| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
While passing time waiting for Baron Telus to recover, Amandine gathers everyone for a private meeting at some place where they will not be overheard, perhaps out by their carriage, or in the forest close by Telus Manor. She wants to talk with them all about how to finish the Meratt mission.
”Sooner or later we are going to have to move against the Lotheeds in some way. I have spent a great deal of time since we’ve arrived thinking about how this might be done. It’s the single thing that has most occupied my mind. I have a plan now, but I will admit up front this isn’t a very good plan. It’s more like a Plan B, there if we need it, but hopefully we’ll have something better. On the other hand, if nothing better comes along, we can at least try it when we know there are no better options coming.”
”We will only get one chance, I believe this is true whether we are dead or alive afterward if we should fail. Once Baron Lotheed is aware of our intentions he will be able to protect himself too well. We are also burdened with a paradox. We have been lying, directly or indirectly, to almost everyone we have met since we arrived.”
”If we reveal who we truly are and why we actually came to Meratt, most if not all of the goodwill we have built up will be destroyed. Those of a more cynical mind will have exactly the reason they need to stand aside and watch us fail. Worse, those who trusted us most, and who would help us otherwise, would hate us for the deception. Our betrayal of their trust might cause them to act against us.”
”On the other hand, if we act against the Lotheeds while continuing to seem to be no more than everyone thinks we are now it looks like rebellion, another nasty little dispute between lord and vassal. Who would want to be involved in such a thing? The Lotheeds may not be as popular as us, or even popular at all. But, they are long established and well known. I believe Meratt’s nobility would choose to stay out of it or support Count Lotheed rather than risk stability in favor of the unknown.”
”Ideally then, we would find a way to challenge Count Lotheed’s possession of Birdsong Palace due to a conflict rooted in a local grievance that Meratt’s nobility would feel strongly enough about to support. The only weakness I see is Sir Gul Gusairne. Everything I’ve seen or heard suggests he is almost universally loathed. Gusairne is the soft spot we would need to attack. I have a way in mind, but it depends on some acts outside our control.”
”Here’s what I have in mind. First, we must wait for a provocation from Sir Gul. I don’t think this is unlikely to happen. He’s already come sniffing around Betony Manor and Stachys once, and he’ll be back. He will come to spy, but more importantly he will come for taxes. I’m am fairly confident his demands will be high, all our information on his past behavior predicts this. We will argue against the collections, making the case that Stachys is only newly recovering its prosperity and the progress we’ve made can be arrested and reversed if too much wealth is siphoned off so quickly.”
”Sir Gul will probably not see things our way at all. At this point, we will not resist. Instead we will take our argument to Count Lotheed, with the demand Sir Gul be removed from his position. Hopefully Gusairne will give us more abuses to argue with against him to Count Lotheed, but if we only have the minimum it will do. I do not expect Count Lotheed to agree to the demand. Sir Gul is Count Lotheed’s right hand, bringing him both money and information efficiently. He has been a fixture in the Lotheed household for many years, and might be the person Count Lotheed trusts most. He will refuse because losing Sir Gul would be a material blow to him, and also because his pride will not allow him to consider conceding to our demand.”
”When Count Lotheed refuses, we will respond by going quietly to the other nobles. We will ask them to support a legal challenge to the Lotheed stewardship of Birdsong Palace in favor of Princess Eutropia’s direct administration. We will argue the change would lighten tax burdens since the Princess would not be solely dependent on Meratt for income. Fortunately we know the challenge will prevail in court; it already has. That is why we are here in the first place. I admit this is all very convoluted just to reveal to everyone Princess Eutropia’s direct claim to Birdsong Palace has been upheld in court. But it allows us to do so without revealing ourselves to be the Princess’s agents.”
”It is possible Count Lotheed could be pressured to surrender Birdsong Palace peaceably at this point, especially if Meratt’s nobility stands with us in the majority. However, if he must be removed by force, we are now rallying the people of Meratt, noble and commoner, to uphold a legal ruling with positive local consequences. I think this will be far more appealing than rallying to outside agent provocateurs to support a distant dispute over the throne.”
”The weaknesses are these. First, we must depend on Gusairne giving us something to work with, so we can only initiate this plan according to his timing. I think we can engineer some provocation from him if he doesn’t give us anything to work with himself, even if a little magic is involved in making it happen. Second, it is possible Count Lotheed will remove Sir Gul when we ask. I think this will not happen for the reasons I have already given. If he does though, we have still weakened him by removing one of his best agents. We would just need to find a different rationale for challenging the Count later.”
