The Other Baron (RP)

Continued from The wind in her hair.

The land on the far side of the village looks much the same on the other. There is little work being done, and 'farmers' stare at you over their crumbling fences and from their unmaintained fields. Some greet you and ask casual questions, others watch you suspiciously.

As you near the baron's steading, you see signs of more recent work. Trees have been felled, and the road has deep drag-ruts in the rain-soaked surface.

You soon discover where those trees have gone: A large group of men are setting up a palisade fence to bar the way to the baron. This is the third such barricade you have encountered in this valley --they seem to be in fashion-- but this one is not complete and the workers don't seem interested in stopping you from passing. You can walk right up to the baron's home if you so choose.

What do you do?

- Norbert -

It is possible that the others took a different road --likely, even, if they did not go via the village-- but by the end there is only one way to the baron and no one admits to having seen your knight.

An obsequious man --the term 'seneschal' comes to mind of anyone who knows it-- takes your names and purpose for visiting, and then shows you to a richly appointed room to wait for the baron. Apparently the baron is quite busy right now, but will see you 'as soon as he can'.

The hours tick by, and you might suspect that this is some sort of 'power-play' by the baron: 'keep them waiting and meet with them once they are too tired to outwit him'. You can be glad you slept until afternoon, so you are likely to be better off than he is... unless he also slept until late.

• What purpose did you give for being here?
• Do you wait patiently?
• Norbert: Did your dog come in with you, or is she 'guarding the perimeter'?

The guard directs you to the facilities to deal with your 'call of nature', if he relayed your message about refreshments --there is at least water by the toilet-- nothing comes of it.

What do you do?

Eventually --well after dark-- the baron joins you, wiping his mouth in a way the suggests he has just finished eating --and kept you waiting while he did so.

"So," he says as he sits. "Someone burned to Childerbert's place?" He sounds pleased about this. "Soon we will have a wall they can't past." It is not clear which 'they' he is referring to.

He eyes you shrewdly for a moment. "What do you want from me? What can you offer me?"

His eyes flick dismissively to the guard you used to illustrate the quality of his staff --you have seen-- and shrugs in agreement.

"Oh, I have things you will want." The baron replies sitting back expansively, clearly enjoying the encounter. "I can make this worth our while. Tell me what you think happened there."

"What? Revolting peasants?" The baron guffaws. "Not surprising. Childebert doesn't know how to govern his people. Probably ran away like the coward he is."

He looks mildly disappointed that there was no fire and destruction, but you are also not sure he believes that your story covers all the angles. You don't know how much he knows, and he is not sharing his knowledge yet.

Chlodomer leans forward, his eye twinkling at Albert's challenge. "It depends on the value of your information, now doesn't it?" He points out, still not committing to anything, but apparently enjoying himself.

"'Trust'? Yes." Chlodomer nods. "I'll show you mine if you show me yours."

He studies you all for another moment before putting on a magnanimous smile. "You have travelled far? You are hungry?" He 'asks', calling for a servant to bring you food before you have a chance to answer. This feels more like a power-play than actual generosity --what with him first having you wait while he ate.

Do you humour him, or call him out on this?