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[Weirdsound]

(Just a basic suggestion game. Fight for control of your lands, go on quests, or lead armies.)

Henry Krvni was destined to be a footnote in history. His family, although ancient and well respected, was far removed from its days of glory and the realm was at peace. He would never have the chance to do anything the minstrels would sing about, or the scribes record. Henry considered this a good thing; he was neither the strongest nor the smartest of his sibblings, any of his younger brothers would have been better suited for lordship than him.

Under the assumption that both himself and his blood were inferior to that of his brothers and sisters, he made the choice to take no wife and father no children. Early in his lordship however his sister Kaylen died of Minotaur Pox. Then his brother Bert was slain in a Jousting 'accident' against the hot headed Crowned Prince Onix; His other brother Billion was then promptly cut down in a duel to avenge him. His last remaining sibbling, a sister named Faye, fell into a state of despair which she only recovered from after finding the gods and joining a nunnery, thus killing any chance that Henry could rely upon his sibblings to continue the bloodline and forcing him to take a wife.

The woman he chose was Ursula Holard, a daughter of the Northern Lord Holard. Ursula was a stocky and powerful woman, and a bear caviler to boot. As Henry had hoped, she bore children better suited for the lordship than he was. First was a daughter, who Henry named after his late sister Kaylen, and then came the sons. They were twin boys, identical twins, each with their mother's jet black hair and stout build. Henry named them Brandon after his father and Billion after his brother.

The boys grew up quick, and by the time they were nine Henry and Ursula felt confident enough in them to have the twins shipped off to the Kings Court at the Capitol Palace to learn to be proper knights. Under the tutelage of the people there they refined their skill at Swordplay, Jousting, and Courtly Manners to knightly levels. They developed a friendly rivalry amoungst themselves, and a less than friendly one with the Crowned Prince Gravel, son of King Onix, the killer of their uncles.

Despite the bad blood between House Krvni and the Royal House of Greatstone, the boys were too talented - the king had no polite excuse to refuse them the knighthood. They received their titles, participated in one last jousting tourneyment (Brandon made it to the Quarterfinals, and Billion to the Semifinals, but both were eventually unseated by Gravel), and returned quickly to their fathers lands. Upon their arival the 16 year old boys found the following message waiting for them.

Sons,

As I have told you many times before, the midwife who attended your birth was rather drunk and could not remember which of you was firstborn and the rightful heir to my lands and income.

Luckily you have Northern blood running through your veins, and the Northern houses don't decide succession by birth order, but by merit. We will be using this Northern method. As such I have embarked on a fishing trip to the Whale Islands, and will be gone for at least a year. Upon my return I will listen to the tales of your deeds in the meantime, and name the son I am most impressed with heir.

I have sent riders with this news to all but the most remote Houses in the Kingdom. With any luck petitioners will soon arrive at Consolation Castle with various ideas for tasks and quests that you can use to win glory and make the Kingdom a better place.

Goodluck and Godspeed to both of you

You Loving Father,

Lord Henry Krvni, Spear of the Crosslands and Guardian of the Isthmus

---

Consolation Castle has always been considered rather... Spartan compared to the seats of other great houses. Simple walls of grey stone block encircle an inner keep made of the same material. There are eight towers, four on the wall and four on the keep. In the courtyard guardsman and soldiers train, and the highborn children of House Krvni mingle and play with the wretches born of their servants.

You are in this courtyard, mounted on your horse with your twin brother Brandon and both of your squires.

"Brother, I'm going to head to the kitchen and see that our catch is properly cleaned. You need the head-start anyway." Your twin announces with a teasing smile before riding off across the courtyard.

After reading your fathers letter, the pair of you had agreed to take a week off to recover from the long journey back to your lands, celebrate your respective knighthoods, and enjoy each others company for what could be the last time: Only the gods could know if you both would be alive and on speaking terms by the time an heir is decided.

The last day of the 'week off' was yesterday, and Brandon and you had taken the squires fishing. You ended up camping out, and upon waking up had shared a tender hug and then agreed that the contest to decide the heir would begin once you had ridden through the castle gates and into the courtyard.

You are now in the Courtyard. The game has begun, and Brandon has given you a brief head start. You have several options as to how you should proceed:
1: You can head to your chambers and receive petitioners in hopes of finding a good quest.

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

Your steward informs you that the following petitioners have arrived today bearing quests. More will come in time, from more exotic places to boot.

A: A rather plump man. Judging from his grab you guess that he is some sort of tradesman from a village your father controls.
B: A northern man. Judging by his dress, and the fact that he parked a dire bear in the Cubbels, you suspect he is a bear calveryman and a sellsword.
C: A wood-elf savage from one of the feral tribes in the northern lands. You don't know enough about it's culture to deduce anything about it from the way it dresses.

2: You can call on one or more members of your fathers court, in hopes of gaining their council or support.

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

The Following are influential people in your fathers court. You are on decent terms with all of them, and it has been years since you have had a substantial talk with any of em.

A: Lady Ursula Holard Krvni is your mother and your father's wife and de-facto captain of the household guard. She is a seasoned rider of both bears and horses, and you hear she still destroys soldiers half her age in spars.
B: Bishop Macon Krvni is the supreme leader of the heretical Church of Ivory, which worships your ancestor Burt 'The Bloody' Krvni as the god of death. The Church of Ivory has been smothered in all the kingdom except in the Krvni lands. Most members of your house worship the classic Pantheon, but will pay their respects to Burt from time to time as well, often in secret.
C: Samantha Glade is a Priestess of April the Fertility Goddess. Most lords keep a priest of the Pantheon in their court. many lords favor followers of April, as her order is all female, but not celibate.
D: Thomas Doe is the bastard son of Lord Thomas Thrift, the liege lord who your house is in the service of. Thomas the Younger, as he is called, sits on your fathers council to see that his fathers will is obeyed.
E: Simian Gladiolus is your fathers treasurer. Like most treasurers in the Crosslands Simian is a member of the merchants guild: Outside his work in the court he holds a monopoly on the import of exotic spices and drugs to your father's lands.
F: Albus Abbas is your fathers aged wiseman. In his youth he was an assassin and spellweaver for hire, so his areas of expertise are magic, alchemy, poison, and medicine. He is however well read and likely knows more than you in almost any subject imaginable.

