Dessos, the Sandstone City, has seen better days. Centered around the oasis that collects river water from the green lands in the north, this city of hunters has been having a bad two years. With the water poisoned, they had to resort to over hunting and painstakingly turning seawater form even farther south into drinkable water. It's population has thinned out considerably with a few considerable exceptions.
The city's Shaman population has actually grown due to the fact that the water is filled with Curse energy. They say that the Beast at the bottom of the oasis sleeps more soundly because of it.
Caskis Shae sits on his meager throne as he contemplates his next move. The Shamans stay and grow not because of the Curse energy, but the incoming purity that comes after. Their communications with the Spirits has always helped this city.
The earth gnomes and wind sparrows relayed this message through them: A city will come and cut through the rot. A city will come and make Holy blessings out of Death and Curse. A city will grow and feed the masses.
It goes on like this for at least 5 paragraphs. He wasn't really listening.
But just as he was about to go back to his office to try to gain a firm grip on his city's budget, he heard screams and cheers. Rushing out into the square brought him into a state of shock. Pure blue water pushed the Curse away. The swirl of blue and purple danced as the purple shrunk and drained away into the deep.
They were right. And he needed to find out why.
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Howard Statten was stripped of his Count title and put in prison for stealing fund from his students totaling in 15 Platinum coins worth of riches alongside being a part of 8 murders of noble children. He will be quietly beheaded on the 18th of November, shortly after the festival of Final Harvest where the last of the fruit will be plucked from the orchards.
He almost gotten away with it, if it wasn't for the Dean having the ear of the King himself. 25 Platinum was half of the Kingdom's budget and should be moving through each city instead of stagnating in the now torn apart Statten Keep. Everything of worth was confiscated to be sold. Much of it will go to the families that had to grieve in silence and the rest will go to those still alive in the hopes of appeasing the generations of geniuses.
Howard is 65 years old, so going back through the years to see what he stole and who he stole it from is making the King's investigators sick. The current Court Mage himself was only 35 and even he was robbed of some reward funds. He's a father of three who burst into tears at the amount of money he was finally getting.
The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.
Statten looked at the full moon through the bars in his cell as he wondered, "How did this happen?"
\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/
"Demyx, enlighten me please. What are these things doing here?" Marcus pinched the bridge of his nose as he looked upon the new barn and grazing pasture.
Demyx Fortind, of the Fortind Trading company, was smiling ear to ear. "I was going to follow your instructions and use the funds from selling the grain to buy a herd of sheep. But, I found these big boys for one third of a sheep each."
"These are Quad-horn Rams." Marcus stated flatly as he looked upon the monster pasture.
Quad-horn Rams are three times the size of the standard sheep with four horns instead of the usual two. They are needlessly proud and temperamental. People tried to domesticate them due to the fact that any wool that gets cut will regrow in the morning as if nothing happened.
But they are monsters. Ones that have a nasty habit of electrifying their fluffy coats if they feel slighted.
The young baron let out a sigh as he watched them munch on the grass, "We'll keep them for now." One of them made a happy sound as they saw the grass they chomped regrow.
\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/
Madeline was sitting and drinking tea on her day off in the Lord's Manor. She's been coming here more often than not and didn't regret her decision. Royal maids are different for those that worked for other noble houses. Namely that they are allowed to kill the one they serve.
There are two precedents. The first and second born princes both forced themselves upon their maids and both met a bloody end for it. Of course, there are 6 more princes and 7 princesses, so it wasn't a huge loss. But the maids were given new identities and moved to new locations. Neither of them were executed for defending themselves.
So she has much more freedom in comparison to the others. She was in this comfortable limbo of a relationship with Marcus Allen, who always said his piece and got to work. She often thinks about his former fiancé. Celene Grid never talked to him, never met him, and never opposed the annulment.
Last she heard from the other maids, Lady Grid is to be wed to Lord Samuel Drake in the far north of the Boreal Kingdom. Port Drake being one of the most bountiful trading centers connected to two other continents.
She's happy with the current arrangement. But something Marcus said caught her off guard. There is nothing stopping you from moving in, you know.
\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/
Haden Boreal was the King. He was praised as one of the greatest commanders and peace keepers of his time. But this was the third time he heard about the Allen territory. First from his son, who told him about his maid and a weaving machine and the young Baron that he suspects might have a stronger [Mystic Eye] than the Dean of the Academy.
Second was from the Dean himself asking for help investigating a fraud/embezzlement/murder case. It was disgusting and horrifying as he personally aided the investigation. 25 Platinum coin total was no laughing matter. Each platinum was 100 Gold which was three years taxes for a baron.
Third was from the Fortind Trading company. 63 keg barrels filled with wheat and another 45 filled with oats sold to the trading company by none other than Marcus Allen himself.
He couldn't wait to hear what happens next.
