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[GreatWyrmGold]

((Thanks to the eternal plague of the world--real life--I am only now able to post a response.))

Inform the Blades of what the King said and head out. With the mandated reduced escort.

[kahn1234]

Anastasia smiles, pleased by thier acceptance into the court.

Thank you, my lord. My daughters will be happy to help anyone who requests it ((OOC: i was thinking they could be a sort of shared resource that can be used as long as they aren't busy. I wasn't expecting them to take part in main character role-play)).

As for their father....it is a rather complicated matter. All i will say is that he was framed for a crime he didnt commit and that we were forced out of our home because of it.

She turns to Anders.

She will help you as much as she can. You may make use of her skills. Anastasia smiles at the Lord Mayor, impressed by his eagerness to work. Laziness is something Anastasia cannot abide by.

[Ardas]

"Robert! It has been quite the while. I would like to ask you for a list of all the guilds which have a presence in Meridon."

Then leaving the palace for the town center in order to meet with his advisors, Anders thought, 'I should procure a detailed list of all the districts and markets in Meridon that are involved in the economy of the city to present to the king.'

Get a list of all the districts and markets in the city, and what they earn.

As you already know, Meridon is a city of average wealth (100 pounds), delivering 10 pounds of silver to the treasury a year. The city is the biggest one in the country on account of being the capital, but as far as cities go, it lacks in grandeur and size of other capital cities.
The layout and districts are fairly standard, with Royal keep and castle infrastructure dominating the skyline of the city, the merchant quarter around the main market square of the city in the center, a temple district huddled close to it and a craftsmen district in the outer ring of the city, all surrounded by a low stone wall. Beyond the wall you have the usual poor housing, traveler inns and some more workshops for the more undesirable industries like tanneries. Apart form the central square market, you have a smaller market in the craftsmen quarter where local workshops sell their wares, few stalls in the temple district selling religious trinkets, talismans and offerings and the peasants' market outside the walls where local produce is sold and basics can be acquired.

Because of the nature of the country, the city lives off mostly from the forest produce. Timber, furs, pitch, honey and products derived form those are traded for manufactured goods from abroad. Trade and revenues from those goods form bulk of the tax income, in addition to small individual taxes on richer commoners.

Take stock of the Dungeons, It's Personnel in Turnkeys,Torturers, Torturing implements and of course of its Prisoners and teh Number of Cells.

[4] The Dungeons are equipped with chains, cages, torture tables and various sharp tools used for tearing flesh, all with a group of experienced torturers ready to put them to use. The dungeons have a good number  [6] The dungeons are empty, save for few poor sods imprisoned for debts and an extraordinary loud lunatic who spends his time on singing badly and dancing in his cell, driving most of the guards and torturers to insanity. Spending your time in the dungeons alone is enough torture for most and guards often change their shifts to be spared the awful singing.

Kyle goes into the library to skulk over his failure and take stock of the library again. And then send a letter to Ansalem to tell him that his request has been accepted. Also begin reaserch on simple topics that would make life easier for commoners.

[5] Despite the censorship, Pelagius did not pay much attention to your own work and you managed to preserve a good deal of precious books and tomes in the royal library, ensuring that the seed of knowledge was preserved in the kingdom. Apart from a number of rare manuscripts, the library holds a good number of copies of basic philosophy treatises as well as a good collection of literature and religious texts. If one looked hard enough a tome or two on magic could be found too.
Ansalem is glad to hear that his offer has been accepted and settles in with his followers. He is waiting for a pension to be assigned if he is to begin country-wide work. It would be wise to speak to the chancellor if you want funds to be spent on education.

[1] Despite the rich selection of books in the library, most subjects seem too difficult for any peasant to grasp. You pour over each subject, trying to to make it digestible for simple minds, however the vocabulary in the books as well as concepts described are beyond comprehension of a lowly serf, at least in your opinion. Your only hope lies with philosophers, nobles and richer patricians, but those people can read on their own and educate themselves already (or at least they would if not for the Pelagius' censorship). Education for the masses will have to wait for another age.

[ansontan2000]

"Thank you. If I may direct her to the town center?"

Introducing Eava to the town center, Anders sighed.
"Look at the state of this town. Horrifying, isn't it? I was hoping that you could help me first improve the public infrastructure on the roads outside the city, to better facilitate the transportation of goods. Since the vast majority of this city lives off the surrounding forest, I think that it would be a good idea to make bringing in produce to the city a tad bit easier. Would you agree?