3: You can ride off to somewhere else.

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

I seem to be having a bit of trouble with Imgur at the moment, so here is a link to the map for now: https://docs.google.com/drawings/d/15EYmyiBQgBXYysEmRhepycaAG2-7mw69Df4AQQ4SLAc/edit?usp=sharing

Notable Locations:
Consolation Castle: Home of House Krvni. Consolation Castle was originally built as a small fort by the Krvni's foes to besiege Ivory Castle during the Second Crown War. When the war ended the ennemy withdrew, and Ivory Castle had fallen. The Krvni decided to claim the fort as a consolation prize, and built it into a proper castle where they still live today.

Riverport: The largest town under Krvni control and a fairly significant commercial seaport. Riverport is overlooked and protected by Consolation Castle. It is the Southern most town under Krvni control, and thus is also a major stop along the Crossland Main Road.

Krvnitown: The oldest and second-largest town under Krvni control. Krvnitown is home to what remains to the Church of Ivory and is a rather secretive place home to scary rumors and unfriendly locals who tend to 'disappear' most visitors. Members of the Krvni household are the exception however, the descendents of Burt the Bloody are always welcome in Krvnitown.

Ivory Ruins: The ancestral home of the Krvni bloodline stood for over 3000 years. By the time it fell at the end of the Second Crown War nearly all the internal walls were covered in engraved ivory blocks, enough to make back the entire cost of the war three times over when the king looted and sold it all. Although little stands above ground, the labyrinthine substructure still exists although it is perilous and confusing to navigate. Adventurers explore it anyway, in hopes of finding an undiscovered room with it's ivory still intact.

Three Inns: Three Inns is a small rest stop known for it's hospitality, and the northernmost town in the Crosslands. Travlers heading to or from the Northlands by land have to pass through, and scholars and adventures seeking to visit the Ivory Ruins prefer to stay here rather than creepy and murderous Krvnitown. There is a small market here, but most traders prefer the seaport and proximity to the castle guards that Riverport provides.

Last Inn: Last Inn is the first stop on the perilous road through swamp and desert that leads to the independent city states on the other side of the continent. East of Last Inn and the Mountains are only savages in the swamp and bandits in the desert. The town is small, but traders visit it anyway for rare plants and animals that the locals find in the swamps.

To the East is the Trecherous Swamp Road, which takes at least four months to travel and has no inns along the way
To the North are the Northlands, home to House Holard and it's vassals. You descend from the Holards on your mothers side
To the South are the rest of the Crosslands, under lord Thrift and his Vassals. It connects to all the other terrestrial regions of the kingdom
 

Party Information:

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

Manpower Count
Infantry: 0
Calvary: 2
Magi: 0
Monsters: 0

Notable Party Members

Sir Billion Krvni: The Player Character. A human knight of 16 and a quarter years. Billion has a full head of untamed black hair but a clean shaven face. He is skilled with the Short Sword, Long Sword, Bastard Sword, Lance, and Battleaxe. He prefers heavy armor and a shield and to fight from horseback. His armor is plain steel plate. His shield bears the Krvni Symbol: A brown wagonwheel on a green background.

Tidus Greatstone: A Half Dwarf Squire of 13 years. The Royal House of Greatstone has been on bad terms with House Krvni since the end of the Second Crown War, so it would seem strange that Sir Billion would have a royal as a squire. Tidus however is only a distant cousin to the king, 73rd or 98th in line to the throne depending on who you ask, but Tidus is delusional enough to fancy himself a rival to the crowned prince. In hopes of getting himself noticed, he agreed to squire for Sir Billion at the last tournament. Billion made it to the Semifinal tilt, and in the process became fast friends with Tidus, who agreed to return home with him and be Billion's squire full time. The Greatstones interbreed with some of the noble houses of the Southern Dwarves, and Tidus is the half dwarf sons of two half dwarves. Tidus has better than human endurance for his age, and prefers to fight with warhammers, greataxes, and heavy armor.

[Xantalos]

Ker PTW.
That's it, I'm afraid.

[kj1225]

1C If you can get support from even a savage then you must be a good leader.

[Ukrainian Ranger]

 2A, 2F

[Jembot]

PTW

[Weirdsound]

You turn to your steward. "Send the savage to my audience chamber Jenks. I'll hear what he has to say... or she... I have a hard time telling with elves."

The audience chamber, like much of the rest of Consolation Castle, is simple and lacking ornamentation. Perhaps you can change that through the spoils of war. You sit on the bench, and allow your squire Tidus to sit at your right hand as there is nobody more important around to fill the spot. Several minutes later the elf is brought in. Seemingly unaware of civilized customs, he doesn't bow.

"Greetings Billion Sir." He declares. "I am head of husbandry for the Leaf-litter Tribe. Name Chiatto. I was taking three of my daughters down the trail of eternity in search of husbands, when furbies attacked."

You shake your head and frown. "My mother is a human of the north. Please refrain from using such derogatory languge."

The elf blinks and pauses for a second. "The humans said we were poaching on their land. Took my daughters as punishment. Keeping them in Barking Pit at village in cage. I complained to their lord-chief, he laugh at me and said no. He then told me you were looking for fighting and glory, and told me to ask you for help. Said he dare you to try. Get them out, I give you reward."

You give his words pause for thought. Barking pit likely means the Kennels. At least you hope. You would rather not attempt to storm a Cubbels full of Dire Bears expecting a kennels full of hounds. You would likely have to fight one or two men, and any hounds unchained upon your arrival.

"What kind of reward do you have in mind, elf?"

The savage smiles. "Your Choice. 10 Horses, 10 Moose, 5 Morse, or 1 Rescued Daughter as wife or concubine."

