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>>5920163

It was more than two months of peaceful life in this new "Diver-City" for Mahmud. The Emir had managed to convince the locals that Islam was a religion of Peace and was even awarded a seat in their strange "council" that ruled instead of an Emir. Of course there have been some troubles, when Yusuf and Ali tried to catch a nubian on the street to sell him on a slave market they were told that slavery was illegal here ! Illegal ! Mahmud had trouble to imagine such barbarism, but after all it could be used to his advantage. They needed workers and since he had his farm back home he decided to find work here, he far preferred to work in the fields than to fight in battles, he was always a farmer, not a warrior. There was bad things too in this frankish city, first was the cold, some men had died of it but for the rest it could be tolerable.
Jaffar had tried to lynch some Jinns on the street and had been imprisoned and since Madmud disliked him he could not completely hate this strange place. But even if he didn't hate it he feared to live inside it's walls where jinns walked on the streets with honest people. So he preferred to lend his hands to a farmer, the soil was fertile and the farmer, mister Herrouberry if very small and with strange hairy feet, was joyful and he hoped to gain enough money to pay his travel back to his own lands. He had three lovely wives and eight living children that awaited him home. So he worked hard, thinking about them and praying Allah to see them again.

He still saw some of his ancient "scout" companions that had discovered the city with him. The young Salim worked as a builder now, helping carry stones and other building materials in the city while Saddam, the leader of their group was nowhere to be seen since he came down to a mine to work there, it was said that he was still alive but in hiding and had found some "weapons of great destruction".

He heard of other men too, Sinbad had found work on a boat and hoped to sail back to Egypt but unfortunately, after coming back one month later he explained that Diver-City was simply on a very big lake, or internal see and only Franks lived on it's coasts, it made Mahmud, who wanted to pay for a place on a ship to Alexandria, very sad. He would have to travel to find a port on the Mediterranean, or on the ocean after this magic displaced him in Frankish lands. This thought haunted him every day and he was justly thinking about it when he saw something very strange on the road leading to the farm where he worked. A caravan, a caravan where one of the riders rode a camel. People on it looked vaguely arabic, even if some of their clothes were... Wrong. Like they had bought them to some berber tribe in the desert or even persian merchants, but it was mismatched. But still, strangely dressed or not they looked like compatriots.

>>5920168

He addressed them while they passed by.

-Salamaleykum brothers.

The people looked at him and raised their eyebrows, they seemed not to understand this greeting ? Where were they from ? One of them answered in a very strange arabic, perhaps they were syrians ? One of them, a caravan guard with a long spear and a scimitar sheathed under light black robes (how was he able to wear such light robes made for the desert when it was cold outside remained a mystery) answered.

-Who are you, peasant ?

-I am Mahmud, I came here from Egypt after foul magic transported me and my Emir in this place. And who are you brother ?

-I am Al Mouakhira I protect this caravan from the sultanate of Arabyanights, I never heard about your egypt but you speak our tongue, even if poorly, and look like one of us, are you a bastard child of a previous caravaneer.

Mahmud could accept many things, and knew that when you spoke to armed men it was better to be ready to be beaten up and spat upon. But to be insulted by a man whose name was literally "the ass" was too much.

Mahmud answered to this strange man who was called "the last one" or "the ass".

-Listen to me, Al Mouakhira, I ask you to retire your insinuation, my parents were honestly wed. Who are the last person to talk about any lineage. And what is this Arabyanights ? You come from the arabian coast, Meccah, are you a compatriot ? By Allah tell me how can I come back to my land ?

Mahmud wanted to smile at his funny wordplay but the other man answered angrily.

-I do not know who your Allah is, and you have only to go to the south you donkey ! How can you not even know where your lands are ? Are you some kind of fool trying to do a joke ? I have a sorcerer in the caravan who can do better tricks !

A sorcerer ? A man who practices human sacrifices ! This man consorted with people who sacrificed children, and he was an heathen... Mahmud recoiled... He did not even thought about warning the Emir. He let the rest of the caravan pass, still shocked by these news. Strange things were happening in Arabia. Or it was not arabya, and these men were not arabs. They weren't even muslims. By Allah he needed something to keep his calm and digest these news, it was most unfortunate that his religion forbid the alcohol so much needed in these moments.

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>>5920169

MEANWHILE IN LOCAL :

You decided not to disturb your loyal councilor and so you enjoyed the night with wine, poetry and the company of your lady. She seemed to radiate hapiness and life, after all these dark days locked into a dungeon or a boat, suffering from mistreatment and after almost dying when you freed her Rose was full of life. It was as if an unseen force wanted her to enjoy this moment, to bask in the joy of having triumphed over all these obstacles and to be reunited with her love and savior, you. Her little voice was reminding you of the song of a small bird. You talked as much about the respective chansons de fin'amor or chansons de geste of your lands than about life in general and many small considerations. Her conversation was stimulating and both of you wanted it, you missed speaking pleasantly with a lady and since her isolation she missed a learned conversation. To be sincere she was an agreeable conversationalist and could hold court like a perfect noblewoman, she was, let us be sincere, more learned than you, it was not something surprising after all since you were simply beginning to learn to read and where a third son, but even if you were a firstborn you would have generally given your time to the learning of the arts of the blade and of the hunt instead of reading books like monks or women. Ladies lived inside and practiced far calmer activities than the stronger sex, even if they could always love to ride a bit or do falconry). But despite this gap in knowledge you were not an uneducated peasant and you could memorize several thousand verses of the songs that you heard, plus you were ten years older than her so you had this life experience that young ladies could find very attractive in a gentleman. To be short, you were made for each other and you missed each other's company.

It was probable that your conversation, and the wine, would have taken an interesting, if inappropriate before marriage, turn if the brave Father François and Brother Louis were not, like good clergymen, drinking and watching, they spoke between themselves, letting both of you at your occupations but made sure that nothing too scandalous was done. Local lord or not you had promised the count to wait for your beloved's birthday before you could marry her and having a child too early in your marriage would have made some naysayers. Even justifying by the help of God the fact that your wife gave birth only six months after marriage and that there was no blood on the first night of the wedding would have been hard to swallow by Count Careless, especially since he was still a pagan. No, you would do nothing improper. But you wanted to end this evening in an amusing way, of course you would burn the witch that tormented your lady tomorrow but first you wanted to lead Rose somewhere.

>>5920173

>Why not gaze at the stars from the roof of your mighty donjon, it is a timeless classic.
>Ask her if she wants to see the vaults of the castle, you have some interesting relics or historical objects there (that you, in parts, honestly pillaged from the nearby pagan temple)
>Take a nightly walk in the village, the stupid Inn that costs a lot to maintain but that you cannot close because of a royal decree is probably still open, and if you disguise yourselves you would not be recognized in the obscurity. This could be an amusing adventure.
>Other (write in)

>>5920163
RIP. Welcome back m'lord.

>>5920175
>Other (write in)
Ask her if she wants to torture the witch as revenge. We have a torture dungeon we can use, just the two of us and the witch. It will be romantic!

>>5920175
>Ask her if she wants to see the vaults of the castle, you have some interesting relics or historical objects there (that you, in parts, honestly pillaged from the nearby pagan temple)
A good segue into discussing her conversion and the salvation of her soul.

>>5920258
I fear encouraging the fair lady's love of torture may do the opposite.

>>5920163
I'm sorry to hear about your grandfather, QM.

>>5920258
Supporting

My condolences my lord

>>5920163
My condolences my lord, but welcome back
>>5920258
Support for the torture but nothing too bad, we don’t want rumours about our fair lady

>>5920163
I've missed this greatly. Sorry for your grandfather.

>>5920175
>Take a nightly walk in the village, the stupid Inn that costs a lot to maintain but that you cannot close because of a royal decree is probably still open, and if you disguise yourselves you would not be recognized in the obscurity. This could be an amusing adventure.

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>>5920258
>>5920328
>>5920463
>>5920469
>>5920793
Thank you very much for your words, he was a good man who lived a long and fulfilling life. Not everyone had a role model from his family in his life, the kind of men that you could ask about "How would he have reacted in this situation" and know that it would always be the good decision, he was of this kind of men, worthy of admiration and perhaps rarer and rarer today. I hope to live like him and to have the same qualities.

>>5920258
>>5920463
>>5920469
You are naughty good sirs.

>>5920258
I agree with you, but it is your choices, after all she is still young and like clay in your hands.

>>5920793
A jolly good idea, but unfortunately in the minority. I missed writing it too.

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

You decided to break the custom, and to let a woman enter the oubliettes. After all Rose shall be your wife and even if you thought that the questionette is not a spectacle for females you could not hold a secret from your wife. You originally wanted to show her the bound witch tomorrow and watch together how she is burned on the pyre but one part of you wanted to give her the satisfaction to see her enemy bound and at your mercy. You knew that she had been mistreated by this Elsa and it would be fair to allow her to enjoy her triumph. Of course you knew that your sweet lady enjoyed blood, maybe a bit too much, and that she had a cruel streak but with you nearby you did not doubted that she would control herself. Or maybe the wine was talking and her small cute voice reminded you too much of a little bird's chirping and her cristalline laugh sweetened you enough that you were ready to do this kind of naughty activities.
So when everything ended you took a torch from the walls and told your beloved.

-My lady, there is something that I wish to show you. If you accept to follow me of course ?

She answered with a curtsey.

-My lord, I will be glad to follow you anywhere.

She took your arm but when you began to bring her downwards instead of on the roof as she expected she began to be worried.

-Where are you leading me, Charles ? I hope I would not dirty my dress, even if it is plain it is the only one that is here...

Of course since her previous dress was ruined and her clothes were lost on the ship or in the baron's tower she had to take one brought from the village by one of your servants. But you appreciated that she always liked cleanliness. It would mean that she will order the servants to have everything always clean and in order, a good lady of the castle. You saw that she was even raising it to avoid it's contact with the ground she loved to take care of things even when they weren't hers. You decided to answer her.

>>5920830

-Do not worry my lady, the oubliettes might me damp but I am sure that what you will see will warm your hearth.

You were just exiting the stairs and engaging in the corridors when you felt her stop and grip your arm more tightly.

-Charles... You... Really ? I thought that you were against seeing women in these kind of places as it would be improper... And.. I am ashamed that I frightened you when I said that...

She did not want to elaborate further but you remembered her confession, some weeks ago, about how she had ordered her tutors given by the baron to be eaten alive by dogs and had very much enjoyed the spectacle. She felt guilty about it and she was right, in a normal time of course you would have said that she should refrain from her worst impulses but the wine and. And the sweet white skin of her neck, the sound of her voice, her huge innocent eyes made you want to give her everything that you had to simply make her happy. So you retorted.

-I know... But... This witch... She told that she harmed you and... Behaved disgracefully. I know that you will see her burn tomorrow and that you saw her vanquished but you are still young and I do not want bad memories to haunt you. And if you wish to say something more personal, in this moment, to her, it would be the time. You have been very brave and I would not wish to spoil you this instant.

She looked genuinely touched, like she discovered a side of you that she didn't knew and that it pleased her. Before you could say anything she had wrapped her arms around you and buried her head in your chest, she smelled of strawberries and you wanted nothing more than to hug her to and cover her in kisses. You even began to hug her when you remembered that you had a torch in hand and put it on the wall right before it burned her hair... Damned wine, it made you stupid. You began to kiss her passionately and she answered in kind.

You were sweetly putting your hand on her delicious behind and your tongues danced in each other's mouth when you heard something to your left and you turned to see one of the guards of the oubliettes. This was a most strange moment but before you could say anything lady Rose, who was red with shame, controlled herself and told in a tone that asked no discussion.

-You here, stop gallivanting and go fetch us two chairs, and open us the cell of the witch ! Now !

The guard seemed to want to obey directly but awaited your orders still, you nodded in agreement and he rushed from your sight. Once you were both alone Rose smiled a bit and explained, stopping you from kissing her again. She had a very mischievous smile and probably an idea behind her head.

-My lord, I know that you rule this castle and that a lady should always respect and obey her husband but...

>>5920832

She raised on her tiptoes to try to get to your ear and whispered and to probably not show herself to be as red as a poppy flower her voice was soft and her whispers made your skin shrill. She still smelt of strawberries and you still tasted the wine in her mouth when you kissed her, she would probably not dare to say this without the help of alcohol too.

-In this room we will be alone. With this witch it will be a secluded place, like a garden of love.

A garden of love, it brought you souvenirs from the court of Champagne and some nice ladies that lived there. Here young knights played knights servants for the ladies, like in songs of fin'amor and everybody enjoyed the poetry of the trouvères and did some chivalric deeds for the satisfaction of their paramours. You even remembered an elm tree with low branches under which you could enjoy more intimate activities (but never improper) with... The eyes of lady Takable reminded you of focusing. And she was better than all these ladies anyway. But still, how could a cold dungeon be comparable to this place.

-A garden of love ? I generally imagine them with more sunlight, more flowers and less cobwebs...

She turned around, and almost jumped in your hands at the mention of spiders it made you chuckle a bit and she playfully pinched your arm.

-Silly Charles ! That is not the moment to laugh like this ! And make me afraid...

You quickly retrieved your countenance and told her kindly.

-I am sorry my lady... I shouldn't have...

Since she was now tightly against you she must have sensed your arousal and she answered by putting a finger before your mouth.

-Shhhh... Do not worry, but what was I saying was important, we are in a garden of love remember, a place when we play games and where knight servants obey their ladies.

-You mean...

She whispered into your ear once more and tightly grinded against you, her breasts adorably pressing against your chest. You caressed her back with your hand.

-I mean that every noble lord rules, gives orders and commands, as he should. But that to relieve himself of such burden he wants to play the knight to a beautiful lady and do as she wishes. Isn't it ?

You were all ears when she continued. Her scent and the subtlety and simplicity of her voice were too sweet for you not to notice. You saw that she wanted to seduce you and make you happy, but still paused sometimes to find her words, while trying not to show it. Her harpist hand kindly caressed your neck.

-You would not have brought me here and told me what you told if it wasn't... so, once we will be in her cell, will you let me... Lead the dance if I might say so ?

>>5920834

Her last words mingled with her body pressing against yours, the soft caress of her hands falling on your neck and her scent invading all your senses. Her tone had taken a slightly insistant note, the tone of a lady. Sweet but firm when needed, beautiful and courteous but playful, devoted to her role but brave and able to take initiatives when it was needed. What a woman. Who would not wish to do as she told ?

She could have asked you to charge another dragon or to bring her a flower from the deepest deserts filled with Saracens and you would have said yes. She looked at you with those deep blue eyes full of innocence and hope and you were about to answer when she added, her cheeks taking a pinker shade.

-I... Promise you to not ask you to do anything unbefitting of a knight... Of course.

What to answer to such sweet words, she wanted to do as she pleased once inside, it could of course be a bit frightening but wasn't it exciting too ?

>My lady, you have my word. I shall obey all your desires.
>My lady, I could'nt promise this, I do not know what you have in mind.
>My lady, do as you wish but... Think about your soul.
>Other (write in)

>>5920836
>My lady, you have my word. I shall obey all your desires.
Oh no our lady is, how to say this... Kinky

>>5920836
>My lady, you have my word. I shall obey all your desires.
You know, perhaps I should have thought about the last vote a bit more

>>5920859
+Tell her she can't go as far as killing the witch. She will die the official way.

>>5920836
>My lady, do as you wish but... Think about your soul.
>+Tell her she can't go as far as killing the witch. She will die the official way.

>>5920863
The blood rushes to one head and abandons another. Tale as old as time.

>>5920836
>My lady, do as you wish but... Think about your soul.
>+Tell her she can't go as far as killing the witch. She will die the official way.

>>5920836
>My lady, you have my word. I shall obey all your desires.
Just don't go too far please

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>>5920859
Indeed but remember that this is a quest about a Frenchman, of course there will be some perversions.

>>5920863
Pleasure is always joyful.

>>5920884
Exactly my lord.

>>5921147

>>5921319
She is a gentle and sweet lady, what would she do ?

=====

You answered without even thinking.

-My lady, you have my word, I shall obey all your desires.

She smiled with a sweet smile and kissed you on the cheek, but you then had to add.

-But please, do not go too far, we need to burn this witch publicly...

She looked at you with huge eyes with a small hint of reproach in them.

-Charles ! What do you think ? That I am some sort of... Savage ? Seeing her burned alive will be pleasant and ironic, we will simply... Play a little bit before.

This did not reassure you but when you heard the door of the cell opening and the guardsman entering it with two chairs you had to tell Rose.

-By the way, she ignores that she will be burned alive tomorrow, she thinks we will exchange her.

It made your lady smile while she answered.

-Perfect, I shall not spoil her the surprise then... And do not do this face my lord, only watch and enjoy.

She said with a girlish laugh before entering in the cell the sound of her heels echoing in the dark. Once you followed her you could swear that when she looked at the witch, who tried to accustom herself to the light and was sitting, chained to the walls, in a corner of the room, Rose had a new, dangerous glint in her eyes. The witch looked at your beloved with a disgusted expression, then at you, and launched.

-So you came back, and with the brat... What are you about to do ? Taunt me, or perhaps let her indulge in her sick fantasies.

You were about to retort when your beloved made you a sign to let her answer, she wanted to take the reins and so let it be it. She had a quite pleased and playful tone, with a hint of coldness behind it.

-Sick fantasies ? Do not play the innocent, Elsa, I saw how you enjoyed passing time together with baron crook in the dungeons, I heard the screams like all the castle.

You remembered seeing how this baron threw someone from the ramparts of his keep on spikes that were under it for a minor offense.

The fact that he loved to torture his subjects did not surprise you, he was a heathen who consorted with devils, like his ice witch, so their relationship was understandable. The witch retorted.

-What, you decided that what we did to some murderers and rapists was interesting and you want to imitate us like a grown up ? You very well know that it is false, you always had a sick mind, I saw it when you were pushed to your limits....

>>5921567

It made your lady breathe slowly before telling what she thought in a slightly angrier voice.

-Murderers and rapists... Some of them maybe... But was the boy who stole a loaf of bread a murderer ? Or the one that you simply found ugly ? You always disliked ugly people but were far more afraid of beautiful women isn't it... I still remember the servant girl that baron Crook had looked at and that you changed into an ice statue... You fear to have a rival, a rival younger and more beautiful than yourself isn't it ? You cannot support this...

You disliked where it was going, and the witch's answer, with a mad voice, made you even more worried. Women... Did they have to always spit all their venom everywhere, could they not leave death and torture to the terrain of friendly banter ?

-I knew it ! I knew it that you wanted to take Crook you little bitch, political marriage hah... You would have slowly manipulated him, I was right to warn you, and to discipline you but I didn't do it enough, and this ...

Rose interrupted her brutally.

-SILENCE ! You really think that I would want to sleep, to live with the murderer of my father for the sake of power ? The fact that he desired me was because of my lands, and because I am more beautiful than a thirty two years old, old hag ! But to imagine that he loved me ? He began to order you to beat and humiliate me, even if you probably whispered it yourself...

