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[filiusenox]

The heir apparent, at least for the time being, let himself into the office behind Baron Jawyn. His bow to the Duchess was lower than the other man's, but he kept near the door, his eyes upon the two as they exchanged formalities and started to discuss business. Reaching into his tunic, a long flowing thing, he slipped out a squat bottle of wine with a buckle of leather upon it and three fine wine glasses. Taking a few steps forward, he lifts the bottle, approaching the Duchess's desk.

"Sorry for my interruption, but would either of you like a drink? It's a very light white."


Sometime after the Drymarkian meeting...

A solitary rider, travel-stained, hunched over his horse, dismounted and entered the inn. Moments later he emerges, a set of bodyguards flanking him as he makes his way into the heart of Ciall. Karac gave a low bow to the sentries at the manor/castle gate, before addressing them both in even tones.

"Greetings. I'm Lord Karac Vytas, and I do wonder if you could tell your lord I'm at the gate and would like a meeting with him, if he so pleases."

[Taricus]

Go get a warhorse and plate armor from the Duke's quartermaster, and documents from the Chancellor describing house Banegem as a minor noble dynasty sworn to the Duke of Stormport, with a purple flame on a silver field as its heraldry.

After taking a seal of office and all other documents he may wish to give from the duke, leave for the Earl of Greybend's castle in order to get an audience with him as a representative of the duke.

[3] While the horse and the breastplated maile come through (The blacksmith asks for you to head to his workshop after your task is done so he can start work on the full plate), The documents themselves aren't exactly up to standard; while certainly binding and legitimate, the document itself has tell-tale signs of being a recently-made one, and the wording isn't exactly promising either. While it would be enough to get another noble to see you as one of their own, they would likely scoff at the documentation and your relatively unknown status.

[?] The trip to the earl's lands is uneventful until you reach the earth-and-palisade wall of the settlement the castle is located in (The castle itself not being more impressivle than a large power with a palisade around it. Of course, the guards stop you from entering the minute you enter their sight, shouting at you.

"Halt! Who do you think you are, hedge knight? We don't let armed strangers into the city!"

Send six of my men out to find rumors and ask around about people of lesser repute who might be connected to the bandits. Do the same myself.
When we find some people who do then kidnap them in the night and take them to a secluded and secure place outside of the city to pry answers from them.

[3-2][5-2] Your endeavours into investigating any of the bandit investigation turns up only a few suspicions

[2-1] The kidnapping goes exceedingly poorly. Your men don't report back after being sent, and by the morning the town criers are talking about how a few dwarves were trying to abduct people for various reasons and such, but then go on to praising the guard in stopping such actions, their bravery and so forth. Needless to say, you suspect the men involved are either dead, or in the castle dungeons. It's more than likely you're going to have to do more than a bit of explaining to the prince...

[Ghazkull]

Ah Stormport...the smell of One-Horse Town hung in the air and stuck on my half a Ducat leather boots. Splendid. Just Splendid. I feel a familiar knot in my stomach already and as i look at the surrounding of the town i am unimpressed, from the Centre of the World to it's ass. Just great. Well let's hope that my Things have all arrived where they should and that i can start making business...

Inspect what i have. And scrape the horse shit off the boots. Orcish Tailored Boots of such Quality are eypensive as hell.

[Tiruin]

Jawyn listened and nodded with his head in reply to the requests.

"I will also require £1 for mining operations in Whitehall. That matter will be analyzed directly with the treasurer, but I must assure you that the region still bears game to be mined. The craftsmen need raw materials too after all.

As for my thoughts about your marriage - your nobles were guided by their sense of duty, and so are you. We all are, under our prince, but duty without worthwhile thing to protect is empty, don't you think? Without a thing to care about, duty is just a thing you do out of fear, not out of commitment.

"But, duty born out of friendship or more..." he paused, as if searching for the right word. "Loyalty, be it between comrades or between wedded people, something that can't be had easily. That is what your nobles would accept for sure. 

Sorry for my boldness Milady. As a knight I tend to view those things in a straightforward and open fashion."

