The Northmen of Falt, Winter 488

[GM Craig]

[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.]

[Arne]

(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).

[Valka]

"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?)

[Arne]

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.

[GM Craig]

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."

[Arne]

"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."

[GM Craig]

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."

[Arne]

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?"

[GM Craig]

"Thank you, sir, no. I need to get back to the manor."

[Any discussion before you go?]

[Arne]

(OOC:  I'll wait for Valka and/or Holmgærðr if they want to discuss anything.)

[GM Craig]

Holmgærðr has nothing to add.

[Valka]

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)

[GM Craig]

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."

[Arne]

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?"

[GM Craig]

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."