-That's right, I tried to change you into something more befitting than the arrogant brat that you are...

Rose had a dangerous smile at this moment when she told slowly with a voice that could have sent chills on someone in the room if it was not populated by seasoned knights and ice witches who were already accustomed to the cold.

-Yes, and now the roles are reversed, Elsa, and we will pass a marvelous evening. Charles, please, could you be a gallant knight and give me your sword belt.

You raised an eyebrow and answered machinally.

-My lady, it is inappropriate to torture a woman in my lands, as evil as she was and...

You added, whispering.

-Burning her alive shall maybe suffice.

You of course had promised to do as she wished but this display of hatred from the two ladies had calmed you a bit. She answered in a playful tone.

-And what if it is a woman that does the torture part ? Mmmmh...

She kindly touched your chest and put a hand forward to take your belt that you had unbuckled, she then gently pushed you on a chair. And whispered you.

-Sit, watch and enjoy my lord...

To be sincere you both became pinker and the temperature in this cold cell seemed to grow. The witch could not be silent of course and has to ironise.

-So she has you wrapped around her little finger I...

>>5921570

Your philosophical answer seemed to make your lady chuckle and the witch calling you a sick man, but she was a woman and knew nothing of politics as such. You were certain that the power of strange guilds of armed vagrants and of burghers, villeins and other peasants in India was because of the lack of war.

At the same time, your belt in hand, lady Rose advanced towards the witch that had tormented her.

She was of course trying to be intimidating but let us be sincere, she was a 5.1 feet tall lady of seventeen years old and it made the witch, whom you had seen freezing people alive with satanic magic, chuckle.

-You think that you can hurt me, little girl ? Put this down and leave since your husband seem to not want to do it too...

Rose had an half smile and explained quickly.

-Yes, maybe I could ask Ancel to do it, he seems to enjoy you. By the way had he raped you well as I asked him or are you still unsatisfied.

The look of dread, and cold hatred in the witch's eyes was everything you needed to knew when you began to stand, but to late, the madwoman tried to lunge at your lady. But Rose was swift, she gracefully, as if she was dancing, sidestepped and jumped over one of the chains that attached the wrists of the witch to the wall. She was behind her. And in a fluid motion she passed your swordbelt over Elsa's head and in no time she was strangling her, no, garroting her.
The panicked witch tried to bring her hands to the makeshift garrote but you knew that it was not useful. First because of the chains her movements were slow, second it was not the way to do it. During your campaigns in Aragon or Guyenne you saw sometimes very young squires strangle grown men like this. If you tried to catch one side of it the other side dug deeper in your flesh. Rose had a concentrated look on her face and you found her cute in this moment. Once she saw that the witch's efforts were futile she explained.

-Shhhhh, no need to resist, you can do absolutely nothing.

The other one tried to move on all the sides, the fact that it was a belt and not a proper garrote helping her a bit but Rose kept her tied up and told mockingly

-Or maybe you want to say something ? Unfortunately I can't hear it.

She then squeezed more. A small smile and a bit of sweat appeared on her face, while the witch was trying to remove the garrote, panting and reddening.

>>5921573

It was very strange to see but not unpleasant, not unpleasant at all. The two ladies grunted while they more or less wrestled, even if one was not able to make a sound, it was something primal. On the other side it was improper. Finally the leather bore too much into the witch's slender neck and she abandoned her struggle, she was probably unconscious, Rose continued to apply the garrote for a moment before stopping and turning towards you. She looked a bit wild, her hair was no more in place, some sweat glistened on her forehead. She looked happy, and her pupils were dilated. She breathed a bit, not accustomed to the exercise before walking towards you, a bit shy, biting adorably her lip.

-My... Lord I have never done it before, I have simply read about it in a book. I wanted to whip her before but I didn't want to ruin my dress with splashes of blood... I wanted to thank you for letting me do it, it was... Amazing.

You simply raised from your chair and raised your shoulders taking a pose meaning "to each his passtimes". She chuckled and you took her hand. She then threw your belt on the other chair and hugged you. You sweetly kissed, the flavor of wine of you both and her scent of strawberries mixing while you kindly caressed her backside. After you broke that long, passionate kiss, you could say that she was absolutely aroused, as you were right before. She whispered, subtly, in your ear.

-Charles, what should we do while our sleeping beauty is in slumber ?

You had many answers, not all of them dictated by reason.

>"Since you deprived me of my belt, why not depriving ourselves of clothes and taking a good time."
>Kiss her instead of talking
>"Whatever you wish, my lady, this is a garden of love after all."
>If you like attaching people and strangling them so much...
>"Perhaps my lady we should think about the consequences of premarital love" (hard rulership roll)
>Other (write in)

>>5921576
>"Whatever you wish, my lady, this is a garden of love after all."
In for a penny, in for a pound. And speaking of pounding...
I fear for our souls, but I fear Rose Takable more if we upset her

>>5921576
>Kiss her instead of talking
seize the moment
>>5921618
I too, fear for our souls

>>5921576
>>"Perhaps my lady we should think about the consequences of premarital love" (hard rulership roll)

>>5921576
>Other (write in)
>Do you take her to take her to the rack, strappado or something else? We have plenty of toys down here.
I know this seems weird considering what we've been doing, but I'd like to keep our lady's virtue intact until marriage.

>>5921576
>>5921738
Supporting. Distract her with more torture.

Rolled 98 (1d100)

>>5921576
>>"Perhaps my lady we should think about the consequences of premarital love" (hard rulership roll

This is but an extreme test of faith, we must hold fast

>>5921984
Its roll under right?

Rolled 1 (1d100)

>>5921725

>>5921570
>But was the boy who stole a loaf of bread a murderer
Now, prisoner 24601, your time is up and your parole begun, you know what that means?

Rolled 56 (1d100)

>>5921576
>"Perhaps my lady we should think about the consequences of premarital love" (hard rulership roll)
>Would you like to take her to take her to the rack, strappado or something else? We have plenty of toys down here.
Distract her with toys

>>5921618
You are right good sir, you are very right.

>>5921661
Well said good sir, Montjoie Saint Denis !

>>5921725
>>5921984
Very pious men

>>5922323
>>5921738
>>5921866
Clever and terrifying men.

>>5922308
And a man of culture as well ! Of course as a frenchman I preferred the books (I agree Hugo could be pompous but it is a munument of our culture) but I am glad that something of it, even in another form, crossed the oceans.

>>5922070
>>5922323
>>5921984
These rolls are very interesting, it is a failure but you rolled a critical failure and a 1, the best roll possible who normally takes precedence and saves disastrous situations.

=====

You realised your error at this moment, to be sincere it was a terrible struggle between both your heads, one wanted to kiss your loved one and to have rough, passionate love with her right here, and damn the consequences. The other one thought about trivial matters like marriage, the importance of virginity, your political alliances and your soul. Of course the first won, it always won in cases like this it is why you were a warrior, not some monk in a monastery trying to draw lustful drawings between illuminating old books in your frustration. Still, you tried telling her.

-Perhaps, my lady we should think about the consequences of premarital love. And perhaps you would want to play with a rack, or other instruments that we have I can...

She put a finger on your lips to make you silent, taking the control of the conversation and answered mischievously.

-Charles, I see something right more interesting than a rack before me...

Well if it was flattery, you could only take her in your arms and answer.

-I must say that what I see before me is far more interesting than torturing this witch too...

And that was done you quickly grabbed lady Takable to begin to kiss her mouth passionately before exploring her neck. By this time she began to unbutton your doublet with her thin fingers while moaning in pleasure. For a short moment you were only concentrated in the exploration of your passions, your sentiments, after all it was your dream from a long, long time and if you would not have thought that it would be done in a dark dungeon you were ready to make love there. After a short moment she recoiled a bit and let her dress fall, contemplating you in her magnificent nudity. You had removed your doublet by this time but concentrated in watching her look at you.
Her body was youthful, small and slim but her alabaster skin and soft curves were most pleasant to look at, she was a natural beauty and had no sign of illness or of any other curse.

File: Rare portrait of your nar(...).jpg (44 KB, 500x446)

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>>5922466

Of course your eyes fell to her breasts, of moderate size, exactly what you needed to take one in each hand, with pink nipples full of life, full of desire. You then dared to look down, unfortunately the rules of the order of the order of blueboard will forbid us to describe what you saw in detail so we will pass to her legs. A lady could sometimes show a bit of cleavage but not her legs of course, it would be scandalous, she had thin ankles, and even if she was short, impeccably proportionned limbs with quite thin creamy soft thighs sculpted by dance and horse riding. And her hips, by saint Denis, they were made to sprout children once you will fill them with your virility. You then looked at your face when you felt her soft hand touching a scar on your chest. She had an enigmatic smile and rosy cheeks, she awaited your verdict and it came quickly when you took her in your arms and began to explore her body. She jumped and her legs closed around your stomach. You then turned towards the wall, kissing and used it to support both of you when you kissed even if she was very light, it was more confortable so.

And then... And then speaking of confort I have, good readers, something to confess. Many a young gentleman, or even a lady would read some book about love, if they werre literate, or listened to a minstrel and probably heard sometimes someone talking about "making love in the bushes". These men, good sirs and fair ladies, are scoundrels, bandits of the highest order and probably have never done what they talk about. You see we may make love behind bushes, or near bushes, or hidden by bushes, or on the grass, or even in a haystack, why not, but bushes are pointy and disagreeable for this kind of business. All to say that, damp dungeons are too, disagreeable and prone to accidents. It was what happened, of course first lady Takable simply gasped at the contact of the cold stone with her hot skin but when you tried to move to the chair the old thing just crumpled.

And what happened, right before the first stage of what you wanted to do... Yes of course... you both fell on the ground floor, fortunately you were on the bottom so your sweet lady was not crushed, you just hit your back and your head harshly into the stone floor because of your savage lovemaking. Rose fell upon you and unfortunately took your forehead in the chin and bit her lip, hurting herself. Maybe it was God who wished that you did not sully your bride to be before marriage or some sad roll of a cosmic dice. Whatever she gasped in pain and told.

-Charles... Are you hurt...

Still coming to your senses you grumbled.

-I shall have the imbecile who brought this chair whipped... What is it here on the ground... Water or...

You were about to kiss her again when she screamed in a girlish and very afraid way.

-HIIIIIIII Chaaaaaarles ! Help meeeee !!!!

>>5922467

The light of the torch, if it provided intimacy, was not showing much and so you tried to ask.

-What is it my lady...

-A centipede ! I have a centipede in my hair ! Remove it ! Remove it, I hate those insects !

She was panicking and when she saw some other insect trying to climb on her ankle she jumped on the other chair and tried to remove it, exactly when you held her long blonde locks to see where the first culprit was. Ouch.. Fortunately you released her hair even if she was a bit hurt, and removed the centipede, but of course it was the moment chosen by one of your guards to enter here, absolutely lost at the vision of his naked liege lord, and his naked future lady. He had his sword in hand and looked at you with big eyes, then at Rose and she quickly put her dress before her, becoming as red as the Oriflamme of Saint Denis.
Not disturbed by the fact that your member was exposed you pointed to your idiotic guardsman and told in frustration.

-You... Imbecile ! Why have you chosen this moment to enter ? Mmmh ?

-I... I heard screams mylord... I thought that a lady was in distress...

-You.... Y... DISAPPEAR FROM MY SIGHT ! Before I order you to be beaten with batons for your imbecility...

It made the brave guardsman saviour of damsels in distress flee. What did this imbecile thought, this was a cell where a woman was detained, theorically she would scream at a moment or another. But this intervention had definitely killed the joy of the moment. You looked at Rose who was still red and heard a laugh from the other side of the room. A mad, evil laugh, the laugh of the witch who had probably seen it. An evil laugh that provoked the ire of your sweet lady who immediately said.

-You...

-Nice try at losing your virginity, girl... And nice performance lord Charles.

As a matter of fact, and always charitable you told the witch.

-Something tells me that you should not tell it to people who can torture you as they wish.

She then looked at Rose and explained.

-If you try to lay a finger upon me I shall freeze you to death once we will be exchanged.

Rose, furious, took back your belt that was there and advanced towards the witch telling.

-Oh, do not worry Elsa. I will make you pass out enough times that you shall have some permanent brain damage and will be unable to cast a spell, or even have a coherent thought, I am sure the baron will not even spot the difference...

-Wait... I...

Let us say that the rest of the soirée went poorly for the witch, you still decided to disturb the servants to prepare you a bath even in the middle of the night, for your lady too, you didn't wish to catch some infection from this dreary place. And it goes without saying that you agreed with Rose to do this on a soft bed in a closed chamber the next time, and to never speak of what happened. So let us speak of tommorow, how will you begin the day ?

>>5922468

>Nothing better than the smell of burnt witches on the morning, it's the smell of victory.
>Try to find the guard of yesterday and punish him for his insolence
>Try to find Father François and confess your sins
>Other (write in)

Of course this escapade costed us some piety. 4 points for trying to have premarital sex (sins by thought you know), and 4 points for engaging in some kind of torture degeneracy.
You of course gain 3 mudcore for torturing a woman or watching it at least like a degenerate and 1 mudcore for letting Lady Takable succumb to her darkest impulses.

Your new stats :

Charles de Villeroi

Class : Local Lord
Level : 4
XP : 675 (next level at 700)

Stats

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

Piety : 77-8 = 69
Mudcore : 56+4 = 60

With 60 Mudcore you have a strong field of gritty realism around you (150 meters), in this field 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. Magic, even restorative, will become considerably weaker near you. Weak practitionners of magic (less than rank 5) are unable to cast in your mudcore field.
Next level at 70, your field will become 200 meters wide, magical objects will lose their properties in your mudcore field just like potions, crops who came from the columbian exchange will lose their taste and a medieval disease will enter your world.

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.
->Basic Literacy : Your lessons with Oldfossil and Lady Takable finally paid off and you can read and write, even if you write with errors and move your lips still when you read it is a great leap forward.

Traits :
Leader : Your magnetism on the masses is glorious and your learning of speech could encourage many men to follow you. You may choose the best of 3 rolls when you try to speak in public to convince an audience, be it the Council of Many or angry peasants.

>>5922468
>>5922467
Kek. God has saved our souls! He works in mysterious ways indeed, and sometimes those ways include slapstick.

>>5922469
>Try to find Father François and confess your sins

>>5922469
>Nothing better than the smell of burnt witches on the morning, it's the smell of victory.
Praise the Lord, her virtue is safe

>>5922469
>>Try to find Father François and confess your sins

>>5922469
>Try to find Father François and confess your sins
although the piety lost is bad, getting 60 mudcore is pretty good, and I assume that confession and burning the witch will regain us the piety so overall this was worth it.

>>5922469
>>Try to find Father François and confess your sins

File: Confess.png (90 KB, 680x642)

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>>5922509
He works in mysterious ways indeed, the rolls of the dice are sometimes too strange to be a cohincidence.

>>5922630
Hahahaha...

>>5922651

>>5923011
But how much Mudcore is too much Mudcore ?

>>5923019

==

You decided to seek Father François, he could give you absolution for yesterday. You asked a servant to fetch him if he was in his church but apparently the servant said that he was already in the castle. So you decided to search for him, you found him in the well guarded room where Elana, this assassin girl who tried to poison, than stab you was kept. She was still on her bed, her wounds after the ordeal that she had to take stopped her from walking but she heard calmly the priest explain her some part of the legend of Saint Geneviève of Paris. She was listening it with impressed eyes. You knew that after "recuperating" her soul she was extremely interested in the faith but to have father Francois coming to her every morning. Father François who was back to you explained how the saint told other women to pray and the men not to leave Paris but to defend it and that finally the hun Attila did not attack the city but ransacked the lands of the heretical Wisigoths instead. He turned around when she looked at you and both saluted you, simply he said "Monseigneur" and she said "Mylord" like these locals. You told them.

-Please, finish Father, finish, I shall wait. I want simply to ask you if you could give me absolution, I wish to confess my sins.

The fat priest looked at you and then nodded as with understanding, while Elana asked him from her bed.

-What is it ?

-It means the pardon of sins, my daughter, God forgives those who confess.

She looked at him, very impressed.

-Does... Does it means that if I do it too I will be pardoned ?

-Yes you will, once you are baptised you will be able to do this.

-For everything ?

Well of course a professionnal murderer would ask this, but then the Lord absolved the bandit who was on a cross near him and repented. And seeing the piety of this girl you could only guess that she really wanted to repent. François answered.

-Yes, of course.

She seemed to smile in disbelief, with a sad smile though, she was not very convinced. You left the room while Father François explained something about Sainte Geneviève. Finally, after ten minutes he came back and saluted you, you agreed to go to the church. On the way the chill wind made you remember that winter was slowly but surely coming, you would probably see the first snows in the next few days. After the first prayers the brave Father François asked you in the middle of trying to dust of a part of his frock.

-So, my son, explain me everything, tell me how you have sinned.

>>5923250

>See, all began yesterday night, after dinner, I decided to bring lady Takable in the dungeons... (tell him about yesterday night)
>I have sinned Father, I have been lustful, cruel and probably unchivalric (do not go into details)
>To be sincere in the last months I have to do many underhanded deeds that were necessary for politics but unbeffiting of a knight and a Christian ruler (explain all your sins for months, probably to drown the last in words)
>Other (write in)

>>5923251
>I have sinned Father, I have been lustful, cruel and probably unchivalric (do not go into details)

>>5923251
>See, all began yesterday night, after dinner, I decided to bring lady Takable in the dungeons... (tell him about yesterday night)

>>5923250
>I have sinned Father, I have been lustful, cruel and probably unchivalric (do not go into details)
If he wishes us to go into detail we will

>>5923251
>I have sinned Father, I have been lustful, cruel and probably unchivalric (do not go into details)

>>5923251
>To be sincere in the last months I have to do many underhanded deeds that were necessary for politics but unbeffiting of a knight and a Christian ruler (explain all your sins for months, probably to drown the last in words)

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>>5923336
>>5923413

>>5923415
You know him good sirs... You know him he will...

>>5923594
>>5923774

You decided not to delve too much into details and to go directly to the essential. Saying.

-Mon père, I have been lustful, cruel and probably unchivalric. I wish to confess and...

Father François had a knowing smile and he demanded you.

-It is about yesterday night isn't it ?

You opened your eyes, by the beard of Saint John, what did it meant ? The guardsman had talked ? Or lady Rose (or even the witch) screamed too much ? You tried to defend yourself but knew that it was not useful, the fat priest was probably very interested in the details and, knowing him, he would try them with a village woman when the occasion will rise. Not that he was a particularly bad priest but he had his habits after all. Nobody was perfect. So you dwelved into it, a bit ashamed, and after some penitence you got back to your castle. The discussion after the question of the sin being in the good qualities of local beer (Father François never gave penitence for sins of gluttony, he said that he wanted to cure himself of it first before blaming others, let it be known that he "tried" to cure himself from at least since your birth). It is where you found Rose, she was in a great discussion with Bohémond about the fate of Becky, her handmaiden, who was still in the baron's clutches. You saluted them and after saluting you with an elegant curtsey your bride to be told you.