”Most importantly though, if the plan fails at these points, we have risked little and aren’t likely to suffer severe consequences or setbacks. We won't have tipped our hand to Count Lotheed regarding our true intentions until very late, almost the end when we're most likely to succeed. What do you think?”
Nodding slowly, Dro'gan makes a few points.
"You have learned much M'lady! I don't doubt Sir Gusairne will give us the excuse we need...or we can manufacture one easily enough that makes sense for the cad. I believe in what we are doing and your leadership: No sense in slowing down now."
Meraki, fairly amazed by the scope of the plan, simply nods. "I...I will do what I can."
Amandine sighs, feeling very tired and more than ready to get back to Betony Manor.
"We can refine the things as future circumstances dictate. At least we can now be fairly confident Baron Telus will not be interfering on Count Lotheed's behalf."
"Shall we go see if he's awake yet?"
You find that the west wing of the Telus Manor is now abuzz with activity.
Stepping into the master bedroom, you find Baron Telus sitting up in bed, propped against old pillows and bedding. He is clearly very weak and not yet fully alert.
"I've just had...the most horrible of nightmares..." he slurs, groggy.
Dro'gan snorts and smirks, crossing his arms over his chest.
"Nothing in life is free. You pay for or earn everything in some way or another. Sometimes the cost is mere gold...sometimes it is part of your soul that you can't get back. It all just depends on what you are willing to spend."
Amandine cocks an eyebrow and looks sidelong at Dro'gan, wondering where he's going with that statement. It seems an odd, loaded way to welcome a man back from a long, cursed existence.
She looks for Baronet Vort thinking the Baron's old friend is the best person to help him reorient and begin filling in the gaps in his memory.
"Welcome back Baron Telus" is all she says for the moment.
"It was no nightmare, Baron. But it has ended."
Smirking again, Dro'gan 'helps out' the baron.
"Yeah! While you were...away...we have a whole bunch of new 'minor' nightmares for you instead. Nothing a noble of your stature can't handle I'm sure, once you are fully rested."
Seeing Amandine glaring at him, he smiles mischievously then nods and starts wandering off.
"I shall see if I can't do something useful and fetch Baronet Vort now."
Baron Telus is quite horrified to discover that, contrary to the glimmer of hope he clung to, the foggy memories of mayhem and bloodshed are not merely some nightmare. Fortunately, once Baronet Vort is summoned, the reunion between the two old friends does much to soothe the Baron's jangled mind.
"Lady Betony...?" the baron asks quizzically, still groggy from escaping from his curse. "One of the last things I remember before...the nightmare fell upon me...was the passing of Lady Alis. It is relieving to see that her family lives on."
Baron Telus attempts to rise from his bed, but he quickly falls back when he finds that the strength has not yet returned to his muscles.
"If the condition of my lands are half as woeful as I feel, then there is much work to be done to restore them. Though you have already done so much to help me, I would impose upon you and ask for your support in restoring Jambis and the barony."
|
"On behalf of my Lady Betony, I wish to assure my Lord that Jambis and the barony shall be restored. We ask only that your Grace shall look favourably over Stachys and the Betony family in the future. These are troubled times, and we will need our allies more than ever in the times to come. I wish my Lord a swift recovery, and may the Gods be with you."
"Baron Telus," Meraki begins, a pained expression on her face, "forgive me, but that is not all that I would ask of you."
"My Lady, who lifted the curse that was placed upon you as punishment for turning away those who asked you for shelter, has a special regard for outcasts and exiles. When next you are faced with the choice of providing shelter to the desperate or denying it, please think on what She has done for you, and what She asks of you in return. Then any debt you may feel you owe me would be repaid in full."
Dro’gan coughs softly.
**Guilt-Trip!**
"You are right," the baron sighs, leaning back into his bed and closing his eyes briefly. "If I would have the people return to my lands, I must strive to be more welcoming. There is much work to be done, indeed."
Meraki looks uncomfortable with Olivia's praise, and at first looks like she may simply not respond. She seems almost surprised when she does speak after all. "Lady Espinosa, you are very kind. But while I love Shelyn, and think she is certainly worthy of such a thing, I do not serve her."
Dro’gan looks on the scene with suddenly quiet contemplation. He then speaks carefully.
“It seems we have a mystery god among us? With your leave Baron…my Lady…I will go and check on our friend’s sudden departure. Those eggs we found and ate this morning may have come back to bite her where a paladin cannot defend herself well.”
