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[Maldevious]

Year 5, August

August is surprisingly mild, and work continues on the tower and the walls. The tower is nearly halfway complete, while you estimate that the walls are about a third of the way done.

You take an interest in the living conditions of the miners this month. The miners have been living in communal housing for several years now, and you decide that they have paid their dues and will be given permission to construct their own houses, effectively forming another small village by the mine. By the end of the month, a few houses now stand, and the miners have taken to to calling the small hamlet Silverhills.

Spending some more time with Luther, you begin to explain some of the ways that he can help run the town and your manor. He is a bit slower in these regards, fumbling around with your wardrobe and generally proving his humble background as he fails to catch on to the nuances of courtly life. You hope that he will improve with further practice, but are discouraged for now.

Since it has been several months, you attempt to do some light riding and exercise, to test your ribs, but you are sorely disappointed. You still have some shooting pains in your side, where the healing has apparently not taken. You push back plans to go on a hunt this month, but do receive permission from the Duke to hunt in his lands when you are feeling up to it.
 
One evening, over a glass of wine, a thought strikes you out of the blue. You wonder what affect of a slight frost would be on the taste of wine. You dash off a letter to the vineyard, instructing them to experiment with a few of their vines this upcoming fall and winter, and see what the results are.

You also think ahead to October, and tell Irlof to begin spreading the word. You are feeling bold, and decide to include a joust and a full melee this year, and have the scribe send out notes far and wide. You only hope that you are healed enough by then to participate.

Plans for September, Sir Stone?

Spoiler: "Baronet Samuel Stone" (click to show/hide)

Age: 24 - February birthday
Spouse: Lady Marna Stone - Age 21 - April Birthday
Children: Sir Isaac Stone - Six Months Old - March Birthday

Below Average Health
Elite Fitness

Literate
Natural Archer
Fine Man of the People
Fine Swordswman
Above Average Rider
Above Average Woodsman
Above Average Heroic Combatant (fighting against the odds)
Average Etiquette
Average Lancer
Average Shield User
Average Armor User
Average History
Poor Legal Mind
Poor Rhetoric

Spoiler: "Equipment and Possessions" (click to show/hide)

Weapons
Militia-grade Short Sword
Fine Longsword
Iron-tipped Lances

Armor
Steel Plate Armor
Mail Shirt
Brigandine Armor
Fur cloak and leggings
Iron Shield
Steel Barding for Destrier

Transport
Felucca
Mottled Grey Hunter
White Destrier

Housing
Brick and Lumber Manor
Fine Furniture
Stag Skull
Bear Skull
Bear Pelt Rug
Falconry Mews
Holes in ground (fish ponds without water or fish)

Misc.
Bear Claws
Average Clothing
Silver Sun Necklace with Gold Pendant
Bound New Testament
Book of Laws
Cask of Beer
Stone Weights
Draft of "The Incursion of the Sea Raiders and the Battle of Torchester"

Spoiler: "Feroshire (Capital Town)" (click to show/hide)

Treasury - Low
270 Citizens

Services and Housing
Nice Communal Housing
Mix of Wood and Brick Housing
Nice Inn
Rowdy Inn
Small Courthouse
Small School and Scribe
Small Theatre

Defense
Wooden Palisade with watchtowers
Stone Tower (46% complete)
Stone Walls (36% complete)
Three longboats
Fake Town for river defense

Trade and Travel
Brick Roads
Medium Brick Paved Market
Medium Dockyard
Two-way Ferry
River Parlon (62% dredged)

Industry
Large Clayworks
Smokehouse
Watermill (Lumber Mill and Grindstone)
Growing Medium Shipyard
Brewery
Stables - Large herd of horses
Growing Small Furniture Workshop

Spoiler: "Your Land" (click to show/hide)

Medium (5x city size) population (Loyal)
River Parlon (fertile banks on both sides, light forest to the north)

Settlements
Feroshire - Your capital
Silverhills - Small hamlet by the mines

Farming
Nice parcel farms south of the river (four field crop rotation)
Crude parcel farms north of the river (four field crop rotation)
Fine Communal Farm (four field crop rotation)
Medium Vineyard - Ice wine experiment
Grand Flock of Sheep
Medium Flock of Cattle
Communal Grazing Land

Defense
Fortified Average Barracks, Armory, and Obstacle Course with Furnaces and Forges
Jousting practice field

Trade and Travel
Gravel Roads
Medium Warehouse

Industry
Medium Fishing Fleet
Fortified Mines north of river (silver, copper, gold, iron, gems)

Misc.
Trash Pit
Graveyard

Spoiler: "Your Forces" (click to show/hide)

Ranged - Longbows, iron short swords, fur armor, mounts
Two elite Archers
Six veteran Rangers
Eight veteran Archers