You consider the options. You can rule the Moose right out. Elf Bred Horses tend to be high quality and sought after for speed and grace, but some of them lack endurance however. Morse are hybrids created from a horse, a moose, and a bit of elven magic. Morse are easy to ride and unlike horses they are very difficult to spook. They also have nasty antlers. The downside to morse is that they get along poorly with horses. You wouldn't mind having an elf girl woman around. Even if you decided not to share a bed with her, you could likely pick one with some talent that is rare among civilized folk.

"Alright." You admit "You have peaked my interest. Where in the north is this village in which your daughters are kept?"

Sadly the elf knows nothing of cartography, and can only promise to lead you there himself. He says it is five days of riding, which would likely be even longer if you recruited some men and had to march an infantry.

"Very well elf. I have heard your request and will consider it. Jenks, would you be so kind as to send word to wiseman Abbas and my lady mother? I would see them as soon as possible to ask their advice on this and other matters."

The elf leaves you alone with your squire and your steward departs to fetch the advisers you requested.

"I've always wanted to ride a morse..." Tidus says softly and wistfully. You nod but remain silent until your mother arrives.

---

Ursula is as large and muscular as ever. She is wearing her combat furs and is quite sweaty; you deduce that your summons must have interrupted her training.

She is glad to see you however, so after expressing affection and inquireing about your travels she proceeds to listen to your inquiries about the quest. She then gives her advice.

"It has to be the village of Bruin Inn, thats on lord Cornish's lands and in the shadow of his castle." She informs you. "Lord Cornish is still sore about the fact that it was your lord father, and not himself, who won my hand in marriage. He is likely looking to kill you, or for an excuse to start a war. That is why he dared you to come."

"Would you advise me to stay away from the quest then?"

You mother considers that for a second. "No, but I'd advise you to take a good number of men with you. It could be a trap. If you wish to do this I'll write my lord father to explain the challenge, and the other lords of the north as well. That way, if you hurt Cornish or one of his sons, his peers will laugh at his arrogence for inviting you to try instead of jumping to the conclusion that he was attack unprovoked and trying to defend or avenge him."

"Also" she adds "I wouldn't take one of the women as your prize. I'm working on finding wives for both Brandon and yourself so that you don't have to worry about that while you are out Heroing and earning your father's favor."

Ursula refuses to tell you exactly who she is trying to set you up with, and spends the rest of the meeting teasing you mercilessly with the information. Eventually you send her away when Albus Abbas arrives.

---

Albus is an ancient man of desert bandit descent. He is short and skinny with a bald turbaned head and a flowing white mustache. His skin is naturally quite tan. Age had not been kind to him in your absence from home, his body now shakes and twitches involuntarily. You doubt he would be any good for working a dagger, mixing a poison, or weaving a spell these days.

When you tell him about the potential quest, he parrots your mothers advice. "It sounds like lord Cornish wants to stir up trouble. I'd take men and inform the other northern lords of your intentions so that there is no misunderstanding..."

The old man then smiles. "I'd find a necromancer if I were you. The dread comet will appear in the sky in about 7 or 8 days, and will last for about two weeks. It will boost the effectiveness of death magic while it burns up there. Take a Necromancer North and attack under the comet... they wont know what hit em."

You blink. Necromancy was a hated school of magic, and those who practiced it rather secretive. "Where would I find a necromancer?"

Thw wiseman smirks. "Try the Church of Ivory Cathedral in Krvnitown" He then frowns "or just ask that insufferable Bishop."

"You have something against Macon?" You ask him. The Bishop was kind to you and Brandon as children.

"No." Albus replies. "Nothing personal anyway. The rest of the court tends to get a bit... ambitious... when your lord father is away is all. Bishop Macon is trying to build proper churches in all your father's villages, so that his flock wont have to worship in secret. I doubt our neighbors will like it if we permit this heresy in the open."

He mentioned the rest of the court... perhaps he had some dirt on your mother and her plans to see you wed. "And what of my lady mother? What is her ambition?"

Albus shakes her head. "She wants either Lord Henry, or his heir, to bend knee to her lord father Odin Holard, first among the northern lords. She wants us to break our oath of fealty to Lord Thrift. This would spark a war between the Northlands and the Crosslands."

You nod. In all likely hood that means she would want you and Brandon to each marry the daughter of a northern lord. Perhaps even one of your own aunts. You know Ursula has several half sisters around your age...

Albus takes his leave, and once again your squire speaks when you are alone together. "Wasn't your ancestor Bert the Blood a necromancer?" Tidus asks.

"Amoung many other things..." you reply.

...

Quests and Petitions

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

Your steward informs you that the following petitioners have arrived today bearing quests. More will come in time, from more exotic places to boot.

A: A rather plump man. Judging from his grab you guess that he is some sort of tradesman from a village your father controls.
B: A northern man. Judging by his dress, and the fact that he parked a dire bear in the Cubbels, you suspect he is a bear calveryman and a sellsword.

You have already begun research on the following quests.

M: An elven savage bids you to rescue his daughters. Your advisers suspect they are being held in the town of Bear Inn, and that the quest could be a trap set by Lord Cornish, an enemy of your father.

The Court

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

The Following are influential people in your fathers court. You are on decent terms with all of them, and it has been years since you have had a substantial talk with any of em.

A: Lady Ursula Holard Krvni is your mother and your father's wife and de-facto captain of the household guard. She is a seasoned rider of both bears and horses, and you hear she still destroys soldiers half her age in spars. She may be trying to spark a war between the Northlands and the Crosslands.
B: Bishop Macon Krvni is the supreme leader of the heretical Church of Ivory, which worships your ancestor Burt 'The Bloody' Krvni as the god of death. The Church of Ivory has been smothered in all the kingdom except in the Krvni lands. Most members of your house worship the classic Pantheon, but will pay their respects to Burt from time to time as well, often in secret. Bishop Macon may be trying to bring his heretical faith out into the open...
C: Samantha Glade is a Priestess of April the Fertility Goddess. Most lords keep a priest of the Pantheon in their court. many lords favor followers of April, as her order is all female, but not celibate.
D: Thomas Doe is the bastard son of Lord Thomas Thrift, the liege lord who your house is in the service of. Thomas the Younger, as he is called, sits on your fathers council to see that his fathers will is obeyed.
E: Simian Gladiolus is your fathers treasurer. Like most treasurers in the Crosslands Simian is a member of the merchants guild: Outside his work in the court he holds a monopoly on the import of exotic spices and drugs to your father's lands.
F: Albus Abbas is your fathers aged wiseman. In his youth he was an assassin and spellweaver for hire, so his areas of expertise are magic, alchemy, poison, and medicine. He is however well read and likely knows more than you in almost any subject imaginable.

