>>5714736You squint. You aren’t entirely sure it is a fair deal, actually. Fur and food are very necessary, especially until you can produce your own, but even with the vague additions of ‘livestock’ and ‘perhaps some other trade goods’, the orichalcum, gold, and gems must surely be worth more by weight. It seems that, if the Baron respects you more as a person, he has also come to fear you less as a creature. You look to Ekaterine, but she looks back helplessly; she is well-read in the so-called 'humanities', and a very intelligent creature, but she is not an economist. You dearly miss the North-Merchant.
“In addition,” the Baron interrupts your thoughts, “we will swear to whatever gods might be hearing either of our prayers that we will not betray one another, steal from one another, invade or plunder one another, or attack one another’s people, so long as our deal remains in place. We will, in short, be good and friendly neighbours. Peace, as requested.”
The deal is straight-forward, to be sure, if its terms are hazy and favour the Baron. Then again, his barony (though a tributary state of Hawksong, on the fringes of human civilization) outnumbers your kingdom in citizens, is much larger geographically, and if your military might is greater then you ALSO lack anything akin to the Pax Ferrum-Pax Argentum arrangement which Blackpine has with its neighbours and with the Paladin King’s throne. The Dark Alliance simply isn’t there yet… But perhaps this agreement could be the beginning of such a rival organization of states?
“Well?” the Baron blusters, seemingly nervous or annoyed at your delay to take his proffered hand. “Yay or nay, King Theral?”
You are a Knight Ascendant of the Feathered Serpent God. A vow you make, such as a handshake deal, is religiously and mystically binding to one such as you, for your patron deity regards deception and false promises as a tool of those too weak to enforce their will by fire and steel and extract their toll in blood. To go back on your word isn't impossible, but would cost you dearly.
What will you do?
>Take the deal>Modify the deal [how? terms will affect the DC of a Diplomacy roll]>Reject the deal and leave—you will discuss this more upon your return [Results in roll for how Bloodrise fares this winter]>Reject the deal and challenge him—you will duel him to impose your own terms, if he has honour>Reject the deal and attack him, here and now—you will swear no oath to this man [Initiates combat]>Write-in 