>>5422744

The goblin chieftain sighted and agreed, sitting near the fire he began to tell.

-There once was a time, before our father, our grandfathers and great grandfathers were born, even before some of the oldest dark elves were born, we do not know exactly how many years it was since we do not have a calendar and we do not know how to read but it was a long time ago. At this time this fortress and all the forces of Evil who are more or less organised were not ruled by B'beg the Terrible...

Everyone looked around, uneased by this name that instilled fear into goblin bellies, this organ being considered the center of their emotions. Shitbag continued, not caring about it.

-But by another being, he was wise and powerful, incredibly evil and strong, and we, the Snaga tribe were created, bred by him to be his favourite servants. We did not live in these gloomy caves, no, we lived near the hot volcanic hearth of the fortress, we served at his banquets, and stole a bit too, nobody knew famine or mistreatment. Oh, of course sometimes he got bored and kicked one of us through the window because he spilled the drink or the potion that he had to carry but it was in good sport. Nobody dared beat us, not the orcs, not the dark elves, not the Duergar, not the green goblins, the yellow goblins and the black goblins. No, they all feared the Master and knew that we protected him...
Unfortunately the Master, even if he was properly evil as he should be, taught his art to his apprentice whom he trusted too much. The apprentice betrayed him, took his throne from him and imprisoned him since he could not kill an immortal being like the Master, after all what use is immortality if you could be killed ? And since we were his most loyal servants we got exiled, punished for supporting him and trying to stop the rebels... And we have no more warm rooms, no more access to the evil lord's own kitchen no more luxurious spoils of war like copper saucepans that we can use as helmets, we never get any loot and we are sent to those terrible, terrible caves. But worse, the new master, B'beg the Terrible, deprived our people of magic to punish us, he deprived us of visions of the ancestors, and of the master, he did not want us to be able to communicate with him. So we truly lost all, all but the will to survive to see the Master back and some old tales that I am telling you. We have still shamans like Dumbgit but they have no visions at all....

The goblin children wept at this tale but one of them asked.

-But... War Chief, how could we remember anything about the Master since it was so long ago, how could the tales not be lost since we..

-Shut up it's magi...

The warchief was interrupted by a runner, a small Snaga with gigantic ears who wore an eyepatch, he told.

-Warchief, warchief, the shaman has had a vision !

>>5422750

A vision ? Was it a sort of jape, everyone thought that unbelievable and Shitbag was followed by half the tribe when he began to walk towards the shaman's hut. Effectively, strange songs and eerie lights came out of his tent and he smelled the odor of some kinds of mushrooms that helped to bring the necessary clarity to a shaman's mind to manage to have a vision. He then heard distinctly a voice coming from the tent, not a goblin's voice but a powerful, manly voice that irradiated majesty with a certain cruel undertone it clearly said, to the astonishment of the Snagas who began kneeling before it.

-You, the wrinkled one with the cape, enter the tent, I have to talk to you.

It would be hard to describe the emotions of Shitbag, his people had waited for many millennia and here, now, it was him who had to receive news from the Master... Or maybe it was all a cruel joke devised by some bored evil sorcerer, no, they ignored the stories, only B'beg and some people in his inner circle knew it and...

-Do not make me wait, runt.

He quickly entered the tent, telling humbly and bowing his head.

-The worm that I am is sorry, beloved oppressor. It is just, more than all we expected and....

When he had an answer he saw that it was the Shaman speaking, but his eyes were closed, he didn't use his voice and an eerie blue light came from his mouth. He talked less loudly than the last time, only the chief had to hear what was said.

-Yes, yes, I know, I am back after twelve millennia and it is the greatest thing that happened in all those times. Nothing new under the sun, mortals are easily impressed. But yes, we live truly exciting times...

-But omnipotent dark lord, how, and why now how can...

-Do you dare questioning my choices, vermin ?

-Nnnnnn-no, most feared tyrant, I was just...

-Enough, we live exciting times, the prophecies of old do not mean nothing anymore and so my spirit could roam free without needing to fulfill one of them ! I shall prepare my vengeance against the treacherous wretches who turned their backs on me ! And you will be a capital instrument in it ! If I could not act I had time to watch, and what I saw was interesting.

-Does it means that... That you will lead us anew, glorious Master ?

-No ! I spent twelve millennia without the ability to interact with the world, if I was mortal I would probably be completely mad by now. You think that I want to spend time with half starved stinky goblins like you ? I deserve two or three centuries of vacations. With a beach and dark elf bitches, for some time until I regain my corporeal form.

Shitbag was kneeling, and too afraid to say anything while his Master continued.

>>5422755

-I know how all those prophecies came to an end, of course it will be too hard to understand for your peanut sized brains but I have bred you to be loyal and funny, not to conduct magical researches. I want you to go to a crappy place, in Bifuria, whose name has changed from Lorcal to Local. Understood ? There you will find a goblin shaman, inside him there is a spirit, The spirit of a boy king, I want you to obey this spirit as you obey me for the next 200 years. Understood.

-Y... Yes master...

-Good, then I will leave this awful place and advise you to do the same quickly if you do not want to fear my wrath ! You should already be travelling.

And with those words the shaman gasped and opened his eyes, the light coming from his mouth became extinct and he looked a bit lost.

The war chief asked him.

-Dumbgit, Dumbgit... Are you... Back, was, the Master, inhabiting your body ? You were speaking with a strange voice and glowing like a firefly.

The goblin shaman looked at him strangely, and then nodded his head, answering.

-Yes... yes... I remember not what was said but... But he sent me a vision... I had a vision ! Finally ! I HAD A VISION ! Hahahaha !

He fled from the tent in manic laughter, Shitbag on it's tail and all the goblins looked at him wanting to know what the Master said but instead the shaman mumbled.

-A yellow banner, with a black eagle, with two heads looking right and left ! And another one with three lions ! Human banners yes ! And huge castles and....

He began pointing at the bewildered snagas who understood nothing.

-You will be a Reichsritter, you will be the burgmeister of an Hanseatic town and you... You war chief will be a markgraf ! Yes yes !

File: Your brave peasantry.jpg (26 KB, 280x280)

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>>5422755

MEANWHILE IN LOCAL :

Meanwhile in Local you were trying to remain calm while some peasants were reporting to you how they managed to lose the bard and the Schamann. The speaker was a bearded peasant with an aquiline nose called Badomen. He seemed to not suffer from smallpox or other diseases.

-I told to raise all the village and you were not able to catch two men ?

-B..b...but my lord, they had magic and we feared pursuing them in the dark and Brainlet lost his footing and fell into the river while pursuing them, he frowned... And they stole a rowing boat before fleeing...

-What a bunch of imbeciles... Now we have to worry about his return to his guild...

-Hum, yes, and our friends Outre and Ageous fell during the night, one broke his leg, the other his finger. They ask from compensation from you my lord since they said that you sent them and...

-ENOUGH ! I shall not suffer your stupidity anymore and for those two idiots...

>I shall have their tongues removed so they stop to complain.
>I shall cut their hands as thieves.
>I shall remind them that they voluntarily participated in the chass to gain 3 gold coins.
>Give them something because at least they tried to help.
>I shall remind you all that the only due reward was if you caught the two bastards and you accepted the risks. (Rulership test)

You had a wonderful night where Lady Takable and you had interesting conversations and you thought that your idiotic villeins would be able to catch a cowardly minstrel and a German dwarf. How could the peasantry be so numerous but so incompetent at the same time... You tried to calm yourself thinking that it was your duty before the Lord to take care of this people who would not be able to do anything without a nobleman first ordering it. You dismissed the peasants and then received good news, at least, from one of your guardsmen.

-My lord ! Bohémond is back !

That was wonderful news, Bohémond was with brother Louis and captain Crumbling though, and 15 soldiers who had to chase the brigands from your village of Otherone. You asked to see him and the young knight quickly came, he seemed to be winded and he politely bowed his head when he saw you.

-Monseigneur, our men have came before the brigands left, there were 40 of them and they were well armed, I came here to ask for reinforcements. Brother Louis and Captain Crumbling are pursuing them.

Reinforcements ? You had not enough of them. Instead you asked.

-How was the village ? They killed and pillaged a lot ?

-Monseigneur, it was strange, the peasants talked about a really huge man leading the brigands, and they seemed to have killed nobody, simply beaten the peasantry into submission and taken everything precious, they took the livestock and the money of the inhabitants. They burned the barn but not a lot of homes. They came here on horses but since they have taken the livestock they have been going more slowly.

>>5422767

It was unexpected, very unexpected indeed, but then you understood, these men were probably Baron's men, and this huge man was probably Brutus Enforcer, his guard's captain. They must have been quite organised troops. They were here to distract you and weaken you while those wall climbers tried to kill you. Once you were dead and Lady Takable would be given back to the baron he would, as your liege lord, inherit your lands. There was no need for him to kill his future taxpayers. So you had 40 well armed cavalrymen who left your village... What to do ?

>Send all your troops to support the effort. You need to destroy those knaves.
>Even if the indian troops seem to be poorly trained you would not risk your men who are still partly inexperienced in a fight of 35 footmen against 40 cavalry. And you need some men to guard your keep. Order Bohémond to call back your troops.
>Other (write in)

>>5422767
It's back! Yes!

>I shall remind you all that the only due reward was if you caught the two bastards and you accepted the risks. (Rulership test)
Peasants, always begging for things even in failure.

>Even if the indian troops seem to be poorly trained you would not risk your men who are still partly inexperienced in a fight of 35 footmen against 40 cavalry. And you need some men to guard your keep. Order Bohémond to call back your troops.

I don't think this is winnable with our current men. On the bright side, we'll possibly gain a couple men by virtue of angry sons and fathers

>>5422769
>I shall remind you all that the only due reward was if you caught the two bastards and you accepted the risks.
>Even if the indian troops seem to be poorly trained you would not risk your men who are still partly inexperienced in a fight of 35 footmen against 40 cavalry. And you need some men to guard your keep. Order Bohémond to call back your troops.
>Other : Study the terrain, maybe there is a strategic place to lure these cavalry to take them down before they realize their weak German intelligence

Welcome dear MJ! I have no doubt that your precious holidays have given you plenty of ideas for our very dear Local Lord who only wants the good of his people, that future enemies tremble before him.

PS: I don't know roll, if someone wants to do it for me I would be grateful (I don't have very low German intelligence!)

>>5422777
>>5422782

Thank you good sirs, roll rulership please to convince those villeins that you know best what is good for them.

Rolled 46 (1d100)

>>5422787

Rolled 15 (1d100)

>>5422787

Rolled 46 (1d100)

>>5422787

Rolled 36 (1d100)

>>5422787
Welcome back, QM!

File: The letter.jpg (28 KB, 632x332)

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>>5422789
>>5422791
>>5422822

I took the three first rolls and you have an average of 35,7 for a rulership value of 36 ! Congratulations !

>>5422831

Thank you good sir.

>>5422769
>>5422777

You looked at the peasants and talked, and the simple fact that you looked sternly at your subjects made them shiver and be uncomfortable. The guilt of trying to steal from you, and of not managing to catch two men made them look at their feet and they understood what was wrong. It was like this, by persuasion and charisma, that you wanted to rule your lands. You wanted to be a stern but just lord like your father. The peasants understood that they would have been rewarded if they caught the criminals, and that you had not to pay for their injuries, the guilty party were those damned "adventurers" and the small green skinned ghibelline.

Then there was the question of your pursuit of the bandits, whom you greatly suspected being Baron's Crook soldiers. Unfortunately the odds were not in your favour. You had infantry, they had cavalry, so they could avoid the battle in the plains that made the greater part of your lands. And in plains they would simply charge and destroy your men, spears or not. Your experience in warfare made you understand that infantry was worth nothing, it was simply composed of peasants or routiers and other mercenaries that were broken simply by seeing a wall of lances and bright cuirasses charging at them on powerful warhorses. They fled like sparrows against a charge and even if the Indian cavalry seemed to be far less formidable than your friends from the ban of Champagne you did not doubted that with numerical advantage they would win against your infantry. You quickly told your soldier to send a message to Bohémond and order him to bring back the men of Brother Louis and Captain Crumbling, they were outnumbered and might be destroyed by a charge. They must not pursue.

This decision broke your hearth, or it would have broken it if you would have been a southron weakling who showed his emotions to everyone and exaggerated them. But you were a knight from a langue d'oïl province and so you stayed stoic and canalised your emotions into a cold anger. The fact that you were attacked and could not punish those responsible with fire and sword was terribly frustrating. Your broken ankle did nothing to arrange this, fortunately you had only three days until it would be totally healed and you could walk again. Only the tender displays of affection of Lady Takable managed to appease you.

>>5423078

You had decided to write to Count Careless, you needed to tell him about the attempt on your life and to ask for his benediction for a marriage between Lady Takable and you. You had to write the letter well, and to send a messenger that will be loyal. Since you were not able to read and write, even if you were learning, you were helped by your wise councillor, Oldfossil, who was writing your thoughts and adding suggestions.

-Let us begin by citing his titles, Count Careless, or even write "my liege"

-Knowing the count he would not care my lord, but we should write something about the old lord Random, he was a good friend of Count Careless.

-That is a good idea dear Oldfossil. We will write about him... Then we will...

>Tell him the full story of your misadventures with the Baron Crook, beginning with the duel against Lord Hostil and why you suspect the baron of having attacked our lands and tried to kill me. We lack tangible proofs to prove his involvement but we will try to be convincing.
>Tell him the full story of your misadventures with the Baron Crook, beginning with the duel against Lord Hostil and why we suspect the baron of having attacked our lands and tried to kill me. We lack tangible proofs but we can invent some, like a false note that we will say we took from the dead goat.
>Tell him the full story of your misadventures with the Baron Crook, beginning with the duel against Lord Hostil and why we suspect the baron of having attacked our lands and tried to kill me. We lack tangible proofs but we can say that we have and we will show them when we will see the count in person.
>Tell him a short story of your misadventures with Baron Crook and tell why we suspect the baron of having attacked our lands and trying to kill me. We lack tangible proofs to prove his involvement but we will try to be convincing.
>Tell him a short story of your misadventures with Baron Crook and tell why we suspect the baron of having attacked our lands and trying to kill me. We lack tangible proofs but we can invent some, like a false note that we will say we took from the dead goat.
>Tell him a short story of your misadventures with Baron Crook and tell why we suspect the baron of having attacked our lands and trying to kill me. We lack tangible proofs but we can say that we have and we will show them when we will see the count in person.
>Other (write in)

You continued, deciding to write about the mariage, but how to explain it...

>>5423082

>Write that lady Takable wanted to visit you, because you were close, and even if she was wrong to come to you without an authorisation of her tutor, the baron, it was not a reason for him to send men to kill you and take her to his castle by force. Tell that you wish to marry her to protect her and that you love each other. Appeal to his reason and logic.
>Write that lady Takable feared the baron and chose to flee towards you for love. Maybe the count has a soft hearth and would understand.
>Let Lady Takable write something too about our mariage, she said that the count knew her and liked her, he would maybe listen to her. Maybe he is the kind of man who listens to women's opinions.
>Other (write in)

Then you could add other things.

>Write about Lord Random, and how you hope to be worthy of him as the new Local Lord. Tell that you would like to know more about this relative that you never knew from his friends, like the Count.
>Praise count Careless and his wisdom, a little bit of flattery is always good.
>Ask the permission to visit the Count's Castle to speak to him about all of this.
>Other (Write in)

>Ask Oldfossil what else should you write and ask advice on what should you be writing.

Then you needed someone to carry your letter, you will probably have to cross baronial lands to manage to bring it to the count.

>Send Ancel, he is clever and could avoid being followed, even if he is not very presentable.
>Send Bohémond, he is young, courteous and a fine knight, he will give you a good image at the count's court.
>Send Cop, he is a loyal sergeant and could be a good messenger but he is a simple man at arms, he could do the job but no diplomacy.
>Send one of Cop's sons, they are loyal and could probably ride faster than their older father. But they are simple soldiers and less experienced against eventual traps on the road.
>Send Brother Louis, the Templar has already travelled to pleasantville and is courteous even if the last time he travelled he gravely injured two men.
>Send Godefroy, the old knight looks worse than Bohémond but he is an experienced man, he would know what to do.
>Send Captain Crumbling, he is old but knows the count and the roads.
>Send one of Lady Takable's men, to not be suspected.
>Send an escort of four riders with your messenger.
>Order your men to disguise themselves while travelling to avoid being ambushed on the road.
>Other (write in)

======

>>5423083

You gain +1 mudcore from not compensating the injured villeins and affirming your rights over the peasantry. And please roll an intrigue roll for the letter, your choices will give bonuses or maluses to the roll to convince the Count to defend you (if the letter comes to him of course).

