Year 4, FebruaryYour 22nd birthday comes and goes, but it is a time of anxiety, not celebration, given your recent travails. You split the new recruits between archers and axmen, and set them to training. Patrols are increased, as well, and you start a rotation of two bodyguards, drawn from your most trusted militia, with you at all times. You also move your squire, Alan, into a spare bedroom in your house, as he has volunteered to Captain your guard.
Your rangers are sent to track the horsemen, but a fresh snow obscured their tracks. All they could tell was that the men fled back towards Curbiston, in the direction of the Count's lands. The prisoner is kept in a secure room in the barracks, under guard at all times.
With the mines continuing to produce goods, you start some minor metalworking projects. Your people lack the skill for fine working, but they begin the process of forging crude iron spear blades, axes, and arrowheads. You also start stockpiling bricks, lumber, and stone, in preperation for building your manor this spring.
You send off some silver to fine metalworkers in Curbiston, ordering it worked into a silver brooch in the shape of your sword. It is nicely made, and a worthy present for a Duke.
On another note, you receive permission to make a heraldic sign from the Royal administrators. You have been playing some ideas over in your head, but need to finalize your thoughts. You also receive a note from the Duke, asking you to visit in March.
Late in the month, Sir Denton arrives on horseback. He listens to your story with a grim face, and agrees that the facts seem to implicate the Count. However, none of the proof is irrefutable, in his mind, although the attacker's testimony is quite convincing. He asks the man a few questions, and it comes to light that the attacker never met the Count face to face, which throws the whole story into another light.
Still, he gives you a quiet assurance that he is no big fan of the Count's. Implications are made that, should it come to blows, he would rather draw up banners on your side. He says that Sir Percival would likely feel the same way, and he will stop by his lands on his return to relay your tale.
He takes his leave, and you are left preparing for March and your trip to the Duke's lands. What will you do?
Age: 22 (February birthday)
Good Health
Great Fitness
Literate
Average Etiquette
Poor Rhetoric
Above Average Swordswman
Novice Spearman
Mediocre Shield User
Natural Archer
Average Woodsman
Average Rider
Novice Legal Mind
Militia-grade Short Sword
Average Clothing
Silver Sun Necklace with Gold Pendant
Mail Shirt
Fur cloak and leggings
Oak Shield
Mottled Grey Hunter
Average Farmhouse
Bound New Testament
Book of Laws
Cask of Beer
Treasury - Empty
105 Citizens
Wooden Palisade
Nice Communal Housing
Nice Inn
Small Courthouse
Brick Roads
Growing Small Brick Paved Market
Nice Clayworks
Small Smelter
Modest dockyard
Watermill (Lumber Mill)
Basic Shipyard
Brewery
Two-way Ferry
Medium population (Loyal)
River Parlon (fertile banks on both sides, light forest to the north)
Modest parcel farms south of the river (two plantings per season)
Adequate Communal Farm
Small Vineyard
Crude Roads
Small Warehouse
Average Barracks, Armory, and Obstacle Course
Mines north of river (silver, copper, gold, iron)
* Small community of miners in communal houses
Crude Iron Weapons
Average Fur Armor
Five veteran Archers
Ten veteran Spearmen
Five regular Axmen
Five regular Archers
Five green Rangers
Five green archers
Five green Axmen
Skilled Potters
Average Trappers
Novice Masons
Journeymen Miners
Novice Mechanics
Journeymen Metalworkers
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
King Edward Geronos IV, Lord of the Falls, Keeper of the Flame, Seer of the Dawn - Vaguely remembered
Duke Erran - Unknown
Count Aaron Foles - Your Liege Lord - An angry drunkard - Suspicious
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
Lady Marna - Intrigued
Alan Alanson - Squire, Captain of the Guard - Companionable
Fin - Captain of the Militia - Happy
William Dent - Steward - Companionable
Ian Wood - Overseer of Construction- Devoted
Marge Kannity - Brewer - Happy
Victor Irlof - Master of the Market - Devoted
Curtis Stumpf - Miner - Happy
Morgan - Shipwright - Happy