First off let's just hold our horses on the mercenary company. We'll send a letter to Verack AFTER we've dealt with this duel thing.
We could just send him a quick letter along with the summons to the duel if that's what we decide. We have options.
Third if barrick IS innocent meaning he didn't kill the brother and the father challenged/struck first at him than we send him on a errand to Gerald where he's too talk him to Gerald to go easy on us during the duel explaining we are NOT the warrior he is. Tell him to make any promises necessary and that we'll go from there.
I don't think it's wise to have Barrick and Gerand in the same room without an sensible amount of armed guards there as well.
Fifth After the fight just walk off the field with our wound and have it dressed. We are too do EVERYTHING in our power to stay alive. If it feels like he's going in a frenzy hacking at us than skip away or something and surrender. We can't always win. Don't talk to anybody and we should also ask Penrod to keep Ritalia away. She could get to emotional if she sees the fighting.
+1 if and only if we end up fighting him.
-1 to keeping Ritalia away. She probably won't freak out and if she does it might be the only thing stopping Gerand from delivering a finishing blow.
The trial this guy wants will be far from our court, out of our control, likely rigged against our dude, and even with we show up and go all Ace Attorney on the bastard, we will come across as a meddling forigen prince out to subvert Adalbertian justice for his own gain. Unless we can talk him into allowing Penrod to run the trial so it can be rigged in our favor, the trial is the worst possible idea.
To Penrod, the Knight says that he will withdraw the challenge if you put Barick in his custody to face charges of murder.
He only said he wants him in custody. We'll agree to the demand but only on the condition that, as the vassal of an Analyssian in Analyssian lands, he should be judged in an Analyssian trial. Even if it were to be held in Koringberg, the trial would be presided over by Penrod and he'll probably demand something non-lethal as punishment at worst (wouldn't want to make his brother-in-law unhappy. He'll want the judgement to be satisfactory for both parties.)
True, i also believe it should be far away from our court. so as we don't look to weak. After the trial if Gerand Makes a big deal about it we'll talk to Penrod about setting up a rigged trial. As much as i don't want him to lose face, i think it needs to be him not us. Yes, i changed my opinion again.
Make whatever efforts possible to not have our court or any annalysian nobles show up. Or at least minimize there attendance. Cane we keep the duel secluded in a backyard or barracks that's never used? If yes try to do that.
No. Then if word gets out, we come across as extra cowardly. If we go to their country, and duel shortly before heading back, we control the narrative of what happens, and can spin the story to our countrymen however we wish.
I agree with Weirdsound on this. Who knows what rumours the nobles will concoct if we don't allow some of them to set the record straight.
Or just ask Verack to duel him to first blood. That way neither dies, we can just walk away, and Penrod gives us that small copensation for Gerald not being dead.
It'll be expensive but maybe Penrods copensation will pay out well. W.e it is.
+1! This solves everything! A resolution is made, we get to see Verack fight (with his bitching claymore), we'll be able to afford him fighting (but if he loses I think we can give him nothing... PROFIT!!!), nobody dies,
we won't get chewed apart, and everyone lives happily ever after. The end.