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[Haspen]

"Sure, go on. If I may turn out to be a heir to a kingdom, so much the better, no?"

[rustytengo]

"The keep is supposed to have documents and ledgers and chronicles of the previous family. I assume there's not much remaining, given what I see?" He stares at Lilinoe's hands, full of stained scrolls and singular pages without context.

Lilinoe nods "That would seem the case though I did spy the mention of a mine in what I could gather. As well as a few mention of lamias and elves." Lilinoe smiled "Though how relevant those happen to be requires some more digging."

[GodofGamingRWBY]

"Sure, go on. If I may turn out to be a heir to a kingdom, so much the better, no?"

Andrea nods, clearing her throat before she begins to recite what she knew, mentally flipping open the journal within her mind,


"Well, to avoid taking hours to explain, I'll brief the history. Sudewald was a minor kingdom headed by the Ravenkeep family, most notably one Friduric, and several other noble families. It rose in 1615 EC due to the consistent political failings of King Orwin of Estphal. Initially, the rebel Kingdom won against a full forced assault from Estphal, but Friduric had lost one of their sons in the initial conflict. Shortly after that, Orwin died and was succeeded by his son, King Arnhart. And for the next few years, Arnhart would prepare for another war with the rebel Kingdom, while Sudewald attempted to establish military ties with Aquileia. Ultimately, the war continued, and with a focused and prepared military, Sudewald was crushed. Friduric and his remaining son were both killed in the early stages, leaving Friduric's daughter, Ermentrude, to rule. While they had gotten some military aid from Aquileia, it was not enough to stem the tide, and they quickly retracted their own forces, eventually resulting in Ermentrude's surrender and subsequent execution, along with her husband and most nobles that still supported her.

There is, however, the possibility that the line was not fully lost. Ermentrude had a child of six months, apparently named Audewin. Under normal customs, a child under six years of age would be spared of the executioner's axe. However, I cannot say for certain. His name or history does not appear anywhere that I look, thus most believe that he had been killed with his mother."

[Haspen]

Richart chuckles, then shakes his head.

"Now that's some story."

"I sure hope I'm not related to some rebels..."

"You never know." A cough. "All I know of my grandparents that they tended to cows and horses before my father took up smithing. As for the mine, Elder Orwin did mention some places towards the forest being infested with monsters. A copper mine, and a lumber camp, I believe. We will have to see into that, too. It would be very profitable to restore these places to function."

"Right now?" Just as Merewin says it, something from the ceiling detaches and falls in front of the entrance - a loose brick. Both Richart and his son eye it after it cracks the floor on impact.

"Right now I think we will keep ourselves busy with restoring the keep and ensuring we sleep today with a solid roof above us, Merewin. Thanks for indulging me, Lilinoe and Andrea."

[rustytengo]

Lilinoe clapped her hands together "Oh right I have a few thoughts on how to get an able body work force if you need a few ideas to think on."

[Haspen]

"Is it something illegal? If yes, then I will have the peasants lend their arms instead." Richart chuckles. "I wouldn't want to think this place is so bad there's indentured servants waiting to be punished by hard labor..."

[rustytengo]

Lilinoe let out a laugh

"I wouldn't suggest anything like that. My idea are simple offer land to drawn in new settlers and/or offer criminals paradons if possible."

[Haspen]

"Hm, I see. I will consider that when I have the time." Richart says, the coughs briefly, before looking around.

"I think there's nothing else to do than start working."

Chapter 1: Home Sweet Home

2nd Fire, 1900
Ravenkeep, Forestwatch Region, Eastern Estphal

Quite a few people are occupying the study of Lord Richart Ravenkeep, now that is has been furnished...

It would be probably a cozy and focused meeting if not for the noises outside.

Hammering, digging, grinding and even more hammering. People young and old shouting at each other, fetching things, moving furniture. Carpenters sawing, hammering, cutting and setting timber in places where it was lacking or rotten. Masons setting bricks and stones in the holes in the walls. Most of the activity was downstairs, but the corridors upstairs were busy also. Someone was cursing under the window of the study, something about idiocy and weak arms.