Your new stats :

Charles de Villeroi

Class : Local Lord
Level : 3
XP : 295 (next level at 450)

Stats

Combat : 51%
Intrigue : 25%
Rulership: 36%

Piety : 40

Mudcore : 38+1 = 39

With 39 Mudcore you have a bigger field of gritty realism around you, in this field the most heavy magic will not work and supernatural abilities will not work, oh, and women will lose 4 pounds of strength of course, plus in the field the people that obey you will act more like they would be in a dark fantasy setting. New illnesses will appear too around you, but the Mudcore that you have brought upon this world will make a new companion appear.
Next level at 40, at 40 mudcore you would be able to "specialise" this ability and choose one of the three paths proposed.

Talents
-Cavalry Commander : +20 to martial when you have to lead a cavalry charge or a cavalry attack. Works only when commanding shock or melee cavalry mounted on horses.
-Foreign Etiquette : You focus on learning Indian etiquette with Oldfossil, you gain a +10 bonus in intrigue in your interactions with the nobility of your duchy.
-Dumbstruck by Lady Takable : you are convinced that you are not able to fool Lady Takable after your double critical failure, you have -10 intrigue when you try to manipulate her

>>5423082
>Tell him a short story of your misadventures with Baron Crook and tell why we suspect the baron of having attacked our lands and trying to kill me. We lack tangible proofs to prove his involvement but we will try to be convincing.

>Write that lady Takable wanted to visit you, because you were close, and even if she was wrong to come to you without an authorisation of her tutor, the baron, it was not a reason for him to send men to kill you and take her to his castle by force. Tell that you wish to marry her to protect her and that you love each other. Appeal to his reason and logic.

>Write about Lord Random, and how you hope to be worthy of him as the new Local Lord. Tell that you would like to know more about this relative that you never knew from his friends, like the Count.
>Ask the permission to visit the Count's Castle to speak to him about all of this.

>Send Bohémond, he is young, courteous and a fine knight, he will give you a good image at the count's court.
>Order your men to disguise themselves while travelling to avoid being ambushed on the road.

Rolled 68 (1d100)

>>5423082
>Tell him the full story of your misadventures with the Baron Crook, beginning with the duel against Lord Hostil and why you suspect the baron of having attacked our lands and tried to kill me. We lack tangible proofs to prove his involvement but we will try to be convincing.

>Write that lady Takable feared the baron and chose to flee towards you for love. Maybe the count has a soft hearth and would understand.

>Write about Lord Random, and how you hope to be worthy of him as the new Local Lord. Tell that you would like to know more about this relative that you never knew from his friends, like the Count.

>Send Bohémond, he is young, courteous and a fine knight, he will give you a good image at the count's court.
>Order your men to disguise themselves while traveling to avoid being ambushed on the road.

>>5423087
We're close to 40 mudcore, I'm excited!

>>5423082
>Tell him a short story of your misadventures with Baron Crook and tell why we suspect the baron of having attacked our lands and trying to kill me. We lack tangible proofs to prove his involvement but we will try to be convincing.
>Write that lady Takable feared the baron and chose to flee towards you for love. Maybe the count has a soft hearth and would understand.
>Write about Lord Random, and how you hope to be worthy of him as the new Local Lord. Tell that you would like to know more about this relative that you never knew from his friends, like the Count.
>Send Bohémond, he is young, courteous and a fine knight, he will give you a good image at the count's court.
>Order your men to disguise themselves while travelling to avoid being ambushed on the road.
Damn these votes be longer than the update

>>5422744
Any link to the previous threads?

Rolled 58 (1d100)

>>5423082
>>Tell him the full story of your misadventures with the Baron Crook, beginning with the duel against Lord Hostil and why we suspect the baron of having attacked our lands and tried to kill me. We lack tangible proofs but we can invent some, like a false note that we will say we took from the dead goat.

>Write that lady Takable wanted to visit you, because you were close, and even if she was wrong to come to you without an authorisation of her tutor, the baron, it was not a reason for him to send men to kill you and take her to his castle by force. Tell that you wish to marry her to protect her and that you love each other. Appeal to his reason and logic.

>Praise count Careless and his wisdom, a little bit of flattery is always good.

>Send Brother Louis, the Templar has already travelled to pleasantville and is courteous even if the last time he travelled he gravely injured two men.


Almost to 40

>>5423405

Of course good sir, here are the links :

Thread 1 : >https://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/qstarchive/2022/5085315/

Thread 2 : >https://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/qstarchive/2022/5134375/

Thread 3 : >https://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/qstarchive/2022/5194246/

Thread 4 :

>https://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/qstarchive/2022/5314154/

>>5423095
>>5423195

If you could roll gentlemen, I will take the average of the first three rolls.

>>5423124

You are right to be, the choice made at 40 mudcore will probably influence all the game.

Rolled 74 (1d100)

>>5423551

Rolled 27 (1d100)

>>5423551
pollen

>>5423095
>>5423124
>>5423195
>>5423405
>>5423520
>>5423578
>>5423590

Currently writing but we still have a tie between short story and long story and between appezaling to the reason of the count or telling him a love story to appeal to his emotions.

I will need a tie breaker before posting the update.

>>5423095

+1

>>5423095
>>5423124
>>5423195
>>5423405
>>5423520
>>5423578
>>5423590
>>5424392

At the end your letter to the count you ordered Oldfossil to reread it, you choose to write a short story proving the crimes of baron Crook because you supposed that the count would not have a lot of time and even if you lacked proofs of the misdeeds of the Baron you did not doubted that you were quite convincing. Then you wrote about lady Takable, and your future mariage, explaining how she got in your castle and why you should marry her then you praised Lord Random, trying to make the Count remember about his old friend. You then sent Bohémond to send the message, unfortunately he was known by the baron's men since he came with you to Someplace so you ordered him to disguise himself. He seemed not very appealed by the idea.

-But, monseigneur, how should I disguise myself, I will not pass as a monk and I do not even know if Indians have monasteries in their lands... or a pilgrim perhaps but I ignore how... And I do not know where to go to travel to Pleasantville, I have never been there and...

-I will find a solution try to be disguised as... I know, an adventurer, they are seen as travelling everywhere. And maybe we have someone who could travel with you...

Oldfossil suggested one thing.

-Adventurers come often from different background, we could send our only elven guardman, Gardasil, unlike dwarves he can ride a horse. And he knows the road to Pleasantville.

-Excellent, you will travel together with Gardasil, prepare your horses.

-Now monseigneur, but I...

-We do not have time to lose ! The baron has sacked one of my villages and he will probably complain to the count about Lady Takable since his attack failed. You must go there first !

The man understood, probably because he was becoming closer and closer to the handmaiden of your future wife and because he knew that you could be quite terrible when your wrath fell upon him. Heh, he was a good knight but when you were angry you had an habit of going hard on the training yard and in those times he rarely managed to score a point while you pummelled him with your axe. With this you ended the day with a good dinner in even better company. Unfortunately problems would catch up to you the next morning.

File: Otherone.jpg (13 KB, 290x207)

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>>5424413

A delegation of peasants from Otherone came, there were fathers, mothers, young children and even a very old man with a cane that was probably the village elder. You ordered your men to carry yourself in your great hall and to let those peasant enter. They looked miserable and were dressed in rags, some of them showed signs of having been beaten up. Most of the people looked like peasants from France, but there was a short scotsman in their midst and a female who had ears less pointed than a guelph but still more than it should be to be natural, maybe her mother stretched her ears when she was a babe, it was maybe an indian custom, and one family, including the elder, seemed to be very swarthy. You thought they were saracens and when the old man had to advance towards your throne to speak you told.

-Come forth, Saracen, explain me your plights.

The man answered in a strange melodious accent.

-Saracen ? My lord I am but Ishaan Devi, owner of the Pondichéry farm and village elder of Otherone. I never heard of saracens...

-And I never heard of such strange names during all my stay in India, but come forth Ishaan Devi and speak for my subjects.

He bowed, advancing slowly, and explained.

-My lord, we were attacked, as you know, by brigands, fortunately your brave men came before they could kill us all but they stole all our livestock, burned three houses and the communal barn, and they beaten us until we gave them all our saved money... They even broke the legs of my cousin when they saw that he had only silver and not gold, they thought that he was too rich... We could rebuild, of course, but any help from you would be very welcome my lord...

Ah, it was this then, peasants wanted two things, food and money, they thought that their lords were a source of both in difficult times when in fact THEY should pay taxes and money to their liege. And peasants with gold ? Yes... You remembered that they were rich here and that everyone paid in gold coins, it was very strange, and when all the gold got changed into silver, of course it affected the peasantry as much as you. Everyone looked at you to decide what to do, your councillors, Lady Takable too, you had to make a good decision. You did not bother to listen to the sad words of Ishaan Devi about his destroyed village, instead thinking of an answer. Some lords lessened temporarily the taxes on their subjects when they were struck by some disaster but it was hard to raise them again, the people grew fat and did not understood the meaning of the world "temporarly" at the same time it would be pious to give some money to those peasants, but you had not a lot left.

>>5424414

What do you answer ?

>I shall give 100 gold coins to the peasants of Otherone, it is not much but it shall help you and your families.
>The inhabitants of Otherone will pay 10% less taxes next year, you will need to rebuild your homes.
>My men already saved your lives by making the bandits flee, I am not here to give money, I offer protection.
>You dare asking for money when my soldiers risked their lives to save yours ! Begone before I order you to be whipped !
>Dear Oldfossil, tell me, what is the custom in such cases ?
>You were not attacked by bandits, but men of Baron Crook in disguise, I will seek justice before count Careless for you and I will not forget you. I will make those evil men pay.
>Other (write in)

Choose one choice please.

>>5424414
>Inhabitants of Otherone will receive 10% tax returns for the next year, to rebuild their homes!

>>5424416
>>The inhabitants of Otherone will pay 10% less taxes next year, you will need to rebuild your homes.

>>5424416
>The inhabitants of Otherone will pay 10% less taxes next year, you will need to rebuild your homes.

If they refuse to return to the normal rate after the year is over, we'll have the manpower to force them by then

>>5424416
>>The inhabitants of Otherone will pay 10% less taxes next year, you will need to rebuild your homes.

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>>5424427
>>5424437
>>5424449
>>5424525

You took your most authoritative voice and announced.

-I thereby decree that the inhabitants of Otherone will pay 10% less taxes next year, you will need to rebuild your homes.

The peasants thanked you, bowed and kneeled you then signalled them to leave. They seemed very satisfied and Father François thanked you for your generosity, you told him that generosity was a virtue. To be honest you would probably be at war next year seeing how all of this was going, so you could increase taxes 20% and never decrease them, King Philippe did it often, why could you not ?

The next days were not very eventful, until, until you finally could remove your leg from it's cast. It was the old healing woman that served in the legion and made your cast that did it, under the supervision of Lady Rose Takable who always told her to be careful that seemed to annoy the old woman. It was strange, but as the woman removed it she told.

-It is done my lord, your leg has healed.

Lady Takable added.

-Oh ! Charles, you could finally walk, I am so happy for you... But we could still practise reading if you want.

By Saint Denis, Lady Takable was beautiful, charming and one of the finest specimen of women that you knew, and you needed to learn to read but this was very annoying. Yes you understood that reading was useful for a lord, but you simply had rarely the will to learn it, even if you made progress it made your head hurt. Books were overrated, useful for monks and clerks, not warriors like you, you were a strong man, a warrior, a knight, you did not need this, then you saw the beautiful lady smiling at you with her rosy cheeks and her youthful smile, she looked as beautiful as Guinevere in the tales of King Arthur. You had to submit.

-Hosanna ! Help me raise, Godefroi, Ancel... And yes, we will read, of course my lady...

You still had some troubles walking but the old woman said that it will pass. Happily you told.

-My brave men, give a gold coin to this lady healer, and rejoice ! I can walk again ! The time when I could do nothing is over ! Let us feast and rejoice and then...

>Bring me to the training yard ! I need to see if I can fight still !
>Let us ride together as promised, Rose, I promised you to do it and my first thoughts are with you.
>I want a good hunt ! I have not been able to hunt for a long time, you talked to me about gigantic beasts called Aurochs, let us see how the indians hunt them.
>Let's ride to Otherone, I have never been there and I want to see the damage myself.
>Other (write in)

======

>>5424547

======

You gain +1 piety for your generosity towards the peasantry.

Your new stats :

Charles de Villeroi

Class : Local Lord
Level : 3
XP : 295 (next level at 450)

Stats

Combat : 51%
Intrigue : 25%
Rulership: 36%

Piety : 40+1 = 41

Mudcore : 39

With 39 Mudcore you have a bigger field of gritty realism around you, in this field the most heavy magic will not work and supernatural abilities will not work, oh, and women will lose 4 pounds of strength of course, plus in the field the people that obey you will act more like they would be in a dark fantasy setting. New illnesses will appear too around you, but the Mudcore that you have brought upon this world will make a new companion appear.
Next level at 40, at 40 mudcore you would be able to "specialise" this ability and choose one of the three paths proposed.

Talents
-Cavalry Commander : +20 to martial when you have to lead a cavalry charge or a cavalry attack. Works only when commanding shock or melee cavalry mounted on horses.
-Foreign Etiquette : You focus on learning Indian etiquette with Oldfossil, you gain a +10 bonus in intrigue in your interactions with the nobility of your duchy.
-Dumbstruck by Lady Takable : you are convinced that you are not able to fool Lady Takable after your double critical failure, you have -10 intrigue when you try to manipulate her

>>5424547
>>Let us ride together as promised, Rose, I promised you to do it and my first thoughts are with you.

>>5424547
>>Let us ride together as promised, Rose, I promised you to do it and my first thoughts are with you.

>>5424547
>Let us ride together as promised, Rose, I promised you to do it and my first thoughts are with you.

>>5424547
>Let us ride together as promised, Rose, I promised you to do it and my first thoughts are with you.

Fighting can wait for later. Women do not understand that art enough to appreciate it properly, so while Lady Takable's blessings and support would be much appreciated, it can really wait until after she leaves.

>>5424547
>Let us ride together as promised, Rose, I promised you to do it and my first thoughts are with you.
Is Lady Takeable shaggable yet or not?

>>5424941
She's a lady, Anon, that's for after marriage

>>5424947
I coom from simple land, my lord. One where sex is always yes and marriage is never. This here just sounds like blue balls and possible entrapment. What if Lady Rose hides thorns in her flower? How are we supposed to avoid the danger is we can't get our royal cock in that pussy first?

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>>5424564
>>5424571
>>5424591

>>5424726
>>5424947


Well said my lords you are wise men knowlegeable in the arts of courtly love as I see.

>>5424956

Do not worry good sir, tavern wenches and peasant girls exist to be, as you say, shagged, noble born ladies exist to be praised and loved. We can always court the ladies and relieve our physical needs (before marriage) on a common born woman, or even on several, after all as Molière would say in 4 centuries "all the pleasure of love is in change".

======

You were in a good mood and you proposed quickly.

-Let us ride together as promised Rose, I promised you to do so and my first thoughts are always with you.

She blushed adorably and told you.

-Ooooh, Charles, you are so kind, let me dress accordingly and we will go. Thank you my lord.

-My lady, I am but your humble knight servant, and you were so kind to me to help me recover. I am sure that your sweet care had helped my recovery.

She smiled and blushed then excused herself, she had to be adorned in a dress suited for riding. Of course you had to wait an hour... Women... It is fortunate that they do not go to war, they can never be there on time. Well, at least you had time to change to your riding clothes.

Fortunately it was still the morning when one of your servants told you that she was ready. She had came here on a cart and you wondered if she rode astride like always or if she was fashionable enough to use one of the new side saddles with a sambue. You knew that those saddles permitted women to seat on only one side of their horse and to not crease their dress but riding more quickly than walk was dangerous. After all Isabelle of Aragon, wife of your previous king, Philippe III the bold, and mother of king Philippe IV died after a fall from her sambue when going back from the crusades where she accompanied her husband and stepfather. Of course she was pregnant at the time so particularly delicate, but you didn't wanted your lady to die from the same reason. You quickly came to the courtyard, hoping to see Lady Takable mount. Maybe you could take a short glimpse at her ankles, or even help her and... You casted aside such lustful thoughts. But even, seeing the breasts, or their upper part, was easy when they wore some kind of dresses, but her legs... They remained mysterious and always hidden under long dresses, inviting you to open them and see what was between them. It was thinking about this that you saw her. Lady Takable was stunning, her blonde hair floating around her and decorated with a copper coronet while she wore a red dress that seemed specially done to ride astride and that was cut to put her hips, her chest and her thin waist in valour. You could see that her legs were in a kind of pants and long buckskin boots made for riding, by sainte Marie Madeleine it was beautiful. She wore a golden medallion around her neck. Some men were bringing When she came you pushed aside the servants who wanted to help her and told.