He then turns on his heel and follows Lady Olivia out quickly.
Meraki turns to Lady Betony, eyebrows knitted together in puzzlement. "Why did she do that?" she whispers.
Dro'gan approaches semi-loudly and out of direct reach of the obviously upset Paladin.
"Well my Lady. That was...AKWARD...to say the least. May I offer an ear? I've been told by many that merely telling one's problem to a trusted person can sometimes offer clarity...or at least some relief. Or am I stepping out of bounds and/or not trustworthy of your thoughts? Either way I would not be offended, but I assure you your words are safe with me as long as they do not run counter with Lady Amandine's plans."
| 2 people marked this as a favorite. |
Amandine gives Meraki a glance indicating she doesn't know why. Then she forges ahead with the discussion about rebuilding Jambis.
"Baron Telus, you will have our support, of that you can be completely confident. We came to Jambis so I might pledge my vassalage to you; I can think of no better way to demonstrate my pledge then by acting on your behalf here in whatever ways I can."
"I can think of some immediate steps and suggestions already. You may not be aware of it yet but you have a substantial sum coin at your disposal here in the manor. May I suggest you set aside a large portion of the silver and copper coinage so relief payments can be made to each of Jambis's residents?"
"Word is Jambis's residents are cheered by news of your recovery, and will be returning. Those payments would be a gesture of good will on your part, and ease the difficulties of the peoples' return."
"The most immediate needs will be food and materials for rebuilding. We will purchase those supplies in Stachys and ship them to Jambis. Households here can purchase the supplies according to their needs at prices reduced to below our costs. This system of exchange should prevent most predatory practices from other merchants. Our supplies will undercut their ability to profiteer off shortages. As Jambis recovers, the markets here can be normalized to allow all outside merchants access. But now, at the beginning, the residents will need to be able to stretch their coin as far as possible while getting what they need."
"My people can handle the purchases in Stachys and the logistics of transport. Here you have Master Mosle and Baronet Vort. Both have labored hard over the years in their own ways to ease the suffering here. They have both sacrificed much for their loyalty to you and your Barony. You could not wish for a better pair to oversee the distribution of funds and supplies."
"If these initial steps meet with your approval, I and my staff will return to Stachys immediately and begin readying supplies for shipment."
|
|
Dro'gan approaches semi-loudly and out of direct reach of the obviously upset Paladin.
"Well my Lady. That was...AKWARD...to say the least. May I offer an ear? I've been told by many that merely telling one's problem to a trusted person can sometimes offer clarity...or at least some relief. Or am I stepping out of bounds and/or not trustworthy of your thoughts? Either way I would not be offended, but I assure you your words are safe with me as long as they do not run counter with Lady Amandine's plans."
Oliva shrugs. "I trust you to keep things confidential, Dro'gan." She leans against a wall and crosses her arms. Looking past Dro'gan, she says. "I'm simply embarrassed that I mistook Ms. Meraki as a Shelynite, and she corrected me in the presence of the Baron. Now I feel very confused, and ashamed that I've spent so long unaware of the truth, though that truth still escapes me. Was I the only one who did not know which God we received all our blessings from?"
Despite the gripping guilt over his monstrous misdeeds, Baron Telus is skeptical about making relief payments to his citizens. He is a noble, after all. However, Amandine's rhetorical appeal breaches the baron's lingering sense of privilege and detachment from the commoners, further reinforced by the Lady Betony's eagerness to contribute supplies from Stachys at her own expense.
Amandine's diplomacy has ensured that Baron Telus is not only now a staunch ally as you both work to revitalize the barony, but he also is beginning to see the Betony heir as a model for how to treat and look after the common people of Meratt.
Oliva shrugs. "I trust you to keep things confidential, Dro'gan." She leans against a wall and crosses her arms. Looking past Dro'gan, she says. "I'm simply embarrassed that I mistook Ms. Meraki as a Shelynite, and she corrected me in the presence of the Baron. Now I feel very confused, and ashamed that I've spent so long unaware of the truth, though that truth still escapes me. Was I the only one who did not know which God we received all our blessings from?"
Smiling gently, Dro'gan nodded, and scratches his head.
