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Brauzeit 15th ,2488 IC
My eting with the Cult of Shallya was as well received as the one with the Cult of Sigmar. Although they weren't particularly enthusiastic about the idea of teaching young people to fight, they were excited about the prospect of everyone learning basic wound care and healing techniques, as well as recognizing dicinal plants and processing them into tonics and redies. That, they found inspiring. I proposed that their priests could teach as much as they wanted about healing, as long as they supported the project with either personnel or funds.
The leading priestess of the local cult, without hesitation, sent letters to Altdorf. So ti later, we received formal approval.
After the five days Otto had ntioned, a construction crew arrived, made up of minor architects he had hired. I wanted to take advantage of the winter to launch every possible building project and, at the sa ti, provide work for my people during those difficult months.
During that sa period, several priests of Sigmar arrived as well, including none other than the Arch Lector of Reikland. Fortunately, I was out patrolling the roads after a report of bandits, so his visit—brief and without pomp—went largely unnoticed. I only learned of it because he had left an invitation to visit him in Altdorf, intending to reward for my actions over the past few months. According to my n, far from being offended by my absence, the Arch Lector was quite pleased to hear that I was fulfilling my duties as a noble in service to the Empire.
Even if they offered all the gold in the world, I wouldn't set foot in the heart of Sigmarite faith—but it's good to know they think highly of . Apparently, my "visions" have been deed genuine by both the local priest and the regional lector. So I have the support of the lower ranks… and now the higher ones too.
The real surprise was discovering that the priest of Sigmar in my town had been promoted to Lector. The cult had negotiated directly with the Emperor for Reinsfeld to cease being just a village and officially attain city status. This brought with it several rights:
The right to establish official markets. The right to erect its own wall. The right to form an urban militia. Authorization to found guilds… although I saw that last one more as a punishnt. Frankly, I don't need guilds trying to use their control over production to force privileges.
But the most important of all was the right to self-govern. From now on, I had full freedom to create or abolish taxes at will, without needing permission from the Elector Count. If I wanted to lower tax rates to attract more trade, it was entirely up to . And no one could object.
I thanked the Cult of Sigmar wholeheartedly for all of this. But the best part was that they didn't stop at words. They sent material donations to the project: twenty young priests, freshly out of training—who wouldn't detect a magical signal even if it struck them in the face—and nearly five thousand crowns in direct contributions. They were also considering building a larger temple to house all the new priests.
I had gained much more than I imagined from the simple act of asking a favor from an old priest…Sorry—Lector. Now, Lector of the City of Reinsfeld.
Nearly eight hundred of Otto's n began mobilizing toward a relatively open area near the western road of Reinsfeld, quite close to my castle. The work to level the ground and connect that part of the city to the sewer system had already begun.
anwhile, the minor architects were tasked only with supervising house construction, and another five hundred laborers joined the effort. The construction of the new building would cost approximately six thousand crowns, so with the Cult of Sigmar's donation of nearly five thousand, the project was practically covered. I was grateful for this, as I wouldn't have to bear the full cost myself.
Each day I watched the worksite take shape rapidly. They marked the area, set down stakes, and began raising the foundations of a building ant to stand the test of ti and house a great number of young Imperials.
I waited for the harvest to officially end before making the public announcent that all children between six and fourteen years of age were now required to attend this school. As expected, the news caused unrest among so parents—they would lose their working-age children, who helped both at ho and in the fields. So would even lose several children to this new policy. But at least for now, with the harvest completed, the imdiate need for child labor was minimal, which softened the blow for many families.
When plowing season ca, things would be different. That's why I planned to further expand the distribution of horses and heavy plows to all my peasants. With that, I hoped to reduce the dependence on child labor for the next agricultural cycle.
It was better to announce the good news little by little, at the most opportune mont, to improve public reception. Give them bread, and make them forget you're also the one who beat them with the stick.
As for Rutger… I had asked him to change the market where the pignt was being sold. His complaint was imdiate. He had a buyer network already established in Altdorf, built over months of effort—even when he had nothing to offer them. Switching to Nuln didn't please him at all: the trip was longer, the travel ti doubled, and there was no guarantee it would be equally profitable. There was even the possibility that not everything would sell.
But I needed to divert attention from the Gold College. If the gold wizards insisted on pressing the matter of the pignt, it was better to shift their gaze elsewhere. I also gave Rutger an additional task: if possible, to recruit apprentice blacksmiths in Nuln, as well as glassblowers interested in opening workshops in my territory. I also asked him to look for apprentices who might wish to be sponsored by a noble to settle here.
While Hieronymus and I were working to prepare a significant quantity of pignt, the laboratory bell suddenly rang with urgency, breaking our focus. We were both manipulating the pignt using the Lore of Chamon.
"What's going on now? I thought your servants didn't bother you when you were working here," said Hieronymus as he manipulated several items in the laboratory using his magic.