>>5425182

-My lady, seeing you ravishes me as always. You look like the sun that raises in an autumn morning.

You then took her hand, kissed it and led her to the horses that were prepared by your servants. She rode a white mare while your own palfrey was brown. A loyal beast called Pissenlit who served you well in France and in Flanders.

-Thank you my lord, your praises touch me deeply, I am sure that you are as good a rider as you are a warrior my lord. I hope to not seem clumsy in your eyes...

-I am sure, my lady, that you will ride as fast as the wind. Permit me to help you get on your horse.

She was quite small in stature and accepted happily, you helped her put her foot on the stirrup and to pass her leg on the other side of the horse. The fact that you touched her a bit longer than expected seemed to only amuse her, she looked at you with a glint in her eye. You smiled too. Then you ordered your servants to fetch your horse and you were outside, accompanied by four guardsmen on horses, Godefroi and Brother Louis.

When you rode throught Local some peasants saluted you, hailing you as their lord and you waved to them, Lady Takable rode near you and asked.

-They seem to love you, what did you do to earn such praise ?

-They knew that I was wounded, and I have put down some ghibellines, and false priests before.

-You are such a brave knight Charles, a true hero from a chivalric romance.

-Yes, we can say that.

You told her modestly while she giggled.

But now you had to decide where to go... You could of course ride towards the north, near the river, it could be beautiful and you could visit the short scotsmen who made such a good beer, or to the east, in the great plain of the cairns, maybe you could see an ancient tumulus, you never got there but head there were old tombs here, but the plains were a bit dull as a landscape. Maybe you could ride to the west, the road to the baronial lands, seeing the sun setting on the hills of Nesse could be beautiful and the farms of this rascal of Cresus and your serf Pauperus were there... Or maybe you could go to the south, upstream towards the queste river where your men were digging an irrigation canal and planting an orchard, then you could continue to the forest and even if it was a bit dangerous it was a good place to be alone with a beautiful lady.

>Ride towards the north
>Ride towards the east
>Ride towards the west
>Ride towards the south

>>5425183
>>Ride towards the west

>>5425183
>>Ride towards the west

>>5425183
>Ride towards the west

Women love sunsets

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>>5425192
>>5425209
>>5425315

You decided to ride towards the west, the landscape was a bit dull but once the sun will set you will see it fall between two hills. There were some fields and plains around you, tended by peasants who saluted you when Lady Takable asked you.

-I never have been here... The road to my lands passes along the Queste... It is a bit flat, no ? Or there is something you want me to watch.

-You dislike plains my lady ?

-No, not really, under the sun it is beautiful, even if it is quite cold in autumn, and seeing a river is always more beautiful. I simply was born in plains, all what remains of my father's land are plains, near the Cairns, it can be dull...

-I was born in plains too my lady, but you should not be so harsh with our native landscapes. Yes, of course, the land is flat, but it makes the landscape dominated by the sky, you can see the light of the sun change, the clouds grey and white moving in the sky and feel the greatness of the kingdom of God. The sky is never the same, it always changes.

She looked at you tenderly, answering.

-You are such a poet Charles.

It made you smile, you then explained.

-And the sunset on the hills of Nesse is beautiful my lady, and we have verdant fields here.

She frowned and told you.

-But it will be hours before sunset... Mmmmh... Let us do something interesting. Try to catch me my lord !

And she sent her white palfrey to gallop laughing kindly like the young lady of 17 years old that she was. She seemed to be a quite skilled rider, she weighted less than you and her horse was excellent, but you had passed practically all your life on the saddle. You knew that you could catch her but maybe it would be wiser to take your time, let her gallop to move away from your escort and to have a little time together. Or you could catch her directly, if she seemed to be skilled maybe she was not and you would not want her to die by falling from her horse.

You looked at her golden hair flying behind her and decided to.

>Catch her quickly
>Let you be far away from your escort and catch her then.
>Other (write in)

>>5425438
>Catch her quickly

>>5425438
>>Let you be far away from your escort and catch her then.

>>5425438
>Let you be far away from your escort and catch her then.

>>5425438
>>Let you be far away from your escort and catch her then.
Sounds like a chance for some frisky business and/or a random encounter either way, Tally-ho!

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>>5425514
>>5425518
>>5425611
>>5425623

You let her take a bit of advance before sending your horse to a swift gallop. You made a sign to your men to wait a bit behind and you heard Godfrey mutter something about "Silly young love", you felt bad for the old knight, she had not seen his wife in more since you came here, it was practically two months. You had to admit that Lady Takable knew how to ride fast and that you had to stop pretending to catch her. You rode fast, tiring your horses, you passed the farms of Cresus, and the farm of Pauperus, you knew that she disliked plains so you decided to stop her near the foothills of the hills of Nesse. Finally, you caught up to Lady Rose and took her reins, stopping her horses while you were both laughing, she teased you a bit.

-Finally? I thought that you would never catch me...

-You ride swiftly gente dame and... It seems that we have lost our escort...

She smiled seeing this and asked you.

-Then we may as well await them, could you help me dismount my Lord?

-Of racing gentle lady.

And it was done, you quickly dismounted and helped her, attaching your two horses near a lone oak tree before a pond. It was a quite beautiful landscape, with the sky nearby and you sat in the grass, she did it near you and soon you were leaning on each other. First both of you were silent, simply enjoying the good company, but then she broke the silence.

-Lord Charles, I am so glad that you can ride again... I was afraid when you were wounded, but now I feel safe... Even if you managed to kill this satyr while you were wounded I feared for you.. .

-Because of Baron Crook, my lady?

Her tone became pained.

-Yes.. Even if we marry and have the benediction of the Count I fear that he will try to pursue us... He.. He killed my father Charles, he needs to die, slowly and painfully preferably.

You leaned back, decided to lie down and caressed her her kindly with your right hand, she lied down near you.

-Do not worry, I will take care of this. We have fooled his plans and we have Lord Neutral's support.

She seemed to not be so calm about the situation. Huddling against you she told.

-Oh, Charles, my knight, my heroic champion... I know that you are unmatched in the field of battle but the baron is devious, he will use means, underhanded means, I do not know if there are those in your lands , but he has assassins with Lord Creepy Bitchson and a powerful court mage too.

-I already killed one of those my lady, you have nothing to fear from these assassins, and a pious man should not fear sorcerers and mesmerisers. But let us not worry about it, we are here in a happy occasion, let us not talk about vile men and their schemes.

She nodded and you both looked at the sky, she then tried to tell.

-There is a passage in the ballad about the Hills where two loved ones look at the sky together, just like us.

-And what did they do looking at the sky?

-They kissed...

>>5426208

If it was not a signal to do something then you were not called Charles de Villeroi and you quickly began to imitate the characters of this ballad. It was chaste kisses but they tasted good, lady Takable smelled, as always, like strawberries, she had the freshness of a virgin and the smooth and pale skin of a nobleborn woman undamaged by farm labor. After this tender moments of love you saw that your escort was approaching and you both quickly decided to stop being improper. You liked her, really, she was an intelligent woman, talking about a ballad and obviously inviting you to kiss her instead of speaking stupidly about a cloud looking like something.

You then decided to start the conversation again about.

>Gente dame, the hills are on baronial lands, but since we are far away from any watchtower we could eat on one of them and look at the plains from here.
>Tell some verses of Colin Musset about his love for a blonde lady.
>When we will be married my lady, I wear to you that we will ride together often, it is most pleasant.
>It is unfortunate that we do not have a bird of prey, we could be falconing. Or no, you told me that you did not like it, do you enjoy other kinds of hunting.
>What a charming landscape, you should have brought your harp dear Rose, you have such an enchanting way of playing it.
>You are right about the baron, we will need to deal with him, you had some ideas about it, maybe we could share them together, while nobody ears us.
>Other (write in)

Choose one choice please.

>>5426209
>It is unfortunate that we do not have a bird of prey, we could be falconing. Or no, you told me that you did not like it, do you enjoy other kinds of hunting.

Two birds, one stone

>>5426209
>>What a charming landscape, you should have brought your harp dear Rose, you have such an enchanting way of playing it.

>>5426209
>You are right about the baron, we will need to deal with him, you had some ideas about it, maybe we could share them together, while nobody ears us.
Lord Creepy what lmao

>>5426209
>Gente dame, the hills are on baronial lands, but since we are far away from any watchtower we could eat on one of them and look at the plains from here
I forgot about the names in this quest lmao

>>5426209
>>Tell some verses of Colin Musset about his love for a blonde lady.

>>5426225
>>5426231

>>5426326
>>5426331


Some Indian names may sound strange to the ear of some people speaking the dialect of the anglo-saxon peasants but since no gentleman be it of Picard or Champenois lineage understands this idiom our glorious hero is unable to understand the salt of this. (And he probably pronounces this \bitʃsɔ̃\ )

>>5426355

5 answers and all different, by the heavens, I will have to wait to type an answer to this.

>>5426209
>>What a charming landscape, you should have brought your harp dear Rose, you have such an enchanting way of playing it.

>>5426209
>When we will be married my lady, I wear to you that we will ride together often, it is most pleasant.

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>>5426225
>>5426231
>>5426326
>>5426331
>>5426355
>>5426412
>>5426492

Looking at the lovely lady near you you told.

-What a charming landscape, you should have brought your harp dear Rose, you have such an enchanting way of playing it.

She smiled at you before answering.

-You are too kind Charles, I will try to bring it next time, I could play for you under a Myrtle tree while we will see the sun setting. We can fetch someone back to the castle to bring it if you want.

She said it in a so sweet tone, and so full of love that you were yourself touched, you were both cuddling while you answered.

-It would be a lovely idea Rose, a very lovely idea. Once our escort will be back I will send a rider.

She thanked you and kissed you on the cheek, then she told.

-Thank you... I hope, that we will be able to ride often, across all the lands, look at hidden forest ponds, sunsets, or even at night at the moon from the battlements... Is there a more beautiful symbol of love as a lady and a knight before the beauty of nature.

-It all pales in comparison to your red lips and the blue ponds that are your eyes.

She blushed sweetly and seemed to have troubles to answer, it sounded like a praise from a song of fin' amor but let us be prosaic, when you saw a beautiful woman and a landscape you looked at the beautiful woman. It was normal.

You then heard the horses of your escort who was coming nearby, they had packed some food and it was probable that they would be able to lit a fire with wood from some lone trees of this plain. Indian autumns seemed to be as cold as those in northern France. When they came Brother Louis told you.

-Monseigneur, our men say that we should not stay to close to those hills, remember, they say there are outpost of Saracens here, like in the massif des Maures. We should not let our guard down.

You frowned, it was true that there were enemies everywhere, you had fought witches and wolf beasts and even saxon men in those hills but still. Saracens, how could someone have never talked to you about it. Lady Takable seemed to be even more distraught. She said.

-My father told me that there were monsters and kobolds on those hills. And that they should be avoided at all costs... Even if there are villages here. But saracens, what is it Sir Louis ? I never heard of this kind of beasts ?

O happy woman who had never heard about the infidels, the old templar looked at her and began to explain.

-I fought against them in the deserts with our good king Saint Louis ma dame. They are southern men, infidels, who hold the holy places, ransom the pilgrims and raid our coasts on their galleys, they take the peasants and the women and sell them into slavery. They are not a match to our knights but they are numerous and perfidious.

She looked distraught.

-You mean southern men ? I never heard of them in Bifuria...

You interrupted her, asking.

-Oldfossil told me once about kobolds once or twice but I never understood what they are.

>>5427911

Brother Louis seemed taken aback.

-Kobolds ? Is it not the local name for saracens.

Lady Takable seemed to be quite shocked by this and told.

-But kobolds are not human.

To what Brother Louis answered.

-A quite extreme statement made about saracens, but common for those who never have seen them, but I can assure you that they are as human as us and not monsters from some tale to scare children. Have you seen them dame Takable ?

She seemed to be taken aback by this and answered defensively.

-No, I have never seen them but kobold are small creatures, who look like rats or snakes and who crawl from the Underworld to take entire villages into slavery. Then they retreat to their dungeons, or their caves to not get caught.

Brother Louis seemed to remain sceptical, you were too, you had seen strange creatures like turtles, you even killed one, and the skeleton of a dragon, but everybody knew that they existed. Then there were demons and goat men walking in the streets but everybody knew that Indians reproduced with goats in pagan rituals and that demons existed, even if it was strange to see them outside of hell and you banished them from your realm, but it was understandable seeing the number of sorcerers here. Then... Then there were of course strange things, scotsmen in India seemed to be short, and you saw long lived guelphs with pointy ears and small and green ghibellines but maybe the latter were victims of a curse and the former were no more strange than a swarthy and very hairy merchant from the west of Iberia that you saw. Men came in all shapes. But some things stayed the same, cagots were cagots and most of the people looked like normal men. While you were thinking the templar knight said.

-Gente Dame, I have heard such things about saracens before, and they have a grain of truth, they are not a very tall people and they can sometimes be perfidious like rats and lie like snakes, and they take villages into slavery. Even if in out case they live above the ground or on the other side of the sea but there seem to be great networks of caverns where you live so it would be logical for them to attack from there.

You decided to intervene in the conversation saying.

>>5427912

>Brother Louis, Lady Takable lived here longer, she probably knows, maybe those beasts exist, and truly look like rats, India is a strange continent after all.
>Lady Takable, I know Brother Louis from a long time, he is a wise man, he saw foreign lands and knows a lot. There is always legends and errors in descriptions, for exemple before meeting one I never thought that a turtle could walk on two legs and carry an axe.
>Gente dame, Brother templar, what are we waiting, if those creatures are truly small they should not be dangerous and if they are saracens we should try to put them into their place.
>I do not know who is right, but we must stay careful, especially with a lady, we should stay away from those hills.
>I do not know who is right, but we must stay careful, especially with a lady, we should stay here and be vigilant.
>To tell you the truth I never saw nor kobold nor saracens so I could not know what they look like, but let us find out.
>Maybe we could ask the man who talked to you about saracens, or kobolds, on the hills Brother Louis. He must know.
>Other (write in)

>>5427914
>>Brother Louis, Lady Takable lived here longer, she probably knows, maybe those beasts exist, and truly look like rats, India is a strange continent after all.

>>5427914
>>Brother Louis, Lady Takable lived here longer, she probably knows, maybe those beasts exist, and truly look like rats, India is a strange continent after all.

>>5427914
>I do not know who is right, but we must stay careful, especially with a lady, we should stay here and be vigilant.
>To tell you the truth I never saw nor kobold nor saracens so I could not know what they look like!
>Tell Brother Louis about the turtle.

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>>5427914
Here the paynim people of Kard Ass'hiennes pay tribute and obeisance to the Great Saracen Lord and Warrior-Prophet Khan Yeh, Deliverer Of Cringe.

The land of Ass'hiennes is known for the artisanry of their manufacture, as well as the infamous Kard, a siege engine alleged to be a mangonel or ribauldequin of some form that answers the call of duty.

Amongst the idolatry of the paynim are the prophets Yeezus and the Lady Of The Bilious Eyelash, some of whom have even infiltrated the demesne of the Frankish Lands of Louis Vuitton, and the ascetic hermit monk Ilunn of the Musk, who is notorious for his heretical tracts upon the Chronicle Of Ritter, tales of a reiter or Teutonic horseman, a rider-chevalier of great infamy.

In the Chronicle Of Ritter, Khan Yeh is known for his prophetic utterances such as
-“I am God’s vessel. But my greatest pain in life is that I will never be able to see myself perform live.”
-“One day the light will shine through and one day people will understand everything I ever did.”
and
-“I am the greatest"

>>5427914
>I do not know who is right, but we must stay careful, especially with a lady, we should stay away from those hills.
>Maybe we could ask the man who talked to you about saracens, or kobolds, on the hills Brother Louis. He must know.

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>>5427928
>>5427942
>>5428003

>>5428157

By saint Denis ! It is the saracen Noiron from the tales of Renaud de Montauban. He can scares even the other saracens by being so huge and such black that he looks like that he swallows the sun, only his teeth look like ivory according to the manuscripts. But seeing his writings maybe he looks like this because fearing water he refuses to bath like a squire from Montmirail would.

As those saracens I will only flee and hide at the mention of such champions of paganism as Khan Yeh and the Kard Ass'hiennes. The man seems to be too sure of himself to not be a knight of great valour.

>>5428227

You decided to answer by supporting lady Takable, she would probably be your wife after all.

-Brother Louis, Lady Takable lived here longer, she probably knows, maybe those beasts exist, and truly look like rats, India is a strange continent after all.

