Peasants Requests

[Zachrin]

A group of peasants from the peasant towns arrive at the Viceregal castle hot, sweating, and wielding wheat forks. They seem very upset about the heat and the stillness of the air. They seem to call out for action.

"Monarch, we need money to deal with this crisis. How much will you give us to help us or shall we be ignored?"

[OOC: This is an RP event for mayors and others to interact with. Mayors will have until March 31st end of day before reset to give an answer. The money will be taken from VR inventory and the response of the peasants posted here and in the VR event log]

[Drydan]

Whoops wrong thread lol should be in Kiene not Fenia

[Zuan]

The King watches from on-high at the balcony positioned above the open courtyard of the castle which was now filled with a horde of peasants. They were armed with what they could bring from their fields, but little else. Some of those who brandished weapons, were quickly met with an armed force as the Castle Guard moved into position, blocking all exits and barring all doors, as the guards pointed both spear and shield towards the peasant militia in case violence ensued. Whilst Zuan hoped it did not come to that, he was not going to take any risks, he would not put the lives of those inside the castle in jeopardy for a request which seemed so mundane.

He wondered exactly which particularly stupid peasant thought that he controlled the sun, yet it was true the heat was unnatural. Even at this time of year Fenia was still considered to be in the winter-lands, yet no one was wearing bear fur cloaks, nor were there needs for large heated hearths and fires. Instead many wore basic clothes, to give themselves what little cool they could find, and used what little ice remained to keep their meats and food produced fit for eating. Zuan could only blame one person, where as others would seek prayer and salvation from this individual, he would seek it's head. It was time the cruelty, and savagery of the mages be exposed to all. No good or just being would let their creations suffer, yet here was an example where those over zealous mages were happy to watch their people bake and starve in the sun, and let revolt and rebellion crush all organized structure and well-being in the land. Zuan could not let this happen.

Heading away from the window and over to the octagon oak table in the centre of the room, he poured over one book in particular, which was about the Myths & Legends of Secfenia. He figured that what a good way to raise people's morale and spirit, as well as head towards his final goal of mage elimination - than a Quest! Yes, he would find a band of good and just knights and quest for the legendary...legendary what though?
He cycled through the text, past legendary dragons, miniatures and the toe nail of the hag Birtha all the way to the chapter called 'Weather and Warlocks', there he found it. He would quest for the Warlock of Weather, who with this individuals arcane powers he would return the land of Fenia back to it's blissful Winter self, as well as deliver a blow to the mages plan of chaos and strife. This is how he would solve the Peasant Request.

He walked towards the balcony, and managed to hush the peasants silent. "It is clear that our lands of blissful winter and snow have been cursed by the Mages. We should not sit by and pray for salvation, as that is not the Fenian Way! No. We should act! I have decided that we can solve this crisis by doing many a thing. Firstly I will reduce taxes on hats, to assure every worker can afford a hat and keep them from the shade. We shall also bar our priests from worshipping these false deities, who simply wish to see us suffer in hardship! But that shall not happen, as I will lead a group of individuals on a Quest, to find the Legendary Warlock of Weather! Who once located will be able to reverse this heathens curse! he will bring back the snow and winter of Fenia from which we thrive! And we will show those poxy mages that we Fenians do not bow to anybody!"

[Morghain]

As the rumors and mutterings had taken her to the Imperius Town Hall, so they also lead her a merry trail towards Fenias Castle. She arrives just in time to hear Zuan come out on to the balcony and begin to address the crowd. She is somewhat impressed to start with but as he continues to speak..she feels herself die a little on the inside. The more he goes on, the greater the sense of second hand embarrassment she feels. She mutters to herself, "By the Blood, is that really the best you could come up with?"

She suspected the peasants, while perhaps thinking this a brilliant idea initially, would soon realize that it was a plan that would take time to be of any use to anyone. Chances were, it was some idiot meddling where they should not that had got them into this position to start with, having another weather worker meddle could only mean trouble. With a sigh, she makes herself comfortable, intending on listening through this entire torture session. While Zuan planned his adventure to go off and find some weather warlock, she'd consider what could be done more immediately to alleviate the sheeps discomfort. Perhaps a sheep dip could be built...

[Zachrin]

The peasants murmur among themselves. Several voices can be heard:

"Lower the tax? What does that matter if we don't have enough money to buy the hat? Come on, give us something."

