd arrived... and not just for the the reasons of religious institutions that were more prevalent in the southern portions of his dominion. That was something that would have to be addressed , especially if the crisis continued. He was hoping to force a swift resolution, but that assumed, was contingent on the enemy doing what they wanted... and that wasn't , was never a given.

The Rostlandic plain offered no real barriers to an invading army, or even just an army on the march even during the rainy season it was rarely prone to storms that might turn the land awash with mud, and winters except in the north rarely camecold enough to seriously imperil a prepared traveler. That wasn't to say Brevoy didn't have its share of bandits, and outlaws, but those were hardly a concern in the present situation.

"What do you believe is Armag's ambition out here?"

The uplands, the slight rising of theplains made no apparent better option for a base than that of the hinterlands. Brevoy's southern extent was lightly settled, and the lowlands that abutted it were largely empty grasslands. The uplands were a series of rugged hills and dense undergrowth, not all together dissimilar to the Narlmarches. "Ordinarily this would be a defensive hedgerow, but that does not seem to be the case." He paused, "Amvarean, how close are we to the Tiger Lords?"

"They're near enough, their ancestral lands are not too far from us," Which was relative, yes it was true they could march that way but close for dragons was always a question of wing flight. "All of this is land that the Kellids would say with truth that their ancestors walked in Armag's time."

He nodded, acknowledging the statement... and of course that it brought them potentially back to another argument over Stolen Lands, this or that who and by whom. Gorrum's champion had predated the founding of the city of Absalom. "And what is here that draws them?"

"I would suspect the tomb of that Armag," The silver dragoness replied, "And if history records truth then where Orvinbaane his great sword lays resting."Golarion had no shortage of magic swords, and it was no surprise the weapon of choice for the tiger lords, or most Kellids or iobarian warriors of note... and of course that was true of more southern nations. Ancient Azlant, its descendants in Cheliax and Taldan, Sarenrae faithful amongst the padishah empire, and people further still.

The sword was the weapon of heroes after all.

"We will need to cross the East Sellen River if we keep this course," He replied sparing an eye to the army on the march. Not that crossing the river would be a problem, it was just going to be ironic if they made the march alongthe Taldan road only to then swing south to the western border of where Drelev's influence had come up against where the Tiger Lords extended. It didn't matter, if that was what needed to be done, then so be it.

They road on for several more hours. The outriders turned and signaled they had spotted flags, and it was as the sky descended in the western horizon that the first banners stood on the horizons. The familiar masses of tents encamped of Kellids and Iobarian folk spread out. Shaoyu was static at the sight that splayed out before them. It was, she was right, what they had been looking for.

They were close to the Brevic border, but still yet beyond what was formally under Brevoy's crown at least so far as the Rogavarian dynasty that had disappeared more than a decade earlier had laid claim and to and actually administered... but it was close enough and near enough to the old Taldan road that the gathering of barbarians would have had an easy enough time to ride across the border... and likely in years previous for brevic nobles to ride down and disperse gathering, but much smaller, barbarian hordes before they could become much trouble.

... they were too late for that. If this was what it appeared, to be one of the outer tribes of Armags confederation, then no simple collection of barons and their heavy horse supported by peasant levies would have the weight to push them aside and drive them from their camps. On the other hand, as Amvarean was quick to make note of, "They do not appear hostile," And with reason, if Armag was still hosting visiting warriors.

"Then they may permit our passage," Though also likely would the army loose what if any element of surprise that they already had. A part of him regretted not bringing Akiros with them that might have benefitted them here to speak with the tribe here... or not it might it might have meant nothing but it might not have hurt their chances. "Or they may challenge it," He acknowledged, but this camp if he didn't misjudge seemed to be recent... and that was part of why he suspected it was one of the outer members of the barbarian gathering around Armag.

A confrontation or safe passage was possible for any number of reasons.

 

[Stickypiston]

Was there a chapter about his kingdom's subjects reactions when he revealed his dragon? I felt like that was glossed and skipped over.

 

[Imperator Pax]

Was there a chapter about his kingdom's subjects reactions when he revealed his dragon? I felt like that was glossed and skipped over.

Click to shrink...

