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Once upon a time, deep in the heart of King Pendragon's lands, near the city of St. Louis, there was a large farm. The farm
was owned by a very good man named Kerry (Keer-ee) Smith. Kerry had the biggest farm in the provynce and grew the biggest
crops; he had the largest family and the most money. Most folk thought that Kerry was the luckiest man in the land, but most
folk didn't know Kerry very well. Kerry was once a very different man; he had not always been a farmer. He had a different
life, a different wife, he had a different vocation, in a different location, but that is a tale for another day;
The Kerry of our tale is a kind, generous man, happy enough, but often found daydreaming. When pressed, for he did not
like to talk about it, he would say that he was remembering happier times. His neighbors would scoff at that, for who could
be happier than Kerry? He had a young, beautiful wife to run his household, 8 strong sons to help him with his farm, 10 daughters,
each 1 prettier and quicker with a needle than the next 1.
He had 32 farm hands, 2 senior farmhands, more livestock, grain, and saved up money than any neighbor for scores
of miles. It was said that he was the richest man in the county of St. Louis. (If you didn't include them city fellers, that
is). It was in 1242 that his first child was born, a daughter. Later in 1242, his wife had triplets. In 1243 he had another
set of triplets, between the years of 1242 and 1247, his wife, Marie was constantly pregnant, and had twins or triplets every
time, she delivered 22 children, 2 of them stillborn. 2 children died of childhood diseases.
Kerry was rich enough that he didn't have to force his sons to do farm work, but they did it anyway, he wanted them all
to know the land and to have a trade. The boys all learned farming, and the women learned how to run a household. All of his
children learned how to read, and how to read the "Good Book". Kerry ran a Christian household and tolerated no
truck with the devil in his house. Some of the children had a mischievous streak, but none of them were allowed to turn towards
the path of evil. When each child reached the age of 8 he showed them the private family bible, with their family tree inscribed
in the front, he showed them that it held letters of credit with the main bank of Londres, the deeds to his property holdings,
and a sealed envelope that he told them held their Birthright, a sacred and powerful document that would unlock the keys to
greatness for each of them. He would then lock the bible back up in a strongbox and hide it, under a floorboard, in his bedroom.
None of the children were ever allowed in the bedroom, and they all wondered what great secrets father held.
When Marie passed away in childbirth, in 1247, Kerry mourned for 2 years, and then went into town for 1 week. When he
came back, he had a new bride with him, and she took over the household. Jane was a good woman, but very unassuming, she ran
a clean household, but didn't get very involved in raising the boys. She taught all the girls how to sew, knit, weave, cook,
clean, and everything else they needed to someday become good wives. At the age of 10, Kerry gave his children a choice of
education; they could stay with him and learn warfare and farming for the boys, music and housekeeping for the girls. 2 of
the girls and 2 of the boys decided to leave home and take up more studious work, 2 of them became clergy and 2 of them went
to study arcane science. All 4 were sent to St. Johns for these studies and came home in the fall to help with the harvest.
This Idyllic, pastoral life was one of leisure for the "farm lords & ladies" as the neighbors called them. They
had much less responsibilities than other children; they were literate, educated, well treated and wealthy. As they grew older,
they picked up vices, nothing serious, but still a little decadent. All of the children had 1 vice or another, weather it
was gambling, whoring, gossiping, collecting too many shoes, drinking, chain smoking, and others that no one even knew about.
Kerry was a religious man, but not pious, he asked his children to stop these wicked ways, but he let them get away with it.
One time after a wedding party, Kerry was drunk enough to admit that he felt that he owed his children their pleasures as
he was keeping them from their true birthright.
The reversal of fortune was devastating and unexpected by all.
One night, the house awoke to a massive explosion. Rushing outside, it was discovered that the main barn, the one near
the house was on fire with 1 wall completely blown out. In the pandemonium that ensued, the prize horses were all killed in
a fiery painful death, and the fire was eventually put out. During the firefighting task, several people had turned up missing.
