Pendragon
Role-Playing => Winter Phase => Topic started by: GM Craig on October 16, 2017, 08:27:55 PM
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Arne is improving under the constant care of Valka, but it takes some time for his health to return. When it does so, he seems more robust for what he went through. It is said by some that Northmen improve with scars, and that certainly seems to be the case for Arne.
The Northmen who worked as mercenaries fared not too badly, all things considered - enough to sustain the community for the winter. For the first time, the Northmen will not be beholden to Falt for aid and can pay their own way. There is even a little extra - £3 is handed over to Arne and Valka to do with as they wish.
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Arne grinned broadly as the warriors brought him and Valka no less than three libra as a gift to do with as they pleased. He'd already been pleased with their performance during the summer campaigns, but this gift was not only a sign of great respect, it was also a measure of the warriors' sense of responsibility to their people as a whole.
Looking at Valka and Holmg?r?r (her name didn't translate properly when we shifted sites), he clinked the coins down on the table and said, "So . . . we should honor our warriors for their bravery, honor and generosity in front of our people. But before wee see to that, let us speak of this money . . . I think we should use it to make our settlement better. What should we look at first?"
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Perhaps remarkably, Valka does not become pregnant, and your existing child survives the winter just fine.
With no horse herd to draw upon, you are a little worried, but any mounts you and your people had survive the winter, so you will not need to purchase replacements.
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It would also be customary to call on the new Lord of Falt to ensure that the previous arrangements were still satisfactory. A new lord means you are effectively squatting on his lands until you have formal permission to remain.
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It would also be customary to call on the new Lord of Falt to ensure that the previous arrangements were still satisfactory. A new lord means you are effectively squatting on his lands until you have formal permission to remain.
Guys, Want to RP that?
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Sure. Someone might want to remind Arne IC, though, that we should speak to Falt's new Steward first. ;)
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It would also be customary to call on the new Lord of Falt to ensure that the previous arrangements were still satisfactory. A new lord means you are effectively squatting on his lands until you have formal permission to remain.
Guys, Want to RP that?
I'm game.
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OOC: So . . . who'd like to remind Arne? Valka or the resident priestess? ;)
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Geoffry could also call on them himself. It would be a little bending of social protocol.
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(OOC: Oh, what the hell, I'll throw the first pitch . . .)
Arne idly rolled one of the coins on the top of the table, his mind already going over the different things they could use for their community. He felt a sense of relief that they didn't have to rely on Falt for support now; Sir Rodric . . . may Freya and Christ Jesus watch over him . . . and Lady Habren had already helped more than enough. If . . .
Arne's hand froze, and the Librum he'd been toying with fell over onto its companions with a dull clink. "I am stupid," he groused. "Here I make plans for the growth of our settlement, but this Lord Geoffrey is now the steward of these lands. Whatever agreement we may have had with Sir Rodric and Lady Habren was with them, not him."
He straightened, then rose slowly out of his chair. "Valka, we must send a messenger to Falt and ask Sir Geoffrey if we may meet with him there to speak of our settlement." He shrugged, and heaved a sigh. "He is within his rights to tell us to leave these lands, so we must prepare for that possibility."
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"This possibility filled my thoughts the entire trip home," she replied solemnly.
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Arne nodded wordlessly, and drummed his fingers on the table for a few moments before heading for the lodge's exit. Opening the door, he stepped outside into the bracing cold air . . . and took an involuntary step back as a small pack of shouting boys ran past, waging a running battle with practice swords and shields. Arne chuckled as he spotted the one in the lead that was shouting orders and insults, and he bellowed, "<Wulf! Come here!>"
The tow-headed boy came to a sudden halt upon hearing Arne's voice, and was nearly bowled over by his friend who was close on his heels. Wulf muttered a curse and gave the other boy a cuff on the head, and ran over to where Arne stood waiting. He came to attention a few paces before Arne, and slammed his sword against the front of his shield. "<Command me, chieftain!>"
Arne beamed with pride at the lad's demeanor. Wulf had been the one that had scoured the encampment for Arne the year before when Valka had gone into labor, and had been a . . . squire of sorts? . . . to the settlement's warriors, bringing them food and drink during the training sessions, and seeing to their mounts and gear. A first many of the warriors had looked upon him as an annoyance, but that feeling passed soon enough when they saw how serious the boy tended to his duties without being asked.
