You decide to run left, your dignity failing and your high-pitched screams probably waking up whole of palace.
6
Be it adrenaline, luck or good memory, you do end up in the mess hall. Even better, the afternoon shift of guards has just finished and corwded the mess hall. They look at you confused as you run between tables, almost tumbling over the chairs, but once the lobster-alien-maid-beast bursts through the door, the crowd begins to use what they have at hand. Some are able to draw bows and crossbows, but others simple throw their swords, hatchets and even nearby knives, mugs and other objects at the beast.
The terrifying monster bites some poor sod's face off, and three other are sliced up by the frontal scythe-limbs of the beast, and the battle continues as you huggle the hall's corner.
But some lucky potshots slow it down, wounds pile up on its carapace, and then, in one moment, one brave man jumps onto a table to match the beast's height and smashes his trusty axe into the monster's head!
You don't get to congratulate the hero of the day as the dying monster releases, along with an ear-piercing, haunting shriek, a burst of acidic blood that melts the man's face off and kills him seconds later later.
Few days later...
All in all, there has been fourteen casualties, including seven dead. A cursory investigation into his horrifying, bizarre attack reveals that the poor maid that became the monster has been complaining of fever as early as the midnight right after the shower of falling stars. She later complained to one of fellow maids that she felt 'as if I swallowed a fly'.
Your best scholars, astrologists and worldly courtiers will try to find the cause of this... terror from the other world.
1109 AD, Midwinter
A report arrives from northern governors; no more Hurthlings are in Methiant, and the security on the border with Tiftits has been strenghtened to ensure none of these deplorable little bastards stir up trouble again.
1109 AD, End of the Year
You contemplate your fine cotton robes while leisurely sipping on some mulled wine, in one of your favorite chambers that has a fireplace. The time of leisure is up, becomes the Advisor brings the Scrolls of Kingdom Status to your room.
Happiness: 5
Population: 7
Economy: 5
Army: 3
You tap on the chair's arm. You need to work those numbers up somehow.
1110 AD, Spring
Your military officers, now clad in scale mail and winged helmets, bring joyous news - the reforms of military organizations are over! The new Marshal, clad in silver and feathers, salutes you.
"My liege! I report that the change of the Army has been accomplished! No longer we will depend on the Alldivine zealots! Within half a year, the change will be announced to all governors and noblemen! Young men across Luathbas will receive notices of mandatory conscription in about the same amount of time. Our kingdom shall be as strong as never before!"
Congratulations! Kingdom of Methiant successfully reorganized its Army to a professional and mandatory training model:
You will no longer be able to procure services of religious mercenaries from Alldivine Cloisters.
The Army will continuously maintain (or at least, try to maintain) a high level on its own and will cause a constant drain on Economy (currently causing a yearly deficit!).
As mentioned by the new Marshal, you just received a small Population penalty to kick-start the mandatory conscription&training scheme.
In times of emergency, you will be able to order mobilization of a chunk of male popualtion for a certain amount of time.
You congratulate them all and then express your wishes that they do their best. They promise to do so!
1110 AD, Summer
Punctual as ever, the Eldricans bring Fireblood ingredients to exchange them for local gemstones.
5
Great news come from Mountains of Tven! Your prospectors there indeed found silver amongst the local rocks, and they believe there is enough ore to supply a mine for at least several decades, if not longer!
To properly begin excavation, they of course need money and supplies.
A) And of course they shall get them!
B) No, not this time, sorry.