"He speaks blasphemy! Maybe it's a curse from the Mages for him being a heathen!"

"Shhh. Our King knows best. If we trust him, he'll find a way"

"Why won't anyone give us something to drink? If I only had the money..."

[Zuan]

He frowned softly at the crowd thinking over his words, to him the claim they had little money hardly made sense. Average wages in Fenia were high, and they had the cheapest goods in the land. One could buy up to ten drinks, or 3 bottles of milk with one days wages alone. Not to mention in similar numbers they could buy three loaves of bread for the same amount. And in two days could easily afford food, liquids and shelter in the form of a hat. He was not going to give money for things which they could easily purchase like every other citizen, including himself had to do. He would not damage the economy over peasantry greed.

Turning to Morghain he spoke privately to her. "Since I will have to go off on this little 'adventure' and you are currently in the Viceroy Office, I will leave this little rabble in your hands. You and I both know their notions are fool hardy, stirred up by some greedy drunkard no doubt. If they get rowdy, well we can always find more peasants. Though I'll leave it to you to decide what is best. I'll need to send off a few letters to see who will join on this errand to find this Warlock. I am tired of these Mages getting in the way of things they do not have rights to meddle with. They let us suffer, they let the people suffer and they crave anarchy. Well I think it's time we made them suffer. No more shall we be at their whims."

With that he headed from the chamber, and out through a corridor to send out some ravens with messages to individuals around the lands.

[Casimir]

Casimir's eyes narrowed as he observed everyone there, their scents each individually stuffing the tavern, a neutral domain with foreign sounds. A frown played ever so gracefully upon his lips, his features hardened and his jaw clenched as he bit upon his teeth in thought.
He'd contemplated on this moment for so long now, his eyes shifted towards his friend, his comrade, Novac and back to the seated group, the table luckily wide enough to seat all of them.
It took a chime or so until there was absolute and utter silence within the suffocating indoors of the tavern, yet it was quickly killed off by the deafening creak of his weight upon the his wooden chair when he sighed a conflicted breath.
"God's teeth! It is hot!" Said Novac, bringing his mug of ale to his lips and gulp it down in one breath. Casimir merely nodded his head. The heat was bearing down upon them, suffocating, smothering, unrelenting. He felt the beads of sweat dampening his hair and dripping from his brow, trickling down his cheeks and down to his armor. The shirt he had beneath his armor was also drenched and sticky.
"Tuh'd freha. Dyga ed mega y syh.*" Novac's brother didn't know how to speak in common grounds and ancient language Al Bhed was all he could speak. Novac's brother had a desperate but yet murderous look in his green eyes when he spoke to his brother. Casimir's brow furrowed in to a scowl as he tried to understand, but from the glare Novac gave to his brother, he could only guess it wasn't anything good.
Novac, not wishing to get into a verbal fight signaled the bartender to fill his mug with ale to appease his thirst. But the negative answer only enraged Novac further.

"No drinks now!? Bloody hell!" He vented smacking the base of his mug forcefully on the table. It wasn't too long until their superior bursted in the tavern, demanding his soldiers to arm up and meet at the castle's gate. No explanation was given, nor it wasn't needed. Soldiers were only meant to follow them and not question them. Casimir wrapped the belt with his sword back to his waist and hesitated to wear his helmet.
With the heat outside and the flaming sunlight, wearing an helmet wasn't appealing. From Novac's face of disgust when putting the armor, Casimir knew he thought the same. He sighed heavily and placed the helmet and then followed the rest to the castle's gates.
Upon arriving there, he didn't think he would expect to see such a mass of people gathered under this heat.
"Unsheathe your swords lads and raise your shields. Things are about to get ugly." Their superior said taking his position upfront his soldiers and signaling them to stay together and march over the populace.
"Aye, get ugly. What they ought to do? Kill us with their chickens?" Novac mocked with the situation and spoke in Al Bhed dialect to his brother whom snorted.
"Never underestimate the power of an angry populace." Casimir spoke in a low serious voice as he kept up his pace with the rest of the knights. He had seen his share of mass revolts of angry populace for reasons that he would consider petty.

