War for the Crown Gameplay Part 2

Corey looks out of the carriage before reaching into his purse. "Here, Ah got plenty a cash on hand." At Adelaide's request, he distributes ten gold to everyone before stepping out of the carriage, engaging one of the ones offering goods.

The goods being sold include common weapons and armour, some stained with dirt and blood, tools, rope, some supplies, but no food or clothing or medicine. However, when Corey starts to show interest in the wares, one of the poor merchants surreptitiously reveals a few magical scrolls, wands, and potions as well, all looking worn and used, but functional.

Adelaide considers as she steps out of the carriage, and goes to engage one of the commoners begging.

Corey smiles apologetically. "Sorry friend, Ah don't got enough gold on me fer yer fancier wares. Ah will buy a dagger and a spool a rope off ya though, if yer willin' ta part with 'em."

The beggars are all grateful for the coin, thanking those who give it profusely, and the one Adelaide approaches bows deeply to her.

"O'course, kind sir," the merchant beams, retrieving his cleanest, nicest dagger, one with only a few specks of mud and a slightly dulled edge, easy enough to clean and sharpen, and cuts off a length of rope before handing both to Corey.

Adelaide bows back, smiling softly. ”Will you tell me about your lives?” she asks them, glancing around. ”How did you come to be here?”

Corey hefts the rope over his shoulder and, after inspecting the dagger and giving a nod of approval, tucks it in his boot. "Ya'll get a lot of business from folks travelin' these roads?"

"This ere's the Beggarwood, milady," the beggar explains. "We's just folk who couldn't scrape by so we come 'ere. There's food in the wood, don't pay no taxes nor lodgin', and we look out for each other."

"A little, sir, but we need to hide when the Count sends his knife-ear down, they just take everything we've got and beat us for the trouble," the merchant replies to Corey with a grimace.

"Well that's pretty awful of him," Corey replies, eyes narrowing. "Yer honest, hardworkin' folk, ya shouldn't be treated that way. 'specially not by a man who's s'posed ta take care of ya. Have ya thought about petitionin' Baron Okerra about this? He's an honest man and Ah don't think he'd stand fer a noble in his lands treatin' the common folk that way."

"Sir, the problem is... well... Count Lotheed's a count, and Baron Okerra, bless 'im, is a baron. Not much he can do, 'cept turn a blind eye to what we do and not cause us any more trouble. Count already don't like 'im for not being a bootlicker," the beggar explains to Corey with a frown.

”Oh, I believe I’ve heard a thing or two about the life out here,” Adelaide mentions, thinking as quickly as she can. ”It says a lot about how severe the situation is in Meratt that so many of you have been pushed into living here instead, truthfully.”

"Ah well, thank ye milady," the beggar smiles gratefully. "We make do with what we've got, and least we've got each others' backs. Can't always say that about you noble types."

”No offense taken, it’s true there are many games played and some end up deadly,” Adelaide notes with a rueful smile. ”I’ll admit I’m curious about the Four Hoods, and how they ended up here. But perhaps that curiosity is best reserved for another time.”

The disheveled man drops his voice, "Best not be talking 'bout them too loud. Folk'll think you're workin' with the Count to flush 'em out. They don't want no trouble from you, you don't want no trouble from them. Best leave it there."

Adelaide nods. ”I understand. I apologize for any concern I might have caused, and I hope the coin is useful for you.”

"It will be, thank ye milady," the beggar bows and shuffles off.

"Ah s'pose yer right," Corey nods. "Ain't much the little fella can do, even among noble folks. Well, hopefully ya can get some relief fer a while. Here." Corey passes the merchant another two gold coins. "Fer yer troubles."

Momo recoils a bit at the racial slur so casually thrown out, but does give ear to the populace's troubles. "It's a pity of a hand they've been dealt," she mutters, idly producing 5 gold pieces worth of smaller currency for the peasantry.

The group finishes their conversations and head back to the carriage. Once they're back underway, Adelaide clears her throat. "How much do you all know of Beggarwood?" she asks first.

"Absolutely jack diddly," Corey says.

Nodding, Adelaide clears her throat again before rattling off. "Beggarwood's proper name is Bugbear Wood, which it used to be infested by. The gentleman I was speaking with explained this, but Beggarwood is a place where the poorest folk in the county gather and live. It has a permanent population of about twenty-five, and typically has about twenty-five transient members as well. They also tend to harbour bandits, who pay the locals back by sharing their spoils with them. One of those steal from the rich to give to the poor setups. As a matter of fact, their leaders, insofar as an anarchical commune can have leaders, are known as the Four Hoods, they're exiles from Andoran." Adelaide crosses her legs and considers what else she's heard. "Count Lotheed, Bartelby, has been trying to deal with them for quite some time but can't seem to get the local barons on board. Baron Telus hasn't been heard from in quite some time, which seems worth checking into in and of itself, and the rumor is Baron Okerra is simply conflicted. It's rather poor circumstances that have forced these people into living this way, after all."

Momo purses her lips. "Law dictates that they should be locked up for thievery," she states, letting the question hang there for a moment.

Corey nods. "It ain't really fair, if they're that bad off they felt they had ta, but it is the law. They can't just take what ain't their's."

Momo sighs, and slouches back. "Rather defeatist of you, isn't that? If the law no longer serves its people, it stands that the law should be changed."

”Indeed, and changing the living conditions of the poor will eliminate the need for Beggarwood,” Adelaide comments.