Mining operations.
In the context of practical use-only materials as these needs processing and refinery to be truly efficient. Unless one would like to stare at shiny stones (..and I feel guilty in my youth for this), then it would be better to follow through with an empty coffer now and fill it for later rather than 'play safe' with a level coffer now an..
Hmm, take risks?

"You have my say with the expenditure there on those mines-however note that I always add an expectation to it." Aria smiled, "Ensure the investment goes well, and that is all that calms my decision. You seem like either a trusty man...

"Or someone who knows his flair with words, sir knight."

She nodded at his note on the marriage proposal, and that was all else she said otherwise, until an apparent thought came into her mind.
I wonder if he can-
"Though I do have a request-even if you aren't near the waters. Please spread word of national trade--I have recently gone afoul with the lack of that knowledge ever since I proclaimed lowered taxes in my own ports. It fell on less ears than I thought it would."

Will he take advantage of that?

On the matters of Severance...
((Azthor really gets nice rolls. :3))

Open Court:
The Peasantry

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

[5] The peasantry are seemingly completely happy with your rule, having very well prospered due to the duchy being located away from the primary battlefields. A population boom has lead to an increase of the farming population, and the harvests as of late have been well, providing the peasants with more wealth than most others inside the kingdom as of late.

Though this recent swell of people and money has brought the villages into prosperity, some of the younger villagers, along with some of the nobles, feel it's time to spread their wings. The peasant petitioners do not come to you with an individual request, joining the nobles in theirs for some reason...

The Burghers

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

[1] The burghers, at the very least, are dissatisfied. The events that led up to your father taking power have taken a toll on them, and his policies have not helped. And with the recent bandit and pirate activity, it's only getting worse. With the manpower and arms kept by the levies though, it is unlikely they could muster up any threat of any proportion without outside interference. Some of the burghers have taken to emigrating, heading to Stormborough and Stormport to go somewhere where the conditions for the townspeople are better.

Still, a few petitioners have taken the plunge into the open court with an open mind. The representatives state that unless something is done about the economic state of the city soon, it's likely to start seeing mass emigrations to other cities. They don't care how you do it, so long as there's something being done.

Steward's opinion: There's more than a few ways we can go about this. The easiest option would be giving the city a break from taxation for a few years, but that would certainly cut into our treasury and no doubt some of them may end up using the money to hire a private army in the worst case. Some investment money would surely help with their complaints, but with a city this size, it'll be fairly expensive to do enough for it to be meaningful. A trade agreement with one of the neighbouring fiefs could yield a cheap way of satisfying them, but that would depend on the bandits being nullified, and said neighbour agreeing to it.

The Nobles

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

[5] The nobles, having long languished under house Severance, have reached a level of well-being that they have not had even before the severances were in power. Between house Flazer acting as an unofficial dispute-resolver for the other houses, and your father's actions, have ensured a sense of definite loyalty towards your reign. Most of the noble houses have even had to start splurging on things they have not done in the past due to the prosperity of not only themselves, but the peasants as well. The recent denial of Duke severance's marriage offer has only bolstered their faith in you.

Baron Traviath heads a small group of petitioners, both noble and peasant, coming before you with a proposal: With the increase of the wealth of the general rural population, and the explosion in population of the people, the petitioners request your permission, and funding, for a wave of settlement in some of the unclaimed land within the ducal borders. While told this would be expensive endeavour, Travaith assures you this will assuredly bring in large-scale returns after a couple of years.

Steward's opinion: With due respect, this plan is not only ideal, but with the peasants and nobles co-operating on this, it has a very real chance at succeeding. It will be expensive to commit to, and the bandits are likely to throw it into disarray for their own purposes, but if it's successful, we're looking at doubling the amount of parcels we have, more if we're lucky, and half at worst. This is, of course, going to cost us atleast five pounds to get this off the ground, and the entire treasury to reap the rewards...

The Nobility and peasantry are joined as one--no notes of exploitation, thank you Traviath, but that prospect is strange. Or I'm probably just comparing it to everywhere else-in other words, its a reformation.

