The History of Castle Hartenstein

The history of Castle Hartenstein, which lay on the banks of the Grismerie River, is recorded herein. From the first days of the noble Lord Nike's instatement into rulership to the current date. A current map of his holdings is also presented, which also shows some of the surrounding countryside.

I have been able to procure a large amount of information on the glorious Lord Nike, which is given henceforth:

Lord Nike’s records started more than 35 winters ago when he was born in a small riverside town of Lô d’Angle on the river Grismerie. After a happy childhood, his world suddenly collapsed when he was abducted by the nomadic Orkish Clan of Grnaff The Unspeakable.

This nasty wyvern-spawn Orc was the leader of a huge Waagh, that rampaged from the Massif Orcal. For years Lord Nike’s toils were unspeakable of and he had to endure the most sever humiliations. For more than 13 years the Waagh harassed the lands of Bastonne, the forest of Chalons and even invaded the Ducky of Quenelles.

During one of the awful nights in the stinking Orcish camps, the Lady visited Lord Nike with a vision. To cleanse the land of these foul creatures and to restore the High Chapel of our Lady in Lô d’Anglè. In a fantastic display of skill, hope and determination Lord Nike managed to escape the brutal Orcs. During his escaped he was chased by the brutal orc Banbrain and his band of war boars. After a fierce but unequal fight Lord Nike faced an almost certain death at the hands of Banbrain. Suddenly he tumbled into, what seemed to be a pitfall but what actually was a hidden grail chapel. The Lady must be blessing Lord Nike as his luck canged and he found a magical Morningstar called “Venus” and a magical shield called “Carrier”. While making his climb up the sheer surfaces of the pit, Lord Nike noticed a combat above. The Orcs were held at bay by a most magnificent warhorse Lord Nike had ever seen, a beautiful grey horse was kicking his hoofs against any orc who got near the entrance of the pit.

The horse allowed Lord Nike to mount and now the battle could now be fought on equal terms. The Orcs were soon routed and Lord Nike managed to escape to his home the town of Lô d’Anglè. In his home he found great grief, the beautiful town of Lô d’Anglè had been sacked and the Chapel of the Lady was destroyed. Only the small alter survived the pillage because it was hidden in a nearby forest by loyal people of the town. This forest was the escape for many towns folk, who took upon themselves to harass the orcs as much as possible.

In the years their skills at foresting and arching were sharpened. However this small force could not withstand the evil forces of Grnaff The Unspeakable. Lord Nike thus set upon the quest to find worthy knights to help him in his ambition to slay the orcs. Thus he came to the nearby town of Kremun. The local bailiff was a coward hiding in his tower and refusing his loyal knights to help the poor peasantry and the nearby towns. It turned out he was bribed by the orcs. Lord Nike quickly disposed of this stain on Brettonian soil and returned to the forest of Lô d’Anglè to command his force. In a quick and decisive battle Lord Nike managed to slay the vanguard of the orcish horde.

In the coming months Lord Nike’s reputation grew and more knights and men-at-arms joined his force. Just prior to the final and decisive battle, Lord Nike started the restoration of the chapel in Lô d’Anglè, when suddenly Lord Nike saw a beautiful woman shrouded in mist. She spoke to Lord Nike and demanded him to clean the lands of this foul intrusion. “Only then can my Chapel be truly restored” she said. She then disappeared in a mist, leaving a beautiful Banner of The Lady behind. Inspired by this good omen, Lord Nike set upon the orcish hordes. In the midnight trek through the forest Lord Nike was challenged by a woodsman of no small renown, Bertrand the Brigand.

He had heard of Lord Nike’s endeavours and offered his skills. But, before joining Lord Nike he had to see for himself who he would serve. In a joyous battle the two fought at the ford of Riseplus and after taking several cold baths Lord Nike managed to subdue Bertrand. In the morning another group joined the forces of Lord Nike.

A company of Grail knights, guided by an enchantress on a unicorn joined in. Together, they faced the orcish hordes at dawn. La bataille de la Dame as it is now know lasted for two and a half day. Lord Nike’s bowmen, foresters and his knights suffered greatly, but in the end there could be only one! After returning to Lô d’Anglè Lord Nike returned to the Chapel which was still shrouded in a deep mist, impenetrable to everyone except Lord Nike. There he met the beautiful apparition of the Lady once more and drank from the offered cup thus lifting the mist surrounding the Chapel. After finishing the construction of the Chapel Lord Nike married the beautiful lady Marian of Easternstream and started to rebuild the lands around Lô d’Anglè. So far his tale……... but what endeavours more will come?