Map of your fathers lands

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

I seem to be having a bit of trouble with Imgur at the moment, so here is a link to the map for now: https://docs.google.com/drawings/d/15EYmyiBQgBXYysEmRhepycaAG2-7mw69Df4AQQ4SLAc/edit?usp=sharing

Notable Locations:
Consolation Castle: Home of House Krvni. Consolation Castle was originally built as a small fort by the Krvni's foes to besiege Ivory Castle during the Second Crown War. When the war ended the ennemy withdrew, and Ivory Castle had fallen. The Krvni decided to claim the fort as a consolation prize, and built it into a proper castle where they still live today.

Riverport: The largest town under Krvni control and a fairly significant commercial seaport. Riverport is overlooked and protected by Consolation Castle. It is the Southern most town under Krvni control, and thus is also a major stop along the Crossland Main Road.

Krvnitown: The oldest and second-largest town under Krvni control. Krvnitown is home to what remains to the Church of Ivory and is a rather secretive place home to scary rumors and unfriendly locals who tend to 'disappear' most visitors. Members of the Krvni household are the exception however, the descendents of Burt the Bloody are always welcome in Krvnitown.

Ivory Ruins: The ancestral home of the Krvni bloodline stood for over 3000 years. By the time it fell at the end of the Second Crown War nearly all the internal walls were covered in engraved ivory blocks, enough to make back the entire cost of the war three times over when the king looted and sold it all. Although little stands above ground, the labyrinthine substructure still exists although it is perilous and confusing to navigate. Adventurers explore it anyway, in hopes of finding an undiscovered room with it's ivory still intact.

Three Inns: Three Inns is a small rest stop known for it's hospitality, and for being the northernmost town in the Crosslands. Travlers heading to or from the Northlands by land have to pass through, and scholars and adventures seeking to visit the Ivory Ruins prefer to stay here rather than creepy and murderous Krvnitown. There is a small market here, but most traders prefer the seaport and proximity to the castle guards that Riverport provides.

Last Inn: Last Inn is the first stop on the perilous road through swamp and desert that leads to the independent city states on the other side of the continent. East of Last Inn and the Mountains are only savages in the swamp and bandits in the desert. The town is small, but traders visit it anyway for rare plants and animals that the locals find in the swamps.

-To the East is the Trecherous Swamp Road, which takes at least four months to travel and has no inns along the way
-To the North are the Northlands, home to House Holard and it's vassals. You descend from the Holards on your mothers side
-To the South are the rest of the Crosslands, under lord Thrift and his Vassals. Your lands are considered part of the Crosslands, and your house is vassal to House Thrift. The Crosslands connect to all the other terrestrial regions of the kingdom
 

Party Information:

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

Manpower Count
Infantry: 0
Calvary: 2
Magi: 0
Monsters: 0

Notable Party Members

Sir Billion Krvni: The Player Character. A human knight of 16 and a quarter years. Billion has a full head of untamed black hair but a clean shaven face. He is skilled with the Short Sword, Long Sword, Bastard Sword, Lance, and Battleaxe. He prefers heavy armor and a shield and to fight from horseback. His armor is plain steel plate. His shield bears the Krvni Symbol: A brown wagonwheel on a green background.

Tidus Greatstone: A Half Dwarf Squire of 13 years. The Royal House of Greatstone has been on bad terms with House Krvni since the end of the Second Crown War, so it would seem strange that Sir Billion would have a royal as a squire. Tidus however is only a distant cousin to the king, 73rd or 98th in line to the throne depending on who you ask, but Tidus is delusional enough to fancy himself a rival to the crowned prince. In hopes of getting himself noticed, he agreed to squire for Sir Billion at the last tournament. Billion made it to the Semifinal tilt, and in the process became fast friends with Tidus, who agreed to return home with him and be Billion's squire full time. The Greatstones interbreed with some of the noble houses of the Southern Dwarves, and Tidus is the half dwarf sons of two half dwarves. Tidus has better than human endurance for his age, and prefers to fight with warhammers, greataxes, and heavy armor.

[Nicholas1024]

Seems like this got overlooked, so a quick bump may be in order.

[griffinpup]

Talk to the bear cavalrymen dude while finding a few foot-soldiers to go rescue the daughters.  Also, a side note.  Sure, we don't need a wife, but a concubine/servant wouldn't be that bad.  A morse sounds pretty epic though.

[Weirdsound]

"Steward Jenks, would you be so kind as to fetch that northern looking petitioner?" you ask. The Steward nods and retreats quickly.

The steward is gone for about five minutes. You and Tidus use the time to discuss yesterdays fishing trip, until Jenks returns with the sellsword.

The northern mercenary is old. At least 60. Northern soldiers wear less armor and thus don't live as long as their southern counterparts, so this man must have been quite impressive in his youth. He wears the sigil of House Pine, a rampaging Yeti on a gold background, on a medallion around his name.

You give him a respectful nod, and instruct him to state his business.

"I am Vandal Pine, a mercenary from the High Taiga." he begins "I'm leading a few men in pursuit of a merchant caravan that is facilitating banned trade with both the white witches of the north and the orc raiders in the eastern swamps."

You frown. "That seems unlikely. If any lord under the king would have put a bounty on a bunch of merchants, I would have found out, and my friends in the merchant's guild would have been already begging me to stay my hand and ignore the situation."