Get advice from Eava and try to get her assistance in improving infrastructure.

[Iituem]

(( That is not exactly what I had in mind, but this does give me an idea. ))


Grab my knives from my dress sleeves and drive them both into his heart.
Remove my armour from my pack and put it on, then search the chiefs clothing for anything important or of value then swiftly carve a message into his chest.

Your clan has lost it's way, those true of faith sent me to punish you and now your chief lies dead, we name you all outcasts from the alliance forever more.

Walk outside and lower the mask to hide my face, keep my bag with me but keep it empty except for the hair dye and sleeping medicine, then head for the treasury, stay hidden and do not attack anybody, if I'm stopped then explain that I have been hunting a witch and tracked her to this town. After all, nobody has seen me in my armour and they have no reason to suspect me of being anything what I say I am.

You brutally murder the chief to avoid complications, carve your message into his chest and change into your armour.  [2] Just as you are putting on your mask, a different pair of guards enter the hut.  You quickly explain that you are here to hunt a witch, [2-1] but the bloody mess on your hands and knives and the fact that you're standing over the chief's mutilated body doesn't do much for your credibility.  They draw their axes and advance upon you.

[5+1 vs 3] Before they make their second step, one guard has a knife protruding from his forehead.  His comrade turns to him in shock, [6+1 vs 4] but by the time he turns back to you you've already slid your other knife into his ribs.  You stab him a few more times for good measure, retrieve your knife from the other and head out of the hut.

[4] There is a certain amount of chaos of people running around shouting 'witch'.  With that and the night you are able to sneak through the town toward the chief's longhall, which you assume is where the treasury will be.  [2] Unfortunately, when you get there you discover its entrance guarded by about half a dozen warriors.  What will you do?

Herr Gamel's first thought is "Witch?!", followed quickly by his second: "Alexis!"

Even a brief meeting with such a unique personality as hers leaves a distinct impression, and after two days alone in the woods with her, covered with mud and leaves, the Royal Forester is certain that she is the cause of this commotion. After all, who else could so much panic in the populace and so much trouble for him at so late an hour?

Run toward the screaming, in hopes of finding Alexis and getting out of the village as soon as possible.

[2] You run around, looking for Alexis in the chaos, but you can't find her.  You assume she's already fled the village and attempt to do the same.  [1] As you do so, a pair of warriors stop you.  "Where do you think you're going?" one asks.

Try to get an estimated cost on the road, and the opinions of Guild leadership on the proposal

[1+1] Unfortunately, even with your experience as an engineer you know this will be a tricky job.  Much forest will need to be cleared, and the gradients of some of the hills will present difficulty.  You estimate a cost of £70 for the whole job.  [5] The Guilds are very responsive, at least.  They can provide up to £30 in service (tax breaks should be treated as credit, minimum repayment £10/year) and are willing to cover infrastructure maintenance in exchange for the offered monopolies on labour.  Maintaining the road (and other public works) will not be a concern for the Crown.

After resting, Hulen leaves Highreach to travel across the countryside, rallying the peasantry to the King's cause and army (Demagogue).

[1+1] Unfortunately, the peasants are too busy in the forest and field to heed your call.  They don't see any reason why they should fight men who live up in the hills and are so very far from their homes.  Apparently they are oblivious to the idea that said hillmen can travel down from their hills to kill them and take their women and property.  You inform them of this and you are laughed off; it has been so many years since a hillfolk raid most think them only the stuff of stories now.

You return to Meridon with not a single follower for your troubles.

Chancellor Atsam approaches King Arcadius with a stack of scrolls "If the time is opportune, I shall get us started on the royal treasury's report"

Spoiler: Treasury (click to show/hide)

Income

Royal Demesne: Covers about a third of the country.  10% Land Tax produces a Small income, as Meridia is not terribly developed.  This includes forestry and logging income.  Supplies half of the present levy (100% of Royal Demesne levy).

Town of Meridon: Capital.  Has a Moderate income from trade and industry.  10% Urban Tax produces a Meagre income for the Crown.

Town of Penters: Ghost town.  A recent plague nearly eradicated the population of Penters and, even though the plague has since passed, few have dared return to set up business again.  Has a Trickle of income from trade and industry.  Even with the 10% Urban Tax, it produces No Appreciable Income for the Crown.

Temple of Viridon:  Has a Small income from tithes.  Tax Exempt.