Spring of Year 1

Dear Sire...

It is with a joyous heart I welcome thee to Castle Hartenstein. I am Bernard Lanfranchi, abbot and librarian of the Chapel of our Lady. It is my greatest honour to also serve you as your personal scribe.

I shall be your eyes and ears in the lands of the Estate. It is my duty, and great honour, to inform you of all events and happenings that occur within the borders of your lands.

First of all, I shall give you a general description of your lands. No doubt you have taken a long look around yourself on horseback, but it is customary for me to do so anyway. Secondly, I shall give you a report on each of the areas within your realm. Lastly, I shall inform you of the state of your realm.

Now, to my first duty:

The northern reaches of your Estate feature many grand scenes of natural beauty. The River Grismerie flows from North-West to North-East, a splendid sight of clear blue waters and tranquillity.

Slightly north-west of the River, the very edges of the Forest of Arden can be seen. These woods stretch far to the north west, into the Barony of Artois.

A road travels from Gisoreux in the north into your Estate. It crosses the River Grismerie via a ford, and enters into your noble lands, it then winds south towards Bastonne.

Artois, Bastonne and Gisoreux are all noble lands, and we can count on friends from all three locations.

Now, to give you a more in-depth look at the realm:

To begin, I shall start in the northernmost area of land. Kremun, a patch of land that is comprised of rolling hills, trees and fertile land. Used, at this time, for farmland, it supplies the people of the Estate with food.

South of that, in the centre of the Estate, lay the main village of Easternstream, which serves as a centre of everyday life. The peasantry make this land their home, and all who live there swear loyalty to you milord.

East of Easternstream, an area of rocky ground known as Lo d'Angle rests. Stories say that once, many generations ago, a mine stood here. Perhaps the valuable metals that the structure mined long ago still reside in the soil? Only constructing a mine could tell. In addition on this great stretch of land rests the small structure devoted to the worship of the great Lady of the Lake. Unfortunately, time has taken its toll on the Chapel and it is no longer serviceable, a new one will need to be constructed.

West of Easternstream rests your Chateau. Although more fortified than most Chateaus, it is still not a fully fledged Keep, and persistant attack could reduce it to rubble. I hope you find Castle Hartenstein to your liking, as it shall serve as your seat of rulership and home in the coming weeks, months and years.

South of Easternstream you will find two more areas of promising ground. Valeur d'epine and Middle March are flatlands of fertile and hospitable land.

Further south, the fine land of Mariendael lay. Undeveloped like Middle March and Valeur d'epine, the promise of this part of your realm is great.

East of the Middle March is located the only troublesome area of land within the Estate. Known as L'hazie de Lupin, this area is infested by three small tribes of Greenskins who are in a constant state of bickering and infighting. They appear to be too involved in their own bickerings to be of any trouble to the Estate, but we should keep an eye on them, for should a single warlord unite them we may be faced with another Green-hued threat to our lands.

I worry not, however, for you handily defeated Gnaff the Unspeakable, who was a warlord of far greater prowess than the lowly tribes of L'hazie de Lupin could ever produce.

Now, to report the state of the lands to you:

Your holdings currently consist of a village (Easternstream), the farmsteads and farmland situated at Kremun and a parcel of cleared land at Lo d'Angle.

Ten Men-At-Arms make up the garrison. A small number, indeed, but they are loyal to you beyond all else, milord.

Five Farmers and forty-five other Townsfolk make up the rest of the population, milord, they all look forward to your reign.

To the matters of state:

The Lord's Tax for this first Season of your hopefully long and glorious rule is 1 Revenue. Should we pay it?

Now you must decide how to spend the Revenue at your disposal. Do you wish to clear any additional land? Or perhaps you wish to build some smaller Land Square Upgrades, such as a Grain Silo for the Farmstead?

As you well know, it is now Spring, and one of your first duties is to inform the Estate how many Fields you wish to have planted, and at what quality. Only one field is available this year, however. Do you wish to plant this field, and if so, at what quality should the crops be sown?

Another decision for your most wise mind to contemplate is the Tax Rate of the realm. Do you wish to increase, or perhaps decrease it? The current setting is Average Tax.

