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>>5481110

It seemed to please the dark lord whose tentacles looking like a beard, formed a smile. He made sign to Larion to continue. In truth Larion, as a specialist of prophecies, knew that they were true in that case and that the Dark Lord would have been destroyed, but he didn't want to betray him, he had done too much evil to be redeemed by the forces of good and he considered evil to be a vocation, not a mean to gain more power.

-Continue Larion, you have intrigued me.

-I have found that it was the work of extraplanar invaders.

He remained silent while the squid headed dark master began to use his prodigious intellect to think about all the possibilities that it implied.

-Extraplanar invaders... How interesting. Melara, bring us some wine would you.

A succubus who was flying nearby began to pour cups while the blood elf continued.

-The men that you saw in your crystal ball, those that drowned the chosen one. They come from another plane of existence and are protected by a strong magic, I would classify it as a light magic but it seems to be wielded by an entity with a tremendous amount of power that dwarfed even mine. And the moral codes of these men or this entity could not be classified by our standard measures of good and evil.

B'beg asked.

-They could not be classified... Are we being... Invaded by a True Neutral force ?

-It would be the best way to describe it Ô Dark One...

-The entity... What is it ?

-They seem to consider it like a God, at least in the part of the world where the invaders come from, I have entered into their minds, it took me a lot of power, far more than it should, but I have understood that the humans, and their plane seems to be populated only by humans, of the plane seem to be interested mainly by killing people for religious reasons, killing alleged magic users, fighting wars over plots of lands, taxing the peasantry until it can take no more, drinking and courting ladies without any chances to bed them.

At this last remark the dark elven maidens and succubusses in the room made faces meaning "eeew" they were rightly disgusted by such perversion. But B'beg remained impassible.

-If these invaders are human they can be bought. Have you managed to recruit them to our cause yet ?

This was the hard moment that Larion dreaded, his master was not what we would describe as "forgiving", he loved killing bearers of bad news and seeing the wrath of a dark demigod was not the most pleasant experience that Larion had in his more than 10 000 years of existence.

>>5481115

-Powerful Tyrant I... I have tried but these humans are as stupid as they are stubborn they seem to be led by fanatiscism and.

The air in the room began to be darker and Larion felt a terrible pain in his head, his master was torturing him and clenching his fist. At the same time the two ladies who were massaging him began to show a more cruel side of their nature. The one who was cleaning his hair grabbed it and put a dagger under his neck while the other one instead of massaging his shoulders grabbed a very painful nerve in an iron grip. By the hells, they were probably from a death cult, as beautiful as they were dangerous. Of course the blood elf could have killed them with a simple thought but with the magical protection of B'beg he had no chances to do anything. He shrieked in pain while his master told.

-You mean that you didn't manage to convince a simple human to join us ? A neutral human ? Was it treason ? Or stupidity ? You are useful Larion, but not irreplaceable, never forget this...

He managed to tell while he felt like a thousand razors were peeling away his brain.

-M... Master... I have a plan I... Think that...

-You think that they can be manipulated if we do not show ourselves but drive them against our enemies.

-Y... Yes...

-Of course, I had already this idea, but if I expected my servants to think as quickly as I, I would not have servants anymore. Release him girls...

The two ladies stopped their evil deeds and began to massage Abovyurlevel as if they always wanted to do that, one of them even refilled his cup of wine while his dark master began to gloat.

-Yes ! With an army of humans insensible to magic I will be able to destroy the Mage's Guild and then I will wipe out the magic-less humans ! And the world will fear me ! All of them will cower in fear before B’beg the Terrible ! Mwahahahahaha !

Larion tried to gain from the improving mood of his leader.

-Yes... Let us drink to your victory Terrifying Despot.

-No, I will drink, you will go get whipped for your failure.

Well, his mood hasn't improved as much finally.

END OF THE PROLOGUE

>>5481116

Back in a small village in the middle of nowhere, in a not very imposing but comfortable castle a brave knight, at least it is how you described yourself, was sitting in his throne and waiting for commoners to bring him their complaints. Oldfossil was helping you, he had already told you about most of the problems, some were about plots of lands or petty griefs that were not interesting but four were worthy of your interest. Let us say that they intrigued you. You heard your steward explain everything while you smiled to Lady Takable who had taken place in the first ranks to see you dispensing justice. The old man was explaining.

-As you see this is a most curious case, as you see the halfling doctor Belly Knockfellow is suing the peasant of local Aston Hished and his family. The strange fact was that the father of the peasant died three days ago and that he was healed by the doctor.

You looked at the sad family of peasants, a brown haired man, his wife, another man who should have been his brother with another wife, a blond one this time, and a lot of children they seemed affected by the loss while a small but well dressed cagot with hairy feet looked at the room in contempt. He seemed to wear circular pieces of glass around his eyes, it was most disturbing.

-Is it not normally the families of dead men that sue doctors who were supposed to heal them ?

-Yes, it is why it is interesting...

You nodded.

-What else my good Oldfossil.

-There is those dwarves of the dwarven community, north of here. They sue Merlor and Sylvera, this elven couple. Over a case of trespassing on their lands. A small affair, but it may interest you my lord since the dwarven community is powerful.

You looked at a group of ten short bearded scotsmen who were grumbling and showing fists to two very dignified guelphs, the chestnut haired guelph seemed to be less severe than his blonde wife who answered the scotsmen, you had to order your guards to separate them before there would be a brawl. You nodded for Oldfossil to continue.

-And there is those two c,raftsmen the Kramers, they want to divorce.

He told it as it was scandalous, yes of course it was, so you asked.

-Was their marriage not made in presence of a priest, or not consummated ? And it is generally the church who does these things. And we are normally married for life.

-Divorces are rare here my lord, but it is to the local lord to deal with this.

You disliked it, a marriage was a sacrament of the Church and only God could put an end to a sacrament. But these people were married before you came here, under pagan rituals, so you could understand that they would want your opinion on it. But you disliked it. You looked at the husband and wife, they seemed normal but this appearance could hide wickedness. Oldfossil continued.

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>>5481118

-We caught a thief too, in Forgotten, the half-elf Larcinas tells that he is innocent but two peasants saw him stealing calabashes from them. It is the only criminal case that we have.

A thief, the only criminal case ? Good, it meant that your people were more honest than you thought. Even in the middle of disasters their life, under your wise government, remained happy and secure. Maybe you should raise taxes to give them a chance to thank you for it ? What is your answer.

>We shall begin with the doctor.
>We will begin with the guelphs and the short scotsmen.
>We will begin with this heretical "divorce"
>Let us bring justice to this thief.

>>5481119

I am glad to be back good sirs, for the adventures of Charles de Villeroi. We have left when we returned home after a hangover to judge some peasants the next day. For those who want to read the previous threads there is the links :

https://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/qstarchive/2022/5085315/ : thread 1
https://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/qstarchive/2022/5134375/ : thread 2
https://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/qstarchive/2022/5194246/ : thread 3
https://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/qstarchive/2022/5314154/ : thread 4
https://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/qstarchive/2022/5422744/ : thread 5

Do not forget to vote, even if the opinion of the people do not count in our right and proper feudal society it seems that some uppity commoners have dared to rebel since the death of our good king Philippe.

If you have questions do not hesitate to ask good sirs, I hope the continuation of our adventure will be as enjoyable as it's beginnings.

>>5481119
>We will begin with this heretical "divorce"

>>5481119
>>Let us bring justice to this thief.

>>5481119
>>We will begin with the guelphs and the short scotsmen.

>>5481119
>>We will begin with this heretical "divorce"

>>5481119
>>Let us bring justice to this thief.

Rolled 1 (1d2)

>>5481125
>>5481128
>>5481161
>>5481169
>>5481178

It seems that it is time to roll. 1 for the thief, 2 for the divorce.

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>>5481125
>>5481128
>>5481161
>>5481169
>>5481178

You decided to begin with the thief, after all it was the greatest crime here and you wanted to show how you dealt with these bandits. You told oldfossil.

-Let us begin with the thief.

Your head still hurt after yesterday's liquor, this Centaur knew how to make strong things. So when Oldfossil announced that they would judge the thief and that the attached "half-guelph" began to scream.

-I'M INNOCENT ! I DID'NT DO NOTHING !

You had only one answer.

-SHUT UP !

You then massaged your poor head, you could try to pass for normal but you really disliked when people screamed at you after a mild hangover. You ordered the peasants to talk before the alleged thief. The two peasants looked like they were brothers, or cousins, who could tell with peasants. One of them had smallpox marks thought so it helped distinguish him by making him uglier. Both were quite thin and of middle height. It was probably because of the magical anomaly in your lands. Oldfossil explained them.

-Tell us your names and tell why you seek our lord's Justice.

-I'm Plas and this is Older m'lord. We are both farmers, we farm on a small plot of land near forgotten, we cleaned it from the forest y'see ? We grow calabashes, crops, potatoes but'they all died after..

You made a sign of your hand and tell.

-Yes, yes, be quick.

-Of course m'lord, we was, or were, whatever, cutting firewood with my brother, he is the younger even if he's called older cause y...

-I told you to be quick, stay focused on the subject.

-Yes yes m'lord we were cutting firewood and we heard some noise in the field, we came and we saw this fopdoodle running with a calabash ! Our calabash ! So we had axes in our hands ya see, so we decided to pursue him to grab him, but he ran fast... But i'm not a complete idiot ya see, and I decided to unleash our dog, Rex, he's a good dog he could be...

-And I suppose that your dog caught this thief or slowed him down enough by biting him that you managed to capture the culprit.

-Exactly m'lord, you told all I would...

-Yes, yes. Excellent. Now let us hear the running man.

The half guelph was a beautiful man with dark hair and sharp features, his ears were less pointy than those of other guelphs thought. He was quite well dressed but his clothes were worn off. He bowed before you and told.

-My lord, I was the victim of...

-Your name.

-My name is Larcinas of the Forest. Singer, juggler and acrobat, I live were my travels guide me. I can occasionally help on a farm too.

>>5481964

A vagrant who helped on farms, and who did professions not worthy of true christians. When he helped he would probably sleep with the farmer's daughter, you wouldn't trust such a man near your lady that was sure. You made him sign to continue.

-I am the victim of a vast conspiracy my lord. As you see I was travelling trough your lovely lands and marvelling at the beauty of the forest. It was when I saw two calabashes that were fallen on the road. I picked them up to put them back in a box where they were stored. But then, I see two men, with axes, clearly bandits, who told me "OI" in a strange tone ! What would any honest man do ?

You didn't knew if the question was rhetorical and answered what you would have done in his place.

-Beat them up ?

-Unfortunately your lordship is more skilled in the martial arts than my humble person. I ran, of course I ran but then they unleashed a huge black dog on me, I was bitten, attached and brought here even if I protested against such treatment. I ask money from these two bandits, for I find not a better term to describe them.

There were murmurs in the room and you were quite astonished.

-You felt threatened by these two idiots ?

The peasants seemed to be offended but really, they looked like idiots and probably were. If you look like an idiot you should not be surprised to be called like this, it was your opinion. Even with axes they would barely look dangerous.

The thief looked at you.

-I... Of course, there were two of them, and, and they had axes !

He seemed to not have thought about this side of the story. You then turned towards the two men.

-Did you saw him with two calabashes on the road ?

-Yes m'lord, we saw him with a lot of them, when he saw us he began to run with one ! And he took them from our box of calabashes that we wanted to bring to the market ! He's a thief !

-I was not, you threatened me and sent a dog on me and...

By the heavens, it needed to stop. What was your decision, you knew that indians were very mild about punishment but maybe a bit of French justice would set an exemple. You thought that this Larcinas was probably a better liar than the two inbred imbeciles that he had robbed but at the same time, he seemed not to die of starvation to steal a calabash... Or maybe he stole commonly. Who knows with vagrants ?

>This man is clearly a thief, cut off his hand.
>I shall not cut off a hand for a calabash, give the man twenty lashes.
>Oldfossil, what is the indian punishment for a thief in this case ?
>This man is innocent, he was afraid and had good intentions, let him be.
>This man is innocent, and you hurt him, he is owed reparations, give him some calabashes.
>Other (write in)

>>5481965
>>I shall not cut off a hand for a calabash, give the man twenty lashes.

>>5481965
>>I shall not cut off a hand for a calabash, give the man fourty lashes.
this dude reeks of being a repeat offender.

>>5481965
>>I shall not cut off a hand for a calabash, give the man twenty lashes.

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>>5481988
>>5482043

Well said, but he will steal again if he has both his hands. You are really very kind good sirs.

>>5482071

You were definetely too good, some would even call you weak, but you thought that chopping off the hand of someone only because of the testimony of two imbred peasants was too much. Maybe the Holy Virgin appeared to you and told you to be merciful, or maybe you didn't want to shock your subjects (but who cares about the people's opinion, it is already scandalous that they have one, commoners are made to obey, not to have an opinion) whatever, you decided to risk to let the man repeat his offence by sparing him. You ordered.

-Give this man twenty lashes, it will teach him to steal.

Lady Takable seemed to approve, while some peasants murmured, Oldfossil told you.

-My lord, twenty lashes, my be it is too harsh, we could simply throw him in a cell for three days...

-I would have ordered his hand to be chopped off if I was in a bad mood, but I am merciful. He will learn.

You then told the people.

-And let this be an exemple, the peasantry work hard, stealing from them should be punished. Ancel, you shall whip this vagrant tommorrow. Next case.

The people seemed to understand your logic. Even Oldfossil understood that now the time for playing was over and that you rule shall be harsh but fair. You had trouble understanding the indians, your mercy was called harsh here while you saw the Baron impale people on his castle. Local had maybe very different customs than Someplace ? It could happen even with neighbouring villages in France.

The next case was the divorce, Oldfossil introduced the two protagonists, a fat man and a thin but angry looking woman. You ordered the male and the female Kramer to advance and you let the lady begin, gallantry was a virtue after all. She spoke in a terrible voice, the voice of a shrew, but she tried to pity you.

-My husband is a good for nothing idiot, he beats me, he does nothing, he only thinks about drinking with his friends and always comes home late and drunk. He beats me and the children, look.

Your hangover stopped you from criticising this man for drinking too much. But when she showed you marks of bruises on her arms you took pity of the shrew. You disliked violence against women, a knight should never strike a lady. But, on the other hand this man was a commoner, and commoners generally were drunk (with alcohol of poor quality) and came home to beat their wives and children, it was the pastime of the third estate. What could you do ? Stop commoners from being drunks cheaters and imbeciles ? You were sure that it was a battle who would not be won even if it was waged for one thousand years. But the woman continued.

>>5482338

-And this drunkard is even worse, I saw him with another woman, and another, he sleeps with younger women and wants to abandon me. Against all rules of morals and common decency. I want a divorce and compensation for what he...

You stopped her, first she was speaking of her husband, even if he was a drunkard and an idiot she was forbidden to tell it. A man shall not be stabbed in the back by his wife. Secondly you looked at her husband, a fat slob whose eyes had as much vivacity as those of an ox, an animal marginally more intelligent than him in your opinion, and you saw his lack of hygiene. Even for a peasant it was terrible... You pointed at the lady Kramer.

-You mean that multiple women were lining up to partake in adultery with... Him ?

The people in the room looked at you and at him and some began to laugh, the man was red as a beetle and the wife seemed to stop. She became red too, her words were ridiculous. You then ordered for her husband to speak. He had a voice typical of a mean, cruel drunkard.

-My wife disrespects me my lord, and she is mad, she cooks poorly too.. And she beats the kids, and tried to stab me with a knife one day. She sees me speaking with another woman and she thinks that I sleep with her, she is completely mad. She even tried to stab the sister of our neighbours after she spoke with me. I....

You told.

-Have you mistreated her ?

-I might have beaten some common sense into her once or twice but it's not important, I want a divorce, and to keep her dowry.

You understood that it was more than once or twice. What a bunch of degenerates. He probably beat the kids too but it was good, who loves them beats them it builds their character and they thank their parents later. You remember fondly how your own father had beaten you and your brother Philippe when you threw a bucket of shit from the battlements, on the heads of the neighbouring lord, you almost caused a private war but it was funny. But, if your father was a shining exemple of a strong knight, brave and severe, you wondered what kind of example this commoner could be for a kid. You asked.

-For how long were you married ?

They both answered.

-Eight years my lord.

-Eight years ? And it was like this for eight years ?

