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[Glass]

Once we have more money, and have it reliably, then we can start establishing stuff like the workshop - and that's assuming that people won't be establishing themselves independently of us, which they will if there's any sort of market for it.

[King Zultan]

A

[Cnidaros]

TURNTURNTURN
It's time to invest in some businesses, you think. Get that gold working for you, instead of the other way around (not that you really worked for this gold). You spend a few days poking around Tyneton, getting a feel for the local economy before you commit that gold.

7

You get a rather good sensing of the town's business. It's primarily agricultural, with the farmers from the outlying villages coming to town for the weekly market to sell their produce for coin, and buy goods such as farming tools, furniture and the like. Your Tax Collector informs you that this is where taxes are collected from the village households, to ensure that it's paid in coin and not in goods.

More interesting is the actual trade. Tyneton sees some amount of trade in the north-south direction, primarily in luxury goods such as fine fabrics, silks and furs, mirrors and lenses, which come from the north, from Duke Wolstan's town of Wolstead, and further from the capital of Solfast, which is a bustling port on the Shattered Firth. These goods are shipped south to the landlocked Kingdom of Marchion, in exchange for coin and rare herbs, which is Marchion's only export of note. Tyneton is a semi-important stop on this route, because the river Goych becomes impassable to barge traffic at the fords near the Ardell Forest, so merchants disembark their cargo here and switch to horse-drawn wagons and the like instead, to go south by road.

With all that said, the trade volume really isn't that much to boast about. Perhaps three or four wagon-loads a day. With your superior Economics knowledge, you figure out a few reasons why. The first is that high tolls are charged at the border, rendering most goods unprofitable to transport, except for luxury goods. This seems like a political problem. The second is that Marchion isn't a very rich kingdom in general, so the demand for luxury goods isn't high. The third is that the road south isn't in good condition - in some parts of the Ardell Forest, it isn't even wide enough for two wagons to pass. Might be fixable with some public works. Finally, you also hear tell of a separate trade route for metals, coming from Countess Muire's lands in the northwest, and passing through Belvik-hund and Merclefield on its way south, which unfortunately bypasses Tyneton.

You decide to invest in a few selected businesses in town. The first is Adalm's Smithy, which makes iron nails, horseshoes, plows, and other metal items alike for farmers, thus doing good business. The second is Wulfgar & Sons Wagonry, which as the name suggests, makes wagons and carts for the trade south, which is a consistent, if not large source of income that might improve as the trade volume does. The final business you invest in is Delwyn's Woodworking, a carpentry shop that takes lumber from the east and makes furniture and other wooden items for the town.

In total, you invest 6 gold in these businesses, hopefully spurring further growth in the town in general. Your treasury now stands at 11 gold.

632 AS, Late Spring

Your Spymaster gives you a quick rundown of the gossip from abroad. The Margraviate of Niederstadt is once again accusing the Republic of Seinäjärvi of sponsoring piracy against its trade fleets in the White Sea, and is mustering a fleet to retaliate. Various leaders of the Elves of the West are meeting on the Elder Sister, for purposes unknown. In the East, a prince of the Polonian Empire is gathering a massive expedition into the Longshadow, which is met with general ridicule.

The tax caravan north is about to depart, with a sizable guard to protect it from any brigands. Seeing the men pack for the trip, you're seized with the urge to adventure further afield. Where will you go?

A) Explore that 'haunted' tower in Dwyndon Woods
B) Visit Countess Muire to the northwest
C) Visit Count Vray to the east
D) Follow the tax caravan to visit Duke Wolstan to the north
E) Venture south across the border into the Kingdom of Marchion
F) Stay at home, build better relations with the wife

[King Zultan]

A

[Rockeater]

A

[mightymushroom]

F
I mean, at this point we know nothing except her name and her cousin's name. If she has any talents we can (ought to) employ, let's learn them.

[Glass]

F
I mean, at this point we know nothing except her name and her cousin's name. If she has any talents we can (ought to) employ, let's learn them.

+1.

The tower isn't going anywhere, people.

[Rockeater]

Fair

[Nirur Torir]

D

Our liege-lord thinks we stole our vassal's land, probably because the former baron's brother is with him. This diplomacy problem is our only pressing threat, so we should finish dealing with it at the earliest chance.

[Naturegirl1999]

A

[Glass]

D

Our liege-lord thinks we stole our vassal's land, probably because the former baron's brother is with him. This diplomacy problem is our only pressing threat, so we should finish dealing with it at the earliest chance.

Shit, right. I missed what this option was.
+1, we need to get this cleared up.

[Rockeater]

D

Our liege-lord thinks we stole our vassal's land, probably because the former baron's brother is with him. This diplomacy problem is our only pressing threat, so we should finish dealing with it at the earliest chance.

Shit, right. I missed what this option was.
+1, we need to get this cleared up.

Why making decision is so hard +1

[Cnidaros]

TURNTURNTURN
At the last moment, you decide to join the tax caravan on its way north to visit Duke Wolstan. It's about four days' ride north to his seat of Wolstead, but it'll be more like a week's travel now, with the heavily loaded carts and the footmen escort. Your Tax Collector also comes along on this journey, perhaps to see the fruits of her efforts.

On the road, you observe the surroundings from horseback. The terrain becomes less hilly as you move northwards, transitioning into fertile farmlands along the banks of the river Goych. From what the guards tell you, Wolstead is located where the river Goych joins the larger river Raisne.

You also take the time to visit some of the villages that are close to the road and speak with the people. From what they tell you, Duke Wolstan isn't one to bestir himself from his castle - besides your wedding a month ago, the last time he ventured out was for a meeting with the King nearly half a year before that. His heir, Wynden, is older than you are, in his forties, with wife and children already. He's been handling most of the day-to-day business of rulership, and there are rumours of tension between him and his father. The farmers also tell you that generally, Wolstead is known for its woollen industry, with spinning and weaving of the wool giving the town its name.

One of the villages tells you something interesting, though. The villagers complain of a lair of bandits hiding out in a small section of the woods, a few hours from the main road. They say that bandits from there have been preying on passing merchants, extorting passage fees from them. Your caravan is far too well guarded for them to confront, and likely the bandits wouldn't even dare attack a tax caravan for fear of swift retaliation from the lords. However, this also means that you have the men to do something about it. If you take too many men away from the caravan though, you'll have to halt it in a defensible position.

A) Go investigate this bandit lair alone
B) Investigate this bandit lair with a small contingent of guards
C) Investigate this bandit lair with a large contingent of guards (halts the caravan)
D) Ignore it for now and continue moving.

[Rockeater]

D, we can handle this on the way back

[Glass]

Here's an idea: we try to hide about half of the guards, and lure the bandits into the trap of attacking a heavily-guarded caravan.