-Lord Charles, where have you been ? I think that Captain Crumbling was searching for you everywhere, he wanted to talk to you about the witch's burning.

It was probably to know where to install the pyre, you thanked her and demanded.

-I was confessing my sins in the church. And where is our dear captain ?

She tried to look in all the great hall for him while Bohémond gracefully offered himself to search the old guard's captain. Understanding that you had to be left alone he told that he had to see Elana to continue to discuss with her about matters of faith. Rose inquired.

-Who is this Elana ?

You explained her.

-It is a lady who tried to poison me and stab me with a knife, nothing too important, we have tried her and found her not guilty, she didn't have a soul. So she is kept there under watch while she recovers.

She frowned and answered.

-You are far too merciful Charles, but it is not my duty to judge.

You then chatted for a bit, asking if she was better since yesterday, she told that she was not hurt so much but asked you not to talk about it while looking absolutely shameful. She then told that she felt bad about this day and was sorry that she showed herself in what was not her best mood. You were about to console her and tell her that it was nothing when Captain Crumbling came.

-My lord ! My lord ! Everything is ready, the pyre on the village's main square the guards who have polished their armors but one thing stays : why should we burn this witch ?

>>5924160

You raised your eyebrow.

-For being a witch and practising witchcraft of course ! As always !

He said.

-Yes my lord, but understand that if we do this, since she is a high ranking mage it will probably put us at odds with the Mage's guild.

Lady Takable answered.

-She took me prisoner ! On the orders of the baron, surely this will be a good reason enough.

-My lady, I must disagree, the baron as vile as he is, had your custody, we illegally ambushed him, practically speaking we violated imperial law. What we did was a crime.

You looked at him and decided to think about a good reason. Unfortunately she wore a dress so you couldn't burn her for wearing men's clothes. So what remained ?

>We could say that she attacked first and killed three of our guards. That is a good reason.
>She hit a noblewoman and mistreated her, she deserves death for this.
>She blasphemed against the Lord, I saw it, a guardsman saw it too ! Let us burn her for this.
>We will burn her for witchcraft, let the Mage's guild weep tears of shame. I shall not have my conduct dictated by some burghers doing magical tricks.
>She has clearly deserted her post and abandoned the keep of the baron and tried to leave his castle with his ward. As loyal subjects of the count, who was clearly saying the baron to stay here and watch Lady Takable and the baron, who could not have maniganced such treachery we have to burn her alive.
>We have no need to justify ourselves, let us be said that she was burned alive because she deserved it.
>Other (write in)

You regain +1 piety from your reluctant confession.

>>5924161
>>We will burn her for witchcraft, let the Mage's guild weep tears of shame. I shall not have my conduct dictated by some burghers doing magical tricks.

>>5924161
>She has clearly deserted her post and abandoned the keep of the baron and tried to leave his castle with his ward. As loyal subjects of the count, who was clearly saying the baron to stay here and watch Lady Takable and the baron, who could not have maniganced such treachery we have to burn her alive.
>We could say that she attacked first and killed three of our guards. That is a good reason.
All 3 of these are true and anyone who says otherwise is dead.

>>5924161
>We could say that she attacked first and killed three of our guards. That is a good reason.
>She has clearly deserted her post and abandoned the keep of the baron and tried to leave his castle with his ward. As loyal subjects of the count, who was clearly saying the baron to stay here and watch Lady Takable and the baron, who could not have maniganced such treachery we have to burn her alive.

>>5924161
>She has clearly deserted her post and abandoned the keep of the baron and tried to leave his castle with his ward. As loyal subjects of the count, who was clearly saying the baron to stay here and watch Lady Takable and the baron, who could not have maniganced such treachery we have to burn her alive.
>We could say that she attacked first and killed three of our guards. That is a good reason.

>>5924161
>We could say that she attacked first and killed three of our guards. That is a good reason.
>She hit a noblewoman and mistreated her, she deserves death for this.

>>5924161
>>We have no need to justify ourselves, let us be said that she was burned alive because she deserved it.

File: The fires of justice.jpg (111 KB, 900x1273)

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>>5924182

>>5924207
We are nothing but a defender of the truth, of justice and of our right and proper feudal society.

>>5924334
>>5924340
>>5924450
>>5925008

You gave some swift legal justification to your actions. Explaining your brave captain.

-She has clearly deserted her post and abandoned the keep of the baron, trying to leave the castle with his ward. As loyal subjects of the count, who has clearly said that the baron had to stay here and watch Lady Takable, and the baron, who could not have maniganced such treachery we have to burn her. Then there is the question of the killing of our three guardsmen. She must die for this.

The sympathetic man asked you, curious.

-So... In the name of the baron, it is devious. Very devious. But then why should we not give her to him instead of burning her, it would be the legal thing to do.

You looked at him, he was too clever for his own good.

-My dear captain, she told us that the baron was not here, so we have no choice but to judge her ourselves. Let us not delve into details. It is better to burn everything to build anew on a sane basis.

The man nodded and you decided to quickly burn the witch, you saw clouds in the sky and didn't want to have your pyre ruined with rain. Burning people was not so simple, it involved logistics too.

The witch burning was an affair of formality. It was quick and without many memorable quotes, of course your cute Rose was with you and looking resplandant as always, and of course she hadn't too much damaged Elsa because she did not wish her to stop screaming or not feel the burning alive part that made all this deal interesting in her opinion. Of course the witch began by screaming when she saw the pyre.

-How ! You... Bastards ! You told that I had to be exchanged ! I will... Release me now !

Since you were a man of great humor you told the ice witch.

-Yes, but then I have decided to melt the ice between us...

It made Rose smile and Captain Crumbling roll his eyes. You saw with pleasure that the good people of Local were approving and throwing old cabbages and other detritus at the witch.

They had finally become accustomed to witch burning, it was as if it had became a local tradition where to bring your children. It filled your hearth with joy, slowly but surely civilisation was coming to your peasants.

Unfortunately before you managed to burn the witch and in the middle of her screams this awful lady cursed you ! Yes she dared ! She cursed you and your sweet lady.

-You degenerates, I shall curse you and your descendants, you will be accursed, accursed for the thirteen next generations ! I...

She didn't tell anything more, she screamed in pain and then the fumes of the pyre asphyxiated her. But it was terrifying. A curse, like this... What did it meant. You did the sign of the cross and told Rose.

-We should have cut out her tongue before burning her...

>>5925029

She simply shrugged.

-Charles, do not worry, she has no mana left, these kind of curses necessitate a ritual.

Mmmmh... Very strange. You were not a superstitious peasant of course but you knew the work of the devil and were sure that there was some curse sometimes that would manifest itself. But at least the witch was burned and it was a good thing. Once all was burnt and a soft rain began to fall upon you you decided to come back to your castle. You still had many things to do, and first was understanding how everything went on, why Lady Takable was sent to Bomburia secretely on the orders of the Baron, all the theories that you discussed with Rose seemed to not be plausible so you needed the council of Oldfossil, your wisest councillor, who was still in bed after his wound after a hunt. But you could interrogate the crew of the riverboat that led her too, it could be a good thing to do in the dungeons while it was raining outside. Or maybe you could try to find information elsewhere.

>Go to see Oldfossil first
>Go interrogate the riverboat crew first.
>Other (write in)

You gain +1 piety for this witch burning, but perhaps you are now the victim of a curse, who knows ?

>>5925030

Let us not forget that you gain +20xp for finally closing this case and +1 mudcore for burning a witch.

Your new stats :

Charles de Villeroi

Class : Local Lord
Level : 5
XP : 675+40 = 715 (next level at 1000)

Stats

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

Piety : 69+1+1 = 71
Mudcore : 60+1 = 61

With 60 Mudcore you have a strong field of gritty realism around you (150 meters), in this field 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. Magic, even restorative, will become considerably weaker near you. Weak practitionners of magic (less than rank 5) are unable to cast in your mudcore field.
Next level at 70, your field will become 200 meters wide, magical objects will lose their properties in your mudcore field just like potions, crops who came from the columbian exchange will lose their taste and a medieval disease will enter your world.

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.
->Basic Literacy : Your lessons with Oldfossil and Lady Takable finally paid off and you can read and write, even if you write with errors and move your lips still when you read it is a great leap forward.

Traits :
Leader : Your magnetism on the masses is glorious and your learning of speech could encourage many men to follow you. You may choose the best of 3 rolls when you try to speak in public to convince an audience, be it the Council of Many or angry peasants.


Since you are now level 5 you have to choose to gain 5 points in one of your three major characteristics :

>+5 Combat
>+5 Intrigue
>+5 Rulership

>>5925029
>Yes, but then I have decided to melt the ice between us...
Kek

>>5925030
>>Go interrogate the riverboat crew first.

>>5925037
>>+5 Rulership

>>5925030
>>Go to see Oldfossil first

>>+5 Intrigue

>>5925037
>Go interrogate the riverboat crew first.
>+5 Intrigue

>>5925030
>Go to see Oldfossil first
Gotta check in with our best guy
>>5925037
>+5 Intrigue
Gonna need this for the ensuing legal case for witch burning

>>5925030
>>Go to see Oldfossil first
>+5 Intrigue

File: Oldfossil.jpg (71 KB, 626x800)

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>>5925051
>>5925052
>>5925070
>>5925732

I see a conspiracy of people who prefer to use pens rather than swords, truely, chivalry is dead. But if it is for the good cause as did Charles de Valois I can only approve.

>>5925217
Of course, of course, we could always rely on Oldfossil.

====

You decided to seek Oldfossil first, he was a wise man and even if he had to be in his bed since his coccyx was broken he could always answer your questions. You decided to come with Rose, who had seen all the depravities of the baron. Oldfossil was writing something on a parchment, probably an account of something when he saw you and bowed his head.

-My Lord, lady Takable, I am sorry that I cannot bow lower but...

-No, no, do not worry Oldfossil, I wanted to see you yesterday but you were asleep. I did not want to disturb you. We burned the witch this morning and even if she threw a curse at me we can say that this problem is solved. But I wanted to ask you about politics.

Rose, when she heard about the curse told your councillor.

-I tried to explain to lord Charles that she had no mana and there was no risk or anything but he doesn't seem to believe it.

-Sorcery is twisted and devilish my lady.

Oldfossil, always a loyal man, wanted to reassure you.

-My lord, with all due respect I think that there is no risk, curses take a ritual and even if I am not a court mage who know much about such things I can assure you that she was out of any magical energy. Her battle with our men, in the absence of any potion drinking, would have taken her more than a week to recover from. By the way, Captain Crumbling saw me and told that we have paid the compensations for the families of the victims. The dwarves of the dwarven community were sad that two of their men died, but they softened their grumbling when their heard the sound of gold coins.

You nodded, it was most excellent. If your relationship with these short scotsmen was always strained you appreciated that they didn't complain. You then decided to go back to the subject.

-We wanted to ask you about the logic behind the baron's actions anyway. So it will be better if we all sit or lie hehe...

After taking some chairs you told him everything that was needed to know.

>>5926075

You told the man about the baron's execution of the steward and guard's captain of Lady Takable, her imprisonment, the fact that her handmaiden was still imprisoned in Someplace. You then told about the fact that Lady Takable was to be forcibly married to the baron. Then you told about the last events, who were all more and more worrying. It was evident that there was some kind of plot. The baron ordered Rose to be taken to the neighboring kingdom, another vassal kingdom of the Empire, of Bomburia, while he was going to the royal court to defend himself. Speaking of the court you supposed that the Guelph party who wanted a Guelph chancellor instead of the baron's uncle, knew of the book that you found that contained the proofs of the baron's misdeeds (he indulged in slavery, an illegal act in India) and denounced them before Count Careless could do it so a kind of fight between both of their parties was ongoing at court.
You then told your theories, maybe with marrying Rose the baron would have a lordship (especially if all her father's lands were given back to her) even if he lost his title as a baron. And he could maybe live in exile in Bomburia. But apparently this was impossible since Bomburians would collaborate with the queen if she ordered him to be arrested. So you were seeking his counsel in these matters.

To his credit he understood everything from the first time, having apparently thought about it, and he said you.

-My lord, I will be brief, we have no clue. Knowing all of this in detail suppose to be at court and know how the chancellor, who holds the letters and communications of the realm and the sealing of royal edicts in his palm after all, and who is a pro-elven human, is criticised by radicals from both factions, elves who want the kingdom to be ruled by elves since the queen is an elf herself, and humans who want a human to occupy the throne and the kingdom. The queen always wanted to balance between the radical members of the two factions.

You let him continue.

-On one side she is an elf and do not want to lose her power, some say that she is an usurper since she took the throne from her husband, while on the other side she knows that antagonizing the eight in ten inhabitants of her lands who are human would be unwise. So she tries to moderate between the two and try to find a balance that will be beneficial to elves, humans and all other species inhabiting these lands.

>>5926077

Lady Takable nodded to his words, bathing in his wisdom, but if you were bathing in it too you had to disagree with some of his words.

-A balance ? I was threatened by sergeants of the queen, all guelphs ! And they menaced me and talked to me with insolence ! They dared to menace me ! A nobleman ! And even our count Careless says that guelphs take all the important posts at court and try to squeeze others out of everything. With this and verminous burghers who are given privileges when they were not even born into it, and even magic being practised freely ! By Saint Denis it is a wonder how this kingdom was not destroyed long ago ! And to tell that they have armed vagrants do everything, they clearly want the death of the honest land owning nobility who is the life and blood of any realm !

Rose tried to look at you with a calm air, and Oldfossil seemed afraid. He told.

-My lord, with all due respect, I... Would not repeat these words openly, the queen has to quite often behead those who speak ill of her rule and I would not want to lose a master such as yourself. I... Understand your point of view but I try to expose the realm's politics in a most dispassionate way. Let us say that the things that you described are the price of good order, equity and balance.

You nodded silently, letting him continue.

-So, where were we, ah, yes, the balance and peace and the parties at court. To be sincere I think that nobody knows, besides those who live in the capital, what happens at court exactly and so I shall not speculate on their intrigues, but..

He continued, in a more grave tone this time.

-But what is important is what concerns you, and lady Rose. What is important is what we know, let us begin by the beginning. The proofs that you gave Count Careless and whose existance was overheard by Justiciars gave ammunition to them, who opposed the chancellor and will probably lead to his downfall in plus of the arrest of his nephew. How does it concerns us. The chancellor is a moderate, or a pro-elvish human, who keeps the peace in the realm but he is too the man who ardently defends his nephew who causes so much problems to our lordship, so the fact that he loses his office is a good riddance.

Lady Takable seemed afraid.

-Stop.. So our actions have endangered the peace in the realm...

You both looked at her, she was naive and adorable, even if sometimes terrifying. Oldfossil explained her.

-My lady, do not worry about the peace of the realm, the capital is far away and who becomes chancellor will not concern us before some years at least, what is important is the well being of Local.

>>5926078

He was completely right, forgetting an honor quarrel or an important case about a parcel of land, a title or a blood feud going with neighbors for two centuries in the name of a mythical "well being of the realm" was the first step in the loss of independence of feudal landowner such as yourself. You were in France a loyal subject of the king, but knew that his sergeants who taxed everyone harshly and his nonsensical laws like forbidding private wars and forbidding the rights of each lord to mint his own coins were unwise, and probably whispered in his ear by burgher councilors like this vermin of Marigny. Even good kings like Saint Louis, praised be his name, erred sometimes, like when he forbid judicial duels in the royal demesne ! How could a nobleman, a member of the warrior caste, prove that he was right if not by battle ? No, you could trust only yourself and your interests, and those of the nobility.

You decided to add, to emphasis your point.

-Yes, in the worst case it will create a civil war, probably the best thing that could happen to this realm anyway. Knights in Bifuria have not known war in more than half a century, can you imagine how green they are ? It would be better to fight among ourselves, to re-learn the basics, before fighting strangers or the realm will embarass itself and we will be remembered as weak for centuries to come, and easy prey for invasions. France has not the best knights of Christendom because they are peaceful.

They both looked at you like you said something strange. They loved peace too much, Rose had the soft hearth of a woman and Oldfossil, as a good steward was probably crying internally about the expenses of a war. Fortunately the opinion of women and stewards was not that what mattered on important decisions. Oldfossil continued.

-If you say so my lord, but we have to look at what the Baron, who clearly learned that he was accused in advance, took measures, measures whispered by his uncle who must have learned in advance of the accusations. One of those measures was evacuating your ladyship to Bomburia and killing witnesses, I am sorry for the loss of your councilors lady Rose, they were good men that I knew for a long time. Why he kept your handmaiden Becky alive I do not know, probably because she hadn't any important post. But if he wanted to marry you, and do it in Bomburia his uncle has some accord with the king of this land, he is too experienced to not have some way of leaving the country. So we must wait and learn the position of Bomburia, it is known that Bomburia and Bofuria, if they are brotherly kingdoms, support the human party here. But each of them wants to marry the future king Fulrion or Paulus, they do not care about the claimants, to a daughter of theirs, some even whisper that they want to marry one of their sons to the queen's heiress Notyumanea and rule us as a puppet kingdom.

>>5926079

You frowned, this was beginning to be complicated. You told.

-Yes I remember, I was speaking with Bifurian knights and they told us when we will begin to "end the elven rule" it was when I told about the proof that I had brought against the baron to some queen's sergeants or Justiciars as you call them who wanted to arrest me.

Fortunately Oldfossil abridged all of this.

-But what is of importance is that the chancellor was probably in league with the Bomburians, it is why he wants to put his family there, he will probably flee there too, with many state secrets and ensure that the Bomburians will have an advantage, but a strained relationship with the queen, in the political game. King Collo of Bomburia must have promised him something. But it is not important, as I said, what is important is you, my lord. And Local, and we are, how to put this in a bad situation.

You raised an eyebrow.

-You see, my lord, we are far away and the politics of the court should not worry us, we would not even be a pawn nor a spot on the map, but the Justiciars who brought this proof to the elven party will have to tell who gave it to them. And since Count Careless, who normally would have taken responsibility for it would not be able to do so they will probably accuse you, a small regional lord without alliances and political power.

You did not like where this was coming. Rose understood too, and took your hand in solidarity. Oldfossil continued.

-So the moderates will dislike you, the human party will probably dislike you too since you will be the one who would have managed to expel the most important human councilor of the court and lead to his probable replacement by an elf. And lastly of course since the Justiciars will probably talk about your plotting you will be known to the elven party as a dangerous human supremacist.

Great ! Everyone hated you now, what to do...

