War for the Crown Gameplay Part 2

"Farming's good work," Onora agrees. "Did much of that myself, before the drought hit a few years back. Didn't have the money to get the soil back to growing condition."

"Well that's a darn shame," Corey frowns. "It's hard enough keepin' a farm goin' in perfect conditions."

"Since then I've just worked to try and hold the town together, even when Allis Betony was still kicking. Took me a year or so before they'd stopped calling me knife-ear, but that's how it goes," Onora continues.

Corey frowns at the knife ear comment. Wait... do they not like that? ... figure that out later. "Who was Allis Betony?"

"Last noble in charge of Stachys before you lot showed up. Not the worst, but didn't really pay us much mind while the Count squeezed us dry, that's for sure," Onora explains.

"Well, it was good of ya ta step up when she wouldn't," Corey nods approvingly. "Folks gotta stick together, especially small town folks."

"Nobles sure as hell won't do it for us," Onora comments. "I mean, look around. Just the food at this party could feed the entire Beggarwood for a month."

"Y'ain't wrong," Corey sighs. "What Ah figured from the Exaltation is these parties ain't just fer makin' yerself look good... well, least not fer all of 'em." Corey glances back at the entrance where Lotheed presumably is. "A lot of nobles use 'em ta make connections and deals that're s'posed ta help them run their lands proper. Ain't how a lot of 'em use it, sure, and they prolly spend way too much on the grub and the booze, but Ah don't think it's all just selfish and wasteful at least."

"It's ridiculous is what it is, and even more ridiculous that I was told I was expected to attend. What good am I doing Stachys by showing up when most of these leeches won't even talk to me?" Onora spits, frustration creasing her brow.

"Well that's their loss, cuz if they did they'd be makin' a solid connection ta the common folk and maybe learn a thing or two." Corey takes a look around. "But Ah gotta ask, it ain't been my experience that they'll just ignore ya when ya try ta talk to 'em. Gotta at least look polite even if they ain't. Are they just givin' ya the runaround?"

”There’s talking, and there’s talking,” Onora replies simply. ”Some just talk and don’t listen to a word you’re saying. Not a useful conversation. Plus you and I are in different positions. ‘Honorary Tribune’ never meant squat because they knew I’d be replaced by someone with real power in a few years tops. That’s you and your little group.”

"More the fools are they," Corey scoffs. "Fer folks who's job it is ta play this politickin' game, they sure ain't good at it."

"Or they've just got different ideas of what being good at it means," Onora grimaces.

"Well, Ah'm gonna have ta learn ta play it," Corey grimaces at the thought. "But Ah sure as heck ain't gonna play it their way."

After some time spent eyeing Lord Titus Lotheed-Casava, Momo finally feels like she has a solid grasp on the man. He was conceited, full of himself, liked idle flattery, and was receptive to being charmed. In a word, he was basic. Momo fluffed up her hair, settled herself and made her way purposefully over to the man, affecting a state of shock. "Excuse me sir, might I introduce myself?" she asks with a deep curtsy, one affecting more deference than any bow she'd ever given her father.

"You wouldn't happen to be bringing resources with you, would you?" Onora asks Corey, changing the subject.

Titus pulls himself away from a few sycophants and adopts a confident smile, looking Momo over. "You may," he replies in a haughty tone.

After getting a sense for the Baroness Voinum, Adelaide goes to meet her. The older woman is milling about sipping at wine, occasionally pausing to chat with some of the other older guests, but not really doing much but waiting for the festivities to begin in earnest and become more interesting. This seems as good a time as any, so Adelaide approaches and curtseys. "Good evening," Adelaide says with a smile. "Might I introduce myself?"

"Not immediately," Corey shakes his head. [b]"We didn't know things were that dire. We've got some funds though, and Ah fer one intend on wranglin' us up some more. Ah want a lay o' the land and fer someone good with numbers ta take a look at things 'fore Ah promise anythin' specific though."

Baroness Voinum looks Adelaide up and down appraisingly. "Go ahead. You're one of the Betony heirs, correct? You don't look much like a Betony. Or much like one another."

"Understood. Well, coin'll do just as well as supplies, even if it'll be a touch more expensive to get what you need shipped here rather than hauling it yourselves. You might be able to buy from the neighbours if your luck's better than mine," Onora replies with a frown and a nod.

"That's correct, and it's a fairly distant relation," Adelaide answers with a smile. "I am Adelaide Morilla. I believe you and I have a closer family relation than I do with the Betony family, actually, on my mother's side."

"Morilla..." Baroness Voinum's brows furrow thoughtfully. "So you must be Junia's daughter? In that case, you ought to come visit me at some point so that you might learn about your ancestral home."

”Oh, thank you ever so much! My name is Dame Myoui Momo, Steward of Stachys. I’ve heard so much about you, it’s such an honor to finally meet you in person!” Momo enthuses, feigned exuberance gushing from every pore of her being.

"I'm sure it is, Dame Momo," Lord Casava-Lotheed replies, his smile growing. "I wasn't aware that my reputation was building so quickly, but I suppose that's inevitable."

"That's the hope," Corey nods. "Ah think we've all got some contacts who're a bit more sympathetic to the common folk than a lotta these folks."

"Of course, milord! I've heard much about your policy, it's utterly genius. But, erm... if I might ask, can I understand the logic behind your latest policy? It was so brilliant, I can barely begin to understand it," Momo said, affecting a confused face. Hopefully Lord Titus liked vapid, unintelligent women, because that was a role Momo could play in spite of her loathing of it. She had to admit she didn't know the first thing about the man's policy, but it was secondary to the goal.