You grow perplexed for a moment. You had no idea this was coming. Clearing your throat to buy some time, you think hard about the options. You get the feeling much of your future may depend on this decision.
Your initial gut feeling is to go with the forest, but then you remember a traveling merchant who came through your village singing the praises of the river life. You blurt out, "I'll take the river land," surprising yourself. The steward twitches an eyebrow, then makes some sort of scratch on a piece of fine vellum paper. He rolls it up, hands it to you, and then continues.
"The King has, in his graciousness, provided you with a sword for defense of your land." His eyes dart to the cudgel worn on your hip, a slight sneer on his lips as a young man walks forward and presents you with the first sword you've ever owned. You grab it clumsily. "There will also be a horse supplied for touring your new lands, whose dimensions are marked out in the document you hold." You clear your throat, cheeks reddening; you cannot read. "Perhaps it would be advisable to find a Steward amongst your people, Sir Stone."
He nods to the back of the room. "That will be all for now, Sir Stone. I look forward to hearing of your exploits." He says the last sentence with a bit of venom, and you feel the desire rising to prove him wrong. You may be just a simple farmer, but you
will succeed at this.
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Year 1, SpringYour butt really hurts. You've never ridden a horse before this trip to your lands, by the River Parlon, and the old brown mare, well, she ain't what she used to be. You bounced and flipped and flopped all the way from the capital, but you are finally here. The main road ended long ago, and you had to ride through a few fields and meadows to reach the river.
You stand on the south bank, where the ground is rich and loamy and free of trees. Glancing across the river, which is no more than 100 paces wide, you see the other bank is similarly verdant, and actually dotted by several trees. Not enough to sustain an industry, but plenty for your building purposes.
A few lazy fishing boats ply the river, and you rode by several run-down looking farms on the way in. A few village boys followed your ride in, laughing and smirking at the way that you bounced roughly on the saddle. As you swing your legs down and your boots hit the ground, you suddenly realize that you have no place to stay here. There is no manor house waiting for you.
As you consider your situation, a fisherman walks up to you. "Who," he glances at your sword, "might you be, good sir knight?"
You explain who you are. He seems a bit non-plussed. "Another lord then? Very well, Sir Stone. Best of luck to you. I'll be just attending to my fishing, then."
With that, he cuts a crude bow, turns and leaves. You stand alone, no village to speak of on your land, sore butt, unable to read the deed you hold, and without a roof to sleep under. What, Sir Stone, shall you do?
GM Note: I will read all of your suggestions, but only implement a reasonable number of the most popular ones. You can't build Rome in a day. Think natural progression and realistic goals for three month periods. If you want to build a castle, you will not succeed now.Age: 19
Illiterate
Untrained Swordswman
Untrained Rider
Militia-grade Short Sword
Old Brown Mare
River Parlon (fertile banks on both sides, light forest to the north)
Run-down farms south of the river
King Edward Geronos IV, Lord of the Falls, Keeper of the Flame, Seer of the Dawn - Vaguely remembered
Count Aaron Foles - Your Liege Lord - Unknown
Author
Topic: Lordship: A Suggestion Game (Read 327456 times)