And before, what do you answer

>And so ? If I do not show myself at court it is of no importance ?
>Will they send someone to arrest me ? I did not do anything illegal, I was just revealing a conspiracy !
>So our best solution is wait and see if I have understood well ?
>If solving our local problems is for the best maybe we should write to Lord Neutral, about the succession of the Baron, fortunately it will be done before news about my involvement will reach someone.
>Tell me more about the claimants to the throne, Count Careless told me about them but I want your opinion about Prince Paulus, Princess Notyumanea and Prince Fulrion.
>Was really this Wickedson so important for the peace of the realm ?
>Other (write in)

(Choose maximum 3 please)

>>5926081

I shall post your new stats with the intrigue boost.

Charles de Villeroi

Class : Local Lord
Level : 5
XP : 675+40 = 715 (next level at 1000)

Stats

Combat : 51%
Intrigue : 30%
Rulership: 36%

Piety : 71
Mudcore : 61

With 60 Mudcore you have a strong field of gritty realism around you (150 meters), in this field 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. Magic, even restorative, will become considerably weaker near you. Weak practitionners of magic (less than rank 5) are unable to cast in your mudcore field.
Next level at 70, your field will become 200 meters wide, magical objects will lose their properties in your mudcore field just like potions, crops who came from the columbian exchange will lose their taste and a medieval disease will enter your world.

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.
->Basic Literacy : Your lessons with Oldfossil and Lady Takable finally paid off and you can read and write, even if you write with errors and move your lips still when you read it is a great leap forward.

Traits :
Leader : Your magnetism on the masses is glorious and your learning of speech could encourage many men to follow you. You may choose the best of 3 rolls when you try to speak in public to convince an audience, be it the Council of Many or angry peasants.

>>5926081
>Will they send someone to arrest me ? I did not do anything illegal, I was just revealing a conspiracy !
>Was really this Wickedson so important for the peace of the realm ?
it's outrageous! What else can you call it when a man cannot even be honest and forthright about wickedness and corruption by vile sorcerers and burghers?

>If solving our local problems is for the best maybe we should write to Lord Neutral, about the succession of the Baron, fortunately it will be done before news about my involvement will reach someone.
Fine, good thing we ranked up Intrigue.

>>5926081
>Will they send someone to arrest me ? I did not do anything illegal, I was just revealing a conspiracy !
>So our best solution is wait and see if I have understood well ?
>If solving our local problems is for the best maybe we should write to Lord Neutral, about the succession of the Baron, fortunately it will be done before news about my involvement will reach someone.

>>5926213
Support

>>5926213
Support
Not keen on the idea of everyone hating us but eh we got some time I think

File: Ugly map of the Someplace(...).png (1.18 MB, 8818x6006)

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>>5926213
This is the result of centuries of paganism, the sense of right and wrong of the populace and even the nobility are completely alien.

>>5926682

>>5926767

>>5926796
As always, people are fickle, maybe they will not remember you.

I sent an unfinished map to complete the post.

====

You had some questions to ask and you began by the most obvious.

-Will they send someone to arrest me ? I did not do anything illegal, I was just revealing a conspiracy !

The wise councilor shook his head, and his answer was brief.

-No, you revealed a conspiracy, nobody would arrest you for this, but it is probable that you would be disliked and seen as unreliable. At least if we do not manage to ensure the support of some important people at court. I would have told that Count Careless would be a fine candidate but he do not appears at court too much, he dislikes elves and they dislike him since they wrote an edict forbidding him from hunting unicorns...

Rose nodded.

-Even if I love our dear Count as an uncle he goes too much into his passion for hunting, unicorns are noble and pure creatures.

You answered.

-The duchess will do ?

Oldfossil answered while Rose adorably jealous took a suspicious expression.

-Duchess Naiv of Tradnod and all the Regional lands is only sixteen years old, and she does not rule, she is under the ward of a regent, who appears to be an elf, lord Behindthetron, a wise man close to the queen. Our count dislikes him because he expected, as every count in our duchy, to be the regent. So if you have to travel to the duchy's capital I shall encourage you to get appreciated by the regent. Unfortunately with his strained relationship with our count... And the fact that he was more moderate and appreciated the chancellor it would be hard...

Damned Guelphs, them and their Italian intrigues, well at least they were marginally better than burghers and your guardsman Gardasil was a sympathetic guelph but there was too much of them. Ah, what should you give to have one thousand French knights such as yourself to replace all the pagan nobility and transform this land in a semi-civilised place. It worked in England so it should work here. You then asked.

>>5926801

-Was really this Wickedson so important for the peace of the realm ?

Oldfossil answered after a small moment of reflection.

-Maybe yes, maybe not, it is hard to judge a councilor until he isn't here, but he had an important role and seemed to please the Queen in his functions even if he had many enemies among the nobility, the first ones being those who wanted his place. Maybe his replacement will be a man who shall keep the peace better, maybe on the contrary it shall be a very incomptent councilor who will bring troubles to the realm. I am not versed enough into court politics to know, what I know of him is that he supported his awful nephew and that is enough for me to dislike him. But I must admit that the taxes were collected in time and the finances of the realm are said to be well managed.

Always the finances who are well managed, burghers like this bandit Marigny, who is well in his way to have the same role as this Wickedson in France always talk about finances, it is their obsession. Instead of talking about war and glory they count money. In your opinion it was the demesne of some stewards like Oldfossil, and of women, a ruler should know only one thing : more taxes equals more soldiers, but taxes should not fall upon the shoulder of the noblemen, who pay them in blood on battlefields, and of the clergy who serves God. Taxes concern the peasants, and the burghers, fortunately there is a lot of them so they can all pay a decent sum. What a perfect model, it is why our right and proper feudal society is so glorious. But enough talks, you decided to act :

-If solving our local problems is for the best maybe we should write to Lord Neutral, about the succession of the Baron, fortunately it will be done before news about my involvement will reach someone.

Your councillor nodded and happily brought you an already written parchment, you read it with Rose while he explained.

-While you fought, my lord, I took the liberty of writing a letter to Lord Neutral in his poetical way, to avoid any danger if it is intercepted. As you wished I have included references to bargain your support against the return of the lands of lady Takable's father to her demesne.

Rose was more than happy she took your arm and even wanted to lean on you, her head full of souvenirs before she contained herself, she still had the time to say.

-Charles ! You really asked for this ? We will be able to take back my father's castle, it is bigger than Local, and very beautiful, even if Local is good too of course but we could travel from one place to the other in winter and summer.

>>5926802

Two castles, that was a dream, of course you nodded, with lady Takable's actual tower it would be three, you still wondered what to do of it, maybe give some lands to one of your knights, have vassals. Nevertheless as the husband you shall rule the lands of your wife and it will bring you considerable wealth, from what you knew Local had four villages while all the old Lady Takable's lands had fourteen, and eighteen villages was already something, you shall be the most powerful landowner of the region. And your lady wife would be happy, what more to ask. Still the wise steward asked.

-But then your lands will be separated by those of Lord Hostil, who is now dead since you killed him in a duel, and he was heirless, his lands were given back to the Baron, they would be, with their small keep, in the middle of your two lands and will control the river, should we claim them as well ? For the sake of territorial continuity ? Or should we simply ask the new baron to redraw the border and ensure that the hamlet of disputed stays in our demesne. Or should we claim even the southern bank of the river Queste near the hostil lands to control the river from the Waifue to the Forest of Gump ?

That was a tricky question, you decided to.

>Ask for the border to be confirmed in your advantage about the hamlet of disputed (humble option)
>Ask for the lands of lord Hostil, as a sign of generosity from the new baron. (asking something new)
>Ask for the lands of lord Hostil and the baronial lands under the footholds of the hills of Nesse to control the river (it is asking much).
>Tell that you shall pay for the new lands that you asked for.
>Other (write in)

>>5926801
Good map, helps a lot actually
>>5926803
>Ask for the border to be confirmed in your advantage about the hamlet of disputed (humble option)
In exchange for our humble request we can push for something else in that our river boat exploits remain completely tax free. Asking for Takables land back is already a giant ask considering how much there is so asking for some humble requests would be a good counterweight.

>>5926803
>>Ask for the lands of lord Hostil, as a sign of generosity from the new baron. (asking something new)

Lord Neutral stands to gain far more with our support, it is a pittance that we ask for really.

>>5926803
>Ask for the border to be confirmed in your advantage about the hamlet of disputed (humble option)
If we want it later, we will perhaps take it by force or intrigue...

>>5926803
>Ask for the lands of lord Hostil, as a sign of generosity from the new baron. (asking something new)
Can we send the ashes of the witch to the Baron?

>>5926803
>>Ask for the lands of lord Hostil, as a sign of generosity from the new baron. (asking something new)

We killed him so we ought to get his stuff. He was a foul and heretical magic user so the land is a rightful substitute for not getting to loot any decent arms and armour from the corpse.

>>5926803
>Ask for the lands of lord Hostil, as a sign of generosity from the new baron. (asking something new)

File: Messengers, always messengers.jpg (15 KB, 292x172)

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>>5926810
Thank you good sir, I shall complete it when my studies give me the time for it, or at least name the villages of our new lands, many puns will be needed.

It is a good idea to ask for it.

>>5926838
Of course, of course, it is normal to ask for yourself too.

>>5926851
As a man of honor I am always favourable to brute force, by principle, but intriguing can always be amusing.

>>5926935
Unfortunately Baron Crook Wickedson left the barony, but once he will be located it could be done.

>>5927015
Good sir, your logic is beyond reproach and the justice of your cause is exceptionnal. In general we should, once we would be able to do it, forbid magic and confiscate all the lands from magic users. And from burghers too, the simple fact that they are allowed to own lands is dreadful.

>>5927543

You were a just man, and an honest man, and a honest man knows that he deserves more lands if he is loyal. You were not a master politician but you knew that early reigns were always a period of generosity, and if you asked for some lands for Lady Takable, her lands, you should ask some for yourself too, it is only normal. Since you did not want to have the new baron giving some baronial lands you told Oldfossil.

-We shall ask for all lord Hostil's lands, he was a sorcerer, and it is normal to want lands at the beginning of a reign to support a new dynasty. Let us be sincere, new rulers who need to legitimate their rule always give more than those who know power and their strength. Lord Neutral will need me, the Rival Lord dislikes him and the lord of Darkplace owes everything to Baron Crook Wickedson so he could not be considered as reliable. There is only three nobles that he could ask the support of : lady Rose, lady Mary Sue of Special, and myself. Since I am a man, no disrespect for you Rose, I am the only one able to lead effectively an army and I will marry you, Rose, so both of us are more powerful and more important than lady Sue.

Rose nodded and smiled lightly, telling with a certain sense of humor.

-No disrespect for me, but I imagine that lady Sue imagines herself as some kind of great general...

You both laughed at it, it was mean, but well deserved. Still, Oldfossil nuanced your constatations.

-My lord, I can only agree with you, but still, she is a rank 20 warrior, worth many people... But then I have to agree with you she has no political sense and will probably agree with the "Fait Accompli" once she learns that the Baron Crook sold slaves, lord Swiss Neutralsson could use it to his advantage. And, one last question my lord, who should be our messenger ?

>Send Brother Louis, as always
>Send Ancel, he is sneaky and crafty, and lady Rose will no more complain about his stench for a moment
>Send Bohémond, he is young and vigorous
>Send Godefroi, he is experienced
>Send some guards with the messenger.
>Order the messenger to be disguised or not to draw attention, we never know what the baron could do.
>Other (write in)

>>5927869
>>Send Bohémond, he is young and vigorous
>>Send some guards with the messenger.

Perhaps we should give Brother Louis a break, and the chance of an ambush is high.

>>5927869
>Send Brother Louis, as always
>Send Ancel, he is sneaky and crafty, and lady Rose will no more complain about his stench for a moment

>>5927869
>Send Bohémond, he is young and vigorous
>Send some guards with the messenger.
>Order the messenger to be disguised or not to draw attention, we never know what the baron could do.

>>5928001
support
They will 100% be ambushed because of what we did so better they hide in plain sight.

>>5928001
+1

File: Riverboat.jpg (55 KB, 1000x570)

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>>5927983
Of course, the man has had to carry to much messages for his age.

>>5928001
>>5928001
>>5928185
>>5928525

You decided to send four good men with Bohémond, disguised as travellers with good horses, to the lands of lord Neutralsson, it would probably take them a bit less than two weeks to get there but once it will be done you will have done everything needed until the end of the baron's rule, if he was found guilty. It would be more than probable that the Orcadian and Bob Denarius will return in your lands first, these cutthroats will probably have finished their scouting of the defences of Darkplace and will be able to report everything they saw.
Then what shall you do in the meantime ? Probably see how well Elana has recovered, once she will be able to walk you will have to decide on her fate, or at least discuss with her. But now what to do ? Of course you had to decide the fate of the riverboat crew. You decided to do it after sending Bohémond and some men. You choose to give him four lads, amongst them Gardasil and Swat. You would have sent Cop of course but you needed him as a sergeant and he was too fat and too old to be quicker on a horse than his younger son.
You quickly said your farewells to your knight, wishing him to ride fast faster than the news of your burning of the witch, it will probably be the best way to avoid ambushes on the road. He said that he will deliver his message the faster that he could and left after you wished him good luck. It was only two hours after he left that you remembered that he was hot tempered, and that the Baron had imprisoned the lady that he loved in Someplace. You hoped that he did not do anything stupid.

Then of course there was the problem of the riverboat crew, their interrogation did not bring anything, they were simply engaged to pick up some people in the name of Baron Crook Wickedson and deposit them beyond the forest in the plains in some coordinates, they understood that it had to be discreet but were paid well so they did not ask questions.

>>5928550

When you asked them if they found normal that they had to transport a captive noblewoman the captain of the ship answered that she could very well be a parent or a ward of the baron that he wanted to hide from a lover least she flees with him and marry him. Since you would have done the same thing if your daughter wanted to run away you could not blame him. The boatman himself was not even from here but from the Duchy of Tricked and had absolutely no knowledge of the political situation, he only knew that the forest was dangerous. He had been contacted by some kind of shipping company who could offer services of maritime transport on rivers and seas in all the empire called Maersk who was the owner of the riverboat, he only rented it. When you menaced him he accepted to describe the place where he had to stop his boat for his passengers to disembark and mount on horses. It was near three rocks and should be attained after two days of navigation. He even told that he had a map of the place, just as he had a map of the many dangers and shoals of the river but since he lost his ship he could not give it to you, it sank with it.

You then thought about what to do with the crew.

>Engage them on your future river boat, they could help crew the boat that Popeye the Sailor once they will be healed for those who are wounded.
>Execute them, leave no witnesses.
>Let them leave, but offer each one of them, if they want, to bring back their families to Local if they wanted to flee persecution from the shipowners of the boat. Guatantee them shelter.
>Leave them to rot in your dungeons.
>Force them to convert to Christianity if they want freedom.
>Other (write in)

And please roll a d100 good sirs, to see if Bohémond does, indeed, do something stupid.

>>5928552
>Engage them on your future river boat, they could help crew the boat that Popeye the Sailor once they will be healed for those who are wounded.
>Strongly 'encourage' them to convert to Christianity.
Isn't it grand that our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ has taught us mercy, forgiveness, and the redemption of a second chance? Otherwise, haha, we'd just execute you all. What a wonderful faith, don't you agree?

Rolled 81 (1d100)

>>5928552
Oh, and a roll.

Rolled 61 (1d100)

>>5928552
here is another roll
>>5928602
support this but also include that if they crew our boat they can also bring their families

Rolled 100 (1d100)

>>5928602
>>5928634

Support

File: 1705046739352207.png (767 KB, 599x577)

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>>5928604
>>5928634
>>5928657
>these rolls
Oh tabernac, Bohemond is going to do something VERY stupid.

>>5928552
>>Execute them, leave no witnesses.

>>5928657
Oh fucking hells

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>>5928602
Of course good sir, you have put it in a nutshell.

>>5928604
>>5928634
>>5928657

>>5928658
Tabernac ? Venez vous de la Belle Province messire ?

>>5928708
Yes... These rolls, parbleu...

====

You decided to offer these men mercy, since you were a generous lord. Telling them.

-You are men who know how to use a river boat, and it is your lucky day because I have a great need of rivermen, I shall free you and engage you at my service. You will be able to bring your families and I will protect you from these Maersk people, they sound like they are norsemen and norsemen were always unwashed barbarians. Even today they are barely christian and live in a cold and dreary place. But there is one condition from my generosity, for it comes from my faith, and my belief than even sinners can be forgiven, as our Lord and Saviour Jesus-Christ told us. You shall receive baptism and be reborn into the Christian Faith, and you will walk away as free men and have an honest work given to you. Isn't it beautiful ?

They looked at each other, finally the captain told.

-And what if we do not accept ? I suppose that we will be left to rot here ?

You shook your head.

-No, it is not in my habit to leave people without judgment, you shall be hanged for having helped a witch to mistreat and steal a noblewoman. It is only justice.

They all paled in fear, exactly the effect that you wanted to have on them. You smiled smugly while one of the sailors answered.

-So, it is join your cult or die... I knew that it is always like this with cultists...

You corrected the man, who in his ignorance understood nothing, he was after all molded by paganism and the strange pagan's way of thinking of the indians. You had to bring him the Truth.

-No, young man, you are not in a cult, we are members of the Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church, the only true Church. Father François will explain you more. And you have been given mercy, as it is customary between christian. The fact that I shall hang you if you refuse to convert is not a menace, it is a comprehension of your local customs, pagans are violent and cruel, if you wish to remain pagan you shall be treated with violence and cruelty according to your customs. If you become a brother in Christ you shall receive mercy, it is simple, no.

>>5928880

They all looked at eachother strangely, probably impressed by the purity of your reasoning. You of course would not have explained it like this some months ago but now you knew the lands and had some tolerance for foreign customs after all. Even if it should always be in small quantities, tolerating evil was unacceptable. Finally, one by one, they accepted baptism. With one good thing done you had to occupy yourself for the rest of the days until the baron's demise and you occupied them well.
You raced through the plains with lady Rose, she was swift as the wind and a surprisingly good rider but you managed to catch her and stole her a kiss, you trained hard in the courtyard with Godefroi and Brother Louis and even judged some criminals, fortunately there was a thief in Local, some kind of saracen who lived there, you ordered to chop off his hand so he wouldn't steal anymore and be marked as a thief for all his life. The victim of the theft was a Dragon man who lived in the lordship with his family, since you understood that he wouldn't want to be associated with a dragon, creature of the devil, you asked, curious, if his father or his mother was a lizard. His expression then told that indians didn't like lizards too.
So it was a good week for you, for your companions too, Oldfossil was a bit better and could even begin to walk even if he needed a cushion to sit, lady Rose had made a new friend, since her conversations with Expiradate, the old chambermaid that you assigned her, were not fascinating, she entered one day into Elana's bedroom by error and in search of the company of girls of her age she began to talk to her, first severely since she knew that she tried to kill you, but then she took the girl in pity and you could hear both of them laughing together sometimes, probably bonding over their difficult childhood and their love for books.
Oh, and the first snow fell, and it finished of course in a giant snowball fight between servants, guards and everyone in great joy, as a lord you could not participate, of course, until Rose threw a snowball right in your face and you had no choice but to catch her, laughing, and throwing one into the back of her collar. In joy and meriness you passed these days. Until this moment when you were training in the snowy courtyard and heard some dreadful words from Carius, one of your guardsmen, who was posted at the gates.

