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Post by GravityEmblem on Mar 1, 2021 14:30:31 GMT -8
"...Ladonna? Dry wit?" Lillian says, frowning. "Perhaps I don't her as well as I thought."
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Post by HorizonsDream on Mar 2, 2021 14:36:14 GMT -8
~And she doesn't believe me,~ Ladonna thinks to herself. Instead, she just smiles lightly at Liala before she walks forward to join her father. "I...not sure I would consider this a crowd," she mentions softly off hand before she steps forward. "You have no reason to fear us," she says to the small group of people. "I'm Ser Ladonna Marche, and I'm the new owner of this land."
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Post by GravityEmblem on Mar 2, 2021 14:46:51 GMT -8
"That's a reason to fear her, I admit," Lillian remarks to the group. "But in this case, it's unwarranted."
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Post by Daos on Mar 2, 2021 16:18:52 GMT -8
This garners quite a reaction. Everyone starts talking at once. "New owner? Since when? Should someone tell Osbert?"
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Post by HorizonsDream on Mar 3, 2021 11:17:09 GMT -8
"Osbert?" Ladonna asks. "Who is that?"
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Post by GravityEmblem on Mar 3, 2021 11:30:35 GMT -8
"Should we be introduced to this Osbert fellow?" Lillian asks. They're clearly a respected leader among this community, she thinks.
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Post by Daos on Mar 3, 2021 14:01:08 GMT -8
"Osbert's the headman of the village!" one person volunteers. "Or so he likes to think," adds another sharply. "Does this mean he might get replaced?" someone wonders. This question sparks some additional heated debate among the serfs. It is interrupted by someone arriving and yelling, "That's enough, that's enough! What's with all this rabble? Why aren't you people working?!" He's an older human with leather-like skin and a bushy white beard. The other serfs part before him as he approaches. "What's this? Strangers? You must be those vagabonds living out in the woods, stealing our food! You got some nerve to show your faces here in broad daylight!" he says with authority, his chest puffed out.
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Post by GravityEmblem on Mar 3, 2021 14:08:06 GMT -8
"Hmm. Perhaps your leadership will be an improvement," Lillian tells Ladonna.
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Post by HorizonsDream on Mar 3, 2021 17:27:11 GMT -8
"Do we really look like people that would steal your food?" Ladonna asks curiously as she looks over her group. "As I was saying to these fine people, I'm Ser Ladonna Marche, and I'm the owner of this land."
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Post by Daos on Mar 3, 2021 20:34:12 GMT -8
"Owner of--Ser--wha--" the old man sputters in confusion. After taking a moment to compose himself and think things over, he suddenly deflates and changes demeanor considerably. Bowing deeply, he says, "Ser Marche, I humbly welcome you as headman of these lands." He then whirls around at the others. "What are you idiots doing? Bow before your liege, fools!" he snaps. The other serfs quickly drop to their knees.
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Post by HorizonsDream on Mar 3, 2021 21:45:02 GMT -8
"I'm sure this comes to a shock to everyone," Ladonna says. "Please, stand up. I would much rather take a look at my land rather than demand my people bow to me."
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Post by GravityEmblem on Mar 4, 2021 6:01:17 GMT -8
Lillian's opinion of Osbert is rapidly declining. Harsh, and a suck-up. Lovely.
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Post by Daos on Mar 4, 2021 12:19:00 GMT -8
"Oh, of course, of course, Ser Marche," Osbert says, quickly getting to his feet. "I'll be happy to show you whatever you need. We have kept hard at work over the last year, I can promise you that. No slacking going on around here. Not while I'm headman. What would you like to see first? The farm? The ranch?"
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Post by HorizonsDream on Mar 4, 2021 16:06:30 GMT -8
Ladonna doesn't know anything about a farm or ranch, so she picks one at random. "The farm, I suppose," she says. "But you have said you haven't been..slacking around here. Work wise, I can see that," she admits. "But why haven't you been paying your taxes?" she asks.
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Post by Daos on Mar 4, 2021 20:10:57 GMT -8
Osbert makes a slight choking sound, and turns away to cough a bit, before turning back and smoothing out his homespun tunic. "Well, uh, pay taxes to whom, exactly, Ser Marche? With all due respect--I'm sure you're a very busy woman--but we have had no word from anyone in a year now. Some of the serfs were even starting to think the letter we received from the baron a year ago was a forgery or that you never intended to actually come here. Not me, of course. But you know, some of the simpler-minded folk like to talk."
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