21 Setting Goals. (1/2)
Karlos bowed and said.
”Good morning, Sire.”
Galahad nodded and responded
”Good morning Karlos. On the topics discussed yesterday, I have considered the fact that we need to plan further ahead and have a way to distinguish between more and less important issues. As such, I decided to plan out or fiefs course for at least the next trimester. After all, it is best to be prepared. Additionally, I spend quite a long time last night contemplating on how to distinguish between issues. I believe that the best way to improve our fief is to separate our goals into long term, middle term, and short term. Additionally, we should color code them based on importance. With purple for extremely important matters, red for important matters, yellow for issues that might cause trouble if not addressed properly, and green for improvements.”
Karlos thought for a second and responded.
”Hmm yes, it does seem like a good system. What color and length would you suggest we set our current issues as. Additionally, some issues should be termed as recurring. After all, some are about repeating tasks or maintenance.”
Galahad nodded and responded.
” That is indeed a good idea.
Long Term: General Census every four years, Recurring. New Shrines Yellow. Road construction Green.
Mid Term: Housing shortage Red. Planting Red Recurring. Diversify our Food sources Yellow.
Safe Water source Yellow. Expansion of the Guard Yellow. Diversify our Craftsmen Yellow.
Harvest Festival Recurring.The statue commemorating the invasion Green, Market district growth green.
Short Term: Implementation of the three field system Red, Monthly tax collection Red Recurring.Monthly income from mine red Recurring.
Some of those are quite general so I would like to set up the goals for the next Three Months
”
Karlos agreed and said.
”Currently it is May we should start expecting the refugees in the next two to three weeks. It won't be a long term tide and should be over in autumn. Their numbers are currently inconclusive. I would suggest we first finish planting and then focus your laborers on building houses. Additionally, the Day of Exoristoi is drawing ever closer. My suggestion is not to buy anything with merits. While you did earn a fair amount of merits by dealing with the Borean Lions. This year Exoristoi cost will be inflated thanks to the catastrophic loses at the war. It will be wiser if you abstained from the whole thing and waited to after the lords to cleaned up the bandits and rogue peasants infesting their fiefs. If everything goes well, this should lower the merit cost by quite a bit. Additionally, you will have two years of merits instead of one. On the topic of food diversification. We shall check if the refugees have any skill in fishing, aquaculture, and orchard management. Hopefully, we will also get some of the craftsmen we require. But it is more a hope than a reality. Since the refugees passed through several realms before reaching Duke Elbert's territory and most semi-wise rulers would want more skilled craftsmen. On another note, Sire, you should seek the advice of your brother on the clean water issue. If there is an easy solution, it could severely decrease our running costs. As for expanding the guard, I would suggest we wait until after we have gained a good sense of how many refugees are coming and what is their skill set.”
Galahad nodded and said.
”Seems good. Anything else you want to bring up?”
Karlos shook his head and responded.
”No, my liege”
Galahad nodded and said.
”Alright dismissed.”
Later in the day, Galahad head over towards Nickolas's tower. After a small boat trip, he reached the one and a half floors tower.
Even half built it had a majesty missing from his keep. First and foremost Nickolas was using pure white marble imported from the independent county of Atisa. The tower was circular with seven circular pillars also made out of white marble reaching all the way up to the start of the second floor. They were decorated with vertical fluting, while their helms were styled with a volute and an ornamental place between the volutes. The ornamental places were depicting a flame growing from the first pillar to the seventh pillar. The pillars were connected by a giant circular band of marble which rested on the top of their helms with the exception of the gateway. The gateway proper instead had six semi-circles with the first starting at the minimal distance between the helms and the last at the middle. The rest was covered with a square slab of marble reaching the same height as the band finally connecting the gate proper with the rest of the pillars. On top of the two furthest points of the two connecting slabs rested a triangulated roof. The band was decorated with carvings of different alchemical and magical symbols. While the space between the last circular band and the triangulated roof from left to right was depicting the rise of the god of magic from a mere mortal to godhood and him then returning the favor to the descendants of his friends and helpers by gifting them the ability to use magic and how the more magical knowledge and ability someone had the closer he was to the god. Finally, the band and the roof were covered with orange tiles. Blocking the view inside was a pair of reinforced dark oak doors.
When he reached the doors Galahad grabbed the door knocker and knocked. After about five minutes give or take not-Jimmy appeared.
He bowed deeply and then said softly.
”Greetings Sire, How may I be of service?”
Galahad looked at him and said.
”I would like to have a meeting with my brother is he available?”
The boy nodded and said.
”Yes follow me inside, Sire”
The inside of the first floor in stark contrast with the exterior had only one defining characteristic it was rather cramped filled to the brim with vials containing all manners of things,tightly packed bookshelves, a rather large cauldron, several brewing stands, different minerals, and even a crystal ball. The only other person in the hall outside not-jimmy was Emaria which was currently reading a book. After a while looking around Not-Jimmy help Galahad navigate through the labyrinth of stacked shelves. Eventually being led to a simple wooden door.
After knocking the door Nicolas was heard saying.
”Yes, come inside.”
As Galahad headed inside the barely navigable room Nickolas looked at him and said.
”Ah, Brother long time no see. What are you doing here?”
Galahad smiled and said.
”Ah I came to wish a happy marriage it seems like you really took a liking of miss Emaria.”
Nickolas scoffed and responded.
”This woman is definitely not marriage material. But she is very talented when it comes to Alchemy it is quite disappointing that she has no talent for magic. If she was even half as talent at magic as she was with alchemy she could make an excellent assistant.”
Galahad smiled and said.
”I am only jesting, Honestly I wanted to ask your expert opinion about the clean water issue?”
Nicolas raised an eyebrow and asked.
”What is exactly the issue? Is the river polluted? Or something else?”
Galahad shook his head and responded.
”No, we just don't have truly clean drinking water. I mean drinking from the river most likely won't kill you but you might fall ill.”
Nickolas thought for a while and responded.
”Well in the capital they take water from the river and store it into a big copper tank and then boil it before use. I can't think of a much better method but this should minimize the harm. Alternatively, you could try to find the spring up in the mountains and use an aqueduct instead.Both options would be great but the first one is at least possible. Honestly for now small beers are the best option when it comes to drinking water.”
Galahad nodded and then asked.
”Any new discoveries you made? Or any suggestions for the Hamlet?”
Nikolas thought for a while and responded.
”What about runes? Have you considered those?”
Galahad looked intrigued
”Runes? What can they do?”
Nikolas gave a big toothy smile and responded.
”Well, the best way to describe runes is as a closed system using the energy inherent in some materials to power them. Hm, let me show you an example”