Temple of Highreach:  Administered by Hulen.  Has a mere Trickle of income from tithes and offerings due to its extremely out of the way location.  Tax Exempt.

Earldom of Gol: Feudal vassal.  Tax Exempt.  Supplies a quarter of the present levy (20% of Gol's total levy).  Has a Small income from land, bulked up slightly by sub-vassal dues.
 - Town of Brighthall: Urban sub-vassal.  10% Tax to Gol.  Has a Small income from trade and industry.

Earldom of Breen: Feudal vassal.  Tax Exempt.  Supplies a quarter of the present levy (20% of Gol's total levy).  Has a Small income primarily from land.
 - Temple of Asterbury: Religious sub-vassal.  Tax Exempt.  Has a Small income from tithes.

The country is Stable and largely Content.

Total Income: Small+


Expenses

(Treasury: Small+)
Blades/Secret Police: Meagre  (Treasury: Small)
Hillfolk Tribute: Meagre  (Treasury: Small-)
Festivals: Meagre  (Treasury: Meagre+)
Military: Trickle  (Treasury: Meagre)
Royal Household: Trickle    (Treasury: Meagre-)

Surplus: Meagre-

Hoarded Treasury: Moderate-

"The entirety of the Crown's income comes from the Royal Demesne and the Capital, as bishopries and your noble vassals are not taxed. While the current treasury is seizable, and the raw income respectable, the ultimate net revenue leaves much to desire, and the army is largely underfunded in relation to other organizations within the realm" he concludes.

"Penters is, as it stands, a waste of tax collectors, and likely best left tax exempt until the populace can recover sufficiently from the Plague. The same applies to Highreach, which is not currently taxed. We could, however, skim Viridon's tithes at 10% and raise the Royal Demesne's land tax and the Capital's urban tax to 15% for an appreciable increase of roughly a half in raw revenue, and possibly tenfold in net revenue. While a permanent increase may anger the populace, it is currently kept content by Crown sponsored festivals, and the Crown's expenses in infrastructure and emergencial military concerns would more than justify the raise for a year or two. We could, of course, exempt particulars as necessary, at your own volition" he suggests.

Immediately Enact the Tax Reforms

You implement the tax reforms by an Act of the Crown.

The following Reforms are Enacted:

• Tax Exemption for Penters
• New Clergy Tax Introduced @ 10%, Viridon Subject.
• Royal Land Tax Raised To 15%.
• Capital Tax Raised to 15%
• New Taxes Framed as Emergency Measures

Effects of the Reforms
[5] Thanks to good public relations, most peasants comply with the taxation, understanding that it is necessary in the current circumstances.  There is an expectation that the raised taxes will not last more than a year or two.

[4] The burghers of Meridon accept the tax raise gracefully, but expect it to be temporary.  The tax exemption in Penters will likely encourage some migration, but only if the plague fears can be finally put to rest.

[1] The bishop of Viridon protests the reforms loudly and extensively, arguing that it violates the ancestral privileges of the church.  He threatens both to withhold payment and inform the local Ogre Archbishop (who is actually an ogre) if the new tax is not immediately withdrawn.

Income Changes
Royal Demesne: £45 @ 15%
Meridon: £15 @ 15%
Viridon: £4 @ 10% - Withheld

Current Expenses
Blades/Secret Police: £10
Hillfolk Tribute: £10
Festivals: £10
Military: £0
Royal Household: £0
Misc.: £10

Current Expected Surplus: £20

Treasury: £80

5 blades are to escort Grewie, 5 are to form an outer cordon around them concealed and 5 more are to track the group from a discreet distance, these 5 are not to reveal themselves until the mage has been delivered safely and the full 15 can regroup or until the mages group are in danger.

The sisters know what they need to do, inform them to set out in the arranged formation, if the mage wants an escort he will have to catch up with them on the road otherwise he can face the wilds and the dangers that it hides on his own, I'm sure they are as tired of these constant delays as I am. Our mistress faces the enemy alone and we do not abandon our own. Go now.

15 blades set out for the town Alexis is in, 5 take the road directly and 2 groups of 5 conceal themselves to either flank, they are to remain hidden unless any group is attacked in which case all groups are to converge on the attackers and bring them down, attempt to take prisoners if possible but only if it can be done without risk to them.

((Thanks to the eternal plague of the world--real life--I am only now able to post a response.))

Inform the Blades of what the King said and head out. With the mandated reduced escort.

I assume these are the same 15 blades, not two separate groups.