Both looked at you and nodded. Well... Birds of a feather flock together. You had to take a decision. On one side both seemed to be horrible people, and they probably lied a lot like the horrible people they were, but you had proofs that he hit his wife, even if it was not a criminal offence. But if lady Kramer had tried to kill her husband with a knife she deserved to be burned alive. The husband was the lord and master of his wife, letting this kind of behaviour go unpunished was barbarism. Of course Lady Kramer should be upset by the adultery of her husband, if it was true and not invented, but it was not a reason to break a marriage.

>>5482340

What will you decide ?

>Divorce is an abomination against God, it will be forbidden in our lands. (Roll 1d100 for a rulership test)
>Questions of divorce and marriage concern the church, not me, go see Father François.
>You shall be divorced, if you have married before pagan gods your mariage is null and void, live separately.
>You want to divorce your husband because he sees other women ? So you want to bring him into the arms of other women ? It is absurd. You shall stay married.
>The Kramer wife has tried to kill her husband, it is a rebellion against the head of a family, she shall burn for this crime.
>The Kramer wife was awful, she has to pay compensation to her husband for her misbehaviour.
>The Kramer husband has beaten his wife too much, and has seen too much other women, his immorality deserve to be punished by a fine.
>Other (write in)

(IF YOU CHOOSE THE DIVORCE OPTION)
Then there was another question, an important question, if you accepted to divorce them, what should you give to the wife ? If she has no family, and according to Oldfossil she had nobody left, she would be homeless. In the customs of northern France when a husband died the widow could keep a "dower" a part of her husbands riches to live, King Philippe Auguste left her half of what the husband had. Adultery could deprive a wife of her dower but Kramer was not guilty of this. The barbaric English gave only one third of the husbands inheritance to the wife. Maybe you could adopt this dower in case of divorce too. To help wives who would have nowhere to go.

>We will not give dower to a wife who leaves her husband, she has sinned.
>We will give half her husband's inheritance to the wife with a dower, as if she was a widow under king's Philippe Auguste Law.
>We will give a third of her husband's inheritance to the wife with a dower, as if she was a widow. (English inspiration)
>We will give only the usufruct of half the inheritance to the wife, the rest must belong to the children so children of another marriage cannot inherit from what the husband has gained (Saintonge custom, quite based)
>The wife can be happy if she keeps the garland of flowers given to her at her marriage. (Normandy custom, very based)
>Other (write in)

>>5482343

With your merciful decision about the thief you deserve to be rewarded with +1 piety.

====

Your new stats :

Charles de Villeroi

Class : Local Lord
Level : 3
XP : 375 (next level at 450)

Stats

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

Piety : 47+1 = 48

Mudcore : 48

With 48 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.

>>5482343
>Questions of divorce and marriage concern the church, not me, go see Father François.

>>5482343
>>The Kramer wife has tried to kill her husband, it is a rebellion against the head of a family, she shall burn for this crime.

>>5482343
>>Questions of divorce and marriage concern the church, not me, go see Father François.

>>5482343
>Questions of divorce and marriage concern the church, not me, go see Father François.
This one is all him

>>5482343
>Questions of divorce and marriage concern the church, not me, go see Father François
If they press the matter...
>You shall be divorced, if you have married before pagan gods your mariage is null and void, live separately
>We will give half her husband's inheritance to the wife with a dower, as if she was a widow under king's Philippe Auguste Law.

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>>5482353
>>5482361
>>5482544
>>5482553
>>5482575

Divorces were horrible questions and you decided to let the church, in it's infinite wisdom, rule them. It was better to let the headache of dealing with this to father François. You explained.

-Questions of marriage and divorce concern the Church and not me, go see father François.

-But we know nothing about his rel...

-SILENCE, I have ruled, next case.

At least they had been ridiculed before the people, it was a sufficient punishment for these two. The next case was about the Guelphs and the short Scotsmen.

Oldfossil introduced the claimants.

-The dwarves of the dwarven community in the north, represented by Grudgi Grudgesson sue the elves Merlor and Sylvera for trespassing on their lands and for violences against children.

Violences against children ? What does this meant ? You ordered the short and bearded ones to speak first. This Grudgi fellow was bald blond haired and quite ugly to see and he smelt of beer but he had a powerful voice.

-Ah tell ye m' Laird ! they elves wur up tae boggin' ! Thay trespassed oan oor lands wur we graw oor heavy that yer lordship loues sae muckle. Twa o' oor bairns, Grogul 'n' Falga wur playing near th' fields near th' water whaur we graw oor crops fur th' heavy. Thay tellt thaim tae lea bit they pointy eared bastards decided tae beat thaim ! 'n'...

The Guelph woman, a beautiful blonde that you already saw somewhere, interrupted him.

-They threw rocks at us you barely sentient beard full of alcohol ! You...

-SILENCE !

You screamed and added.

-Let the Scotsman speak, I have already enough trouble understanding him with his accent. And speak when your husband and I will permit you to.

The Guelph lady grumbled and the bearded shortie continued.

-Thay foremaist tellt th' elves tae lea m' laird, bit whin thay didnae lea thay defended oor property by throwing rocks at thaim, aye.

You smiled, you were not the only one to throw rocks at guelphs then. And let the short lad continue.

-'n' sae we ask fur compensation, thay hae trespassed oan oor lands 'n' gubbed twa innocent bairns. We wid hae gubbed thaim ourselves 'n' whin we heard th' cries o' oor bairns we cam wi' axes tae avenge th' offense bit thae cowardly elves fled oan thair lang legs ! We ask ye justice m' laird ! 'n' sae we ask fur compensation, thay hae trespassed oan oor lands 'n' gubbed twa innocent bairns. We wid hae gubbed thaim ourselves 'n' whin we heard th' cries o' oor bairns we cam wi' axes tae avenge th' offense bit thae cowardly elves fled oan thair lang legs ! We ask ye justice m' laird !

>>5483106

It was interesting, in the public tall, thin and pointy heared people sneered at the speaker while short bearded ones began to argue. The other, normal people, only seemed to be amused. Even amongst your guards and servants you could see the divide. Once the Scotsman had finished his speech you told the Guelphs to begin. It was the brown haired husband, who spoke elegantly, who decided to explain his side of the story.

-My lord, as you know you have recently encouraged some people to travel on the river on a small boat, before a riverboat can be built. My wife and I heard about it and we decided, to celebrate our ninety years of marriage, to take a small boat and to see the river. We had brought something to eat while watching the sun set.

One of the Scotsmen, a fat black bearded one who carried a hammer showed his fist.

-Ye shuid hae gaen tae th' forest, it's whaur yer lying, thieving 'n' pointlessly lanky kin bides !

You told a second time.

-SILENCE.

While the Guelph looked at the Scotsmen like at walking bearded detritus and told.

-I am a Sea Elf, and if my wife is of our forest kin we had been to the forest to celebrate last year.

You wondered how many factions of Guelphs existed while he continued.

-We saw a nice spot and stopped the boat, we walked there and decided to eat here, under the sun and to see it finish it's course. I was beginning reciting poems to my wife when some infinitely impolite animal that should be the offspring of one of those told us to "Bugger off pointy heared bastards" because we were on their lands. I explained that we were on lands not seeded by anyone, simply on a field but then he began to throw rocks at us, accompanied by another hairy thing that seemed to be from the same race. My wife had served in the guard of Lord Random and is a brave warrior of our forest kin even if you expelled her my lord, and she decided to give chase to these impolite beings, I followed her and we slapped a bit those brats to teach them not to throw rocks at passers by but to talk in a civilised manner. Then we saw eleven dwarves with axes who threatened us... Since we were unarmed we choose to run and I fear that even if they were stupid and clumsy their numbers could have permitted them to seriously harm us. Have we done anything wrong my lord ? Should we accept to have rocks thrown at us for no reason at all ?

It was time to take a decision. What shall you decide ? You had to think about your beer supply, angering the scotsmen would not be wise.

>>5483108

>The customs of France authorise the people of a village to walk on unseeded places belonging to someone, but not to stop on them to eat. They were trespassing, but throwing rocks at them was excessive. They were right to correct the kids. They shall simply pay a fine for trespassing.
>These two guelphs were celebrating their marriage, I think that they deserve to be left alone on this day and not have rocks thrown at them.
>The Guelphs were intruders on the Scot's lands. They deserve to pay a fine for trespassing and for attacking the children. Five lashes shall suffice for each one of them.
>The Scotsmen tried to pursue the unarmed Guelphs with axes, they could have killed them. They tried to murder them and should be treated as murderers.
>The guelphs shall pay reparations to the Scotsmen for trespassing on their lands and stopping here while beating their kids, even if the children misbehaved.
>I cannot understand a word of what those short bearded men are saying, and when we do not understand the words it means that it makes no sense. The guelphs are free.
>Our good king Philippe has forged an alliance with the scots, let it be said that in my lands I protect them. The guelphs must pay reparations and pay a fine.
>(whisper) Oldfossil, may you translate what the short one said
>Other (write in)

>>5483110

You gave the church more power than they had here and for this you deserve 3 more piety.

====

Your new stats :

Charles de Villeroi

Class : Local Lord
Level : 3
XP : 375 (next level at 450)

Stats

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

Piety : 48+3 = 51

Mudcore : 48

With 48 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.

>>5483110
>>The customs of France authorise the people of a village to walk on unseeded places belonging to someone, but not to stop on them to eat. They were trespassing, but throwing rocks at them was excessive. They were right to correct the kids. They shall simply pay a fine for trespassing.

>>5483110
>I cannot understand a word of what those short bearded men are saying, and when we do not understand the words it means that it makes no sense. The guelphs are free.
I understood, but it's too funny not to pick.

>>5483110
>>Our good king Philippe has forged an alliance with the scots, let it be said that in my lands I protect them. The guelphs must pay reparations and pay a fine.

>>5483110
>>The Guelphs were intruders on the Scot's lands. They deserve to pay a fine for trespassing and for attacking the children. Five lashes shall suffice for each one of them.

>>5483110
>>The guelphs shall pay reparations to the Scotsmen for trespassing on their lands and stopping here while beating their kids, even if the children misbehaved.

>>5483110
>>These two guelphs were celebrating their marriage, I think that they deserve to be left alone on this day and not have rocks thrown at them.

>>5483117
>>5483129
>>5483352
>>5483628
>>5483706
>>5484064

This is what I call a debate. I shall give you two more hours good sirs to change your votes or for new people to vote and then roll to see what you decide.

>>5483352

I will change to>>5483706

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>>5483117
>>5483129
>>5483352
>>5483628
>>5483706
>>5484064
>>5484120

You thought about the question, of course people could pass by other people's property, a lot of fields were isolated and peasants had to reach them by passing through the fields of other peasants but stopping on them to eat was too much, only a nobleman could do it. You decided to be fair and told.

-The guelphs shall pay reparations to the Scotsmen for trespassing on their lands and stopping here while beating their kids, even if the children misbehaved.

The guelphs seemed to be scandalised and the short scotsmen grumbled, one of them, a red haired scotsman with a big nose.

-That's unfair, thay need tae be whipped ! tis...

Oldfossil helped you at this moment, the hold man explaining.

-Our lord has spoken, would you have preferred to not receive reparations and have the elves whipped ?

Their lust for gold seemed to fight the scotsmen's hatred of guelphs, it was a hard battle but finally the love of gold prevailed. They all nodded and accepted the punishment. The guelphs seemed to be scandalised but the threat of your guardsmen stopped them from saying anything. You waved your hand to signify that it was time to prepare the next case. It was between the cagot doctor and the family of peasants whose father was dead.
The doctor wore rich clothes and two pieces of glass around his eyes, he seemed full of himself and was fat, but, like a lot of local cagots he wore no shoes and had hairy feet. The peasant family, made of a brown haired man, his wife, his brother, his wife and the children of the first two seemed to be sad and quite poor. Oldfossil introduced them.

-The doctor Belly Knockfellow sues the Hished family represented by her head, Aston Hished.

He made sign to the cagot to speak.

-My lord, my good lord, I was victim of what was the worst thing for a doctor, my patient died !

You laughed.

-It seems that it is him that should sue you.

It made the people laugh too.

-No my lord, because this ignorant, this imbecile has not taken my remedies, he has continued to eat and has not obeyed my regime and my prescriptions ! Such insolence led of course to his death !

-Then where is the problem ?

-The problem my lord ? The problem ? But it is obvious, my reputation is ruined and I already hear whispers that those that visit the doctor Knockfellow, the best and brightest doctor on this side of the Queste, die ! My reputation is ruined because of a careless patient ! They will dare calling me a charlatan ! I demand reparations, I demand that these swines that call themselves their family grovel at my feet and sign a document saying that I am not responsible for the death of their father ! I demand money to build back my reputation ! By Pfizer and Moderna, god and godesses of healing I demand all of this !

When you frowned he added quickly.

-And by your god too if you want. Well, it is what I ask.

>>5484213

The little man was presumptuous, and asked a lot but you had explanations to ask from the family, you made sign for them to talk. Aston Hished was less verbose and seemed still sad that his father has passed away.

-We haven't killed our father m'lord, and he obeyed all the doctor's treatment, he ate what the halfling prescribed him... He... He did not attempt to kill himself too, and even if he sometimes wanted to eat pastries and other things or drink alcohol we stopped him from doing it. Simply... My brother Verias that is here with me had left the house to go to the capital 6 years ago, we all thought that he was lost because he had given no news, it appeared that the caravan that he took had been despoiled by barbarians. We thought that he was dead, but he was taken into slavery and managed to escape, with a woman that he then married, and arrived back home a month ago, my father decided to give a banquet in his honor with all that we had and I could simply not refuse him to drink and eat as he wanted, we were all so happy that my little brother came back... Father died from a stroke after this feast and... Now the doctor wants money from us and tells that we have ruined his reputation.

A sad story indeed, told in a very sad tone, retrieving a son to die from the joy of it and from the feast, it was hard. What do you decide.

>If the man has died by not following the doctor's treatment it should be known and said, but reparations are exaggerated, the guilt is enough to punish this family.
>If the man has died by not following the doctor's treatment it should be known and said, and those who lead their father to his tomb must pay him reparations.
>This cagot is pestering an honest family in hard times, he must pay reparations.
>This cagot is pestering an honest family in hard times, he must pay reparations and give him ten lashes to teach him manners.
>I can understand all your actions, but asking reparations is too much. The Hished family has no obligations towards the doctor Knockfellow.
>Other (write in)

>>5484214
>If the man has died by not following the doctor's treatment it should be known and said, but reparations are exaggerated, the guilt is enough to punish this family.
>Also, I do not like this fat and presumptuous burgher doctor and his attitude. I warn him not to speak out of turn, if he does not want lashes.

>>5484214
>>If the man has died by not following the doctor's treatment it should be known and said, but reparations are exaggerated, the guilt is enough to punish this family.

>>5484214
>>If the man has died by not following the doctor's treatment it should be known and said, and those who lead their father to his tomb must pay him reparations

>>5484214
>If the man has died by not following the doctor's treatment it should be known and said, but reparations are exaggerated, the guilt is enough to punish this family.

>>5484214
>If the man has died by not following the doctor's treatment it should be known and said, but reparations are exaggerated, the guilt is enough to punish this family.

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>>5484243

Wise words, this doctor is insufferable.

>>5484266
>>5484314
>>5484634
>>5484667

If it was not the doctor's fault it was not his fault, but asking reparations from a family who had lost it's head because he wanted to celebrate the return of a son was heartless. So you told.

-If the man has died by not following the doctor's treatment it should be known and said, but reparations are exaggerated, the guilt is enough to punish this family.

The peasants thanked you and most of the people in the room agreed with you. The doctor tried to grumble but when you told that if he said one more word he would be beaten with sticks by all your guards he preferred wisely to shut up. He was a presumptuous burgher and you disliked him anyway. The rest of the day was quite boring, with small quarrels about plots of land and other insignificant problems. The only bright spot was your lunch with Lady Takable, she agreed to sing a song while playing her harp and you discussed about poetry and your future life. She even commented about your decisions.

-It was very interesting to hear you judge those peasants, my tutors and my steward rarely let me rule my lands because of my age. But you were right to whip this thief. It will teach him a good lesson. You should have whipped the two Kramers too, they were awful, they wanted to divorce and never talked about children and how they would live, the mother only said once that the father hit them but.. How could people be so selfish as to forget their children like this ?

It was true, you never imagined what would happen of the children if two parents broke their marriage. One more proof that divorce was barbaric and not natural.

You had to agree with her.

