Aveline arranges the reception room beneath the green academy cloak, now draped over her shoulders. She places Edric beside the family seal and leaves the central chair for Nilsar.
the Marrow daughter
The seating must show partnership, not possession. Captain Yarb and I will receive together, while Edric witnesses the alliance as family and academy peer.
Lady Catrin Vale and Pellan Orr arrive in academy dress, carrying no gifts beyond attentive expressions. Aveline greets them beneath the cloak, making its public meaning impossible to mistake.
Lady Catrin Vale
Your reputation is disciplined, Captain. You are known for lawful judgment, command under pressure, and records that survive hostile examination.
Pellan Orr
Those qualities make an introduction possible, but not automatic. Noble patrons will ask whether this marriage strengthens your service or merely seeks their favor.
the Marrow daughter
Then we present the truth plainly. The cloak marks a chosen alliance, not a claim over Captain Yarb’s standing. Our guests will judge conduct, service, and mutual consent.
Edric watches Aveline assign invitations, seating, and speaking order without hesitation. The proposed guests now weigh Nilsar’s reputation before offering their introductions, while the cloak turns private consent into a public test.
✓ Quest Accepted
Complete the public reception with Aveline as equal partners
“Book a reception room within the academy and prepare a table of snacks and teas for our noble guests, I will put on my finest clothing and put my armour and coat to the side while we meet. My wife will make the introductions while I stand beside her.”
SUCCESS (Legendary Diplomacy, rolled +4)
Nilsar books the academy reception room and arranges a polished table with Household Silver, fine bread, honeyed nuts, fruit, and several teas from Household Stores. Commands Earned Trust secures prompt staff cooperation, while Identifies Authority places the gathering under Aveline’s lawful family introductions.
He changes into his finest clothing and sets his plate armour and green academy cloak aside, leaving the room’s attention on the Marrow and Yarb alliance rather than his military rank. Aveline takes the central place beside him.
Lady Catrin Vale and Pellan Orr arrive first, followed by Lord Edric Marrow. The silver, orderly refreshments, and carefully chosen teas make the reception feel established rather than improvised.
the Marrow daughter
Welcome. Captain Yarb and I receive you together as partners. I will make the introductions, and he will speak with you directly after you understand the alliance we have chosen.
Lady Catrin Vale
This is an excellent beginning, Aveline. The reception shows discipline, means, and welcome without turning hospitality into a demand for favor.
Pellan Orr
I will report that the arrangement is serious and properly presented. Two court patrons have heard of the gathering and are willing to receive your written introduction.
Aveline begins the introductions, naming each guest’s standing and connection. The reception succeeds, and Pellan’s news opens an immediate path to two court patrons beyond the academy circle.
✓ Quest Accepted
Secure introductions to the two court patrons
Quest Complete
Complete the public reception with Aveline as equal partners
“As the court patrons enter the room i will shake their hands and greet each of them introducing myself and my wife then asking for their names before offering them the seats directly across the table from us.”
SUCCESS (Legendary Diplomacy, rolled +0)
Two court patrons enter beneath the reception room’s carved lintel: Lady Ysabet Rane, an elderly woman, sturdy with a lined, narrow face, in burgundy silk with silver-streaked hair, and Master Corwin Pell, a middle-aged man, lean with a long face and short brown hair, in dark blue wool with a narrow gold chain.
Nilsar Yarb
Welcome. I am Nilsar Yarb, and this is my wife, Aveline Marrow. It is a pleasure to receive you. May I have your names?
Lady Ysabet Rane
Lady Ysabet Rane. I am pleased to meet you both, Captain Yarb and Lady Marrow.
Master Corwin Pell
Master Corwin Pell, at your service. Your reception has already earned my attention.
Nilsar Yarb
Lady Ysabet, Master Corwin, please take the seats directly across from us. We have prepared tea and refreshments, and I hope we may speak openly about this alliance.
The patrons accept the invitation and sit across the polished table. Household Silver catches the light beside the teas and preserved foods from Household Stores, giving the welcome visible substance without excess.
Quest Complete
Secure introductions to the two court patrons
“How was your journey through the capital i have noted that the amount of trade wagons has seemed to have increased in the streets.”
SUCCESS (Legendary Diplomacy, rolled -1)
Nilsar Yarb
Our journey through the capital was smooth, though I noticed many more trade wagons in the streets. Have you observed the same increase?
Nilsar’s measured question invites discussion rather than suspicion. Commands Earned Trust gives his concern a reliable tone, while Identifies Authority makes clear he seeks informed civic knowledge, not private disclosure. Household Silver lends the reception a tangible seriousness as tea is poured into polished cups.
Lady Ysabet Rane
You have observed correctly, Captain. The eastern roads are carrying more grain, timber, and finished goods than they did at the last court season. The increase is welcome, but it has strained the gates and storage yards.
Master Corwin Pell
Several merchants are redirecting trade through the capital because the royal roads are being repaired and guarded more consistently. That has drawn business away from smaller crossings and made delays more common here.
Lady Ysabet Rane
The court is pleased by the revenue, though some nobles fear the congestion will raise prices and invite dishonest dealing. A captain who understands both roads and lawful authority could become useful in advising them.
