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[Dwarmin]

Isaak was the first to speak, quick and eager as his youth indicated-he had been carving cheese into squares with a knife and putting them on crackers (a fastidious person by nature, each piece of cheese was exactly the same size), and now laid his plate inside.

"...Insofar as I have anything to report-I've begun to find those of our men who would are interested in staying on with the army. We need to consider seizing the moment. If these lot don't get paid, they'll likely find a buyer for their skills...they may become mercenaries, most, I suspect-I'd half consider leading them in the case-but, others might be tempted to crime, especially if they feel we have abandoned them. I'd rather we not be fighting bandit armies made up of most of former brothers in arms personally. So, I think we need to consider our strategies for retaining a standing army and a force of levy soldiers we could quickly recruit in case of trouble-at the least, we can keep our boys out of trouble by keeping them busy-drilling and siccing them on whatever is bothering the locals.

And, if all that bores you-remember the wars not over yet, no matter how we might wish it to be. Are we still a state of war with Preston, or I am mistaken?"

[Iituem]

"We are most certainly in a state of war with Preston, and will be until they realise that attempting to take back Elbreth will be too costly for their bank balances to permit, or until Preston is a flaming hole in the ground, which I am sure the Jarl would prefer.  I agree with you though, sir.  A standing, citizen army is the way forward.  Many of our troops were hastily gathered together, militia armed with whatever they could muster.  In the long run I would like to see them retrained as line musketmen, but that will depend upon the treasury and what sacrifices we can afford to make there.  If we have to demobilise, I have a strong preference for us finding a way to make former soldiers into farmers or labourers, to stay them from a life of crime."

[Digital Hellhound]

Anate Norn felt giddy. A strange sort of nervous energy had settled upon him, keeping him up even in the middle of the night. There was too much to do, events passing so quickly. So many possibilities seemed open for him and for the people of Elbreth. He needed to make sure they took the right road and reached the future they deserved.

The printing press would make a good foundation to build their new nation on. He would give the people more than words; truths, ideals, the spirits of Liberty and Justice for all. Too long had Elbreth slumbered in the long darkness of tyranny. Too long had the people gone on, ignorant of the freedoms each man was born with. Too long had their voice gone unheard!

That would make his first article, Anate thought. Once he got the press running, of course. He'd started working on that, but now, the Queen needed his council. He'd never cared much for the business of taxes and coin, but if that was what the Queen wished, he'd do his best to get a sense of the situation.

---
Take possession of the industrial press in the Mills in the name of the Queen and start repurposing it as the home of the Freedom Cry, the newspaper of THE PEOPLE! Look for good, passionate volunteers to write shameless propaganda troubling radical sentiment THE TRUTH.

Try to get a sense of the economical situation. Identify rich citizens who could make... voluntary contributions to the Royal Treasury if needed.

[Ardas]

Humbert smiled and gave another small bow.

"Your Highness, I could not ask for a higher honor that to simply be able to lend you my advice. I will give you a full run down on politics at the main meeting. I need to make sure that all interested parties are in the Capital. By the looks of it, they are.


At the Council...

Humbert spoke up, to give Erika the political report.

"Your Highness, the three factions that are currently looking to influence your rule are as follows:

'The Lords', led by Viscount Julian Augustus Adequin - They expect a House of Lords that would rule alongside the you, if not outright control the country. They are conservatives by nature, have large landed interests and posses some businesses in and out of the country. They were the ones to seize the control out in the country after your victory.
Next are 'The Monarchists' led by Colonel Ebenezer David Oakley - they favor feudal order, expect position and rank within the government, support absolutism and Queen’s Council as form of rule. They are landed as well, although quite few of them lost their inheritances over the years, a lot of them are officers and currently serve in your army."
Last but not least, 'The Populists' - Led by "Baron" Elijah Styles - want an open government, with representatives of all spheres of life in an elected single-chamber National Assembly. They have republican and radical leanings, many consider them bohemians and youths who have more money than sense, or no money at all."

Flavia chimed in. "So... we have the stuck up nobs, some good men and a bunch of milk-nosed runts. That's no choice at all!"

"Were it so simple Flavia..."


Anate Norn

Vive La Revolution!