"It must be important. I made it clear I don't like to be interrupted," I replied, removing the safety goggles and the activated charcoal cloth from my face as I watched the bell continue to ring insistently.
I took off the rest of my safety gear and approached the lower door of the tower, where I kept my laboratory. I opened the steel hatch.
"What?" I asked, annoyed, as I saw the eyes of the guard who wouldn't stop ringing the bell.
"My lord... one of our riders spotted a large force of heavily ard n heading toward us on the road. According to the scout, they carried no banners, but they were ard: halberds, longswords... greatswords."
"Shit," I muttered, beginning to grow nervous. "Call all available n. We need to intercept them while they're still on the road. We can't wait."
As fast as I could, I began putting on all my combat gear, including the runic chainmail. Though it still fit a bit loosely, it wasn't like the first ti I had worn it; I realized how much I had grown in the past few months.
While putting on the armor, I noticed the breastplate was now a little tight. Without wasting ti, I grabbed a steel ingot and, using my magical abilities, lted the armor, integrated the extra tal, and then reford it to its original shape—this ti larger. It fit my torso perfectly, snug like a second skin. A luxury unthinkable for any soldier: being able to reshape your armor daily, just by willing it.
As soon as I finished equipping myself, now fully used to the weight of the chainmail that once hung loose on , I headed for the castle stables. There, I found my n-at-arms already prepared. We mounted up quickly, ready to face whoever was approaching. Everything pointed to the von Kesselheim not waiting—they wanted to strike first, fast and hard.
I had to respond in kind: kill as many as possible with my magic, send a clear ssage that my generation would not be trifled with… and, if possible, wipe them out completely.
We left the castle, and nearly a thousand more n joined us—either nearby or off-duty at the ti. We began marching directly toward the western road, organizing our formation as we moved.
Once we were far enough from the town, I activated my magic. I imdiately sensed a large number of human presences approaching. Many wore armor, and nearly all carried swords, halberds, and crossbows. So even bore massive greatswords.
Most likely, it was a force sent by the von Kesselheim, funded with all the gold they still had left.
I was already beginning to think about what spells I would use to kill them all without my own n realizing I was a magic user. We kept marching toward the group, tension building, until finally we ca face to face.
They were led by n wielding greatswords. I was about to lt their armor onto their bodies, but seeing their hesitation as we approached—so even seed nervous—I began to suspect I might have misjudged the situation.
I rode out of formation on my horse and gave the cot salute with my fingers.
"Blessings of Sigmar," I said loudly.
"Blessings of Sigmar, Baron," replied one of the greatsword-wielding n.
"May I ask why such a large ard force is standing at the gates of my city?" I asked, carefully observing the contingent. Imperial soldiers. Veterans, judging by the scars.
"Did you not invite us, Baron?" the greatsword replied in a calm tone. "That's what our captain told us... that the son of the forr captain of the Greatswords of Carroburg was willing to hire all the veterans from the state regints who wanted to settle in his lands. And here we are. Seems like our arrival wasn't exactly well received... ha ha," he added with a broad grin, spreading his arms theatrically.
"Oh… I see," I answered, swallowing my pride at having made a fool of myself. "I thought you were political rivals. I apologize for the reception… How many are you?"
"Ten from the Greatswords of Carroburg," the veteran answered. "Roughly five hundred swordsn, two hundred halberdiers, eight hundred spearn, and four hundred crossbown. A few days ago, after the harvest ended, the Prince of Reikland—Emperor Luitpold—terminated our contract with the state regints. Many of us who served honorably kept our weapons as part of retirent."
"I understand… I certainly left the invitation open for all of you to co to my lands. I didn't expect all of you to be discharged at once. Still, I'll be glad to receive you in my city. Although I wasn't planning to hire more soldiers until next year, I have a new post ready for you all," I said, riding closer.
"We're all ears, Baron," replied the greatsword, planting his weapon into the earth and leaning on it with one hand on the poml.
"Clearly, you—the Greatswords of Carroburg—will serve as my personal guard. As for the rest, I'd like to incorporate them into the Reinsfeld militia. Recently, the city received imperial permission to organize a citizen militia, independent from my personal forces. I need a unit dedicated exclusively to Reinsfeld's defense. If you're interested… you're all hired as of now," I said with a smile.
The greatsword turned and looked at the rest of the group.
"See? Told you he'd work fast," he said with satisfaction. The group responded with smiles and nods.
"Then allow to guide you back to the city, which will be your new ho. I'll do everything in my power to ensure you have housing as soon as possible," I assured them with genuine enthusiasm. Being able to recruit so many veterans from the state regints was an unexpected blessing.
"My lord Baron," said the veteran, catching my attention as we prepared to march. "Our families stayed behind. We didn't want them to spend the winter in the snow while we built hos. Will there be any trouble when they arrive, after the thaw?"
"Of course not. The more, the rrier," I replied with a sincere smile.
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If there are spelling mistakes, please let know.
Leave a comnt; support is always appreciated.
I remind you to leave your ideas or what you would like to see.
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