Henry sits at one of the central tables in the Grand Hall of the Southern Chapter’s meeting house.  At one end there is a raised platform with larger chairs, one almost a small throne, on it -  but they are only used on the most formal occasions.  While his own banner hangs over the small throne, Henry prefers more informal meeting arrangements.

The hall is lavishly decorated, with panelled walls decorated with the arms and banners of the members.  For a moment he smiles contentedly, as he remembers the early days when there were just half-a-dozen people, now there are forty or so Knights and Members of the Order - with their followers all pledged to defend this land.  From a wilderness, to a full-blown province of Brevoy, along with the independent city state of Tusk and Old Castle out there in the Narlemarch …  but down to business.

Two new people to talk to, one sent by his brother-in-law to be rewarded for his family’s support in developing the trade route north.  The other, a merchant, from Fort Drelev.  Not the first settler from Fort Drelev, but certainly the wealthiest and most influential.  Henry looks up, as they are shown into the hall.

OOC:  A fuzzy thread to introduce Theold and Tobias.  Feel free to come in and chat

A man, clad in a nice green shirt and a plaid kilt steps into the large hall. His blond hair is tied behind his head and his sky blue eyes scan the room before resting upon the Viscount of the Midmarch. In true Stonewall fashion he places his fist on his chest and bows in front of the man that had invited him. As he erects himself he looks at those present and notices a lack of heavy weaponry. He allows himself to smile as he remembers the advice old Ganish gave him, replacing his heavy weapon of war for a long dagger.
“It’s an honor to finally meet you Lord Henry.” He finally says, “It was a long trip to your holdings and I’m glad I had time to refresh myself.” Thinking back he tries to remember what he’s seen on his trip to the Stolen lands but he remembers little.

At a fingerspan under three foot, Tobias knew he would never be the most imposing of those ushered into the Viscount's presence, but he put his best foot forward, an easy smile on his face, as he followed the tall Stonewaller into the Grand Hall. Dressed in a linen shirt, dark trous and his Uncle Lem's second-best waistcoat - newly embroidered with the sigil of Lilycotton Holdings, his house - he presented as the successful merchant he was, and only the wrappings and bandages over his hands and forearms spoke differently. He carried no weapons, and few other accountments of any note.

His easy smile carried him toward the raised dias where the Viscount sat beneath his banner, a few paces behind, and he bowed gracefully if with a hint of unfamiliarity, hurrying to stand next to the man, "Lord Henry; Tobias Cotton, once of Fort Drelev, at your service"

Glancing up at the kilted figure next to him, he offered a smile and a nod in greeting

"Take a seat." Henry indicates the many spare seats at the table, before turning to a black clad man, who has been standing in the background.  "Bart?  Will you fetch some refreshments for our guests, and then join us, of course."

"Brother Bart is one of my longest serving retainers.  He was on our first expedition ...  but I digress.  Tell me what you hope to achieve here, in our new lands.  I am always interested to hear people's plans."

OOC:  Open thread if any PCs, Cohorts, Entourages wish to join us and get to know new people.

Theold nods his head once more and once towards the Halfling (I assume you're a Halfling) before sitting down at the table. Taking the cup from "Bart" he takes a sip: "Plans my lord? My father send me with the promise of business into these parts. Wool is our family's gold and we're quite handy with steel too. We'd like to see and tame part of this region to help people help themselves. Too many a man are standing on the legs of dead people. Wouldn't you agree?" Unable to get comfortable here, Theold's left leg starts to fidged ever so slightly, after a little time he's able to control it.

Deftly ensuring he had secured a cushion or two, the young halfling merchant clambered up to join Lord Henry and this other newcomer at the table, taking only a light repast by halfling standards. He nodded politely as Theold spoke, offering his own wisdom once the man had finished, “It is true, Master Stonewaller, though in Fort Drelev we have seen strife from men who stand on their own feet also. Trading has become difficult there, as you’re aware Lord Henry, taxes stifling opportunities as my Uncle would say. That’s what brings me east, a shove and a tug both”

Chuckling a little to himself, he added, “I’m hoping to re establish myself here, trading up and down the rivers. But I’m yet to decide where best to start: Midmarch, Tusk, one of the smaller settlements. In time I would hope to take some of the Lakeland’s even further east”
This message was last edited by the player at 15:22, Sat 05 Nov 2022.