Richart Ravenkeep had settled into the role of overseer and nobleman with certain vigor, however. After scribbling furiously on the parchment for a while, he lifts up the quill and stares at the writing with certain satisfaction and a slight smile on his face.

"Hartman."

"Sir." Richart rolls up the scroll and passes it to the old carriage driver.

"Take the money I set aside for this from storage and go to Oxslope. They have a potterer there, we need someone to fix the roof and the attic and to be honest local men are twice left-handed for this. See if the local blacksmith could be persuaded to forge new hinges and chains for the doors and the main gate also. I would like to sleep in a room without a draft by the end of the week, at the very least."

"Aight sir. I will go right away." Hartman bows his head and, taking the scroll, heads for the door.

"Elder Orwin."

"Yes...?"

"I've tasked you yesterday with finding me some good workers." Richart says, and as if on cue, there's a yell outside and then two men start arguing, something that makes Richart pause and grimace slightly.

"While I appreciate the haste you did it with, I'm afraid your nephews aren't cut for timberwork. Or masonry. Or any skilled task, really."

"Them lads are... are just unaccustomed to such harsh labor, sir! If I may say so--" Richart cuts him off.

"Enough of this. Take your relatives and have them help fetching materials from the storage at the village. And tell innkeeper Meinhart to come over, I need to talk with him about provisioning." The elderly man hesitates for a bit, before bowing his head.

"Of course, my good Lord! Of course, right away!" Bowing his head twice more, Elder Orwin squeezes his portly self between Aras and Sebastian on the way out.

When the door closes, Merewin, who stood by the desk quietly, turns to his father, just as Richart experiences a coughing fit.

"Are you going to replace Elder Orwin?" Richart hums and steeples his fingers over his stomach.

"Elder Orwin is a good man and is respected by the villagers, but I don't think he is really fit to a task of actual administration. Meinhart, on the other hand, knows numbers and words, and meticulously keeps his accounts in a ledger. He knows how to run a business, and has both charisma and will needed for it. As we're going to, eventually, make Ravenkeep a thriving and wealthy village, it will require a proper administrator. Someone with skills. Orwin is an Elder because no one else stepped up to the position, but now it's time for a change. However, let's move onto the topic I brought you all for in here. I have, you see, a dilemma I need resolved, and I hope you can help me with it."

"I already know my answer to it." Merewin quips, exchanging stares with Richart, before the elder Ravenkeep stands up and from a rather empty shelf, brings forth a cloth map, sprawling it on the desk.

It is rather vague and rather simple drawing of Ravenkeep castle, and the village, with several otherwise empty areas scrawled with words, adjacent to the village, the castle, or to the road leading between the two.

"I have grossly underestimated the extent of work needed to restore Ravenkeep and in the same time overestimated my wealth reserves. Simply put, I can't put into motion all the construction work I have planned for the castle and the village. The village requires at least a temple, and a smith, to properly call itself a village. The keep itself has rooms and workshops long ruined and in need of furnishing and staff. And I'm short on money for all these all at once." Richart stiffles a cough into his right hand. "Now, let me tell you of what I planned to build and where..."

RAVENKEEP SERVICES: THE BEGINNING

The Ravenkeep Castle and the adjacent Village are undergoing renovations and soon will become a proper holding worthy of a noble family. To expedite this, Players must decide on the order of buildings that will house Ravenkeep Services. These Services will be built during the span of future Chapters, and their effects will not trigger immediately (you will be informed in both IC Thread and on Discord when this happens).

Available Services are as follows:

Armory:
Dedicated area for storage and maintenance of weapons and armor, allowing for guards and soldiers to be equipped in service of Ravenkeep Family.
*Captain of the Guard receives 1 free Level Up.
*Allows for low-level NPC Soldier/Fighter/Archer allies to be sortied during Battle Maps.