Heh . . . not so much a boy in his own mind. He's . . . what? Eleven now? But his sense of duty and responsibility makes him seem near my age. His parents raised him well. In another few years he'll be ready to take to the field.
Arne nodded in approval, and said, "<Can you ride a horse, Wulf?>"
Wulf nodded enthusiastically. "<I can, Arne! The warriors have let me practice on their mounts, and they say that I can ride one well.>" He hesitated, then flushed red and he muttered, <"I am having trouble hitting targets with a spear on horseback, though. But I practice to make myself better!>"
Arne chuckled. <"You're probably better than me with the damned things. Not the way we usually fight, but learning new skills does not hurt. Now, do you think you could remember a message in your head and repeat it to someone a day later?>"
Wulf's eyebrows furrowed in concentration for a few moments, then he nodded. "<I think so, Arne.>"
"<Good! Then come with me, Wulf. Valka and I need to send a message to the steward of Falt, and it might take some time to think of the right words. Once we agree on the message, we shall tell it to you, and you will repeat it to us. And again the day after. If you get it right, you shall be our messenger to the steward . . . and you may even pick one or two of the warriors to escort you there.>"
He watched the boy's face for any sign of fear, but if anything it only hardened in resolve at the task and honor offered to him. <"I will not fail you or Valka, Arne!>"
Arne clapped the boy on the shoulder and ushered him into the lodge. "<I have no fear of that, Wulf.>"
(OOC: Time for Valka, Arne and the priestess to hash over a message for Geoffrey. Who wants to go first?)
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(I think we should listen to what wisdom she has to offer first.ł
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The two of you track down Holmgærðr.
"I have little to offer. We are here at the will of the lord, and now that lord has changed. I would recommend a personal meeting. Send a messenger, and arrange an appointment. But perhaps we should be offering something for our keep - we lived a year on Sir Rodric's charity. That is a debt we should repay if we can. That may balance the scales when we speak with the new steward."
She looks from one to the other of you. "What do the two of you think?"
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Arne nodded slowly as he rubbed at his jaw. "I think that would be only proper, yes. It would show that we can be trusted, and it shows our gratitude, too." He frowned. "Do we have a tally of what we owe them? Our people were very generous with their gift to us of three Libra, and Valka and I both earned one each for our service last summer. Oh yes, and a libra gifted to us at our wedding. Will six Libra be enough?"
(OOC: Did we ever come to a decision about how the spoils of war would be divided?)
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[OOC: Sir Rodric spent ~£10 on you guys - setting you up, feeding you, providing you gear and homes, etc. I'm not sure if you guys would know that.]
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(OOC: I was looking for the old post, but I know that we planned on accounting for everything we owed Sir Rodric and Lady Habren the moment they accepted us on to their lands).
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"I was able to collect £2 from London and hopefully another in the spring. The shipshares are rightfully mine, I do not believe my father can touch it. So we can add that towards what we owe and deliver it assuming the new steward accepts a visit."
She looked to the elder. "As it would be a rather formal visit, should we bring Astrid? For Lady Habren, I mean. She helped bring her into the world and.. well. In our homeland I wouldn't even have to thing twice about it. Habren has become so dear to us."
(OOC: Let's skip the actual tally for now?)
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Arne and Valka were of a similar mind in regards to bringing Astrid along with them, but he waited to hear the priestess's counsel on the matter.
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Holmgærðr frowns. "I do not think so. This is a visit about business. If you wish to visit with the Lady, I would make that separate visit. We do not even know what the status of the lady is under the new lord. She may no longer be the lady of the manor."
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"Hm . . . I should have thought of that," Arne admitted reluctantly. "Yes, we know very little of this Sir Geoffrey. Best to play it safely this time. Holmgærðr, your counsel is wise, as always." He turned to his wife. "What say you, Valka? Holmgærðr has a good point. We could seek out a more social visit with Lady Habren another time. Hopefully soon."