"I know how you mean. I assumed she was...leaving something out about her religion AND it bothered me. I just could not figure it out at the time. Amandine trusts her, so I have been ignoring it up to now. Religion is not really my best subject, but she is definitely not an Asmodean. I've gotten to know those priests over my time spent in Cheliax. Narcissists... the whole lot. None of them are worth the blood they are built with. I follow Shelyn myself...but perfunctorily at best. So I donate on holy days and make sure and dedicate any dance or performance I participate in to her if I can."
He waves at Lady Olivia.
"Do not take what I say here personally! I'm not trying to say your feelings are wrong or not allowed, but I do get it: I've just learned to hide such feelings better when in public. Remember some important things however: 'Shame' is not a sin. 'Ignorance' is not a sin. 'Trust' is earned. 'Hope' is a virtue. The greatest wisdom the god Irori preaches in my opinion is: "The smartest and wisest people realize, recognize, and accept how much they DO NOT KNOW." In other words: Stop worrying about the past. Accept it and just TRY and do better next time."
Suddenly realizing he's been preaching to a Paladin, Dro'gan recoils a bit. He then rolls his eyes, and waves his hand in a circle.
"You know...yada...yada...yada... Do you need any more Aphorisms, or should I just shut up now?"
When the conversation between Lady Betony and Baron Telus turns toward logistics, Meraki begs their leave and departs, bowing to the Baron and then to Lady Betony. She quickly finds Lady Olivia and Dro'gan deep in their own conversation, so she waits at a respectful distance and waits to be called over to join them.
You return to find Stachys abuzz with activity. A large crowd of people has descended upon one of the farms that surround the town. At first you fear that some manner of angry mob has formed, but thankfully you find that the only raised voices are ones singing work songs.
The farm family are joined by practically the whole town - including Onora, Lucinia, and many of the new laborers who've flocked to your lands - to bring in the seasonal harvest. The garden plots nearest their farmhouse are rife with ripe beanpoles whilst the crop fields are thick with rye.
Dro’gan will immediately start looking for strangers lurking about, in case some spies have infiltrated the town while we were away.
Amandine is curious, wondering whether she is seeing some local custom or if some particular event is the cause. She asks for the carriage to halt so she can get out and take a better look. After she's out, Amandine sends the carriage on to Betony Manor to bring Calix so he can see it all as well.
She finds Onora first to ask her questions about what is happening.
Amandine learns from Onora that each season, during harvest times, it's tradition in Stachys for the whole town to come together and work one farm at a time as a group until everyone's harvest has been brought in. This tradition helped the locals get through the lean years that followed Lady Allis' passing, ensuring that even the families unable to repair or replace their tools or those slowed by infirmities would still be able to bring in their crops.
Dro'gan spots a few folks not helping with the harvest, but he recognizes them as recent arrivals from other parts of the county, attracted by the work opportunities engendered by the Betony party's investments in the town. They stand apart not because of suspicious or shady motives, but rather because they are not accustomed to this tradition and they do not yet feel fully welcomed by the longer established residents.
However, from metaphorically keeping his ear to the ground, Dro'gan has picked up on a worry that lurks in the back of the minds of Stachys residents, both new and old. Operating in Meratt are privateers known as "licensed tax collectors." Each year, these men purchase licenses in advance from Count Lotheed, who then allows them to essentially carry off whatever they like from the local farms in their allotted territory.
Dro'gan detects a palpable tension from the assembled community, nervously wondering when the count's "tax collectors" will rear their ugly heads.
Dro'gan immediately finds out all he can about the proposed 'tax collectors'...rules and whatnot...then informs Amandine immediately.
"We have a serious problem coming up soon it seems milady. We may have to confront Count Lotheed sooner than we anticipated. We need to discuss whatever our response should be to such thugs."
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Greenly is not at the manor to greet the party on their return, she is busy helping bring in the harvest, pulling handcarts, stacking grain and chattering away with the people of the Stachys.
Working alongside the locals and the laborers, Greenly learns that a man named Giado Eta has come to collect from Stachys for the past four or five seasons. He is described as a lean, wiry man with sallow cheeks, and he usually demands half of the village's harvest as the count's tax payment.
"He's also a powerful sorcerer," one of the farmers whispers, as though afraid Giado himself might hear. "I think he apprenticed under Count Lotheed himself. On the rare occasion someone tries to stand up to him or negotiate down the taxes he demands, he hits 'em with a spell. I remember three seasons ago, he made my cousin's hair turn white."
Other folks that Greenly talks to, particularly those who don't originally hail from Stachys, are skeptical of the notion that Giado is somehow an apprentice of Count Lotheed, since they doubt the count would keep close company with a man of such low character. However, they do attest to Giado's apparent magical aptitude.