Henry nods thoughtfully as the two newcomers speak, weighing their words carefully.  He turns to Theold first ”I understand that my brother-in-law has come to an arrangement with your father, that for his support for DELEM’s plans to build a trade route north through Stonewall, we would help you get established here.  As our part of the arrangement, I am prepared to place  Westgate under your control.  It is a small town, not much there yet, originally built to act as a gateway to Midmarch but, now we have expanded west, it has become a stopping place on our northern trade road, and DELEM is the main developer there.  If you are up to it, you will be able to develop the town and eventually claim the title of Lord or Westgate.  There is even land to expand your holdings.  However, the land there flat and fertile, and better suited to crops rather than sheep.  But then, there is always a market for corn.  Baron Lebeda-Ondari, of Ringbridge, is developing a healthy trade in Woll based around his hillier holdings.”  Then he turns to Brother Bart, ”You have the papers ready?” and when Bart nods, Henry indicates that the papers should be passed across to Theold.

As Theold reads the papers, Henry turns to Tobias, and a light smile plays across his lips as he speaks.  ”While you won’t find the tax regime, or the environment, as restricting as in Fort Drelev, you will find competition on the waterways around The Southern Region.  V&A Shipping are a large merchant house, with ships that link us to both Restov and and Mivon.  House Yitis are smaller, and deal in ferry services and local trade.  However, both Lord Marik and the Lady Safiya also have smaller Merchant Houses with their own agendas.

Lakelands to the East?  Do you mean around Lake Silverstep?  Lord Domitius, and his party, are exploring that area at the moment, and I believe he has an eye on settling there as well.

With the rest of Lord Domitius retinue scattered around Midmarch Tic found himself waiting of to one side listening to the goings on.  He sat quietly barely calling attention to himself unless a pretty maid walked past then he gave a smile.  TTic was dressed in the livery of House Solanus red with three golden suns, on his sash was the Black Griffon Domitius's personal emblazon on the houses colours.

He watched the other halfling closely then hearing Dom's name he felt it was time to speak though strictly speaking it probably wasn'y his place.  Then again Tic had never been particularly good at knowing his place.  "Lord Henry speaks true good sirs, Lord Domitius inteands to ettle the lands around the lake but he has always been friendly to the small folk and I was planning on moving most of my clan out there once things are more established.  Indeed Lord Domitius has spoken about setting up a Great Kennel at some point to breed riding dogs for our people and the folks in Jovvox.  I suspect the foothills would be a good place to start herding sheep too for that matter."

“Did someone say small folk?” Magatha strutted into the room. “Who’s smaller than me?”

Looking around, Magatha noted that she might just have an inch or two on a few of these fellows. Nothing wrong with that. “Boats and goats, is it? Oh no. Ships and sheep.”

*********

Magatha is a gnome standing 3'2" high and weighing 35 pounds carrying herself as if she were the Queen of the World. She has magenta (reddish purple) hair and chartreuse (yellow-green) eyes. Magatha is fearless. She is relentless. She is also kind of nice.

Nodding along to Lord Henry's words, with a pleased smile at the promise of a less oppressive tax regime, it seemed Tobias was not overly surprised that others had staked a claim to Lake Silverstep already. He sipped at the tissane that had been provided to gather his thoughts in response, when the other halfling offered a little more background.

"Perhaps the Lord Domitius would welcome investors", he mused, considering the riding dogs both he and his cousin were fond of, "Either in the settlement or the kennels..."

He trailed off, considering, until Magatha entered the room. She also earned a tip of the head, and he offered her a greeting in gnomish, adding in the common tongue, "And it would be my folk with the interest in ships... though we are still considering where to base our operations"

“Where are my manners?” Magenta gave Henry a well executed curtsy. “King Henry.” For good measure, she thought it polite to honor the other guests with a bow so she dipped low at the waist and then leaned up. “We’re going to start building a port in Silverton soon as well. I think Cass called it a quayside.”
This message was last edited by the player at 23:07, Sat 05 Nov 2022.