Do you wish to increase Rationing, or perhaps decrease it? Currently, Full Rationing is in place.

Training more Men-At-Arms for the garrison is also an option. Do you wish to train any townsfolk into Men-At-Arms?

I hope my first report to you brings you up to date on the happenings within your realm.

May the Lady bless you, milord.

Your loyal scribe,

Bernard Lanfranchi.



STATISTICS:
Revenue: 104
Food Stocks: 137
Townsfolk: 53 (grown by 3 since the start of the Season)
Idle Villagers: 48
Farmers: 5
Men-At-Arms: 10
Land Squares (Total): 5
Shelter Squares (Serf Level): 2
Farmstead Squares: 1
Field Squares: 1
Free Land Squares: 1
Tax Rate: Average Tax (1 Revenue per 4 Townsfolk or Men-At-Arms)
Rationing: Full Rations (1 Food Stock eaten for each Townsfolk or Man-At-Arms)
Subject's Loyalty: 62%
Faith: 48%
King's Favour: 40%

Lord's Response

Dear Bernard,

It is good to be back after that dreadfull War of Chaos in the north-east. I see that my estate has been in good but non-ambitious hands. Never mind, let us start building this fertile land.

First of all have the Lord's taxes of 1 Revenue paid. Always pay these taxes even if I forget to mention it, like his subjects a Lord should pay his taxes too.

As I stated earlier I am ambitious and I have great plans for this estate. Therefore I have to raise the taxes to High. I know the population will not be pleased, but it serves my plans and their well being.

Next have Easternstream 6 cleared and immediatelly build a marketplace on that land. This is the most convenient place as the road from Gisoreux to Bastonne passes right over this land. Send heralds to Artois, Bastonne and Gisoreux to inform these estates of these changes and to stimulate mutual trade.

Then order the fertile field of Kremun and the field in Lô d'Anglè be sowed with normal crops. Lô d'Anglè is a very special place and have the peasants take special care in that patch of land in later years we might want to change this field into a mine. Have the farmers take rock samples from their lands to the specialists at the market place for investigation.

These upgrades should allow the population with enough work to keep them bussy for a while.

In my calculation it should leave us with an almost drained coffer of 17 revenues and just 40 food.

Finally, have you heard anything from that chaos spy Felix who was disguised as a travelling scribe?

Have a nice spring and enjoy the singing of the birds and the humming of the bees.

Lord Nike
Overlord of the High Chapel of our Lady.
Lord of Easternstream, Kremun and Lô d'Anglè

Summer of Year 1

Dear Sire...

As the first months of your reign pass into history, we must now move on to the first Summer of your glorious reign. I have much to tell, my grand lord, and I shall strive to keep you informed of all events, no matter how trivial, that occur within the Estate.

The change to High Tax was taken much better than many would have expected. The population are none too happy about it, but neither are they overly angry. It seems your people see your glorious wisdom, and know that you will put the Revenue to good use.

As your commands specified, the two fields of the realm were sown with crops for the Harvest. The Farmers of the Estate have worked long and hard, and their toil has paid off. A huge amount of Food Stocks have been added to our granary's stocks.

So much food, in fact, that I am sure that the population will be very well fed in the coming year. Indeed, by my estimates we will have more than enough food to plant crops next year as well.

The Lady's grace is grand indeed.

On the man known as "Felix", I have very little knowledge. It appears he was attempting to quietly depose me of my honourable duties as Court Scribe. However, by your wisdom, I was instated as your scribe instead of him.

I fear, had a Lord without your wisdom gained control of this Estate, that this "Felix" would be able to poison his mind with lies and deceit. You, in your eternal honour, however, saw through his evil schemes.

Of Felix's fate, all I know is that he fled the realm days after your arrival. The fool will not return, and if he does, he shall suffer the wrath of Bretonnian justice.

On other, happier news, the Marketplace has been finished and now bustles with activity mere weeks after its completion. Travellers from all over now regularly visit, and goods of all kinds are sold, barted for and traded in the hustle and bustle of the merchant's trade.

Finally, the rock samples have been tested by the alchemists of Parravon (it indeed takes many months for the samples to return, even for a simple mineral test) and the news is good - the ground is suitable for Mining! I'm sure you will agree this is a very good thing indeed!