Alexia's double sure is paranoid, sending out essentially the entire remaining contingent of the Blades on this mission.  What with the blades already shaking down the countryside, there are only a dozen or so left to actually provide security in the palace or maintain espionage within the kingdom.

[4,5] The extended blades retinue remain concealed throughout the journey, not even particularly visible to Grewie.  Without any particular need for concealment, Grewie takes the roads toward Westhill and approaches one of the known Hillfolk villages, stating his position as emissary of the King and wishing to speak with their leader.  [3] After a brief misunderstanding with the village elder, you are given directions to Alford, home of the Alvings, as the elder informs you that their chief is the one who deals with 'you lowlanders'.  The chief is notably reticent in giving further information.

[6] Your journey toward Alford is relatively smooth and unhindered, even by poor weather.  The journey takes a few days, but you awake bright and fresh one morning about half a day's travel from the town to find an old man has made camp near your own.  He smiles toothlessly at you when he wanders over to your tent and offers you a drink from his waterskin and some of the fermented goat's milk he's having for breakfast.  You can't help but notice his disconcertingly golden eyes.

"Greetings, lowlander!  What brings a fellow like you so far from home?"

"Thank you. If I may direct her to the town center?"

Introducing Eava to the town center, Anders sighed.
"Look at the state of this town. Horrifying, isn't it? I was hoping that you could help me first improve the public infrastructure on the roads outside the city, to better facilitate the transportation of goods. Since the vast majority of this city lives off the surrounding forest, I think that it would be a good idea to make bringing in produce to the city a tad bit easier. Would you agree?

Get advice from Eava and try to get her assistance in improving infrastructure.

Eava, it turns out, is quite skilled in her knowledge but less so than you.  She doesn't really bring anything to the table that you aren't already familiar with, but you appreciate her company and the two of you work well together.

Can you be a little more specific as to what you mean by infrastructure?  I'm afraid I don't quite understand what to roll for here.

The others, he sent all around the royal demesne, to every region sending the king levies.[/b] Although the exact wording differed from one to the other, they all asked the same thing - that every region sent a tenth of its levies (preferably volunteers, though that was not obligatory) to the capital from training.

The levies you request are certainly able to appear, fired up by fear of the hillfolk, but you'll need to sort wages out for them if you want to start proper training.

Your assistant provides you with a more up to date set of costs for upgrading and training the military:

Size: 600 men (Base Wage @ £1/100)
Source: Strictly Levy-Based (Eliminates Wage Requirement)
Equipment: Minimal (Levy: Peasants Provide Own)
Training: Militia (Local Lords' Feudal Obligation to Train: Free)
Discipline: Undisciplined (Result of training)

Current Cost: £0/Year

(Regularity has disappeared because it could be combined more efficiently into general training.)

Upgrading the Military

The first necessary step will be to bring levies up from strict levy to levy reserve.  Before you can apply training any more regular than annual or seasonal or train them with more than minimal equipment, a reserve of the levies must be available for training.  This will re-instate the basic annual wage requirement @ £1/100 men.  The levies are still only available when raised, and take time to gather, but more professional armies are more expensive.

Equipment
Minimal: Sticks, cleavers, whatever the peasants have on hand.  +£0 / 100 men.
Basic: Spears or clubs and light wooden shields, basic leather armour.  +£0.5 / 100 men.
Simple: Maces, axes or pikes, heavier wooden shields, leather armour.  +£1 / 100 men.
Light: Above, with studded leather and reinforced shields.  +£2 / 100 men.

Higher than Light Armour is not available because of the lack of experienced armourers in Meridia.

Training
Militia: The peasants have enough training to hold spears without killing themselves.  Free.
Basic: The recruits are taught to march in order and not hit each other.  £1 / 100 men.
Structured: Formations are taught, as are combat techniques and basic stances.  £3 / 100 men.
Professional*: The troops are taught to fight and kill effectively with their chosen weapons in a variety of circumstances.  £8 / 100 men.
Harsh*: The troops survive in the worst conditions and can kill with anything.  Their discipline is iron.  £20 / 100 men.
Elite*: The best ordinary men can become.  Feared by all.  £50 / 100 men.
Spartan*: Legendary warriors to whom war is a way of life.  Soldiering is all they know.  £150 / 100 men.

Marked * tiers require a Commander assigned permanently to training in addition to the cost.  A Commander assigned to training can reduce the cost of training by £25/year, but cannot contribute by leading battles.

