After riding past a camp of soldiers, and riding into Stormstead, something was not right. There was something in the air, a general unease. But the most... Troubling matter was the king. Sick with the Grey Death. This complicates things.
After making his way to the palace, and entering, Karas made his way to Aveline's office.
"By the spirits, what is going on?" he talked in a hushed tone to Aveline.
I missed her... Ask Her
"And also, who was your swordmaster?"
A throwing knife strikes the wooden doorpost inches from your face as you open the door.
"When I said no interruptions, I meant- oh, it's you."
Aveline looks like wrath incarnate, but she softens very slightly when she sees you. She is out of armour and facing a large haunch of pork suspended from the ceiling. It bears serious bruising where she has been punching it. She cracks her knuckles and starts punching pork again.
"Bloody war's going on, that's what. My king is two steps from death, sweating like a pig in the royal chamber from Grey Death, and that swine de Arborvent is sitting in his place as Regent. Richard's convinced the Treasurer poisoned him and is raising a bloody army to unseat him, while the bloody Treasurer has raised one back to stop him.
"King's under triple guard, all men I picked by my own hand. Hasn't spoken a word of sense since his fall, just mutters. Nobody gets in except the doctors, not even that whore Ria. For all I know, she's responsible."
Aveline smacks the pork so hard that it bangs against the wall before returning.
"So I've no time off, love, just time to train. Also, what sort of a question is that? Who was my sword trainer? Aquila de Braganca, if you must know. I think she's in Windheath, on retainer to the Stonetrees."
Aveline catches the pork holds it for a moment to steady it, then crosses to her desk and drinks some water from a mug, splashing the rest on her face.
"If you want to be useful, find out how the king got the Grey Death. I can't spare a single man, every last Bravo is on security detail, so you're on your own - and I'm afraid I can't let you in to see the king either. Even you're not that special, love.
"Well, maybe not on your own. I think there was some hedge knight doing personal work for the king before he got sick - he's clean, I already had him tailed. Saer Talinth, he has quarters over near Arondson's in the city. If you need help, he seems to have a nose for investigation."
Aveline slams the mug back onto the desk. She smirks.
"And with that, get out. I need to change into my armour, and this isn't playtime so you can't watch me changing. Door's there, we both have work to do."
He rode out to meet with the two lords who have failed to provide the forces for the Cold Drake Hunt that had costed Northwatch much life and men. Checking on their alliegance and if they will be marching alongside him in meeting with Richard.
That one infantry regiment guarding the trade route shall remain in Northwatch, guarding the traderoute and the general populace.
[1] You ride to meet the lords like hellfire incarnate, angered by the loss of so many men by their inaction. The comtes actually take offense at your insinuation that they have failed their duty and swear to use their influence to ensure not a single lord will ride to your aid. This particularly frustrating as you suspect that you could get [0.3*8 = 2.4d] at least two regiments of infantry from your lords if they all responded. Of course, you could always just arrest the fools on an invented charge and present your argument to the rest of your vassals again.
My dear Lord Stoneson,
I have heard of the decision made by the lords of Spiritusaer and feel that they have made the most reasonable decision in thse circumstances. To confirm your status as a Lord of the lands under late Duchesse Ursula, please call up any troops you migght have and join the regency coucil in the capital, where we can sort out the matters of the country peacefully. I would like to remind you that your blood relative, Lord Stonetree decided to submit to royal will and now supports my regency. I look forward to see the Stonetree dynasty united under common cause with the crown.
Regards
Duc Edgard de Arborvent, Lord of Arborvent, Regent and Treasurer for HM Albert I
[2] Stoneson's response comes on the back of four messengers. You are informed by the messengers that five set out, so you suspect that one was intercepted.
Richard is aware of the contents of this message.[2+1] The letter back is not exactly an acceptance, but Stoneson reasserts his loyalty to the king. He agrees to come to the regency council if you can promise him a year's tax break for the province, at least one parcel in land from any of the surrounding provinces to Spiritusaer's estates (should they be found guilty of rebellion)
and the passage of law to the effect that Spiritusaer's duchy remains elective in perpetuity, with new ducs elected by the barons upon the death of the old. (This would greatly increase the power of the local lords in Spiritusaer.)
Check if I can raise levies.
