The ambassador walked in with a carefully practiced grace so crucial to the men in his profession. He was an aging man, his dark short hair had streams of grey running through it in streaks. His hands bore the tell tale mark of nobility which was a smooth surface unmarred by the calluses common folk posses. He was adorned in flowing green robes. The left arm of the robe was composed of a different material than the rest, it was a dark red with brown trim around the top and bottom borders with a pattern of snaking brown lines connecting them. Considering how small the neighboring city he came from was this must have been quite a monetary investment, obviously this man’s lord valued his work. “I am Hremon and it gladdens me to see you in good health my lord” he said with a gracious bow. “And so it begins” Lord Arius thought and then sighed to himself under his breath.
“It is good to see you doing well friend,” replied Lord Arius with his most welcoming smile. “You flatter me my lord, but I don’t mean to keep you longer than need be. I am here to offer you a proposition, our city is in a dire straight, between the weevils and a crop disease we do not have enough produce to endure the next season. It is already past the harvest season and our stores will not last us. We are a strong, growing city and if you would invest in us now we can show you returns in two or three fold within as little time as 2 years,” Hremon said without losing his impeccably confidant demeanor. “What a tempting offer, my full faith in your city’s resourcefulness notwithstanding I am unable to make a significant contribution at this point in time. Our excellent king’s collection agent is on his way here to make good on my due to the crown and how much that will be seems to increase every year. Also We did not share your problems with disease but weevils have hampered our production as well. Your proposal seems promising but our problems have us tied up, I’m afraid I have to decline your generous offer,” Lord Arius explained. “Thank you for hearing our request and should things go well for you our offer still stands,” Hremon said with a smile seemingly completely unfazed by the rejection. He then said his good byes and with another bow made his exit.
As the man turned to leave Lord Arius let slip a scowl but only long enough for it to flash across his face before he returned to his usual neutral countenance. “We have food and money to pay our tax and make it through the next season with excess. We know they are normally a prosperous, growing town, why did you refrain from letting them fall into our debt?” asked Arius’ old and trusted adviser, Assi. A devious smile met Arius’ face as he replied, “I believe that they would come through on their word but I’m not interested in a little debt, I want to own their whole city as part of my domain.” Assi seemed taken aback by this openly malicious statement, “how do you plan to go about that?” “I will wait until they are truly desperate and starving because they are too distanced from other large cities to receive aid from anyone but us. I will offer them the only way to continue on, complete relinquishment of their city to me in return for food.” Arius hated that city, they had once tried a companion of his and found him guilty of death. After he took possession of it he would find those responsible and frame them or have them assassinated. Nothing less would appease the bitter anger he had contained for these long 5 years.