[2] Your work with the industrial printer goes well- until you realize that you would need to start from scratch - almost that is. The printing equipment was massive, and the factory included a lot of room for editorial staff and journalists in an office annex, as well as storage and distribution. But your pockets were lined with holes so big you could put your fists through them. Something you in fact did as you walked through the empty halls.
Despite being well-equipped and owner-free, you would need to hire workers, attract writers and while you had some enthusiastic volunteers, you would not be able to get much of the paper running until you had at least 1d in investment money, and 2d to start running at full capacity. Even revolutionaries need to eat.

[2] Your investigation of the economic matters started at the King's Market, where Prestonian industrial elite gathered, now occupied by a motely of Elbrethian upstarts, nobles and merchants. You manage to find that a lot of the business was not an actual trade, but currency exchange - Prestonian Piastres were exchanged for Brighthallian Rubels, Confederacy Marks, Galam Liras and other currencies, making those with the know-how richer, and those with little money barely better off than before. Notes were turned in for coins, precious items were given up for a bit of currency. Rampant speculation spilled to the other parts of economy as well - goods were changing their prices daily, and yet you were unable to pinpoint why.

[3+1] The investigation of the potential "benefactors" leads you to a single group of persons - a noble party led by a certain aristocrat going by the name of Julian Adequin. They were currently gathering in his town residence, where apparently quite few people of renown were meeting often for political discussion and business parties. As far as the popular word out on the street had it, they were the major landholders and industrialists in the country - some even said that they were the "1%", whatever that meant. If anyone had the will and money to help out, they were the group to address.


Adrian Arialdi

Adrian starts inspecting the factories in Sheepstead, examining the damage done during the siege and the impact the damage would face on factory operations. He also takes the time on the side to try recovering any documents pertaining to the ownership of them, or the deeds themselves.

[3] Most of the factories weren't damaged, apart from harm caused by stray artillery and the enthusiastic workers who broke tools and rose up against the owners. Some were smashed up, but most of them were good enough to work again. Some of them were active already, empty workshops taken over either by worker co-ops or entrepreneurial merchants. The deeds, although still in name of their Prestonian owners, were available at the deed archives of the capital's magistrate. As your luck would have it, because of the uncertain political situation, all deeds were placed under temporary control of the state - the question was, how much would it cost to get them.

[Playergamer]

The Weylanders are notorious brutes. He can't just let them have those brave soldiers. But what can he do? He's only got the shirt on his back, and his sword.

But...most of those Elbrethian militiamen aren't dressed any better than he is, and everybody respects an officer with a sword...

Lead, and they will follow.

Hathcock marches into the encampment, catching up with the militiamen, and searches the rabble for a leader. The militiamen are in the process of handing off the prisoners, when he approaches the man he thinks is leading them. The knight walks with the ubiquitous stride of the important, the walk of a man who knows he is in charge. 

Hatcheck approaches the leader, towering over him, and flashes his saber as a sign of rank. He begins to speak quickly, with the voice of a man who, knowing he speaks to his inferior, speaks quickly, and impatiently. "What are these prisoners doing here, soldier? They were supposed to be interned on the other side of the city, not given to the Weylanders! Are you listening to me, man? Come on, round them back up and get moving!" He shoots a few choice looks at the well-armed, heavy raiders surrounding the militiamen, and smiles.

Either I'll save the lives of these men, or I'll cause a row between the traitor Elbrethians and their barbarian dogs. Either'll work.

[Ghazkull]

[2] "Who by the Wheel do you think you are?" the Militia captain a man with a rather prodigious belly doesn't seem overly happy at having a sabre flashed at him, he starts examining you closer...this could go very wrong very quickly. "B'sides accodin' to tha treaty those wankers are supposed to go to the Weys." He points at a bunch of nearby Weylanders, one of them looks quite official, standing behind a table with a ledger and writing tools on it. You would propably also attach a rank to him if the way their uniforms and ranks worked wasn't so completely outlandish to you. In any case the pointed at (what you presume) quartermaster moves closer, clearly intrigued at the hold up.

[Playergamer]

Hathcock tries to turn the authority up as far as it will go, getting into the man's face and continuing to speak. "Do you not know who I am? These men weren't assigned to go to the Weylanders!" He turns to a nearby militiaman, using his impressive bearing to try and coerce the poor soldier. "Soldier! Gather those prisoners back up! Follow orders, or you will be court-martialed, understood?"

((shouldn't I get a bonus from charisma?))