-In my lands we have no such things as a divorce, only the pope may declare a marriage void and null if for exemple it was never consumated or made between too close cousins. A child always ends with the surviving parent, but what to do if both parents survive...

-I would not want to let children go near these two.

It was true, they were no exemple for society.

Finally, late in the afternoon, practically when you were finishing your judgements a soldier in a livery with a golden eagle on a green background entered here. He bowed before you and when Oldfossil explained to you that it was a messenger of the count you let him speak.

-My lord, His Excellency the Count Hapyon Careless has received your letter, and he summons you to his castle at Pleasantville to explain yourself before him. The baron will be summoned too and his Excellency will judge your affair, Lady Rose Takable is to be summoned too. Understanding that there is risks on the road his Excellency has sent his son and six of his best riders to accompany your men back to your lands and you to Pleasantville. They shall be here tomorrow.

>>5484759

Finally ! Important things happened ! These news were good, count Careless has received your letter but on the other side he had not ruled in your favour, he wanted to see you and lady Takable and confront you with the baron. You hoped that his ancient friendship with Lord Random and Lord Takable, and the fact that he disliked the baron could help rig the balance of justice in your favour. You would have to go to Pleasantville then. It could not be a trap because he would not have sent his son back with Bohémond and Ancel if it was the case, he probably used his son to protect you from an ambush by the baron on the road. A wise decision. Before you could thank the man lady Takable asked.

-His Excellency has sent his son, but, is it his firstborn or his second son ?

-It is the youngest, the noble Isnott Careless.

She smiled and thanked the messenger.

You then told.

-Thank you messenger, you may rest in my castle until your master's son comes here. I shall prepare everything to let them rest after their travels, we will ride after tomorrow.

The man bowed and you had a few decisions to make. You knew that in France second sons were generally warriors while the third sons were often given to the clergy. But there were exceptions, you were a warrior and a third son, it was your little brother that was a monk.

>Order your servants to prepare a feast in the honor of your count's son ! By the long beard of Saint John he is from the high nobility of the realm !
>Order your servants to prepare a simple reception for the count's son, you are short on money.
>Ask Lady Takable if she knows Isnott Careless, and if she knows what he likes, if the son appreciates the father will maybe rule in your favour.
>Ask Oldfossil what he knows about Isnott Careless, he already told you about the count but maybe he knows a bit about his second son.
>If the son of Lord Careless is a young knight and since knights here like jousting he might like to break some lances after a travel, or to fight in a melee, you should take dispositions to prepare for this for tommorow.
>Maybe the count's son likes hunting, you know that he comes from the west, you could come "by chance" towards him when you hunted in the vicinity.
>Send riders to tell you where the count would come from and meet him on your lands borders.
>Send riders from your guard to help accompany the count's son on the road towards your castle to show that you care for his safety.
>Wait for the count's son in your castle.
>Maybe we could find some singers or jesters to entertain the count's son. Cagots can be funny for exemple.
>Maybe you could show that you are a good lord who keeps order inviting the count's son to watch the punishment of the thief tomorrow.
>You do not want to be seen as cruel, postpone the punishment of the thief.
>Order some of your servants to learn about the count's son from his messenger (Intrigue roll)
>Other (write in)

>>5484760

Choose as many options as you want, if you choose an option with a roll roll a d100 please. You gain +10 xp for actually caring about your peasantry and giving them Justice.

====

Your new stats :

Charles de Villeroi

Class : Local Lord
Level : 3
XP : 375+10 = 385 (next level at 450)

Stats

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

Piety : 51

Mudcore : 48

With 48 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.

>>5484760
>Ask Oldfossil what he knows about Isnott Careless, he already told you about the count but maybe he knows a bit about his second son.
After observing that most votes held by our Quest Lord repeatedly feature Oldfossil's advice, I'm curious where choosing aforementioned Oldfossil options exclusively would lead us...

>>5484762
>Maybe the count's son likes hunting, you know that he comes from the west, you could come "by chance" towards him when you hunted in the vicinity.
>Ask Oldfossil what he knows about Isnott Careless, he already told you about the count but maybe he knows a bit about his second son.
>Order a decent feast provided as well. Tax the peasants for it, as this is to win our coint's favor and thia to protect them from the cruelties of the baron!

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>>5484764

Oldfossil's options are generally asking him his opinions about what you do. He is a competent steward and a loyal man who knows India's customs. But he is not omniscient and his options aren't always very imaginative (he is set in his old ways), to be fair I gave you some old councillors that are good or decent in their field (Oldfossil, Crumbling) as an help at the beginning of the adventure. When time (and years) will pass they will eventually die of old age (if nothing kills them before) so I suggest you to find a replacement, someone that the old generation could train to replace them. Training new councillors will be a way to "learn" how to prepare your heir when you will have one to be ready to take your place when Charles eventually dies (he is 27 years old now so he has still some decades to live if nothing happens).
Oldfossil's options are more about asking his opinion than for him to take a decision in your place. But be wary, if you ask him too much some people may think that he rules in your place.

>>5484806

Wise option to tax the peasants, I added it to your decisions, since there were only two votes I only took the option that both of you agreed upon.

====

You decided to ask Oldfossil what he knew about the youngest son of Lord Careless, he was your councillor, you had to ask for his counsel sometimes to let him do his job. When you asked him his answer was unfortunately not very helpful.

-I do not know the sons as much as I know the father, we are not of the same generation my lord. I know that he is seventeen years old and that while Veryon Careless, heir to the count and six years elder than his little brother, is known as a good knight, the second born is more interested in scholarly pursuits. He wants to enter some university in the capital.

Oh, universities... You knew the University of Paris founded under the king Philippe Auguste where young people came to learn theology, grammar, law and medicine. To be honest students came to the city more for drinking and carousing than to study. More often than not you had, in your youth, to beat some sense into some of them during a tavern brawl or to help some of them do things like watching if the cuckolded husband of a woman loved by one of them is coming back (It is mad what we agree to do after three bottles of Burgundian wine). In exchange they could write love letters to the wife of a Lombard merchant that you, as an illiterate, could not. You liked to think that you dictated them but your talents in poetry being what they were you preferred to let them do a non negligible part of the rhymes too.

>>5485590

So you thought that you had nailed the personnality of the man. Thanking Oldfossil for his wise counsel you gave orders to :

>Order your servants to prepare a feast in the honor of your count's son ! By the long beard of Saint John he is from the high nobility of the realm ! (pay from your own pocket)
>Order a decent feast provided as well. Tax the peasants for it, as this is to win our coint's favor and thia to protect them from the cruelties of the baron !
>Order your servants to prepare a simple reception for the count's son, you are short on money.
>Ask Lady Takable if she knows Isnott Careless, and if she knows what he likes, if the son appreciates the father will maybe rule in your favour.
>If the son of Lord Careless is a young knight and since knights here like jousting he might like to break some lances after a travel, or to fight in a melee, you should take dispositions to prepare for this for tommorow.
>Maybe the count's son likes hunting, you know that he comes from the west, you could come "by chance" towards him when you hunted in the vicinity.
>Send riders to tell you where the count would come from and meet him on your lands borders.
>Send riders from your guard to help accompany the count's son on the road towards your castle to show that you care for his safety.
>Wait for the count's son in your castle.
>Maybe we could find some singers or jesters to entertain the count's son. Cagots can be funny for exemple.
>Maybe you could show that you are a good lord who keeps order inviting the count's son to watch the punishment of the thief tomorrow.
>You do not want to be seen as cruel, postpone the punishment of the thief.
>Ask Oldfossil what is the language of learning in India, in the Christendom it is Latin but here ? What language do this young learned man must speak ?
>Order some of your servants to learn about the count's son from his messenger (Intrigue roll)
>Other (write in)

>>5485591
>>5485593
>Order a decent feast provided as well. Tax the peasants for it, as this is to win our count's favor and thia to protect them from the cruelties of the baron !
Spare hunting, as a bookworm will have no use for such things. Instead...
>Ask Lady Takable if she knows Isnott Careless, and if she knows what he likes, if the son appreciates the father will maybe rule in your favour
>Maybe we could find some singers or jesters to entertain the count's son. Cagots can be funny for exemple.

>>5485593
>Order a decent feast provided as well. Tax the peasants for it, as this is to win our coint's favor and thia to protect them from the cruelties of the baron !
>Send riders from your guard to help accompany the count's son on the road towards your castle to show that you care for his safety.
>Maybe you could show that you are a good lord who keeps order inviting the count's son to watch the punishment of the thief tomorrow.
>Ask Lady Takable if she knows Isnott Careless, and if she knows what he likes, if the son appreciates the father will maybe rule in your favour.

>>5485593
>>Order your servants to prepare a feast in the honor of your count's son ! By the long beard of Saint John he is from the high nobility of the realm ! (pay from your own pocket)
>>Send riders from your guard to help accompany the count's son on the road towards your castle to show that you care for his safety.

>>5485593
>>Order a decent feast provided as well. Tax the peasants for it, as this is to win our coint's favor and thia to protect them from the cruelties of the baron !
>>Send riders from your guard to help accompany the count's son on the road towards your castle to show that you care for his safety.
>>Ask Lady Takable if she knows Isnott Careless, and if she knows what he likes, if the son appreciates the father will maybe rule in your favour.

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>>5485593
>>Order a decent feast provided as well. Tax the peasants for it, as this is to win our coint's favor and thia to protect them from the cruelties of the baron !
>>Send riders from your guard to help accompany the count's son on the road towards your castle to show that you care for his safety.
>>Ask Lady Takable if she knows Isnott Careless, and if she knows what he likes, if the son appreciates the father will maybe rule in your favour.
I snot.
>>5485590
>someone that the old generation could train to replace them
Why not us? We're THE Local Lord, they just need to pour their wisdoms (and some wine) into us and I'm sure that we will absorb them all (wisdoms, not wines) like the local land absorbs blood, sweat and tears of our loyal and brave peasants.

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>>5485603

Wise decision.

>>5485648
>>5485776
>>5485885
>>5485992

Why not us ? Because a lord need advisors good sirs, stewards, chancellors, guard's captains do you really think that we have to know how much grain does each farm produces ? Or what peasant married the other's daughter twenty years ago and who could inherit ? Or would we directly talk with stonemasons to pay them to build something ? No, it would be beneath a nobleman to do such things, a lord leads, he gives orders, he has a vision, the stewards and councillors like Oldfossil do the mundane work. Even if your dedication to our loyal subjects is admirable important things like the corsages of beautiful women, or fields of battle and tournaments pry us away from accounting books. And if we leave our lands for the court, or for war, we need someone to rule in our stead.

====

You ordered Oldfossil to prepare a feast.

-We must show our generosity and our respect toward our count's son. Prepare à feast, we shall tax the peasantry to cover the expanses, raise an extraordinary tax for the occasion.

-But, my lord, we can't possibly...

-Peasants are taxable and corveable at mercy Oldfossil, we can ask whatever we want from them and pleasing the count's son can only improve our chances to see us win against the baron and the demesne prosper. And about the count's son, send riders on the road to protect him, we must show that we control the lands and that we take his safety as paramount.

-Should someone lead the riders ?

This was a true question, since you had to remain in your castle you had to send someone of a high enough status to lead Isnott's escort.

>I will send you, you are my councillor dear Oldfossil and of noble blood. Nobody better than you can explain our guest, who is a man of knowledge, how much this place is interesting.
>I will send Godefroi, my oldest knight, he is a brave veteran of many wars and of noble blood too. He will do the job and maybe tell him interesting tales about France or other lands that he visited.
>I will send Captain Crumbling, even if he is a commoner he is the captain of my guards and sending him will show that I take Isnott's security very seriously.
>I will send Brother Louis, he is a knight, a nobleman and a member of the Templar order. He is a learned man who speaks Latin and I am sure that he will find many interesting topics of conversation with the count's son.

Then you decided to go see lady Takable, the young woman was as lovely as ever with an impeccably well dyed green dress and an ornate hairstyle when you asked her.

-Lady Rose, if it isn't impolite, do you know the count's son that we will greet ?

She smiled and told you sweetly.

-Of course my lord, our parents were friends and since he was of the same age than me we had to be together when they met when we were kids. I can even say that he was quite fond of me.

When you frowned she laughed a bit.

>>5486025

-Do not worry Charles, it was a long time ago. And his father cannot want us to marry anymore, my father had most of it's lands confiscated so I am too poor for the Count's second son. And it was you, not him that saved me from the baron.

She kindly smiled at you and since nobody was watching she kissed your cheek at this moment you almost forgot the man that she told you not to worry about. But you had to ask and you told.

-Do you know what he likes ? I mean, if we are to travel together, I would prefer not to have him hate me and tell his father that I have captured you for a ransom, tried to kill the baron and that I stole goats from the nearby lords in my spare time.

It made her laugh and she nodded.

-You are right, it would be better to befriend him. He is... Not like you... And like you at the same time, he loves poetry, we read together sometimes when we were children, but contrary to you he knows how to read. He is sensible too, and not very good with weapons, you could probably break him in two with one hand. He liked alchemy too. But I haven't seen him in three years so maybe he has changed.

So at least he was a weakling, while you thanked Rose you decided to thank God to have given you a father like yours in your evening's prayers. Your father had taught you how to fight, and not how to read and once more you had before you a proof that books were a curse that stopped you from having success with women. You only had to wait tomorrow but before this would you satisfy your curiosity ?

>Ask Lady Takable how close she was with the count's son (intrigue roll).
>A gentleman should not question a lady about her past.

Rolled 92 (1d100)

>>5486025
>Lord can't exceed at everything
Sad!
>I will send you, you are my councillor dear Oldfossil and of noble blood. Nobody better than you can explain our guest, who is a man of knowledge, how much this place is interesting.
Since he's a bookworm. Totally not metagaming.
>>5486026
>Ask Lady Takable how close she was with the count's son (intrigue roll).

>>5486025
>>I will send Godefroi, my oldest knight, he is a brave veteran of many wars and of noble blood too. He will do the job and maybe tell him interesting tales about France or other lands that he visited.

>>Ask Lady Takable how close she was with the count's son (intrigue roll).

>>5486025

>I will send Brother Louis, he is a knight, a nobleman and a member of the Templar order. He is a learned man who speaks Latin and I am sure that he will find many interesting topics of conversation with the count's son.

>>5486026
>A gentleman should not question a lady about her past.
Court. Ly. LOVE.

Rolled 96 (1d100)

>>5486025
>I will send Godefroi, my oldest knight, he is a brave veteran of many wars and of noble blood too. He will do the job and maybe tell him interesting tales about France or other lands that he visited.

>Ask Lady Takable how close she was with the count's son (intrigue roll).

>>5486418
+1

>>5486418
>>5486063
Whew 2 rolls over 90

>>5486026
>I will send Godefroi, my oldest knight, he is a brave veteran of many wars and of noble blood too. He will do the job and maybe tell him interesting tales about France or other lands that he visited.

>A gentleman should not question a lady about her past.

>>5486389
>>5486596

By Saint Denis, awful rolls, I always take the average of the first three rolls in this quest so please roll so you can lower this awful average.

Rolled 20 (1d100)

>>5486606

Rolled 54 (1d100)

>>5486606

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>>5486063

You are a wise man, but it is not about excelling in everything, it is about not having one hundred arms like one of those strange indian gods and not being able to be everywhere at the same time.

>>5486389
>>5486411

You sir are a gentleman and a good knight.

>>5486418
>>5486596
>>5486601
>>5486606
>>5486607

A bit better but the roll still fails by a huge margin.

>>5486641

You told Oldfossil to send Godefroi to lead the escort, he was a good knight and of good company, when you were younger he was, like your father, a model for you. He had fought in the crusades and in Italy, and was a well travelled man, you were sure that the young Careless will appreciate him. But what your lady said was intriguing you, she knew the man, and how ? If he was fond of her maybe she was fond of him too. You knew that it was impolite but you asked.

-If I might dare to ask, Rose, how close do you were with the count's second son ? You told that he wanted to marry you if I understood well, do you agreed to it ?

She looked at you, clearly shocked by such inquiries. Her beautiful features looked honestly hurt and she told in a tone that meant that she seemed to be hurt and maybe disappointed.

-I... I do not know about the French customs but in our lands it is very impolite to inquire about the past of a lady. It is a question of trust.

