ă€ŠKingdoms ~ Side Storiesă€‹ Chapter 1 Lady Leonora of House Pyronix I sigh as at the winter winds sweep in off the mountain. "We need to start farming, if we are to survive here." The farmer nods, and I point to a bare hill on the land. "There is a good spot, and start up a market too." He hurries out and I fold my arms, the world so quiet it made me question the peace. Was nobody else out there? House Pyronix builds a farm and market. People - 5 Food - 80 Gold - 300

>>Lady Selene of House Lunar<< I glance north across the the flat land that seemed to stretch on forever. Tall grass was bent over by the wind, the occasional tree sticking out starkly against the landscape. I could see a few miles away to the east lay a forest. As for its size, I couldn''t tell. We had been heading to land west of here, a hot tropical place. But instead we had landed here. I had decided to stay here. In the storm our ships had been damaged, and our food supply was low. "Build a farm," I direct some of my men. "We need the food." A few nod, and scurry off to do my bidding. I walk through the temporary housing we had set up, thinking. Was there anything else we needed at the moment? A market. If there were any others out here, we could trade with them. Or fight them, but hopefully it wouldn''t come to that. All of a sudden my full responsibility comes crashing down on me. I had to lead these people. These people who stared at me hopefully as I walked by, trusting me to make the right decisions. What if I failed them? What if I brought this community to ruin? What if...? No more what ifs. I told myself. Focus on the now. Beckoning my builders over to me, I tell them to start with building a market. They look at me doubtfully, as if they don''t believe any others could be out here, but start to do as I say. I take a deep breath and head towards my "manor", currently a small shack a little larger than the other small shacks. I needed to think. House Lunar builds a market and a farm. People - 5 Food - 80 Gold - 300

Daily Post All is calm in the east, as KadinˇŻs birds sing quietly to the morningˇŻs peace. Meanwhile, Anatolia prepares for another hot day. Two new houses are welcomed on Kadin''s shores House Pyronix A farm and market has been built. 5 people stroll into the encampment. House Lunar A farm and market has been built. 6 people are welcomed around the camp fires

Lady Leonora of House Pyronix I nod to the Farmers. "Another, for extra grain. We need more gold if this is to work, and now that the markets are running..." I''m interrupted as a ranger rushes in. "We''ve spotted life!" He shouts, and I frown. "Show me." As he leads me up the mountain sides, I hold my breath and wait in anticipation. This was what we would be facing. If we were lucky, they would be hospitable. We had no people trained in combat. If we weren''t careful... I look out over the rocky edge and gaze out to the horizon. The forest stretches far, and it''s so lost in the distance, I couldn''t say myself. The ranger passes me a looking lens, and I peer through it. Tents... They''re new here too.Enjoying the story? Show your support by reading it on the official site. "Send an envoy. We need to find out if these people are peaceful... and literate." I pass the lens back and he nods. House Pyronix builds a second farm, and sends and envoy of peace to House Lunar People - 5 Food - 105 Gold - 100

>>Lady Selene of House Lunar<< A scout bursts in. My head jolts up in his direction, and I''m about to snap at his obvious breach of protocol, before I take in the anxious look on his face and the fact he came back much sooner than expected. "What?" I query, after he stands there for a few seconds, not saying anything. "Sorry Lady Selene," he apologizes quickly. "I just came to inform you of an envoy from another settlement we''ve received." More people! My heart soared. I might not be alone on this vast, strange, place after all! "Send them in," I told him, after completely composing my features. He nodded, then seemed to consider that might be disrespectful, and a mortified look appeared on his face. "Of course Lady Selene," he quickly amended, and hurried out. I sighed. There seemed to be none of my people that I could consider a friend. They were all so formal. Maybe... no. House Lunae accepts House Pyronix''s envoy. People - 11 Food - 104 Gold - 300

~--Lady Annalise of House Erosella--~ I look around proudly at my people and the land. It was time to build and make our people proud of what they live in. "Farmer, please make a farm, we need resources as soon as possible," I ordered softly. I looked onward as I admired the landscape. A farm will not be enough for my people, I thought as I called my builders. "We need a market for trade and exporting," I told them as they scurried off to begin. House Erosella builds one farm and market. People - 5 people Food - 80 units Gold - 300g

Lady Leonora of House Pyronix As the farmers finish a second round of work, I count the sacks of grain being hauled from the shacks to a cart. "A good thing there is an international market, else we would have been in trouble." I jest, and the leading farmer laughs heartily. "Aye, luck be on our side lass. Let''s hope those merchants be on it, too." As we chuckle, the ranger from before returns with the envoy. "Peace, My Lady." I nod, and dismiss him. I needed to think through our next strategy. "Have the cart sent immediately, with as much food as we can spare. Have all the gold sent to the farmers for a third farm." The lead farmer nods, and shouts to his men as I stride away. This should work nicely. If we are lucky, we will have peace for a very long time. House Pyronix sends 150 units of food to market, and receives 150g in returns. A third farm is being built. People - 0 Food - 30 Gold - 50