Herbalist:
A herbalist's workshop with adjacent garden for growing of herbs and spices, allowing simple curatives and potions to be brewed locally.
*All Characters gain +2 HP for free.
*Allows limited acquisitions of free Vulneraries and Herbs outside Battle Maps.

Library:
A large chamber with shelves dedicated to store scrolls, texts and books on topics both mundane and arcane, educational and entertaining.
*House Scholar receives 1 free Level Up.
*House Bard receives 1 free Level Up.
*Lore books can be 'donated' to the Library, allowing for them to be read by all Players.

Magic Lab:
A corner tower refurbished into a magical laboratory, where both diligent study and dangerous experiments can be performed by magicians and scholars in employ of Lord Ravenkeep.
*All Magic Users (Light/Anima/Dark/Staves/Performances) gain +1 MAG and +1 RES for free.
*Allows limited acquisitions of free Iron-grade (rank E) Tomes/Staves/Instruments outside Battle Maps.

Smithy:
A dedicated blacksmith can forge iron and bronze into both everyday items as well as weapons if need be, for both the castle servants and Ravenkeep villagers.
*All Weapon Users (Swords/Lances/Axes/Bows/Hidden) gain +1 STR and +1 DEF for free.
*Allows limited acquisitions of free Iron-grade (rank E) Weapons outside Battle Maps.

Temple:
A place for quiet worship as well as important social area for important religious ceremonies, be they weddings or funerals. A proper Temple ought to be dedicated to one of the Belegian religions, but that is not always the case.
*House Priest receives 1 free Level Up.
*Dedication to a particular Religion grants +3 LCK to Characters with matching Religious Affiliation.
*No Dedication grants +1 LCK to all Characters instead.

Training Hall:
A spacious chamber where young men and women can be trained by more experienced warriors. Straw dummies and haybales provide for more than enough practice targets for archers and even combat-oriented magicians.
*Bodyguards A and B receive 1 free Level Up each.
*Every Character receives +1 SKL, and either +1 STR or +1 MAG, depending on their Proficiencies, for free.

Furthermore, several of the Services can be paired as a Combo, either increasing their effectiveness or unlocking some advanced options. These Combos, however, will only become visible when required Services are matched. During the time-span of Emblem of Estphal, there should be enough time to build 5 out of 7 Services available. Don't sweat over them too much, though, they're here to provide a little bit extra levels and items for your characters, and none are mandatory to reach the end of the game or to win any battle maps or complete any chapters.


"...and as you can see, I might've been a bit too ambitious with this. However, I still think this can work out pretty nicely, in a year or two." Richart sits down at the chair and Merewin leans over the map, jabbing his finger over a square in the corner of the castle.

"This, this is what we should build first." Richart grumbles, crossing his arms over his chest, staring at a wobbly square labeled 'herbalist'.

"I would rather have the smithy, or the armory first. Or temple, even. As a nobleman, I don't want to hoard all the wealth and services just for myself, my family and servants, Merewin. We need to think about the village's security and economy, too."

"We need a herbalist's shop, and fast. You need it! Even if its Aras pulling double duty, you need a healer with access to medical herbs. It's already Fire month but I'm sure some can still be sown and harvested before the year's end."

"Think about the whole, Merewin--"

"Father!"

"Enough." Richart coughs once. "I know what you want, and I'm thankful for that, but I want to hear from others as well. Now, speak, all of you." Richart looks over his retainers as Merewin leans away from the map, crossing his arms over his chest.

Like father, like son, they say.

[Solymr]

Markus grumbled in indecision.

: A herbalist is not a bad idea... Medical supplies are always good to have and people need to be healthy for hard work. On the other hand, a smithy in the village would provide tools for everyone.

[rustytengo]

Lilinoe closed her eyes and tapped the side of her face as she thought in things

"As much as I would love to have a library and magic lab so I can have a proper tower.... she paused a moment "A herbalist would be a good choice. Tools can be imported currently but herbs eventually go out of season and with me and Aras helping out here we don't have time to gather them."

