As he contemplated the prospects of the future pleasures, he sat in his chamber daydreaming, when he was interrupted by his chamberlain.
"My lord, there are people to see you."
Oh, really? Yes, tell them to wait, I will be in the main hall soon. 'I hate petitioners'."
In meantime hold court in Arborvent.
The Pearl Divers[4] Pearls are common enough on the coast of Arborvent and there is a long history of divers fetching the beautiful off-white treasures from the sea bed. Even through the Years of Iron, the pearl industry remained intact and so your people retained their skills and knack for diving. Although the divers are only a small subset of the commons, they have strong connections with the land-workers and their influence counts.
[5] The pearl divers are prosperous if not rich, and your recent decision to establish trade with the capital for pearls has only enhanced matters. They are particularly warm towards you as a result and so long as things stay the way they are they will do their best to be good, tax-paying subjects.
[1] The pearl divers are in trouble, though, and a deputation of elders from the fishing villages arrives to inform you of such. [4] A lone ship has been sighted roaming the waters near several of the villagers, [5] more of a fishing vessel than a warship. [6] Its crew are unarmed and unarmoured, when they appear, but this has only made it easier for them to sneak around at night, [1] kidnapping women, children and even some of the men and ferrying them away. With no Royal Navy to stop them, the divers fear that the currently small attacks will only get worse and beg their liege to try and resolve them. They fear that those lost may already have been sold as slaves.
Steward's Comments: A simple problem, but a problem to solve. Someone is slaving our beaches, but right now there is no Royal Navy and we have no ships of our own at present to stop them. Worse, we have no idea where those slaves are being taken and sold to. Ignoring this problem will only make it worse, but I suppose that wouldn't cost anything either.The Nobles[2] Your dislike of personally managing the city (you never did like petitioners) has resulted in a
laissez faire system of government that has been excellent for traders and the common pearl divers, but has gradually eroded away the power and privileges of the nobility. The nobles here are as weak as in Stormstead, but through neglect rather than design. Part of the reason is that the poverty of many barons and lay knights during the War of Hounds only worsened during the Age of Iron, while the commons grew prosperous. Many barons and knights were forced to sell their lands in bankruptcy, leading to a large number of freeholders and minor tenants replacing the traditional larger serf-run estates.
[1] This has made them very embittered towards you, though not actively disloyal. The lay knights more or less just ignore your rule, but the barons and comtes are likely to be very recalcitrant when it comes to you actually trying to do anything that doesn't directly serve their interests.
[6] One of the local Comtes comes to your court, representing himself and several other minor nobles. Comte Richaud dispenses the usual flatteries, then gets to the point. He feels that the commons have begun to get too many ideas above their station and that only the proper rule of law will re-establish the natural order of things. The Comte proposes a 're-structuring' of the land in Arborvent to improve the crop yields and produce greater gains overall.
[5] The plans he shows you are actually incredibly well-thought out. Even though the restructuring largely benefits him and his cronies, it would improve grain yields (though the already well-developed land would not produce enough new grain to equate to new parcels). [4] On the other hand, it would dispossess many peasants of the best land and although they would be compensated well for the compulsory purchase, they would either have to farm more marginal land, act as tenants on the new land or seek work in the city instead.
The reforms would take a few years to see proper returns, but the Comte and his backers can offer you [4*2]
80 crowns as a 'wedding present' in exchange for freezing tax rates, should you take the deal.
Steward's Comments: Restructuring land is always painful, but while it is true Comte Richaud and his friends would benefit most from the restructuring they are truly more efficient. The extra money would certainly come in useful, but it would almost certainly alienate the commons. Be aware that as the nobles only think you are restoring the balance of power, they will not love you any more for doing this either.The Craftsmen[4] The longstanding pearl industry has led to a sizeable contingent of jewellers and bead-makers in Arborvent, who have some clout in how the city operates - again, due to your previously relaxed attitude to government. These tradesmen are the reason why Arborvent's prosperity is second only to Stormstead (albeit by both a long and short margin up and down) and part of what has made the city what it is today.
[2] Your recent activity in re-establishing the pearl trade with Stormstead, while good for their business, has alarmed many of the craftsmen. They fear that you may begin interfering with their work, livelihoods and the privileges they have secured from the nobility, and that demand for raw pearls and increased competition of jewellers from Stormstead will harm their business. They approach everything you say and do with caution.
[1] The jewellers too are in difficulties of the worst kind and require your help. [6] Armed bandits have been operating out of the Running Woods, ambushing trade wagons along the roads. Your scouts already have a report on the location and numbers of the bandits, and they are not good. The bandits have [2] two brigades of men in the woods, [4] lightly armed [5] and fortunately not trained ambushers - the men just run out onto the roads and try to surround the wagons by greater mobility rather than making a real ambush. [6] Their identity is also known as well, and you really wish it were not. They are former Arendalic lay-knights and soldiers, deserters who have abandoned their homeland from the heavy war, and their leader [1] is Kasten de Arvarac, one of the brothers of Ryiah de Arvarac, the Duc de Arvarac's daughter and your prospective wife. She and her father both think he died in the re-kindling of the war some weeks ago but instead he appears to have taken the long way out through Donnemire and the regions south of Windheath until he found somewhere his men could hide. [5] The good news is that you know he and his sister did have a very close relationship - should you need to use it.
Steward's Comments: A potentially embarrassing situation for yourself, my liege, though at present only you and your scouts know the deserters' leader's identity. On the other hand, doing nothing will only hurt trade. Not enough to stop it; the trade route will simply go by ship, but the roads in Arborvent are very good and they make for a lot of trade. Doing nothing will not only weaken the urban population here, it will gravely anger them. Doing the wrong thing could shatter your planned alliances. Tread carefully, my liege.1. Try and get more information on the conflict between Arendalis and Donnerstein.
2. Request a public audience with Baron Brendal to press him into ceding to creation of a centralized market.
1. [Pending.]
2. [2] Baron Brendal is unwilling to have a public audience with you, [5] but consents to a private audience readily. [4-1] The baron agrees with many of the points you raise, but seems unwilling to make more than minor concessions, especially concerning his own properties in the district.
As it turns out, Aveline has never heard of him. Not surprising, it's not like she's the king's spymaster. You mentally note that you actually have no idea who the spymaster is, which you suppose is the point. How will you proceed?
"Any idea who might have?"
A foray into Haegar territory... Axes vs a rapier. Great. At least I may be able to catch the infamous Troll hunter... and help
She shakes her head. Presumably you'll have to ask someone closer to the target's location.
Author
Topic: You are King III: Spring 938 AAL (Read 123997 times)