Of course it was impolite in France too, and she looked at you with such a look of reproach, like that of your mother when you had done something bad. It was maybe because your image as a perfect knight, with his flaws but still noble and true, shattered in your mind. Of course, you cursed yourself, you looked insecure, just like this snotty bookworm should have been to win the affections of a lady. Only insecure people, people who thought that they were not above all the other pretenders of a lady would ask if she loved another man at a time. It was not good. You told that you were sorry, trying to look like you were not a complete idiot.

-Then I must beg you to pardon me, let us not talk anymore about this.

>>5486673

She nodded but your conversations were less lively during the evening. Of course, a disappointed lady Takable was what you needed. You sighted and hoped that at least the count's son will be happy to be here.
It was in the morning that you saw the count's son escort at last. You were happy to see that Bohémond was here, with Ancel who was the only one without a horse and who ran happily, glad to see his lord again. Your riders were near those of the count and you noted that the count's troops were as strangely equipped as yours before you gave them kettle helmets, they had simply mail, norman helmets and swords, not even lances or shields. One of their soldiers was even a woman, Indian armies were truly worthless. Then you saw the young man and your brave Godefroi and you were cursing yourself about your error. Godefroi was speaking to him, apparently very happy of what he said, when the young Isnott looked completely and utterly bored. By Saint Denis you should have chosen someone else.
The young Careless was all dressed in black in strange long robes and of course he carried a book. He was brown haired and had thin features and round shoulders, he didn't look like a warrior.

When he dismounted you naturally came towards him. As a lord you had to receive him as your honoured guest. You decided to tell.

-Welcome in Local my lord. It is always an honour to receive the son of our liege lord's liege lord. You must be hungry from the travels, my servants have prepared you rooms and we will feast tonight to make you forget the meegre pittance of the travelers.

He smiled politely, but insincerely and explained you.

-Thank you for the room... But no need for a feast, I am not a man who enjoys eating until midnight. You are Lord Charles de Villeroi I suppose, I am Isnott Careless it is a pleasure to meet you.

And this boring man disliked feasts... You could have not taxed your peasants for such an imbecile, but it was already prepared so you will eat and carouse, and he will eat and carouse too and enjoy it, or else ! Feudal wars have been started for less. Really this Isnott should retire to a monastery to not disturb society with his boring ways. You then led him to the other important people of the Lordship, Oldfossil, Brother Louis, Father François. He saluted your men without enthusiasm and when Lady Takable's turn came he tried to speak to her and to look at her like she was abducted, fortunately she rolled her eyes and explained him that she choose to come here. He was as bad with women as you had been... But... But how could he suspect that you abducted her ? It was the baron's version.. Has he sent an envoy to the count's lands ?
While the count's son entered the room prepared for him (your room, you had to move towards Oldfossil's quarters to accomodate the high ranking visitor) you had some time for yourself.

>>5486675

>Go hunt something to calm yourself.
>Order the thief to be lashed, so you will not be the only miserable person today.
>Go to the training yard, beat someone or multiple people to forget these bad decisions.
>Try to find something to please your lady and make her forget this regrettable accident.
>Speak with Lady Takable, to try to make amends.
>Ask Bohémond about Pleasantville and the count's court, what happened during his mission ?
>Ask Ancel about Pleasantville and the count's court, what happened when he accompanied your knight ?
>Other (write in)

>>5486676
>>Order the thief to be lashed, so you will not be the only miserable person today.

>>5486676
>>Ask Bohémond about Pleasantville and the count's court, what happened during his mission ?

>>5486676
>>Ask Bohémond about Pleasantville and the count's court, what happened during his mission ?

>>5486676
>>Order the thief to be lashed, so you will not be the only miserable person today.

>>5486676
>Ask Bohémond about Pleasantville and the count's court, what happened during his mission ?
I don’t think whipping the thief after we gave our verdict is a good idea

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>>5486680
>>5486688
>>5486737
>>5486776
>>5486780

A wise decision, this baron's son looks like he doesn't like corporal punishment for thieves, reading is known to make you weak and soft like that.

====

You decided to ask Bohémond about Pleasantville. Of course you found him speaking to Rose's handmaiden, you let him finish before approaching him. You saluted him happily and you decided to drink some mead while he will be speaking about what he saw. You asked.

-What about Pleasantville my friend ? What does it looks like ? And the count ? You gave him my letter, yes ?

-Yes, yes of course monseigneur. I gave him, he is a sympathetic man the count, but he told me that he doesn't know you. And this son of his is here to judge you.

-The baron has sent someone too ?

-Yes, yes, I must say that he was wise, he sent this witch of his... Elsa

You remembered the ice cold blonde beauty, it was true that her corsage seemed to be an argument that could distract an honest man, even if as all witches she deserved to burn alive. This was an underhanded method, but typical of the baron.

-And what does this Elsa said ?

-That you were a strange man that belonged to a sect that burned all sorcerers and that you were a troublesome vassal who killed Lord Hostil in a duel for a insignificant reasons. She travelled with the other vassal of the baron, the fat one with the mustache, lord Salty Rival, who told that it was all true and that you probably took lady Takable by force.

-What a bunch of bastards, if they had only one neck I could behead them all in one blow but we need to act more wisely.

You thought about what they said, they were technically correct but they distorted reality with lies. Then you asked.

-And the baron ? He is summoned to the trial too...

-Yes, he is called too monseigneur, the count told that he cannot be trusted and that he wanted to see you in person to judge your character. He seemed to be a nice man, he likes to hunt.

-At least he seems to be less boring than his second son.

-I can only agree monseigneur, the first son is a fine knight but this one... He reads books and thinks that it makes him clever. At least he appreciates french poetry.

Well even the worst men were not all bad, God gave them all a good side.

It was interesting informations but you still had time so you asked your youngest knight :

>Was Pleasantville a lovely town ?
>Is there some people in the count's court that are of our party, or against us ?
>Why is the second son here and not the first son ?
>You didn't run into trouble on the road ? Has the baron tried to ambush you and Ancel ?
>Have you managed to see the baron's defences when you crossed his lands ?
>Does the count prefers to hunt with a spear or he practices falconry ?
>Other (write in)

Choose 3 choices please.

>>5486863
>Is there some people in the count's court that are of our party, or against us ?
>Why is the second son here and not the first son ?
>Does the count prefers to hunt with a spear or he practices falconry ?

>>5486863
>>Was Pleasantville a lovely town ?
>You didn't run into trouble on the road ? Has the baron tried to ambush you and Ancel ?
>Is there some people in the count's court that are of our party, or against us ?

>>5486863
>Is there some people in the count's court that are of our party, or against us ?
>Why is the second son here and not the first son ?
and
>Does the count prefers to hunt with a spear or he practices falconry ?
Let's not make any more faux pas. Eurgh. We have damage control to do.

>>5486880
>>5487086

Support

>>5486863
>>Is there some people in the count's court that are of our party, or against us ?
>>Why is the second son here and not the first son ?
>>Does the count prefers to hunt with a spear or he practices falconry ?

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>>5486880
>>5487037
>>5487086
Of course, you are a wise man.

>>5487289
>>5487298

There were some questions that you had to ask, you needed to know more after all. First you needed to know.

-Is there some people in the count's court that are of our party, or against us ?

Bohémond tried to think, he was not a good politician.

-The count has more councillors than us and I didn't manage to catch who wanted what, he has a chancellor, an old man with a mustache, he keeps a witch at court too, she deserves to burn but seemed interested by our anti magic stance. His steward is a short scotsman while his guard's captain was a sympathetic man, a knight that appreciated some songs that I played. He is called Sir Plus, we drank in a tavern together and he said that he was a quartermaster in the imperial legion, even if he never saw combat, before coming back to his lands and working as commander of the Count's armies. He explained me that the Count disliked the baron just like him but since the baron's had connections at the queen's court he can do nothing against him. There was a priest at court too, of a strange god, who told that our religion was not legal if what was said about it was true.

Mmmmh, it was better than nothing, the guard's captain disliked the baron but the pagan priest feared the power of the Holy Cross. Then you asked.

-Why is the second son here and not the first son ?

He answered quickly.

-The first son has been sent towards the Baron at the same time as the second son has been sent to your castle.

It was normal, the baron was higher than you in the feudal hierarchy and so the first son would be sent to him as a guest. But there was a problem, Someplace was closer by a few days to Pleasantville than your Local, and it meant that the Baron will arrive first. So he will have time to buy people, plot and explain his point of view before you. He must have already departed at the time when you were talking. Maybe you could find a shortcut to arrive at the same time ? Then you asked.

-You told that the count was a great hunter. Does he prefers to hunt with a spear or he practices falconry ?

-Both monseigneur, his castle is full of trophies and he hunts as much with a bird of prey as with his hounds and a boar spear. He seems to love this activity.

With a bit of luck you could find an ornate boar spear in the armoury, you could then offer it as a gift that would certainly please him. But while you spoke, and let Bohémond rest, the time for the feast came. Oldfossil told you that the peasants will grumble because they had to pay for it but their opinion was not important, it was typical indian indiscipline, it was already scandalous that they dared have an opinion about your decisions, they had to obey and be silent. You decided to put on a good blue doublet and came in the great hall were servants were already preparing food.

>>5487787

Of course Isnott careless was at your right as the most honoured guest while Lady Takable was at your left. She seemed to be still a bit upset about earlier so you tried to do your best. She wore a marvellous turquoise dress that left visible the creamy skin of her shoulders and the tiara that she wore complimented perfectly her lovely face and her golden locks. The man at your right was in ceremonial black robes, maybe he was mourning someone. Of course you began the feast by a toast. There was a custom in France, that even the english nobility (who were frenchmen in denial) adopted : you put a "toastée" of bread into a cup of wine and told that you would drink the cup in the honour of someone present. After a small speech you will pass the cup to everyone and the last to drink from it, and to eat the bread will be the one honoured by the "toast". You could honor someone else that was not here too and your most honoured guest will eat the bread.

You now had a choice, who should you honour.

>I drink to our good count Careless, long may he rule, I will be glad to meet him and see him defend our rights against the baron as I have heard that he is a man of wisdom and justice.
>I drink to the baron, his perfidy helped us all meet together and managed to bring our count's son and the most lovely lady Rose to Local. May his stratagems fail and permit us to drink together more often.
>I drink to you, Isnott Careless, son of count Hapyon. You have travelled far away and I hope that you will find your visit here instructive and amusing.
>I drink to you, my lovely lady Rose, your beauty is the delight of this castle and I have to say that nor in France or in India I have seen a woman as lovely, graceful and noble as you. I hope that the count's decision will permit us to marry, such a decision will fill my life with happiness.
>I drink to our Queen that reigns in Briberopolis, the first toast should always honour our ruler and I hope that her reign may be just and prosperous. All hail the queen.
>I drink to my King, the first toast should always honour the king. King Philippe IV the Fair, long may he reign and I hope that he puts the perfidious flemish to their knees while we are here. All hail the King.
>Let us empty our cups in the honour of Isnott Careless, as handsome as he is strong, as brave as he is joyful. (Trololololo)
>Other (write in)

>>5487789
>>I drink to you, my lovely lady Rose, your beauty is the delight of this castle and I have to say that nor in France or in India I have seen a woman as lovely, graceful and noble as you. I hope that the count's decision will permit us to marry, such a decision will fill my life with happiness.

>>5487789
>I drink to our good count Careless, long may he rule, I will be glad to meet him and see him defend our rights against the baron as I have heard that he is a man of wisdom and justice.

>>5487789
>I drink to the baron, his perfidy helped us all meet together and managed to bring our count's son and the most lovely lady Rose to Local. May his stratagems fail and permit us to drink together more often.

>>5487789
>>I drink to the baron, his perfidy helped us all meet together and managed to bring our count's son and the most lovely lady Rose to Local. May his stratagems fail and permit us to drink together more often.

>>5487789
>>I drink to you, Isnott Careless, son of count Hapyon. You have travelled far away and I hope that you will find your visit here instructive and amusing.

>>5487789
>>I drink to the baron, his perfidy helped us all meet together and managed to bring our count's son and the most lovely lady Rose to Local. May his stratagems fail and permit us to drink together more often.

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>>5487830
>>5487849
>>5487880
>>5487945
>>5488041
>>5488241

You decided to begin with a funny toast to loosen the atmosphere. Raising your cup you told.

-I drink to the baron, his perfidy helped us all meet together and managed to bring our count's son and the most lovely lady Rose to Local. May his stratagems fail and permit us to drink together more often.

It was met with laughter by most of the assembly, especially the young Isnott, he seemed not to like the baron at all. Lady Takable was laughing too but it was forced, the baron had killed her father and even if it was to mock him she wasn't keen to drinking in his honour, she hated the man with passion. You will have to thread carefully after this. The young son of the count ate the bread at the end of the toast and everybody began to eat. The first service was, as per custom was simply a "mise en bouche" to open the meals with simply small pieces of smoked bacon, pieces of apple and hot bread. It was not meant to eat as much as it was meant for conversation, the real food will come later.
It was customary for your guests to try to liven the conversation, especially from your honoured guests but the young son of Count Careless seemed as silent as a carp while everyone talked around you. You looked at him and he seemed lost in his thoughts, then you looked at lady Takable wanting to talk to her but she looked at you and then at the count's son as to say "we need to win him over". You tried to to signify her that he seemed to want to be left alone, as sometimes men do, a thing that women are absolutely unable to understand and served her wine so she tried to start the conversation herself.

-Dear Isnott...

-Mmmmmh....

-What are you thinking about ? The last book that you read ?

-Yes, and congratulations for your future marriage.

He told it in a so upset tone that you understood that he was jealous of you, well, if didn't want to be he should have simply trained more with a sword in his youth instead of losing his precious time in libraries. Since he was clearly impolite and that his tone was insolent you wanted to answer, but when you opened your mouth lady Takable kicked you in the shin. Even if she was a frail woman it surprised you, and it hurt, especially with heels. You looked at her, furious, and she smiled in an adorable way while telling politely to Isnott.

-Thank you very much. I hope your father will help us.

He became red, you remembered that he has tried to ask for her hand and that his father refused. She could be terrible when she answered like this. He remained silent, only nodding while you looked at her and she looked at you. Her discussion seemed to not have any effect. She tried to whisper in your ear.

-Charles, he is upset and furious against me, try to say him something, maybe he will like you at least.

-I think that he is upset about my existence too.

>>5488624

You told while Bohémond launched some bread to Ancel who was eating on the floor, he was not worthy to sit at the table, and he caught it. You laughed and took some bacon and threw it at your scout.

-Catch it Ancel !

He caught it and bowed a lot, telling.

-Thank you messire ! You are too good messire !

He then ate it with his hands, it made some people at the table laugh but the young lord Isnott at your right told.

-I am sorry, Lord Charles, but... do you always throw food at your servants who eat on the floor like they are.. Dogs ? Or goblins ?

Your clever distraction tactics allowed him to start a conversation. Haha, you were a genius. He seemed upset tough, why ?

>Yes.
>Only during great feasts when my brave Ancel is allowed to eat our leftovers, we must not spoil him too much.
>Ghibellines do this too yes, even if I am politically, as a Frenchman, for the Guelph party, I agree that the Ghibelline protect our right and proper feudal society.
>Dogs can always eat our leftovers of course, I am a great lover of hunting like your father. I am a generous lord dogs and servants are well fed in my lands.
>Other (write in)

>>5488625
>>Only during great feasts when my brave Ancel is allowed to eat our leftovers, we must not spoil him too much.

>>5488625
>Only during great feasts when my brave Ancel is allowed to eat our leftovers, we must not spoil him too much.

>>5488625
Just say it’s a punishment for something he did and we only do these things to ancel, but he is our best scout too. Something like that should work.
>>5488656
>>5488672
I don’t think this is a good idea considering how isnott is like

>>5488625
>Ancel is in some ways like a dog or a Ghibelline, hahaha, but in truth he is a true and righteous Frenchman, which is why I treat him well

>>5488625
>>Only during great feasts when my brave Ancel is allowed to eat our leftovers, we must not spoil him too much.

It is Ancel after all, surely he will come to understand

>>5488625
>Just say it’s a punishment for something he did and we only do these things to Ancel, but he is our best scout too.
>>5488656
>>5488672
>>5488892
I don't think this IsIncell fellow will be fond of this type of humor, my lords.

>>5488625
>Just say it’s a punishment for something he did and we only do these things to ancel, but he is our best scout too. Something like that should work.

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>>5488656
>>5488672
>>5488753

You sir, are clever as a fox.

>>5488797
>>5488892

Of course, Ancel is not very gracious or of polite company but he is crafty and smells tracks well.

