DM Response to player actions Darwin

The Plans for Darwin General Additions: Leadership

Darwin will henceforth be led by a Town Council which will consist of an odd number of people so that there can be no ties in decision making. As of right now, the party members are serving as interim members so that initiatives can be brought forth and executed.

- [The town accepts the party as the town council. The leaders of the town often tell you that they are concerned about you leaving. They are not sure that they can make this work without you.] Darwin’s Day

Iados proposes this as an annual celebration of the town’s cultural rebirth which we would kick off a few months after we help the town get back on its feet. This would instill hope and courage into the hearts of the citizenry and would make Darwin the place to be. Iados will lead this initiative.

- [No problem. All you need to do is pick a date on the calendar and we can work to set this up.] New High Priestess of Morwen

Since the temple to Morwen has been restored, we think it is imperative that we have a high priestess or someone of equivalent standing in the Morwen faith take up residence in the town. Our first choice would be the exalted mother of the Temple in Little Ferry, Sister Amalia. Hopefully she would sense the need for a religious leader in Darwen and would pass on her Little Ferry duties to Lydia, the head acolyte.

- [Understood] The Wall of Darwin

Since Darwin’s defensive capabilities are less than satisfactory, we think it is imperative to construct a 10-15 ft wall around the town’s inner limits. This will take a great deal of time, but we believe it is a necessary step towards ensuring the longevity of Darwin and its people.

- [The townsfolk advise you that building a stone wall that is 10-15 feet high will be very expensive and take a very long time. They recommend building a wooden fence because it will take a fraction of the time and they raw materials are readily available.] Town Hall

We want to construct a very imposing and beautiful town hall that will symbolize strength and solidarity. I think this kind of floor plan would work but we can talk about it more:

[This will also take time and money. A stone structure would take about a year and a half to build and cost about 10,000 which includes labor, materials, furnishing etc. For now you can use the temple.] Town Armory Upgrades:

We want to upgrade the town armory into something more like a fort where the Sheriff / Captain of the Guard would reside with his men. The ten volunteers who want to serve as the town guard will be trained by Druss and Arveer in the use of arms and armor and Gon in the art of self defense. These guards will also be accompanied by dogs who will need to be supplied by the strays around town and the younger members of Lucky’s pack. Lucky will then become the town’s kennel master and assign each guard with an appropriate companion. Druss has a plan for who he would like to contact regarding the role of Town Sheriff, and we will defer to his judgement on that. Arveer will spend his days at the blacksmith’s forge crafting armor, weapons, and building materials and his nights training the guards.

- [The armory is already very large and contains, barracks, a jail, a training yard and dog kennels. By working with the townsfolk and using nearby materials you can strengthen the building and the walls. Your plans for the dog kennels are happily embraced by Lucky and he starts rounding up strays immediately.] Lumber Mill:

Darwin exists in a forested area which makes it the perfect location for a lumber mill. The town needs to get back on its feet and the best way for it to do that is through commercial enterprises. The construction of this mill would encourage laborers and tradesmen from far and wide to do business with the town and/or settle down in the area.

- [I have already placed the mill on the map. It is outside the city walls. You can collect the raw materials over a three-week period and build he mill in a week. The saw can be made by the blacksmith. How do you propose powering it?] School:

The people of Darwin will need to prepare for the next generation to take over their responsibilities in the coming years. We think it is important for them to establish a place of education where children can learn trades and martial disciplines, and pursue intellectual professions. Iados would lead this initiative through teaching what he has learned to any volunteers who would like to become mentors and educators. He will also contact one of his old professors at the Mage’s College in Garrison with the hope that he can provide supplies and educators for this endeavor.

- [This is going to take some convincing. The children in the town do not go to school. They learn a trade, help their parents with their business or work in the fields. Most of the townsfolk think there are other issues of more importance.] Party Occupations: Each member of the Fatebound will contact an NPC from the past and will be pursuing their own goals in the reconstruction of Darwin. Arveer:

Will spend his days working away at the forge to craft weapons, armor, and building materials for the people. During this time, he will look for a young person with blacksmithing potential to take on as his apprentice and groom for the role of town blacksmith when he and the Fatebound must leave Darwin.

- [There is an abandoned blacksmith forge right next to the armory. As Arveer begins to work the forge, a female dwarf named Brella Silvervien arrives in town and after seeing what she could do, they started the Flaming Forge Blacksmithy.]

During his down time, the warrior will pray to Morwen for forgiveness and guidance while also helping around the town as needed. When he finishes working on the weapons and armor for the town guard each day, he will take Druss’s place as the instructor of their arms and armor training.