Master Corwin Pell
If your interest is genuine, I can introduce you to the clerk who oversees the eastern gate accounts. He knows which routes are expanding, which merchants are new, and where the capital’s trade is beginning to bottleneck.
✓ Quest Accepted
Alleviate strain on the capital's trade network
“As you wish Master Pell i would be more than happy to help with this matter and i imagine this will allow you both to achieve your original goal of attaining what form of leader i can be.”
SUCCESS (Legendary Diplomacy, rolled +1)
Nilsar Yarb
As you wish, Master Pell. I would be more than happy to help, and I imagine this will show you both what kind of leader I can become.
Nilsar accepts without overclaiming, his measured courtesy turning the introduction into a test of leadership. Commands Earned Trust makes the offer feel reciprocal, Identifies Authority defines the clerk’s office, and Household Silver sustains a serious welcome.
Master Corwin Pell
Then we shall begin at once. I will take Captain Yarb to the eastern gate clerk, and Lady Ysabet may judge whether his questions reveal a leader worth supporting.
Corwin leads Nilsar through the reception hall to a records chamber beside the eastern gate. A lean middle-aged man in brown wool and a blue clerk’s sash, with a narrow freckled face, sandy hair, and pale skin, rises from a writing desk, his ink-stained fingers resting on a stack of route notices.
The Eastern Gate Clerk
I am Joric Fen, clerk of the eastern gate. Master Pell says you seek understanding rather than privilege. Ask what you need, Captain, and I will show you the routes and pressures recorded here.
Nilsar Yarb
Thank you, Joric. Show me which roads are expanding, where traffic is bottlenecking, and how the gate staff decide what must move first.
Joric Fen
The river road is expanding fastest, followed by the timber road from the north. The bottleneck is here at the eastern gate, where grain receives priority, timber waits for inspection, and finished goods queue behind both.
“This seems easy enough to fix, create a new grain pass which will allow the grain wagons to pass by the main gates and move to the grain storage for inspection moving them further into town, Timber inspections can then be handled by the eastern gate allowing for easier pass into the capital and send the manufactured goods to a gate that leads directly into the trade district moving the left over cargo to a gate that can support the amount of traffic.”
SUCCESS (Legendary Reasoning, rolled +3)
Nilsar Yarb
Create a grain pass beside the main gates. Grain wagons can move directly to the storage yards for inspection, freeing the gate approach.
Nilsar continues with a second lane: timber inspections remain at the eastern gate, manufactured goods use a gate opening directly into the trade district, and overflow cargo moves to a gate suited for heavier traffic. He compares Joric’s route notices with the Storehouse Issue Books, matching storage capacity to grain arrivals, then checks the Patrol Documents for road access and guard coverage. Keeps Reliable Accounts turns each change into a measurable schedule, while Interprets Legal Records keeps inspection authority and responsibility assigned to the proper offices.
Nilsar Yarb
The plan separates cargo by destination and inspection need. It should shorten queues without removing oversight, and each gate can report its movements to the eastern office.
Joric Fen
Yes. Grain can bypass the main queue without bypassing inspection. Timber will clear here, finished goods can enter the trade district directly, and overflow can be redirected before the road clogs.
Joric rapidly marks the new grain pass, storage route, timber lane, trade-district gate, and overflow gate on the route notices. He accepts the plan as the eastern gate’s working arrangement and assigns clerks to record each transfer.
Master Corwin Pell
Captain, this is more than congestion relief. Joric’s marked plan gives the court a practical model for expanding trade without surrendering lawful inspection. I will present it to the gate overseer and the patrons.
“This must also be sent to the king for approval as it changes the fabric of transport in the kings capital.”
SUCCESS (Legendary Diplomacy, rolled -2)
Nilsar Yarb
Master Pell, this plan must go to King Roderic for approval. Please carry it with Joric’s route notices and my supporting records.
Nilsar assembles the marked route notices with the Storehouse Issue Books and Patrol Documents. Interprets Legal Records assigns inspection authority, Keeps Reliable Accounts matches storage capacity to arrivals, and Identifies Authority directs the proposal through Joric’s office toward the king.
Joric Fen
I will certify the traffic figures and gate assignments. The books support your capacity estimates, and the patrol documents confirm that the proposed routes can be guarded.
Master Corwin Pell
I will take this directly to the royal clerk. If the king approves it, the eastern gate will become the model for capital transport, and your name will stand beside the reform.
Corwin presents the plan to Osmic at the king’s office. Osmic compares the marked lanes, storage records, and patrol coverage, then carries the proposal into the royal chamber for formal approval.
Osmic
King Roderic approves the grain pass, separated timber and finished-goods lanes, and the overflow gate. He requires a monthly account of delays, inspections, and redirected cargo, signed by the eastern office.
Master Corwin Pell
The approval is secured, Captain, but the monthly reports will make your reform publicly accountable. My introduction now binds my standing to its success, and failure will be remembered by the court.
Quest Complete
Alleviate strain on the capital's trade network
Skill Upgrade: Craft (Blacksmith) Superb→Legendary