-My lord ! A lone rider is at the gates, it is Bob Denarius...

Bob without the Orcadian ? It could not be good. You ordered to open the gates and the man, who seemed to be completely jumped off his horse and fell unto his knees before you, striking the soil with his forehead. He was generally very confident and this demonstration made you all more worried, especially when he told.

-Master of warfare do not punish me ! I have bad news, very bad news !

>>5928882

You told him.

-What ? You got caught by the Lord of Darkplace...

-No master, but your knight Bohémond got caught by the baron's men in Someplace.

-WHAT ? But why ?

-Master of warfare, with all due respect, it should be better to discuss it inside.

You nodded and were quickly followed by your closest councilors inside. Ready to hear it all.

You ordered to bring something to drink to your mercenary before he could tell the rest of this story and you decided to sit on your throne, purely out of love for dramatics, you always remarked that your lord father looked more regal when he received bad news on his throne, probably because it's armrests were excellent to but your elbows on while you facepalmed. You saw the concern of Godefroi for his friend, and to be honest, you were concerned too, Bohémond was like a brother to you, a bit younger than you and brash, but always ready to play the lute or smite some Gascon or Englishman who tried to get to you in the middle of a melee. You told to your mercenary.

-Speak now, what happened.

He finished the beer that was given to him, still suffering from the cold and explained.

-Master of Warfare... My lord, a great ill has happened. For Messire Bohémond, full of notions of love and honor decided to free his beloved by storming the castle of Someplace.

This was the time for a first facepalm, while you performed this activity Rose put a hand on her mouth and the brave Godefroi told, in a shocked voice.

-What do you mean, storming the castle ? With five men including him ?

Denarius continued.

-He tried to enter here by night, scaling the walls during the moonless night, he managed to do it...

He was always good at it, as a wall climber he was precious during assaults. you let Denarius continue.

-From what I learned he managed to climb there, then to enter the tower where lady Becky is imprisoned, even to briefly get to her, slicing the throat of a guardsman before freeing her. But then a man on the walls saw the corpse and raised the alarm. Your knight fought bravely, bringing another man down before being wounded and captured. Then they saw your men who were waiting under the walls with horses.

By Saint Denis, you could only imagine that it would get worse from here.

-In the brief skirmish my lord, Gardasil and Arrowhead were killed, and Swat and Host Aige were captured and brought into the dungeons.

And you just lost two men, or four, you hoped that Cop's son was not tortured too much. Ancel, who was listening, told.

-What a shame ! What a pity ! We shall pray for messire Bohémond messire and..

-Silence dog, let the man finish.

-Of course messire, of...

>>5928884

A new look told him to really shut his mouth, you were not in the mood for Ancel's antics today. You then asked.

-And how do you learned it ?

-I learned it to days later, master of warfare, when the masked cucumber and I traveled back from our successful mission and stopped at Someplace, we learned that dangerous bandits linked to the Local Lord have been arrested and that they had to be used as witnesses for the trial of the Baron Crook, who was a victim of the machinations of disloyal vassals and never trafficked in slaves. We understood that we had to do something to rectify this. So we took the initiative of a rescue mission.

You closed your eyes, and your fists until it became white, your frustration was terrible. You then told.

-Continue...

-We managed to disguise ourselves as adventurers who wanted to help the baron learn clues about your treachery, his intendant Payal Ordial was engaging some of them to spy on your lands. And...

Oldfossil interrupted him.

-And the message, did they got the message to lord Neutral ?

-I do not know anything about any message, councilor Oldfossil.

The old man took his head in his hands and added.

-Thank the heavens that I wrote all of it in a poetic and not understandable language.

You agreed with him, then you nodded your head towards Denarius to hear the end of his story.

-So we told that we wanted to see the prisoners to interrogate them, it worked and exactly when the prison guards opened messire Bohémond's cell we killed them, but Bohémond was wounded in the leg and could not run, and one of the bastards...

You finished his story for him.

-Raised the alarm, isn't it.

-Exactly my lord, exactly, our orcish friend screamed at him, an orc can be quite intimidating, but once archers took us as targets and he took three arrows in the face he was less intimidating and more dead... Fortunately I managed to flee on the fastest horse of the baron's stables, while freeing the rest of the horses to stop the guards from catching me, I fled to the south to try to not lead them to their lands but once I saw that adventurers were following me I understood that a group had taken a contract. I decided to cross the hills of Nesse and go back here then, they probably had a ranger and would have caught me. I have still an advance of two or three hours on them but they will probably end in local.

He then looked at you, his face telling how much he was sorry. You knew that he was probably telling the truth, the man had said many times that he had a debt towards you and he had his strange sense of honor. What do you do or say.

>>5928886

>"Oldfossil, Godefroi, tell me, were you as reckless in your youth ?"
>Facepalm once more and sigh
>"At least tell me about Darkplace and your successful mission."
>"I want to let these adventurers enter this place, we will then ambush them"
>"Forbid these armed vagrants from entering our land."
>"Oldfossil, tell me, attacking baron's men and openly intriguing against my liege lord will look very bad on my accusations against him isn't it ?"
>"Captain Crumbling, pay some compensations to the families of the dead."
>"All of you, leave me, I need to be left alone. And bring me some wine."
>"Can somebody tell me how we will free our men from this place ? Oh and do not suggest to exchange them for the witch, we burned her."
>"Give Denarius twenty lashes for his stupid initiative."
>"Oldfossil, tell me, will these news reach the Baron before his trial ?"
>Other (write in)

>>5928889
>>"Give Denarius twenty lashes for his stupid initiative."
>"Oldfossil, tell me, attacking baron's men and openly intriguing against my liege lord will look very bad on my accusations against him isn't it ?"

>>5928889
>Facepalm once more and sigh
>"I want to let these adventurers enter this place, we will then ambush them"
>"Give Denarius twenty lashes for his stupid initiative."

>>5928889
>>Facepalm once more and sigh
>>"Oldfossil, tell me, attacking baron's men and openly intriguing against my liege lord will look very bad on my accusations against him isn't it ?"
>>"Captain Crumbling, pay some compensations to the families of the dead."

No sense in whipping Bob

Surely there is some legal protection for knights rescuing damsels locked in towers in this land

>>5928889
>Facepalm once more and sigh
>"At least tell me about Darkplace and your successful mission."
We'll have to handle these adventurer with intrigue. if we turn them back, they'll suspect us. if we kill them, those who sent them will suspect us. We need to do damage control.

>>5928880
>Tabernac ? Venez vous de la Belle Province messire ?
My ancestors are, monseigneur.

>>5928889
>Facepalm once more and sigh
>"Oldfossil, tell me, attacking baron's men and openly intriguing against my liege lord will look very bad on my accusations against him isn't it ?"
>"Captain Crumbling, pay some compensations to the families of the dead."

File: Council.jpg (120 KB, 249x357)

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>>5929114
>>5929325
>>5929374

>>5929375
Isse, I shall write it in the update.

>>5929513
Of course, the next post after this one will be about dealing with these pests.
And I am happy to hear that you are the descendant of a québecois, I love the québecois accent, it looks sometimes like the accent from Normandy, my region, because many of the early settlers came from western France.

>>5929536

You decided to use your throne and facepalm once more, sighing before telling your oldest councilor, the one who was most versed in local intrigue.

-Tell me, Oldfossil, attacking baron's men and openly intriguing against my liege lord will look very bad on my accusations against him, isn't it ?

The old man thought, he thought for a long time before telling.

-It all depends, on one side the baron could accuse you of having forged proofs against him, on the other side these proofs were traduced from dark runes that you did not understood. And taken from Kobold Slavers that would be very hard to track. Then of course there will be factions at court, and even if he says that you attacked his barge and tried to free lady Becky he would have to explain why he had her imprisoned and why he executed lady Takable's councillors. Of course he could try to tell lies and accuse you first of consorting with kobolds, as said the wise councillor Charles Pasqua, who had the same name as you "if you are annoyed by a scandal create a scandal in the scandal and then a scandal in the scandal in the scandal until nobody understands anything". It could work of course, but since everyone wants the head of his uncle and do not cares about him, since he is only a pretext it could be even used against him, and the fact that he tried to evacuate Lady Takable to Bomburia, it could be seen as high treason on his part. So I would say that, as often, for us the situation is bad, but for those above us it is acceptable.

You then ordered him.

-At least this is some good news, by the way Oldfossil, we should pay something for the families of the dead. Now we need to think how to contact Lord Neutral since I am probably seen as a criminal in all the barony. And we have to ensure that baronial troops do not come here and burn Local to the ground, it would be a shame... And account for our losses in horses. But first, does anyone has an idea how to free Bohémond ?

>>5929609

All your coucillors gave their suggestions. First it was Oldfossil, who as always advocated for a legal solution.

-We should simply wait for him to be judged, if the news comes to the baron he will be judged with him and cited as a witness, then we could engage a lawyer and defend him.

Rose interrupted him.

-Is there not a law about saving damsels in distress from towers ?

Oldfossil corrected her.

-Only for registered adventurers of the adventurer's guild. For the rest it is considered an obsolete custom dating from the Clichean civilisation.

Rose frowned cutely and answered categorically.

-As if all our culture did not came from the Clicheans.

You ignored that Clichy, a small lordship near Paris, was so important culturally for the Indians but decided to not dwell into it. Godefroi told you.

-We could attack the nearby watchtower monseigneur, capture the guards and exchange them against our knights, the Baron clearly betrayed his liege lord by imprisoning Lady Takable and killing her councillors, we could do a small feudal war until the judgment and a new baron ? We can even do it bloodlessly, the border watchtower is not well guarded.

Oldfossil appeared to be terrified.

-It is very risky my lord, very risky and illegal.

Then of course Denarius Spoke.

-Maybe a new rescue operation...

This time Father François supported him.

-With this lady, Elana, and our Ancel, once she will be fully healed, probably in a matter of days now, she wants to help us, as long as it does not requires to kill someone, and she seems to be the sneaky kind since she sneaked in here. And our Ancel can always be useful, his nickname of "purineur" comes after he used to clean the latrines of the castle, he could infiltrate the castle by this place.

Ancel bowed.

-I live to serve messire, I live to serve, but it is risky...

What to do ?

>We shall try to defend our knight legally.
>We shall try to take some hostages for ourselves by attacking the nearby watchtower.
>We shall send Elana and Ancel in a rescue mission.
>We shall wait and see.
>Other (write in)

>>5929610
>>We shall send Elana and Ancel in a rescue mission

>>5929610
>>We shall try to defend our knight legally.

>>5929610
Sending a girl to do the work of war? Hmm... But then again, it is a treacherous and underhanded, womanly sort of warfare, sneaking in and out of a place....

>We shall send Elana and Ancel in a rescue mission.

But Elana is a Christian now, so make it clear to Ancel that if he takes any liberties or allows her to come unduly to harm, we will hold him accountable.

>>5929610
>We shall send Elana and Ancel in a rescue mission.

>>5929610
>>We shall send Elana and Ancel in a rescue mission.

>>5929610
>We shall try to take some hostages for ourselves by attacking the nearby watchtower.

File: Ancel le Purineur.jpg (20 KB, 333x409)

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>>5930105
>>5930200

>>5930234
It is not really war, it is intrigue, not even a "coup de main", it is spying and being perfidious, women are good at that.
Your second suggestion will be dully noted, the brave Ancel will be reminded to behave as befitting of a servant of such a great lord as you.

>>5930401
>>5930741
>>5931278

You thought about the question of the rescue of your men. And you understood that subtlety was needed. You hesitated of engaging a woman in it but for affairs of spying and getting somewhere, affairs of intrigue, they could be useful, more useful than men since any normal person, yourself included, would not believe in the treachery of women. Well everyone would, of course, but not for reasons os spying more for womanly problems like issues of love and jealousy. Then you needed to give some instructions to Ancel, who could lead the mission. Yes, it seemed to be the most reasonable course. You told.

-Your idea pleases me the most Father François, but I shall speak with your Elana. You will have to free Bohémond, Ancel, it is a great responsibility, I expect you not to fail me.

Ancel was kneeling and telling you.

-Thank you, thank you a lot messire, you are too good... But are you sure that it will not be risky it...

-Are you refusing this honor from your lord Ancel ?

-No messire... Never, I shall obey...

He had of course his clever face. You knew him, he would try to cheat his way out of any risks and claim credit for everything. So you added.

-This Elana, she is a Christian woman now, she was baptized so you shall be responsible of her. So I hope for your sake that no harm will come to her and that she will leave with her dignity, or at least as much dignity as a woman who was wearing pants and men's clothes could be trusted with, intact. Understood.

His face told you that he had already thought about raping her in a wood but since he feared you, and loved you, as a good peasant should, he told you.

-Yes messire, I will obey.

-Excellent, now let us deal with these armed vagrants.

This was a new problem, how to arrange for their demise, you had multiple options at your disposal and you choose to.

>Keep the castle closed and do not let these people enter in your lands.
>Send someone to spy on the armed vagrants and report their actions
>Arrest the armed vagrants once they are the village.
>Invite the armed vagrants in your castle.
>Let the armed vagrants do what they want.
>Go outside with your men to confront the armed vagrants.
>Other (write in)

>>5931381
>>Invite the armed vagrants in your castle.

>>5931381
>Go outside with your men to confront the armed vagrants.
What is the meaning of this armed invasion??

>>5931381
>Go outside with your men to confront the armed vagrants.

>>5931381
>>Go outside with your men to confront the armed vagrants.

>>5931381
>Send someone to spy on the armed vagrants and report their actions

>>5931381
>>Go outside with your men to confront the armed vagrants.

File: We all love bridge battles.png (868 KB, 800x445)

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>>5931404

>>5931466
I do not know, what i know is "Coupez cordes ! Hurlez bataille !" no lord shall tolerate armed vagrants on his lands.

>>5931864
>>5931904
>>5931939
>>5932079

Understanding that the arrival of vile "adventurers" on your lands must be punished harshly you decided to confront them. Ordering your men to bring you your chainmail (you thought about acquiring some pages or even a squire for this task, it will be necessary once you will have more lands). And you decided to be ready to confront such trespassers on the roads of your demesne. Because of the lack of horses your men behind you were on foot, only Godefroi and brother Louis being mounted. Father François decided to come with you, as to bless the troops and maybe to negotiate, just as Captain Crumbling as the guard's captain. Only Rose, because of her sex, and Oldfossil, because of his wounds, were left behind. In thirty minutes you had left at the head of twenty good men to intercept these adventurers. Denarius, who you had decided to hide in your castle, had told you that there were four of them and they were mounted.
You decided to stay in the village, to not be seen on the road, least your troops would be spotted in the plains and the riders would not spring into your trap. You decided to leave the castle, since the day, if snowy earlier, was clear in the afternoon, and you had a good view upon the west from the battlements. When you saw four riders approaching you knew that it was them. And you ordered your soldiers to sally forth.

You got them right near the bridge separating your castle lands from the village of Local, you hid your men under it and when the riders were on it they sprang forth and you appeared from behind some houses on your horses with Godefroi and brother Louis. It was then that you remarked that there were in fact not four but five riders, one of the horses, a powerful brown horse that you saw somewhere, was carrying two persons, one of them being a short scotsman who could not ride it on his own.

>>5932157

To be sincere this short scostman in leathers and armed with a crossbow was not the strangest part of this company, you saw an horribly ugly person, looking a bit like the orcadian but with less greenish skin, having a kind of staff with skulls, tatoos on his body and strange ritual objects, obviously of pagan nature. He reminded you of a bigger version of this Ghibelline leader that you imprisonned, herr Schamann. Maybe this man was a german too, and it was maybe the look of pagans of the forests of germany before your ancestors, the Franks, led by Charlemagne, converted them with a bit of armed persuasion and burned the tree that they worshiped. On another horse, a brown one that you recognised too, you saw a woman, in armor ! Another one after the one that you drowned and who was calling herself "a paladin", the armor seemed to be the same and you concluded that she belonged to the same organisation. Then of course there was another strange person, a half-woman half lizard person, like you saw in someplace or in your lordship, who was riding another horse, this one you did not recognise, and wearing simple robes, she had a strange conic hat and a quarterstaff clearly reinforced for combat. Then, finally there was the most scandalous person that you saw, a demon ! It was one of those evil demons that you had banned from your lands, with horns, a tail, and an horrible look ! He was armed with a bow and in leathers, and was on the same horse as the short scotsman. You quickly did the sign of the cross to ward off evil as Father François, who had never seen one before since you expelled them before he came here was livid. The fat priest gathered his courage and in his powerful baritone voice pointed towards the demon, right after brandishing a small cross. Father François cried.

-VADE RETRO SATANA ! VADE RETRO ! I banish thee ! Return to the hells from where you came from and do not tempt the good christians of these lands !

Seeing that the beast would not disappear he began to tell you.

-Monseigneur, I must perform an exorcism...

It was the moment where the woman in armor decided to intervene, stressed by this encirclement she tried to defend her companion by saying.

-I do not know who you are, but you look like a priest, be assured that as a Paladin of Edos I can render justice and this tiefling is no criminal, despite his infernal background I have...

Of course Father François cut off her nonsense pointing at her and telling.

-Monseigneur, she is clearly possessed by diabolical spirits, she does not recognize the demon and is dressed in men's clothes ! Woe to her !

Before she could talk, Ancel added.

-Descend your horse before we gut you and rape you like the cod that you are ! Heh !

>>5932160

Understanding you all your subjects kept silent, and inspired by your awesome charisma the armed vagrants shut up too, even if the short Scotsman asked his diabolical colleague in a strong enough whisper to be heard by everyone.

-Do you have any idea who the fuck are these people ? And why did they sprang up from a bridge ? What is this type of encounter ?

Godefroi answered for you, in a pompous tone he declared.

-You are in the presence of Charles de Villeroi, seigneur of Local, master of these lands, castle and of the serfs that live there. Kneel, you sons of dogs, before punishment comes for your insolence.

You looked at them, they looked at each other, as if trying to communicate to know if there was a need to kneel. You decided to break their deliberations by asking them.