Amandine ties to help here and there, mostly with storage, but Calix is a distraction as he runs about, and this is the closet Amandine has ever been to a farm.
With a thought stuck in his mind, Dro'gan approaches Lady Amandine to pull her aside and quietly bring up an idea.
"I had a thought on our 'tax-collector' problem. If we wish to stay in the Count's good graces...and stop this Giado fellow before he even shows up...let's put someone up for the job! Its all about who bribes the Count the most right? Beat this fellow to the punch as it were, then OUR tax collector then performs a 'simple and reasonable' tax assessment instead of gouging the commoners here! The bonus is should be no real blow-back to stopping him, and we don't have to assassinate a sorcerer for 'legalized stealing.' Hmmm...I wonder if there is some sort of legal precedent here that could help us somehow?"
He suddenly notices what Lady Amandine has been doing and smirks.
"Have you been aiding in the harvest milady? I never took you for a dirt farmer."
Meraki, still thoroughly a woman of the city, is utterly fascinated by the sight of so many of Stachys's citizens working together for a common purpose. Knowing she'll be of no use bringing the crops in, she instead tries to preserve the moment by putting it to canvas.
At the end of each day of the harvest, Greenly enjoys a glass or five in the Wolf's Whisker followed by a long bath in the manor.
One evening, after being informed about the goings on in Jambis in New Towne, she approaches Meraki "So, like, the Baron was literally a spider, and you, like, actually safedt him? Very impressed. I think I would of, like, jus squished him under my boot!" The warrior demonstrates thusly, grinding the ball of her foot into the earth, pretending to kill whatever is beneath her. "Not even a thought about it."
Greenly demonstrates no talent for agriculture, even with Dro'gan's input to help her, and this is apparent to the Stachys folk. However, she makes up for this with sheer grit and endurance. Thus, she manages to impress the people with her strength and willingness to get her hands dirty.
All the while, Meraki begins producing a painting that has the potential to be a true masterpiece, capturing the bucolic beauty of Stachys and the communal spirit of its people.
On the third day of the harvest, some of the children who were too small to help with the farm work come running. They have spotted Giado and his men a ways up the road, on their way to Stachys.
Frowning, Dro’gan turns to Lady Amandine.
“Do you want me to delay them? I can come up with something Im sure, but I doubt it would last more than hour or so without bloodshed.”
Amandine had thought of a couple of possibilities for trying to hide a portion of the harvest, but they were flimsy ideas, and would have taken far more time than they actually have.
She grimaces at the news Giado the collector has already been spotted.
The problem to her mind is twofold. First, she'd expected Sir Gul to be the collector, and therefore the unpopular face of their conflict with Count Lotheed. This collector might not be so well known, and arouse less sympathy across the county.
Second, there is a particular order in which events need to fall for best effect. She'd expected a less public confrontation than this seemed likely to be. Violence is probably out of the question. It would probably be rebellion from a legal standpoint, and it is far too early for that. They must make an appeal to Lotheed first, ask for relief and not receive it, before taking more drastic steps. And of course, if the Night Swan were to play any part in their plans, she would need to be readied. Nothing has been done on that front.
"Dro'gan, let's talk with Onora to see if she knows of any way we might delay his collection. Maybe there' a loophole somewhere that allows an appeal or extra time."
"Another thing, do you think you could get in contact with the Night Swan on shorter notice than is ideal?"
When she and Dro'gan find Onora, Amandine huddles with her over three questions.
1. Are there any laws or policies they can use to delay collection until an appeal is heard by Count Lotheed? This in light of the 'donations' from the harvest in Stachys that will be going to Jambis for its relief and how they will factor in accounting.
2. What happens if the tax collection is resisted?
3. What role must Amandine play in the tax assessment and collection herself? Does she have any influence?
"I think he was only kind of a spider?" Meraki tells Greenly. "Your way would have been a lot faster and simpler, though. I'm glad things came out with as few deaths as possible, all the same."
Squinting at Amandine's request to contact the Night Swan now, Dro'gan then scratches his head and nods.
"Yeah...now that we have confirmed her identity...I can contact her 'fairly' quickly with a small written note, depending on where she is exactly. It could take a day...or a week. The magic item I have is limited by normal physical distances, but never gives up until it reaches it intended target. Not exactly a cheap little dew-dad either. What would you want to say to her exactly?"
+