She smiled at you while the knight rolled his eyes, understanding that you said that to be closer to the lady. His own chastity vows made him quite inflexible to this. You knew, of course, from older men that in the times of the crusades that a lot of men who had sworn such vows had raised their cassocks not only to fight more easily but for more carnal reasons but you never saw Brother Louis partake in such activities. Oh, of course he had such urges, you saw him looking at some tavern wenches some times with lustful eyes but you never saw him act on it, he was a pious man. Lady Takable told.

-Thank you my Lord. It is good to be understood.

You thanked the lady and then looked at the hills. Then you ordered a man.

-Fetch the harp of Lady Rose, she will need it. And all of you, I am hungry, let us eat something.

Quickly the men lit up a fire and began to unpack their provisions, as any gentlemen you helped the lady cut her meat and quickly everybody began to eat something. It was lard and some other quite habitual travelling provisions but lady Takable seemed to be not very accustomed to it. Kindly you asked her.

-If the provisions are not at your taste I can send someone to fetch other provisions.

-No... no need of it Charles, you are too kind. Thank you. I am simply not accustomed to the travelling life. I have not had the occasion of travelling my lands a lot lately.

-Your father did not bring you when he travelled in his holdings ?

-No, I mean, he did it a couple of times, but it is irrelevant today. Since the baron took practically all of them from me I have only a village left...

It was sad, when a vile liege lord confiscated holdings from old families. It was the death of our good old right and proper feudal society. You decided to cheer her up and told her.

-Do not worry, we will take it back, for your lord father, for lord Random.

She looked at you, and took your hand, she seemed to be overwhelmed by emotion.

-Thank you lord Charles, you, are always so sure of victory, you always fill me with hope.

>>5428451

Hai hai, that was true, and why would you not ? You were stronger than a bunch of sorcerers and heretics after all. You only laughed lightly at her remark and continued to entertain the lady. When your rider came back to bring a harp you heard the songs of the lady that you loved for some hours before seeing the sun set between two hills. Lady Rose had a high pitched voice that sounded sweet and youthful when she sung and you were charmed. Since the night risked to get cold you all got back to your castle and feasted gloriously, the old Godefroi told some tales about his campaigns in Sicily with Charles d'Anjou, his description of Naples made you dream and you saw that Lady Takable seemed very interested too. Finally you got to sleep and while everyone was retiring to his chambers she thanked you.

-Thank you Lord Charles, you made this day the most bright and joyful that I could remember. Thank you. I hope that we will be able to ride together again soon.

You could only approve and compliment her.

You thought about travelling to the forest the next day when you were woken up in the early morning by a servant, you told him to not annoy you if he doesn't want to get flogged (they always let you sleep when you say that) but he insisted.

-My lord, my lord, there are adventurers in town five of them... They are from the adventurer's guild from Podunk...

By Saint Denis ! Adventurers from Podunk... Probably the members of this guild who want reparations for the lesson that your brave Brother Louis gave them. Two of them attacked him, he cut the hand of one of them and gravely wounded another, who was a demon. What to do...

>Order your men to arrest these men.
>Let them come to the castle and prepare to greet them, you will see what they want.
>Order your servants to tell them that mere burgher are not allowed to enter and that you do not wish to see them.
>Other (write in)

>>5428453
>Let them come to the castle and prepare to greet them, you will see what they want.

As we are a proper and just Lord, I have no doubt that they will see their fault in this and instead reimburse us for accosting Brother Louis

And if they don't, our Dungeon is currently empty and waiting for a few occupants.

>>5428453
>>Let them come to the castle and prepare to greet them, you will see what they want.

>>5428453
>>Order your men to arrest these men.

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>>5428694
>>5428706
>>5428871


You ordered your servant to fetch your clothes and told.

-Let them enter the castle and prepare to greet them, we will see what they want.

Once dressed in an impressive and very fancy doublet you got downstairs, in your great hall. You sat on your throne with your guards and servants around you. Godefroi, Brother Louis, Ancel le Purineur, Oldfossil and Captain Crumbling were in the room, your councillors around you and Ancel near the doors. Lady Takable had decided to come too, as a guest, with her men, she was probably curious to see why would those so called adventurers come here. You greeted her before they entered, as the traditions of gallantry demanded and she seemed pleased to see you, but enough pleasure, it was time to rule.

When you ordered to let the adventurers enter you were even more astonished than by Murd, Ehhr, Hob and Beau, they were, if possible, even more strange. First you saw that there were not only men but two women two who were gallivanting and travelling from tavern to tavern, what a shameful display ! You knew that Lady Sue was an adventurer but you thought it was an exception, here you saw that two out of five persons of these delegation were of the fair sex. Had they not fathers or brothers to stop them from doing this ? But you were even more astonished by the rest of the group, one was looking a bit like the barbarian Murd that your men killed, but brown haired and bearded, he was armed with a sword and dressed in furs, leathers and an animal skull on his head, maybe helmets were expensive in his cold lands, but the other two were strange. One of them seemed to be a kind of cagot, but an armed cagot, in light armor, with a sword and a shield. You wondered how could he be threatening when you could probably just kick him and make him fly. The last man was a huge half man half lizard, you saw one of them at Someplace, a kind of priest and were impressed, these lizard men seemed to be head and shoulders above mere men, his armor was impractical but he must be able to compensate this with brute force. You remembered Lady Takable's words about Kobolds, she said they were small but maybe you saw two very big specimens. You should investigate. The ladies were not bad looking, one was all dressed in black, with black hair and black robes, maybe she had lost a relative ? It was probably why she was travelling, she carried a book too, so she was probably of good lineage. The second one was one of those pointy eared guelphs, she was very beautiful with light brown hair and a kind of wooden staff made of a tree branch, you regretted that a kind of strange green armor stopped you from assessing the size of her cleavage but a look from Lady Takable made you stop wondering about it. She was right, she was the lady of your love here and deserved all your attention. You made sign to Oldfossil to begin talking.

>>5428995

The old councillor said, in a polite voice.

-Greetings adventurers, present yourself and tell us why you are requesting an audience to the court of Charles de Villeroi, Lord of Local.

They all seemed to bow more or less awkwardly and it was the cagot who spoke.

-My lords, honourable lords and ladies present in this court, I am Ard, humble enterprising gentleman and leader of this merry band of travellers, the Dashing and Daring ! Here you can see our wise Wizza who knows all the secrets of the black arts...

You saw Ancel make signs and doing the sign of the cross to you telling more or less.

-A witch messire ! A witch ! We should burn her, she brings bad luck.

You frowned at him and he stayed silent even if the adventurers seemed taken aback. Well, all of them but the cagot who continued his speech.

-and Oftha, druid of the wood elven forests who knows how to speak to the animals of this world. And Kost, our fearless dragonborn, paladin of Arcelormittal, god of the forge.

They both bowed a bit to look impressive.

-And last but not least, this is Bob, our barbarian, he is strong and has a big sword.

Bob seemed satisfied of himself hearing this while the cagot continued in a quite annoying high pitched voice.

-And we are here to demand justice in the name of the adventurer's guild of Podunk ! Two of our youngest members have been maimed by a warrior at your service, Lord Charles, he carried a red cross on a white field on his tabard.

Everybody looked at Brother Louis, who was dressed just like that, in the heraldry of the Templar Order. And it seemed that it was time for you to intervene.

What do you say ?

>Who are you to demand justice ? Some travelling vagrants who try to pretend to be burghers. Brother Louis is a knight of the Templar Order above you in rank and station. Two ruffians accosted him in a tavern and attacked him, he dispatched them. I hope that your guild is ready to pay for this incident. 1000 gold coins should suffice.
>They have been maimed ? And why ? In what circumstances ? Tell me more about it, I want to hear your side of the story.
>And what is this Justice that you ask ?

>Kost is it ? Tell me, is your father or your mother a dragon to be dragonborn ? No need to give me the details on how did they do it, there are ladies here.
>Kost is it ? Are you a kind of huge kobold ?
>Tell me lady Wizza, what kind of dark arts are you talking about ?
>You can talk to animals lady Oftha ? Very interesting, I would be glad to speak about it another time.
>You can talk to animals lady Oftha ? It is why you can talk with your companions who behave like animals by asking a lord to punish his knight for having defended himself !
>The Dashing and Daring, an interesting name, how did you came with it ?

>Other (write in)

(Choose as much as you want)

>>5428997
>Who are you to demand justice ? Some travelling vagrants who try to pretend to be burghers. Brother Louis is a knight of the Templar Order above you in rank and station. Two ruffians accosted him in a tavern and attacked him, he dispatched them. I hope that your guild is ready to pay for this incident. 1000 gold coins should suffice.

>Tell me lady Wizza, what kind of dark arts are you talking about ?
>You can talk to animals lady Oftha ? It is why you can talk with your companions who behave like animals by asking a lord to punish his knight for having defended himself !
>Arrest the witch! We shall have no sorcery in my lands.

>>5428997
>Who are you to demand justice ? Some travelling vagrants who try to pretend to be burghers. Brother Louis is a knight of the Templar Order above you in rank and station. Two ruffians accosted him in a tavern and attacked him, he dispatched them. I hope that your guild is ready to pay for this incident. 1000 gold coins should suffice.

>Tell me lady Wizza, what kind of dark arts are you talking about ?
>You can talk to animals lady Oftha ? It is why you can talk with your companions who behave like animals by asking a lord to punish his knight for having defended himself !

Maybe we can arrest the witch after we collect the fine

>>5428997
>And what is this Justice that you ask ?
>>They have been maimed ? And why ? In what circumstances ? Tell me more about it, I want to hear your side of the story.

>Kost is it ? Tell me, is your father or your mother a dragon to be dragonborn ? No need to give me the details on how did they do it, there are ladies here.
>Tell me lady Wizza, what kind of dark arts are you talking about ?
>You can talk to animals lady Oftha ? Very interesting, I would be glad to speak about it another time.

We need information!

>>5428997
>They have been maimed ? And why ? In what circumstances ? Tell me more about it, I want to hear your side of the story.
>And what is this Justice that you ask ?

Also...

>Kost is it ? Are you a kind of huge kobold ?

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>>5429006
>>5429062
>>5429091
>>5429129

Argh, since the only thing having three votes is the question about the Dark arts so I made it short.

======

Your first question was to the woman in black, you didn't want to seem weak and tell your sorriness for her loss but when you heard about dark arts you were worried. The only other people dressed in black were some monks, priests and witches ! And this woman looked like she was one of them, of course the most terrible witches were normally ugly old hags but sometimes they could take appearance of young women to fool young lads and bring them to sabbaths and other degenerate rituals. And maybe this young woman was just beginning in witchcraft, so you asked.

-Tell me lady Wizza, what kind of dark arts are you talking about ?

You frowned and looked at her and she seemed to be intimidated, talking very softly. Unfortunately her whispers were inaudible from your throne and so you told.

-If you speak it is for me to listen. Stop whispering.

The small cagot armed like a poor urban militiaman came to her rescue.

-My lord, lady Wizza, is quite shy and not accustomed to be the center of attention. She is a brave companion but prefers the company of the dead above the one of the living. She studies the many arts of necromancy and has a licence, you have nothing to fear from her.

You were not a well read man and did not understood this latin term but Brother Louis, who was in the room, drew his blade, hearing this, to the astonishment of everyone, the adventurers followed while the Templar, who knew latin, spoke.

-She consorts with the dead and calls spirits ! Like the witch of Endor who called back the spirit of Samuel on the orders of king Saül ! She consorts with the devil my lord ! Our Holy Church forbids such creatures from stepping into any house !

The witch tried to tell something but became red and had trouble speaking while Godefroi drew his sword and Ancel screamed.

-Mortecouille ! Satanry ! She will curse us and change us into frogs messire ! We must cut her down before she does it !

And he unsheathed his cutlass. Everyone screamed and the ladies tried to leave the rooms, the adventurers raised their weapons and your guardsmen did the same, even if they hesitated. The cagot tried to calm everyone, telling you.

-But... But... But... My lord, knights and... I do not know who this redhead is but... Please, remain calm, she has a legal licence, and we do not lynch necromancers anymore when they serve a good cause... She never has risen the dead to cause harm to good people...

>>5429202

Rising the dead ?!? What ?!? You made the sign of the cross. You had to act, and act now what do you orders.

>Montjoie ! Death to the witches and those who consort with them ! With me men, let us drown the vermin in it's own blood !
>Soldiers, arrest these men and witches, they must be tried by an ecclesiastical court, call Father François, he will be the judge, once the church will have determined if they are witches and heretics I will judge them accordingly to local law.
>Soldiers, arrest these men and witches, and throw them to the dungeons, I shall judge them.
>Only God can resurrect the dead ! And it will be on judgment's day ! The crime of tolerating, and even helping perform witchcraft is punishable by death ! But I am merciful, surrender now and I will judge you fairly.
>Stay calm men, there is no need to spill blood on these halls. (Make sign to Oldfossil to fetch Father François, once the priest will be there he could perform an exorcism on the room)
>Stay calm men, there is no need to spill blood on these halls.
>Other (write in)

>>5429062

A wise idea indeed good sir, it is the mark of a good steward to look at the money first.

>>5429091

You sir are a wise man, as wise and eager to learn about the mysteries of the universe as Sir Bedevere.

>>5429205
>Only God can resurrect the dead ! And it will be on judgment's day !
>Soldiers, arrest these men and witches, they must be tried by an ecclesiastical court, call Father François, he will be the judge, once the church will have determined if they are witches and heretics I will judge them accordingly to local law.

By the Lord, first the 'adventurers' attack Brother Louis, now they're consortium with Satan and raising the dead (probably putting demons inside of corpses)? They've earned a pyre.

>>5429205
>>Soldiers, arrest these men and witches, and throw them to the dungeons, I shall judge them.

>>5429205
>>5429216
+1
BURN THE WITCHES

>>5429216
Support

>>5429205
>>5429216

+1
GOD DAMMIT QM WHY YOU GOTTA DANGLE A SHY GOTH GF INFRONT OF US

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>>5429216

Well said good sir, well said. Let the Lord be their judge.

>>5429217

>>5429275

Let them confess and burn yes.

>>5429610

My cruelty has no limits, but let us be honest, the shy goth is temporary, the salvation of your eternal soul is, by definition, eternal.

>>5429282

You felt like you were boiling from anger and righteous fury, you raised from your throne and pointed an accusating finger towards the adventurers while you screamed in an outrageous voice.

-Only God can resurrect the dead ! And it will be on judgement's day !

Everybody looked at you while they heard this and you ordered.

-Soldiers arrest these men and witches, they must be tried by an ecclesiastical court, call father François, he will be the judge, once the church will have determined if they are witches and heretics I will judge them according to local law.

It was the most lawful way of burning them alive. You were here to set an exemple after all. And if your men began to form up and point their spears towards their ennemies they seemed to be afraid, and the adventurers seemed to be quite confident in their abilities. The cagot talked first.

-Seriously ? You think that what... Some 30 rurals hillbillies like you could kill five middle ranked adventurers ? Bob has slain a giant in single combat, I shall warn you, pay reparations and I will not need to fill papers in the guild about our destruction of this fortress.

You looked at him, he was surely bluffing, slaying a giant in single combat was not so impressive of course it was hard but you saw Godefroi do it, he speared a Flemish militiaman who was at least seven feet high and had an impressive physique but against brute strength skill at arms can prevail. You drew your sword and readied yourself to fight. But the wise Oldfossil told you quietly.

-Beware my lord, they are quite high ranked and could be dangerous. I do not know if violence is the best solution.

You respected the old man, he was a wise steward after all, but he knew nothing about battle... But he was from here and your men seemed to be a bit afraid of the fight. Even Captain Crumbling seemed to hesitate. But your brave Frenchmen seemed determined to eradicate heresy, Godefroi and Brother Louis advanced and... And the coward Ancel stayed behind of course but what to expect of a peasant ? Lady Takable looked at you with a strange air, she seemed quite fascinated, it was a factor that needed to be taken into account.

>Take out your sword and join your brave soldiers, you will lead by exemple (combat roll).
>Order your men to let the adventurers leave, maybe you are not strong enough to kill them and it will be better to avoid losses on both sides.
>Challenge one of these vagrants to a single combat to show your men how it's done (combat roll)
>Order your men to press the attack, rally them with a speech (rulership roll)
>Other (write in)

>>5429639
>>Challenge one of these vagrants to a single combat to show your men how it's done (combat roll)

>>5429639
>Take out your sword and join your brave soldiers, you will lead by exemple (combat roll).
HAVEN'T HAD A GOOD FIGHT IN A WHILE, MEN
and if the vile witch tries anything funny we can burn them for heresy without waiting for the ecclesiastical court

>>5429639
>Take out your sword and join your brave soldiers, you will lead by exemple (combat roll).