[3] It doesn't take long before word reaches you that the bandits have gotten word of such by accosting a messenger delivering a message between agents. The agent in question reports they are somewhat... confused by such an offer. They sent a message back via the same messenger, requesting a meeting between you, and their local leader in one of the inns along the road to Dorenstadt to further discuss such an arrangement

Aria acknowledges the meeting and moves in secret-not known to the people but armed with her personal sabre and common clothing--which was, actually, what she always wore both in person and in court. She brings (or informs) a scribe to take down what may happen-preferably one who looks more like a soldier, just...in case of emergencies.

She allows Traviath's offer, but notifies him of her goal in talking to the bandits--securing their aid for the populace, and encourages him to spread word to the Burghers-well enough to alleviate their worries, she hoped.

[Shootandrun]

Anders stopped his horse, muttering to himself something about the quality of stormburgher guardsmen, and shouted back at the man who had spoken.

"My name is Anders of house Banegem, and I am no hedge knight! I am a sworn servant of the Duke of Stormport, who sent me as a messenger to the Earl. I need to speak to him, guardsman - know that every minute you delay me is time wasted both for me and for the Duke!"

[Charisma] Announce my rank and purpose and attempt to convince the guardsmen to let me meet with the Earl.

[Taricus]

Inspect what I have.

All you have at the moment is the funds you have with you, and anything upon your body.

Aria acknowledges the meeting and moves in secret-not known to the people but armed with her personal sabre and common clothing--which was, actually, what she always wore both in person and in court. She brings (or informs) a scribe to take down what may happen-preferably one who looks more like a soldier, just...in case of emergencies.

She allows Traviath's offer, but notifies him of her goal in talking to the bandits--securing their aid for the populace, and encourages him to spread word to the Burghers-well enough to alleviate their worries, she hoped.

Traviath nods and while skeptical of such a goal, complies in with-holding any action against them for now, but does tell you that unless the funds are directly paid into the investment, it's unlikely to go anywhere. He does say that real action has to be done in pleasing the burghers: They are not at the point where words can soothe them.

[6] The scribe, who is an actual soldier that had picked it up on the side, agrees to go along with you for your little meeting. Soon, the pair of you arrived at the meeting point: a small in on the side of the main road, surrounded by fields of wheat on all sides, and gently billowing smoke from what looks to be a village nearby. As you enter the inn, it looks to be fairly empty, save for a handful of souls looking to get a meal or a drink.

A man, looking to be rather world-worn, greets you as you move towards the bar, politely guiding you to his table. "Duchess Aria? Please, sit down and make yourself comfortable, there's much to discuss."

[Charisma] Announce my rank and purpose and attempt to convince the guardsmen to let me meet with the Earl.

[4+1] "...Alright, head up to the castle then. This is on short notice though, so don't expect him to be too happy with it. Have a good day regardless though sir." The one guard says, as the gate opens to allow you into the city.

[Ghazkull]

Assess the Market. Find Opportunities to Make Money. Preferably Quick. Search for People who need a Micro Credit. We'll start small.

[Taricus]

Assess the Market. Find Opportunities to Make Money. Preferably Quick. Search for People who need a Micro Credit. We'll start small.

[-] From what you gather, there is a large surplus of goods within the city, capable of making many times what you pay in profit. Of course, after some talking, the reason they are this cheap is that the bandits are preventing a lot of it from moving, and with a dearth of mercenary guards, getting those goods out of the city is nigh-impossible

[2] Your search for alternative endeavours turns up nothing, especially of the quick variety.

[2] Between the peasants and burghers having little understanding the concept of a loan, and little need for such among the people who grasp the concept.

[Ghazkull]

A dearth of Mercenaries huh? Sounds like a business opportunity. Lets see what the shadier parts of the City have to offer.

Cithrin scours the City for Smugglers. Once found she works as a middleman for them and the merchants. Smugglers always know secret routes and thus she offers them to make some clandestine money. Using her own money to finance them accordingly she gets them contracts to safely move Goods from Point A to Point B.