- [Understood]

After the town meeting, which was held during the last session, Arveer will write a letter to his friend and the sheriff of White River Vilkas Rogvirr, a half orc with decades of combat and leadership experience. In this letter, Arveer will explain how he has been and where he currently resides while also asking for his friend’s assistance. Darwin needs supplies, tradesmen, skilled laborers, healers, intellectuals, trained warriors, and anything else that Vilkas and the people of White River can spare. He doesn’t expect an immediate answer, but he hopes that the community he once belonged to still holds the same morals and ideals.

- [Letter sent. No response yet.] Tenzin:

Will spend his days healing the victims of Astrid, inspiring the people with prayers and sermons, and teaching the acolytes about advanced healing magic and rituals. He will also use this time to aid the Darwinian farmers in blessing their fields and livestock with his divine magic.

- [As you go about doing these good deeds, you are greeted by grateful and welcoming people. They give you eggs, food and clothing as payment. You have given birth to a few children. They all ask you to stay on and be their priest in Darwin.]

During his down time, Tenzin will meet with Iados in the church and teach him all he knows about worshipping Morwen since the wizard has chosen to devote himself to the goddess’s faith.

- [You can both role-play this out and we will see what happens.]

After the town meeting, Tenzin will write a formal letter to Sister Amalia in Little Ferry. She is a leader in the clergy, and it is Tenzin’s hope that she will formally retire her duties in Little Ferry and become the exalted mother of the church in Darwin as it is in dire need of leadership. He will also ask that the faithful provide supplies, healers, acolytes, and anything else they can to assist the people of Darwin. Hopefully Sister Amalia appreciates Tenzin’s requests and either answers the call or finds another suitable candidate.

- [You send out the letter and receive one in response right before our next session. “Greetings Tenzin, hero of Little Ferry and fellow servant of our mother Morwen. We have been hearing about a great many changes in the lands to the east. Some say the Blighted Wastes are no more. Many seek our aid as creatures that once lived there are now venturing further afield. The task in Darwin is far too great for only Morwenites to handle. I have spoken to the Justicar of Dalana and she agrees that we should both send aid. In a fortnight I will send Lydia, one of our novices and a priest Dalana named Wolman and one of their novices. They will take up residence in Darwin to help shepherd the flock there. Be well and remember to bring the comfort of our Mother to those in need always. Sister Amalia.] Iados:

Will spend most of his time working on the schooling and Darwin’s Day initiatives. During this time, he will look for volunteers to assume the roles of teachers and mentors and assist him in the creation of educational programs for trades, martial disciplines, and scholastic pursuits.

- [There are already many children who become apprentice to others to learn a trade. You can help facilitate this. The townsfolk are not in favor of a school. The population is small and many of the people need their children to help on the farm or in their business. You may be able to locate a few magically gifted children and either take on an apprentice of your own or send the to Garrison.] - During his down time, Iados will do what he can to help around the church while he learns all he can about Morwen from Tenzin, the acolytes, and the scriptures. He will also work with Tenzin to help him understand the different schools of magic. - [As mentioned above, you can both role-play this.]

After the town meeting, Iados will write a letter to his friend and mentor in the Mage’s College in Garrison, Professor Abraham Torgaddon. Abraham is a gifted wizard in his mid-fifties who heads the evocation school of magic at the college. In this letter, Iados will explain how he has been and ask the same, detail where he currently resides, and finally ask for his friend’s assistance. Iados will explain how Darwin is a budding town with great potential, which makes it a prime location for finding young prospects who would blossom with an education in magical and/or scholastic disciplines. He will ask that Professor Torgaddon speak with the college faculty about providing Darwin with magical and alchemical supplies, educators, scholars, enchanters, and anything else that the college can think of. Although he doesn’t expect an immediate answer, Iados hopes that the college sees this as a long-term investment in future applicants and goodwill among the people of Northern Valoria.

- [After about 30 days, Iados receives a Sending from his former Professor. He hears his old mentor’s cackly voice say the following: “No resources to spend on Darwin. Send any prodigies here and I will look after them. Mind yourself, that part of the world not safe.” Remembering his studies, Iados knows that he can respond to his old mentor with up to 25 words, but he must do so immediately.] Druss:

Will spend most of his time training the town guard in the effective use of arms and armor while also acting as the leading authority among the town council and the Fatebound. During this time Druss will oversee construction of the town wall, the lumber mill, and the town hall as well as buildings for tradesmen and budding entrepreneurs. During the town council meetings where we discuss progress and development, Druss will act as the speaker.

- [Understood. Your leadership role is accepted by the town.]

Druss does not allow himself any free time as he feels responsible for not only the people of Darwin, but also the Fatebound. These men are his brothers, and they look to him for guidance every step of the way. Heeding the words of Tyrubeli, he assumes his role as the eldest of the group and becomes their leader.

- [Understood. How do the rest of the Fatebound feel about this?]

Following the town hall meeting at the end of last session, Druss gets to work on two very important letters.

