Quoted By:
“Of course not. But the price is small.” Di Interres counted off his fingers, “Declare myself to the Vitelian Vanguard, make suitable donations, lend the factories of my territories to the cause of him and the Augustan clique, and marry myself off. The last one an offer I could not hope for better from. I am held in contempt by too many to sully their daughters with one of my merchant’s blood, yet the up and coming Di Portaltramanto offers me a cousin to tie myself into their blood? He offers me legitimacy on top of everything else. So what would you offer me instead?” Di Interres crossed one leg over the other, now feeling confident in the words he spoke. “If I don’t like it, I think I’ll take my chances with Di Portaltramanto’s offer of aid. Then we can crush the Giardino Rosso, and you can extricate yourself from my lands before you aggravate me further. Yes, that sounds good to me already…”
Things had gotten more difficult. Yet you could tell that Di Interres was afraid of escalation. Afraid you might do something rash before any aid that might be promised could arrive. Too much was a <span class="mu-i">maybe</span> or a mere possibility, no guarantee. The fact of the matter was, if Julio really was giving him the best deal, he wouldn’t be coming to you…and if you <span class="mu-i">did</span> refuse him, you knew the <span class="mu-i">Comte</span> Di Portaltramanto would drive an even harder bargain.
>Di Interres could try his luck, then. It sounded to you like he wanted to have fun with the Giardino Rosso more than he wanted to deal with you. When time came to restore order, you’d be there to pick up the pieces.
>What did he expect, for you to kiss his feet? You could make the same offer to him as Di Larencci. He keeps the financial and economic assets of his provincial capital. Everything else, would be yours, and he’d help you get it. Take it or leave it. If he agreed, you’d defend his capital. But you wouldn’t be destroying the Red Garden without help.
>Fine. You could defeat the Giardino Rosso for him, in exchange for suitable reward- make it an alliance. Yet if he tried to stab you in the back, you’d take that as free reign to take everything away from him. Let him test you if he wants.
>The honey may be better for somebody like this. Offer most generous terms- that you only wish to collect willing volunteers, and half the take from the counties of the province. This was even better than Di Larencci could claim…you'd even take care of the Red Garden.
>Other?
Also-
>Command your men to move aside- and let the Giardino Rosso’s force through.
>Order your men to dig in- and respond with your own ultimatum. If the Giardino Rosso try to move into your territory, they’ll have to fight through you.
>Other?
On top of that-
>Give three rolls of 1d100 for when Yena gives birth next turn, time for your eighth kid.