>Who leads you ?
>Why did you came to my lands with swords and crossbows ?
>Why, by the beard of Saint John, do you ride my men's horses ? I bought these palfreys !
>Give us the demon, he shall be purified by blessed water. Such devilish creatures are not allowed on my lands.
>Is the imitator of herr Schamann a wizard ? Witchcraft is forbiden there.
>Who gave you the right to dress like a man, woman ? Go put a dress before talking to me.
>You dare not to kneel ? Such arrogance ! Such hubris ! Men, kill all of these knaves.
>Do as king Clovis : open the head of the closest vagrants with your axe and say "Remember who owns these horses".
>We have you surrounded, drop your weapons and you shall be judged in accordance to feudal law.
>Other (write in)

By the way, I forgot but you gain +1 mudcore since the death of Gardasil, since you now have a "all human army" and this is a first step to mudcore localordism.

>>5932162
>Why did you came to my lands with swords and crossbows ?
>We have you surrounded, drop your weapons and you shall be judged in accordance to feudal law.
We know enough about these pagan lands to no longer be so easily shocked by women in pants or vile demon sorcerers, even if we obviously do not approve.

Also: alack, poor Gardasil. May he protect the beauty of love up in heaven!... Or Purgatory? Did he ever convert?

>>5932162
>Why did you came to my lands with swords and crossbows ?
>Who gave you the right to dress like a man, woman ? Go put a dress before talking to me.
>We have you surrounded, drop your weapons and you shall be judged in accordance to feudal law.

>>5932162
>Who leads you ?
>Why did you came to my lands with swords and crossbows ?
>Who gave you the right to dress like a man, woman ? Go put a dress before talking to me.

>>5932162
>Who leads you ?
>Why did you came to my lands with swords and crossbows ?
>Why, by the beard of Saint John, do you ride my men's horses ? I bought these palfreys !

>>5932162
>Who leads you ?
>Why did you came to my lands with swords and crossbows ?
>We have you surrounded, drop your weapons and you shall be judged in accordance to feudal law.

File: Taha the nun.jpg (138 KB, 747x1000)

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>>5932166
Yes, is death is most unfortunate, he was a brave man, even if Italian.

>>5932178
>>5932217
>>5932334
>>5932799

The first question that crossed your mind was of course.

-Why did you came to my lands with swords and crossbows ?

Then they looked at each other as if they did not understand. Finally the lizard woman spoke, in a strange, almost hissing voice.

-My lord... We are adventurers, swords, crossbows, batons, magical staffs, such are the tools of our trade. How are we expected to finish our quests without them ? At least for those who are not high ranked monks.

You were skeptical of her answer.

-I do not see what monastic practice has to do with it. But let us admit that you have, as commoners, the right to be armed without being in the retinue of a nobleman, but then, lizard lady, you did not answer the first question, why are you on my lands ?

She seemed to be quite astonished at this and answered.

-I am not a lizard ! I am a dragonborn, born of the fire breathing dragons of the mountains.

It was enough to cause father François to do the sign of the cross.

-The dragon, always a sign of the devil !

It was true indeed, these people were horse thieves, demons, foul wizards, women dressed as men, and people of draconic blood, they must be burned, in an ideal world of course, or hanged if they were simply stealing horses. But before all of it you had to ask.

-Who leads you ?

They all turned towards this dragon woman, who had to tell.

-I am the nun Taha, I am the one who speaks on behalf of this group, these are our two rangers, Fyre the Tiefling and Dori the Dwarf. Then there is our half-orcish shaman and magician, Grougabooga of the Swamp. The Paladin, lady Karen insisted to accompany us on the road.

She was cut off by the woman in armor who told.

-Yes, and I have to talk to the local lord, privately.

Enough was enough, this lizard woman impersonated a member of the monastic orders, pagans did not have monks, it was known and you knew what to do.

Adressing the leader, that you now knew, with a strong voice, you told.

-Then, Taha the false nun, know that we have you surrounded, drop your weapons and you shall be judged in accordance to feudal law.

There was much scandal and complaining from these people, they screamed about treachery, the woman in armor unsheathed a sword, while the others, disobeying, took their weapons. What do you do ?

>Drop your weapons, I will not say it a third time. (rulership roll)
>You have my horses, what tells me that you are not horse thieves, if you did not steal them then drop your weapons and we will speak in my great hall (intrigue roll)
>Kill all those who refuse to surrender guards, montjoie ! (combat roll)

>>5933202
>Kill all those who refuse to surrender guards, montjoie ! (combat roll)
We will avenge our Italian servant.

Rolled 5 (1d100)

>>5933202
>Drop your weapons, I will not say it a third time. (rulership roll)

Rolled 8 (1d100)

>>5933215
>>5933202
Ah yes, the roll

Rolled 94 (1d100)

>>5933202
>>Drop your weapons, I will not say it a third time. (rulership roll)

>>5933202
>>You have my horses, what tells me that you are not horse thieves, if you did not steal them then drop your weapons and we will speak in my great hall (intrigue roll)

>>5933202
>Drop your weapons, I will not say it a third time. (rulership roll)

>>5933202
>>Drop your weapons, I will not say it a third time. (rulership roll)

File: Authority.jpg (12 KB, 367x137)

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>>5933215
Always, a good lord remembers his men.

>>5933216
>>5933219
>>5933359
>>5933550
>>5933767
>>5933800

You told in your lordliest voice.

-Drop your weapons, I will not say it a third time.

And it worked, haha ! It worked ! The vagrants looked at eachother and seeing that they were surrounded they obeyed. What to say, it was marvelous, and finally normal. You were from a noble bloodline since the time of the Franks, descendant of a compagnon of Charlemagne, the Villeroi had chivalry in their blood for five centuries, it was natural that people obeyed you. Authority, and capacity to rule, was in the blood. It is the main reason why rule by peasants and burghers is disastrous, they are not made for it. Fortunately noblemen like you removed the burden of taking decisions and leading from these masses, letting them focus on their work and families. And even in a society as far removed from a right and proper feudal society as India people recognised this hierarchy by obeying you. So you quickly gained five disarmed adventurers in your great hall and four new horses, some of them being yours. Wonderful. Your guards were now around these troublemakers, what shall you decide to do.

>Throw them all in the river after gutting them, you promised them a trial but a word given to a serf is worth nothing, only oaths taken between gentlemen must be respected.
>Bring them to the great hall and question them.
>Judge the wizard according to Feudal law by throwing him in the river to see if he practised witchcraft, if the bastard manages to swim he is clearly a mage, and must be burned at the stake.
>Submit the devil to an exorcism as Father François asked, it will be necessary before letting a devil enter in your home, where your beloved is.
>Order the hanging of the short scotsman for horse theft, and the hanging of the dragon lady for daring to consider herself as a nun.
>Order the execution of the woman dressed as a man. For decency purporses.
>Other (write in)

If some of the adventurers are left alive what questions shall you ask them ?

>Who sent you.
>Why were you on my lands, why this invasion ?
>Did you steal my horses ?
>What branch of the adventurer's guild do you belong to ?
>Where is Bohémond, what happened to him ?
>If the lady in armor wants to talk to you in private offer her to ask her questions in private.
>Other (write in)

>>5933837
>Judge the wizard according to Feudal law by throwing him in the river to see if he practised witchcraft, if the bastard manages to swim he is clearly a mage, and must be burned at the stake.
>Submit the devil to an exorcism as Father François asked, it will be necessary before letting a devil enter in your home, where your beloved is.
The rest can get a conventional trial, but demonic sorcery must be kept away from Rose, as is our duty.

>Who sent you.
>Why were you on my lands, why this invasion ?
>Where is Bohémond, what happened to him ?

>>5933837
>>Submit the devil to an exorcism as Father François asked, it will be necessary before letting a devil enter in your home, where your beloved is.
>Bring them to the great hall and question them.

>Where is Bohémond, what happened to him ?
>Who sent you.
>Why were you on my lands, why this invasion ?

>>5933837
>We are a just and pious lord, offer them the chance to repent and convert before their trial.
>Submit the devil to an exorcism as Father François asked, it will be necessary before letting a devil enter in your home, where your beloved is.

>Where is Bohémond, what happened to him ?
>Who sent you.
>Why were you on my lands, why this invasion ?

>>5933950
Support

>>5933950
+1
They surrendered without a fight so we will offer them one last chance of redemption.

File: Exorcism.jpg (241 KB, 1400x938)

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>>5933880
Of course, safety of the soul first.

>>5933923
>>5933950
>>5934050
>>5934072

You decided to begin by ordering your brave Father François to do an exorcism. After all you wanted to protect your castle from any diabolical magic or any tricks of the devil. The vagrants were not impressed, the armoured woman even saying.

-I did a "detect evil" on him and he was chaotic neutral, do not worry, lord de Villeroi. And tieflings are not spirits they cannot be exorcised, really we should not waste our time with such provincial...

Ancel cut her off.

-Silence, villein woman, or I shall cut off your hand.

She frowned at him.

-Tell this disgusting knave to be silent, I am not of common blood.

What ? A noblewoman who was dressing in armor ? And proffering pagan magic... Once more. Surely she should be sent back to her father with a note telling how he must have raised her better, or maybe she had run away. What responsible father could let his daughter behave like this ? Or maybe he was dead, just like her husband... Or she was bastard born like Lady Sue. You had to ask her this. First you let the brave Father François carry his incense and his blessed water. The demon, guarded by two of your men, told.

-But I am not a demon ! I am a tiefling ! A tiefling you know what it is ?

You answered simply.

-God shall judge you, démon, cease your complaining.

Finally after twenty minutes everything was ready and father François began to tell prayers in latin. And when he spoke, for the first time Grougabooga, the wizard with Orcadian ancestry, spoke.

-I tell ye, dere iz powerful spirits at work here... One calling itself da Holly Spirit...

The others looked at him but before they could ask questions Father François threw holy water on the demon and the demon began to dissolve, like a every time holy water was thrown at them. Of course this one was not the victim of a vial blessed by the archbishop of Reims but simply by water sanctified by father François. And it worked as well, proving once more that God existed and that righteousness triumphed.

>>5934552

The adventurers were in disarray like the hosts of the demon before the vengeful sword of Saint Michael. There were cries, there was panic, the lizard woman cried.

-You... Murdered him ! You bastards !

Your guardsmen were accustomed to this spectacle and so they stayed stoic, just like your councillors, only father François, who had thrown the water seemed to be impressed. He blinked twice, looked at his vial of holy water, then at the pile of ashes that was now the demon, did not even do the sign of the cross, such was his surprise, and told.

-By Saint Denis, I never imagined that it would work this well... The last time I performed it in France we had to hold the poor victim and the spirits left him... I never knew what it did to a demon in the flesh...

He then did the sign of the cross and told.

-Let it be known as a miracle ! My brothers, what we saw today is the triumph of the lord and the smiting of wickedness from the face of this earth ! Let us rejoice and pray. To your knees.

Only some guards left to guard the adventurers were not part of the mass prayer that was requested but after a Pater Noster in latin you rejoiced too, the Lord continued to protect you. None of the adventurers tried to flee and you quickly brought them, whispering between themselves about "murder" and a bit fearful, to your main hall.

At least this was your intention, because once there, on your throne, with Oldfossil and Rose near you you explained them.

-Before your trial, as a generous lord, I will tell you that if you answer honestly, repent, and cast away your false idols to embrace Christ you shall keep your freedom.

There was much scandal amongst the vagrants, the false nun told.

-You want us to cast away our gods, to abandon Grugaloragran the great dragon god ?

You remembered that there was a temple of this dragon God at someplace, you met lord Neutralsson there, but it was the first time that you heard the name of the idol. But it was not very important, every false god was a ruse of the devil to trick men into not worshiping Christ. The woman in armor continued.

-Your "trial" is a parody of Justice, Edos, who reigns over it, shall smite you and your castle with his hammer for such insolence and send his blind avengers to punish you. I am the one who can judge, and what you did was murder !

The short Scotsman shrugged his shoulders.

-I only worship gold, on principle.

You then answered him.

-Then reject the Talmud and accept your Messiah, Jewish Scotsman. The Lord is ready to forgive.

Only the half Orcadian remained stoical and silent, he seemed more interested in inserting his finger in his ear to clean it than in listening. You then told.

-So if nobody accepts my offer I shall judge you according to feudal law. You will be asked questions first, to determine your crimes and...

>>5934553

The lady in armor had the gall to interrupt you ! What was that ? Did all noblewomen who wore armour became uppity ? She told.

-Then by my rights as a knight and paladin of the order of the Flame of Justice I demand a trial by combat. Let us see whose cause is right by a clash of our blades.

You could only laugh lightly at this ridiculous proposal. Ancel laughed too, and Godefroi and brother Louis, lost their grim demeanor and the gravitas of their age by exploding into joyous laughter.

Even Father François was snickering. But for the rest, your other councillors stayed absolutely terrified. Rose even said.

-Charles... You should not, Paladins are very dangerous...

Not understanding the laughter the paladin told.

-Why are you laughing ? Does the prospect of losing such trial amuse you ? Name your champion and I shall make short work of him.

You answered her, in complete sincerity, still half laughing between your words.

-Lady Karen, with all due respect, I find you hard to believe. A woman, armed knight ? It is not the armor who makes the knight but the faith and the honour, ladies should stick to their needlework and not demand trials by combat... Do you expect me to lower myself to give violence to a noblewoman ? Or to force one of my knights to do this ? This makes no sense at all. But do not worry, since you are amusing I shall not punish you for trying to usurp knighthood.

You saw the rage on her face while she heard you and she snapped at you.

-You... You dare deny me what was given by my order ? I shall... Oh Edos give me the power of your flame !

She then pronounced something in a language close to Latin and moved her hands in your direction. You raised an eyebrow and she seemed very astonished that nothing happened.

Cop told you when she spoke.

-Beware my lord !

When nothing happened you looked at her, then at him and he told.

-She tried to burn you with the sacred fire of Edos.

Oldfossil agreed.

-Yes, she tried an offensive spell on you.

Decidedly, all these women paladins were witches ! What you thought was amusing became grave, parodying knighthood and it's rituals to make a mockery of them could only be a trick from the devil, or the burghers, who were almost as bad. And she tried to kill you, in your own hall ! So you ordered.

-Throw this wicked woman in the dungeons. No witchcraft shall be tolerated !

But before you could say anything the brave Father François rose up and told.

>>5934554

-With all due respect monseigneur, permit me to ask you a favor. Since this wicked witch told that she wanted to prove the superiority of her god in a trial by combat. Let us compete in another trial, a trial of faith, like Elijah against the prophets of Baal, two of these women pretend to be priestesses, and one of these mens is a wizard, let us see if their devilish masters truly give them power. Let us see if they hold in an honest theological debate. The fathers of the church did this against pagans too, we should not be afraid to follow their exemple.

It was a good idea, maybe a good occasion to end paganism amongst your subjects. What do you do ?

>Accept the debate on the great hall, it is only honest to do this. If the pagans cannot prove that their gods are real the they shall be burned at the stake or slaughtered by the mob like the prophets of Baal, it is only justice.
>Accept this offer, do it on the marketplace of local, before the people. The pagans, if they cannot prove that their gods are true shall be put to death since they will be guilty of their crimes.
>No debates shall be held with witches and heretics, and women. Everyone knows that womens are not very good at having coherent thoughts so the Faith will be seen as having cheap wins against weak adversaries.
>No need for a debate, this woman tried to attack me, let us behead her and interrogate the rest.
>Other (write in)

Grugaloragran? Ah, a fellow man of culture, I see.

>>5934556
>Accept this offer, do it on the marketplace of local, before the people. The pagans, if they cannot prove that their gods are true shall be put to death since they will be guilty of their crimes.
Let's finally bring facts, logic, and the one true faith to our pagan subjects! What good lord does not save his subjects' souls, after all? We can't just let them go to hell!

>>5934556
>Accept the debate on the great hall, it is only honest to do this. If the pagans cannot prove that their gods are real the they shall be burned at the stake or slaughtered by the mob like the prophets of Baal, it is only justice.

>>5934556
>Accept this offer, do it on the marketplace of local, before the people. The pagans, if they cannot prove that their gods are true shall be put to death since they will be guilty of their crimes.

>>5934556
>>Accept this offer, do it on the marketplace of local, before the people. The pagans, if they cannot prove that their gods are true shall be put to death since they will be guilty of their crimes.

>>5934556
>Accept the debate on the great hall, it is only honest to do this. If the pagans cannot prove that their gods are real the they shall be burned at the stake or slaughtered by the mob like the prophets of Baal, it is only justice.

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>>5934654
Of course, what kind of frenchman dislikes Wakfu ?

Of course, Father François will destroy pagan faithlets with facts reason and logic as would the strange men of the XXIst century say.

>>5934719
>>5935133
>>5935350
>>5935746

To be sincere this idea was new, and you disliked novelty. Why trying to discuss with people who were obviously wrong ? But then it was how Christendom worked, you were in a new land and after some thoughts it was clear that the idea was good, very good even, and to do it right on the marketplace would be even better. You did not doubt the victory of your cause since your God was true and theirs was false, His triumph would be absolutely logical. And the people, seeing the weakness of paganism, would understand who holds moral authority over their lives and who shall judge them in the afterlife. So you agreed, and told your men.

-It is most excellent that we organise this, you had a wonderful idea, Father, we should even do this debate on the marketplace, let it be told to the people that you defy powerful servants of some pagan gods.

You told to the servant in question then.

-Are you willing to accept and defend your idols ? Or shall I put you to death ?

Before this simple and very fair choice the three of them who were of the priestly caste, the "nun", the "paladin" and the magician agreed to defend their point of view. It was interesting how much, if properly motivated, people could show goodwill. But a question arose while you sent a crier to the town who was talking about the debate. How to organise such a debate ? Of course there would be a theological beginning but such things, if important, could unfortunately annoy the people. The intricaties of theology sometimes passed over the heads of the simple peasants. So you decided to.

>Organize a "trial of the pyre" each of them must try to set fire to a pyre, like in the Bible, by prayers, the group who manages to light it by God's will alone should win.
>Since Father François already has shown us a miracle before many witnesses let us test our pagan friends. If he can smite a demon maybe they can too ? Or smite something.
>The judgement of God shall be a trial by combat, let it oppose the Magician against Brother Louis, since women would not be allowed to do it.
>Let them choose to show the power of their gods in the way that they want
>Maybe an ordeal by fire or an ordeal by hot water could be held.
>Other (write in)

Choose one of the trials, after all you do not have all night.

>>5935905
>>Organize a "trial of the pyre" each of them must try to set fire to a pyre, like in the Bible, by prayers, the group who manages to light it by God's will alone should win.

>>5935905
>>Maybe an ordeal by fire or an ordeal by hot water could be held.

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>>5935905
>>Other (write in)
Burn some holy objects from both faiths in a pyre. The one that remains unburnt is the true faith of God.

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>>5935933
>>5936001
>>5936653
Fine idea, since there was no majority I decided to add it to the options.