MONTJOIE

>>5429639
>Take out your sword and join your brave soldiers, you will lead by exemple (combat roll).

>>5429639
>>Challenge one of these vagrants to a single combat to show your men how it's done (combat roll)

>>5429714
>>5429730
>>5429769
>>5429784
>>5429798

You advanced, sword in hand and raised your weapon, ready to strike. Telling your men.

-You have beaten Ghibellines, wolf-men and other vagrants ! This rabble is nothing before you ! Forward men ! Montjoie ! Passavant li meillor !

Your men seemed to be overtaken by your determination and followed you. It was not time for talking, it was the time of the clash of the swords and the cries of the dying men, the time of battle.

Roll 1d100 please I will take the average of the first three rolls (with some bonuses because of your superior numbers)

Rolled 31 (1d100)

>>5429845

Rolled 21 (1d100)

>>5429845
God wants us to win, so we will!

Rolled 12 (1d100)

>>5429845

Rolled 34 (1d100)

>>5429845

Rolled 1 (1d100)

>>5429845 rollan
>>5429878
>>5429899
>>5429925
>>5429926
what in the fuck

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WHAT THE FUCKING SHIT LITERALLY FUCKING HOW

>>5429987
Witches must burn. Deus vult!

>>5429978
>>5429987
This is what happens when you tempt the dice gods retard

>>5430271
This a roll low quest anon

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>>5430271

>>5430287
>5430287
My point exactly

>>5430373
We got a 21.33, so we're probably fine.

>>5429995
>>5430291
Then I'm glad for my 1.

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>>5429878
>>5429899
>>5429925
>>5429926
>>5429978
>>5429987

>>5429995

Well said !

>>5430271
>>5430291
>>5430373
>>5430374

Exactly, you passed the roll.

>>5430510


You raised your weapon and charged at the fray, your men following you, the vagrants panicked against such fury. The small cagot tried to cry.

-Wizza send them an area of effect spell quickly I...

The witch seemed to move her hands and whisper something but she then told, practically crying when she couldn't talk.

-I... I can't...

It was at this moment that your forces clashed. The lizardman tried to hit you with his cleaver, crying the name of his pagan idol but you ducked under it and in the name of Saint Georges planted your sword in his exposed knee. The beast screamed in pain and tried to hit you with it's shield, forcing you to retreat but it was on one knee and you used your superior mobility to move to it's right side, not protected by the shield and use the superior reach and speed of your sword to hit it's face, maiming the beast and making some scales, and probably an eye, fly on the floor on a pool of blood. You then drove your sword on the flank of the beast, through the gap of it's cuirass and it was dead ! Victory !

You then saw that your men dealt with the remaining scum. The barbarian in furs tried to resist and was stabbed by Godefroi and some spearmen and once surrounded the cagot raised his arms while Ancel got behind him and applied his cutlass to his neck saying.

-Give me your belongings, funny dwarf !

-I... I surrender but i'm not a dwarf, I'm a halfling I... AAAAH

He got a bit bloodied by a light stab from Ancel who was not interested in his ramblings. The woman who talked to animals tried to speak in strange tongues but it didn't work and then she tried to hit a soldier with a baton but got knocked unconscious by a blow with the pole of a spear on the side of her head. The black clad witch, who was unarmed, pleaded to be spared. It was a clear victory, a glorious victory and you congratulated your men.

-Well done soldiers, well done, you have made me proud today. Remember, do not fear vagrants and other poorly equipped routiers, it is them that shall fear you. Now throw our new prisoners in the dungeons, put them in shackles awaiting their trial.

>>5430710

The men cheered and obeyed and they quickly sent the survivors to the dungeons while putting the corpses out of this place. You looked around you, Oldfossil seemed to be very intrigued, just like some men, they seemed to not even believe in their victory, Godefroi and Brother Louis exchanged pleasantries while Lady Takable and her handmaiden Becky were trying to comfort each other. Or, more accurately, Becky was sobbing because she saw blood and a lady was of course unaccustomed to it while Lady Takable looked at the scene, and a you, with a kind of fascination that you found attractive. She tried to pet the head of her handmaiden who was crying on her shoulder at the same time and when she saw that you looked at her she quickly tried to focus on Becky whispering some calming words to her ear.

What will you do first

>Talk to Oldfossil, you need to know what to do next, he probably will know how to deal with the repercussions of this skirmish.
>Talk to Captain Crumbling to tell him to give some more beer to the men this evening to congratulate them on their victory.
>Talk to Godefroi and Brother Louis about the great blows that you dealt, they will want to congratulate you on your battle with this half man half lizard.
>Talk to Lady Takable, she probably needs comfort after seeing so much violence.
>Wait for Father François, he will judge the witches.
>Other (Write in)

====

Your victory has given you +2 piety for beating a pagan champion and +1 mudcore for putting adventurers in their rightful place, below a local lord and his men at arms in full mail armor. You gain 30 xp for beating the dashing and daring too.


Your new stats :

Charles de Villeroi

Class : Local Lord
Level : 3
XP : 295+30 = 325 (next level at 450)

Stats

Combat : 51%
Intrigue : 25%
Rulership: 36%

Piety : 41+2 = 43

Mudcore : 39+1 = 40

With 40 Mudcore you have a bigger field of gritty realism around you, in this field the most heavy magic will not work and supernatural abilities will not work, oh, and women will lose 4 pounds of strength of course, plus in the field the people that obey you will act more like they would be in a dark fantasy setting. But more importantly, you now have a choice to make to specialise your mudcore.
Next level at 50, the next effects will depend on your choice of specialisation, making it more powerful.

Talents
-Cavalry Commander : +20 to martial when you have to lead a cavalry charge or a cavalry attack. Works only when commanding shock or melee cavalry mounted on horses.
-Foreign Etiquette : You focus on learning Indian etiquette with Oldfossil, you gain a +10 bonus in intrigue in your interactions with the nobility of your duchy.
-Dumbstruck by Lady Takable : you are convinced that you are not able to fool Lady Takable after your double critical failure, you have -10 intrigue when you try to manipulate her

>>5430712

Choose one of the three "paths" for your Mudcore power, it will be an unique choice and once on one of these paths you will not be able to change it. Each one will bring boons and challenges.

>Land of Mud : It is the most powerful, but the most dangerous path for your mudcore specialisation. With it the land around you will change, there will be more rains like in your native Champagne and the colors will become more grey, more muddy. Fantastical structures and those build by magic will fall in ruins while people will build cloisters, small houses and other structures typical of medieval Europe (you could still build a cathedral or other impressive buildings but it will take, like in real life, decades or centuries). At higher levels magic will have absolutely no effects or very reduced effects in all the land that you have in your personal demesne or in the demesne of your vassals while people will think more and more like in a mudcore, dangerous world. Strange gaps between our world and Bifuria will sometimes open on your holdings and in exchange of piety you will be able to bring reinforcements from XIIIth century Europe, be they knights, peasants, people that you know or other higher authorities. But be careful, from those gaps many dangers could come be they wolves, bandits, Englishmen, Saracens or diseases not curable by magic, high attrition due to deaths during childbirth and other medieval happy happenings.
When the effects of Land of Mud will be high you will be seen by the inhabitants of this new world as an abomination against nature, a lord of evil more dangerous than B'beg the Terrible, armies will be sent to destroy you, the best adventurers will try to kill you and maybe even the forces of good and evil will be forced to make an alliance against the tide of mud and their strange only God. Once you die the member of your dynasty who inherits most of your lands will be the only one to have your powers. (Since you can bring reinforcements, at the cost of piety, it is by far the most powerful path, but the most dangerous too).

>>5430713

>Man of Mud : The effects of the mudcore around you, be it the stopping magic from happening, stopping adventurers from using unnatural powers, or making everyone act like in a mudcore setting will only grow bigger and bigger, at the end they will be able to influence an entire city, or an entire army around you, shielding them from magic and helping influence their behaviour. At higher levels of mudcore fantastical structures and magical weapons will lose their powers or crumble if you remain near them for too long. Seeing the effects grow near you and become more and more important some people will begin to understand that you are the cause of all of this. It will make some of them hostile but others will try to use your powers for their own aims. Be careful tough, if your mudcore is too high medieval diseases and other funny effects may appear in your vicinity.
When the effects of Man of Mud will be high enough and people will know of your qualities you will be seen ambivalently by the world, some people like the mages guild other guilds or cults will try to kill you and use their considerable resources to do so but short of treason or personal feuds most of the Empire Nobility will not try to actively wage war against you, some will even try to ally with you in order to get rid of troublesome mages or noblemen, or noblemen who wield magic. Once you die the member of your dynasty who inherits most of your lands will be the only one to have your powers. (It is the most "average" path since you will only see your base abilities grow more and more powerful like they grew during the first threads of this game. It has it's rewards and they are not negligible but it has it's risks).

>>5430715

>Blood of Mud : If the effects of mudcore around you will continue to grow around you, ou, be it the stopping magic from happening, stopping adventurers from using unnatural powers, or making everyone act like in a mudcore setting you will not be able to shield and entire army or an entire city like in Man of Mud, you will simply be able to protect an area the size of a castle, or a few hundreds of men in the field of battle. But you will be able to transmit these powers during your lifetime. Every child born of your blood, be it your children, born into marriage or bastard born, or their children, will inherit some mudcore powers and be able to have the same influence. The more you multiply the more the carriers of the mudcore gene will be numerous and able too influence their surroundings. They will have to grow their mudcore through actions though so it will be a long game to play. And remember, not all your children will be loyal to you. The negative effects of Man of Mud could be present too, but in a smaller area, if you choose this path.
When the effects of Blood of Mud will be high enough one man, a strange noseless sorcerer, will understand before everyone the deviousness of your bloodline and swear to exterminate "muddy blood" he will have loyal retainers and followers and he will send them against your bloodline but he will have trouble convincing the Mage's Guild of this so any massed answer will take time. With a bit of luck and intrigue you could manage to discredit him and make him far less of a problem too. (It is a funny path and the less risky one, but it will be very useful only in the very long term and it is probably the one that will make you the less powerful)

If you have questions about this choice I will be glad to answer, as always.

>>5430712
>Talk to Oldfossil, you need to know what to do next, he probably will know how to deal with the repercussions of this skirmish.

>Blood of Mud
I like effects that becomes more powerful the more women we impregnate

>>5430712
>>Talk to Oldfossil, you need to know what to do next, he probably will know how to deal with the repercussions of this skirmish.

>>5430716
>>Blood of Mud

I rather prefer the fish out of water aspect rather than transforming the world around us I suppose.

>>5430712
>Talk to Godefroi and Brother Louis about the great blows that you dealt, they will want to congratulate you on your battle with this half man half lizard.
If we can do two:
>Talk to Oldfossil, you need to know what to do next, he probably will know how to deal with the repercussions of this skirmish.

>>5430713
>Blood of Mud

>>5430716
>Speak to Oldfossil

>Mud of Blood

Seems like a very useful thing in the long run, and if they're against us...we'll just hang him, or best him in a duel

>>5430712
>>Talk to Oldfossil, you need to know what to do next, he probably will know how to deal with the repercussions of this skirmish.

>Land of Mud
I like hard stuff

>>5430726
>>5430751
>>5430760
>>5430819
>>5430912

It seems that it will be Blood of Mud, a good choice, but be careful it will not be very effective until your children/bastards grow in 15 or 20 years.

And you will speak to Oldfossil.

Currently writing.

>>5430710
>The lizardman tried to hit you with his cleaver, but you ducked under and in the name of Saint Georges planted your sword in his exposed knee.
>The beast
Based on God. Fuck those twisted scaled men and their disgusting homosexual art galleries.
>>5430949
It seems I've missed the votings. Very unfortunate.

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>>5430726
>>5430751
>>5430760
>>5430819

>>5430985

To be fair I put an end to the vote because there seemed to be a large majority in favour of Blood of Mud but I think that, since you will discuss a bit before scoring more mudcore points and since that choice will influence all your adventures, I can let the vote open for 1 our 2 days, the time for you to score a bit more mudcore. It deserves to be discussed, especially with the recent events. (Not any choice is bad but they will affect your ability to make decisions and open, or close some options regarding your actual intrigues).

>>5430912

You turned towards Oldfossil, your councillor was intrigued by the events but when you came he told you happily.

-My lord, congratulations on your victory ! Congratulations ! I... I suspected it but feared for your life.

-You only suspected it ? They were few in numbers Oldfossil...

-Yes... Yes, my lord... But... Maybe we should speak in a more private place than this great hall..

You agreed and you quickly got in a small room in your apartments where the old man told you some words.

-Yes... My Lord, I wondered about many things, many things but tell me, when you fought the hags in the hills of Nesse... Did they managed to throw curses at you ?

You frowned and tried to remember, then told.

-No, they did not, God protected me. A pious man has nothing to fear from curses.

Oldfossil nodded, then he spoke again, more carefully.

-And the goblin shaman in the woods, did he tried to harm you with magic ?

-He... I suppose, I do not know he was always moving his baton and near his cauldron, he might have screamed curses at him but he spoke in a very ugly tongue, probably german, so I was unable to understand him.

Oldfossil put his hand near his chin, stroking his beard and added, for his demonstration.

-And you managed to kill Lord Hostil, even when his fire engulfed you and you must have been burned alive, and... And now the adventurers were unable to use magic to their advantage, just like with the last party that you arrested, their mage could do nothing. My Lord, I fear that you have the faculty to absorb magic... I haven't dared to think about it before but now it seems that there is too many coincidences to explain this.

You tried to remember when you have heard it before, and finally you told.

-The daughter of the Guelph merchant that I helped, she told it too dear Oldfossil when I touched her magical gem it changed into mud. She said that some people could kill me for having this faculty. She told me...

You tried to remember the worlds of Praetzel, daughter of Toplexil but you were more mesmerised by her red hair, her striking blue eyes and her fine curves by than her words, finally you remembered.

-Yes, she told me that the guelphs and some magicians had killed all those that were able to do this to magic. To ensure that they had power.

>>5431002

Oldfossil seemed shocked at the news and told maybe too loud.

-By the heavens... The magico-elvish plot is true after all... I always thought it was fantasies. But... It is... It is not... How to tell you it. It is not only this, repelling magic is one of your faculties, that we should keep secret of course, but there is more. You remember how you have beaten this assassin at the Inn ? He was a high level killer, a man normally capable of slaying many good fighters...

-It was a hard fight Oldfossil, but I was the better swordsman...

-Yes, yes, and when you were taken prisoners my mere Werewolves when you were with Lady Sue ? How did she manage to get captured ?

You laughed at that.

-She was a woman ! Of course she was a quite good fighter but she is too weak to fight properly, and they got us with numbers, even I could not beat them all...

His eyes glowed.

-YES ! But no ! They should have not ! She is a rank twenty adventurer, it is why everybody fears her ! She could probably beat fifty men by herself !

-It is ridiculous, only the Archbishop Turpin or a companion of Roland could do this !

-No, it is not, adventurers can... They are touched by fate you see, they can connect with the inner strength of the earth and use it to enter a kind of trance were they are far more powerful than normal human, they can beat dragons, giants, like this barbarian or Hydras like lady Mary Sue did.

You seemed to not believe the old man, but some doubt creeped in your mind, he was wise, and knowledgeable about India, maybe... maybe it was true, but no. You answered logically.

-But then how could she have lost ? How could these adventurers have lost.. and those before with Murd and his companions but...

You thought quickly and finished your sentence.

-But it is maybe why the six of them were so confident against thirty of us.

-Exactly my lord ! Exactly ! You understood me, it happened four times too, and always at your presence, and even five times, with the Paladins that you killed, they were very high ranked, I believed in luck but no... You have something in you my lord, something that manages to sever the connection between them and their powers. It does not only concerns magic. It is even more powerful, far more powerful.... All those people, they are no more heroes or mages capable of changing reality with their hands but mere mortal men like us.

You thought about it, what does that meant ? Does that meant that God had given you this ? This faculty ? Was it a gift from Him ? Or a devilish curse. Or anything else ? Well, at least it would be easy to deal with your guild problems now.

-Then we can go to Podunk, with 30 spearmen, and slaughter all the pigs of the adventurers guild to make them understand that they shall respect their feudal lords, it will be easy, without their powers they are just disorganised and lightly armoured peasants.

>>5431003

Oldfossil shook his head in panic.

-No my lord ! No ! Even if the ruler of Podunk agreed it would be folly ! Everyone would see you ! Everyone would see that adventurers were not able to use their powers, they will dispatch investigators, they will learn that you did it, and.

-And we could surely kill those investigators and their adventurers ?