Recruitment
Recruiting essentially means rush-training troops up to a desired standard, whereas the above training merely keeps such training in shape.  To recruit a band of troops within 1 month costs 5x the cost of the training quality, plus whatever equipment costs they require.  One or more Commanders assigned to recruitment can reduce this cost by £10 each.  Commanders assigned in this way cannot lead troops in battle.

[kj1225]

Kyle sends someone to request a meeting with the chancellor about funds needed for the new education system I have in mind.
Also send word to all courtiers in the castle grounds that I need to update my medical records and I expect there to be no whining when I do it this time.

[Iituem]

Kyle sends someone to request a meeting with the chancellor about funds needed for the new education system I have in mind.
Also send word to all courtiers in the castle grounds that I need to update my medical records and I expect there to be no whining when I do it this time.

[3+1] There is considerable whining.  You update them anyway.

[Shootandrun]

Raeric took his axe with one hand and held it before him. To his left and right were a few Wardens he had chosen for the task. In front of him were a tenth of the royal demesne's levies. Peasants, the whole bunch of them. In one swift motion, the Commander swung the axe down on the dummy and cut the thing's 'arm' off. He took hold of his weapon with both hands, held it so all could see, addressed the levies.

"Although what happened here is pretty goddamn obvious, I won't make the mistake to assume any of you idiots know the simplest thing about warfare. What I'm holding here is an axe. It's not any axe - it's a steel battleaxe, made in Arafel and stolen by raiders from the Wildlands. You'll be seeing a lot of these. Of course, you fools can't be trusted with battleaxes - it's the Hillfolk who'll be using them."

He started pacing in front of the men. Although the Wardens were all keeping a straight face, he knew some of them wanted to grin. They all remembered being drilled by the "Iron Commander".

"The vast majority of the weapons you'll be facing will be of a lesser quality than this. Iron axes, clubs, spears, the odd short-sword, even a few knives you'd think are more fit to use in the kitchen than in the battlefield. Don't be fooled; those weapons will kill you about as easily as it was for me to cut that dummy's arm off. Only you're not dummies. If you get wounded like that, you'll scream and you'll bleed and you'll weep, and your death will come as a relief. Don't worry, though; most of you will die pretty quickly."

He spat on the ground. He had to stop himself from grinning, now. Nothing like a pale-faced peasant to lighten up one's day.

"There's one way to avoid all that, though. Working together. We can't trust you with a battle axe, but we'll get you something else. Each one of you will have leather armor, a spear, a shield, and an axe. The axe won't be a beauty like this one, of course - more of a hatchet. By the time we're done, you'll know that you should never use your axe. You've got a shield to block blows and a spear to poke the enemy with without risking yourself too much. If you learn how to hold a formation together and help each-other out, you'll soon see that spears work great in groups, while your hatchets are unreliable.

Those spears will be the difference between you and the Hillfolk. The Hillfolk charge, brash and brutal; they fight in the ways of the Berserkers. Luckily for you, there are probably less than two dozen actual Berserkers anywhere near this kingdom, and one of them is fighting on your side. The others will simply be imitating the technique - and that's good. They'll take risks and fight for glory. You will be holding one united line, with your spears to poke the barbarians and your shields to protect each others.

Now, as you may have noticed - assuming any of you can count - only a tenth of the levies are present today. That's intentional. I'll do training exercises with the whole army eventually, but today I wanted to keep your numbers relatively limited. There's a reason for that. A good army needs officers. Not just commanding officers to shout orders - officers to fight with the troops, too. Men who'll know which formation they're supposed to take, and who'll remind their comrades that fleeing means dying in these circumstances. That's why I wanted only a tenth of you first. Not only will all of you go through training twice, you'll also be taught a few extra tricks. On the second round of training, your peers will look up to you and immediately make you into their mentors. Let them. That's how an army's non-commissioned officer corps is formed. One day, the best of the best amongst you may even become Wardens - though I doubt any of you have it in yourselves to become heroes, I have been surprised in the past."

He grinned. It was a sadistic, nearly evil grin.

"That's for later, though. For now, we'll start by teaching you ladies how to march in order."

Reform the military. Turn the levies into levy reserves, increase discipline to Basic, increase equipment to Light.

Train a tenth of the troops apart from the others to begin with. Attempt to make them into non-commissioned officers; make them loyal, and teach them to raise the men's moral and keep them in line.

[10ebbor10]

Request audience with the King.