====

Your decisions, once made, were accepted by your servants and you set to call the people to the debate. In your infinite wisdom you decided to put in chains, but without beating or torturing him, the fourth member of their team, the short Scotsman, in your dungeons, to ensure that they do not try to flee.
And after less than an hour you already had a mass of people on the main square, even if it was cold the wise owner of Local's not useful tavern decided to sell some hot food and there was no rain nor snow a sign of God, joked Godefroi.
During all this time the three culprits discussed amongst themselves about someone who would better know the "lore" you supposed that it was one of the deities too. To abridge everything you had decided that only one of them would speak the most. Brother Louis and father François were discussing between themselves, they discussed the Scriptures, the question of transubstantiation and then the lives of the apostles. They didn't manage to decide who was better and to be honest you were absolutely lost when they switched to latin. Rose and Oldfossil looked at them with great fascination as they spoke to determine who would represent Christendom. Since everything was ready and they were still determining who would speak you had to order them.

-Brother, Father, please, could you decide who will expose the major tenants of our faith and defend our Holy Church quite quickly, it is not that I dislike latin but I understand nothing. And do it quickly please.

They nodded and began to argue in French, but nothing came out of this, each one of them had an answer to the questions of his opponents. That made Oldfossil be impressed by the "deep lore" of the religion. You answered him that the questions of the deep were those of the devil, God was in the sky not deep under the earth. It seemed to make him chuckle. Finally Brother Louis did something beyond your comprehension, he adressed the food merchant who was selling things to the people.

>>5936868

Once she came with a basket of food he took an apple and threw it on the face of Father François and looked silently at him, the people around them looked at him too, like he was a madman. Father François stayed silent, opening his mouth in a dumb expression. He stayed silent and looked at the food basket, then took a loaf of bread and threw it on the face of the templar. The merchant told.

-Hey, stop throwing my found around...

You threw some coin to the woman to make her shut up while before Father François could say something Brother Louis pointed his index finger at his face. Then Father François pointed two fingers at him, now everyone was fascinated. But Brother Louis pointed three fingers to the face of Father François. Rose and Oldfossil, and even some members of the people looked at you as if to understand their ritual, but you didn't understand anything. Godefroi, your other Christian knight knew that you did not understand and was the only one not to look at you for guidance. Finally seeing this three fingers pointed at him Father François opened the palm of one of his hands and hit at hit, like a hammer, with his fist with a satisfied expression. Brother Louis generally very serious and focused shook his head in defeat and told.

-He is too strong, he should represent the church monseigneur. I shall help him if he needs me but I doubt he will need me.

The fat village priest seemed a bit surprised but told.

-Thank you very much Brother Templar, I shall do my best.

And he came to the center of the marketplace, ready to face those who would refute his arguments. They decided to let the lizard woman talk. Before you gave the order to begin Rose whispered in your ear, Oldfossil eavesdropping since the old councillor would not dare to question you himself.

-Charles, what did they do ? Is it a kind of ritual ?

-I have no idea my lady. Clergymen are better educated than us laypeople and we sometimes have trouble following them.

Still, you were curious, and while you ordered to begin, and let everyone explain the creation of the world, while Father François began with the Genesis, Adam and Eve and the garden of Eden you ordered Brother Louis to come close and whispered him.

-Please, brother Louis, explain to me, my bride and our dear Oldfossil, who are all learned people, what was this silent food pointing and finger pointing about.

>>5936870

The Templar chuckled lightly, and told.

-It was made to be difficult to understand, to see how deeply our priest understands the faith and the canons of the Church, and I must say that he impressed me. I began by throwing the apple, the original sin, at him, and he answered me with the bread of life, I pointed at him to say "The Father", you see it was tricky because this pointing could be interpreted as a defense of the Arian heresy by indicating falsely that God would be only divine and not human, I hesitated for the interpretation of his second pointing at my face, with two fingers, it could be "And the Son", but it could be "The dual nature of Christ is Human and Divine" an to reaffirm his human nature too. So I decided to precise my words by pointing three fingers to say "And the Holy Spirit" and then, I understood that he knew it all along since he hit on his palm with a fist from the sky, it was the miracle of the conception of Jesus by the Holy Spirit. What could I answer to such a master. He will defend you well.

You thanked him and looked at your two companions, they seemed particularly impressed. Perhaps Oldfossil was even thinking about conversion, he was always a learned man and discovering the mother of all sciences, Theology, would probably win him over, even if reading the Bible without a priest to guide you could sometimes lead to heresy and should be considered as dangerous.
So you heard how the earth was created in seven days, or more exactly in six, and how Eve cam from Adam's rib. It was when he was interrupted by the dragon woman.

She judged harshly.

-Your tale is disrespectful of women and forgets all the minorities, there is only humans in it ! And they are made in the image of your God !

He then answered very calmly.

-All nature is a creation of God, and of course men direct the families, it is common sense. But what should not humans be, are you talking about wolves ? Dogs or cats ? I doubt that they would be able to understand the Scripture even if they worship God in their own ways, by showing kindness to their master, by being part of His creation, all of this was written down by Saint Francisco of Assisi.

She the answered.

-And elves ? And dragonborns like me ? And dwarves ?

He then answered.

-Should the fact that you are small, or have pointy ears, or were a product of sin when men laid with beasts be held against you ? Does it make your soul inferior ? And does it not make you a creation of God ? For it was written that there will not be jews nor greeks, everyone will be united in Christ. Our church is Holy, Apostolic and Catholic, it means universal, as God is the only God, the Church is the only Church and it is for everyone. Why should you not be considered as human, even if born in sin ?

>>5936871

She answered, angrily.

-I am not human ! This short lived race have nothing in common with the nobility of dragons that I descend from, do not assume who I am. And some souls shine brighter since they are closer to magic than others and..

-Magic is a trick of the devil, it cannot be considered as a mark for a soul, all magic and unnatural powers who do not come from God come from the devil, he has invented many gods to trick mankind into not worshiping it's creator.

Here it was the woman in armor who raised her head and told.

-What you are saying is highly heretical ! It is forbidden in this realm, your monotheism carries in it a future religious war ! All cults, even rival, must not fight amongst themselves. As a paladin of Edos, lord of Justice, I should arrest you for such words.

Your priest seemed surprised. He then told.

-And this Edos, tell me, as a lord of Justice, why does he has an army of "paladins" if he fears religious wars.

She snapped back.

-To not permit evil cults from taking over ! And disturbers of the peace to disturb it. It is why we work with the mage's guild and other imperial institutions to ensure justice is given to everyone and everywhere. And to ensure that evil people are watched over.

Brother Louis, who was on this land longer than Father François then answered.

-If you watch over evil, then why do you consort with people like the baron Wickedson, who is known to be of an evil "alignment" as you say. And even serve him.

-Because of the policies of tolerance and integration worship of certain evil deities is permitted in the empire and evil people are not killed on sight, it would be evil. We are simply canalizing their energies to ensure that they do not fall under the dominion of truly dangerous powers like B'beg the Terrible.

Father François answered back.

-So your conception of Justice is that a man who orders the capture and beatings of noble damsels, who throws people on spikes from his castle, who has man eating horses and who feeds them children while selling his own peasants into slavery is not to be condemned but one who calls for the end of evil worship, of magic, of satanism, of perversity and of paganism is to be condemned ? Is this your opinion on justice.

Both the women looked at each other and the dragon lady told.

-You killed an innocent tiefling !

-He was destroyed by the Holy Water because he was an evil spirit, sparks of the water touched just men and it is used everyday in mass. I did not struck him down, but God, for he dislikes strongly that his creatures live among demons and follow them, or live among evil.

The woman in armor told.

-Your words would cause a war, your monotheism wants to eradicate all the other cults !

>>5936872

He thought for an instant and answered.

-It is true that it is not on the interest of other cults, but it it the Truth, there is only One God, who created us all, all these small deities, some even ridiculous, a god of open doors, or another of closed doors are mirages of the devil. Why ? Because while pagan clerics argue among themselves to know what demesne is the demesne of their god, be it an ethnic deity like your Grugaloragran, or a functional one like Edos, morality is not enforced, and the faith is not taken seriously, before I came here mosty of the people did not even go to mass, and that you, so called guardians of morality, accepted tolerance and compromise, at the expense of the lives of your faithful, is a shame ! The priests squabble among themselves, telling who has the "bigger" or "brighter" soul while millions of souls languish in despairs, without salvation, without hope. Back in my lands, in France, every lord has a priest as his councilor, every village has a church, so every subject can lead a virtuous life, recognise good and evil. Tell me, what has your paganism done ? Neither Lord Random, before my lord, nor Lady Takable, nor the Baron, or even the Count, have a priest at court or someone to advise them on spiritual matters. And the people complained sometimes from misrule, is it abnormal if you cannot advise their rulers or even defend your positions before the authorities ?

He was speaking truth, and some of the people agreed with him. The women began to try to find examples of lords far away who had spiritual advisers, but they were few and far between, but this absence of religious councilors seemed to bother them. The woman in armor told.

-The duke Righty Righteous has many advisors of the cult of Edos and his lands are very well kept...

The dragon woman answered.

-Evil people are smitten there and other cults persecuted, he is not an exemple, but whatever.

It was when Father François continued.

-Yes, and this is the essence of this devilish trick, pagan priests are only fighting amongst themselves, neither agreeing to what is wrong and right and of the power of their divinities, and if some divinities are even evil, and their clerics self professed devil worshipers, admitted in the ranks of the clergy evil will corrupt everything. They could not agree even on basic principles of ethics, what is good for one is bad for the others, truely it is them who create conflict when they accuse us of "Monotheism" for trying to unite mankind in one worship. And do you know who benefits from this ?

>>5936875

His fiery and impassioned speech seemed to affect the people, especially since the two women were squabbling among themselves about lord Righty Righteous or the benefits of the "Dragon Rule of old where everyone worshiped dragons". The people did not hear them, they heard Father François, who, with his powerful voice coming from his fat belly changed from the quite sympathetic village priest always prone to make jokes to a zealous preacher.

-The mages ! They are everywhere ! There is no lord, great or small who has not a court mage, they serve as "magical advisors" they are behind everything, they even rule the realm and have a guild who monitors the pagan priests ! They tell that their "souls blessed with magic" shine brighter. They put themselves over the others in their hubris and try to control everything. But nothing, no doctrine, no God finally, no Church, binds them, so when they are good people everything can be tolerable, but when they are evil like the witch that we burned they encourage the worse penchants of their lords. Worse, like the Leman's Brother that you spoke about they sometimes try to take power directly with their magic and create true wars ! They undermine the society to rule it, as I said, all magic comes from the devil.

Some people came to agree more and more, Rose looked at her feet while Oldfossil seemed to be in deep thought. He told you in your ear.

-My lord, what he says... It is the suspicions that I found in the papers of Rollarion McFumbles, our court mage... He... I hesitated to talk about it and did not want to sully my friend with tales of conspiracy, but he told that it was even worse, that this strategy of weakening the gods was deliberate, he had no proofs but heard some very old archmages, it was why he was in a small lordship even if he was a powerful wizard. He did not believe in what he called "their mad plans". I...

One man of the public, a Guelph, then spoke, interrupting Father François. He told him.

-I am an elf, our people is created with magic, all of us can use it, does it means in your logic that we are impure ?

The dragon woman looked at Father François and stopped her squabbling. She added.

-Yes, is it with the tieflings, are they to be killed too ? And the genies ? And all the magical races ?

>>5936877

He answered in a decided tone.

-The devils are devils, they should be banished from earth and cast back in hell, where they belong. But you, or any others who are not malign spirits but men, should be treated according to your actions and not your appearance or your blood. You tell that you can cast magic, invoke the devil, practically everyone can call the devil to make evil, or everybody can come at night in the home of his neighbor to murder him, but it is not because you can that you do it. By choosing the true path, God's path, the one that he intended you to walk, you can have a place in His Realm. And even if you fall, if you repent sincerely He gives you a second chance, for He is merciful. In this castle, over here, we have a young wounded girl, who tried to murder Lord Charles, and murdered other people because she did not knew about God and lived in igorance. But we had to pardon her, because she repented and confessed.

The woman in armor condemned him.

-You accuse us of tolerance of evil, and yet you tolerate murderers. This goes against all justice.

He then told.

-Each man has a duty, it is to act in accordance of God's plan. Sometimes we fall, for no man is perfect, but it is in perseverance that lies virtue. Those who err and are on wrong paths, even for a long time, can still find the light like the Good Thief on the cross. We do not tolerate evil because "it is a way to fight a greater evil" as corrupt people tell you, we tolerate it if the people change itself understand the error of their evil ways and become better. Just like God is all powerful He is all Merciful and all those who understand their sins against Him and fight to not repeat them, will be rewarded. All those who keep their duty, from the noble lords who rule us, to the poorest among you, if they live honestly and in accordance to our teachings will inherit Eternal Life.

The woman in armor continued, she had replaced the dragon woman.

-This is nonsense, Edos judges the dead, and they are given either to the god of dead and weaved back into creation, the gods that the mortals worshiped or the devils of hells according to it's alignment.

Seeing that the people was already bored and on your side, you decided to pass to the second stage of the procedure. Telling.

-Then let us begin and see if there is truth in your words. Let us launch an ordeal.

>Organize a "trial of the pyre" each of them must try to set fire to a pyre, like in the Bible, by prayers, the group who manages to light it by God's will alone should win.
>Maybe an ordeal by fire or an ordeal by hot water could be held.
>Burn some holy objects from both faiths in a pyre. The one that remains unburnt is the true faith of God.

(Since you did not choose I shall let you choose a new vote).

>>5936878
what is the ordeal by hot water my lord?

>>5936878
>>Burn some holy objects from both faiths in a pyre. The one that remains unburnt is the true faith of God.

>>5936878
>Burn some holy objects from both faiths in a pyre. The one that remains unburnt is the true faith of God.

>>5936898

In this ordeal, dear bannerman, the one tested has to put his hand in boiling water, if he recoils or shows signs of pain he is, logically and obviously, guilty.

>>5936878
>Maybe an ordeal by fire or an ordeal by hot water could be held.

>>5936878
>>Organize a "trial of the pyre" each of them must try to set fire to a pyre, like in the Bible, by prayers, the group who manages to light it by God's will alone should win.
>>5937359
Bless you my lord. You are a wise man.

>>5936878
>Burn some holy objects from both faiths in a pyre. The one that remains unburnt is the true faith of God.

>>5936878
>Organize a "trial of the pyre" each of them must try to set fire to a pyre, like in the Bible, by prayers, the group who manages to light it by God's will alone should win
We can save some wood and burn the heathens on the same pyre.

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>>5936898
>>5937010
>>5937212
>>5937376

>>5937416
I am no clergyman nor a legist of the King but I try to learn good sir.

>>5937838
Economical and effective.

>>5937565

You then decided to order to put some holy objects from both religions into a pyre and see what burns. Unfortunately there was already an important discussion.
What holy objects should we use. You had only one copy of the scriptures that Father François brought with him, then there was of course some crosses or other objects but throwing them into the fire would be blasphemous. You told your councillors.

-Can some holy objects of both faiths be thrown into the pyre ? So we will see those that do not burn ?

There was some stupor among the crowd and among your councillors. Father François told.

-Monseigneur, throwing a cross, or even the Holy Bible into the fire would surely be blasphemous, maybe we can...

It was the object of much laugh amongst the other party and even some peasants began to doubt. The fat priest seemed to have a lack of faith on this moment and the nun capitalised on it. She said in her lizard voice.

-I do not fear this ! Your false god cannot protect anything from the fire but the Great Dragon is flame itself, light the pyre and watch as I walk into it.

It seemed to impress everyone and when a powerful pyre was lit, after some rituals and hand movements, and the agitation of her amulet the nun walked into the fire. You had to admire her faith and unfortunately you even a moment contemplated the possibility of her survival by some devilish trick. The people would side with her in this case. Once in the flame she told.

-In plus of my natural dragonborn ability to withstand less fire damage I have proclaimed the shield of fire of the great dragon on myself, only dragonflame can h... AAAAAAAH ! AAAAAAAH !

And it was only cries, her robes began to take fire and her flesh too she tried to leap, half aflame since it was a wool robe, out of the fire and if some charitable persons tried to extinguish the flames she already had multiple burns and most of the villagers laughed at her and her arrogance.

>>5938687

Father François did the sign of the cross and courageously indicated the pyre to the woman in armor, who seemed afraid of it.

-Ladies first.

She snapped back at him.

-Oh no ! I shall not let you try to hide cowardly ! If you cannot throw something to the pyre, fat man, let me cleanse you into the flammes of justice !

She then told something in latin and pointed her arm toward him. He did the sign of the cross and... And nothing but sparks came out of her hands. The people looked at her, she seemed to disbelieve what she saw and repeated her magical formula. Then nothing. You ordered immediately.

-Guards ! Seize her ! She tried to use witchcraft on our priest and it failed ! God shielded him from evil magic ! Hosanna !

Ancel who was there agreed joyfully.

-Hosanna messire Hosanna !

Since the two others both failed spectacularly and God provided a way, in his mysterious working, for Father François to not have something to throw into the pyre, you looked at the last pagan, the wizard with plumes, tatoos and Orcadian blood. He had said nothing during all the trial. You told.

-It is your turn, pagan, Father François passed the test.

The half Orcadian put a finger in his nose, ate something from it, and then answered.

-I'm gonna cast... To protect my feathers.

He took a feather from his coif and put it on the ground, beginning a kind of dance around. He moved from one foot to the next and agitated an ornate staff with animal skulls on it. He chanted a primitive rhythm in his guttural voice.

-Haké haké welelele, haké haké welelele, haké haké wulululu, haké haké haaaaaaaaa. Ugaigai ugaigai ugaigai nuuuuuuuuuba... Ratatatatata. Brrrrrltltltltlt.

And then he clicked his tongue before doing some gestures and telling.

-Nah, i'm not throwing it.

You told him, scandalised.

-What does it means ? Not throwing it ? You must, to prove that your faith is real ! And not a lie !

The wizard answered calmly.

-Nah, tha spirits are not here.

He then pointed at you.

-They aren't here because of ya ! Ya push them around like a big bubble !

Father François chuckled a bit.

-You, you do not mean trying to tell the lord that judges you to leave. It is complete nonsense.

-He disturbs tha spirits ! That is !

Everybody turned towards you. What did you say.

>If he is unable to protect himself, throw him into the pyre with the two others, their blasphemy has been proven.
>Fine, I shall leave the place and let you do your magic.
>Why do I disturb the spirit ? Why would it be me ?
>I order you to throw your feather into the pyre, I do not care about your spirits.
>Throw him into the dungeons, with the others, I think that everyone now knows what faith is true and what is false.
>Other (write in)

Sorry for the delay good sirs, university can sometimes require honest people to study besides all the drinking and carousing.

>>5938691
Huh, we've been found out. Clever orc. Alas, we're not so clever ourselves. Even worse for him, we're FAITHFUL.

>If he is unable to protect himself, and won't convert, throw him into the pyre with the two others, their blasphemy has been proven.