-Not if there are hundreds of them, or if they use their gigantic influence, I talk about the mages guild, and the adventurers guild, to turn noblemen with actual armies against us. They will simply exterminate us with numbers. And the Queen, she is a magic user, and an elf, if what you say about the magico-elvish plot is true then we are as good as dead if she learns that you can do this !

The old man spoke true, he was wise and precious, you looked at him and he was looking down, muttering to himself. You decided to answer.

>You seem troubled, is there anything else you want to say to me ?
>So with this slaughter of adventurers we are in deep merdasse, are we not ?
>By Saint Denis Oldfossil think of a solution ! You are here for it ! You are my councillor.
>Then we shall make those three adventurers disappear, they are witnesses that shall be killed.
>We could maybe try to gather the adventurers of Podunk in a field, and kill them there ? Without any witnesses like in a town ?
>But if these abilities give us enemies, maybe they can give us allies too ? Can they ?
>The baron is a mage too, if he doesn't know we could try our luck at a feudal rebellion, striking before he has time gathering his soldiers. It would resolve another problem.
>We could maybe try to have a higher authority judge our quarrel with this guild. Even if treating with burghers as equals disgusts me.
>Other (write in)

>>5431006

If we can pick multiple topics before Father François comes along,

>You seem troubled, is there anything else you want to say to me ?

>We could maybe try to gather the adventurers of Podunk in a field, and kill them there ? Without any witnesses like in a town ?

>The baron is a mage too, if he doesn't know we could try our luck at a feudal rebellion, striking before he has time gathering his soldiers. It would resolve another problem.

Personally I'm not too worried about our prisoners, they're probably going to be executed soon

>>5431018

Yes you can pick up to three topics.

>>5431026
Many thanks messire

>>5431006
>>The baron is a mage too, if he doesn't know we could try our luck at a feudal rebellion, striking before he has time gathering his soldiers. It would resolve another problem.
>But if these abilities give us enemies, maybe they can give us allies too ? Can they ?
>Then we shall make those three adventurers disappear, they are witnesses that shall be killed.

>>5431006
>>You seem troubled, is there anything else you want to say to me ?
>>But if these abilities give us enemies, maybe they can give us allies too ? Can they ?
>>The baron is a mage too, if he doesn't know we could try our luck at a feudal rebellion, striking before he has time gathering his soldiers. It would resolve another problem.

>>5431006
>You seem troubled, is there anything else you want to say to me ?
>But if these abilities give us enemies, maybe they can give us allies too ? Can they ?
>By Saint Denis Oldfossil think of a solution ! You are here for it ! You are my councillor.

>>5431006
>>The baron is a mage too, if he doesn't know we could try our luck at a feudal rebellion, striking before he has time gathering his soldiers. It would resolve another problem.
>But if these abilities give us enemies, maybe they can give us allies too ? Can they ?
>Then we shall make those three adventurers disappear, they are witnesses that shall be killed.
>>5430715
>Man of Mud
Casting my vote against the muddy blood tide. I'm >>5430985.

>>5431006
>We could maybe try to gather the adventurers of Podunk in a field, and kill them there ? Without any witnesses like in a town ?
>But if these abilities give us enemies, maybe they can give us allies too ? Can they ?
>Then we shall make those three adventurers disappear, they are witnesses that shall be killed.

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>>5431018
>>5431029
>>5431051
>>5431072
>>5431088

>>5431095

Ok, thanks, I will count it.

>>5431107

You tried to find a good side to this situation and asked Oldfossil.

-But if these abilities give us enemies, maybe they can give us allies too ? Can they ?

The old man seemed to think he was still troubled and after a small moment he nodded his head.

-Mmmmh, yes, yes indeed my lord. If what the merchant's daughter said is true... And what I myself heard is true, I know that there is people, even high ranked noblemen that know about the Magico-elvish plot. I... Lord Random always thought it was a dangerous hobby for people who wanted to be thrilled by the idea to plot against our queen, and that it was rebellious. In truth it was very dangerous, nobody spoke openly of this because they disappeared very quickly, since the Queen has experts in divination to know in advance of any plot against her, just like the Mage's Guild it is hard to move against them. I know that Lord Neutral, and even the Count Careless himself spoke sometimes of this plot, always in japes and jokes to our Lord Random but I think that if he had been more interested in it they knew more.

You never saw the count but you knew that Lord Neutral was a very prudent, and very clever man. He seemed to always talk in riddles and he was afraid to plot openly... It was clear that he knew something, maybe you should have spoken to him more often. It was an interesting idea. You thanked Oldfossil and asked.

-And about the baron, he is a mage too. If he doesn't know we could try our luck at a feudal rebellion, striking before he has time gathering his soldiers. It would resolve another problem.

Oldfossil seemed to think about something else before telling seriously.

-My lord... It... It seems that he suspects that you use an artefact, but an open rebellion... Even if we move with our soldiers the Baron has has much soldiers as all his vassals, even more since lord Hostil is dead. He has easily more than 350 men in his guard and even his castle is guarded by more men than all our army put together.

-We could raise our peasants, but... Yes, the castle is strong, it will probably hold, and they will be no match for true fighting men, even if they are worse than ours.

-Yes my lord... His conventional strength is too great to do this... I...

He did not finish his sentence, instead thinking about something else. You wondered what was he thinking about, and saw that he was not in his normal mood. You tried to reassure him.

-You seem troubled, is there anything else you want to say to me ?

He finally looked at you, then nodded, and spoke slowly, and softly.

>>5432190

He finally looked at you, then nodded, and spoke slowly, and softly.

-Yes my lord. You see... When we brought you here... It was... With a ritual, to bring you from your world, to ours. My friend, the court mage of Lord Random, Rollarion McFumbles, he believed in an elvish plot too, and he was more or less send there by the mage's guild as an exile. He was in a very cold relationship with them, I never have been very interested in such plots, some of his theories seemed to contradict themselves.... But since you came, and he died during the ritual, he seemed to whisper some things. About "the Local Lord, the Local Lord arrived", it seemed strange and terrible that he died, but rituals can go awry, I thought about an accident. Then.... Then I tried to move his parchments, and documents that were in his room, most of them being drowned in muddy water.

You began to understand, it was slow, and you were not an expert in magic, you were not an inquisitor after all, but you told.

-So you mean that the diseases and all this "magical anomaly" was your doing ?

He shook and nodded his head.

-Yes my lord. It was not Lord Hostil... I, they might have been after effects of the Ritual, but let me finish, I beg you... It was hard for me to reconnect the pieces of the puzzle.

-The puzzle ?

-Yes, a small children's toy, wooden, to make a picture with engraved stones ?

-Is it how you do a ritual ?

-No my lord, it is merely an expression. I mean, I found some papers, some researches of Rollarion, all written in old runes. I am not an expert my lord, being a steward and not a mage but I dabbled in alchemy and with some efforts I managed to translate some of his remaining works. They were mostly ramblings, but I took more interest to them when you told me about your God, that shielded you from magic...

You frowned, letting him continue, what does this pagan enchanter knew about Jesus Christ.

-It seems, my lord, that Rollarion thought that the most powerful, and successful of the magical plots was the "shattering" of human gods into a multitude of concepts, it is why we have a million gods, so no god could become powerful enough to rule over the others, and that the most powerful archmages or High Elves could challenge the power of gods, and more politically that no clergy could become powerful enough to replace... My lord, may I ask you a question, I have seen father François and he told me a lot of things about the Church, like there is only one of it, are all the lords in your lands counselled by priests ? And are they the main source of knowledge ?

>>5432192

-We have had some troubles with antipopes sometimes but yes, the church is united. Greeks are schismatics and idolaters, they do not count. And yes, every lord has a priest, every village has a priest, every important city has a bishop, they all answer to the pope. Priests are good councillors, they know how to read and write, and monks in the monasteries are preoccupied with learning, often. It is the popes too that sponsored the first universities, and learned men are judged according to canonical law, the law of the church.

-And I believe that an organisation that has a quasi monopoly on knowledge and that counsels the rulers of the land has a great deal of influence.

-Of course, it is normal, we are all Christians after all. The church should be powerful.

The old man nodded and told.

-And in our world, any important nobleman has a court mage, and the Mages Guild controls, or is present in many centers of learning, they are protected by the emperors and even in the council of many. They are in the armies, everywhere, and everyone wants to know their opinions. They have alliances with adventurers and paladin orders to enforce their will. The function of your Church is more or less occupied by the Mage's Guild.

It was awful, it was why India was so bad, enchanters serving satans replaced the ministers of Christ. Before you could proclaim it Oldfossil talked, more passionately.

-And they keep the religions divided, into many minor cults that bicker and neutralise themselves, according to Rollarion... So... So I think I understood my Lord... Rollarion... Rollarion did not fail the ritual, he sacrificed himself to bring a servant lone God... That protects mankind and stops this.. I.. I do not know what to say... I... I never thought he would be doing this.

He seemed lost, having said this and he sat on a bench. He, at those moments, truly looked like his age. You wondered what to say to him. He has had most of his worldview shattered by what he saw, he hesitated still, tried to understand why he had lost a friend and created a catastrophe. He muttered.

-The Birth of a new god... It is... Dangerous and I do not know what is yours...

>>5432193

What do you answer ?

>Do not worry Oldfossil, the Lord has always been there. He exists everywhere, even outside of time.
>The Lord is infinitely merciful, as he is powerful, you have to fear him, but to love him too for he loves each one of us. Even if there were damages in the magical anomaly, you were not responsible and I am sure that you were forgiven.
>I am far from a great Theologian, but you should speak to Father François and Brother Louis, they will understand this better.
>Your friend sacrificed, no, martyred himself in the name of the Lord, even if he is a magician, I do not doubt that he is in paradise now.
>If someone called the lord, and made me travel in India to help convert the people, then I will do it, in His name. And in honor of your friend too, he knew that evil was plaguing the land and he tried to make a difference. I will try to, with your help, I hope.
>Dangerous ? How is it dangerous ?
>Why have you not told me any of this before ?
>Surely the plotting of a mage were not enough to do what was done, God agreed to it, and it means that you and I are doing God's work. You have nothing to fear, every soul will be redeemed.
>Other (write in)

>>5432196
>Why have you not told me any of this before ?
>Surely the plotting of a mage were not enough to do what was done, God agreed to it, and it means that you and I are doing God's work. You have nothing to fear, every soul will be redeemed.
>Do not worry Oldfossil, the Lord has always been there. He exists everywhere, even outside of time.

>>5432196
>Do not worry Oldfossil, the Lord has always been there. He exists everywhere, even outside of time.
>I am far from a great Theologian, but you should speak to Father François and Brother Louis, they will understand this better.

Speaking of Father François, we have a witch to burn

>>5432196
>Why have you not told me any of this before ?
>Surely the plotting of a mage were not enough to do what was done, God agreed to it, and it means that you and I are doing God's work. You have nothing to fear, every soul will be redeemed.
>Speaking of God and... magicks... enough small talk, for we have a witch to burn!

>>5432196
>>Do not worry Oldfossil, the Lord has always been there. He exists everywhere, even outside of time.
>Your friend sacrificed, no, martyred himself in the name of the Lord, even if he is a magician, I do not doubt that he is in paradise now.
>Why have you not told me any of this before ?

>>5432196
>>Your friend sacrificed, no, martyred himself in the name of the Lord, even if he is a magician, I do not doubt that he is in paradise now.

>>If someone called the lord, and made me travel in India to help convert the people, then I will do it, in His name. And in honor of your friend too, he knew that evil was plaguing the land and he tried to make a difference. I will try to, with your help, I hope.

>>I am far from a great Theologian, but you should speak to Father François and Brother Louis, they will understand this better.

All 4 of us should sit down and talk about it.

>>5432196
>Do not worry Oldfossil, the Lord has always been there. He exists everywhere, even outside of time.
>I am far from a great Theologian, but you should speak to Father François and Brother Louis, they will understand this better.
>Speaking of Father François, we have a witch to burn

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>>5432215
>>5432225
>>5432238
>>5432352
>>5432416
>>5432590

You answered kindly.

-Do not worry Oldfossil, the Lord has always been there, he exists everywhere even outside of time...

-Outside of time ? And he was always there ? Is it... It is very strange but possible... But... Are you sure of it ?

-I am far from a great theologian, but you should speak to father François and brother Louis, they will understand your questions better.

The old man nodded, telling you sincerely.

-Yes, I shall speak with that priest friend of yours, thank you for your support my lord.

You nodded and added.

-Speaking of father François, we have a witch to burn !

The old councillor approved and let you go see if the priest had arrived. The fat man was here, effectively, but he seemed to be quite distressed. You approached him. You looked at him and told authoritatively.

-Look, father, we have a witch to burn, even two, and an heretic, I need you to judge them according to church law. Could you do it ?

He looked at you, quite strangely, and asked.

-Do you mean doing a judgement for sorcery ? I do not know...

-Yes yes, exactly this ! A judgement for sorcery, like in Paris, like the inquisitors do.

The man seemed to be quite disturbed and told you, in a sheepish tone.

-But monseigneur Charles, I fear to not be qualified, I am just a village priest. I do not know how to deal with all of this.

-How ? I mean you are a priest you can simply judge, like how we do in the villages, we throw her in some water, if she floats she is a witch and we burn her, if she drowns then she is dead, you could pray for her soul. It is simple.

-No.

-How no ? Why no ?

-No, ordeals are done in Seigneurial law, in local customs monseigneur, the church's law, canonical law, asks for true proofs.

-How is the fact that she floats not a proof ?

-And they deserve to have a lawyer. Or to defend themselves before a court...

By the heavens, what does it meant, well, if they needed this you could give it, you told François.

-Then we shall do it. And you could judge them.

-Thank you monseigneur, but I fear not, I am not qualified yet, I am only schooled in the oldest texts, the new texts from Thomas of Aquinas are unknown to me and their interpretations, the newest interpretation about sorcery are not ?

-What ? You will need another lawyer for it ? I saw people burning witches in Paris.

-No, you see, monseigneur, before the later twenty years the official position of the church was that sorcery does not exist...

-WHAT ? But I know a peasant who saw his neighbour looking at a two headed goat in the night ! Yes yes ! It was because he had done a ritual, to call the devil !

-Monseigneur, we cannot be sure, before the last years the church told that these men were deluded and did tricks, a man cannot call the demon to have unnatural powers. Only the most modern progress in knowledge have officially permitted us to conclude that sorcery, indeed, exists.

-Huh...

>>5434443

The priest continued.

-Yes, and unfortunately I am not yet knowledgeable in it and in how to deal with it, I know exorcisms but not how to lead a case in sorcery, I could try but it will be hard. We would need, really need I mean, an Inquisitor or someone who knows how to recognise sorcery.

-But recognise, recognise, they tell that this woman could raise the dead !

-They said it too about a young woman near Reims, the wives of some husbands that looked to much at her said this... It does not mean that it is true.

-But... but.... But you saw wolf men ! Wolf men and those hags that captured us ! They tried to do magic and men changed into wolves ! It was unnatural ! Witchcraft exists !

-Yes, and it proves that knowledge progresses and that we can surely affirm, now, that sorcery exists, but how to recognise it ? Everybody could speak gibberish, we would need proofs, and without a true specialist of the questionnette, or at least a hangman who knows his job it would be hard to find some.

You scratched your head, in search for an answer. Why do learned men always tried to make everything complicated ? Maybe to seem more intelligent than the others. You liked Father François but he read to many, or to few in this case, books sometimes.

What do you answer.

>Listen, we will find an Inquisitor, or some texts, God sent me you to India so he will maybe be able to send me an Inquisitor, or we will find someone.
>I will judge according to feudal law, even if I told that it was not necessary.
>If you cannot judge them for sorcery, could you judge them for heresy at least ?
>Other (write in)

>>5434444

I forgot the option.

>Bribe Father François with a part of your wine cellar and sausage stocks, he could be ready to do a trial after that.

>>5434444
>Bribe Father François with a part of your wine cellar and sausage stocks, he could be ready to do a trial after that.

Proving it won't be hard, India is a land of 'magic' and they're really unquiet about her sorcery since it's 'legal'.

>>5434444
>>I will judge according to feudal law, even if I told that it was not necessary.
>>If you cannot judge them for sorcery, could you judge them for heresy at least ?

>>5434444
>>If you cannot judge them for sorcery, could you judge them for heresy at least ?
>Listen, we will find an Inquisitor, or some texts, God sent me you to India so he will maybe be able to send me an Inquisitor, or we will find someone.

>>5434444
>Bribe Father François with a part of your wine cellar and sausage stocks, he could be ready to do a trial after that.
>"Can't you just prick the witch until you find someplace that doesn't bleed?"
>"What I need is a death sentence, not a rigorous examination."