>>5489026

They maybe want to educate the young man, into our benevolent influence this bookish boring young lordling will maybe become a true knight.

>>5489101

Maybe he wanted to see if you were harsh enough ? Or thought that you were too much ? You answered.

-Only during great feasts when my brave Ancel is allowed to eat our leftovers, we must not spoil him too much.

He looked as to know if it was a joke, since you were always joyful. But when you threw another bunch of meat to the man who caught it mid flight and put it into his large mouth with yellow teeth. You smiled while you made sign to your servants to begin the second service, that was as per custom made of different soups. He explained you.

-And you do not think that this is backwards ? And barbaric. Human beings deserve to be treated with humanity.

-I treat him kindly, he is well fed.

This man seemed to be at the same level of disillusion as lady Sue, and she was a red haired woman ! No, really, books made men less intelligent than they were before reading them, putting other's ideas in their minds instead of letting them reach the obvious conclusions about the world that was around them. The man looked at you with his dark eyes and explained.

-You could let him go eat at our table.

Ancel ? At a table ? This man was absolutely mad ! He clearly hadn't been beaten enough in his youth to understand the world. Even Indians understood that Ancel did not belong to polite company. And this young man had travelled with the scout on the way here. You looked at Lady Takable and she looked at you quite uncomfortably, she looked at Ancel, and how he ate on the floor like a pig, splashing a bit of bacon under his pants since he hadn't seen it. You understood that she didn't want this near her when she ate, and preferably not in her field of vision and that she hesitated to endure this sight for the simple pleasure of your guest. You looked at the youngest count's son and explained.

>You mean eating with commoners ? It is already scandalous that some burgher sons pretend to eat at the same table as descendants of families that had chivalry in their blood since the time of the Franks and now we should eat with children of dung collectors ?
>Ancel is not a nobleman and knows nothing about proper table manners. And eating at the table would make him uncomfortable. It will make you uncomfortable Ancel isn't it ? (Intrigue roll)
>As you wish my lord.
>Other (write in).

Rolled 69 (1d100)

>>5489245
>>Ancel is not a nobleman and knows nothing about proper table manners. And eating at the table would make him uncomfortable. It will make you uncomfortable Ancel isn't it ? (Intrigue roll)

Rolled 70 (1d100)

>>5489245
>>Ancel is not a nobleman and knows nothing about proper table manners. And eating at the table would make him uncomfortable. It will make you uncomfortable Ancel isn't it ? (Intrigue roll)

>>5489245
>>You mean eating with commoners ? It is already scandalous that some burgher sons pretend to eat at the same table as descendants of families that had chivalry in their blood since the time of the Franks and now we should eat with children of dung collectors ?

Rolled 8 (1d100)

>>5489245
>Ancel is not a nobleman and knows nothing about proper table manners. And eating at the table would make him uncomfortable. It will make you uncomfortable Ancel isn't it ? (Intrigue roll)

>>5489339
>>5489350
>these rolls
Oh shit, oh no, we're floundering!

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>>5489339
>>5489350
>>5489361
>>5489534

Yes the roll was failed.

=====

You thought about why he was upset and wanted Ancel at the table, your first theory was that since his father was a hunter maybe his servants who ate like Ancel had to contend with dogs at whom we threw food too. It must be amusing to see them fight, and thinking about it, it happened sometimes when your father had a dog. Maybe you should have a dog too to throw him food and see Ancel and him battle over it. Treating dogs well would celebrate the good old traditions of chivalry. Maybe he was accusing you of being a victim of dangerous novelties and of mistreatment of your animals ? He maybe thought that Ancel stole food from the dogs.
But then you saw that he seemed to not be a hunter and maybe your first theory was true, he was himself a victim of dangerous novelties.
You tried to explain him the disaster of having Ancel with you.

-Ancel is not a nobleman and knows nothing about proper table manners. And eating at the table would make him uncomfortable. It will make you uncomfortable Ancel isn't it.

-Of course yes, I would be uneased messire Charles !

But the youngster insisted.

-When I am invited I prefer that everyone eats at the table.

You sighed and rose.

-Well then, go here Ancel...

Ancel, who was on his knees tried to crawl away. You had to raise and to catch him by his collar to put him on a chair saying.

-Obey, maraud ! The young lord orders you !

Ancel weighted far less and was far shorter than you so his resistance was brief, he was put on a chair and you returned towards yours looking at Isnott to see if he was satisfied. He seemed now to be incommoded by the stench coming from Ancel. He travelled with him, so he knew, and now he reaped what he sowed. Lady Takable seemed to be uncomfortable too but she quickly put on a mask of serenity. You then watched how Ancel began to take from all the bowls of soup, until Godefroi, who was near him, smacked him in the back of the head. You decided not to watch this spectacle, eating your mushroom soup and waiting for the third service, the service of the different stews, you preferred to ask.

>Lord Isnott, tell me, what do second sons do in your lands, have you thought about joining the clergy ?
>When Lady Takable and I will be married we will hold many feasts, I hope that you will often be our guest.
>You appreciated Ancel during your travels with him and Bohémond ?
>You know, I think that we should not make your father wait, do you know a shortcut to go to Pleasantville ?
>You know, I think that we should not make your father wait, do you know a shortcut to go to Pleasantville ? We must arrive at the same time as the baron, I would not want him to come before us and spew his lies in your father's court.
>Other (write in)

>>5489880
>>Lord Isnott, tell me, what do second sons do in your lands, have you thought about joining the clergy ?

Perhaps the young lord had a tutor from Diver City

>>5489880
>>Lord Isnott, tell me, what do second sons do in your lands, have you thought about joining the clergy ?

>>5489880
>Tell us about your homeland, Lord Issnot! I am sure it is beautiful, no?
>And what of yourself? I hear you are a learned man. Have you perhaps had tutelage from Diver City?
>You know, I think that we should not make your father wait, do you know a shortcut to go to Pleasantville ?

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>>5489889
>>5489896
>>5489897

You began to ask the young man some questions, maybe it will open him up a bit, and make you forget the smell of Ancel who deserved well his nickname of "le purineur".

-Lord Isnott, tell me, what do second sons do in your lands, have you thought about joining the clergy ?

-The clergy ? No, no, no, no... Absolutely not, I mean, I am not very religious, you know, religion here, it is a bit backwards, did you know that there is a god of table manners and a god of stew in our mythology. Oh, and this stew is good by the way. But such gods seems to me, sorry if it may shock someone, not very real.

You nodded enthusiastically.

-I heartily agree, these gods are absolutely not real.

-Oh really ? You are an atheist too ? What a welcome surprise, they are rare in this lands.

You wondered what an atheist was, it must meant that you rejected the pagan idols of the Indians. Maybe it is the name they gave to Christians.

-They are too rare unfortunately, but I try to convert some people.

He seemed really surprised by it. His brown eyes opened and he explained you.

-Really ? It... It is unexpected, they said you were a kind of fanatic from a sect but now I understand, they called you like this because you reject the religion of our priests.

You were happy to dissipate these lies forged by your enemies.

-We are absolutely not a sect, no, we are the One True Faith, Christ said that he was the Way, the Truth and the Life.

He seemed even more impressed, truly the power of Jesus was beginning to convert him. You were proud of yourself.

-Yes, we seek the Truth in our way of life, it is what atheism is all about. And one true faith hahahaha, excellent this one, I will use it.

He seemed to smile and toke more of his beef stew, it was true that it was excellent. But you decided to go back to the topic.

-And so, what about your occupations, if not the clergy, you want to be a knight in the service of your brother ?

-A knight, no, not at all, I am not a great lover of battles and warfare. I want to study in the universities of the center of the Empire, well, even continue my studies, then I will try to work. Probably in the shipment of rare alchemical ingredients to our lands.

It was your turn to be astonished. What...

-You mean to... Work ? Like a burgher ?

-Yes.

He answered in such a certain tone that you were sure that this man was a mummer or a man of great humor. You had to control yourself to not laugh out loud.

>Roll an intrigue roll with a bonus of +10 for Foreign Etiquette and +20 because you have self control

Rolled 5 (1d100)

>>5489943
Kek

Rolled 16 (1d100)

>>5489943

Rolled 91 (1d100)

>>5489943

Rolled 96 + 30 (1d100 + 30)

>>5489245
>>5489880
>>5489943
>calls us barbaric
>calls ancel a human being
>demands we put ancel at the table against everyone's will
>probably takes pleasure from this
>wants to be a wagie
remind me we have to burn all the books later

Rolled 92 (1d100)

>>5490051
They DO seem to have ruined an otherwise-good Christian convert.
kek

>>5490349
Maybe we should hire the young lad a courtesan as a last ditch effort to set his mind straight?

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>>5489975
>>5489990
>>5489998

Congratulations, you passed the test !

>>5490051

It is because of great minds like yours that our society becomes safer and more learned every day. Your demonstration was flawless good sir. Who needs many books when they already have the Holy Bible and the works of the Church fathers.

>>5490349

Of course, he already rejected paganism, he has to accept the Truth.

>>5490538

That good sir, is a great idea. I will add it when you will have the occasion. You and >>5490051 deserve to gain +5xp for these excellent ideas. Once put into practice I am sure that they will give plenty of mudcore or of piety.


================

You managed not to laugh and to try to be serious. He seemed to seriously think that a nobleman should work like a burgher... What a shame, what a shame against our right and proper feudal society, millenia of traditions thrown away like shit through a window in a crowded city. You tried to be diplomatic and asked.

-And your father... Does he supports this project.

The young man took more wine and shook his head.

-He supports my entrance in the university, but he is not a man of learning unfortunately. He wouldn't understand.

Haha ! He was not a man of learning, so he could be taken seriously, the father seemed to be far more sensible than his second son. You wondered what you would have done if you had a son like this... Since you will be married soon you will have to try to educate your children. Maybe you should beat the son in question and then send him to squire for a good knight like Godefroi who will teach him life. Or send the reader to a monastery to never hear from him again, it would be hard, since you would probably love your kids, but sometimes it could be necessary.

You finished your stew ordered the fourth service, it was time to eat fish. Here it was trouts and other riverfish sometimes stuffed with different fish or vegetables. You loved it and took some before asking.

-Tell me lord Isnott, I hear what you are professing and I must ask, did you have tutors from... How they call it, Diver City.

The young man shook his head and explained.

-No... No, absolutely not, both the people of Poltard and of Diver City are equally bad. The institutions of learning in Bifuria aren't good, I studied one year in the central empire, in the kingdom of Bofuria. A place of enlightenment and knowledge, we call the graduates from those places enlightened centrists and I wish to become one once I will finish the four years of study of the university of Bofuria.

>>5490831

You nodded, the intricacies of Indian institutions of knowledge being as alien to you as those of Saracen cuisine. But it meant that there were many other places where novelties spread from, it was bad news. It was then the turn of Isnott to ask something.

-And you lord Charles, I have not heard a lot about you, your knight Bohémond said that you were a warrior who had waged wars in foreign lands but what did you do in your life before becoming lord of Local.

>Foreign lands ? What ? Guyenne is France ! Champagne is France ! Flanders are France ! Aragon... Will be Capetian soon enough... But yes... Yes, for you it is foreign.
>I come from a far away land were the customs are not the same as here. I travelled enough, waged wars, fought in tournaments, even saw the University of Paris and the Mont Saint Michel.
>I am not a first son, I had to be a knight in the household of my brother Philippe when he would have inherited from my father, but I have been sent to India to deal with this inheritance, it is a chance. Once here I put some order in the lands, Ghibellines raided us so I fought them, I even defeated a turtle in single combat, it was as big as two men !
>I trained to be a knight, I was a page and a squire for my father, then for messire Godefroi that you see here. Fought in Aragon against the heretics when I was a squire under king Philippe the Bold, then when I was a little older than you I joined the army of our good constable of Champagne, Gaucher de Châtillon to push the count of Bar out of our province, then four years later I fought in Guyenne against the perfidious English under Gaucher too, then in Flanders, I was at the first line at the battle of Furnes under count Robert d'Artois, that was a great day. I have been invited sometimes to the Hostel de Valois where our good Charles de Valois, brother of the king, holds court. He knows my father well as he appreciates all the noble houses where the ancient traditions of chivalry are not forgotten.
>Other (write in)

(Choose one option please)

>>5490832

I give you +5 xp for your good (and memetic) ideas.

====

Your new stats :

Charles de Villeroi

Class : Local Lord
Level : 3
XP : 385+5 = 390 (next level at 450)

Stats

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

Piety : 51

Mudcore : 48

With 48 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.

>>5490832
>I am not a first son, I had to be a knight in the household of my brother Philippe when he would have inherited from my father, but I have been sent to India to deal with this inheritance, it is a chance. Once here I put some order in the lands, Ghibellines raided us so I fought them, I even defeated a turtle in single combat, it was as big as two men !
It's not like he knows who any of those French people or places are, sadly.

>>5490832
>>I am not a first son, I had to be a knight in the household of my brother Philippe when he would have inherited from my father, but I have been sent to India to deal with this inheritance, it is a chance. Once here I put some order in the lands, Ghibellines raided us so I fought them, I even defeated a turtle in single combat, it was as big as two men !

>>5490832
>>I am not a first son, I had to be a knight in the household of my brother Philippe when he would have inherited from my father, but I have been sent to India to deal with this inheritance, it is a chance. Once here I put some order in the lands, Ghibellines raided us so I fought them, I even defeated a turtle in single combat, it was as big as two men !

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>>5490832
>I come from a far away land were the customs are not the same as here. I travelled enough, waged wars, fought in tournaments, even saw the University of Paris and the Mont Saint Michel.
This one likes universities, I reckon.
>>5490831
Thank you, my lord. Seems like I accidentally secured us 10xp.

>>5490832
>>I come from a far away land were the customs are not the same as here. I travelled enough, waged wars, fought in tournaments, even saw the University of Paris and the Mont Saint Michel.

>>5490832
>>I come from a far away land were the customs are not the same as here. I travelled enough, waged wars, fought in tournaments, even saw the University of Paris and the Mont Saint Michel.

>>5490832
>>I come from a far away land were the customs are not the same as here. I travelled enough, waged wars, fought in tournaments, even saw the University of Paris and the Mont Saint Michel.

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>>5490838

It is true but the glory of your deeds must be known even in far away India.

>>5490854
>>5490967

>>5491122

Wise choice, and I gave collectively +5xp for the two propositions, but since it is all from you it was truely the act of one wise man who gave us 5xp. Continue to give proposition and I will give some small xp bonuses or choices.

>>5491130
>>5491338
>>5493198

You decided to give him the short version.

-I come from a far away land were the customs are not the same as here. I travelled enough, waged wars, fought in tournaments, even saw the University of Paris and the Mont Saint Michel.

The young man seemed to be interested.

-There is universities in your lands ? What do they teach ?

-Paris has one of the most important universities of Christendom, they teach law, medicine, french and of course the mother of all matters : Theology at the college of the Sorbonne.

-They teach theology in an atheist land ?

-Yes of course, Theology is the basis of all our reflexions about God, even if I have never studied knowing a bit of it is needed to understand God and practical things like the mass.

He frowned and then nodded.

-I am sorry if I may take time to understand, our dialects are not always exactly the same. I would not say that studying theology leads to atheism but your point of view is very interesting, teaching atheism by theology, rejecting the gods by studying theology and seeing that all these gods are false. It is fascinating. And yes I agree religion is often used to control the masses.

You nodded.

-Yes, Christian theology helps us explain why idols and pagan gods are false. And yes of course the masses of people of all walks of society must adhere to the faith's principles or everything crumbles. Our right and proper feudal society is based on this, see, here in India it is paganism, it is doubt, there is no strong united organised church and what happens : burghers take more power, guilds take the place of noblemen, every kind of strange novelties begin to make the society crumble.

He seemed to think about it and nodded.

-You know, I thought that not having undergone superior education you would be narrow minded, and the lies spread by your ennemies were not helping but I see that you are a wise man of knowledge, a man of reason and virtue. You exactly theorised the writings of the great professors Karl and Friedrich, if the gods die society crumbles without the opium of the people, and it brings changes and a new society, more modern and more enlightened. And I agree with you, our society with it's weak link of having a lot of competing religions instead of one huge monolithic bloc is the weak link of fundamentalism. Your feudalism the right and proper way of feudalism as you put it, seems far more interesting, and I agree with your theory that once the power of the religions will fade a new right and proper order shall take it's place. It is the course of history.