Jane, Kerry, the most senior farm hand, (Chaz) and the eldest son, (Gareth) were all gone. Once the fire was low enough to
enter the barn, the boys rushed in to see who they could save and were greeted with a sight that haunts them to this day.
There was a pentagram in blood on the floor, chopped up pieces of Jane's body, and 66 dead goats, slaughtered in the barn.
No trace of Kerry, his son, or the farm hand ever turned up. The boys cleaned up the mess, and the rest of the night was spent
in searching every inch of the family property. In the morning it was discovered that the family strongbox and bible were
gone. The next day, the sheriff arrived from St. Louis, with a troop of soldiers, and legal deeds to the property. The children
were all chased out of their home, with nothing but the clothes on their backs, and the weapons in their hands. The remaining
senior farmhand, Charles, told the children that he owned a small piece of property in Londres and that they should come stay
with him. Charles indicated that this was their best chance of finding out what had happened, and regaining their birthright.
Charles said; "Chaz & I started working for your father shortly after he moved into the farmhouse where you
grew up. It was before you were born, but after Mr. Smith had changed professions. I could see he was no farmer, but a warrior,
we taught him everything he knows about farming, and managed the place since we were both raised on a farm. The only clue
I have to your father's past is that he used to live in Londres, and he had a friend there named Damacles. When Gareth was
4 years old, he wandered into the bull pasture and was about to be killed, I rescued Gareth and received a great wound to
my thigh, which took 4 months to heal. Your father was so grateful he said he would grant me one wish. That was a no-brainer,
I have been working for 1 thing my whole life, so I told Mr. Smith that I wanted a retirement home. He bought a place for
me in Londres, through his friend Damacles. Your family has always been good to me, so I need to take you all there now, to
avoid what's coming. The sheriff coming to take possession of the property is just the beginning. These jealous neighbors
have always resented your family and their success, if you don't leave now, they will destroy you.
Charles takes all who will go with him to Londres. Six of the girls decide to stay and marry local boys, one of the boys
runs off the next day to be with a girl he is in love with.
The children, with Charles in Charge stop in St John's on the way and yank the 4 students out of class and take those
that wish to go to Londres.
GAME MECHANIC NOTE*****
This leaves us with 4 male warriors, no barbarians, 1 could possibly be a ranger with focus on trolls(Giants). 2 girls
with musical/bardic training, 2 girls with either clerical or arcane training, and 2 boys with clerical or arcane training.
All the children are human. If someone wants to be a class which is not designated here, they must speak to the D.M. privately
about it. The eldest Daughter (22) is available to be played, but the eldest son is missing in action. The eldest son was
1 of a set of triplets(also 22 years old), so someone could chose to play his identical triplet. In fact the party could have
2, or 3 people with identical features if they so chose. The oldest 3 look like father, tall, long flowing red haired, green
eyed. The youngest child is 17. I have been purposely vague about gender and ages, to allow players to chose what they want.
About half the children look like Marie, short curly dark haired, dark eyed, short in height.
Kerry Smith was a man of heroic constitution, and he chose his wives to be strong peasant farm girls, add +2 to your constitution,
because of genetics, as long as the final score does not exceed 19.
In lieu of a gimmick, if you design your character, and chose to portray a vice that costs money, and is somewhat wicked,
you may chose an extra bonus feat at 1st level. You can also have a skill with 10 free ranks that relates directly to the
vice. For example, the skill of knowledge of horses to go with addiction to horse race gambling. Another example might be,
knowledge of tobacco growth, harvest, processing, and rolling, to go with chain smoking.
Characters can start with any handheld weapon they want, Kerry was not cheap when it came to buying instruments of war,
yet the sheriff will chase the children out of town without letting them strap on armor. You could grab a shield, or some
extra ammo, as you are being herded out, You could also have a musical instrument, or any ONE item from home to remind you
of when you were wealthy. (clear said item with the D.M.)
The campaign will begin in the city of Londres, with the children trying to find their birthright, and make their own
destiny along the way.
Click here to continue on to adventure #1
Click here to skip to adventure #2
Birthright #3
Birthright #4
Sarah at the cockfights, buying supper
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