I appreciate that the debate remained civil and impassioned. Good job team! And a slight correction of misinformation in the thread... the wool merchant wed one of the Count's nieces, not one of his daughters.Year 5, FebruaryThe month of your birthday rolls around, but you are not concerned with celebration. The latest intrusions into your land have raised your choler, and you decide that now is the time for action.
Strapping on your armor and gathering your longsword and shield, you march to the barracks, where your two prisoners are being kept: the man who initially attempted to assassinate "Sir Rock" last year, and the man who was surveying your land last month. You tell Fin that you need an honor guard of his five best Rangers, and his presence as well, for you are going on a trip upriver to see the Duke.
You and your men, plus the prisoners, board your Felucca and set out, despite the chill in the air. You travel downstream, making good time to the Duke's main holdings. The journey takes three days, and you put aground a few times to stretch your legs and set up camp at night. You arrive at the Duke's capital city at dawn on the fourth day, a sprawling metropolis with a bustling port sitting on a wide estuary.
You dock, and then move your prisoners with haste into the inner city. You arrive at the Duke's castle and make your way inside, requesting and receiving an audience. After a perfunctory greeting, you launch into your tale, weaving the story together masterfully. The Duke furrows his brow, nodding along and grimacing as the two prisoners tell their tales. He winces as you tell of your near "accidental" death during the tournament. When you finish, a hush hangs over the air.
After a moment, he seems to have decided. "Your story is convincing. This wool merchant must be detained, and I will give you a warrant to do so. I fear what he might say regarding Count Foles. I cannot abide treason by one of my vassals. If these allegations and insinuations are corroborated by the wool merchant... well, we will cross that bridge when we get there. I will retain custody of these men for the time being.
"I would also charge you with locating the citizens the wool merchant took hostage to work his latest scheme. I will not abide my subjects being captured and held under my nose.
"That being said, watch your back, Sir Stone. These are troubling times, and it seems that someone is quite intent on ending your life..."
With that, you are dismissed, and are put up in a room for the remainder of the day. Lady Marna pays a visit, and you spend an afternoon with her walking in a frost-covered garden, which she tells you will bloom wonderfully in the spring. A steward arrives with your warrant a few hours later, and you depart first thing in the morning.
You return to your lands half-way through the month, and with a specific mission in mind. The rest of February passes with a strong blizzard, but the weather shows signs of breaking at the end of the month. What will you do in March, and how will you carry out your task?
Age: 23 (February birthday)
Good Health
Elite Fitness
Literate
Natural Archer
Fine Man of the People
Above Average Swordswman
Above Average Rider
Above Average Woodsman
Average Etiquette
Average Lancer
Novice Legal Mind
Novice Shield User
Poor Rhetoric
Weapons
Militia-grade Short Sword
Fine Longsword
Iron Lance
Armor
Mail Shirt
Brigandine Armor
Fur cloak and leggings
Iron Shield
Transport
Felucca
Mottled Grey Hunter
Housing and Misc.
Brick and Lumber Manor
Falconry Mews
Average Clothing
Silver Sun Necklace with Gold Pendant
Bound New Testament
Book of Laws
Cask of Beer
Stone Weights
Treasury - Low
171 Citizens
Services and Housing
Nice Communal Housing
Mix of Wood and Brick Housing
Nice Inn
Small Courthouse
Small School and Library (to be built in spring)
Defense
Wooden Palisade
Trade and Travel
Brick Roads
Medium Brick Paved Market
Modest dockyard
Two-way Ferry
Industry
Large Clayworks
Smokehouse
Watermill (Lumber Mill and Grindstone)
Growing Shipyard
Brewery
Stables - Large herd of horses
Small Furniture Workshop
Medium (5x city size) population (Loyal)
River Parlon (fertile banks on both sides, light forest to the north)
Farming
Nice parcel farms south of the river (two plantings per season)
Fine Communal Farm
Small Vineyard
Defense
Average Barracks, Armory, and Obstacle Course with Furnaces and Forges
Jousting practice field
Trade and Travel
Gravel Roads
Medium Warehouse
Industry
Small Fishing Fleet
Mines north of river (silver, copper, gold, iron, gems)
* Small community of miners in communal houses
Misc.
Trash Pit
Graveyard
Ranged - Longbows, iron short swords, fur armor, mounts
Five veteran Archers
Ten regular Rangers
Ten regular Archers
Melee - Iron halberds, iron brigandine armor, iron short swords, mounts
Twenty green Halberdiers
Reserve - Iron short swords, fur armor, wooden shields
Ten regular Watchmen
Mandatory Bow or Halberd Training for Able-bodied Men
Skilled Potters
Above Average Jewelers
Above Average Trappers
Journeymen Miners
Journeymen Metalworkers
Journeymen Masons
Journeymen Furniture Builders
Novice Horse Breeders
Novice Weaponsmiths
Novice Armorers
Market Town of Carshire - One day's ride on main road
Folesden - Land of Count Foles - Downstream
* Curbiston - County Seat of Folesden
Land of Sir Denton - Upstream
Land of Sir Percival - Adjacent to Sir Denton's land, across the river
Hemswood Abbey - Far Upstream - Known for dark beer
Lands of Duke Erran - Across the river to the north - Used for hunting
Duke Erran's Capital - Sprawling metropolis with a bustling port located on a wide estuary
King Edward Geronos IV, Lord of the Falls, Keeper of the Flame, Seer of the Dawn - Vaguely remembered
Duke Erran - Pleasant
Count Aaron Foles - Your Liege Lord - An angry drunkard - Suspicious
Count Gorgan - A fine fighter - Introduced
Count Zanders - Introduced
Sir Blake Denton - Friendly
Sir Alan Percival - Friendly
Sir Uriel Lope - Count's Marshall - Unsure
Sir Melvin - Lady Marna's brother, Duke Erran's nephew - Polite
Sir Ivanson - A renowned jouster - Introduced
Lady Marna - Infatuated
Alan Alanson - Squire, Captain of the Watch
Fin - Captain of the Militia
William Dent - Steward, Mayor
Victor Irlof - Master of the Market, Treasurer
Curtis Stumpf - Miner, Councilman
Ian Wood - Carpenter, Councilman
Marge Kannity - Brewer
Shipwright
Architect
Armorer
Weaponsmith
Horse Breeder
Scribe (in spring)