>>5494125

You had trouble understanding everything, this young man used big words but you could only agree.

-Yes, novelties come from lack of Faith. The only way to move Indian society in a good direction is by abandoning these many pagan gods and embrace Christendom.

He seemed to agree and you finished your fish. It was a happy day and you were delighted to have made progress with this brave lad. Even if he was pompous and annoying he was ready to see the Light of God and as a good Christian you could forgive him. It was time to move on to the main course, an entire ox roasted on a broch. And it was time too to speak with Lady Takable, politeness forced you to not ignore your other table neighbour.

Since she was at our left it was the man at her right, in this case Oldfossil, who had to cut her meat, so you had not the obvious excuse to begin a conversation, so what will you tell to the woman that you love ?

>Compliment her dress, her beauty and her admirable manners.
>Talk about the journey of tomorrow.
>Oldfossil being old maybe he would need help to cut her beef, maybe offer him help.
>Ask Lady Takable about Pleasantville, you will go there with her after all and she seems to know the place.
>Ask if she would want to play the harp at the end of the feast, compliment her musical talents.
>Ask what she thought of your yesterday's judgements, you had not a lot of time to talk about this with her and now may be the moment to know her opinion.
>Other (write in)

(Choose maximum 3 choices please)

Sorry for the lenghty delay for the update but I am on the move actually and I cannot update as frequently as I did.

>>5494126
>>Compliment her dress, her beauty and her admirable manners.
>>Ask Lady Takable about Pleasantville, you will go there with her after all and she seems to know the place.
>>Ask if she would want to play the harp at the end of the feast, compliment her musical talents.

>>5494126
>>Ask what she thought of your yesterday's judgements, you had not a lot of time to talk about this with her and now may be the moment to know her opinion.
>Ask Lady Takable about Pleasantville, you will go there with her after all and she seems to know the place.
>Compliment her dress, her beauty and her admirable manners.

>>5494126
>Compliment her dress, her beauty and her admirable manners.
>Ask Lady Takable about Pleasantville, you will go there with her after all and she seems to know the place.
>Ask if she would want to play the harp at the end of the feast, compliment her musical talents.

>>5494126
>Talk about the journey of tomorrow.

>>5494126
>Compliment her dress, her beauty and her admirable manners.
>Ask Lady Takable about Pleasantville, you will go there with her after all and she seems to know the place.
>Ask if she would want to play the harp at the end of the feast, compliment her musical talents.

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>>5494154
>>5494297
>>5494317
>>5494361
>>5494398

You decided to compliment the lady, as it should be.

-You look radiant this evening Rose, this turquoise dress compliments your eyes perfectly and with this tiara you look like Guinevere from the legends of King Arthur.

She had learned to appreciate Chrétien de Troyes when you spoke together about poetry and she smiled at you.

-I look so regal ? Good, and you would make a good sir Lancelot.

Of course Lancelot has done the most vile thing that a vassal can do, sleeping with the wife of his suzerain, but they were in love just like you and Rose. You were young and beautiful and would probably soon marry and begin to create a dynasty that will pass the test of time. A dynasty that would bring chivalry, Christendom and order to India. You will do better than even the Prester John.

-Yes my lady, you are the living portrayal of ladylike grace, you are fit to be a queen.

She blushed and her rosy cheeks became completely red, she was an embodiment of youth, freshness and sweetness at moments like these. You hoped that she pardoned you your earlier remarks. She thanked you kindly.

You then decided to change the subject of the conversation and to stir it towards your journey.

-You have already been to Pleasantville, tell me, is it a nice town ?

She smiled and answered in the high pitched voice that made her the perfect picture of innocence. When you looked at here delicious bare shoulders and imagined passing your hands on her smooth skin, towards her breasts, a small upper part of whose were visible. They were perfect in your opinion, not too small too be unnoticeable and not to big to make her look like a milkmaid or another peasant girl. It was just enough to take one in each hand and... You decided to concentrate on what she was saying, asking silently for forgiveness for your lustful thoughts.

-Yes my lord. It is beautiful, it is not a large city of course but there is some beautiful places. There is a fair on the market once a year and everybody lights up lanterns that night to make the town shine while magicians conjure columns of light that go high in the sky.

-It is in this time of the year ?

-No, it will be in the middle of winter... But you will see the count's castle and his estate. His hunts are magnificent, I was too young to take part in them but father let me ride to the camp sometimes. We always ate well. You should love the place.

You smiled at this, if the count invited you to a hunt it could be very interesting. You then asked.

-My sweet lady, would you delight us with a musical performance at the end of the banquet ?

She looked at you, pleased that you asked her this. She loved music and appreciated greatly that you liked to hear her play. Nodding kindly she told.

-I am sure that it will please you my lord, and please our guest. I shall ask a servant to bring it to me when we will finish.

>>5495358

That was excellent news. You finished the meat and ordered for the next service. It was time to eat something sweet and your cooks did not disappoint you. There was of course a huge cake but there was gingerbread, pancakes in Tournay's style, apple fritters and many other simple pastries that delighted you. You took some chervil tart, your favourite dessert and decided to speak to one of the persons present at your table.

>Continue to speak with Lady Takable.
>Speak with the young son of Count Careless.
>Speak with Oldfossil, you haven't spoken to him since this day.
>Speak with Godefroi your old knight.
>Speak with Bohémond your younger knight.
>Speak with Captain Crumbling.
>Speak with Ancel, to tell him to stop stuffing everything in his mouth and behave.
>Speak with Father François
>Speak with Brother Louis
>Speak with Becky, Takeble's Handmaiden
>Speak with Captain Relic, Lady Takable's guard captain

>Choose what to speak about if you want.

(Choose one choice please)

>>5495361
>>Speak with Bohémond your younger knight.

>>5495361
>Speak with the young son of Count Careless
>Speak with Becky, Takeble's Handmaiden
This Incell appears to be a good samaritan (bordering on a masochist), the kind who cares for even the dog- er, peasants? Maybe among all the faggotry-enducing books of his at least one wasn't a complete waste of time and spoke of medicine? You know, like vampire-prognosed cancers for example? Not to be confused with crabs (pubic lice), another thing that seems to be a problem of many handmaidens for noo reason at ahah-all. If so, he just might know what steps one could take to treat or prevent the disease altogether!

>>5495361
>>Speak with the young son of Count Careless.

>>5495361
>Speak with Father François

>>5495361
>>Speak with the young son of Count Careless.

>>5495361
>>Speak with Becky, Takeble's Handmaiden

>>5495361
>Speak with the young son of Count Careless

While he broke the rule and chose two, >>5495390 raises a good point. Let us ask after the cure which we promised to procure, yes?

>>5495361
>>5496044
Yeah I often forget to read the after-vote text, but essentially what I meant was
>Talk to SonCareless
>Introduce him to the problem and to Becky
t.>>5495390

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>>5495372
>>5495390

I laughed at the other problem that you mentioned. But it is a great idea to be honest, you deserve 5xp for raising the topic. I haven't thought about it but it can help.

>>5495456
>>5495463
>>5495580
>>5495778
>>5496044
>>5496532

Yes of course you can raise the topic.

====

You wondered if books had any real purpose, speaking about the medicine taught in the university of Paris made you think about Indian medicine. Maybe they had techniques that could cure some illnesses. After all Saracens had taught a thing or two in matter of medicine to the Christendom so maybe these heathens even further eastwards knew even more. You asked Isnott's who was looking at Ancel with a disgusted air, probably regretting having put him on the table.

-Lord Isnott, if I may inquire, tell me, please, have you studied medicine.

-I have began to study the latest techniques yes.

-Good, then I have to ask you something, you see, I had a problem with a Guelph, a strange "High Guelph" or "Blood Guelph" or whatever. He told us that the young Becky, that you see here, will be ill with a strange illness of the head and die. I thought that a specialist like you could help cure her.

He seemed interested and soon Becky was listening to you too, just like some other persons in the room. Lady Takable seemed interested, and grateful too that you thought about her handmaiden.

-Did he spoke in a prophecy ?

-He seemed to know the future yes.

-Then you have no risks, prophecies aren't worth anything.

But Becky insisted.

-But he... He was right... I.. sometimes feel.

The young man sighted and explained.

-I am not a master of medicine, but I will speak with professors when next month I will be in Bofuria in the university. I am sure that they will help, they are great masters of medicine and this science progresses so quickly that they will probably cure you.

The guard captain of Lady Takable asked him.

-You study healing magic lord Isnott ?

He seemed shocked.

-Healing magic ? That old crap ? No, of course not, medicine is not based on formulas, strange energies and mumbo jumbo as they say in the south, it is based on facts, reason and logic and so it is far better. And it progresses faster.

You could only agree, being very against magic, your councillors approved too, knowing not to anger you, but Lady Takable's man didn't knew about this and tried to defend these horrors, not knowing that it could send him to hell.

-But healing magic could be useful, I lost a hand fighting against wolves once, a high level healer helped me regrow it, it is as good as new.

>>5496830

He then moved his hand and it seemed that he had told the truth, you gasped at this, it was truly impressive you never witnessed this in France. But Isnott seemed to not be impressed at all.

-Yes yes it is cheap tricks and medicine cannot do this yet, but even great magical healers like my professor Nimbus, teach medicine now because we must live with our time and healing magic is old fashioned. Medicine can cure you.

It was true that Relic was very old and probably not knowing the last novelties, happy man ! He asked.

-Can it regrow limbs ?

-No but...

-Can it close wounds simply by touching them ?

You insisted.

-Only God and Saints can do this ! Not magicians !

Isnott seemed to be shocked by it, fearing the power of the miracles of the church. You never witnessed one but heard about them and you knew that it would help Isnott convert faster. Isnott answered before Relic.

-I.. yes I agree that priests can use healing miracles but it is fundamentally the same principle as healing magic and..

You wanted to protest but the guard captain asked once more.

-Can medicine cure all poisons with a simple universal spell ?

But Isnott had enough and he used a powerful argument.

-No but it can give you an infection or a secondary illness if you do it poorly ! It is why skill is important, your capacity to analyse, to think. It is why everyone respects a doctor, while magical healers... Well, they are seen as hillbillies and charlatans. Not a lot of intelligent people would respect them it is why they switch to medicine.

He told it in a tone that was so sure of himself that you decided to believe the young man. And yes, in your opinion doctors were bad but at least they didn't used the power of the devil to heal wounds. And even if sometimes you were wounded for a long time and unable to walk, like when you fought these wolf men, you had the adorable lady Rose taking care of you and it was not so bad. You looked at her and smiled when asking for the eight and last service, the "Boute Hors" where your servants will bring sweet wine and pastries to everyone to help them digest and invite them politely to leave the table after having eaten it.

You were happy with the feast and even happier to see Isnott promising Becky to help her and being thanked by her and Bohémond. It was excellent news.

You now had still a small amount of time left on the table. You still had an important decision to make about tommorow.

>You will need to take a shortcut to arrive at Pleasantville at the same time as the baron.
>Even if it gives time to the baron to intrigue against you at the count's court you travel with the count's son and a lady, you will take a longer, safer road.

>>5496832

I give you +5 xp for your good idea and the help that you gave to becky by advice.

====

Your new stats :

Charles de Villeroi

Class : Local Lord
Level : 3
XP : 390+5 = 395 (next level at 450)

Stats

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

Piety : 51

Mudcore : 48

With 48 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.

>>5496832
>>You will need to take a shortcut to arrive at Pleasantville at the same time as the baron.

>>5496832
>>You will need to take a shortcut to arrive at Pleasantville at the same time as the baron.

>>5496832
>>You will need to take a shortcut to arrive at Pleasantville at the same time as the baron.

>>5496832
>>You will need to take a shortcut to arrive at Pleasantville at the same time as the baron.

>>5496832
>>You will need to take a shortcut to arrive at Pleasantville at the same time as the baron.

>>5496832
>You will need to take a shortcut to arrive at Pleasantville at the same time as the baron.
They all sound like charlatans to me. Maybe we should enslave that dendrophilic guelph and interrogate him like we did with the woman who wore men's clothes. But without stripping.
If we built a treehouse prison and then took a swing at that sorcerer, would that cause the ring to imprison him, I wonder?

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>>5496990
>>5497005
>>5497012
>>5497056
>>5498032
>>5498168

You decided to take a shortcut to arrive at Pleasantville, you could not tolerate to be late after the baron when he will use his advance to intrigue against you. You needed to act ! So you told lady Takable and lord Isnott.

-Dear Rose, dear Isnott, if I understand well the baron has some advance on us since your dear brother departed for his castle at the same time as you departed for here. So he must have already arrived. We will need to advance quicker if we want to arrive at the same time as him and not make the baron lie more. Is there a shorter road to your lands ?

Both of them seemed to think, Isnott wasn't enthusiastic but lady Takable understood and she said.

-We could pass by the Benny hills on the south west of the hills of Nesse. It could give us many days in advance if we do not follow the road. I could travel without a wagon but on horse if you wish.

Bénies ? You liked this name, it meant blessed in French, you were about to thank lady Takable for sacrificing her comfort and providing you an excellent path when Isnott explained.

-Those hills are full of Kobold slavers ! We will get killed or sold into slavery before we could cross them. This is madness !

You laughed.

-Kobolds ? Are those the half imaginary Saracens that lady Takable talked about, if they are Saracens I will slay them, if they are as she described then they are short and weak, they shall fall easily against any true resistance. If we bring all our horsemen it will be easy.

Rose shook her head.

-Charles, Isnott is right, they, they can be dangerous, and numerous. I only have two guardsmen and Captain Relic on horse and even with yours.

You counted your horsemen.

-You have two, I have six and three knights plus Ancel, he can run near the horses even if he doesn't count for a lot he could smell their tracks well.

-Thank you messire, you are too good messire ! Hosannah glory to you messire.

-Silence Ancel. Well, so nine men with me, two of them very well trained, Captain Crumbling and Oldfossil have horses, we can try to borrow them, but since you and your handmaiden came on a wagon you will have to use them. Our dear Isnott came with six men so we have... Eighteen men, plus me and lord Isnott so we will be twenty armed men around you. Nobody would dare to fight such a group.

Even a huge group of forty bandits would be decimated by the fight and would prefer to attack innocent peasants, these slavers shall not risk such a fight. Twenty armed men, or nineteen, because Lord Isnott was a wimp and one of his guards was a woman so she counted as half, or not, twenty eight because you, Bohémond, Brother Louis and Godefroy counted as three each, you were knights and far above the masses of guards that served under you.

>>5501502

That seemed to convince lady Takable, you truly were well equipped. But the young Isnott was not impressed.

-But, lord Charles, what if a stone troll attacks us, he could panick men and...

It was Captain Crumbling that helped you.

-Our lord already slew an armoured water troll in single combat. I have never seen such.

Isnott looked at you, astonished. You remembered that the locals called turtles by the funny name of troll. And you nodded, to be modest. One day they shall understand that it is turtles that they talk about. Isnott only said.

-Well then my lord, we are secure with you... The only "trolls" that I have slain are during debates in the university.

You laughed at that, it was funny Indian humour and you understood quickly. Turtles, in plus of having shields on their front and back were known to be slow (even if your experience with one of them showed it to be quicker than you thought.) and he probably was talking about stupid people who were slow to think. Those Indians had some good jokes after all. Since everyone had finished their Boute Hors it was time to go to bed. You would need to take all your escort with you but it was necessary. Tomorrow will be a great day.

But before you could prepare for tommorrow Oldfossil came to you. The old man had heard what you proposed and before the end of the meal he wanted to advise you.

-My lord, if I may ask if I agree with your decision to come by a shortcut with only warriors and no servants behind you, since they do not know how to ride, and since I am too old and frail to try to travel through those hills, can I give you the names of some lawyers that live in Pleasantville. I fear that your feud with the baron will end in a legal procedure and you will have to be judged by the count, and if you will have to speak for yourself, as a nobleman, having the advice of someone who knows perfectly the laws and customs of Bifuria would be wise.

He was right, a lord, or even a king needed "legists" as we say in France to defend him legally and justify his decisions before the church or other lords. You didn't trust private lawyers though but if Oldfossil gave you a list of trustworthy ones you could probably seek advice before your councillor. And then you thought that you could need servants in Pleasantville, to show your status and help you in ways that guardsmen could not, of course it will make you weaker if you are attacked on the way but who would wash your clothes and prepare meals on the way ? Ancel ?