If your spirits cannot even defeat a single MAN, a s you claim, they stand no chance against a REAL GOD. Convert or die, blasphemer.

>>5938691
>>Throw him into the dungeons, with the others, I think that everyone now knows what faith is true and what is false.

>>5938691
>I order you to throw your feather into the pyre, I do not care about your spirits.
Sucks that your god can't beat a man huh?

>>5938709
+1

>>5938691
>If he is unable to protect himself, throw him into the pyre with the two others, their blasphemy has been proven.
The paladin in armor is pretty. Give her one last chance to repent too.

>>5938691
>Throw him into the dungeons, with the others, I think that everyone now knows what faith is true and what is false.

>>5938691
>>If he is unable to protect himself, throw him into the pyre with the two others, their blasphemy has been proven.
Fair enough, he gave up.

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>>5938709
Hahaha, very wise words, I shall record them in our chronicles.

>>5938773
>>5938824
>>5939005

>>5939372
You are a chivalric man, of the order of the green shield with a white lady.

>>5939507
>>5939544

In your great kindness you decided to give a chance to the savage, but did not forget to mock him.

-So your god cannot do anything against a simple man ? Hah.

The barbarian had the insolence of answering.

-That's not a god, that's spirits.

-Whatever, convert and accept baptism, or die into the pyre. Kneel before the cross and accept our Lord.

The half orcadian looked at the pyre, then at the cross, then raised his shoulders and told, in a great show of pragmatism.

-Da fire seems more painful. Let's go for da cross.

Well, if all heretics were thus simple to convert you would have better days. You turned towards the woman in armor and told her.

-Since you are a noblewoman I shall give you a chance to not burn.

She began, in spite, by menacing you, telling you.

-You... How dare you menacing me ! I am from a powerful order, they will come to this village and raze it to the ground with your castle on it ! I do not know what trick did you used but I am sure that AAAAH...

She told while Ancel threw her into the pyre, constating simply, while she screamed in fire.

-A woman in armor messire, she is obviously a witch, I had to act before she cursed us.

Yes, you remembered the last witch, it was a shame, you then ordered to throw the dragon woman and once they were properly burned alive you came back to your castle. Apparently this demonstration had a great effect amongst the people with many conversions among your staff and the inhabitants of Local. You took back your horses too, and let us say that you were in an excellent mood. Oldfossil too was more and more interested in a conversion, you saw him speaking with Brother Louis and Father François. You turned towards them when you were back at your castle and your old councillor decided to adress towards you.

-My lord, I must say that Father François's speech was very close to some of my discoveries in the notes of Rollarion.

>>5939671

You remembered that he already said something about these papers when you traveled towards the home of a sympathetic centaur in your lands, and a magical plot to "shatter" the gods. You asked him.

-Could you refresh my memory, I remember you told me that there was some plot against religion.

-Yes, yes, the idea of shattering the Gods, who were few in number, my lord, or even only one, into many minor concepts so they would be less powerful, and so the cults would bicker among themselves instead of uniting and being an organisation dedicated to unite the people, counsel noblemen and preserve knowledge, like in your lands. Rollarion understood it, and told that it was a mad plan, a plan of the elves he said, that wanted their Archmages to be as powerful as the many minor gods and to ensure that the Mage's Guild would be the organisation that counsels all the rulers and accumulates the most political power and knowledge. His death, you know, the more I read his notes, the more I realise that it was to bring a servant of an only God, a God that would give hope to mankind. A good deity, a true deity of enormous power to end the threats like B'beg...

-Are you telling me that you are willing to convert, dear Oldfossil ?

-What I saw, even if it was gruesome, convinced me, it was after a long period of reflection but I think that it is worth the cost. Christianity is the only hope, yes.

You could only smile and did an accolade to your old councilor.

-I am more than glad to hear you say this, dear Oldfossil, your words came right to my heart. Let us feast to celebrate it.

-Yes my lord, but I have still something important to say. About the writings of our late and departed court mage.

You frowned at this revelation.

-What do you mean ?

-I began to read, my lord, the ways that he used to contact this "Unique God" of Mankind, this "Shattered God" as he called Him in his scriptures. To bring you here, I mean.

You were taken aback.

-He didn't simply do it by praying ? It is generally how we do in these cases...

Oldfossil shook his head.

-It was impossible, since it's shattering this divinity could not communicate, well, it could not do it by what was not one of it's million aspects. So he had to find another way, search for shards, echoes, or people.

-People ?

-It is the hardest one to find, but he spoke about legends, you remember when the elven merchant, Toplexil and his daughter Praetzel came to visit us ? They spoke about Hyperboreans as servants of a lost god, superior beings living far into the north, but destroyed by B'beg.

-Their description sounded closer to angels than to men.

>>5939672

He nodded.

-But it is not the only echoes of this past deity. He spoke of ancient wonders, pillars in a part of the underworld caverns called the "pillars of Agartha". It is said that Rollarion has gone there, it is not too far away from our lands, but unfortunately it is in a dangerous region, he travelled there but then... Then the rest of his texts were burned during his disappearance.

A sign of God ? In these lands ? It was very important, maybe Christendom has finally been brought to India by the Prester John but it stayed in caverns, like the early church stayed in catacombs in fear of the pagan roman emperors ? You were about to answer when Captain Crumbling asked you.

-My lord, with all due respect, what to do with the last adventurer, and the one who converted ?

>Throw them into the dungeons, even if we are merciful we cannot let them go free.
>Offer conversion to the scottish horse thief, if he refuses hang him, if he accepts let him go free.
>Offer conversion to the scottish horse thief, if he refuses hang him, if he accepts cut off his hand for theft and let him go.
>Offer conversion to the scottish horse thief, if he refuses hang him, if he accepts let simply keep him imprisoned.
>Let the converted orcadian go free.
>Let the converted orcadian die by hanging, doing magic is still forbidden, even if he converted. At least he avoided the pyre.
>Other (write in)

You gain +2 mudcore and +3 piety for your burnings and conversion and +20xp for dealing with these pesky villein vagrants.

>>5939674

Your new stats :

Charles de Villeroi

Class : Local Lord
Level : 5
XP : 715+20 = 735 (next level at 1000)

Stats

Combat : 51%
Intrigue : 30%
Rulership: 36%

Piety : 71+3 = 74
Mudcore : 61+2+1 = 64

With 64 Mudcore you have a strong field of gritty realism around you (150 meters), in this field 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. Magic, even restorative, will become considerably weaker near you. Weak practitionners of magic (less than rank 5) are unable to cast in your mudcore field.
Next level at 70, your field will become 200 meters wide, magical objects will lose their properties in your mudcore field just like potions, crops who came from the columbian exchange will lose their taste and a medieval disease will enter your world.

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.
->Basic Literacy : Your lessons with Oldfossil and Lady Takable finally paid off and you can read and write, even if you write with errors and move your lips still when you read it is a great leap forward.

Traits :
Leader : Your magnetism on the masses is glorious and your learning of speech could encourage many men to follow you. You may choose the best of 3 rolls when you try to speak in public to convince an audience, be it the Council of Many or angry peasants.

>>5939674
>Offer conversion to the Scottish horse thief, if he refuses hang him, if he accepts let him go free.

>>5939674
>Throw them into the dungeons, even if we are merciful we cannot let them go free.

>>5939674
>>Offer conversion to the scottish horse thief, if he refuses hang him, if he accepts let him go free.
>Throw Orcadian in dungeon

>>5939674
>Offer conversion to the scottish horse thief, if he refuses hang him, if he accepts cut off his hand for theft and let him go.
>Offer Orcadian place as guardsman

>>5939675
Offer conversion to the scottish horse thief, if he refuses hang him, if he accepts let him go.
>Offer Orcadian place as guardsman

Defender of the Faith, that's our proper calling.

>>5939674
>Offer conversion to the scottish horse thief, if he refuses hang him, if he accepts let him go.
>Offer Orcadian place as guardsman

>>5939671
>Ancel threw her into the pyre, constating simply, while she screamed in fire.
What's this supposed to say?

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>>5940498
A very bad piece of writing good sir, I should have separated it into two sentences, sorry for my ESL. In "she told" I was referring to the previous sentence of the accused lady Karen, while Ancel constated simply, throwing her into the fire while she screamed that... (then the dialogue followed). I will reread myself more often, haha. Thanks for pointing it out, the first reason of writing this quest was to improve my English.

>>5939730
>>5939744
>>5940003
>>5940048

>>5940200
Of course, we are the avenging blade of Saint Michael, falling on the infernal legions.

>>5940408

You decided to offer the horse thief an occasion to convert, his choice, you told him, would dictate his future freedom or hanging. Curiously he accepted to convert, just like you offered the lad with orcadian heritage a place as a guardsman. Unfortunately he refused, saying that he preferred to live in the plains and travel instead of living somewhere, so you let both of them go, brave new converts as they were. You were careful of releasing them on the opposite side from Someplace still, because well, we could never be too careful. Some vile individuals could pretend that conversion by force was dishonest and go back to their pagan ways like some kind of Widukind or other Saxon. Yes, speaking of Saxons this Orcadian was as ugly as a Saxon man with his greyish skin.
Whatever, you had a discussion to continue with Oldfossil at dinner, and after much thoughts you decided to visit these "Pillars of Agartha", one day at least, maybe for a pilgrimage, the idea of going underground, near hell, where the sun would not shine, disturbed you, but after all it was exciting. Many heroes, like Siegfried in the legends, got to a cave to fight a dragon. Now it was your time, when you learned that this cavern network, this "Underworld" was in part occupied by mining colonies even if other parts were full of monsters you decided to visit it. Apparently the Rival Lord and the Neutral Lord, your future barons, had entries to this cavern networks on their lands. It was worth visiting it. You noted it for later, first you had to discuss of more urgent matters, for example organizing the rescue of your brave Bohémond.
You had already given your orders to Ancel but reminded once more the villein not to molest the girl... But about the girl. Father François would maybe help. Or Rose, she has bonded with her. Then you could talk to her alone, it would be more logical, and she was grateful to you for saving her soul, but still, you had no idea how to talk of war to a maiden.

>>5940524

Of course you could order her like some maid in your castle, but, let us be sincere a moment, asking "My mignonne, be kind and sew back the linen shirt that was damaged during my morning's training" or "My sweet, could you wipe the dust from the trunk, it seems that you forgot to do it" sounded differently than "My jolie, could you enter this fortress full of hostile guards and free my knights and two guardsmen who are imprisoned here ?", no, it was the kind of things that required a bit of explanations and motivation. Of course you did not need to give an explanation to Ancel, he was your servant and knew Bohémond, and learned to obey you without any question, but women were delicate creatures, it is why you were against bringing them to war, but it is why too, she could not be suspected of working for you. After all she managed to sneak into your castle, with a bit of luck she could sneak into Someplace's prison too.
While going to the chambers where she was imprisoned you decided to see her alone, you were a lord after all and should be considered as the only figure of authority. You still, on your way, asked some counsel to Godefroi, telling him how would he ask this a maiden to perform this delicate task. He answered by shrugging his shoulders and that you should ask a woman about it, but since women didn't know anything about war you were "fort marri et penaud" as we would say. So you mounted alone to her quarters, asked Wa Tsist, the guard at the gates if she behaved well and after his good answer you entered to the room of this young girl who some weeks ago had tried to murder you by poisoning and throwing knives at you.

When you entered she tried to raise on her bed, her feet were still bandaged after her ordeal by walking on hot coals. She looked at you with her innocent green eyes and a practically worshipful expression, telling you.

-My lord ! I, I wasn't expecting you, sorry if I...

It was probably because she could not kneel, how could you blame her in her state ? She could not even walk painlessly even if she was in the end of her recovery.

-No, no, no need to be sorry. I wanted to say.

>Tell her that you need her to do a great service to one of your friends, put an emphasis on her loyalty.
>Tell her that a good christian knight has been imprisoned and that you remarked her talents and need her for the faith, put an emphasis on her faith.
>Tell her to free Becky, the handmaiden of Lady Takable, too, put an emphasis on her nascent friendship with your bride to be.
>Tell her that you would not want to disturb her normally with this demands but that you had no choice and that you remarked her talents for sneaking.
>Tell her to be wary of Ancel if his conduct is improper.
>Tell her to be wary of Ancel if his conduct is improper, tell her to not hesitate to tell Bohémond, once freed, to punish him if he misbehaves.
>Other (write in)

>>5940525
>>Tell her to free Becky, the handmaiden of Lady Takable, too, put an emphasis on her nascent friendship with your bride to be.
>Tell her to be wary of Ancel if his conduct is improper, tell her to not hesitate to tell Bohémond, once freed, to punish him if he misbehaves.

>>5940525
>Tell her that a good christian knight has been imprisoned and that you remarked her talents and need her for the faith, put an emphasis on her faith.

>Tell her to be wary of Ancel if his conduct is improper, tell her to not hesitate to tell Bohémond, once freed, to punish him if he misbehaves.

>>5940525
>>Tell her to free Becky, the handmaiden of Lady Takable, too, put an emphasis on her nascent friendship with your bride to be.
>>Tell her to be wary of Ancel if his conduct is improper, tell her to not hesitate to tell Bohémond, once freed, to punish him if he misbehaves.

>>5940607
+1

>>5940607
+1

>>5940525
>Tell her that you would not want to disturb her normally with this demands but that you had no choice and that you remarked her talents for sneaking.
>Tell her that a good christian knight has been imprisoned and that you remarked her talents and need her for the faith, put an emphasis on her faith.
>Tell her to be wary of Ancel if his conduct is improper, tell her to not hesitate to tell Bohémond, once freed, to punish him if he misbehaves.

In that order makes sense, to me at least.

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>>5940607
>>5940626
>>5941104
>>5941178
>>5941225
>>5941358

You began by a small bit of explaining.

-Elana... Yes.. I wanted to say that I am before a very delicate situation where your skills are needed.

She took a worried expression, and said in a tone full of touching naivety, for someone who had passed all her short life training to kill people efficiently.

-Please my lord, no murders. I cannot kill someone...

You raised an eyebrow at her concern, she looked at you with these big green eyes while you sat on a chair near her bed and told.

-Kill someone ? What a strange idea, why would I ask you this ?

What were you ? An Italian dealing with poison who would ask a frail maiden to kill his enemies ? No, you were an honourable man, if you wanted to kill someone you would do it yourself with an axe, in battle, or one of your knights would kill the culprit, if he caught him first. Or, if you really needed to do it discreetely you had Ancel. She seemed stunned.

-I mean, my ancient life... I am still so ashamed my lord. To tell that I could have poisoned you, or killed you, I would still be a slave, without a soul, outside of the light. Father François told me a lot about the importance of the soul and that murder was a capital sin that would send me in hell. I... Do not want to go there. I do not want to murder people anymore, I want to live a virtuous life, as he said.

She was cute, you had to admit, and sincere, you saw it in her tone. You answered her, kindly.

-Do not worry, I shall not ask you to kill someone, and it is admirable to want to live as the Church tells. No, I need your other skills, once you will be back on your feet. I need you for a delicate matter. As you know, Lady Rose Takable, that you saw some times, has been freed from the baron by myself, but her handmaiden, a your lady by the name of Becky, is still imprisoned, and subject to mistreatment, in someplace. I thought about a good way of freeing her but a catastrophe happened.

She looked at you with curious eyes, hearing each part of your story. You then continued.

-My brave feal, my loyal knight, Bohémond, whom I sent to deliver a message, was always in love with Becky, and she loved him back. In a courteous and quite sweet love, and he had to pass by someplace when delivering it... He... Tried to free her in the castle and almost managed to do it, but two of my men were killed in the attempt, and two were arrested, Bohémond was thrown into the dungeons too. And now both of them are imprisoned. I have a friend imprisoned, Rose still has a friend imprisoned, I would not have asked anything of you in a normal time, these dangerous missions are not for young maidens, but I know of nobody else who could sneak into a castle like you did...

>>5941626


She took your wrist in her hand, boldly. You would have normally frowned at such familiarity but her eyes and her voice were filled with determination, she said, in her small but serious voice.

-My lord, your trust honors me, and I promise you to end this injustice. I thank you for your consideration. I shall do whatever you want. I promise you I will do everything that I can to free your friends, they do not deserve to be kept into a prison.

You told her, in a joyful tone.

-Thank you very much. I shall give you Ancel to accompany you, he is not very gracious or good looking but he is clever and smells tracks well. Besides, he can misbehave sometimes, if he does not treat you as he should, do not hesitate to tell it to Bohémond once he will be freed, he will punish him.

She nodded, and then looked at you. You told her.

-Good luck then, we shall pray for your success.

You were about to raise when she told you, a bit worried.

-Wait, my lord, is that all ?

-All ?

-I mean, my lord, with all due respect, do you have some plan of the castle ? And the times of patrolling of the guards ? And of course some knowledge about them, maybe some of them can be bought or have some dark secrets that we could use to let them open a gate. How many horses there is to transport the prisoners? Where are the prisoners kept ?

You looked at her, did she really expect you to know all of this. You then answered.

-For the money and expenses of your travels see with my dear Oldfossil, and for the rest, how do you want me to know the insides of the Castle of Someplace, I was there once but that is all.

She frowned.

-When I worked in the assassin's guild we always had a plan of the place that we would have to infiltrate and informations about the number of guards, sometimes, if we had an agent there, we could know when they were patrolling, who they were, who were their families. After all the guild is tolerated because it gives all these information to the Emperor.

You looked at her, awestruck would be the best word to describe you right now. You then asked.

-Did you have a plan of Local ? Is there guilder spies there ?

She answered.

-The plan, of course, I had to memorize it before my mission, then I knew the number of guards but not their patrols, it means that there wasn't an agent there right now. But even if there was one I would not know him, the guild never reveals. it's field agents the names of it's informers, to avoid their revelation in case of capture.

-And why haven't you said it to me when you were arrested ?

-You did not ask my lord, besides I thought that you knew it ? How would I have managed to locate you if not by knowing the layout of the place.

>>5941627

The idea that a band of organised murderers (organised like burghers, wich makes them even worse) knew exactly how to strike you was shocking enough, to learn that everybody knew it and did not rebel in a just and holy feudal war was even worse. Were those Indians completely domesticated like some farm animals ? Was chivalry absolutely dead in these lands. You sighed and answered.

-I shall deal with this later, by Saint Denis... But your question about the transport of the freed prisoners is important.

After all it made you think about logistics, a part of war that you left often to the connétables, when you were a simple knight, you simply lived off the land, but the question of transport was, in this case not to be neglected.

>Give many horses to Ancel and Elana, you will have to conceal them but fleeing will be easier.
>Give them two horses and tell them to steal more.
>Give them money to buy a small embarcation they could try to travel by boat and evacuate by boat.
>Give them two horses and money so they could give the boat to prisoners while fleeing with horses.
>Other (write in)

>>5941628
>Give them two horses and tell them to steal more.