>>5434444
>>Listen, we will find an Inquisitor, or some texts, God sent me you to India so he will maybe be able to send me an Inquisitor, or we will find someone.

>>5434444
>Listen, we will find an Inquisitor, or some texts, God sent me you to India so he will maybe be able to send me an Inquisitor, or we will find someone.
>If you cannot judge them for sorcery, could you judge them for heresy at least ?
God, what a BUZZKILL.

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>>5434555

The problem is for them to not be forgiven.

>>5434624
>>5434661
>>5434686
>>5434727

>>5435329

Sadly the early Middle Ages were not reasonable enough to understand the need to burn witches.

===========

You were astonished... These women were witches, they even admitted it, why should you lose some time with proceedings. You sighted and then explained.

-Listen, we will find an Inquisitor, or some texts, God sent me you to India so he will maybe be able to send me an Inquisitor, or we will find someone.
The priest agreed, he explained you.

-Thank you very much, thank you. It would have been hard to judge.

But you were not convinced.

-No, it will be simple, very simple, these people openly admit that they do magic and you saw that it works. You need to brand them as witches so I can burn them.

-But in confession I saw a woman saying that she did magic to help her husband who was seeing another woman, come back to her and that it worked. I told her to pray to be absolved.

-What ? But my lord father would have had this witch executed...

-It is why the people come more often in confession than to the justice of your lord father messire.

You frowned, it was true, Eudes de Villeroi, your lord father was a harsh man, he has beaten you enough in your youth when you were doing many funny things to teach you some discipline. He was harsh with the peasantry but order reigned in his fief. He was a good man, he feared God and served his king loyally, even if sometimes he had problems with royal tax collectors, and he knew how to be respected by his neighbours, one day the neighbouring lord sent two messengers to reclaim a field from your lord Father, he ordered to boil them alive and to tell the vile neighbour to never enter anymore on Villeroi's lands. That taught him how to behave. Unfortunately the cowardly peasantry feared this harshness but what to expect from them ?
So you explained Father François.

-But we shall be harsh to be disciplined. The peasantry will think that we are weak if we begin to be too merciful, just like the armed vagrants from Podunk. This woman deserved to burn, just like those witches.

>>5435658

The priest took a gentle tone and explained you.

-Monseigneur, the Lord is merciful, remember that Jesus Christ told to forgive to his enemies and told the one who would not have sinned to cast the first stone when they stoned a woman... Sometimes forgiving them is the best way to teach them. The woman who had tried to charm her husband back with magic was desperate, she loved him and tried everything in panic, playing with some strange philters. Why killing her ? God is merciful. These women who try to do witchcraft here, just like the local peasants, they were going to the wizard because they never heard of the Lord, they are pagans, they do not know good from evil, we shall teach them by example and virtue my lord, just like I am not harsh from them I shall not be harsh with you for sleeping with your maid.

-Stacy ? How do you...

-She came to confession monseigneur and recently was converted, but do not worry, she is not with child. So as you see, I cannot be harsh. Try simply to respect your future marriage.

You reddened but the priest was right. He was right but wrong at the same time, he was an honest man but not a politician. And hearing from him, who had a mistress in Champagne, that you had one was quite amusing. You then explained him.

-I need them to be recognised that witches that were practising sabbaths with the cagot and the rest of their group. We need to burn them, for political reasons.

-My lord, I can't...

You needed to use other weapons to get to your goal, so you said.

-I was thinking about giving you enough pounds of salted beef and pork sausages to satisfy you, and three barrels of this good Capitolish wine that you loved so much for your church. But I shall offer them to these adventurers for a truce as part of reparations. I think it will be honest... After all they lost two of their guildsmen.

The fat priest looked at you and began to sweat, swiping it with a white cloth. He seemed to scratch his tonsured head before telling.

-My lord... On the other side... I can understand your point of view, after all they talked about practising witchcraft and bringing back the dead, if what told me your man that came to fetch me was true. It is terrible, a terrible sin, and if God is merciful he could be severe too. Has he not destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah with fire ? And the mores of two women travelling alone and being dressed, for one of them, since I saw them in the village, as a man, with pants, are terrible. What woman would be dressed as a man ? Only a witch, I think that it could be enough to call her a witch, and the other, if she confessed... And the cagot too. Sometimes the Lord works in mysterious ways. And if we could bring the Faith here, why not bringing the latest doctrine about witchcraft that authorizes witch burnings even if I have not the tools. Yes, it will help to avoid heresy.

You smiled, glad that the priest had finally seen reason. Now was the time to concentrate on other matters.

>>5435659

>Talk to Captain Crumbling to tell him to give some more beer to the men this evening to congratulate them on their victory.
>Talk to Godefroi and Brother Louis about the great blows that you dealt, they will want to congratulate you on your battle with this half man half lizard.
>Talk to Lady Takable, she probably needs comfort after seeing so much violence.
>Go to the dungeons for the questionette of the witches and heretics, with the help of our brave Ancel they shall talk quickly.
>Other (write in)

Choose one please

You loose one piety for bribing a priest.

====

Your new stats :

Charles de Villeroi

Class : Local Lord
Level : 3
XP : 325 (next level at 450)

Stats

Combat : 51%
Intrigue : 25%
Rulership: 36%

Piety : 43-1 = 42

Mudcore : 40

With 40 Mudcore you have a bigger field of gritty realism around you, in this field the most heavy magic will not work and supernatural abilities will not work, oh, and women will lose 4 pounds of strength of course, plus in the field the people that obey you will act more like they would be in a dark fantasy setting. But more importantly, you now have a choice to make to specialise your mudcore. (you currently choose Blood of Mud)
Next level at 50, the next effects will depend on your choice of specialisation, making it more powerful.

Talents
-Cavalry Commander : +20 to martial when you have to lead a cavalry charge or a cavalry attack. Works only when commanding shock or melee cavalry mounted on horses.
-Foreign Etiquette : You focus on learning Indian etiquette with Oldfossil, you gain a +10 bonus in intrigue in your interactions with the nobility of your duchy.

>>5435660
>>Talk to Godefroi and Brother Louis about the great blows that you dealt, they will want to congratulate you on your battle with this half man half lizard.

>>5435660
>>Go to the dungeons for the questionette of the witches and heretics, with the help of our brave Ancel they shall talk quickly.

>>5435660
>>Talk to Captain Crumbling to tell him to give some more beer to the men this evening to congratulate them on their victory.

>>5435660
>Tell to give some more beer to the men NEXT evening to congratulate them on their victory.
For morale, but keep em sober until the witch threat is over.
>Go to the dungeons for the questionette of the witches and heretics, with the help of our brave Ancel they shall talk quickly.
The pussy must wait until the God's rightful wrath is served to the heretics. Lady Takeable will understand it is our duty, I'm sure of it.

>>5435660
>>Go to the dungeons for the questionette of the witches and heretics, with the help of our brave Ancel they shall talk quickly.

File: Tool for the questionette.jpg (197 KB, 1000x627)

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>>5435672
>>5435705
>>5435718
>>5435756
>>5436204

You choose to go to the dungeons, you had a questionette to lead. You made sign to the priest to follow you and on the road you ordered one of your men to fetch Ancel. But the soldier answered.

-But, my lord, Ancel has been in the dungeons, he is there actually.

By the beard of Saint Jacques ! You decided to walk quicklier even if it was harder for the fat Father François because you feared that if you would not be quick enough you scout would have already raped what was rapable and stolen what was valuable letting you with wretches incapable of giving answers. It was exactly when you were here that you saw your scout threatening the cagot with it's cutlass.

-Give me your jewellery, funny man !

The small man cried and tried to defend himself.

-Yes, please, yes... I can give you... A crystal of agility, a crystal that gives you the agility of an an elven wardancer, you can sell it for 3000 gold coins, look, it is... here, and you help me escape okay ? I can give you more, I promise.

He had it's hands bound before him but he managed to get it outside of his shirt, it was on a necklace. The brave Ancel snatched it, and got to another cage. You looked at it from afar, quite amused when the little cagot, understanding that he had been robbed.

-Hey, come back, bastard, you smell of shit and rotten cheese, come back.... Give it back bastard !

Ancel only laughed and advanced towards the cage of the two women, the woman in black looked terrified while the other, the Guelph woman in men's clothes, looked at him hatefully. Your redheaded scout smiled with his yellow teeth and told, while trying to put his cutlass towards their robes.

-You are nice looking ladies, would be a shame if I saw more of your flesh.

The black haired one simply panicked while the other one insulted him in a language that you failed to understand. But it was enough, you had a questionette to make. They all shall be interrogated. You told.

-Enough Ancel ! I will need them for interrogation.

He looked at you, bowing and told very quietly.

-Just when the fun began...

With whom do you decide to begin.

>The small cagot
>The guelph woman who could speak to animals.
>The black clad woman who could rise the dead.
>Let Father François decide, it is his interrogation after all.

And :

>Tell a speech to the three, saying that Ancel will torture them if they fail to answer the questionnette in a gentle way.
>Tell Ancel to give you back this crystal that he conveniently forgot to tell you about (and smack him on the head for it).
>Tell the vagrants that you will only torture the cagot, you are a chivalric lord and women are not tortured on your lands, burning them at the stake will suffice.
>Other (write in)

(Choose one from the first list and as much as you want from the second one)

>>5436495
>The black clad woman who could rise the dead


>Tell Ancel to give you back this crystal that he conveniently forgot to tell you about (and smack him on the head for it).
>Tell a speech to the three, saying that Ancel will torture them if they fail to answer the questionnette in a gentle way.

Give the other prisoners (except for the black clad witch) a choice. Confess and repent for their sins or join the necromancer at the stake.

>>5436495
>The black clad woman who could rise the dead.
>Tell Ancel to give you back this crystal that he conveniently forgot to tell you about (and smack him on the head for it).

They'll all have to be killed or imprisoned for political reasons, anyhow. Best not to promise anything

>>5436495
>The black clad woman who could rise the dead.
>Veldrin? Who is this Veldrin?
>She does not dress like the other surface-dwellers. Are those religious garbs?
>Tell Ancel to give you back this crystal that he conveniently forgot to tell you about (and smack him on the head for it).

>>5436495
>>The black clad woman who could rise the dead.
>>Tell Ancel to give you back this crystal that he conveniently forgot to tell you about (and smack him on the head for it).

Can't delete posts. How annoying.

>>5436495
>The black clad woman who could rise the dead.
>Tell Ancel to give you back this crystal that he conveniently forgot to tell you about (and smack him on the head for it).

>>5436495
>Let Father François decide, it is his interrogation after all.
Shame the lizard-man was felled, would make for fun interaction.
>Tell a speech to the three, saying that Ancel will torture them if they fail to answer the questionnette in a gentle way.
>>5436566
Huh? I thought that was only me.

>>5436495
>>The black clad woman who could rise the dead.
ask if the lizardman has any family so we could send condolences. we need some lizard men at the front of our army

>>5436502
Support

>>5436495
>The black clad woman who could rise the dead.
The most obvious culprit! A vile practitioner of dark arts, with a satanic spellbook no less!


>Tell a speech to the three, saying that Ancel will torture them if they fail to answer the questionnette in a gentle way.
>Tell Ancel to give you back this crystal that he conveniently forgot to tell you about (and smack him on the head for it).

>>5436495
>The black clad woman who could rise the dead.

>Tell Ancel to give you back this crystal that he conveniently forgot to tell you about (and smack him on the head for it).

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>>5436502
>>5436529
>>5436564
>>5436566
>>5436576
>>5436603

I agree, but you will see other half men half lizards in your peregrinations.

>>5436638

A wise choice.

>>5436762
>>5436899
>>5436951

It was the woman in black that you choose as your first victim. You had confiscated her book, you were barely literate having begun your lessons a bit more than two weeks ago but you did not recognise the letters in this book. You passed it to Father François when they dragged the black clad lady outside she seemed afraid of your guardsmen but receptive, she would probably talk without too much "persuasion".

When Ancel was trying to leave you told him.

-Give me the crystal, villein.

-What cryst... OUCH !

You smacked his head and gave it to you, kneeling and saying.

-Sorry messire, I have forgotten, sorry.

-Good, now do not do it again maraud. Let the priest lead the questionette.

The father sat down in a nearby room and began to question, noting the answers with a quill and some parchment.

-So, tell me... what is your name.

She seemed to be uncomfortable around people but she managed to answer.

-W... Wizza my lord I...

-No need to call me "my lord" call me simply "father". Well young Wizza, you stand accused of sorcery and of blasphemy, what do you think about it...

-Will you kill me ?

-No, the church is merciful, it will be even more merciful if you confess your crimes. We do not condemn you to anything, I will simply tell if you indeed did sorcery and blasphemed or not.

She seemed taken aback and tried to tell.

-I'm... I'm a necromancer, so I guess that yes... And... And I have sometimes risen the dead in a chapel of Aron so yes I can be considered as a blasphemer, but it was for a good cause.

Everybody besides her did the sign of the cross. She then looked at you and asked, in a naive voice.

-But...But... But... Are you a priest of the god of the dead Aron, I...

Father François answered.

-No, there is only one God, but what you did, using the power of demons to bring back the dead, is truly a grave act of sorcery, even if you were not knowing the Lord. And you seem to use it often. Only He can resurrect the dead.

-But no, there is not only one god, if there was it would cause cosmic disturbances, there is many gods. And yes it is my job but I do not summon demons or entities, my magic comes from my own power.

>>5437337

Ancel interveined.

-All magic comes from Satan ! She is diabolical, she must be burned at the stake before she changes us into frogs !

You tried to calm down the superstitious peasant before he stopped her from admitting her guilt.

-Silence maraud, let her speak !

-But it is true messire, witches like this can change people into manure, into goats, frogs or into nun's asses ! We must burn her !

You looked at him but then remembered that you were apparently protected against magic, but even in France you knew of such cases, and they were not always coming from the imagination of drunk peasants. The woman seemed to be terrified.

-You... will burn me ?

Father François insisted.

-No, no, no, no, no, no, the Church never uses the death penalty. Do not worry, but you maintain that you can do magic and that you reject the Lord ?

Of course, they let local lords like you execute the people that they branded as heretics. It was clever and very just. The Church was merciful but you could not be since unfortunately the temporal power needed to be harsh to prevent criminality. She answered.

-Yes, well it is complicated and... I am not skilled in transfiguration. What you will do with me I ? You will let me be free no ?

Father François looked at you and answered to you more than to her.

-I think it is your turn to decide monseigneur. I have everything I need with this one, a witch, a blasphemer and relaps. Do you have some some questions to ask her ?

You were sure that she deserved death, but mayhaps it was wiser to not tell her that she would be burned at the stake before the others would have answered, so they will confess, thinking that their lives should be spared. You disliked to lie, but not telling anything was not lying. La ruse est finaude !


>Yes, I want to know, how much is there adventurers at Podunk ?
>Do you have allies and relatives ? And your companions ?
>Who leads the adventurer's guild at Podunk ?
>How have you become a witch ?
>Deny your faith in Belzebuth and you will die in the Lord's peace.
>Is your other companion who talks to animals a witch ?
>You do not dress like the other surface-dwellers. Are those religious garbs?
>Other (write in)

(Choose no more than 3 choices please)

>No thanks, let us question the cagot next.
>No thanks, let us question the guelph next.

>>5437338
>Who leads the adventurer's guild at Podunk ?
>How have you become a witch ?
>You do not dress like the other surface-dwellers. Are those religious garbs?

>>5437346
Support

>>5437338
>>5437346
+1

>surface-dwellers
that makes us look like fucking mole people kek.

>>5437346
support
>Surface Dwellers

>>5437338

>>Who leads the adventurer's guild at Podunk?
>>How have you become a witch ?
>>Is your other companion who talks to animals a witch ?

>>5437346
+1

>>5437338
>Is your other companion who talks to animals a witch ?
This before we tell our decision
>Yes, I want to know, how much is there adventurers at Podunk ?
>Deny your faith in Belzebuth and you will die in the Lord's peace.
And this one after

I love the smell of pyre in the morning, good sirs.

>>5437338
>Is your other companion who talks to animals a witch ?
>How have you become a witch ?
>Are there many more witches at Podunk? How many?

>>5437338
>Yes, I want to know, how much is there adventurers at Podunk ?
>Who leads the adventurer's guild at Podunk ?
>How have you become a witch ?

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>>5437346
>>5437381
>>5437384
>>5437388
>>5437659
>>5437698
>>5437945
>>5438129
>>5438236

You took your most serious tone and asked calmly.

-Who leads the adventurer's guild at Podunk ?

She seemed to think, still afraid, and told.

-I... Normally there are bureaucrats from the Imperial Capital that lead the day to day affairs of the Guild... And...