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You send a messenger to the manor to request a meeting with Sir Geoffrey. Your messenger is sent back without an answer - a somewhat cool response, but nothing to get alarmed about. About an hour later, a servant arrives from the manor.
The servant bows. "The Lady Habren will meet with you this afternoon at the Manor. Sir Geoffrey declared that Lady Habren will serve as Steward of Falt, and he has referred your request to her to deal with. The Lady Habren asks you to come prepared to discuss repayment of the generosity shown to you by Falt in the past, and of ongoing taxation to reimburse Falt for your continued use of these lands."
The servant bows and waits for a response.
Holmgærðr frowns. "Well, that answers one of our questions."
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Arne nodded, and replied, "Yes . . . and perhaps we should still bring Astrid on another visit. Even though we will be speaking with Lady Habren this time, it will still be about business."
He turned and nodded to the servant. "Very well, sir, we shall of course meet with Lady Habren as she has requested. Do you need to return to the manor now, or could we offer you our hospitality by way of food and drink first?"
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"Thank you, sir, no. I need to get back to the manor."
[Any discussion before you go?]
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(OOC: I'll wait for Valka and/or Holmgærðr if they want to discuss anything.)
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Holmgærðr has nothing to add.
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Valka frowns as well. "This does not bode well. We were going to anyway, but being told to repay does not allow us the chance to be forthcoming with it."
(Im set)
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The three of you make your way to the manor at the appointed time, and are quickly brought in to see Lady Habren. She rises and greets you formally, but there seems to be genuine pleasure at seeing you in her eyes.
"I am sorry for the recent silence from the manor. I have come to think of you and your people fondly. However, Sir Geoffrey is lord and master now, and everything here must come from him. He has allowed me to remain at the manor, and to continue to serve as steward. In that capacity, I have been instructed to tell you that he is aware of the arrangements Sir Rodric made will hold, and you can remain on these lands. To compensate the manor for the lost ground, you will be expected to provide one libram annually as taxes. Regarding the past expenditures on your behalf, Sir Geoffrey will consider the accounts balanced by the payment of 2 libra and 120 denari."
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Arne was completely taken aback at Lady Habren's - to be more precise, Sir Geoffrey's - value of their recompense to the manor. He knew full well that the upkeep of the Nord settlement cost far more than two and a half Libra; in actuality it was closer to ten. He shot an incredulous look at his wife, then turned his attention back to Lady Habren with a puzzled smile.
"Lady Habren . . . such a payment is, well, far more than fair! We know that you and Sir Rodric spent about ten Libra to help our people last year, and Valka and I would be more than happy and honored to repay that generosity." He hesitated, then added with an apologetic tone, "We are new to these lands and would not wish to offend you through our ignorance, Lady Habren, but would you honor us by instead accepting, say, eight Libra to settle . . . past expenditures?"
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She gets a stern look on her face.
"The word of the lord of the manor is law, in these lands that is Sir Geoffrey. If he says you owe two and a half libra, then that is what you owe. To repay more would defy his will in the matter."
With a softer tone, she adds, "Sir Geoffrey will be satisfied with two and a half, and that is his will in the matter. I urge you to accept it, or he may become offended and reconsider the entire amount. If you really feel that is insufficient and cannot accept this generosity as it stands for reasons of honour, perhaps you could give Sir Geoffrey a suitable gift next Christmas. If it will salve your honour, the service of your people has raised the profile of Falt. Such actions are not without benefit to Sir Geoffrey. He may have weighed that in his calculations."
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Arne weighed her words carefully, then nodded with a grin. "You are very wise, Lady Habren. It is not our wish to insult Sir Geoffrey, and you even less so. That we have made Falt shine even a little bit brighter is honor enough for us. Two and a half Libra for past expenditures, and a Librum a year for taxes it shall be."
(OOC: Arne will pay 3£ and 120 d. to Lady Habren to cover the expenditures and taxes for the upcoming year. Geoffrey can add that amount now to his CS.)