No because it took place while visiting mendev but most of the realm is aware Shaoyu and amvarean are red and silver dragons and this is relevant later

 

[Imperator Pax]

Lamashan 4714
Kellid society did not have uniform gender norms... the best example of this were Amiri's insular Six Bears tribe that stratified women and men into expected roles even if they didn't rigidly enforce it. That was perhaps the most important fact in comparison to other southern and more sedentary community the rigidity in enforcement was often a privilege of wealthier more sedentary societies with more complex organizational hierarchies to justify such practices.

The Kellid tribes simply had a different view of how to employ the division of labor than more urbandwelling societies, and that was often a by product of what resources they had to use. For Amvarean, and for the surroundings of Lake Silverstep the iobarians who came to pay her homage were of a people used to at least to one deree or another contacts with dragons.

The Kellids of the Lands of the MammothLords were not that different. In the land of the Mammoth lords dragons a known thing. A powerful force to cajole or offer bribes for protection from or protection by. Had Ilthuliak cared to do so she might have pressed down upon the river faring kellid tribes demanding tribute, and like Amvarean her gender would have been irrelevant.

Eire knew that their entourage musthave attracted some attention. Gorrum was a popular deity among Kellids, but hardly to the extent of the exclusion of all others. Though some of the barbarians here were grim faced and on guard most were not hostile... for the moment they were all guests and fair travellers beneath the open sky. The guest right would hold until it was broken, and more importantly their hosts were quick to speak.

Irovetti of Pitax was the one who put the idea, if the idea had really even needed to be put at all, in Armag's head about raiding Restov. There were any number of reasons for Pitax to want the barbarians to sweep north into the rostlandic plain... Pitax probably wasn't even having to pay all that much since such a campaign was likely intended to be self funding from the rights of plunder taken from southern Brevoy.

... and if Armag's host could actually sack Restov, or just force a payment of tribute to lift the siege then that was probably far more in value than Pitax could hope to pay from its treasury to encourage the raid. It was dangerous though...yes Brevoy was divided and the monarchy was weak and how supported it was was always a question, but it was a gamble to roll the device both if Brevoy did rally, or if Armag became too over mighty. Just because 'the Twice born' hadn't demonstrated an inclination to turn on Pitax didn't mean it was somehow impossible.

If Eire was already considering such he had to assume Pitax's petty king had that in mind... and if Irovetti had thought about it... well it was possible he was hoping that Restov took care of the problem... but all of that was less important in the here and now. Amvarean tilted slightly, "I am disappointed by the lack of Brevic response to such actions, I did not think I would say this, and certainly I do not do lightly, but I rather miss the Rogavarians." She remarked in draconic. Eire nodded in acknowledgement, though he could not comment on the missing dynasty of Brevoy, which had all disappeared before his arrival on Golarion, "And these scarred sisters they speak, more Fae I assume, I wish that Eranex had travelled with us."

The comment prompted another nod. TheScarred Sisters disfigured and veiled were with Armag, another partof his entourage... but one that didn't ... well wasn't so strangefor the Kellid tribes... Armag had grown his confederation and seeking the advice of wise women and potent spellcasters wassoemthing that could be understood. "I would have liked thatRestov had made good on their bravado, but we cannot depend on that." And as for those disfigured sisters... "we are here," He stated in draconic with emphasis... and the force assembled had noshortage of cold iron weapons that were faerie bane. Even facingnominally normal human warriors it would have been stupid to not take some precaution against meddling by the first world... and while lacking the truly impressive rivers of his own domain the rivers thatflowed into the tuskwater the grasslands west of the eastern sellen teemed with smaller waterways. He paused and turned to regard the stone giants beneath the lion banner, "They are not alarmed or surprised by our companions."

"Armag must have gathered giants of his own."

That had been rumored for months now, and of course there had been a handful of hill giants at Pitax. Enough of them to siege Restov? Perhaps so given the reaction. There had been skittering talks of Numerian weirdness as well... nothing concrete but all the same the plunder needed to satisfy such a force was not an encouraging development. It didn't matter if Armag was overestimating his own strength, or if he actually had it, "That may well explain his willingness to attempt it." And... the truth was, "We're going to have to expand the army," And probably the navy for that matter, the truth was it had been the establishment of the Royal Navy which had been a priority in this year's legislature. "And consecrate more temples." Specifically in the north of the realm.

