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You tell the Marshal that the army is responsible to keep the roads clear of snow this winter.


The Army does just that, but hundreds of soldiers suffer frostbite and cold anyway. Not every one of them returns home (and we're not talking only about desertion here).


Happiness: 3
Population: 4
Economy: 6
Army: 3

You grit your teeth a little. Couldn't these numbers be a tiny bit more even, for once?

"As you can see, my liege," the Advisor speaks, "the people are grumbling and our commanders are worried about the size and state of our Army. I wonder, however, if we have truly enough money to alletiate these shortages and be ready for next year, whatever it might-" You pull on the Advisor's beard.

"My liege, why are you pulling my beard?"

"Just checking if you're not Treasurer in disguise, apologies." The Advisor coughs.

"Still, what is your decision?"

A) "We power through!"
B) "We sponsor festivals for the peasants!"
C) "We hire mercenaries and sponsor festivities!"
D) "We bolster our Army with scores of mercenaries!"

You leave the castle and enter the forest, chasing after the blue flying lights.

2

You return to the castle before the sunrise, the run fruitless and without resolution.

Whateve beings the lights represented or were, they do not show up again, seemingly having rejected you.


The silver from the Gon mines have arrived quite early this year.


The previous event is a very good coincidence, too; the weather has been mild this year and the harvests abundant.

"And thus, people both small and important clamor that the Crown sponsors the harvest festivities this year." Says the Advisor, rolling up a scroll. Not the Scrolls of Kingdom Status, or a singular Scroll of Kingdom Status, but another scroll that relates to administration of your kingdom - whatever, you get the idea.

"Its been a while, too." The old man adds after a brief pause.

A) "Alright then, let's have some parties while the outside is still sunny and warm!"
B) "Nah, I think we're done with celebrations for the time being!"

"You're staying away from my silver, then, now go!" The Cartel members grumble and leave, their coin-laden wagons staying behind with you.


The caravan with silver from the far southwest arrives.

"What is the cause of the delay?" You ask the leader of the caravan, and he bows his head.

"The roads have their accidents, my liege, and the journey took longer than our optimistic overseer back at the mines thought it would." You dismiss him - at least the silver is here.


Your youngest son, Havar, catches the dreaded swamp fever, that kills 8 out of 10 sick children and leaves another one crippled.

1to4

Unfortunately, the little one wasn't special, and the sickness claimed his life.


The Advisor arrives, as always, to deliver you the Scrolls on the very last day of the year.

Happiness: 5
Population: 4
Economy: 3
Army: 4

"The Treasurer worries that the tax on the Cartel and the bullion from silver mines might not be adequate in covering various expenses that pop up, consistently, year by year, my liege."

"Oh, now he dislikes the Cartel?" The Advisor strokes his beard.

"He cares for his ledgers, not ledgers of others, sire. He wonders if perhaps something could be done to fill our Treasury a little bit more, a little bit faster?"

A) "We're fine, I told you before."
B) "Fine, lets raise taxes for a year."
C) "Fine, dismiss mercenaries from our army."
D) "Fine... send a message to the Cartel. We will have a little talk about their usefulness."

You angrily tell the courtiers that the time is not right yet.

They drop the issue, for now.


The delegates from the Cartel of the Golden Arms arrives to talk business with you - the money laden wagons accompany them.

"Greetings, our most illustrious, prodigious liege! Your Majesty, we have heard that our rich kingdom has recently obtained access to the silver of the Gon. There are many valuable and ornamental alloys that can be made of gold and silver, so we would be greatly interested in obtaining further priviledges in handling both gold and silver of the Kingdom. We could produce great works of metallic art and we are ready to share profits and glory with the royal Treasury."

A) "Nuh-uh, you are the Cartel of Golden Arms, stay away from my silver!"
B) "Sure thing, as long as the money keeps flowing."
C) "You know what, I actually was going to say that you're no longer my best friends! Begone!"
D) "Only if you get me more money than before. And I mean, much more!"