Now, to the matters of state:

First of all, the Lord's Tax for this Season is a modest 4 Revenue. As per your orders, however, it has already been paid for.

Next, it is time for the first Harvest Day Festival of your reign. In celebration of the grand harvest we were blessed with this year, it is customary to hold a festival to give thanks. How much Revenue do you wish to spend on entertainers and decorations, and how much Food Stocks do you wish to expend on the feast? Around half what you specify will also be used as tribute to the Lady, for Her wisdom is great.

Do you wish to clear any land or build any Upgrades, milord? Perhaps an Animal Barn would be a good idea, to keep the farm animals safe during the Winter?

Do you wish to change the Tax Rate or the Rationing level, milord?

Finally, training is a possibility. With the Festival taking place, it will be much cheaper to select and train new Men-At-Arms at this time. Do you wish to train any Men-At-Arms to add to the garrison, milord?

May your reign be long and glorious, milord.

Your scribe,

Bernard Lanfranchi.




STATISTICS:
Revenue: 50
Food Stocks: 507
Townsfolk: 54 (has increased by 1 since the start of the Season)
Idle Townsfolk: 4
Farmers: 10
Workers: 40
Men-At-Arms: 10
Land Squares (Total): 6
Shelter Squares (Serf Level): 2
Farmstead Squares: 1
Feild Squares (Average Level): 2
Market Squares: 1
Tax Rate: High Tax
Subject's Loyalty: 63%
Faith: 46%
King's Favour: 41%

Lord's Response

Dear Bernard,

Thank you for your extensive report.
I noticed only one minor flaw; Feild Squares should be Field squares. I know that you are a very bussy man but flaws like these come slowily but may cause serious errors if not considered in an early stage.

I am proud to be the leader of these men, women and children and I noticed that their support has increased even with a higher tax. Therefore I have decided to do something back and I order a grand feast to be given to the Glory of the Lady. Please spend 60 food and 5 revenue on this feast. Have a special procession undertaken at the end of the festival to Lô d'Anglè before the offering to our Lady.

Somewhere in this area there should be the lost Grail Chapel. I will personally offer a reward of 1 revenue for the first person (man, woman or child) to find the remains of this lost Chapel (verify before the reward is granted).

Find out the name of our current sergeant and have him organize during this feast some excersises in bowmanship and combat with spears and halberds (dummies please I do not want anybody to get hurt). Allow a maximum of 6 of the best men (or women) to be taken into the ranks of our Men at Arms. I will personally install them in the ranks at the end of the festivities.

I am very pleased that already 40 people are working in the market square. We are able to generate more income by adding a trade guild to our market. Please order the best carpenters to build a guild to increase our trade with Bastonne and Gisoreux.

I order also the construction of an inn on the same market place. As the travelers come into our lands more frequent, we need to give them a proper place to stay. Lady Marian will oversee the management of this inn. I need to have a decent palce within my lands for wandring knights and traders.

Finally to be able to fund the construction of a Grail Chapel and the clearing of the lands before that, we need to sell some excess food stocks. I have calculated that we can sell 114 food without endangering the growth of the population or the sowing of the fields next year. See to it.

Keep reminding me of an animal barn as I would like to construct one before winter but not too early as that will be unnecessary loss of revenue to upkeep.

Enjoy the summer and do go out and mingle in the town to get to know our people. Remember Bernard you are my eyes and ears.

Lord Nike
Overlord of the High Chapel of our Lady.
Lord of Easternstream, Kremun and Lô d'Anglè

Autumn of Year 1

Dear Sire...

You truly are a grand Lord, milord. I thank thee for pointing out my error, for it would have been most embarrassing had I continued to use the wrong spelling for such a simple word.

Now, on to my Autumn report.

Over the Summer, much enjoyment was had by the townspeople. A small group of entertainers were hired and a huge table laid with the culinary works of a small army of chefs. Although most of the Revenue you so generously supplied was spent on entertainers and chefs, some of it was spent on obtaining a small amount of silver, which was offered to the glorious Lady of the Lake as tribute.

The feast was grand, and all present were utterly filled by day's end. Even though much food was on offer, very little was left by the end of the feast. The food which was left over, was added to the tribute along with other food stuffs specially prepared to be used as tribute.

Songs and dances were performed, and the people look upon this grand event as an omen of the good times to come. The people are hopeful, milord, and they look forward to the years of your reign.