-Are they like stewards ?

-Yes... Yes... But we elect representatives, they must adventure only in a region, most of us travel and stop at the different guilds, there is a man called Minmaxor the Warrior. He represents the adventurers here, he his helped by two others but I do not know their names, I only recently came here.

You then frowned, and told her.

-And how did you became a witch ? Have you been in a sabbath ? Have you cooked and boiled alive an infant ? Have you sacrificed to the devil ?

She looked at you, visibly afraid, saying.

-No...No,no,no,no,no I only graduated from the academy of magic. I have a license of the mage's guild, they are very severe about necromancers but I managed to obtain it.

She, even if her hands were attached before her, managed to take a small parchment from her robes and tried to give it to you, you took it, since you were barely literate you understood nothing but did as if you understood it.

-So this parchment tells us that you are a witch.

She told.

-Yes, well, my magic is legal, it is here, look.

Poor foolish girl, you gave the parchment to father François and remembering what you heard you told.

-You do not dress like the other surface-dwellers. Are those religious garbs?

The expression was strange, surface dwellers, you ignored where you heard it, ah yes, it was from Orin the short scotsman. You found it funny and decided to copy it but it created a real panic from the girl, she seemed to think quickly and looked at you.

-Surf... Surface dwellers... Are you.. Are you a...

She recoiled and added.

-Are you a vampire ?

You did not understood, Father François looked at you, Ancel too, he even smacked her behind her head. That seemed to persuade her that you were.

-Silence villein woman ! Do not try to curse our lord with your foul magic words.

You answered your scout.

-Keep calm Ancel, no need to hit her.

>>5438857

But Father François, who was still in the room, seemed not to know what was a vampire when you knew, he looked at you, afraid, that seemed to frighten the witch even more, and you simply chuckled when you saw their faces. Maybe you should tell that you are one, or not. After all they seemed to be known to be great sorcerers, and since their magic did not work it could be because yours was more powerful, and they were told to be often noblemen, strong and handsome too, that described you well. Of course your handsomeness was completed by the fact that the other male specimens near you were father François who looked like a pie with legs and a tonsured head and Ancel le Purineur who was literally collecting dung before he was a scout and smelled like it.

>Yes, I am a vampire indeed.
>Do not worry witch, I am alive and well, and a French Nobleman, not a blood sucking monster.
>Keep silent and send her to her cage.

You then had to choose who will be next.

>The cagot
>The guelph who talks with animals

>>5438860
> I might or might not be a vampire, witch. Guess you'll have to find out tonight.
Pure evil.
> The hoe that's dressed like a man

>>5438860
>Keep silent and send her to her cage
>The guelph who talks with animals

>>5438860
>>Do not worry witch, I am alive and well, and a French Nobleman, not a blood sucking monster.
>>The guelph who talks with animals

>>5438860
>>Do not worry witch, I am alive and well, and a French Nobleman, not a blood sucking monster.
>The guelph who talks with animals

>>5438860
>Do not worry witch, I am alive and well, and a French Nobleman, not a blood sucking monster.
But you may not be alive for much longer hehehehe

>The guelph who talks with animals

>>5438860
>Do not worry witch, I am alive and well, and a French Nobleman, not a blood sucking monster.
>The guelph who talks with animals

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>>5439055
>>5439064
>>5439139
>>5439177
>>5439244
>>5439276

Seeing the witch panic you told her, because you were a kind man after all.

-Do not worry witch, I am alive and well and a French nobleman, not a blood sucking monster.

She seemed reassured, you then ordered to bring the Guelph who wore men's clothes and talked to animals. When Ancel left the interrogation room to bring her father François asked you.

-Monseigneur, may I dare to ask you what is this "Van Pire" that you talked about ? And how does it sucks blood.

You smiled and told the priest, wanting to brag about your knowledge with the older man.

-I do not know, use your famous "reason" and "scholastic method" that the clergy love so much.

He scratched his head and told.

-I think that it is a contraction my lord, of Van and Empire, judging by the fact that they suck blood or the blood of the people, a metaphor widely used about Jews and tax collectors I would say that they must be some kind of imperials whose families begin by Van, so men from Holland I think, the young count Jean a boy of fourteen, rules them and it is probable that his tax collectors are vile. But I wonder how the perfidy of the imperial kind of Flemish and their Dampierre overlords was known in India.

You laughed a bit, the man was wise and knowledgeable but so far from the truth. You would have thought more or less the same thing if you hadn't tried to learn Bifurian poetry with Beau the Bard, who seemed to consider these undead as romantic creatures. You then explained.

-Haha, no, they are blood sucking monsters that come at night and can change themselves into bats, but they are burned by the sun, it is another creature of the Bifurian folklore. They are stronger than mere men and great sorcerers. These undead pass to be beautiful and often to pass as noblemen. And their image cannot be reflected in the water I think. I learned it while I learned local poetry, a woman falls in love with one in an awful book.

The priest seemed even more astonished, learning about them, but then he told.

-Mmmmh. And women find the idea of having their blood sucked by a dead thing worthy of a roman about courteous love.

You shrugged your shoulders, women were sometimes creatures even less understandable that what you saw in India. You then realised something and Father François seemed to realise it too. You began.

-By the beard of Saint Peter does it...

The priest nodded and cut you.

-Maybe she was offering her flesh to be saved, she is accustomed about raising the dead if we are to believe her ! She maybe wants to attire you in a dark ritual in the form of coupling.

>>5439528

He made the sign of the cross and you too. She was beautiful, of course, and your adventuring side would have wanted to explore what was under her robes but laying with a witch... It was the best way to catch disease, or a malediction, and knowing by experience that the shiest ones were the most active between the sheets you were terrified of what it could be. Not that you wondered about your lack of stamina, you were a man sure of yourself, of course. Fortunately some muffled sounds came from the door and the fact that Ancel came with the other witch made your thoughts focus on more urgent matters.

Ancel pushed her to the chair but she tried to resist, finally he grabbed her hands and attached her to it. She was gagged and glared at him angrily. He told.

-She tried to bite me messire ! And she kicked me in the shin ! A real devil...

Father François ordered to remove the gag and tried to tell the lady.

-Keep calm young lady, no need to resist, I am only here to ask questions for the church to judge you.

But once she had her gag removed she screamed angrily.

-Release me you pathetic vermin ! You have no right to judge me ! I'm an elf ! And not of your land ! I studied law before I became a druid, elves not residing in nearby lordships can only be judged by the kingdom's court !

The priest answered, quite taken aback.

-It is a religious tribunal here, nobody is above the laws of the Lord.

She answered quickly.

-I am not interested in your sect ! When they will learn about it our people will burn your ugly castle down and hang you ! Release me and my companions now ! I curse you in the name of all the deities of nature.

The priest laughed.

-If your deities are so strong why are you bound to a chair ? They cannot help you. Now stay calm and tell me why you are wearing men's clothes.

She looked at him first red with anger than with a strange grimace meaning that she was not really understanding the question, but then she told.

-I will only answer to a representative of the queen !

Father François looked at you. What do you tell him.

>Maybe we should fetch Oldfossil to ask him about this legal privilege.
>Simply write that she is guilty, her clothing is enough to prove that she dabbled in sorcery.
>Ancel, cut out one ear of the guelph, it will help her talk.
>Other (write in)

>>5439531
>>Simply write that she is guilty, her clothing is enough to prove that she dabbled in sorcery.
>>Ancel, cut out one ear of the guelph, it will help her talk.

>>5439531
>Simply write that she is guilty, her clothing is enough to prove that she dabbled in sorcery.
She literally denounced our Lord in front of us and tried to cast a vile curse in the name of her strange fairy creatures. Thanks to holy father Françous' presence her impotent attempt failed, of course. Note it all down.
>Ancel, cut out one ear of the guelph, it will help her talk.
That is not a way to address us! This wench clearly lacked a father who'd teach her manners, just like she lacked a mother to teach her how to be a lady. Tragic story, but the witch trial must go on.
>>5439528
>jews and tax collectors
Ah shit, it's getting too real now.

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>>5439531
>Simply write that she is guilty, her clothing is enough to prove that she dabbled in sorcery.
>Ancel, cut out one ear of the guelph, it will help her talk.
Someone strip this witch and give her a sackcloth!

>>5439675
>>5439725
Support

>>5439725
>+1

The idea is too funny! Maybe when she's wearing a vagrant's clothes she'll speak nicely to her betters?

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>>5439615
>>5439675

Well said good sir, these kinds of magic are now only seen in Britanny or other half savage lands. But maybe education by maiming is a bit too harsh.

About tax collectors and jews, what to say, I could have added Lombards. But since we left France in 1299 and our Charles and Brother François are close to Charles de Valois they had an important judicial conflict with jews that necessited king Philippe to intervene. He will definitely expel jews from France in 1306.

>>5439725

Well said, I added it to the dialogue, you are a wise bannerman good sir.

====

You looked at your men and sighted, this female guelph was insolent. You ordered your priest in a quick tone.

-Simply write that she is guilty, her clothing is enough to prove that she dabbled in sorcery. She denounced our Lord and cursed us in the name of some celtic faeries.

Father François nodded and wrote it, signifying Ancel to get the Guelph outside. You then tried to ask her some questions but she remained silent. You then told.

-Cut her ear out and provide her a sackcloth, we will not shock our assistance with a woman wearing pants anymore.

She looked defiantly at you cursing you in a tongue that you ignored. Ancel nodded but once he came towards her the ropes that tied the Guelph wench to the chair disappeared, only the one that attached her to the chair and was tied recently remained. He took her to get her back to her cage but she rose and with an astonishing agility that could have came only from witchcraft kicked him in the face after a somersault, freeing her hands from the chair by the same occasion. You had seen your remaining guelph guardsman Gardasil train and noted that if these guelphs were not very strong they were agile but you were astonished that the females of the specie seemed to be capable of such feats too. She then ran for the door while your man clutched his bloodied mouth but it was closed, stopping her escape, he grabbed her by the hair. Ancel then dragged the guelph to the ground and took his cutlass as to cut his throat while she screamed.

-Bastards, mayflies, vermin ! When the druids will learn of this you will all be killed ! All nature will turn against you ! Nothing will remain of your castle, we will march with wolves, tree men and fairies.

You wondered how she had managed to unbind her ropes, then you remembered that she was said to talk to animals, maybe she convinced a rat to serve her ? You were tired of her cries and ordered.

-Ancel, cut out one ear of the guelph, it will help her talk. I will question her a second time. Cutting out the ears is the punitions of those who start fights.

The priest did the sign of the cross and told.

-She is clearly possessed, but... Monseigneur, torturing a woman, we are frenchmen, it is not very gallant, burning her alive shall suffice.

>>5439849

Ancel seemed to have no such qualms and he simply put himself on the guelph, crushing her under his weight and unsheathed his cutlass for the grim work.

>Remain silent and let Ancel continue the deed.
>Gallantry is your duty as a knight, we will not molest the possessed witch, simply burn her at the stake.
>You are right Father, instead we will directly strip her to and give her a sackcloth, maybe she will be more polite after that.

>Try to ask one question (write in) if she does not answer order Ancel to cut out her ear.

>>5439829
>>5439840

Well i wrote before I could count your votes but since you supported the only vote it seems that great minds think alike.

But I changed the options at the last minute seeing >>5439840 suggestion haha.

>>5439851
>>Remain silent and let Ancel continue the deed.

>Try to ask one question (write in) if she does not answer order Ancel to cut out her ear.
"I veel give you one chance to answer witch, how did you break the ropes that bind you? Can you truly speak with beasts?"

>>5439851
>You are right Father, instead we will directly strip her to and give her a sackcloth, maybe she will be more polite after that.

I'm fine with keeping the ear if the sackcloth is used

>How did you escape?
Witchcraft!

>>5439851
>>Gallantry is your duty as a knight, we will not molest the possessed witch, simply burn her at the stake.

>>5439851
>Remain silent and let Ancel continue the deed
>How did you escape?

>>5439851
>Remain silent and let Ancel continue the deed.

Dress like a man, be subject to the same law as a man. We truly are a lord most progressive and feminist!

>>5439851
>>Remain silent and let Ancel continue the deed.
chad ancel

>>5439851
>Strip her and give her a sack cloth.
That's just too perfect, alright. Elves are such stuck-up bitches, her reaction would be priceless.
>Remain silent and let Ancel continue the deed.
A woman does magicks, dresses like a man, curses like a sailor and kicks like a mule and we're to just let her walk all over us and insult Jesus Christ because she's a woman? Now that's just absurd.
>Ask François if he thinks we should instead apologize and offer her some the salted beef and pork sausages.
I'm sure this will help father see our point.

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>>5439857
>>5439895
>>5439925
>>5440040

>>5440046

By the heavens, the novelties that you talk about seem to be even worse than those of Marigny.

>>5440201

Ancel is the incarnation of the common sense of the commoners and the recourcefulness of the common frenchman.

>>5440213

Well said good sir but unfortunately most of the people seemed to vote for cutting the ear and remaining silent then asking a question, it was mutually exclusive, but perhaps my presentation wasn't good. Sorry if this is the case.

====

You remained silent letting Ancel continue his deed. He cut off her ear with his cutlass and the arrogant Guelph cried like a pig that was slaughtered. Her cries, her tears and the blood that came off her ear were hard to watch, you had seen some gruesome things in your life but you remained a knight and you hesitated to hurt ladies, but she was not a lady, probably a poorly raised farmhand daughter judging by how she behaved. Father François winced and turned his head while Ancel raised the ear high and threw it in a corner of the room, laughing. He told.

-Now she looks like she has a cap with only a plume on the side ! Heh !

You rolled your eyes and ordered your man to remove the witch from the room. It was time to interrogate the last remaining member of this company. The small cagot.

The Guelph continued to cry and sob, screaming from pain while Ancel put her out of the room.

Father François told you.

-Monseigneur, listen, I understand why you did it but...

-But what ? She insulted the Lord and us, tried to escape, kicked and bitten my Ancel, nobody brutalises Ancel except me. And she admitted to be a witch, should we have apologised and offered her meat and wine ?

-I... No, you are right monseigneur, but perhaps flogging her would have been more appropriate. Well... Now we have only the cagot to speak too, you know, I never travelled to southern France and I never believed that those cagots existed but look at me now, I am in India and I see a lot of them. Hah !

Speaking of cagots the little man seemed to plead to be spared when he was carried here and tied into the chair. The brave Father François explained him.

-You will be judged by a religious tribunal to see if you partaked into heresy, sorcery, blasphemy or many other crimes or if you enabled them.

The cagot looked at you quite shaken and told.

-I am not a wizard, I am a warrior, and we do not need to be enemies. If you want I can give you the place where I buried some gold and adhere into your sect ? You do not want gold ?

You raised an eyebrow while the father, shocked by this blatant corruption and this insult to the church about an insincere conversion, rose and screamed.

-SILENCE ! We are not a sect but the only true Church ! Catholic and Apostolic founded by the Christ and led today by his vicar pope Boniface VIII !

>>5440930

>I want to know, how many adventurers are at Podunk ?
>Do you have allies and relatives ? And your companions ?
>Who leads the adventurer's guild at Podunk ?
>How have you came to be in the same company as two witches ?
>How could we contact the adventurers guild at Podunk, to arrange a trial or a battle ?
>You seem to be the leader of this band, tell me, how does the adventurer's guild works ? Some said to me that it was an organisation present in all the Empire and not many organisations in many cities.
>Is your other companion who talks to animals always such beastly ?
>Is there a lot of cagots amongst adventurers ?
>Do not ask anything, simply let Father François judge him according to the canons of the church. You could judge him in temporal law for his insolence.
>Other (write in)

Choose maximum 3 questions please. You gain 2 mudcore for torture but loose 1 piety for going against Father François wishes.

====

Your new stats :

Charles de Villeroi

Class : Local Lord
Level : 3
XP : 325 (next level at 450)

Stats

Combat : 51%
Intrigue : 25%
Rulership: 36%

Piety : 42-1 = 41

Mudcore : 40+2 = 42

With 42 Mudcore you have a bigger field of gritty realism around you, in this field the most heavy magic will not work and supernatural abilities will not work, oh, and women will lose 4 pounds of strength of course, plus in the field the people that obey you will act more like they would be in a dark fantasy setting. You have chosen Blood of Mud and so your mudcore field will become a bit bigger and stronger but could be transmitted to your children.
Next level at 50, your field will become more important.

Talents
-Cavalry Commander : +20 to martial when you have to lead a cavalry charge or a cavalry attack. Works only when commanding shock or melee cavalry mounted on horses.
-Foreign Etiquette : You focus on learning Indian etiquette with Oldfossil, you gain a +10 bonus in intrigue in your interactions with the nobility of your duchy.