The old man smiles. "The bounty doesn't come from one of the Kings Lords, sir. I was hired by the high Barony of Icecopper. My men and I have been granted permission to sieze their cargo, and do with it as we see fit, and will be given 600 dwarf forged gold coins for each merchant we bring back to The Coal Fortress alive."

You shiver at the thought. The Barony of Icecopper is part of the small frost dwarf kingdom, and sits at least seven days march further north than any known human settlement. "Alright. Where are these merchants now?"

"They escaped into the swamplands through the Hags Bog. My men refused to follow them into such a place. They will almost defiantly attempt to enter the Crosslands through the town of Last Inn. We would have attack them in or just outside of the town before they made it too far into civilized territory. Even in your Lord Father's land's the influence of the guild is too strong. They would likely be out of our easy reach if they made it even as far as Riverport."

You nod. Marching the prisoners all the way up north wouldn't be fun, but at least the main battle would take place on your home turf. You are not sure how influential the guild would have become in Last Inn since you were last there as a child, but in theory the guards there would be below you in the chain of command and would have to assist if you asked.

"What would my prize be?" You inquire.

"Me and my men will split the contents of the caravan with you and your men. We can each claim half the wagons. Then you can chose if you want to escort the prisoners north with us. If you go with, we will split the dwarven bounty as well."

That seemed reasonable enough. "Very well. I will consider your offer."

The mercenary bows respectufly. "Thank you for your consideration then. I'm sorry to rush you, but I can't afford to let these merchants slip past. I will have to depart by mid-day tomorrow, with or without you. Until then, my men and I will wait at the Riverport Inn."

He leaves, and you rise from your chair. "Come Tidus. We are going to talk to my mother about borrowing some of the castle guard for our adventures..."

The half dwarf nods, and gets up as well. "Sounds like a plan m'lord."

...

Your mother's steward informs you that Lady Ursula is busy with her training once more, and does not wish to be disturbed. When you tell the man that you want some soldiers, he smiles.

"She figured you boys would want some of those. We have 50 men in the guard right now. Even for peacetime that is a bit low, however she is willing to part with 20 of them. Since your brother will need men as well, that means you get 10. The men are split into five squads; since you asked first, you get first pick.

The Steward leads you to the barracks, where you are introduced to the squads, and their leaders.

Pick 1 Squad to Take With You:

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

1: Wheel Squad consists of 9 heavily armored infantrymen, and is lead by Sir Illian Freemont who is a knight of 22 years and a solid honorable reputation.

2: Wild Squad consists of 9 archers, and is lead by Ronnin Sorrowborn who is a mighty half orc with a reputation of being an indestructible bezerker.

3: Fang Squad consists of 9 heavily armored infantrymen, and is lead by Deacon Allbright Blood who is a minor leader and secretkeeper in the heretical Church of Ivory. Rumor's swirl that Deacon Blood's horse is some sort of indestructible demon.

4: Dagger Squad consists of 9 swift and lightly armored fencers, and is lead by Henry Abbas who is the son of your father's wiseman and rumored to take after his father by moonlighting as a successful assassin.

5: Nail Squad consists of 9 siege engineers who are better at building and designing than fighting, and is lead by Darth Vincent who is a master engineer and earth mage trained at the Grand University in the Stonelands.

As you consider your options, your brother Brandon enters the barracks. He is a bit annoyed that you have beat him to the barracks, but respects your right to take first pick.

Your twin informs you he has spoken to the third petitioner, who was indeed a tradesman from Last Inn, and has been tasked to clean out a family of trolls terrorizing the Swamp Road. He then asks what quest you will be partaking in. This question puts you in a tough spot; since he shared his adventure with you, you are more or less obliged to do the same. Unless you wish to disrespect your brother, you must pick a quest and answer him.

Will you march to Last Inn to deal with the rouge merchants? Perhaps pissing off the merchant's guild...
Or will you march north to help the elf? Perhaps walking into Lord Cornish's trap...

...

Quests and Petitions

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

You have already begun research on the following quests.

M: Chiatto, an elven savage bids you to rescue his daughters. Your advisers suspect they are being held in the town of Bear Inn, and that the quest could be a trap set by Lord Cornish, an enemy of your father.
N: Vandal Pine, a mercenary bids you to help him bring some rouge merchants to justice for trading with evil witches and orcs. The influence of the merchant guild could complicate things...

The Court

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

The Following are influential people in your fathers court. You are on decent terms with all of them, and it has been years since you have had a substantial talk with any of em.

A: Lady Ursula Holard Krvni is your mother and your father's wife and de-facto captain of the household guard. She is a seasoned rider of both bears and horses, and you hear she still destroys soldiers half her age in spars. She may be trying to spark a war between the Northlands and the Crosslands.
B: Bishop Macon Krvni is the supreme leader of the heretical Church of Ivory, which worships your ancestor Burt 'The Bloody' Krvni as the god of death. The Church of Ivory has been smothered in all the kingdom except in the Krvni lands. Most members of your house worship the classic Pantheon, but will pay their respects to Burt from time to time as well, often in secret. Bishop Macon may be trying to bring his heretical faith out into the open...
C: Samantha Glade is a Priestess of April the Fertility Goddess. Most lords keep a priest of the Pantheon in their court. many lords favor followers of April, as her order is all female, but not celibate.
D: Thomas Doe is the bastard son of Lord Thomas Thrift, the liege lord who your house is in the service of. Thomas the Younger, as he is called, sits on your fathers council to see that his fathers will is obeyed.
E: Simian Gladiolus is your fathers treasurer. Like most treasurers in the Crosslands Simian is a member of the merchants guild: Outside his work in the court he holds a monopoly on the import of exotic spices and drugs to your father's lands.
F: Albus Abbas is your fathers aged wiseman. In his youth he was an assassin and spellweaver for hire, so his areas of expertise are magic, alchemy, poison, and medicine. He is however well read and likely knows more than you in almost any subject imaginable.