Some of the men in the midst of the crowd tried to force their way and threatened to use their own weapons against the royal guard. These were met with strong shields, spears and swords that would not hesitate to cut flesh or end lives if it came down to that.
The king spoke and the crowd went silent, but these only lasted few moments. The horde of peasants manifested their disapproval by trying to pierce the wall of knights, hitting their pitchforks heavily on the knights shields.
Blasphemy and heathen were the more commons words Casimir listened from the mass of people, struggling to keep his ground when a very large man tried to push him off. The large man was met with a sword to his guts but not with enough force to cut his skin.
Eventually the people calmed down and gave up in trying to gain access to the castle, returning to their homes.
"Something tells me tomorrow it will be worse." Casimir's superior said in a dead serious voice as he sheathed back his sword. His look transmitted disbelief that this matter would be resolved peacefully.
"You will stay on patrol today. We can't let our guards down." He ordered Casimir and then looked to Novac and his brother, ordering them as well, before taking off and give out some more orders to his other knights.
"Bloody wonderful! Now we get to stay up all night in this hellish weather..." Casimir only shrugged as a reply to Novac. It could be worse he thought to himself. They could have been sent on a quest far away from Fenia.


*"Don't whine. Take it like a man."

[Morghain]

With half her attention on the scene below her, she listens as Zuan speaks. Her expression soon shutters as he informs her that he is leaving the dealings of this situation to her, unimpressed at the thought of having to spend more time interacting with the sheep than she'd prefer. With a nod of assent, she watches as he turns and returns to his chambers.

As soon as he is safely inside and away from this...unpleasantness, she climbs up onto the edge of the balcony and perches, silently gazing down at the mob below her. Feeling her tension, her ever present companions, Andy and Philanges, brace themselves on her shoulders (think Thing from Addams family!). It is not long before some of the peasants notice her watching them and stare up at her expectantly. When she speaks, her tone is low and calm, just loud enough for the mob below to hear her.

"Ungrateful little sheep, you come to your Kings home demanding money to deal with this unusual weather, look around you! she points in the direction of the lake "there you have a lake in which you may swim in" points in the opposite direction towards the forests "there you have trees that give you shade"points towards the central market areas"there you have buildings that shelter you, taverns that provide cool drinks and fountains for fresh cool water. He offers employment by which you may earn freznics, contributing to the wider community so you may hold your head proud knowing you have been part of Fenias greatness and here you are bleating at him that you have no money to acquire lifes basic necessities? If you can not provide for yourselves among this plentitude, it can mean only one thing....you little sheep, are weak and lazy. Do you know what happens to weak, lazy sheep in a herd?"

She pauses a moment to allow the peasants to think about what she has said and to reply.

[Zachrin]

Some of the peasants grumbled quite loudly.

"Lazy?!? Plentiful? They don't really have a clue do they? Thousands of us to the few jobs we can do for pay. Barely survive at times!"

"Ungrateful. We'll see how ungrateful they are when they need our help"

The crowd seems to disperse mostly with a defeated look and they don't seem more loyal... The clerical staff reports money missing from the Viceroyalty. Could it be a conspiracy?

[Zuan]

	To the Citizens of the Kingdom It has recently been reported that gold from the Kingdom coffers has been stolen, since none but the council and clerical staff have access to this chamber and no one councillor has been found to be responsible we have taken action against the clerics. The clerics have from henceforth been disposed of as worshippers of the mages who curse us and thus false citizens of Fenia. Any individuals found working with or for the clerics or assisting in this theft will be dealt with by the army in a severe but just manner. We will not have the selfish minority harm the hardworkign majority. Each day our councillors spend hours upon hours assuring the mines, taverns, markets and cities remain open and protected from bandits, hostilities and enemies. Any individual who attempts to steal from the kingdom is therefore stealing from the people and in doing so is showing their hatred and dislike to the kingdom of Fenia. Those loyal and hard working will be rewarded and protected, we will continue to offer high wages, and low market prices to assure each day you live here is a day your life is improved. We will not stop in our ambitions to keep the people of Fenia safe, fed, and economically well-off. Similarly we will not stop with our goals to stop the mages and their curses and remind them that we bow to no-one. I hereby also suggest that the leader of the mages show his face and his motives to us all, else he is but a coward and nothing more. If he wishes for worship then he should earn it, ignore us any more and we will fight back. You've been warned. King Zuan I