>>5511747It had been a month since you held council with your (former)vassals at Kendergard. Things had not gone well. With your armies weakened and the monster repelling aura of the Dragon shard gone you’ve lost your biggest export: protection. Seeing no further benefit to being your vassal, Duke Nigel Kireon had backed out of your original deal of offering protection in exchange for favourable trade terms. You could still trade with him, but the bastard had jacked up tariffs and merchants from Kireon lands would charge you a premium.
House Kireon was your doorway to the world; your land could just about cover it’s basic needs but there were many goods and services that had to be imported such as textiles and quality metals. Besides military support Falkner’s own exports consisted of trading whatever exotic materials could be stripped from the carcasses of the beasts hunted in the ash wastes. Meat, hides, organs and bones sold for high prices to those who sought them out, but it was a niche market. Generally, only mages, artificers and eccentric gourmands were interested in monster carcasses. Not enough to constitute an “industry” and not enough to make up for the losses incurred from doing business with Kireon.
The one ally you had left was House Rythvane; a secretive house renowned for its skilled mages whose realm consisted mostly of thick monster infested forests. Despite your nominal good relations, you weren’t sure how far you could trust them. Duke Pallas Rythvane had agreed to continue supporting you but in exchange you had to appoint one of his people as the head mage of your court. In fact said person was arriving today.
Props to Anon for the fancy map>Cont 