>What an excellent idea Oldfossil, what an excellent idea, give me the names, of course.
>I have changed my mind, we will take you in our trips, nobody could give better advice than you.
>(To Rose and Isnott) Maybe we could take some servants with us instead of warriors, we could take eight of them that know how to ride to mark our status, and our councillor too. (Intrigue roll)
>Other (write in)

>>5501504
>>What an excellent idea Oldfossil, what an excellent idea, give me the names, of course.

>>5501504
>What an excellent idea Oldfossil, what an excellent idea, give me the names, of course.
We are taking a shortcut to speed up. Let us not slow ourselves with servants.... Or, if me must, just one to wash our clothes, Rose's, and Issnot's.

>>5501504
>What an excellent idea Oldfossil, what an excellent idea, give me the names, of course.
>>5501606
And Ancel, hopefully?

>>5501504
>>What an excellent idea Oldfossil, what an excellent idea, give me the names, of course.

We shall live as if we are on campaign, in a way we are.

>>5501504
>What an excellent idea Oldfossil, what an excellent idea, give me the names, of course.

>>5501633
Angel is less of a servant and more of a human hound, and I mean that in a very good way

>>5501945
Yes but stinky dog is a stinky dog, we should at least throw him into a river

>>5502076
If we overwash him, might he not become sick, being unaccustomed to cleanliness?

>>5502078
Do dogs get sick from water? I merely empathize with Lady Takable's nose if this Incell tries to make him devour food with us again.

>>5501504
>>What an excellent idea Oldfossil, what an excellent idea, give me the names, of course.

>>5501504
>>What an excellent idea Oldfossil, what an excellent idea, give me the names, of course.

>>5501504
>>What an excellent idea Oldfossil, what an excellent idea, give me the names, of course.

File: Beware the legist.jpg (311 KB, 1200x1482)

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>>5501536
>>5501606

It seems that the people agree.

>>5501633

By the heavens, you are really bent on torturing him, but he deserves this. Well, I shall add an option to try to wash him along the way.

>>5501691

Well said.

>>5501945

You put it in a nutshell good sir.

>>5502076
>>5502078
>>5502089

This debate between protecting your love and caring for our servant's well being show how much you are kind lords good sirs.

>>5502239
>>5502383
>>5503349

You decided to thank Oldfossil, you will travel lightly as if on campaign and you would need legal advice at the end.

-What an excellent idea Oldfossil, what an excellent idea, give me the names of course.

The man bowed and told.

-I shall even write them, and transmit it to your learned friend brother Louis tomorrow.

You nodded, brother Louis would be the only literate man in your retinue. And you let Oldfossil explain.

-There is some legists of good repute in Pleasantville. One of them is a rather kind fellow from Diver City, called Yu Su Mi, he helped defend someone here on one occasion. But knowing the baron he will probably give work to many men, there is two good law firms that could help here. The first one is Alway, Cheatham and Run, a group of humans of good repute that had moved from city to city and who has helped us well when we had a quarrel with the Red Baron but they were engaged by the baron too sometimes so I do not know if you will manage to hire them. But there is Goldersson, Axefist, Grudgebringer and Greenleaf. I would suggest that you ask the services of mister Greenleaf, I do not know him but an elf or an half-elf working with dwarves cannot be a bad lawyer in my humble opinion.

You nodded and you asked.

-This town seems to be full of lawyers and legists... Why ?

-Yes my lord, as they say if there is one lawyer in a town he is it's poorest inhabitant, if there is two of them they are the two richest. Lawyers attire other lawyers and new people seeing them rich want to study the law. It makes them poorer since there is too much of them so those who cannot stay in big cities move to smaller towns and do the same. Fortunately they have not come for the villages still but I fear that we will see some of them migrate here.

You understood the worry of your councillor before this invasion of lawyers. Could the burghers not grow crops like peasants, or do some useful craft, no, they must read books to look like they are intelligent. Fools ! All of them !

It was in these thoughts that you decided to go to sleep, tomorrow will be a great day.

>>5503419

When the time came to be on the saddle you saw that most of the men and women of your expedition were sleepy, only the knights and Ancel, who could hold their alcohol were fresh and eager to travel. Even if lady Takable was very beautiful in her red riding garb she seemed sleepy and not very enthusiastic about the ride, she was not a morning person. But you shall not be stopped by this. In the first part of the travel you will stay on the road, passing to the south of Someplace and baronial lands, then you will go in the wilds when crossing the Benny hills to gain some time.

When the time came to be on the saddle you saw that most of the men and women of your expedition were sleepy, only the knights and Ancel, who could hold their alcohol were fresh and eager to travel. Even if lady Takable was very beautiful in her red riding garb she seemed sleepy and not very enthusiastic about the ride, she was not a morning person. But you shall not be stopped by this. In the first part of the travel you will stay on the road, passing to the south of Someplace and baronial lands, then you will go in the wilds when crossing the Benny hills to gain some time.
You will stop, as you stopped before, at the High Mandol-Inn during the first night, the last time you were there an assassin tried to kill you but you were sure that with the Count's son near you you would be safe. With whom would you speak during your travels.

>Speak with Bohémond, even if the young knight will probably be courting Lady Takable's handmaiden during the travels but he saw Pleasantville.
>Speak with Godefroi, the old knight is always happy to be on campaign and since he already crossed blades with the saracens he should be happy to talk about fighting those kobold slavers who must look like them.
>Speak with Brother Louis, the Templar is pious and knowledgeable about the world and if he saw Podunk he still wasn't in Pleasantville.
>Speak with Isnott Careless, you are here to gain his favour after all.
>Speak with Lady Takable, she is your love and maybe she needs to be cheered up in the morning.
>Speak with some of your men at arms or those of the other lords (choose whom, you have brought Cop and his sons)
>Stay quiet, keep for yourself and travel.
>Other (write in)

Choose one option please.

>>5503421

Since you have managed to avoid a catastrophe with Isnott, and even to be considered to be a good man by him I shall give you +20 xp for your skilled display of intrigue.

====

Your new stats :

Charles de Villeroi

Class : Local Lord
Level : 3
XP : 395+20 = 415 (next level at 450)

Stats

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

Piety : 51

Mudcore : 48

With 48 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.

>>5503421
>Speak with Godefroi, the old knight is always happy to be on campaign and since he already crossed blades with the saracens he should be happy to talk about fighting those kobold slavers who must look like them.
>>Tell him about our spooky Saracen dream, too.
>Speak with Isnott Careless, you are here to gain his favour after all.
>>Ask him his thoughts on those lawyers, since he loves burghers so much.

>>5503421
>Speak with Isnott Careless, you are here to gain his favour after all.
>Speak with some of your men at arms or those of the other lords
Yeah let's talk to Cop

>>5503421
>>Speak with Isnott Careless, you are here to gain his favour after all.
And Cop

>>5503473
>>Speak with Godefroi, the old knight is always happy to be on campaign and since he already crossed blades with the saracens he should be happy to talk about fighting those kobold slavers who must look like them.
>>>Tell him about our spooky Saracen dream, too.

I'll support this

>>5503421
>>Speak with Brother Louis, the Templar is pious and knowledgeable about the world and if he saw Podunk he still wasn't in Pleasantville.
Speak about the dream

File: La chanson de geste.jpg (104 KB, 758x559)

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>>5503473
>>5503477
>>5503520
>>5503712
>>5503735

It seems that Isnott won, with Godefroi and Cop close seconds, I choose Cop because it was the first to gather 2 votes and because well, we rarely spoke to him. You shall speak with Godefroi during the next day.

====

You decided to speak with Isnott but since he seemed sleepy you preferred to talk to one of your men on the road. You saw Cop drinking some mead through his flask and wiping his mustache after having finished. You told him.

-Nothing better than to drink after an evening of drinking !

It made him laugh and he answered.

-Of course my lord, we can drink to celebrate.

-Have you been to Pleasantville before, dear Cop ?

-Yes, yes, I was my lord. A long time ago, the half-brother of my wife lives there. Nice town but I prefer Local. I grew up here, everything is familiar.

You nodded, he was a good man who was attached to the land where he lived. Seeing that one of his sons, the first one, travelled too, you asked.

-First time that you brought your son ?

-Yes, he never saw it he must see it's cousins I thought and he mounts better than me.

The son, a young blond lad who was called Fed if you remembered well, while the youngest one was called Swat, reddened and told that he trained hard. These men were good soldiers, even if they did not fight in a war they distinguished themselves in all your skirmishes and you could count on them to not flee. Sensing that you were thinking Cop stayed silent so you had to ask.

-Are you not afraid of the Kobold slavers that everybody talks about ?

The man laughed and told.

-Kobolds are pesky little shits my lord, I had to kill some of them in the times of lord Random, but now... Heh... With you my lord we got more practice, I served twenty years and I have maybe seen more than a third of my fights in the months of your reign.

-Really ? You were there against the Ghibellines, against the wolf men too and against the assassin in the inn. You fought when we defended the castle too...

-Yes my lord, this is true service. Far too long we have let adventurers do all the work while we only guarded the area. I mean, if we can't kill things why joining the guard ? And you did well by banning all these women from the force, women are worth nothing in battle or in the guard... And I saw that you haven't taken one of those evil races too...

-Evil races ?

-Yes, yes, Orcs, Centaurs, Minotaurs... Some lords take them into their guards, I tell they bring only troubles. The guard is there to keep them in check not to be infiltrated my lord. There are still the shorties and the knife ears in the guard but they are more tolerable.

-You mean short Scotsmen and guelphs ?

-Yes... As you call them. My father always told me my lord that "Around elves, watch yourselves" especially dark elves and I know by experience that everything small is treacherous.

>>5504586

-Yes... As you call them. My father always told me my lord that "Around elves, watch yourselves" especially dark elves and I know by experience that everything small is treacherous.

You agreed with this, in most case small people were traitors, but these short Scotsmen seemed loyal and you had nothing against the guelphs. But Cop seemed, like a lot of peasants, to distrust strangers and all those that looked suspicious, which meant those that do not looked in local. Not that you liked strangers but you would trust a Burgundian knight before a filthy peasant. You found him funny because even if he had strange, but sometimes merited prejudices, he ranted in an amusing way.

-And all those young people my lord, all those young people with long hair what are they thinking ? It's ridiculous no more than three quarters of an inch or we are not manly enough it's...

He then looked at you and remembered that like any civilised man in King Philippe's realm you had shoulder length hair. He tried to tell while becoming absolutely red.

-Mmmh sorry my lord I...

You laughed out loud just like the other men around and explained him.

-No offense taken but you will be digging the latrines at our first stop in the wild.

He grumbled while the people laughed but understood. This insolence could have been punished by the whip. To be honest you liked him well, he was reliable and loyal. One day you should promote him to the rank of sergeant, maybe if he fights well if you are attacked on your way to the count.

You then decided to speak to Isnott Careless, the opposite of Cop in your party. One was young the other was twice as old, one was "educated" and knew how to read the other knew nothing of it, one was a nobleman the other was the most average commoner, one was a weakling the other a brave soldier. You told the young man.

-Tell me lord Isnott, do you know any good lawyers in Pleasantville, I might need their counsel to defend myself and lady Takable against the baron.

He answered quickly.

-Well I should not tell you since it would help one of the parties but... The baron is an awful person and I think that you deserve some help. I know that the half helf Greenleaf is good, he speaks well and knows the law. The others.. there is the firm of Cutthroat and Bastard, but they are not to be trusted. I know that three good lawyers have come from Briberopolis two years ago, Always Cheatham and Run I think... I saw them defend a man suspected of murder and they convinced my father of his innocence.

It was good to know, and they were more or less the same names that Oldfossil had given you.

>>5504588

You then looked at the hills, you passed, it was a beautiful place, the woods must be full of game and you looked with interest at small cliffs and at a cascade of water that emerged from them. You passed through the watchtower that marked your border with the baron and if the guards were afraid of an attack seeing twenty good men armed and ready they saw the count's banner and wished you good luck. They would probably inform the baron of your passage.

You finally arrived at the High Mandoll-Inn in the evening and decided to stop, the last time you were there a professional killer tried to murder you, you hoped that everything would be better this time.
When you dismounted and ordered some wine for you and the nobility and beer for the men you couldn't imagine that it was worse...

Worse, well, the definition was not exact since you began to hear a very familiar voice. The voice of the bard that you saw playing in this inn, the very beautiful and sweet Spotifia. What did it meant ? It meant that your bride was in the same room that a lady with whom you slept.
Of course you could ignore her but it was now impossible because she sung a song of battle that was strangely familiar you only heard the last lines though...

-Poisoned blade clashed with blessed sword
And victory came to the Local Lord.

Yes, and the rest of the song was about your battle with the assassin too. Spotifia had written a song about you, as promised, and she would probably be asking for money at the end of it... You thought about what to do when you heard Rose proclaim.

-Charles ! This song is about you ! Oh, I remember you told that someone tried to murder you on the road, it was here ?

She had heard only the last part but she was clever and understood well. And when everyone applauded the singer's performance you knew that she would come to your table. You hoped that Spotifia would understand that you were with a lady and not create a scandal or ask for money, of course bedding beautiful singers, especially when you did it before knowing lady Takable, was not a bad thing, but your bride was young. An older woman, with more experience, might understand that one woman cannot suffice for a healthy man, especially when it is all about chaste courtly love, and let him compose songs in her honor while he chased every servant girl around. But young creatures who read too much like lady Takable believed in tales about having only one love in their life and could take it very poorly. By Saint Denis you disliked the idea of having to rely on the discretion or honesty of women to not be embarrassed, in fact you even doubted that these discretion and honesty existed at all ! You decided to answer.

>>5504589

>Yes, it was here and this nice lady that saw everything composed a song about it. It is the first time that I see her, I will thank her for her performance. (Intrigue roll)
>Yes my lady, I battled an assassin here on the road towards Someplace. I... I must be honest with you my lady. I wish us to be married and so I do not want to hold secrets for you, I did not knew you at the time and I have happened to more than hear the performances of the lady who just sung that song.
>Yes my lady, I battled an assassin here. It was a hard battle but I prevailed.
>Oh.. Rose... I... I mean being the hero of a song is pleasant of course but I am still not accustomed about it. Let us talk about you instead, how was this day of riding ? You were all silent and deep in your thoughts. (Intrigue roll)
>Yes, yes of course my lady, I battled hard here. I am sorry but I must tend to my horse. (Intrigue roll)
>Other (write in)

Choose one choice please and roll 1d100 if you choose a choice with a roll, a good choice will make the roll easier of course.

Rolled 94 (1d100)

>>5504590
>>Oh.. Rose... I... I mean being the hero of a song is pleasant of course but I am still not accustomed about it. Let us talk about you instead, how was this day of riding ? You were all silent and deep in your thoughts. (Intrigue roll)

>>5504590
>>Yes my lady, I battled an assassin here. It was a hard battle but I prevailed.

>>5504590
>>Yes my lady, I battled an assassin here. It was a hard battle but I prevailed.

Rolled 6 (1d100)

>>5504590
>Yes my lady, I battled an assassin here on the road towards Someplace. I... I must be honest with you my lady. I wish us to be married and so I do not want to hold secrets for you, I did not knew you at the time and I have happened to more than hear the performances of the lady who just sung that song.

File: Spoiler Image (169 KB, 1851x740)

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Rolled 44 (1d100)

>>5504590
>Oh.. Rose... I... I mean being the hero of a song is pleasant of course but I am still not accustomed about it. Let us talk about you instead, how was this day of riding ? You were all silent and deep in your thoughts. (Intrigue roll)
Th gallant and noble thing to do to is let our wonderful fiance trick herself into talking of her own cares and to forget all about... Interrogating other matters.

>>5504590
>>Yes my lady, I battled an assassin here on the road towards Someplace. I... I must be honest with you my lady. I wish us to be married and so I do not want to hold secrets for you, I did not knew you at the time and I have happened to more than hear the performances of the lady who just sung that song.

>>5504590
>>Yes my lady, I battled an assassin here. It was a hard battle but I prevailed.

>>5504590
>>Yes my lady, I battled an assassin here. It was a hard battle but I prevailed.

>>5505896
There's literally nothing for us to be afraid of here. We were merely practicing the Noble and ancient art of wenching. Surely our lady doesn't mistake us for a eunuch?

>>5504590
>>Yes my lady, I battled an assassin here. It was a hard battle but I prevailed.

>>5504590
>Yes my lady, I battled an assassin here. It was a hard battle but I prevailed.