Map of your fathers lands

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

I seem to be having a bit of trouble with Imgur at the moment, so here is a link to the map for now: https://docs.google.com/drawings/d/15EYmyiBQgBXYysEmRhepycaAG2-7mw69Df4AQQ4SLAc/edit?usp=sharing

Notable Locations:
Consolation Castle: Home of House Krvni. Consolation Castle was originally built as a small fort by the Krvni's foes to besiege Ivory Castle during the Second Crown War. When the war ended the ennemy withdrew, and Ivory Castle had fallen. The Krvni decided to claim the fort as a consolation prize, and built it into a proper castle where they still live today.

Riverport: The largest town under Krvni control and a fairly significant commercial seaport. Riverport is overlooked and protected by Consolation Castle. It is the Southern most town under Krvni control, and thus is also a major stop along the Crossland Main Road.

Krvnitown: The oldest and second-largest town under Krvni control. Krvnitown is home to what remains to the Church of Ivory and is a rather secretive place home to scary rumors and unfriendly locals who tend to 'disappear' most visitors. Members of the Krvni household are the exception however, the descendents of Burt the Bloody are always welcome in Krvnitown.

Ivory Ruins: The ancestral home of the Krvni bloodline stood for over 3000 years. By the time it fell at the end of the Second Crown War nearly all the internal walls were covered in engraved ivory blocks, enough to make back the entire cost of the war three times over when the king looted and sold it all. Although little stands above ground, the labyrinthine substructure still exists although it is perilous and confusing to navigate. Adventurers explore it anyway, in hopes of finding an undiscovered room with it's ivory still intact.

Three Inns: Three Inns is a small rest stop known for it's hospitality, and for being the northernmost town in the Crosslands. Travlers heading to or from the Northlands by land have to pass through, and scholars and adventures seeking to visit the Ivory Ruins prefer to stay here rather than creepy and murderous Krvnitown. There is a small market here, but most traders prefer the seaport and proximity to the castle guards that Riverport provides.

Last Inn: Last Inn is the first stop on the perilous road through swamp and desert that leads to the independent city states on the other side of the continent. East of Last Inn and the Mountains are only savages in the swamp and bandits in the desert. The town is small, but traders visit it anyway for rare plants and animals that the locals find in the swamps.

-To the East is the Trecherous Swamp Road, which takes at least four months to travel and has no inns along the way
-To the North are the Northlands, home to House Holard and it's vassals. You descend from the Holards on your mothers side
-To the South are the rest of the Crosslands, under lord Thrift and his Vassals. Your lands are considered part of the Crosslands, and your house is vassal to House Thrift. The Crosslands connect to all the other terrestrial regions of the kingdom
 

Party Information:

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

Manpower Count
Infantry: 0
Calvary: 2
Magi: 0
Monsters: 0

Notable Party Members

Sir Billion Krvni: The Player Character. A human knight of 16 and a quarter years. Billion has a full head of untamed black hair but a clean shaven face. He is skilled with the Short Sword, Long Sword, Bastard Sword, Lance, and Battleaxe. He prefers heavy armor and a shield and to fight from horseback. His armor is plain steel plate. His shield bears the Krvni Symbol: A brown wagonwheel on a green background.

Tidus Greatstone: A Half Dwarf Squire of 13 years. The Royal House of Greatstone has been on bad terms with House Krvni since the end of the Second Crown War, so it would seem strange that Sir Billion would have a royal as a squire. Tidus however is only a distant cousin to the king, 73rd or 98th in line to the throne depending on who you ask, but Tidus is delusional enough to fancy himself a rival to the crowned prince. In hopes of getting himself noticed, he agreed to squire for Sir Billion at the last tournament. Billion made it to the Semifinal tilt, and in the process became fast friends with Tidus, who agreed to return home with him and be Billion's squire full time. The Greatstones interbreed with some of the noble houses of the Southern Dwarves, and Tidus is the half dwarf sons of two half dwarves. Tidus has better than human endurance for his age, and prefers to fight with warhammers, greataxes, and heavy armor.

[/quote]

[griffinpup]

Go take out the merchant caravan! 
Bring squad 2

[Nicholas1024]

Personally, I vote for taking Wheel squad, as having some strong front line troops seems optimal, but I'm neutral on which quest we follow.

[griffinpup]

If we want an infantry squad, then we should go with number 3.  Demon horse for the win!

[Mithras]

The Fang Squad seems like a good idea. And we should chase the merchant, not only will that allow us to travel for a while with our brother for a short while we might be able to head north and complete the elf's quest if we decide to hand the bounty in.

[Weirdsound]

You shoot your brother a smile. "If you are going to pick off swamp trolls, we might be traveling together Sir Brother. My work takes me to Last Inn as well. The Frost Dwarves have put a bounty on a merchant caravan they caught trading with the White Witches of the North. They are cutting through the swamps to do business with the orc tribes as well."

Brandon shoots you a dirty and childlike smile. "Why Sir Brother, wouldn't that piss off Gladiolus and all his bean counter guild mates?"

"Only if I get caught."

You both laugh. Back when you were both little messing with daddy's advisers was splendid game, but now you are older and the political situation more tense: You silly little games will now have mortal and political ramifications. Brandon seems to come to this conclusion as well, and you both fall silent.

"Well brother, I don't have all day." Brandon breaks the silence "Which squad do you want?"

Frowning, you consider for a moment. Damn his impatience, you wanted time to think it over. At least you had narrowed it down to two, you want well trained heavy infantry to clash with the well equipped caravan guards. You end up making your descision between Wheel and Fang Squad on a whim. You had always been curious about Allbright's horse...

"Deacon Blood. Step forward."

Deacon Allbright Blood rose from the table where he had been sitting playing battlestones with a soldier under his command. He was young for a Deacon and a secret keeper; The heretics liked to put older men in positions of power, and Allbright couldn't have been more than twenty five or twenty six. His hair was already heavily graying though.

"Sir?" His voice had adapted his late father's soft and sad tone.