[Caellath]

"I also support the herbalist's workshop be built first." He is once more staring at Richart like the older man owes him money.

[GodofGamingRWBY]

Andrea hums to herself slightly, less of a tune and more simply for thought. Eventually, she nods,


"I concur, a Herbalist does sound like the best choice for our fledgling little town. Trade and economy are important, but you wouldn't want to be caught in a plague without proper stocks of medicine prepared."

[ctsun]

"Oh, I wanna a training hall! Somewhere where everyone can train to defend themselves. They'll need that if those local monsters come knockin'."

[IamanElfCollaborator]

"A library does sound more interesting...but our dear employer might need the services of the herbalist somewhat more."

[Haspen]

Richart shakes his head.

"I had a feeling that my son and retainers will turn against me one day, but I didn't think you would do the same, Markus."

"Father-" Richart chuckles.

"I am just joking. I can see it's been decided. Alright, alright then, herbalist it is." He dips the quills in the inkwell and scribbles on the parchment. "And from what I've heard, a library and the laboratory for the mages, and training hall and smithy should be my next focus." He finishes the writing and then leans away in the chair.

He experiences a mild coughing fit. Outside someone screams about their leg getting struck by someone's hammer.

"Right, you can go now. I have work to do. Or rather I have to talk with someone again..."

Meanwhile...

Vultureclaw, Riverwatch Region, two days of journey west from Ravenkeep

Four young nobles - three men and one woman - flanking a decidedly older gentleman, who towers above them, listen to the news brought in by one of their servants.

The finished report forces out gasps of displeasure from the younger quartet. The biggest of them stands up, clutching his empty goblet as if he was trying to crush it.

"How dare you displease us with such news! Do you have no shame?" The servant tries to say something but has to duck from the thrown goblet instead, which crashes against the floor with a metallic thunk. "Begone!!"

The servant scurries for the door and quickly evacuates the room.

"That OAF of a KING! What was he thinking? To give Ravenkeep to commoners instead to us? And to ennoble them?" The fat man shakes his fist. "Preposterous!!"

The older gentleman puts the goblet away from his lips to speak.

"Be a bit quieter, Adalbert, will you? Servants have ears." Adalbert scowls.

"If those no-good servants have any common sense, they better be deaf." The woman chuckles.

"Oh? And how do you propose they do that? Cut off their own ears?" Adalbert grimaces, and sits down.

"That's one way to go about it..." There's a wave of discontent grumble going between the younger nobles, while the older one sips from his goblet again, then hums thoughtfully.

"Well, no matter what we think of it, it seems we have new neighbours." Another sip. "I'm willing to entertain suggestions about how we deal with them." One of the younger men speaks up.

"We can still grab Ravenkeep. And quite legally so." The older man and the young exchange stares.

"Go on."

"He said the new Ravenkeeps are a very small family, didn't he? A father with no wife and an adult son, who is also single."

"Get them into our family through political marriage, is that what you mean?"

"Yes. Sigda could marry either, then once the older man departs for Afterlife, we deal with his son-" The woman growls.

"You want ME to marry a COMMONER? You were always a pig and an idiot, Niedhart, but today you're outdoing yourself."

"Listen-"

"Why don't YOU go marry them? Suck the boy's dick, or better yet, his father's, who knows maybe he will even like it!" Niedhart stands up, and so does Sigda.

"You bitch! How dare- why- don't forget who's older here!"

"And what of it? You're lucky that you're my brother at all, else I would've gutted you for that proposal like the fucking swine you are!!" The older Vultureclaw slams his goblet against the table, spilling some of the dark purple wine.

"Enough!" Both Niedhart and Sigda stop to look at the man, who lifts the goblet up. "This is my favorite vintage, and you're souring the taste with your bickering! Can't you two spend one day, just one Godsdammed day, without shouting at each other? Maybe I should send you to Nordgart for a year again, at least I won't have to deal with your outbursts for a while! Now sit down!"