Sergeant-At-Arms Lucas Black overlooked the competitions held during the festivities. Many young men participated in the events, and six were eventually chosen for service in the garrison. They were most pleased to be instated by you, milord, and they protect the Estate with great vigour and pride.

The Inn and Trade Guild have been completed, and even now are serving the Estate. United under the Guild, the town merchants will be able to bring in a greater amount of commerce, which can only be good. The Inn serves as a drinking place for locals and a resting place for visitors, ensuring a constant supply of customers for the other shops.

As you ordered, a large supply of Food Stocks was sold off to the Royal Granary. The carts have since returned carrying the profits, which have been added to the realm's treasury.

Finally, the 1 Revenue reward caused a number of young members of the Estate to search the area of land in Lo d'Angle. After a few weeks of searching, the moulding ruins were found at No.4 Lo d'Angle, which is close enough to our current lands to be cleared and rebuilt. The Lady smiles on us, milord.

The young townspeople have since split the reward between themselves, and spent it on all manner of things, from ale to new furniture.

Now I bring before you the Matters of State of this Autumn:

The Lord's Tax this Autumn is a moderate 6 Revenue. As your orders dictate, I have already paid it.

You asked me to remind you to build an Animal Barn. Do you wish to build an Animal Barn, or any other Upgrade for that matter?

Do you wish to clear any land for future development? No.4 Lo d'Angle is the location of the ruined Grail Chapel, should you wish to reclaim that land.

Do you wish to make any other changes? Train more Men-At-Arms? Adjust the Tax Rate?

Whatever your orders may be, I am certain that they will be wise and bring great fortune to us.

Your loyal scribe,

Bernard Lanfranchi.



STATISTICS:
Revenue: 48
Food Stocks: 269
Townsfolk: 48 (has increased by 0 since the start of the Season)
Idle Townsfolk: 0
Farmers: 10
Workers: 38
Men-At-Arms: 16
Land Squares (Total): 6
Shelter Squares (Serf Level): 2
Farmstead Squares: 1
Feild Squares (Average Level): 2
Market Squares: 1
Tax Rate: High Tax
Subject's Loyalty: 63%
Faith: 51%
King's Favour: 42%

Lord's Response

My dearest Bernard,

Thank you for your report, it is clear as usuall. Although you acknowledged the error you have made, you have not changed it. That displeases me, Bernard. I cannot have have a sloppy scribe responsible for the information that I receive.

I am glad that the festivities were well received and that my subjects had a good time and enough to eat. I am very pleased about the silver offerings to the Lady.

Although the people are hopefull of my reign I am a little bit displeased with the growth in my realm. This season we have had no increase in townsfolk. See into the reason of it and make sure that all my subjects are healthy. A little bit of promotion of our fair countryside in the neighbouring realms is not bad either. This is the reason that I want to make sure that the Inn is clean and kept in good order. What is the name of the Inn?

Ask sergeant-at-arms Lucas Black to send patrols in the countryside around l'Hazie de Lupin. I do not want those greenskins to take us by surprise.

I also declare the following, that it is not reckomended to cross the ford from dusk to dawn. Have ropes spanned on both sides of the ford to make the crossing easier especially during the autumn and spring period when a lot of water gushes through the Grismerie. Have men-at-arms installed at the ford to make sure that travelers and merchants get to the other side in one piece. I want to monitor these crossings to asses the potential for a toll booth there.

Before I continue, Bernard please explain to me my income structure. In my opinion the taxes bring: 64 subjects = 32 Revenue Market + Trade guild bring: (38 workers) = 7x2 =14 revenue Inn brings 2 -12 Revenue.
This adds up to a maximum of 58 revenue.
Royal taxes were 6 which indicates an income of 60 revenue. Did I miss something?
Your report stated that: "The carts have since returned carrying the profits, which have been added to the realm's treasury." The profit of the sale of 114 food should amount to 67 revenue where has that gone to? Or will that revenue come one season later, thus in winter?

That winter is coming and have therefore an animal barn build at the farmstead in Kremun. The animals need to be save.

