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Welp, i follow this blowhard and he actually starts leading us to that castle they have in the middle of the city. The guards seem to make way for the old bastard as gates get opened. At least until the Last gate where swords get drawn and we're made to stop while the dwarf hands his mail to the guards. we're escorted inside and taken to what looks like a throne room, small one, the more we walk the more i hear what sounds like an argument.
"Even if we could levy the commoners like peasants, which we can't, we'd have nothing to pay them with!"
"We could make new taxes?"
"And tax what, what would we tax, a few pieces of their stored jerky, or the dirt they grow our crops? There isn't enough coin in this fucking place to fund a levy!"
"Could cut a deal with the Orcs? Maybe we can trade supplies for time until Jinland comes?"
"Oh, so we give them the potions we make from the marsh weeds so they have an easier time sacking this pass. Brilliant fucking idea."
I get a good look at the two arguing, it's a kid no older than sixteen holding a metal wine cup dressed in some clothes that look modestly better than anyone elses here and an older man in what look like monk robes turned into a kinda suit. "Duke Jian! Ye brat!"
"Gods damnit, what does the guild want now Ironclaim?" The kid asks as he faces the dwarf, shit, i knew this place was in a bad way, but they have a actual kid leading them.
"when be tha manlings o' jinland going ta arrive! it's been weeks! ye've told us nothing since!"
"It's been weeks because word has to travel from their southern capital. I sent for troops, if we're fortunate they'll arrive in a day or-"
The doors behind us fly open as a man carrying a round carry bag and rugged but well maintained clothes shoulder checks the door and calls in. "Your lordship! I come with news from the rulership of Jinland!" He shouts panting.
"Read it messenger! Hurry!"
He pulls this scroll out of the carrying bag, more of a case now that i see it better, and starts reading.
<span class="mu-s">"To the ever loyal Duke Jian Maronoch.
The crown of Jinland has been appraised of the situation with the orcish barbarians on your section of the frontier, their seizure of control of Limeprison, and we are aware of the reinforcements the greenskins have received from their kin's neighboring strongholds outside of your tributary. While the losses we will face will be painful, we have moved our forces to the border of Jinland where they will repell and crush the Orcish horde once they have been bleed fighting your forces and taking your city's walls. We are grateful the sacrifices you are willingly making for the-"</span>
The child duke hurls his cup out of one of the stained glass windows of the castle. Interrupting the courier and turning to shout at him. "Carry these words back to the fucking Jinni's! If we somehow survive this! I will make damn sure as many of their footmen are bleeding on my walls as i can strap to them! <span class="mu-s"> NOW GET OUT OF MY CITY!</span>"
