In reply to Mustafa Zephyr (msg # 448):

The Elves. He is Sylvaneth's father.  His wife is the current queens daughter.

In reply to Finger of Fate (msg # 449):

Ah, hence reluctance to move...

In reply to Mustafa Zephyr (msg # 450):

Indeed, although he would welcome a better life up North and closer to the Elves now.
He does find a "Wilding" from south of the Sea who is interested and ccurious.
The Wildings south of the Sea were being badly treated when he left.

======
OOC: Still here, just waiting for the audience with the Duke

OK, so we step forward and enter the Duke's study.

I am most interested to hear of all your exploits, you have hinted at some significant changes up there.

Chilled White wine and light sweets are provided.

You do not have to regale us with the whole story, but do mention things you specifically want know or not known.

Not deliberately ommitting anything.
Touching on content of msg #421.
Emphasising:
a) Improved accessibility of elven nation with Sylvaneth as a key player going forwards (and the setting up of diplomatic missions),
b) Border stabilisation by the alliance (including elves, orcs, wildlings) versus Morsvold and the treaty signed by Bishop James in support thereof,
c) Medium term development of (our own) orc military units (shock troops?)
d) Recommend fostering increased trade with elves and wildings (intitially at low levels of taxation)
e) Mustafa to be elevated to the lower level of Barony (or whatever other distinction the Duke may prefer)..
This message was last edited by the player at 19:19, Thu 02 Nov 2023.

In reply to Baron Kenyan Worley (msg # 454):

Mustafa is currently rank 1. What rank is Baron?

Higher than 2

Those are significant changes and for the good it seems. I doubt trade with the Elves and Wildings will be very much, but if we could trade with the Orcs, that has significant potential, as they seem quite numerous. Smoother relations with Morsvold would certainly be desirable, the question is if Bishop James gains power or is shunted aside.
I doubt we can use Princess Sylvaneth as our liaison with the Elves, but it will be good to have friends in their court. Baron Worley, could you employ Sylvaneth's father, Ser Bingsley,  in some capacity in your Northern lands? He is a knight and a very competent diplomat as well. He might be a very good choice as a liaison with the Elves and wildings. Hmm, perhaps I should employ him instead of having you do so, if I recall there is a smallish holding with a decent manse and walled compound that has had constant issues as the Elves didn't want any trees cut or animals harvested ... perhaps he is the answer to that issue as well.  Thank you for getting me thinking along the right lines.

Lastly, as you have asked multiple times He smiles I will grant Mustafa the title of Baron of the lands he has so well cared for in my name. And You Kenyan will assume the Titles of Count of Lucious Meadows & Marquis of the Northern Marches, which is what we will now call the NW Catheran lands you have watched over as well.  Ser Bingsley* will be your most northwestern Baronet.

Kenyan bows and holds it longer than usual, "Thank you, Your Grace, that is most gracious. I think your planned deployment of Sylvaneth's father is fitting: gives him space to grow. I believe he will not disappoint."

He turns to Mustafa, offers a slight bow. "Congratulations, My Lord," he delivers with a warm smile.
This message was last edited by the player at 18:43, Tue 07 Nov 2023.

Given the current situations, with only Count Worley being readily available, I'm going to let the game rest for a bit until we all have time to devote again.

I am assuming that Count Worley goes to tell his wife, as does Baron Mustafa, who will have to learn to dance and which fork or spoon to use, as well as not drinking from the finger bowls.  ;-)

Baron and Baroness Zephyr will be invited to spend time with Kenyan and his better half. Such things can be discreetly learned there.

In reply to Baron Kenyan Worley (msg # 458):

Sounds good. Mustafa will learn what is needed to be a Baron, though will remain more a Baron of the people rather than high society...

Hope all is going well with you all.
Busy  time here and Thanksgiving is coming up fast.
Thanksgivving is a big holiday in the US  and has spread to a few other countries.
I have a small (12-16 pound - roughly 6-8 kilo ) Wild Turkey on order. It is actually a farm raised bird, but not one of those artificialy altered Domestic Birds. The flavor is noticably different and explains much about our ancestor's appreciation of these birds as a special occassion meal. The domestic farm raised birds are much less appealing in my opinion, I don't care if they have three times the breast meat.

My family has always preferred the dark meat; we are still trying to cross breed a chicken with a centipede to get a chicken with more than two legs.

Stay safe, Keep warm, except for Bluedwarf who likely needs to try and stay cool.

In reply to Finger of Fate (msg # 463):

Thank you guys.

Things are good here, Air conditioning works well but internet does not.

Good luck with the centichook. When you get that worked out, try crossing them with lambs...though I suspect that may be a baaaad idea...

Not Centi-Chick? Chickapede?  Laughing.

Not sure what Lambs would add other than more meat.
Lamb is a bad word here as US Producers claim any sheep under one year old is a Lamb.
In Europe and the middleeast it's a Lamb only as longas it is still nursing on it's Mom.
For Chris, so she understand how the farmers/producers could be so mean, what they are actually doing is getting rid of all the male lambs in excess of what they need to keep the herd doing well. Fights between Rams over the females are not at all desirable, so many little boy Lambs get culled. Or maybe you knew that!

I am so tired of doing these medical visits to Tucson, but it is helping my wife a lot. So on it goes as needed.

In reply to Finger of Fate (msg # 465):

But important to do it for her!

In reply to Baron Mustafa Zephyr (msg # 466):

Well Yes, no question.

I can't believe I actually looked up "centichook". Ha! You got me.

***
I didn't know that about the farming practises. It still sounds better than cockroach smoothies which some of our papers were talking about last year.

***
Goes without saying prayers and best wishes for you wife.

Cockroach smoothies? Oh Lord, my glass would be over full in seconds and it would upset my stomach for a long time to come.
There are limits I am afraid

Thanks for all the good wishes, she is springing back slowly.

In reply to Finger of Fate (msg # 469):

Yeah, bug for breakfast is not my thing.

Great to hear your wife is getting better!

Many Thanks to you both. Things are coming together. Pic ed up my 14.5 pound (6.6 Kg) Turkey for Thursday.
A wild turkey, even farmraised, is quite different from a standard domestic Turkey.
Much more flavor and not so much breast meat. I call the domestic Turkey's Hollywood birds for a reason. Tacky, I know...


Oh well, don't want to bore you with all this, would that you were closer and could enjoy the celebration here.

I am trying to get the story back on track in my head ... so I can do it here...

I've often wondered, what's the origin of Thanksgiving? Is it in place of the UK's hristmas festivities?

No, It was a feast started by the early pilgrims in thanks for the good harvest and the help of the local Indians, who showed them how to grow native plants they were not familiar with (corn, potatoes, many if not all kinds of peppers and tomatoes are new world foods, as is the Turkey).
It bacame a custom in the New England area and spread to the rest of the US over time. New England has fairly harsh winters by English standards and they had to prepare for that as well, saving enough food to last them as much as 6 months or so.