Dear Pino: Council of People's Commissars P.U.R.K.

The Kingmaker

"Enter the Stolen Lands, a wilderness claimed by nobles, bandits, and beasts alike. Into this territory the fractious country of Brevoy sends its emissaries, tasking them with subduing the lawless folk and deadly creatures that have made it a realm of savagery and shame. Beyond the last rugged frontier stretches the home of voracious monsters, capricious fey, wily natives, and bandits who bow to the rule of a merciless lord none dare defy. Can the PCs survive the Stolen Lands, bring their dangers to heel, and lay the foundations of a new kingdom? Or will they just be one more fateful band, lost forever to the ravenous wilds?"

The Stolen Lands, a wild lawless place awaiting the hand of strong justice. A politically ambiguous place where many parties vie for control. Into this cauldron of woe walk five heroes-in-the-making to create their own nation. Patriots—but to what cause?

Kingmaker is a Pathfinder Adventure Path role playing game published by Paizo Publishing under the terms of the Open Game License. It provides a rich backdrop for a group of pioneers as they attempt to bring civilization to a wild, untrammeled land. This website is not published, endorsed, or specifically approved by Paizo Publishing.

This blog represents the letters of one of these characters, Marquand, a bitter, righteous man—an Inquisitor defending his faith in the deity Erastil against all the enemies of civilization.

The Charter

"Be it so known that the bearer of this charter has been charged by the Swordlords of Restov, acting upon the greater good and authority vested within them by the office of the Regent of the Dragonscale Throne, has granted the right of exploration and travel within the wilderness region known as the Greenbelt. Exploration should be limited to an area no further than thirty-six miles east and west and sixty miles south of Oleg's Trading Post. The carrier of this charter should also strive against banditry and other unlawful behavior to be encountered. The punishment for unrepentant banditry remains, as always, execution by sword or rope. So witnessed on this 24th day of Talistril, under watchful eye of the Lordship of Restov and authority granted by Lord Noleski Surtova, current Regent of the Dragonscale Throne"

Parables of Erastil

The first gift you ever receive is your family.

Man’s motivation springs from his heart, not from his head.

No society stands easily based on injustice.

Responsibility should never be sought and never refused.

Say your prayers, obey your Mother, always think before you act, and don’t trust someone just because they’re offering you sugar.

What looks at first sight like the easiest route usually is not.

Kind words travel far.

Never get into trouble until you know your way out.

When all else fails there is always duty.

The judgment of Erastil is justice received.

First you must respect yourself

Madmen have insight where others are lacking

Creation is pleasure, not burden.

Power needs opposition.

Never underestimate adversaries or friends.

Each life is its own adventure.

Many will pass through your life like the scent of lilacs on a balmy day.

Good has no meaning without evil.

Good neighbors make good fences.

Cane Alexson

Cane has lived in the woods for as long as he can remember, nothing spectacular about that, he lives off the forest and in return he keeps it safe from the idiots who leave fires burning or carelessly discard their waste wherever they please. A small local village is home to the only person he has ever trusted, a local woman that everyone just calls ‘grandma’, she teaches the local children to read and write, herbs and medicines, and of the world (including Cane whom she somehow enticed out of the woods when he was 4). Cane lives with her off and on in the really cold months or when she needs help during the harvest. As she teaches him more and more about herbs he begins to suspect that she is some kind of shaman and maybe her ‘enticement’ to get him out of the woods wasn’t just her winning personality… Cane is P.U.R.K.'s Warden.

Lev Davidowich

Davidowich found from an early age that he was a bit different (he's a fetchling). He quickly learned that he could easily make people like him or be afraid of him—he decided that he not only liked people liking him but helping them as well. He found use of his magic early and was noticed by a House Lebeda merchant at 14. He became an apprentice at the arts of diplomacy and haggling and rose well within the ranks of the merchant family. However, his race and background soon severely limited his ability to rise any higher without going well out of his way to prove himself. His travels taught him much about the class system in Brevoy and he soon found himself disheartened at the plight of the common man at the hands of many of the noble families. These reasons combined—he decided to strike out and find a new beginning. Lev is Secretary, Chief, Citizen One, leader—what have you—of P.U.R.K.