Your Majesty,

On the request and with advice of your chancellor, I have prepared a plan to overhaul this nations infrastructure. The construction of a well maintained, fast and qualitative road network would provide a large boon to our trade, and allow rapid travel within the Kingdom. This East-West connection would connect the major population centers of Meridon and Brighthall with the Eastern province Asterbury, and also provide easy access to our nations rivers, and her subsidiaries. We can easily branch of several roads to connect other towns and Temple's in the area, eventually connecting the entire country with a high quality road network.

There are however, some architectural challenges. The road needs to pass several steep inclines, and most of it's trajectory goes through woodland and forest, which will need to be cleared. On the request of your chancellor, I have informed about the ability of the local guilds to aid in the construction process. They're willing to contribute 30 pounds worth to the construction of the road, and stand in for maintenance cost, in exchange for some jurisdictional insurance of their rights. If we can count on the Lords of Breen and Gol to contribute to their stretches of the road, the final costs would amount to approximately 20 pounds, which would be remunerable within several years using economic benefit, and tolls.

Of course, we could reduce costs further if we could manage to procure a cheap workforce for the more problematic parts of the traject. I'm certain such an exercise would do well for the discipline of the levies, and give them considerable experience in woodland survival, basic construction and clearance of roads for supply lines.

Show the King the plans   

[Brood]

Richard Mcgrieve the third is an extremely wealthy man from a far away kingdom. At the age of 18 he set out to explore with a large inheritance in his pockets. after months of travel he found that the money he had with him was not going to last quite as long as he had intended and so decided to invest it in a small business in the town he was staying.
Several months later he left with a substantially larger amount of money after finding that he was extremely skilled at making business associates.
For years afterwards he made his way from town to town across one nation after another making more and more money in each and coming away with business contacts in every conceivable industry.

Having just arrived in Meridia with an enormous wagon piled with chests of money and all sorts of treasures with a small but extremely well armed group of cavalry guarding it Richard had decided to take advantage of the struggling kingdoms need for cash to once more increase his own wealth.

(( In short, incredibly rich. Has contacts in the vast majority of industries, has a small but powerful mounted guard to protect him and his money. ))

[Alexandria]

The most senior of the blades turned briefly bowing to the mage as the 2 additional groups appeared from either side and joint the small group with the mage,

Delivered as promised mage, wait for us or return without us when you are done.

Without another word they broke off heading into the town and making directly for the chiefs hall, it was standard blade protocol after all to start from the top when gathering information.

All 15 head directly for the chiefs hall, if they arrive and Alexis is not spotted they ask the guards for anybody that is wearing the same equipment as them.

Rushing up to the guards careful to keep her hands away from her weapons Alexis quickly began speaking in an urgent voice.

That woman, the one who appeared to see the chief, please you have to help me she's a witch. I've been tracking her for a long time and she's with the chief. I heard screaming and came to find help. You have to go to him before she kills him I saw them going into a hut together.

Attempt to convince the guards to go to the chief, if it works then head inside and find the treasury, fill my bag with gold and jewels.
If it fails then stay nearby in a concealed position and observe in case they leave.

[Ardas]

"Your project is a splendid one and I stand fully behind it. My chancelllor and commander shall be infomred and money and people willl be put to work. First step in making our kingdom prosperous is to make it accesible and safe to travel."

[Alexandria]

As the king was speaking a group of Blades filled into the room and coming to a stop 20 feet from the king saluted him in unison as Alexis 2.0 turned to speak.
Once he had finished speaking she began.

My lord, as you are aware I asked permission to ensure the tax increases went smoothly, I would like to report with the aid of the sisters gathered here I met with complete success in convincing the ordinary citizens of the kingdom that the tax increase was both necessary and for the best in keeping them safe.

My sisters infiltrated the population and with a few small reminders of the barbaric acts the hill tribes would commit if they were to attack the citizens quickly came to believe that the coming tax increases we're a good thing and as I'm sure has been reported to you, the citizens did not raise the slightest complaint upon the argument.

Still standing at attention saluting the king the gathered blades then knelt before him as she continued.

My sisters are once again ready to serve if you have need of us.

[Grek]

Herr Gamel replies to the guards, "I am fleeing from witch! You should run too!" before running as quickly as he can. His long years on the hunt should enable him to slip the guards in the woods when he gets there!

[ansontan2000]

"To clarify, I believe that it would now be a good idea to completely replace the roads on the outskirts of the city and begin construction of bridges. This would definetely allow for faster and kess codtly transportation of goods, no?