1. When Druss served in the Merringuard (Army of Merrin), an honorable Master Sergeant named Arthur Calenhad was his second in command and his closest friend. He is currently retired in his late forties and is living as a fisherman in Merrinport. Druss will write his first and most important letter to Arthur and in it he will explain how he has been, where he currently resides, and how he has found a way for his friend to make a difference in a budding community. He will ask that Arthur take on the role of Sheriff in the town of Darwin, emphasizing how his honorable character and leadership capabilities will be an invaluable addition to the community. [Letter has been sent. No response yet.] 2. Druss also served with twin brothers named Theodore and Frederick Vicente (“Ted and Fred”) who are in their mid-thirties and were honorably discharged from the Merringuard after serving for fifteen years. They now live on a ranch that they themselves bought with their saved-up wages. Theodore was a master at hand-to-hand combat, having trained a contingent of frontline brawlers called the “Fists of Merrin”. Frederick on the other hand was a master marksman who climbed the ranks of the Merringuard to the position of personal sharpshooter to one of the Merringuard’s top generals. Druss will write this second letter to the brothers explaining how he has been and where he currently resides. He will then explain how he wants to offer the brothers a chance at a fresh start. Darwin needs their skills if it hopes to develop into a thriving community that can protect itself. Druss will end the letter by asking them to consider all the good they can do for this place as he knows them to be men of honor. [Letter sent. No response yet.] Shayne:

Will spend his time each day in one of two ways:

1. Training the newly recruited members of the town guard how to properly use a bow and fight with finesse. [Understood.] 2. Educating the juvenile troublemakers of Darwin on how the life of a criminal should never be something they pursue. Once they are convinced, he will show them a different path that will hone their skills in stealth and dexterity. He will train them in the arts of archery, fencing, and stealth so that he can mold them into a new group of scouts and archers known as the Darwin Deadeyes. [This is a small town and there are not many ne’er do wells. You find three. Two girls an elvish orphan named Doleyn, a human girl named Sarna and a halfling boy named Derry. They have taken to following you around everywhere.]

With his free time, Shayne will do everything he can to honor the passing of his mother and look for clues to find his missing sister. He will also go on long walks alone to consider the choices he’s made in his life and how he will become a better person.

- [Understood.]

Following the town hall meeting at the end of last session, Shayne will send out two letters to the town of Little Ferry.

1. The first of these letters will be to Gregor, the man who ran Bloody Bill’s in the rundown neighborhood of Greyside. In this letter he will skip the formalities aside from jogging his memory on who is writing him and detail a profitable venture that can be found in the town of Darwin. If Gregor is tired of owning his rundown establishment in Little Ferry, he might want to consider opening a tavern of his own in a budding community. This place would have only one competitor and would provide some diversity for those looking for good food and a stiff drink at the end of the day. Gregor would be entitled to help from the heroes and those in the town regarding construction of his inn and startup expenses for his business. [You receive a terse response to this letter right before our next session. It reads, “Hell no! The only way I leave this place is in a pine box!”] 2. The second of these letters will go to Jennifer Alstott, the sister of the fallen Riverguard Brad the Lad. Shayne will ask how she is fairing these days and express his condolences once again on the passing of her brother. Following this, he will ask that she consider an opportunity at a new life in his hometown of Darwin. She made a living in Little Ferry as a seamstress and washerwoman, but Shayne thinks he and the Fatebound could help her open her own shop in Darwin where she could exercise her talents to their fullest extent. He hopes that she considers their offer. [You receive a response to this letter right before our next session. Jennifer herself is the response. She arrives with all of her belongings in a single trunk ready to start a new life in Darwin.] Gon:

Will spend most of his time training the town guard in self-defense and learning all he can about his newfound companions. As an outsider who was guided to the Fatebound by his goddess Dalana, Gon will do everything he can to bond with the party so that he can be that much closer to them.

- [Understood. You can all role-play this.]

During his free time, Gon will bond with his dog companion and help Lucky in training his litter and the town strays to become war hounds for the town guard.

[Understood. This is going well. Lucky and his dogs like you and the kennel is growing as more strays are being brought in to be trained.]

Gon has no memory of his life before the temple, and he has no way of knowing where said temple is located. He writes a letter to the Knight’s of the Shining Circle in Garrison with the hope that they can provide some assistance in Darwin’s resurgence. He name drops the Fatebound as the Heroes of both Little Ferry and Darwin so that it will stir the order into action. Abled body knights are specifically requested to help with security.

[You receive a letter with a wax seal bearing an unbroken circle. Cracking it open reveals a very terse response written in a flowery script. It reads, “Gon, remain in Darwin. We are sending a Justicar to work it the temple there. He will give you further instructions. Signed, Weldon, Hand of Dalana.”]