Lady Katarina of Gryllidae "Well, what have we here?" Katarina chirps "I suppose we should send some envoys to our neighbors, Pyronix, Erosella, and Lunar, and let them know we mean no threat." She turns to a servant: "In the mean time, we shall build a market and plant some winter wheat." People: 5 Food: 80 Gold: 300

>>Lady Selene of House Lunar<< What to do now? I was lost. I didn''t know how to do this! My most trusted advisor, James, comes up behind me and taps my shoulder. I start, and whip around. As I see it''s only him, I utter I sigh of relief. "Don''t startle me like that," I muttered. He laughed. I glared at him. "Lady Selene, we should build more farms," he says in a more serious tone. "But of course. Get started on that right away. Have our scouts found any more civilization?" I ask, wondering if there were even more people on this continent. "No-" he starts to say, then another scout runs up. "I''ve found another camp Lady!" She is bouncing in her toes. She was quite young to be a scout, but I know she was one of my best. "Really? Send, um, send a..." Should I send a spy mission or an envoy of peace? I freeze up. "Send an envoy of peace, Lady," James whispers in my ear. I nod and take a deep breath. "Send an envoy of peace," I state confidently, as if I had known what to do the whole time. My scouts smile had faltered as I blundered, but was now back, if somewhat pasted on. "Right away Lady Selene." She hurried off. I turn to James. "I can trust you to handle the building of the farms?" He nods. "Good." I walk away as he starts to yell orders. Am I really cut out for this leader business? House Lunar sends an envoy of peace to House Erosella, and builds one farm. People: 6 Food: 128 Gold: 100 Chapter 2 Lady Leonora of House Pyronix The envoy stands before my desk, and I watch them carefully. "House Gryllidae, you say?" I muse. The family were known for their voyagers and soldiers, but from what my scouts had referred, those days were long past them. No weapons, no ships, they were stranded like the rest of us. I nod to the envoy. "Send the Lady Katarina my regards, and feel free to rest before your journey back." As the boy is escorted out, I turn to the lead farmer - a rather rotund man named Louie, with a great big bushy beard. "Repeat the last order. Any food we can spare, sell to the markets. We need gold more then we need wheat." He nods and hobbles out, and I lean back in my chair. One day I''ll have them build a proper town. A proper manor to receive people in. For now, a tent would have to do... House Pyronix accepts House Gryllidae''s envoy. They send 100 units of food to market, and receives 100g in returns. People - 0 Food - 5 Gold - 150

~--Lady Annalise of House Erosella--~ "My Lady! Two envoys are heading our way," one of my fellow scouts tell me. More people? So we are not alone... "Do they mean harm or peace?" I ask confidently. "We are not sure yet but I shall try to find out their motives." I nod as the scout goes back. The scout returns and informs me that the House Lunar and House Gryllidae both sent an envoy of peace and I smile approvingly. I call for a handful of farmers and tell them to build yet another farm. House Erosella accepts House Lunar and House of Gryllidae''s envoy of peace and builds another farm. People - 0 people Food - 110 units Gold - 100g

Lady Leonora of House Pyronix I growl at the papers, filled with numbers and mistakes. I scratch out the number at the bottom. I thought we had had far more money then that. "Where is my financier?" I shout angrily. A reedy man is shoved through the door, and I slam the papers down on the desk. "Do you know how much money we lost in these ''miscalculations''? Next time you make this mistake, it will be your wallet filling in the difference!" I snap. Leaving the tent, and the man whimpering inside, I stride over to the farms. "The same order. Every spare sack. We need to make up the difference." Louie nods, and shouts orders to the men. A scout approaches carefully, noticing my anger. "M-My Lady? Reports of another house, The House Erosella, have come in from the south." I frown. "Another already? Are they peaceful?" "Skeptical, My Lady. They seem suspicious of outsiders." I nod. "Leave them be. If they wish to send for peace, let them do it in their own time. We have other things to worry about..." House Pyronix sends 100 units of food to market, and receives 100g in returns. People - 0 Food - 30 Gold - 250

~--Lady Annalise of House Erosella--~ Another scout enters just as I sit down. "We have scouted out another house, House Pyronix. Shall we send an envoy?" says the scout. "Yes, dear scout. Tell them we mean no harm. If they do not agree, return without another word," I instruct as the scout nods and leaves. House Erosella sends out an envoy of peace to House Pyronix and sends 50 units of grain to the market and gains 50g in return.Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon. People - 0 people Food - 90 units Gold - 150g