"Tch..."

"Hmph..." They do, however, sit down.

"Why don't we just kill them?" Adalbert says, and the rest of his family looks at him. "We march to their keep, and, saying that they're commoners usurping the place, we butcher them? Afterwards we can just put extra money in Riverwatch Judge's pockets and pretend we didn't know the truth?"

"Now that-" The elder Vultureclaw sips his wine again. "That is something grossly unrefined, even for you, Adalbert. No, no we won't be doing that."

"But-"

"Enough of this." The father of the four nobles sighs, and looks across the table. "I see that you don't have any good ideas at the moment. Or maybe the air is a bit too heated for as serious conversation as this. Go now. Cool your heads, we will plot the righteous demise of those upstart nobles after the evening meal." Grumbling, sighing and scoffing, Niedhart, Sigda and Adalbert all pick themselves up and walk for the door.

The youngest of the four siblings, however, remains in his seat, and reaches for his goblet of wine. After the others leave, the Elder Vultureclaw turns to him.

"You've been quiet throughout the whole meeting, Roderic."

"Mm." Roderic sips his wine, slowly, then sets the goblet down, staring into it.

"What's on your mind?"

"A few things. First of all - this Richart or whatever his name was, got ennobled for just one noble deed. That's reason to make one a Knight, not a Lord. Furthermore, King Orwin himself gave the order, and with such a haste, too? This... worries me, father." The elder Vultureclaw sets the goblet down.

"Go on."

"Even the King himself wouldn't raise a commoner to a noble outright. Where's the proper etiquette in that? Plus, you've seen what the news of it did to others, they were ready to jump into hot water because of it. Adalbert in particular would be riding to Ravenkeep with a horde of cutthroats if you weren't here, he would commit a crime in broad daylight."

"And?" Roderic rubs his cheek in consternation for a brief moment.

"Father, I think he knows." The two exchange stares. "About our money in Judge's pockets. That or he found out the truth behind the disappearance of Lord Windrider and his daughter. Or our unspoken monopoly on timber mills in the region, or maybe he found out who is behind the arson of Silverhold keep? Or maybe just the extra taxes we 'forgot' to report to the Council last year - Father, there's many reasons the King or the Council would believe we're no longer trustworthy. I'm worried we've been a bit too greedy over the last few years, and they've taken notice. We need to deal with Ravenkeeps, yes - but covertly, quietly." The elder Vultureclaw sighs and reaches for his goblet.

He raises it in a toast towards Roderic.

"If only your siblings had at least half the smarts you do, my dear boy, we wouldn't be in such a situation in the first place."

"Thank you, father."

"So, we reject the idea that Lord Ravenkeep was ennobled for his good deeds?"

"About this, I have to agree with Adalbert." Roderic chuckles. "No, I think Lord Ravenkeep and his son are agents of King Orwin and not real nobles at all. They're probably plotting against us as we speak." The elder Vultureclaw laughs, sighs, and then takes the last sip of his wine, setting the empty goblet down.

"Now, I assume you would like to investigate the Ravenkeeps a bit?" Roderic nods silently.

"Go to Arnault and take a few hundred to cover your expenses. See what you can find out about this Richart and his son. And who knows-" He smiles. "Maybe in the end you will become the next Lord Ravenkeep?" Roderic stands up, and nods obediently.

"I hear and obey, father. Give me a few days." Elder Vultureclaw nods to his son, who quickly marches for the door. After he leaves, the old man takes the wine bottle and pours some more wine into his goblet, then picks it up and takes a sniff of the vapors.

"Such a fine vintage." Another, happy, sip occurs.

Few hours later
Ravenkeep's Dining Hall

As the meal - root mash and boiled meat - is given out to the servants and retainers, Merewin appears by the table where Markus and others are dining.

He sits down with his own bowl of mash and meat in one hand, and a fork in the other, and looks about the gathered faces.

"I want to thank you." He says quietly. "For convincing my dad, that's it."