[micelus]

(Sorry for the absence)

At the Council


"Princess, my opinion on these factions is well...quite obvious. These aristocrats, while probably fine enough chaps individually, are little more than lazy twits. The Styles' rabble are just that, rabble. That said, it would be folly to discount them completely. Give in to a few demands; allow a little self-representation, give the lords some independence...but make sure that their desires impede one another. That way, they'll be busy grabbing each other's throats, all the while letting better minds get on with the task of ruling the nation."

"As for our forces...if I were given the funds, I could shape up the militia into a true force, trained in the Korlanese style of course.

And another thing my Princess...I have no opinion on how you are coronated just as long as you give out gifts to the people when you do. Shows your generosity and love for the people, yes?"


Hoffenburg begins the arduous task of questioning all prisoners, setting up patrols in and around the city and checking for any Prestoner equipment that was left behind. Commandeer all barracks/armouries.

Salvage any war materiels. If broken, fix them. Focus is to be made on any artillery.

Check to see if Sheepstead has a local Korlanese community. If so, gauge their opinion on the change of government.

Speak to armament factory owners. See if they would be interested in closer ties with the Elbrethian military. Their production quotas, designs and quotas would be closely watched by the military but in return they would have lower taxes and subsidies when appropriate.

[Taricus]

Satisfied that Elbreth's industry was in a relatively decent shape, and that the deeds were all safe and within state hands, Adrian heads over the factor's hall to inquire about the deeds, seeking a meeting with whoever is in charge of that particular aspect.

[Ghazkull]

((OOC: yup you're right playergamer...haven't seen that -.-))

[2+1] "Uhm...hum...i don't know. I have orders here...si- what is even your rank?"

[Digital Hellhound]

At the Council

'My Queen,' Norn began when it came to his turn. He'd been glaring at the nobles at the table not-so-subtly, but hadn't interrupted. 'While there are... certain radical elements that we must keep under watch, it is clear that the people are who you should turn to for support. With your leave, I will speak with Mr. Styles and his supporters and bring them to your banner - though I imagine they already are! As for these other... factions... you cannot afford to give into the demands of these reactionaries. Why, then we'd be in the same position as when we began! I ask that you make the nobility understand that the age of excess is over. Too long have they treated the common people little better than slaves. Too long have they silenced the voices of those below them. We - Elbreth - must listen to the common man, not simply the rich man.'

He pursed his lips. 'I am still investigating the matter of the treasury, my Queen, but it is clear Preston has left us in a thankless situation. We are fast spiralling into debt. Instituting a new national currency will likely help stabilize things, I understand, but it will not be enough. I believe this Adequin's party represents... men of wealth in our nation. Perhaps they could be persuaded to contribute to our cause, as a show of their loyalty?'

Before/After

The situation was becoming clearer, but he still lacked a real understanding why their treasury was draining so quickly. Norn considered going to one of the others for help, but he wanted to prove his worth to his Queen and look into this mess personally. That would take work, work and more work.

---
Find people who are likely to know something about the state of the realm; bureaucrats, merchants, the less distasteful nobles. Continue investigating the economic situation.

[Playergamer]

Hqthfock shakes his head, and begins to practically bark at the man. "Soldier, are you stupid, or just dumb? Get those prisoners moving! I don't have time to deal with idiot soldiers who won't follow direct orders."

[mcclay]

Tabudai Nonsher
Across the plains and low, rolling hills to the east of Sheepstead a group of men on horses gallop towards the city. From the spear tip of the formation their leader rides, saber bouncing at his his side. Behind him his men sing a song of glory, their voices reaching the soldiers stationed at the entrances to Sheepstead. As they approach their leader, Tabudai, holds up his hand. The rest of the men stop behind him, horses whinnying at the sudden stop.
"Out of my way fools! The Kazakiini seek your Queen. Freedom has come to this land and we come to bolster it. Either take me to your Queen or move from the path! We come bearing men and arms. Move!
Tabudai attempts to gain enternace into the city, and an audience with the Queen if at all possible.

[Ghazkull]

Hathcock

[1+1] "You are no officer...you don't even have a uniform, now fuck off before i tell the Weys that you are another prestoner." welp even this very slow militia captain notices things every once in a while...time to make a dynamic exit or end up as Weylandish Slave.

[mcclay]

((NEVERMIND I AM BAD AT READING THINGS))