I doubt that our current amount of revenue is enough to clear a land, I have calculated that we will only have 30 Revenue left if all upkeep and the build of an animal barn are deducted. Therefore we must keep this amount in our coffers until we are able to invest in upgrading lands. Secondly, I do not believe it is possible to clear No.4 Lo d'Angle as it is not adjecent to a currently owned land, or is this incorrect? I prefer to clear that land as soon as possible so we can to start rebuilding the Chapel, but it might be a costly enterprise if we need to purchase and clear No.3 Lo d'Angle first. Sort out this matter for me, Bernard.

I will pray in my personal chapel in the keep to ask the Lady for guidance.

regards,

Lord Nike
Overlord of the High Chapel of our Lady.
Lord of Easternstream, Kremun and Lô d'Anglè

Winter of Year 1

Dear Sire...

The cold of Winter has set in, and I have much to report to thee, milord.

I have sent a number of messengers out to surrounding Estates and villages informing them of the Marketplace and Inn of your fair realm. The Inn, which was named "The Three Kegs" due to the three barrels of rare beverage the owner has procured, should begin to attract more Revenue this Season. Last Season it did not produce much gold, but such is to be expected in the opening Seasons of such an establishment.

Lucas Black has accepted your orders and put in place the changes you ordered. The "River Guard", as they have been come to be known, now regulate the crossing. In the weeks they have been present, they have already aided many travellers crossing the ford.

Travellers seem to enjoy the security these Men-At-Arms bring, and I believe a Toll Booth would be quite rewarding to the Estate. It would cost a small amount of Revenue (10 Revenue) to construct, but would bring in 1d3 Revenue per Season to the Estate. Your wisdom is great, milord, for thinking of such a brilliant plan.

The Revenue gained from the sale of the Food Stocks was 1 Revenue for every 3 Food Stocks sold. The Lord's Tax was correct, and was only so low because the Inn made very little profit for that Season.

As per your orders, the Animal Barn has been completed. Already it is sheltering the animals, allowing them to survive the harsh weather which would kill many of them off normally.

No.4 Lo d'Angle is diagonally adjacent to an already owned area of land, and is therefore available for clearing when the weather is better.

Now, to the matters of state:

As per your orders, the Lord's Tax has been paid for this Season.

Winter brings harsh weather, and unfortunately that bars us from clearing any land or making any major improvements to the Estate. However, if you wish to build any smaller Upgrades, please say so, as they can be constructed quickly enough.

Do you wish the Tax Rate or Rationing to change, milord?

Training new Men-At-Arms is also an option open to us in these times, as such activities can be done indoors.

You asked me about the growth rate last Season. Well, I looked into it and it appears to have just been a quirk that at that time very few new additions to the population were made. People seem to be coming to the Estate now in a steady flow, as two more people have moved into the Estate this season.

Your loyal scribe,

Bernard



STATISTICS:
Revenue: 71
Food Stocks: 213
Townsfolk: 50 (has increased by 2 since the start of the Season)
Idle Townsfolk: 0
Farmers: 10
Workers: 40
Men-At-Arms: 16
Land Squares (Total): 6
Shelter Squares (Serf Level): 2
Farmstead Squares: 1
Field Squares (Average Level): 2
Market Squares: 1
Animal Barns: 1
Tax Rate: High Tax
Subject's Loyalty: 63%
Faith: 51%
King's Favour: 42%

Lord's Response

Dear Bernard,

The Duke of Bastonne keeps me waiting, so I have some time to lay out my plans to you.

I will need all the Revenue I can get for Spring when I intend to have a lot of changes in my realm.
I am glad that the presence of our men at arms has already been a success and I encourage the men to continue their duty there. Compliments to Lucas Black.
I do want to keep the trade route open and not taxed for some time to encourage the trade route and I therefore postpone the building of the toll booth until Summer or Autumn next year. Keep reminding me of this investment please. One oher quetion, the upkeep of the toll booth would be how much? I would guess 1 Revenue?

I am pleased that the animals are sheltered and save from the harsh winter.

I also noticed that all villagers are either farmers or working on market square. That pleases me a lot and I do not want to interfere right now in their businesses. So I postpone adding more men at arms to our force.

Because my subjects are enduring the harsh winter I would like to reenact an old tradition dedicated to the Lady, the Winter Solstice Celebration. At the Winter Solstice I want to celebrate the turning of the season and that the Lady has blessed us with the approach of a new season. The effect on the loyalty and faith of my subjects I leave for you to measure, Bernard. Spend on the celebration 20 food (please calculate if we can manage that with the feeding of everyone and the spring crop sowing) and 5 Revenue.

