Category Archives: Character Vignettes

Miscellaneous character history and stories for the Jade Regent campaign

Character: Ivan

From the life of Ivan: A farmers life for me

The last year has been a burden on the Kilgore family. The heinous acts of Josh Kilgore jr has put a stain on the family that just moved here 5 years ago. Even though Josh jr has already been punished and long since banned from the farming community the family still has to live with the shame. The remaining Kilgore’s are leaving the hinterland farming lands to seek a new life near Korvosa. I don’t blame them as there are many in the community the openly show distrust.

The Kilgore’s are going to harvest the crops and sell them off in Sandpoint before moving on to a new life somewhere else. In conversations with Josh Sr. Ivan begins queries about the farm.

Ivan says “So what happens to the farm when you leave”

Mr. Kilgore says “We received this homestead from Magnimar. I guess it will be up to Magnimar”

Ivan says “Can this be transferred to someone else?”

Mr. Kilgore says “Yes I think so. Do you really want a farm Ivan?”

Ivan says “I want it for Abby and Billy. Can you go with us to Magnimar to get the farm changed to Abby and Billy? I have some money saved up that I can give you to help in your relocate”

Mr. Kilgore says “This farm now means nothing but pain to us. Some extra gold would definitely help us get setup on a new farm”

Ivan and Mr. Kilgore shake hands on the deal and arrange to go to Magnimar and take care of it. Ivan heads over to the newly married Abby and Billy.

Ivan says “Abby/Billy I have arrange a deal with Mr. Kilgore where he will sign over the farm to the two of you. We have to travel to Magnimar tomorrow to get everything official.”

Abby walks over and hugs Ivan pulling Billy into a mini group hug.

Abby says “How much do we need to pay Mr. Kilgore”

Ivan says “Don’t worry about it, it is all covered. Consider this a wedding present”

Abby looks at Billy giving him one of those odd female looks that I have never been able to figure out. Luckily for Billy he seems to know what she wants.

Billy says “Well then it is settled. You are moving in with us”

Ivan, Abby, Billy and Mr. Kilgore had an uneventful trip to Magnimar where the property was transferred from the Kilgore’s over to Abby and Billy. In just a few short weeks Abby and Billy will be able to move into the new farm. The Kilgore’s will remain living in the farm house for a week or so until they sell of crops and pack up.

The early summer harvest brings in some money but nothing compared to the fall harvest. As we agreed Abby and Billy would take over maintenance of the existing crops and the Kilgore’s are going to harvest the early summer crops. Over the next week and a half Abby and Billy spent mornings tending the crops and planting a personal garden. The Kilgore’s had been planning to leave so the garden only contained early vegetables. Abby and Billy were able to get some plants from mom for some things and plants seeds for the quicker growing plants. It is just lucky that the Kilgore’s planted the main crop for fall. The Kilgore’s had thought to stay until after fall harvest but they have to get to the new farm lands before the end of summer.

The early summer crops finally ripen up and are picked.  The Kilgore’s are preparing to take the harvest to Sandpoint. Abby, Billy, and I have been over helping them the last couple of days when our father Noah and eldest brother Mark show up at Abby’s new farm early one morning as we were loading stuff on the wagon for market.

Noah begins to speak “Hi, Josh. Can we speak with you for a minute?”

Mr. Kilgore (Josh) “Sure”

Josh, Noah, and Mark move away from the rest of us to talk about something. The rest of us finished loading the wagon with the stuff for market. A few minutes later Mr. Kilgore returned.

Mrs. Kilgore “What did they want”

Mr. Kilgore “It’s not important. Don’t worry”

Mr. Kilgore and his son climb onto the wagon and head into town. The three of us spent the rest of the day working around the farm helping Mrs. Kilgore get ready for the long trip. Since Mrs. Kilgore was along we decided to stay with her until her husband and Son return from selling the goods in town. I finished up the smoke house so that we had somewhere to smoke game or slaughtered farm animals. With the smoke house finish it was time to go out and kill something. I bagged a big buck on the morning that Mr Kilgore returned from Sandpoint. There was too much meat to carry in one load so I returned to Abby’s farm with the first load. Out of respect for the Kilgore’s Abby decided to wait on using the smoke house until they officially move in. I hung the meat up and then Abby and Billy helped retrieve the rest of the meat. I gave some of the meat to the Kilgore’s and we took the rest over to mom to smoke.

No sooner had we finished hanging the meat when Dad and Mark pulled me aside.

Dad starts heling “What the hell do you think you are doing. I am the head of the household and it is up to me to decide who should get the Kilgore farm”

Mark says “Why would you buy a farm. You don’t even like being a farmer. That was supposed to be my farm. I am the oldest and it is my right.”

Dad says “I want you to give me the signed papers from Josh Sr. and Mark will take the paper to Magnimar and get the farm transferred to him”

Ivan says “NO. I have already taken Mr Kilgore to Magnimar to get the property transfer. This is done deal and the farm officially belongs to Abby and Billy. This is my present to them”

Moments of silence as Dad and Mark glare at Ivan.

Dad says “You are no longer welcome to live in my house”

Dad and Mark walk off and Ivan starts to head away from the farm when his mother approaches Ivan and gives him a big hug.

Mom says “You are always welcome to visit me anytime you want on my farm. I love your dad but sometimes he can be an ass.”

Pause

Mom says “It was a wonderful thing that you have done for your sister.”