>>5412297Not long thereafter, you are joined by René, the village’s other priest. A spindly youth, his sunned skin immediately indicates that he too is a foreigner to the valley, while his refined manner and the deep purple dye of his tunic hint at an origin of respectable wealth and standing. The chilly Simonetta opted for a bolt for her clerical symbol, while René instead wears the tear drop. His greeting is the politest you’ve received yet: he bows and wishes you well in your Penance, the first villager to mention it since you arrived. Giordano laughs at the boy’s courtesy, and is quick to thrust another mug into his hands before he refills yours.
With each gulp of drink the conversation becomes more casual and wavers further from business. Claudine excuses herself to finish overseeing the unloading of your possessions once you’re some way into your third mug of ale.
“I won’t lie to you, Carouliti,” Giordano rumbles as the two of you wipe drips from your moustaches. “A lot of the folk aren’t keen to get too friendly with a new lord, because they don’t know how long you’ll last.” René winces. “I’ve lived here my whole life and in that time I’ve seen about ten lords of the manor come and go. Locals and foreigners both – though the locals tend to last longer!”
“Mercy on Dame Lucrezia,” murmurs René, one hand fumbling at his necklace. “She never came back after she last set out to the Heap.”
“Never mind Lucrezia,” huffs the reeve. “She hadn’t the time for any of us. The Heap’s a tough bastard, Carouliti; I’ve been in there myself more than once and I’m not jealous of your sentence, but Deveché is part of that sentence too: people like to know the lord is there for the estate and not just using it as a sally port whence they can ride off to get themselves killed. If you remember that we’re here and do your duties as a lord and not just a knight, the rest of these villeins will warm to you.” He seems impressed with your performance so far at least, as he insistently gets you another measure.
Will you...
>Talk to Giordano (write-in)>Talk to René (write-in)>Retire to the household 