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>>5504611
>>5504631
>>5504841
>>5505026
>>5505396

Thank you good sir, if I had a barony I would have given it to you, interactions and discussions with the players, artwork commissions and all those kind of things are what motivates most QMs, me included. Thank you very much, I wait impatiently to see the result good sir !
And about your comment about Lady Takable, I can only agree, you are a wise man who knows women well haha !

>>5505515
>>5505620
>>5505896
>>5505900

Of course, but lady Takable is still young (even if quite old for a marriage but Charles is too at 27) at 17 years old, and young women who read too much tend to believe in chaste knights who live only for one love and not know much of a man's needs.

>>5506372
>>5506604


You decided to talk quickly and hope for the best, explaining.

-Yes my lady, I battled an assassin here. It was a hard battle but I prevailed.

She seemed to be impressed but understood that you were modest. You agreed, you considered yourself to be the most humble person in the world. She then told.

-And they compose songs about you... You remember when I said that I saw you as a hero from some old tale.. now it seems that it is true.

You smiled and you answered.

-Great minds, like yours, know in advance what will happen.

It was her time to blush before Godefroi told.

-Sing us the song about our lord a second time !

By the... Why.. ah, yes he never was there so he could not know that you knew Spotifia. When she heard that she came to your table and recognised you immediately.

-My... My lord... You came here and heard the song I, you told me that I could compose it... I... I hope it pleased you.

She seemed eager to please, you remembered her to be more bold but she was maybe like many other artists, obsessed by the fact that her work would please her audience. You smiled and nodded.

-It was very beautiful thank you very much.

Lady Takable seemed to like it as much and she asked her.

-Could you give me a copy of the music score ? I would love to play it on the harp for my fiancé.

She said it with her kindest smile and when you saw Spotifia open her brown eyes and realise that you were fiancés you feared what would happen. Even if you were not sure if the tavern's singer was a gipsy she dressed like one and this people had a knack of gaining money from everything, including trying to besmirch the reputation of honest noblemen like yourself. But she seemed to be honest and told.

-Oh, you two will marry soon ? Congratulations ! Of course, of course I shall write it but unfortunately as you know parchment is...

>>5506677

Rose ordered her handmaiden to give her some money and the two blondes smiled. They were lovely together, two beautiful women with magnificent voices and lovely manners. One pure and innocent like lady Takable and the other one more naughty but more experienced, what would it be like to take them at the same time during a fiery night of passion. You wondered what it would be like to be a Frankish lord of old like your ancestors and have ten or twenty concubines in plus of your wife. According to legend Charlemagne had 300 concubines, what an happy man... Unfortunately you were no more in these good old days and you had to have one wife and mistresses, or no mistresses at all, you loved Rose, she was the embodiment of the perfect lady, young, beautiful, sweet, loving music and poetry, always smelling of strawberries, yes she had a tendency towards cruelty that could be seen as disturbing but this flaw and the cute way that she had talked to you about it only brought forth her other qualities. You were thinking about this when you remarked that she asked you a question.

-What do you think about this Charles ?

About what ? You tried to answer honestly.

-I am sorry... I.. was deep in my thoughts and haven't followed the conversation. What were you asking me my lady ?

She chuckled and she told.

-Do you think that we should invite Spotifia to sing during our mariage. It would be lovely don't you think ?

The bard looked at you and smiled, just like Rose, of course you could not resist to the demand of two beautiful women and you happily nodded.

-Of course, everything for you my lady. We will invite the best minstrels of the region, first of all those that we know.

This seemed to please the two ladies a lot. You then spoke a bit about your travels, Spotifia asking.

-You are returning to Someplace my lord ?

-No, we are going to Pleasantville lands, with Lord Isnott, the count's son.

You then introduced Isnott and he seemed to try to be friendly towards the minstrel lady. Excellent, you hoped that he would be pleased. You were happy that finally nobody knew nothing of your liaison, you were maybe a bit too paranoid. While the count's son and the bard spoke you wondered if he would say that you shall pass by the hills of Benny. He seemed careless and even if you trusted the singer you were on baronial lands and someone could know that you passed by this dangerous route and arrange an accident... If all your party was killed by "Kobold Slavers" or taken into slavery with no traces of their bodies found the count should be displeased but the baron would not have to take a decision, he would inherit of all of your and Lady Takable's lands as your liege lord. What to do.

>>5506679

>Stir conversation towards another topic, for example the future projects of Spotifia.
>Stir conversation towards another topic, has Isnott been in this inn before ?
>Ask Spotifia to sing a song of her choosing, it shall put an end to the conversation and put everyone in a good mood.
>Ask for more food, if everyone eats everyone will be quiet.
>Ask Rose for a dance, Spotifia will have to sing and it will be the end of the conversation.
>Ask Bohémond to help the local bards learn "In Taberna quando sumus" this would be a great french contribution to Indian tavern music.
>Other (write in)

By the way merry Christmas good sirs (for those who follow the gregorian calendar at least), I doubt that I will be able to answer before Christmas but I hope that you all celebrate it well.

>>5506681
>>Ask Spotifia to sing a song of her choosing, it shall put an end to the conversation and put everyone in a good mood.

Merry Christmastime to you as well

>>5506681
>Ask Spotifia to sing a song of her choosing, it shall put an end to the conversation and put everyone in a good mood.
Surely Issnot Careless is not so careless! But let's be safe.

(Merry Christmas!)

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>>5506677
A very Merry Christmas from myself, and thank you for running such a fun and clever quest. The art is by greenhatsniper on Fiverr, better known in these parts as our resident Indonesian Gentleman of Gaol, Fall of the Regime, and Husbando Tournament fame!

>>5506681
>Ask Spotifia to sing a song of her choosing, it shall put an end to the conversation and put everyone in a good mood.
Is green Spotifia's favorite color I wonder?
>>5506776
Goddamn, Indonesian Gentleman made our Lord look so good we could beat Charlemagne's record without breaking a sweat. I always imagined we looked older than that, though. Was I wrong?

>>5507015
We're 27

>>5506681
>>Ask Spotifia to sing a song of her choosing, it shall put an end to the conversation and put everyone in a good mood.

>>5507304
So? He's a medieval knight who looks better than many a 22yo.

>>5507369
He is quite popular with wenches even in a fantasy world where people were (until he showed up) richer, better-fed, and more beautiful than usual.

>>5507591
rich and well-fed = fat fucks

>>5506681
>>Ask Spotifia to sing a song of her choosing, it shall put an end to the conversation and put everyone in a good mood.

And a merry Christmas to you messire

With a hey nonni nonni and a hey nonni ho!

File: Indian Fauna.png (1.29 MB, 800x626)

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>>5506746
>>5506756

Thank you good sirs and well said.

>>5506776

Thank you very much Reptoid, it is simply marvelous. Charles looks magnificent, this Indonesian Gentleman got talent. Some autists will cry at it's armor but he will eventually be in full plate so it's not important, the drawing is exceptional, with his fair features, blonde hair, big blue eyes a bit off that show that he is lightly inbred (but in the good sense of the term). It perfectly captures the athmosphere of the character and that makes it great art.
With his quite thin face features and high cheekbones he makes me think a bit of the guy who plays Lancelot in our Kaamelott series (sorry for the Franco-French reference but I haven't found any other exemple).
Thank you very much for this art, it will be, of course, the main image of the next thread.


>>5507015

Hahahaha, we should ask.

>>5507304
>>5507369
>>5507591
>>5507758

To tell my point of view in the debate about our Lord's looks, I would say that he is quite fair of face, was not scarred by blade or smallpox, is tall and strong so he has some successes with the ladies. And at 27 you do not look so old. But more than this he is the local lord, and if looks are paramount in what a man sees in a woman women put success and personnality first. If a man is rich and famous he will probably be capable of wenching, even quite ugly guys like our dear Serge Gainsbourg and our president François Hollande managed to have an impressive track record, or, to remain international, as Donald Trump would say "a great part of my beauty is that I am very rich".
For the common born women that he has seduced Charles represents a quite young and handsome nobleman (for Stacy he is even her employer and for Spotifia he has just beaten an assassin in a legendary duel so he even looks like a hero wich can help a lot with amorous conquest). While for Lady Takable he represents the knight that she dreamed about in her childhood while reading tales of chivalry, strong, beautiful, brave and ready to risk his life for her honor so he has an almost mythical attraction to her, since he saved her from years of abuse and mockery where, if his looks play a role, they are not alone.

>>5508085

With a hey nonni nonni and a hey nonni ho too my friend, if I knew what it meant I would be even more enthusiastic !

>>5507305
>>5507879

You decided to ask the beautiful bard.

-Dear Spotifia, we heard the end of your song when we entered but could you make us enjoy one of your full performances please, one of your choosing.

She smiled and agreed and everyone cheered at this idea.

>>5508817

It was finally a nice night, you heard music, you talked of all and nothing with your companions and when the time came to sleep you were sure that the young Isnott had invited Spotifia and Bohémond had invited Becky, lady Takable's handmaiden. And you... You were alone, Rose could not come to your chambers before mariage, such were the ways of courtly love and has a lady she had to protect her honor. Even if it was sad.

You then took the road again, continuing forward until one of Isnott's men, a sergeant of his father's guard called Gepees explained that you had to turn to the left and go right to the south to take a shortcut through some plains, forests and the hills of Benny to gain two days the baron's men.

Those hills made you remember about the Saracens that you saw in your dream and you felt obliged to confide with Godefroi and Brother Louis.

-Good sires, I have to tell you that those hills displease me greatly, I saw a dream, a bad dream, that told me that Saracens were here.

Godefroi chuckled.

-Monseigneur, it is rare that dreams tell us about the future, you are worth more than superstitious old women.

Brother Louis was less categorical.

-Sometimes god sends visions in holy tradition and in the scriptures. Has He not sent an angel to saint Joseph to explain him that it was by Him that the holy virgin was pregnant and that he should not judge his wife poorly. What did you saw monseigneur ?

You explained them.

-I would not have been preoccupied by it if it was not in a dark place. I have been visiting one of the tombs of the cairns, the tomb of an old king that was said to practice dark magic. I was ill right when I entered. There was a room, and a strange table where I put my hand because my head spinned and I had trouble staying awake. My hand bled and then I tried to lean on a wall and I fell asleep, just like all my men around me.

>>5508819

The two men did the sign of the cross and you did too, there was never too much protection even when you were only speaking about this devilish dark magic. You continued.

-Then I saw a sea of sand. Like... Like a beach but going on every side without any sea or river in sight, only an infinite plain with dunes. All of this a radiant and burning sun. Then I saw them, I never saw Saracens before but I recognised them instantly, dressed in long couloured clothes with turbans and spiked helmets for some, like in the tales. Two infidel scouts were here and they were looking at something that seemed to be the wrath of the gods. Pillars of sand forming into a giant wall of flying sand pushed by the wind were far away in the distance. And I was right before them but they seemed not to see me. I was invisible and could not touch them, like a spirit. They led me to a column of men. I heard them speak and it was as I could understand their language. I saw their leader order to prepare their camp against the storm of sand and I was in their tent while they waited... Then... Then when they opened their tent I saw that they were no more in this sandy place, they were in some hills with traditional Indian architecture...

Everyone did the sign of the cross at this and after some time Brother Louis answered.

-It is devilry ! Devilry ! But are we sure that it is true magic ?

Godefroi was more calm.

-I wish that truly Saracens were here... And I think that you saw some magical dream. After all it may happen, back in France I have heard about a witch in a village in the Chacenay lands that was caught but fled through the window by flying on a broomstick. And if God has transported us here I do not doubt that only dark magic or devilry could transport infidels.

Brother Louis explained.

-Yes... Or God has sent them as a trial. But why do you rejoice at this prospect Godefroi ?

Your eldest retainer answered.

-Because I have fought Saracens, just like you, it is those "kobolds" and strange Indian tribes that I fear. People talk about them as small creatures looking like pigs, rats and lizards, how could this be ? And how could such small creatures enslave average sized people ? Even peasants... No, mes amis, no... I fear that rumours obscure the truth against our enemies and I do not like the idea to face a foe that I do not know.

>>5508820

Some younger people would have called him a coward for this, seeing the unknown and spearing it with a lance was one of the most exciting thing that could happen for a knight. But you knew Godefroi to be brave, age made him wise and he would not falter in battle, but he knew strategy and tactics and did not want us to fall into dirty tricks of these kobolds. You agreed, telling.

-I understand, these kobolds seem not very real to me, we have seen men who looked like goats, others like lizards, other like cows, I saw another one who looked like an horse. I can understand that one of their parents are an animal, who knows what the Indians do with their beasts.. but men who look at the same time like lizards, rats and pigs, it makes no sense, a person has only two parents.

The knights agreed and Brother Louis, who was a learned man tried to object.

-Maybe one of their grandparents was a pig, another one a rat, another one a lizard and the last one a human being... Ô Lord protects us from those abominations... But no... No... It makes no sense, how can an entire people be the result of such mix... It could only be individuals.. Yes, the facts about those kobolds were greatly exaggerated.

This confirmation from an older, more experienced man, made you sure of your idea. You lacked knowledge about the kobolds and you will have to separate myth from reality. Whom to ask.

>Ask the soldiery, they might have seen Kobolds before.
>Ask Isnott, he probably read books about them since he has nothing more interesting to do in his life.
>Ask Lady Rose, she seemed afraid of Kobolds and never saw them but maybe hearing the common myths again would help in your inquiry.
>Ask Ancel, he never saw them but peasants always believed in strange fairy like creatures and maybe these kobolds were an Indian name for a french imp.
>Ask everyone, a general conversation might cheer everyone up.
>Other (write in)

>>5508821
>>Ask Isnott, he probably read books about them since he has nothing more interesting to do in his life

>>5508821
>>Ask Isnott, he probably read books about them since he has nothing more interesting to do in his life

>>5508821
>Ask Isnott, he probably read books about them since he has nothing more interesting to do in his life.

>>5508821
>Ask Lady Rose, she seemed afraid of Kobolds and never saw them but maybe hearing the common myths again would help in your inquiry.

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>>5508960
>>5509029
>>5509076
>>5509115

You decided to talk to Isnott about it, maybe he knew something that you didn't. And you asked.

-Lord Isnott, tell me, I never encountered Kobolds before and since we will ride through their territory I would have wanted to know something about them. What do they look like ? How do they fight ?

Isnott paled a bit, trying to explain.

-I saw only one and not in a fight, he was already captured... But I have read a lot about them.

You answered quickly.

-What did he look like ?

-He was small, close to three feet high and he looked like something between a lizard, a pig and a rat, kobolds are very ugly.

You laughed at this, if they were so small you will beat them easily, but maybe it was a particular specimen.

-How do they fight ?

-I do not know, you should ask to the soldiers probably, but I know that some learned men wrote about their society, they are far more advanced than they look, they have tunnels that go to the south of the empire where they sell slaves and their slave traders are very well organised.

Mmmh... Nothing about military discipline. You began to answer but you were interrupted by a strange voice.

-And do the learned men know something about their military org...

-AAAAAAAAAAH !

It was a woman's scream, Rose's scream. She was before you (you had ridden towards Isnott at the end of the column) and you heard her horse neighing and snorting.

You quickly rode towards the center of the column and saw that Lady Takable, even if she was a a good horsewoman, has fallen from her horse. You feared for her and rushed to calm her horse and help, some soldiers dismounted too.

-Rose, is everything alright ? Have you..

You gave her kicking horse to cop and she nodded weakly.

-Y... Yes Charles... It hurt but I think that nothing is broken... But my dress is ruined.

-How.. how did you fell you were good on a horse, I saw you riding as fast as a king's messenger when we rode together. Did your horse saw some..

She nodded.

-Yes... Yes I was riding when.. when I saw this ugly thing, it came from the soil and...

It was sure, Kobolds ! They came from tunnels, you began to look at your surroundings and unsheathed your sword.

-BRACE YOURSELVES, MEN ! WE ARE MAYBE UNDER ATTACK !

Ancel was the first to be ready, he was already watching the ground with a very preoccupied face (thinking seemed to be difficult for him, like for any peasant, fortunately he practised it rarely). But then you saw a kind of trapdoor opening from the floor right before him and he opened his eyes greatly. You could not see who was looking from the trapdoor because it opened from your direction but you heard a voice scream.

-AAAAAAAAAAAH !

Ancel answered by screaming.

-AAAAAAAAAAAAAAH ! Demons messire ! Demons ! They come from hell and they are ugly as the ass of a fishwife ! AAAAAAAAAAAAAH !