[Taricus]

A dearth of Mercenaries huh? Sounds like a business opportunity. Lets see what the shadier parts of the City have to offer.

Cithrin scours the City for Retired Soldiers and Guardsmen first and organizes them into Groups large enough to protect Caravans. Then she rents them out to the Traders in exchange for a good chunk of the profits gained from selling the goods. If neither Retired Soldiers nor Guardsmen are available she moves down the Social Ladder ( Beggars, Jobless people, Brutes and Drunks and Ultimately Street Thugs) trying to cobble together a proper group of Caravan Guards. The Guards in turn get a portion of what Cithrin makes off the traders.

[5] The amount of guards you eventually find ends up being a full-regiment in strength from across the disparate groups inside the city, and have somewhat meshed in well with one another to the point that none of them are complaining as of yet. However, the leader of the guards, a human by the name of James, approaches you in order to discuss the pay for the guards.

He does report that more than a few of the veteran fighters in their ranks are teaching the other in how to fight properly, though it'll take a full year for it to yield results. The equipment, however, isn't too good, being mostly clubs, rough axes and wooden spears. The troops themselves also having nothing unusual with them either.

[Ghazkull]

For a lowlife veteran James was quite quick of wit when it came down to money.

Cithrin combed with her hand through her hair. Listen. Things will work the following regarding pay. I will organize enough Traders to form a proper Caravan. You will escort the guys to the next town and if they arrive securely and you return back here i will have your payment ready. Sounds like a Deal?

If James agrees visit the Local Traders, Guilds and whomever has goods to sell and offer them the following Service: For a Down payment of half of whatever is agreed upon a regiment of my men will escort their caravan to the next City. If everybody arrives there more or less in one piece the traders will hand me the other half of the money.

[Taricus]

"I think it would be best if we talked payment first. 20% for your own caravans, and 50% if you hire us out to other ones." He intones, fairly serious in his stance, before craking into a shrewd smile and continuing."Besides, you can make far more coin with taking a caravan yourself laden with goods then you can with protecting another. About three to five times more? Depending on how much they want to pay you really. A lot of potential for someone to start up a serious business, if you get past the bandits."

[Shootandrun]

Satisfied, Anders made his horse move forward once again, not deigning to look at the guards as he passed the gate. He made his way to the castle, where he spoke to the man in charge of the doors.

"I am a knight of Stormport, coming as a messenger from the Duke. I require an audience with the Earl to discuss matters of the highest importance, and am willing to wait as long as necessary for him to be ready to speak with me."

Ask for an audience with the earl, stressing both that it is important and that I will wait if necessary to speak with him.

[Ghazkull]

Shrewd with Money indeed. But daring to lecture me on money? ME?

A smile was plastered on Cithrins face while the knot in her stomach told her to kill him on the spot, with her teeth.
You have made one mistake in your calculations James. I am no Mercenary nor a warrior. And i intend to do more business then just travel around with your company. 50 percent sounds good to me. If you excuse me i will get us some customers.

Find enough Traders for a Caravan and offer services.

[Taricus]

Ask for an audience with the earl, stressing both that it is important and that I will wait if necessary to speak with him.

The guards nod, returning some time later  to escort you in, leading you into the main hall of the building. The walls of the interior were covered in banners, weapons upon racks and more than a few hunting trophies. The guards lead you to the throne room where the count awaits you, rather impatiently as well.

The count himself isn't too old, but you assume he is the duke's senior by ten years, and happens to be wearing leather armour at the time you meet him. "Ah, I see Canute's messenger has arrived. Please, state your business here, and preferably quickly." He says, somewhat disgruntled at your presence.

Find enough Traders for a Caravan and offer services.

[1] Unfortunately, you are downright refused in your offers by the traders, most of them, while afraid of the bandits menace, would rather not cross the master of the caravans inside the city, their patientce in waiting out the bandits especially buoyed by the recent cleansing of the capital's bandit population. Needless to say that the caravan master of the city isn't also happy to hear of the competition either, and send you a message to stop offering such services to the merchants as well.