Wanderer is visibly off by what he deems as clear coercion.
I nervously squirm and put my hands between each of my thighs in an attempt to not flail them around like a bird.
“…okay.”
(Your impression is that he is not moved by this; as far as he’s concerned, his behavior is perfectly reasonable and not coercive at all.)
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(this is non-redundant, there’s behavior he’d regard as coercive but also fine)
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He picks up his wine glass again and takes another sip. “Is there anything you’d like to know before undertaking this task?”
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In my blank shock and awkwardness I try to take a sip of my glass, following the Baron’s lead, cupping it and bringing it to my lips as if I was drinking from a river.
This tastes awful.
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I try not to hack away my guts as I place it back down, inadvertently signaling that I have no other questions.
Drakor shook his head.
“As a foreigner, my understanding of the land is weaker than yours. Messire Lionel can certainly catch me up, but I’d like to know a few things about Baron Dalin’s realm from your well informed perspective.”
He waits briefly for acknowledgment.
(If he gets it)
“What do you know of the political situation to the south of Dalin’s territory? Who would typically oversee the repair of roads in Dalin’s realm…or any particular barony for that matter? Last one…how might a financially troubled baron typically refill their ailing treasury?”
Arius doesn’t drink wine, but -just like others- he was not going to refuse a noble’s offer either.
(Not drinking the beverage feels like a waste, but surely it is less offensive than actively saying I don’t want it…?)
((R.I.P. Arius due to his lack of Knowledge… He’s becoming more of a barbarian than the character I had in mind.))
On one hand: Money to leave Brevoy. On the other hand: Conscience regarding the Demir family. Arius was invited here as a tag-along to be a witness for Kamilla’s trial, but for whatever reason he got invited to the drawing room as if he is one of the people who helped catch her. The proposition given by the baron shouldn’t have been given to him; he should’ve been left out of the conversation and sent to the resting quarters like Nyna Kaver.
Then there comes to the matter of results. Zelsh and Bugibugi’s talents are backed up by Wanderer, but Arius has yet to show any qualities worth talking about –and no. Muscles are not worth mentioning when the aforementioned people have blood in them belonging to a race known for their superiority in strength in comparison to humans.
(Sigh… This is going to be very awkward, given what the miller’s daughter had just said.)
Arius raises his hand. “Pardon my rudeness, but I believe this offer is not meant for me as well.” He then explains his situation. ((I.e., the thing I wrote above about him being a tag-along.))
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“Of course, I would be happy to answer your questions.”
“The lands to his south, and to mine, have been embroiled in turmoil since the disappearance of House Rogarvia, may their souls find peace, and many of those quarreling over those lands see the Stetven River as particularly desirable territory. It seems that very recently the situation in the south has started to become more violent — just today, I’ve heard reports of southerners fleeing their homes and turning to banditry within my lands. I would guess the same is true of Baron Dalin, perhaps exacerbated by the weakness of the man who rules much of the territory to his south, Basil Tagaris.”
“Maintaining the roads is the responsibility of whoever holds the territory, though of course in most cases one would delegate oversight of the actual project.”
“It depends on the situation. If a baron is struggling due to some temporary crisis, he might seek a loan from the Church of Abadar and repay it with the taxes and dues he collects over the next few years. Otherwise… I would advise him to first ensure that his tax collectors are adequately skilled with figuring, and always collecting the correct sum.” (This is two different euphemisms — it could mean ‘make sure the tax collectors aren’t embezzling money for their own use,’ or it could mean ‘make sure the tax collectors are extracting as much revenue from the populace as they can.’)
“If that is not sufficient, he may need to cut his expenses, but a prudent baron ought to put the needs of his people above his own extravagant luxuries. Of course, a truly desperate man may turn to even more desperate measures, such as selling off his valuables or arranging a marriage with a wealthy family of no title, but I have heard nothing to suggest that Baron Dalin is that desperate.”
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He makes a thoughtful sort of thinking noise. “If you do not believe you would be suited to the work I do not mean to force you into my service, but even if your involvement was more limited, I did not mean to exclude you. After all, it is hardly as if you will hinder the work of your companions.”
“I would be more than grateful to be of service, my lord,” Arius says as he bows his head down. He stays in that position for a moment in silence, racking his brain about his next sentence. “I ask your forgiveness in advance, for I request my servitude to be paid not in coin, but in the leniency of the Demir family’s fate in the trial.”
This request goes against Arius’ standards as a freelancer. However, before he is a mercenary, he is human. Having formed a bond with Sten the Younger (even if it lasted no more than a year), it would be inhumane of Arius to forsake Sten and Kamilla if he keeps doing nothing about their predicament.
He knows the baron doesn’t have to consider the commoners’ situations, but Arius still prays in his heart that his lordship would be merciful enough to -at the very least- spare the blacksmiths’ lives.
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The baron nods. “Miss Demir’s crimes were quite serious, and Messire Kaver has served me faithfully. But Miss Demir is still young, and perhaps the honored magistrate might permit her to repay the wrong she has done to our community in some other way, such as by serving in a penitential unit*. Her father’s crimes are less serious, and so long as he is willing to cooperate with the court I do not expect his life will be in danger.”
He gives you an inquiring look, as if assessing whether this proposal is acceptable to you. (Given that Kamilla is in her mid-twenties, arguing for leniency on the basis of her age seems like more of an excuse than anything.)
* like a penal unit, except more euphemistic
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Arius never raised his head while the baron was speaking to him. When the person of higher rank finished speaking, the mercenary lowers his head further down.
“I offer you my deepest gratitude, my lord. Thank you for your boundless mercy!”
(Lost money can be regained through work; lives cannot. Thankfully, it seems I will be able to sleep with a good conscience on my mind.)
(I have kept my word, Sten, Kamilla. Now just don’t worsen your situations. Because I won’t be able to help you out any further than this.)
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“Count Zelsh in. Considering what happened to the last person to the last person to investigate the baron, the group will likely need Zelsh’s protection. All Zelsh requests in return is what help you can provide in locating Zelsh’s longlost brother.” Zelsh said respectively, bowing a bit in respect.
Wanderer realizes he just assumed Zelsh and Bugibugi didn’t have deep personal lives.
Huh. My fault, I suppose.
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“I feel as though Hazel Ford would be a good place to start. It’s a hub, many interests are on it. If we wanted to find initial dirt, it’d be a good place to start.”
Wanderer speaks to nobody and everybody. He believes this to be the case, but wants his idea to be tested.
Drakor inclined his head. “That is reasonable, unless His Lordship had initial leads that he thought we should follow up on.”
He turned to look at the Baron as he spoke.
(Time to prepare exclusively divination spells)
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