Right now that is all, keep your fireplace blazing Bernard.

Lord Nike
Overlord of the High Chapel of our Lady.
Lord of Easternstream, Kremun and Lô d'Anglè

Spring of Year 2

Dear Sire...

I greet thee, milord, to the new year. This pleasant Spring ushers in a another year of your fine leadership. I hope that your glorious reign continues for many years more.

I am sure that your meeting with the Duke of Bastonne went well, for such is your honour and wisdom that I cannot see any noble man of Bretonnia disagreeing with you. I trust the Duke did not keep you waiting too long, for that would be most unpleasant.

Your thoughts are indeed correct, milord, it would cost 1 Revenue per Season to keep the Toll Booth in running order. The River Guard are continuing their duties, aiding travellers crossing the ford, and are becoming quite popular, having saved many a dropped trinket or lost barrel of goods from being washed down stream.

Ah, and now my thoughts turn to the Winter Solstice celebration. What a brilliant event that was! With the Revenue and Food Stocks you generously supplied, a small feast was held to celebrate the shortest day of the year. Offerings were made to the Lady, and a very entertaining contest of running was held. The winner was awarded with a small silver ring worth 1 Revenue, taken from the supplies you gave.

This Festival increased the townspeople's Faith in the Lady of the Lake (by 2%).

My final piece of news before moving on is that a crime has occurred! Although otherwise very popular, the River Guard have experienced one piece of trouble.

At night, a shady individual was attempting to cross the river ford without being seen. His intentions are unknown, but they were definitely unlawful, as he did not want to be seen by the River Guard.

Thinking that there was only one guard present, the man snuck up behind the unsuspecting Men-At-Arms and hit him violently across the back of the head with a large stone. The young guard was very hardy, however, and managed to cry out a distorted alarm before falling unconscious.

This brought the attention of the other two Men-At-Arms nearby, who rushed to his aid. The shady individual attempted to flee but was caught by the two River Guards, who chased him down.

The man now sits in custody, and is saying very little. All we know is that his name is Morgan and that his is foreign. We know nothing of his intentions. A search of his belongings revealed a sharp dagger, an assortment of coins (some Bretonnian, some from other lands) and provisions for at least five days travel.

He is charged with Assaulting a Man-At-Arms, a Major Crime in Bretonnia. The crime's punishment is for you to decide, milord, as you are the Lord of this land.

To the matters of state:

The Lord's Tax has been paid, as the orders you gave dictated.

Being Spring, it is now time to sow the crops for the coming Harvest. How many of our Fields do you wish to have sown? At what quality should these crops be planted?

Construction is once more available to us, as the bad weather of Winter has passed.

The population is slowly growing, and we now have a small number of Idle Villagers. Do you wish to train any into Men-At-Arms?

Do you wish to change the Tax Rate or Rationing level? Perhaps you would also like to build a smaller Upgrade on one of our lands?

May the Lady be with you, milord.

Your scribe,

Bernard.



STATISTICS:
Revenue: 115
Food Stocks: 123
Townsfolk: 54
Idle Townsfolk: 4
Farmers: 10
Workers: 40
Men-At-Arms: 16
Animal Barns: 1
Land Squares (Total): 6
Shelter Squares (Serf Level): 2
Farmstead Squares: 1
Field Squares (Average Level): 2
Market Squares: 1
Inns: 1
Trade Guilds: 1
Tax Rate: High Tax
Subject's Loyalty: 63%
Faith: 49%
King's Favour: 45%

Lord's Response

Dear Bernard,

Thank you for your extensive report. It is as always a pleasure to read.

My diplomic mission with the proud men of Norsca went very well and the Duke was most pleased with my progress. In a couple of seasons or even years I will have to go to Norsca to meet with these men once again. But for now I can pay all my attention to my realm.

I am glad that the Winter solstice feastival was merry indeed. My subjects should enjoy such a festival each year as the winter is already hard enough.
I noticed however that the reported increase in faith was not registered, faith decreased 2% from 51% to 49% as should be expected after a hard winter, but with the festival (+2%), this should be nullified. Check this please, I can imagine that your calculations are based on the former circumstances without taking into consideration the festival.