"I have permision from my mother to take 10 men from the guard to accompany me on my impending adventures. I choose Fang Squadron."

"It would be an honor. How soon do we march of Last Inn?" A slight hint of smugness or excitement flashes across his face. When you had left Consolation Castle, years ago, Allbright Blood was a boisterous young man who would pick on the castle's children, sometimes including Brandon and yourself. It was strange to see him so... mature.

"Tomorrow at midday Deacon. Have your men ready. We are working with a sellsword who is providing men of his own. We meet at the Inn in town, and then depart."

The Deacon nods, opens his mouth to speak, and is promptly cut off by Brandon and his competitive streak. "Pah. Waiting until tomorrow."

You twin sticks out his tounge. "Sergeant Ronnin Sorrowborn, you and Wild Squad are with me. I want your archers ready to mach in 45 minutes. I intend to beat my brother to Last Inn and hire any sellswords or sellout guardsmen in town before he does."

The seven and a half foot tall green-skinned wildman rose from his seat with a laugh. "As you wish Sir Brandon." The half orc gestures to the two men that were his in the room at the moment before leaving. On his way out, Ronnin gives Deacon Allbright a playful swat on the shoulder that causes the man to wince in pain.

Brandon then leans over your shoulder and whispers in your year. "I'll get there first and look into the guards for you. I'll try to take anybody in the pocket of the guild with me so they wont interfere with your little job. If I suspect somebody could be a problem and can't deal with it myself, I'll leave you a message with Tara. You owe me for this."

Brandon leaves, and you slump down at a table in the Barracks, not sure if you are feeling despair and anger because your brother is screwing you out of reinforcements, or feigning it to mask the fact that even in rivalry Brandon still fully intends to cover your ass.

Deacon Allbright Blood and Tidus Greatstone take seats next to you. "Don't feel glum" your squire advises "Brandon dosn't have to wait for mercenaries to be ready to leave. Of course he would get a real head start."

"Aye" the Deacon agrees. "Perhaps we should hit town this afternoon to take your mind off your brother's behavior."

A smile, one that does a poor job of masking your true emotions, spreads across your face. "I would actually like that very much."

...

The old iron gates to the walled town of Riverport swung open, and you lead your men inside from the back of your horse; She is a massive and strong Rockland Philly, bred by the royal stablemasters for the royals of House Greatstone. You had won her by cheating Crowned Prince Gravel in a game of chance, and had named her Loaded Dice.

Tidus also sits atop a Rockland horse, a powerful Stallion he had named Billion after you to spite his royal cousins. You call his steed 'HB' or 'Horse Billion' to avoid confusion.

Allbright's legendary horse, a Stallion named Drake, is dwarfed by the Rockland monsters that you and Tidus ride, but you can see why some might fear him. Drake is clearly an albino; his hair is white and his eyes blood red. While you can account for his looks however, it is Drake's silence that throws you off. The Stallion's hooves had made no sound on the road, and if the beast drew breath it did so with enough subtly to escape your notice.

The townsfolk gather around exitedly to see you upon spotting your banner, but back off cautiously when they notice you are with the Deacon. None of the stablehands dare come close, so after you dismount two members of Fang Squadron are sent to attend to the horses.

You Stretch and prepare to explore the town. You likely have time to make two stops if you want to return to the castle for the night, or three if you want to stay at an Inn.

Attractions and Locations in Riverport:

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

Large Inn: The Large Inn is the place in town that caters to groups bigger than a standard family, such as soldiers and merchants. Vandal Pine and his men should be around if you wish to meet with them before departing

Smaller Inns: Riverport is a large town with many Inns, Taverns, and Brothels. Places like these are good for eating, enjoying oneself, meeting adventures, and finding private rooms in which to have conversation with party members.

Sea Market: One of Riverport's two main markets. Boats deliver wood and animal products from the Northlands, and Alchemical goods from the Feylands.

Air Market: One of Riverport's two main markets. Trade caravans bring crops and plant fiber clothes from the Riverlands and Stone and Metal products from the Rocklands. Rare oddities from the city states beyond the swamps and deserts will sometimes crop up here.

Temple: A Temple to the King's Pantheon stands in Riverport. It is a good place to pay your respects to the commonly accepted gods, and the priests sell holy water and charms, which may be useful if the merchants you are after have truly been in league with the White Witches.

Keep of the Fell Gods: This small shrine is shared by members of the two herressies most common in your father's lands: The Church of Ivory and the Seamaiden's Honor-guard. The followers of both faiths are close enough to watch each other's backs when inquisitors come from the South.

Horace's Waterwheel: Horace, an elf old enough to remember the Crown Wars, is the last independent wizard on your father's lands. His tower, known as the Waterwheel, is a marvelous place lit by strange glass bulbs full of lightning that he somehow harvests from the Blood River.

Merchant's Guild Office: The base of opperations for the Merchant's guild in the Northern Crosslands. The Guild's system of riders and birds tends to be faster than the Kings messengers, so they often get news from the capitol three or four days faster than everybody else in town.

Consolation Castle Finishing School: A boarding academy where women of high-birth go to learn traditional manners. Most of the students there are from the Northern Houses where manners are in short supply. Your older sister Kaylen was just made the youngest ever head teacher last year.

Party Information has been updated!

---

Quests and Petitions

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

You have already begun research on the following quests.

M: Chiatto, an elven savage bids you to rescue his daughters. Your advisers suspect they are being held in the town of Bear Inn, and that the quest could be a trap set by Lord Cornish, an enemy of your father.
N: Vandal Pine, a mercenary bids you to help him bring some rouge merchants to justice for trading with evil witches and orcs. The influence of the merchant guild could complicate things... (The quest we are planning to take)

The Court

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

The Following are influential people in your fathers court. You are on decent terms with all of them, and it has been years since you have had a substantial talk with any of em.