Amvarean nodded, "This was known," the Silver replied, "the Hooktongue will require much of our time this coming year."

There was a shuffling from the kellid ranks as men reached out clasp one of their number as he moved forward through them. The figure made his way through, with a small entourage of other men. A priest of Gorum stood near in lockstep, and with a nod the cleric stepped, "Hail, I am Gwart, and I travel with Dugath of the Tiger Lords," The man who had been greeted by the throng of barbarians, who was dressed in a flowing cloak made from the hide of a smilodon of unusually large size.

"Well met," He replied, but what he really wanted to ask was what really brought the two here, and now. Dugath was a man in perhaps late middle age; one in excess of six feet in height. Old enough to be graying at the temples, but more silver fox if such were appropriate... and what he and his coreligionist had come this way with was the matter, the same matter that they had come this way for.

"I know of the Six Bears, and I know Armag trusts the wisdom of his witches who have given him shelter, and the promises they make to help him recover his sword," He shared a look with Amvarean even as Dugath spoke, "But while he places great confidence in their talents, they are not Kellid... not even humans, but women from the first world... and his actions are not of the Way. They wish him to erect a holding and rely on magic as the Taldan people do... as you have done." Dugath was merely stating what he believed... it wasn't an insult though he did seem to disagree with the course of action.

"I have seen no evidence Armag wishes to establish a territorial kingdom." Eire remarked.

The man nodded, "Armag himself has resisted their suggestions but the promise of plunder and controlling the wealth of great stone cities is a tempting one to any man, and their aims are to make him a king. To take and hold cities, and to command laws into being, which have never previously been... for what I presume must be to help them with yet other tasks, for they would have him conquer and wage war against the neighboring lands though for what purpose I cannot say."

 

[Imperator Pax]

Lamashan 4714
There was a pause in the conversation as Dugath took sight of what was around them, paused to allow men to exchange cups of wine, and beer and small plates of bread, and salt, and cheese, and cured meats.

Dugath had no doubt seen his share of armies over his life, but it was clear the cleric of Gorum was not quite certain what to make of the uniform fabric and colors worn by the assembled ranks. Handmade, homespun garments could affect the appearance of uniformity, they could, but there was a starkdifference between what a uniform machine needlework process looked like en masse. The chieftan nodded towards the stone giants before returning his attention back, and beginning to speak again, "Armag should be marching on Restov, or marching here to meet you," Thebarbarian remarked with a frown. Should was the operative word in the statement, "Were Armag in his right senses he would see that, and we might have an alliance or have battle... but we have neither." He finished in not quite halting common but some something of an odd accent.

That left the question of where was Armag, "Where is Armag?"

"We have found the lost tomb of the Armag who was," Dugath responded, stopping and gesturing to Gwart who nodded at the acknowledgment.

The other cleric of Gorrum nodded once in Eire's direction, "It is a great edifice, a mighty temple that our lord in iron commanded raised to bury Armag with Orvinbaane." Gwart's comment was the same, in content, that Dugath had said several minutes earlier, "It is a great sword, a powerful magical weapon and would be a potent symbol of Gorrum's favor to recover it."

Eire did not much associate with Gorum's church. Even in Brevoy the year he had spent there the household churches of the nobility had not been something he had frequented. "You have said," He remarked looking to the both of them, "That he means to take the sword, and the he appears to be interested in establishing a territorial kingdom, "And he knew that that terminology was probably lost on the two... it was a description from social science within anthropology, history, and sociology that had emerged in the 20th​ century on Earth from medievalists, and of course as had been pointed out it was not so much that Armag wanted to but he was being encouraged to do so... but even that raised questions... "I have heard this before."

"Hargulka?" Shaoyu said speaking up. Amvarean didn't interject but glanced to the young red, "This is no accident then."

It wasn't. Hargulka had had no scarred nymphs to aid him in establishing his kingdom but then he had never gotten to such numbers, and he hadn't been resistant to the idea of breaking with tradition either. Hargulka and several of his trolls were enthusiastic of building a complex society around sedentary urban settlements particularly because of what they could trade and make... but he doubted that had been the priority... or the goal.

