You yank the rope down.
Suddenly you feel - or rather - hear in your brain something akin to a mosquito's mad buzzing. It is mixed in with a faint giggle, and in the periphery of your eyesight you see a pinkish being with legs and arms and shiny white wings. It is zipping around your head, but you cannot concentrate just well enough to see it in front of you.
The buzzing and giggle grow distant and you lose the sight of the pinkish thing. The rope remains in your hand as the being seemingly flees into the world.
Did you just release an eldritch abomination from its prison? Or did you release a trapped fairy that was calling for help? Who knows.
You return to your bed - the humming is gone and never again in your life it bothers you.
411 AEC, Midwinter
Your new selection of Orcish bodyguards from Rsa arrives! Dressed in skins and cloth and armor, the brutish humanoids pledge to defend you with their life and either achieve glory in your service or die trying.
411 AEC, End of the Year
You rub your chin as the Advisor lays down the Scrolls of Kingdom Status on your desk.
It can't be that bad, right?
Happiness: 3
Population: 3
Economy:
0!Army: 2
*Navy: 3
Gyeeeeeh.
"My liege, we need money, and fast!"
As for taxation shenanigans...
A) "Do not worry, we will get out of the dumps from trade next year!"
B) "Keep the taxes high for peasants, then!
C) "More taxes - and include the noblemen as well this time!"
D) "Time to switch from taxing peasants to taxing of nobles!"
As for potential military degrading...
A) "We will reduce the Army a little bit."
B) "Gotta sell some ships to keep afloat, eh?"
C) "Budget cuts! Sell the ships! Lay off the soldiers!"
D) "Nah, we don't need this!"