A: Lady Ursula Holard Krvni is your mother and your father's wife and de-facto captain of the household guard. She is a seasoned rider of both bears and horses, and you hear she still destroys soldiers half her age in spars. She may be trying to spark a war between the Northlands and the Crosslands.
B: Bishop Macon Krvni is the supreme leader of the heretical Church of Ivory, which worships your ancestor Burt 'The Bloody' Krvni as the god of death. The Church of Ivory has been smothered in all the kingdom except in the Krvni lands. Most members of your house worship the classic Pantheon, but will pay their respects to Burt from time to time as well, often in secret. Bishop Macon may be trying to bring his heretical faith out into the open...
C: Samantha Glade is a Priestess of April the Fertility Goddess. Most lords keep a priest of the Pantheon in their court. many lords favor followers of April, as her order is all female, but not celibate.
D: Thomas Doe is the bastard son of Lord Thomas Thrift, the liege lord who your house is in the service of. Thomas the Younger, as he is called, sits on your fathers council to see that his fathers will is obeyed.
E: Simian Gladiolus is your fathers treasurer. Like most treasurers in the Crosslands Simian is a member of the merchants guild: Outside his work in the court he holds a monopoly on the import of exotic spices and drugs to your father's lands.
F: Albus Abbas is your fathers aged wiseman. In his youth he was an assassin and spellweaver for hire, so his areas of expertise are magic, alchemy, poison, and medicine. He is however well read and likely knows more than you in almost any subject imaginable.

Map of your fathers lands

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

I seem to be having a bit of trouble with Imgur at the moment, so here is a link to the map for now: https://docs.google.com/drawings/d/15EYmyiBQgBXYysEmRhepycaAG2-7mw69Df4AQQ4SLAc/edit?usp=sharing

Notable Locations:
Consolation Castle: Home of House Krvni. Consolation Castle was originally built as a small fort by the Krvni's foes to besiege Ivory Castle during the Second Crown War. When the war ended the ennemy withdrew, and Ivory Castle had fallen. The Krvni decided to claim the fort as a consolation prize, and built it into a proper castle where they still live today.

Riverport: The largest town under Krvni control and a fairly significant commercial seaport. Riverport is overlooked and protected by Consolation Castle. It is the Southern most town under Krvni control, and thus is also a major stop along the Crossland Main Road.

Krvnitown: The oldest and second-largest town under Krvni control. Krvnitown is home to what remains to the Church of Ivory and is a rather secretive place home to scary rumors and unfriendly locals who tend to 'disappear' most visitors. Members of the Krvni household are the exception however, the descendents of Burt the Bloody are always welcome in Krvnitown.

Ivory Ruins: The ancestral home of the Krvni bloodline stood for over 3000 years. By the time it fell at the end of the Second Crown War nearly all the internal walls were covered in engraved ivory blocks, enough to make back the entire cost of the war three times over when the king looted and sold it all. Although little stands above ground, the labyrinthine substructure still exists although it is perilous and confusing to navigate. Adventurers explore it anyway, in hopes of finding an undiscovered room with it's ivory still intact.

Three Inns: Three Inns is a small rest stop known for it's hospitality, and for being the northernmost town in the Crosslands. Travlers heading to or from the Northlands by land have to pass through, and scholars and adventures seeking to visit the Ivory Ruins prefer to stay here rather than creepy and murderous Krvnitown. There is a small market here, but most traders prefer the seaport and proximity to the castle guards that Riverport provides.

Last Inn: Last Inn is the first stop on the perilous road through swamp and desert that leads to the independent city states on the other side of the continent. East of Last Inn and the Mountains are only savages in the swamp and bandits in the desert. The town is small, but traders visit it anyway for rare plants and animals that the locals find in the swamps.

-To the East is the Trecherous Swamp Road, which takes at least four months to travel and has no inns along the way
-To the North are the Northlands, home to House Holard and it's vassals. You descend from the Holards on your mothers side
-To the South are the rest of the Crosslands, under lord Thrift and his Vassals. Your lands are considered part of the Crosslands, and your house is vassal to House Thrift. The Crosslands connect to all the other terrestrial regions of the kingdom
 

Party Information:

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

Manpower Count
Infantry: 9
Calvary: 3
Magi: 0
Monsters: 0

Notable Party Members

Sir Billion Krvni: The Player Character. A human knight of 16 and a quarter years. Billion has a full head of untamed black hair but a clean shaven face. He is skilled with the Short Sword, Long Sword, Bastard Sword, Lance, and Battleaxe. He prefers heavy armor and a shield and to fight from horseback. His armor is plain steel plate. His shield bears the Krvni Symbol: A brown wagonwheel on a green background.

Sergeant Deacon Allbright Blood: A Churcy of Ivory Heretic of 24 years. He is in charge of the squadron of infantry you recruited from your father's castle. It is said that the Deacons know all the darkest secrets of their secretitive faith, which they keep to themselves so that their lords and friends can honestly claim to know nothing of heresy. The Church of Ivory worships your ancestor as the god of death, and respects all living members of House Krvni as beings of divine heritage. He prefers to fight from horseback with a spear, and it is said that his horse is some kind of monster. Billion remembers from his childhood that Allbright is a good hand with a mace as well.

Tidus Greatstone: A Half Dwarf Squire of 13 years. The Royal House of Greatstone has been on bad terms with House Krvni since the end of the Second Crown War, so it would seem strange that Sir Billion would have a royal as a squire. Tidus however is only a distant cousin to the king, 73rd or 98th in line to the throne depending on who you ask, but Tidus is delusional enough to fancy himself a rival to the crowned prince. In hopes of getting himself noticed, he agreed to squire for Sir Billion at the last tournament. Billion made it to the Semifinal tilt, and in the process became fast friends with Tidus, who agreed to return home with him and be Billion's squire full time. The Greatstones interbreed with some of the noble houses of the Southern Dwarves, and Tidus is the half dwarf sons of two half dwarves. Tidus has better than human endurance for his age, and prefers to fight with warhammers, greataxes, and heavy armor.

[Harbingerjm]

Waterwheel, Air Market.
The school if we have time. How much cash do we have, how much will an inn cost?