Thistletop People

Thistletop as a Residence

A few of us want to use Thistletop as a home or, at least, a regular base of operations, and we need quite a large staff to enable that. At the moment everyone has to do their own cooking, cleaning and other basic chores, using communal facilities. While that is, probably, acceptable for our 'military' warriors – it isn’t going to be acceptable if we want to keep Robyn, Velma, Drusilla and the civilian guards. Nor is it good for when we want to stay there. So we need a few servants to undertake the cleaning and cooking tasks and, perhaps, to look after the horses when we have visitors or are at home.

However, we need to develop accommodation for them, before we can do that. We have some suitable space in the basement level that could be converted to lodgings to house up to 10 people. D2, D9 (the cells) & D10 (outlined in red on the plan) would provide enough space for it, although it isn’t ideal to house people underground – you never know we might be able to get Dwarves or Half-Orcs with Darkvision.

While there are no teams of servants specified – I estimate that they would cost about 100gp to recruit. Lackeys (expert-1 and commoner-1) cost 120gp, labourers (Commoners-1) cost 70gp while Sailors (who have a similar skill set and are all Expert-2) cost 90gp, all for a team of five. 3x unskilled maid/labourers (Kitchen Maid, General Maid, Outdoor Labourer), a Cook/Housekeeper (prof Cook) and an Ostler (prof Stable Master) should meet our needs for simple living.

That leaves five rooms free, giving us guest rooms or allowing us to employ five extra staff. Sir Robyn might want an acolyte for his temple, and Raven intends to build a shrine dedicated to Desna, which could also be served by an acolyte. If one of you were to take the Leadership feat (or something similar) it would also provide accommodation for a cohort or follower. However, it could house extra guards should we feel the need for better defences.

Lodgings cost 430gp – although we might be able to get a discount from Artifex as the structure is already in place, and much of the work is little more than redecoration.

We already have a few people at Thistletop - some have designated living space and roles, others don't. We also (in some cases) need to offer opportunities to develop. (even if they don't level up)

• Sir Robyn – Steward of Thistletop. Oversees the whole place, is Commanding Officer of the Garrison and resident ‘priest’ and we have agreed to build him a temple dedicated to Shelyn. Any money he earns from the Shrine/Temple pays his wages - that could (if need be) topped up from Museum income. He has a large room on the ground floor.
• Velma – ex-slave rescued from the goblins. She has been helping generally around the place and helping develop the museum, and is the best price negotiator among the current residents. I would like to see her become Museum Manager, with a side line of assisting Sir Robyn in general running of the site. She would get the salary from the Museum Manager’s job. When she agreed to work, at minimum wages, she wasn't happy with the money she was earning. We gave her a few (minor treasure) items, but we agreed that we would improve her wages when we could. She has a small room on the ground floor.
• Drusilla – Raven’s Sister who has been invited to help at Thistletop. A sort of apprentice / assistant to Sir Robyn, learning basic military skills (Prof:Soldier) and acting as his sergeant. Alongside that, she is a hunter, who brings in meat and herbs for the holding. Raven will fund her to set up as a Mobile Herbalist - which gives her a private income, and means that she doesn’t need to be supported by the Museum. Hopefully, that will be enough to get her to level two (currently Ranger-1). She has a small room on the ground floor.
• Pidget & The Goblin – assuming they both stay. Outcasts who would find trouble getting situated anywhere else. However, they could be employed as Museum Guides or servants. While it sounds a bit mean, in modern terms, we can advertise ‘Come see what we have been dealing with in person – but safely’. It even lets the Goblin play tricks (so long as they are harmless) on visitors (such as jumping out to scare them, or grinning evilly as he flashed his teeth). Alternately, Pidget (who I assume is commoner-1) might be employed as an outdoor labourer, as he was a farm boy originally. The Goblin is might be Warrior-1 – although I don’t think he would make a particularly good guard :] I'm not sure where these guys are housed at present. Probably in the bynk room or sleeping on the floor.
• The Girl from Ghoul Farm, and her cousins: Should they turn up, the cousins could work as Museum Guards or Servants. The Girl just gets looked after and educated – at various times, everyone can add something to her education. In a few years, she could be just about anything that she wants to be (assuming she has the ability). Sir Robyn has 300gp, her 'legacy' as found at the Ghoul Farm. I'm not sure where these guys would live.
• The Mercenaries – currently employed to guard Thistletop. I don’t know their stats but (from the way we were greeted at the gate) I assume they are poorly armed and probably Warrior, expert or commoner-1. If Sir Robin thinks they are suitable, they might be interested in joining us as guards or soldiers - which might save on our recruitment costs. They are currently hoses in the Bunk Room.
• The Troops - while we don't have any yet :) we will have a garrison of between 10 and 20 troops - see the Citadel page. Ironically, we are in a position to provide a development path for the troops - Civilian Guard > Military Guard > Soldier > Skirmisher as documented in the citadel development plan.