We will be starting tomorrow.

One extra player would be lovely, western half of the map is basically empty.

You order that a splendid sarcophagus is made for Milka's body. The Treasurer grumbles a bit.

Your noblemen grumble a bit more.


Milka's body is put to eternal rest, the old casket replaced with peachstone sarcophagus, expertly carved and decorated by the local masonry masters.

4

A letter from the gold mines has arrived; in it, the manager mentions that his workers have been able to clear the mines and once again begin digging out gold ores. The delay in their work also became a delay in the yearly deliveries; and they have been re-scheduled, starting with next Spring.


Your wife has freshly passed away, and yet...

"Marry another?" You ask the courtiers, who all nod in agreement.

"Although this should be a year of mourning, as customary, it is a bit jarring that, a young monarch like you, sits in the throne room, and one of the thrones is vacant and void. Perhaps your Highness would consider marrying a woman of proper standing to become the new Queen of Bailemarr, and to be at your side?"

A) "Out of the question."
B) "A marriage in the year of mourning will bring bad luck upon my family. Let's talk this some other time."
C) "Fine, I guess you are right - I need a new queen!"

"Power!" The White Stag bows his head.

Suddenly you scream and fall off your horse, alien words and sentences flooding into your head. Soon these alien words have perfect meaning, and you realize they are terms and definitions, explanations and rituals, names and actions. All things on earth and under it have been explained to you, and you feel a connection with your Gods stronger than ever, as if Pantheon itself has smiled down upon you today.

---

Congratulations! Velarien has received the Gifted (+Wise, +Lucky) trait!

---

You don't remember much more. The first thing you remember clearly is laying down on the bed in your palace, watched over your healers and wife.

When you tell them that you've found the White Stag and spoken to you, your noblemen are confused.

"But my liege, we found you huddled over a tree root, with your horse standing right next to you. We thought you fell off..."

A few days later, your wife Milka gives birth to a child! It's a rather large and fat boy that she decided to name 'Havar', after one of her grandfathers.


The Cartel of Golden Arms, or rather its money, have made its way to the palace. You note the lack of punctuality of the merchants with a little anger.

But, at least they are paying.

1

A letter from the gold mines arrives! The workers that were trying to clear the tunnels have inadverently caused another cave-in, and several houses and buildings near the mines have been damaged by a rockfall that occured moments later. The manager believes it will take several more months before there will be a chance to resume digging for gold ore.


Another letter comes, this time from the your newest territories to the south-west. Bandits, rebels and deserters that plagued the countryside have been dealt with or moved away after learning of your victory. The overseer of the mines reports that they should have enough silver ore to send over, and that you should expect a caravan somewhere around Autumn next year!


The Advisor brings to you the Scrolls of Kingdom Status, and spreads them on your desk.

Happiness: 5
Population: 4
Economy: 2
Army: 4

"The censuses of the southwest have arrived just in time for me to add them to the Scrolls, my liege." He says, stroking his beard. "Except our economical ratings, all is well in the Kingdom. Shall we perhaps fill our Treasury some more?"

A) "A good idea! Keep the taxes raised for another year!"
B) "A good idea! Get rid of mercenaries in our army!"
C) "Naw, we gucci!"

*desk slams*

---

You announce that you will pursue the White Stag yourself!

The chase takes you through the forest, into the parts you rarely, if ever, visited, visited by yourself before, but finally, you catch the mighty beast at the edge of a cliff, overlooking a small river.

"Wielder of hurtful metal, stop!" You hear a voice inside your head as the White Stag! "I am but a guest within this being's body. I am Kiardane, the protector of forests and trees. If you kill this creature, you shall kill me, as this is how this world works. Spare this creature, spare me, and I shall bestow upon you a gift unseen by your kind."

A) That sounds interesting, go on!
B) Yeah yeah, you're a magical spirit, and I'm a hunter! *twang*