Marquand

Formerly an Issan judge in New Stetven, Brevoy, he is a righteous man, upholding law and order in a somewhat corrupt society.

His brother-in-law and best friend, Jaquizz, was more of a free spirit, joining an expedition to settle the Stolen Lands. Before he could depart with his family he was brutally murdered by assailants unknown. Unsatisfied by the failure of justice, Marquand vowed to finish his friend’s work, and find his killers, leaving the city with an expedition into the Stolen Lands. He also protects his Jaquizz's widow, his sister, Pirna and her 6 year old daughter, Pino. He adopts his friend’s deity, Erastil, and his values: self-reliance, community, sacrifice, nation building. Marquand proves an unrelenting Inquisitor of this cause, determined to keep his faith from becoming corrupted as his once beloved Abadar has become.

Unsatisfied by the failure of justice, Marquand vowed to finish his friend’s work, and find his killers, leaving the city with an expedition into the Stolen Lands. He also supports and protect his sister, Pirna, and her 11 year old daughter, Pino.

He adopts his friend’s deity, Erastil—who embraces older values, self-reliance, community, sacrifice, nation building—becoming an unrelenting Inquisitor in His cause, determined to keep this faith from becoming corrupted as his own—Abadar. Marquand is P.U.R.K.'s High Priest.

Trask of the Hundred Arrows

Friends make the best enemies.

Mysterious half-orc zen archer who joined our crew in Letter 16. As a youth Trask lived in a cloister in Magnimar where he studied the art of the bow. "I'm the fastest you've seen but I'm not as good as those who come before," he says, and proved it by bringing down the legendary Roc. Having lost an eye is no impediment for Trask because, "The arrow knows the way." His zen calmness is balanced by a maniacal quest for irony, especially the lethal kind. His view on religion is simple: "Let me tell you about your gods—they're here just to make your life miserable."

Kelm Taslor

Kelm was born under the most favorable portentous stars that wise-men have ever tracked. Of his future they omen-seers of the region could only write, "He will unlock the World." they also scribbled "Wow" in the margins. He has been told that he is destined since birth. As such, Kelm is not one to fritter his precious time. He sees the strings that hint at greater mysteries and knows it is his destiny to follow those paths and glimpse the faces of the gods. He cares not for his past, family or friends, as he cares only for his future and the path he must take to get there. He acts as Magister for the P.U.R.K. In Letter 16 he decided the omens were bad, retiring to his Mage's Tower in Tuskland.

Piea

Piea grew up in the rough reaches of Brevoy in the River Kingdom. Her family, which was large with 4 younger siblings, was never particularly rich and resorted to stealing and tricking the wealthy to pay the bills. She was raised to be able to do the same herself but slowly found herself wanting to draw away from the more criminal lifestyle to get by using her own means. She learned her fighting skills from a random rogue Aldori swordsman and she started to make a fairly good name for herself as a bodyguard. Recently however, her parents asked a "last favor" of her to take back things that were stolen from them by some other con-artists/bandits and she couldn't find it in her heart to say no. She was able to get the things back but not without the price of these bandits having a vendetta against her, she heard of the exploration and colonization of these new lands and figured it was the perfect way to lie low for awhile. She is General in charge of P.U.R.K.'s military forces. Left the group in Letter 16 to explore vistas beyond.

Reoccurring Non-Player Characters

Ilse Lebedev Davidowich Beautiful scion of Brevoy's Lebedev family, Lev's wife, and co-leader of the P.U.R.K.

Vladimir Illich Cleric of Milani, he lived for several years at the Everbloom Monastery outside Artume before receiving his Brothership. He left to spread the good word of Milani throughout the River Kingdoms. In Tuskland he heard one of the many speeches given by Chairman Lev. Friendship happened quickly and now Vlad is aide de camp to one of the rising stars of the River Kingdoms—Lev Davidowich!

Sizzles Cane's wolf companion and lover.

Alley Cane's tiger companion.

Bert Askew Gofer (or "Chief Logistics Agent" as he prefers to be called) for P.U.R.K.'s "Leadership Council." Cipher for the GM.

The Kingmaker

Council of People's Commissars P.U.R.K.

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