Sorry guys for the late update.
You arrived at Daleston. Last time you were just passing through, and with a warrant prepared by the Duke (or rather say, Simone in his name) you got some free sleep. This time, though, you don't have anything like that and despite being a member of nobility yourself you need to find your own lodgings.
Daleston, from what you see, was built around a hill, with the Lord's castle and keep on top of it. Around it there were two layers of walls, about three to five meters tall. A good part of it and especially the gates are decorated, but you noticed that despite all the grandeur, it is not in its best condition.
The same can also be said about the castle town itself: You noticed that a lot of people are homeless and are just wandering on the streets in rags. Even the wall guards are not well-dressed, and you suspect most of the city militia would be probably the same. The only people who looked to be well off enough to prepare a good set of dress are those who patrol the streets, the and tax-collectors, and the obviously the usual trope of nobility.
With the city in such bad condition, it is expected that you won't find good trading opportunities. You tried to be a door-to-door salesman of your herbs, but sales is particularly poor and you only got 1gp from all the sales. You also feel that despite not selling them all it is good enough for a long time.
Note: 1gp good for a man-at-arms, not including horse, for a year. 10sp would be what a city dweller would accept for a year's part time service as a crossbowman guarding it. 1gp = 100sp, 1sp=100cp.
You slept for the night at a price of 10cp. Expensive, indeed, for a creaking bed and poor food. Even the tubers were much more tasty, you thought.
You request a meeting from Count Mario, and after waiting at the gatehouse for a long time, he decided to grant you an audiance.
"Welcome, I have been expecting you for a f__king long time."
What a greeting.
"Yes, milord. Sorry for being late in reporting to duty."
You have a good glance at what is inside the castle: the people are pretty well-dressed, and the steward is visibly overweight. Same can be said for Mario, and you noticed that he has been busy with all the gadgets on a table on the left side of his seat.
"Oh, yes, you know it. Listen up, I would not like to set my feet on that kind of swamp. I want tax, and I expect you to deliver it to my steward every year. Understand?"
"Yes, milord."
"Well then. Secondly, I need people to serve in the army, If I want it. The nominal amount, um, you need to supply to me, according to my steward, is 80 able-bodied man, but I ,um, guess he got all the numbers wrong for there is nothing in the ,um, swamp. Anyway, I need 80 men, and it doesn't ,um, matter how you got them. Got it?" on the other table there was all kinds of food, and he has been munching on them as he spoke.
"Certainly, milord. I would not disappoint you."
"By the way, I heard reports saying that you were trying to do some trade here. Is it right, Edoardo of Vello?"
"Well, milord," said a strong, fit, young man, cladded in full armor. "According to my men yes, but we thought that law does not apply for nobility at the rank of Baron..."
"Who said it was? Baron Dominic Soan, according to the laws of this city, sales of all kinds of goods is subject to a 10% tax for city maintenance. Anyway, John please collect it for me after this meeting."
You contemplated your surroundings. There is an obviously unfit Lord, who has been obviously indulging in all kinds of excess, while his people are left destitute; Some Draconian laws, which failed to meet its stated goals, and seems the only purpose is to fill the vaults; A young man, which is strong, capable, fit, and stands out of the crowd, with the name of Edoardo... wait, of Vello? Is he related to Edmundo of Vello which Morfeo said of, who was for a time his lord?
Its an interesting situation, indeed.
"Anything else, Dominic Soan? If there is nothing else please f__king leave. Claudia is waiting for me."
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Topic: The Lordship Spinoff, aka the Story of Baron Dominic Soan (Suggestion Game) (Read 8038 times)