>>Lady Selene of House Lunar<< I sat in my tent. I can do this. Think. What do we need currently? Gold, and food. Maybe I should try to start to forge an alliance with another settlement. I''ll send spies to see what other settlements needs are. But that is for later. First, gold. I stride out of the tent. "You there," I speak to a random person lazing about. "Start to export goods." He blinks, surprised to have me speak to him. I sigh. "What''s your name?" I ask patiently. "Thomas, my lady," he replied. "Well Thomas, are you good with numbers?" I query. He puffed up his chest proudly. "I''m known as one of the best with figures, Lady." "Good, you shall be my official tradesman. You will conduct trades. After telling me, of course." I raise an eyebrow at him. "But only if you think you can handle it...?" "Of course! Thank you Lady! You won''t regret this!" He seemed pleased to have been given such an important job. "Very well, now be off and export some of our crops." I make a dismissive gesture. "Right away my lady." He hurried off. I smile, glad I''d done something right for a change. "That was well handled, Lady Selene." I spin around. "Oh, James, I didn''t hear you approach." His eyes sparkled with mischief. "I can be very quiet when I wish to be." I rolled my eyes. "Apparently. Now, was there some reason you needed to talk to me?" "Yes. We''ve received an envoy from one House Gryllidae," James informs me. "I see. Accept the envoy, and make sure they see we mean no harm to them either." "I''m on it lady." James walked back the way he had come. Maybe this leader thing gets easier? House Lunar accepts House Gryllidae''s envoy. They also export 50 food to the market, and receive 50 gold in returns. People: 6 Food: 152 Gold: 150

Lady Leonora of House Pyronix With the new corrections to the ledger, I let myself breathe. We made a few losses, but we could still manage. Rubbing my temple, I barely notice the girl standing before the desk, silently waiting. I hadn''t even heard her come in. "Yes?" "Forgive me, Lady Leonora, an Envoy from House Erosella is waiting, they seek to make peace." I frown at the girl. I should speak to my spymaster later about her. She seems skilled at going unnoticed. I straighten up and gesture to the door. "Very well. Have them fed and rested and return safely. Give my regards to our new neighbors." The girl bows her head and leaves, and I hesitate as I notice how quiet her footsteps are. I shake my head. That didn''t matter for now. We had peace, and no need for spies just yet. I call in a servant. "Are my previous orders being continued?" They nod, and I relax again. This would take a long time... House Pyronix accepts House Erosella''s envoy. They send 150 units of food to market, and receives 150g in returns.. People - 0 Food - 5 Gold - 400

Lady Katarina of Gryllidae Katarina''s right-hand-man, Cassius, enters her cabin. "Milady, the envoys you sent out have brought back messages of peace." "That''s good. Perhaps a bit boring, but we don''t need any drama right now," Katarina muses. "Begin construction on another farm. How is the first?" Cassius smiles and says "We have recieved 50 food. I haven''t the faintest idea what 50 food is, but we have it." Katarina thinks for a moment. "Perhaps you could work on standardizing our measurements if you have the time?" "Yes, Milady." "You are dismissed." Begin construction on a farm and recieve 50 food. People: 0 Food: 110 Gold: 100

~--Lady Annalise of House Erosella--~ Another scout enters just as I sit down. "We have scouted out another house, House Pyronix. Shall we send an envoy?" says the scout. "Yes, dear scout. Tell them we mean no harm. If they do not agree, return without another word," I instruct as the scout nods and leaves. House Erosella sends 50 units of food to the market and gains 50 gold in return. People - 0 people Food - 70 units Gold - 200g

Lady Leonora of House Pyronix I decide to take a stroll through the woods. With my same demands on repeat, there was very little else for me to do besides wait. I take in a breath, letting the cool mountain air calm me. It was somewhat ironic, really. We had hoped to leave the lands we had come from to escape the harsh snows and brutal winter. But here we were, settling in the mountain lands, when there were plenty other areas to populate. I turn back to the two men ''protecting'' me, though neither are armed with more then pitchforks and knives, and they both have less armour then me in a dress. We needed more money. More money, and more people, and we weren''t finding any at any point soon. "have the scouts returned with any good news?" The guards looked at me blankly, and I rolled my eyes. "I''ll take that as a no, then." Gods above, I am growing bored. "Fetch me my bow, I wish to go hunting." House Pyronix sends 100 units of food to market, and receives 100g in returns.. People - 0 Food - 30 Gold - 500