The River Guards are doing a fine job indeed! I am glad that they managed to apprehend this sinister Morgan. I cannot have anybody assaulting my men-at-arms so I am very anxious to hear what the reasons of this man are. Have him locked up in the dungeons of Castle Hartenstein (which are not pleasant!) until he speaks. After that I will judge further about him.

Check the local populace if this Morgan is known and where he found his shelter. Also have a messenger sent to Gisoreux and Bastonne to find out if this person has been seen there as well. As for the young guard (what is his name?) who managed to alert the guards, I hope he did not suffer too much from the assault. I want it to be known to the populace that his heroism is well rewarded, so give the boy and his family double rations in the spring season.

Having these matters taken care of, now it is time to put my attention to the spring season sowing. Have the fields in Kremun and in Lô d'Anglè both sown with agricultural level crops. This should bring us a large harvest for which my populace will be rewarded in the seasons to come.
We should be left with enough revenue to start the restoration of the old Grail Chapel. Therefore I order to have Lô d'Anglè field number 4 cleared and readied for a grail chapel that will be build in the summer season (the first stone will be laid at the festival).

As I expect a handsome amount of grain to be harvested I order the building of 2 grail silos at the farmstead in Kremun.

Finally two other things:
1) I noticed that the name of Lô d' Anglè does not appear well on the screen in halls of Sir Gindle. Is there anything that can be done about this? Should I write Lo d Angle without the accents? Thus betraying my tongue but if that has to be I have no choice. Please find advise within the halls of Sir Gindle, he can tell you more about it.
2) In the halls of Sir Gindle there is stated that we have commenced into Spring Year 1. That is like standing still in time. Have the heralds of Sir Gindle look into this matter please.

A lot needs to be done, so off you go Bernard.
With kind regards,
Lord Nike

Summer of Year 2

Dear Sire...

The Summer is now upon us, and the Harvest is complete. The peasantry are looking forward to the coming Festival, and a well-deserved rest after the activity of the last Season.

I have sent a letter to the castle of Sir Gindle, informing his scribes of the errors in their records. They promise to do their utmost to correct the errors.

You are indeed correct that the 2% Faith decline of the Winter was nullified by the Festival. However, the report you received that stated Faith was at 49% was correct. This is because I took into account the Spring's Faith decline as well, which had already taken place when you received the report.

Morgan is enjoying the hospitality of your dungeons, so to speak, milord. The guards can sense he is starting to break, and we expect to have a full confession of his evil acts by the end of the month. Three months (so far) in the darkest room of the dungeon has taken its toll on him.

As for the more heroic characters of last Season's events, the young guard (Gorin is his name, by the way, my most glorious lord) has fully recovered, with the aid of Double Rations for himself and his family. He has a nasty scar on the back of his head, but little else.

The townspeople of your Estate know nothing of Morgan, nor do the people of Bastonne. However, Morgan was reportedly in Gisoreux for some time, and is wanted by numerous lords there for Theft, Assault and (unsurprisingly) Assaulting a Man-At-Arms. He appears to be a one man crime wave, pardon my sarcasm, milord.

The lords of Gisoreux trust you to give out righteous judgement to Morgan, milord, and are willing to allow you to Adjudicate his punishment for all his crimes.

Unfortunately we were not able to plant two crops of Agricultural level fields, as the Revenue spent on the Grain Silos took too much resources. However, we still able to plant both crops, although only one was at Agricultural quality, the other was at Normal quality.

Now, to the matters of state:

The Lord's Tax has been paid, as per your previous orders.

The Harvest Day Festival will soon commence. How many resources should we put towards this Festival?

Do you wish to clear any land, build any buildings or any similar actions?

Training is also open to us. Do you wish to add more warriors to the garrison?

Finally, with the Harvest complete, do you wish to change Rationing or the Tax Rate?

If you wish any other actions to be performed, please say so.

Your loyal scribe,

Bernard.



STATISTICS:
Revenue: 43
Food Stocks: 638
Townsfolk: 54
Idle Townsfolk: 4
Farmers: 10
Workers: 40
Men-At-Arms: 16
Animal Barns: 1
Grain Silos: 2
Land Squares (Total): 7
Free Land Squares: 1
Shelter Squares (Serf Level): 2
Farmstead Squares: 1
Field Squares (Average Level): 2
Market Squares: 1
Inns: 1
Trade Guilds: 1
Tax Rate: High Tax
Subject's Loyalty: 63%
Faith: 47%
King's Favour: 46%