Melee - Iron halberds, iron brigandine armor, iron short swords, mounts
Twelve veteran Halberdiers
Eight green Halberdiers

City Guard - Short bows / Iron short swords, fur armor, wooden shields
Seven Green Wall Archers
Ten regular Watchmen

Reserve
Mandatory Bow or Halberd Training for Able-bodied Men

Spoiler: "Your people" (click to show/hide)

Skilled Potters
Above Average Jewelers
Above Average Trappers
Above Average Miners
Average Metalworkers
Average Wine Makers
Journeymen Masons
Journeymen Furniture Builders
Journeymen Horse Breeders
Journeymen Weaponsmiths
Journeymen Armorers

Spoiler: "Nearby" (click to show/hide)

Market Town of Carshire - Gravel 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
   * Torchester - Duke Erran's Capital - Damaged metropolis with a bustling port located on a wide estuary

Spoiler: "Known Lords by Rank and Relationship" (click to show/hide)

King Edward Geronos IV, Lord of the Falls, Keeper of the Flame, Seer of the Dawn - Known

Duke Erran - Fond

Count Aaron Foles - Your Liege Lord - An angry drunkard - Awkward
Count Gorgan - A fine fighter - Introduced
Count Zanders - Introduced

Sir Derrick Denton - Awkward
Sir Alan Percival - Friendly
Sir Uriel Lope - Count's Marshall - Unsure
Sir Melvin - Lady Marna's brother, Duke Erran's nephew - Friendly
Sir Ivanson - A renowned jouster - Introduced
Sir Owen - A household Knight of Count Zanders (Married to Count Foles' Daughter) - Rival

Lady Marna - Wife - Loving
Lady Iris - Lady Marna's mother, Duke Erran's younger sister - Cordial

Isaac Stone - Your First Son - Newborn

Spoiler: "Important Citizens by Occupation" (click to show/hide)

Luther Logan - Sword and Mace - Squire
Fin - Captain of the Militia
Oswald - Ranger Captain
William Dent - Steward, Mayor
Victor Irlof - Master of the Market, Treasurer
Curtis Stumpf - Miner, Councilman
Ian Wood - Carpenter, Councilman
Marge Kannity - Brewer
Gunther Agnacious - Philosopher

Shipwright
Architect
Armorer
Weaponsmith
Horse Breeder
Scribe
Healer
Wool Merchant

Spoiler: "In Fond Remembrance" (click to show/hide)

Sir Alan - Your first squire - Killed in the Battle of Torchester
Sir Blake Denton - Your good friend and confidant - Killed in the Battle of Torchester
Tor - Your first Captain - Killed by the brigand "Ox" in a forest skirmish

[Ukrainian Ranger]

I suggest to make Feroshire prettier: gardens, aesthetic ponds , clay artwork here and there (maybe even clay statues). If we plan to invite guests than we should do something to impress them

Improving a road to Silverhills may be a good thing to do, too

[Origami_Psycho]

I think we ought to invest in improving the mines for now, and perhaps gearing up for some serious metal smithing industry in Feroshire.
We're gonna needs smelters, forges, warehouses, guards, smiths, and more.  Also, see if we can't get some method of high(er) speed transport going on from Silverhills to Feroshire, maybe invent the light gauge railway?  (Minus the steam engines, make it drawn by ox or horse).  Else we should get a good quality road laid to there, so we can get carts of ores to Feroshire quickly.

[10ebbor10]

I see no reason to place metalworking/refining in feroshire. I would add it to the mines, as that results in significantly lowered transport costs, easier acces to fuel(forest) and already existant infrastructure. Also, keeps pollution out of the city

More importantly, the mine is on the other side of the river. Infrastructure improvements would need to focus on the construction of a bridge.

[Origami_Psycho]

I see no reason to place metalworking/refining in feroshire. I would add it to the mines, as that results in significantly lowered transport costs, easier acces to fuel(forest) and already existant infrastructure. Also, keeps pollution out of the city

More importantly, the mine is on the other side of the river. Infrastructure improvements would need to focus on the construction of a bridge.

I had forgotten about that bit.  In that case, let's keep the metal works on the other side of the river, in Silverhills

[Truean]

a.) Seek a healer's aid with our ribs. Lack of good health will keep us from doing a lot of what we want to do in the future.
Evidently, that bear really, really messed us up.

b.) Centralize Metalworking in Silverhills but have an armory / repository in Feroshire. Keeps the entire supply chain centered in one place, but this way we have access to goods (kind of like, keeping food from the farm in the pantry). Do we need to consider the best way to defend Silverhills? If it really is across the river, then I don't know if our walls will reach it, especially if it is a separate settlement. We don't want any potential invading army to come and take our valuables from the mine, or kill/capture our skilled miners! Perhaps some thought needs to be given to walls around the mine/Silverhills. Depending upon how far away Silverhills is, we might want to do more with having somebody administer it, or taking an active role in it ourselves.

c.) Cut Luther some slack but gently keep encouraging him with some lessons etc. Yes, keep on teaching him and having him practice, but see to it that he has someplace decent to live, etc. We want the best fighter in the land firmly on our side.