The weak rule of the nobility in the Pact seriously limits your power to raise levies. If all the nobles in the county raised their troops, it would amount to a single regiment of regular infantry and you might still have to pay some of their costs yourself.
Gather what remains of the Rangers Guard and send them out to do various things.
Send some to gather mercenaries and willing men from the taverns of Northwatch with the promise of pay at the end of the campaign and recognition from the Crown.
Send others to gather supplies, extra arrows, food, etc.
And send the rest to recruit willing men from villages along the way to the Bridge, have them speak of the need of men to fight for Prince Richard, and that the Troll Slayer Trent shall lead them to battle.
Head for the Drowned King Bridge and have all my men hang low just outside, use farm house or whatever, but do not engage enemies.
[2] No mercenaries are willing to lend their support to such an uncertain cause; even Haegar prove unwilling to involve themselves in the fight, particularly as you did not offer any up-front pay.
[5] The people are loyal, though, both to you and to the guard. Word of your deeds have spread, of the sacrifices made by yourself and your men. Peasants rally to your call where nobles will not, men whose lives and livelihoods, whose farms and families have been made safe by the service of the Ranger Guard. You and your men are joined by trappers, by hunters, by simple peasants and even by a handful of trained warriors. They leave wives and children behind, and though they are spurred on by the words and influence of their popular leader, the land suffers for their absence. [+1 to commons unrest in Northwatch. 100% 'levy' raised. 0.3*8 = 2.4d. Special recruitment option made possible by 'Hero' status.]
Your rangers take them and train them as best they can in the short time possible; trappers and hunters with shortbows and darts, throwing spears and woodcutting axes. They have not the long training needed for the shortbow, but they are skilled at concealment and under the leadership of the old guard, they respond well to orders and new tactics.
Until the crisis ends, Trent Nathal gains the support of an Ambush Tactician regular infantry, comprised of peasants. They are loyal to him directly.[3 vs 2] Word reaches you that the Regent's levies are headed to Drowned King as well, so you force your men into a march. You arrive a day before the Regent's men do and establish hiding places and bluffs in the surrounding copses and farmsteads, as well as shallow holes around the bridge where terrain permits.
Concealment auto-success. Trent's Ambush Tacticians are hidden and unobserved by the Regent's levies when they arrive. They remain hidden for the present.Deploy 2 regiments of levies at each bridge to Stormstead.
The levies arrive in place at Drowned King (east), Harald's Bridge (west) and High Bridge (north), north of Stormstead. They do not encounter difficulties along the way.
Head home.
Your journey home is relatively uneventful, returning to Stormstead via Eyewater Bridge (west of the plains). Along the way you notice the many military preparations and return to Stormstead to find the Treasurer as Regent. You are quickly brought up to speed on current events by a member of the palace staff, including your half-sister's death. You are given some authority as a token member of Edgard's "regency council", but you will have to decide where your loyalties lie for further work.
An empty throne and a sleeping king,
A country fractured, hopes taken wing,
Brother fights brother, naught civil in war,
Neither gold nor glory are we fighting for...Moments of solitude were almost non-existent, and the one Edgard had managed to acquire was being stolen by that bloody singing Fool. He turned from his supper to find Fust standing in the doorway, abusing his freedom to walk about the castle.
"But enough of that, dear money-counter;
I daresay you are not in the mood.
I came to offer service, lord,
To do that which I could.
You know I served my king as Fool,
I serve him still as more.
You know I work to find things out,
Bring rumours to his door.
He 'pointed you his Regent,
He chose you for your worth,
I serve him now by serving you
With somewhat lesser mirth.
Tell me what you need to know,
Where your eyes are clouded.
I'll go, I'll search, I'll hunt it down,
Though I be near confounded.
I'll bring you truths, and lies of value,
Word from the rival camp,
And if I serve thee well and prove my worth,
I ask but a county and stamp.
Tell me where you need me, lord,
Tell me where to go.
I'll hunt the truth, I'll find the facts
Your enemies would know."Fust offers his services as a spy to Edgard.
If possible, he also trained rumouring in summer and trains it again in Autumn,
while searching for rumours of ones more skilled than himself and how he might learn their ways.
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Topic: You are King III: Spring 938 AAL (Read 132552 times)