With no one currently in the magistrate’s post, I’m tempted to stick Harold there even if it would be difficult to pull off because the King hates me and he’s a key elector. But I find that I can’t. Despite the position’s description saying that you need a citizen title, which everyone in the family has, the game says that Harold isn’t qualified enough. I’m not sure if it’s a bug or if it’s because only the pater familias (i.e. Georg) can apply for posts at full rank. Harold can apply for posts at one rank lower just fine.
But the point becomes moot quickly when someone else gets the post. So off Harold goes again to file his grievance against Kalman Selmeczi and this time it works! In fact, as soon as Harold walks away from the court clerk, we get a message that we don’t need a trial at all because Kalman confesses to his crimes and is sentenced to imprisonment. Hurray!
I expect the rest of summer 1436 to pass uneventfully as we upgrade the businesses we own but this is not to be. Harold is ambushed while tending to his beehives by two thugs who attempt to kidnap him! The hired labor at our orchard shout uselessly while Harold has to fight with his fists against the thugs. Thankfully one of our own house retainers on patrol duty nearby respond in time, and being higher level than the thugs, dispatch them quickly.
Harold is injured and has to visit the medicus. This is annoying not because it costs money but because it takes so long. There’s always a huge queue there and the infirmary is owned by the Muresans, our designated rivals. Nonetheless, we’re happy that our investment in extra guards paid off. It doesn’t look like this was the work of any enemy dynasty. Probably it was just some unaffiliated thugs hoping to make some quick cash.
We have no more incidents of violence up to the end of autumn 1440. The Kant family residence is upgraded to a Gabled House and our pub is upgraded to an Inn, the highest tier in the game. This means that we can now make roast beef, but beef is only rarely available at the market. We can make mead too, but it takes a long time to brew it and few customers seem to want to buy it. So for the most part we still serve wheat beer and salmon fillets. Note that the Muresans still have their old, stinky house instead of a nicely gabled one, whatever that means.
In winter 1444, there is another sabotage attempt on our orchard but this time we catch the perpetrator in the act and gain evidence. It’s King Sergiu Kiss himself! I’m guessing that he’s pissed off at us because he owns the only other orchard on the map so we’re his competitors. He doesn’t let up either. He keeps sending thugs to attack all our businesses, melting away when our house guards show up. He doesn’t cause any actual damage but it’s a constant irritant. The Selmeczis on the other hand seem to have lost interest in me.
Upgrading our house gives our guards a new special action to uncover information about the people in town. We use it on King Kiss to get a detailed look at his character sheet. Without it, we’d just get question marks on all the stats. Look at at how much money he has! It’s not fair too because as far as I can tell, the only business he has is an orchard. Note that his high hit points makes it pretty difficult to harm him in any substantial way before the town guards respond.
We’ll need to do something about this but I’ve learned that going to the court without a whole lot of evidence in one go does nothing because the penalties are so insignificant. So we’re biding our time. Meanwhile, Harold applies for and gets the post of town Executioner. Mostly I wanted to experiment more with how the political system works (it turns out you just have to bribe the electors). The post does pay a stipend every season and gives a Harold a “Piercing Gaze” special ability that supposedly lowers the rhetorical skills on a target. Handy for when I need to win a debate against the King.
By spring 1448, I’ve amassed a ton of evidence against the King because he doesn’t let up with the attacks. Harold Kant goes to the court again to demand justice. And again he gets turned down. I see this is becoming a habit for us. The Kant family is learning that if we really want justice, we need to fight dirty like they do.
Next: we take matters into our own hands but tragedy strikes!
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