The conversation paused, diverting to the subject of the last of the four attempted expeditions, the fourth would be barony... that of the expedition mounted by the Iron Wraiths mercenary company, which should have been able to establish itself, and of course in realpolitik Eire recognized would have created a buffer state on the border with Pitax capable of blocking the petty kingdom of Irovetti from making claims without running afoul of its border with the other aldori state. They had never gotten off the ground though.

Dugath nodded, "Perhaps not, when Amiri of the Six Bears arrived it was no secret what you had built, there had been others of her following before who had come to Armag's banner. Armag had questions for their shaman Nilak when they arrived," The statement established that Dugath had either been present, or had been informed that Amiri had at least reached Armag's camp... and that was good news of course, but it had other implications... not the least of which was the reasonable assumption that Armag was expecting them. "You have the ear of the gods, though you are not kellid many would recognize your kingship. More than would recognize either the man who rules in Pitax or the usurper in the north who does nothing to stop the army marching across Rostland." And then of course there was Numeria, and the Black Sovereign who was the last immediate monarch of note, the only of the three between Pitax, Brevoy and Numeria who was a kellid.

Gwart began to speak again, "Armag is unsteady, unsure or at least is unclear to the following what he means to do. There is confusion, as Dugath has stated we should be either allies or honorable foes, but Armag for all the questions he has asked of you has indicated neither course to be his preference. He vacillates on a decision without seeking counsel from chieftans or shamans of the tribes gathered under his banner. It is not right."

Eire didn't have any difficulty guessing that had Armag been leading the march on Restov, or leading the raids into its farmlands... Dugath would have been more inclined to support his erstwhile high chief. It was not that Dugath opposed the incursion, it was that Armag was not leading from the front, wasn't there for the fighting. "You want me to confront Armag."

"Yes. He must be made to see sense." Gwart agreed quickly. "We can show you to the Temple where he has withdrawn to," It could have been a trap, surely that would have been reasonable plan, and yet it didn't feel like it. Gwart and Dugath were fed up with their leadership, that was obvious... and Dugath was unwilling or for some reason of personal honor to challenge Armag for leadership, "He is there with your companion and the other Six Bears, along with the..." with the scarred nymphs who were even now trying to shape what Armag did.

"This will not stop the army that is marching on Restov even now."

Dugath nodded, "It will not. I will make no oaths to stop it. They have not met us in the field, and Armag has given the young bucks leaves to clash and loot and plunder. If they are defeated it is on their own mettle being lacking. Armag must be made to see sense, if you wish to stop them from attacking Brevoy you must prove stronger, or convince Armag to lead the army in another direction."

Numeria. Numeria was the easy choice point him westerly and see how that played out. It was tempting, it was sorely tempting... if things really were that simple. Eire really doubted it really was that easy. Amvarean looked prepared to protest, but the silver dragoness remained silent. "We will go to this tomb of the original Armag, and speak with him," And prepare the army to turn and strike any attempt to envelop Restov in a siege.

Gwart nodded seemingly relieved, "The sisters speak of another sword that they have asked Armag to find on their behalf. They have told us little of it, only that it comes from the first world, and has been lost since the time before memories."

"Another sword?"

"Yes. Armag has promised to seek it out once he is reunited with Orvinbaane, which I assume if he does not have it yet, he will have it soon." So there was another magical sword then besides just the ancient greatsword of Gorum's champion... that was lovely. Dugath seemed uncomfortable with the trade, or leading Armag to his previous life's sword, in exchange for finding another lost artifact sword.

"When Armag was buried the sword and tomb were set behind barriers and traps to test the mettle of anywho would enter, to keep Pharasma's mewling whelps away from Gorum'schampion it is another decision that is not proper. Armag challengesthe tomb with outside held, found the tomb with the help ofoutsiders."

"You have asked me for help."

"It is not the same." Dugathreplied, "I ask you to confront him with words or steel. This is not a trade, and I ask it under the open sky, and with the sun in the heavens surrounding by many warriors to hear my words and know I do not speak false. I do not ask you to help me bypass the challenges decreed by our lord in iron."