I suggest to make Feroshire prettier: gardens, aesthetic ponds , clay artwork here and there (maybe even clay statues). If we plan to invite guests than we should do something to impress them

Improving a road to Silverhills may be a good thing to do, too

+1

[Maldevious]

The mines themselves have earthen bulwarks for defense, but Silverhills is currently undefended. Your walls will not reach anywhere near it.

[Truean]

[nods] Yeah, I was afraid of that. Don't get me wrong, I sort of expected that and that's reasonable, but .

If we're going to have the miners build a separate town, then we're going to have to give some thought to how to defend it. I mean, if they aren't gonna live in the city, then they're going to be a comparatively easier to raid target. I'm not sure what our response to a raid of silverhills should be. I mean obviously we deal with it but yeah. The question becomes how.

i.) Rapid response units, namely cavalry.
ii.) Giving Silverhills its own defenses, and or branch of the guards
iii.) Something else?

I dunno.

[Origami_Psycho]

[nods] Yeah, I was afraid of that. Don't get me wrong, I sort of expected that and that's reasonable, but .

If we're going to have the miners build a separate town, then we're going to have to give some thought to how to defend it. I mean, if they aren't gonna live in the city, then they're going to be a comparatively easier to raid target. I'm not sure what our response to a raid of silverhills should be. I mean obviously we deal with it but yeah. The question becomes how.

i.) Rapid response units, namely cavalry.
ii.) Giving Silverhills its own defenses, and or branch of the guards
iii.) Something else?

I dunno.

We could train them in the use of the pick or mattock as a weapon, as they already are familiar with the tool, not to mention how good of a weapon they actually are.

EDIT: We could also train them as engineers, and inform them that the defense of their town and livelihood is their responsibility, which could result in some truly superb fortifications.

[Urist McDwarfFortress]

I think we should smelt the metal in Silverhills, but keep the high-skill metalworking jobs in the safety of Feroshire. Maybe we could build a wooden palisade around the mines and miners houses.

We should be responsible for the defense of Silverhills. Station some of our town watch up there. These are our people. As long as they live on our land and pay us taxes, they are entitled to our protection. Thats kinda the whole point of having a lord.

[Gervassen]

c.) Cut Luther some slack but gently keep encouraging him with some lessons etc. Yes, keep on teaching him and having him practice, but see to it that he has someplace decent to live, etc. We want the best fighter in the land firmly on our side.

No slacking. It's not in his fiery nature to take well to slacking and indulgence. He owes us everything, and we owe him nothing. If he wishes to find a different lord that wants a peasant squire, let him try his luck, but we will not teach him well by being indulgent and acting as though we need his approval. His room should remain spartan, and even that is a blessing. Some squires slept in dog kennels!

He has, however, earned some of our time. Let's spar lightly with him as active recovery. Let him know to take it easy on us. Meanwhile, tell him our own story growing up, the chance that brought us here, and what skills helped us along the way. Combat and good capable administration of our lands have both been equally important in our and our people's advancement and protection; and as a squire, he should also plan for a day when he has a fief to administer. If he wishes to protect his people, he must learn both. Then continue to teach him basic skills of nobility and administration.

Other than our light training, rest and rehabilitation. 

Oh, and send Sir Owen a personal challenge to attend the contest of arms.

[GreatWyrmGold]

I think we should smelt the metal in Silverhills, but keep the high-skill metalworking jobs in the safety of Feroshire. Maybe we could build a wooden palisade around the mines and miners houses.

We should be responsible for the defense of Silverhills. Station some of our town watch up there. These are our people. As long as they live on our land and pay us taxes, they are entitled to our protection. Thats kinda the whole point of having a lord.

[Gervassen]

Also, don't forget our annual prize for archery. have to keep up the tradition and make Feroshire a name among skilled longbowmen. And recruit some good longbowmen to replace our archer retinue losses when they come in October.

[stabbymcstabstab]

I think we should smelt the metal in Silverhills, but keep the high-skill metalworking jobs in the safety of Feroshire. Maybe we could build a wooden palisade around the mines and miners houses.

We should be responsible for the defense of Silverhills. Station some of our town watch up there. These are our people. As long as they live on our land and pay us taxes, they are entitled to our protection. Thats kinda the whole point of having a lord.

[Gervassen]

And hire the troupe of players who performed so well in the last fair. Give them a look at our book on the Sea Raider invasion, and have them create a play about it to show at the tourney. Make sure the characters of nobles certain to attend the tournament are represented in the play.