Upon the peaks of Mount Titano lie the Three fortress of San Marino. Built on the remnants of ancient roman forts and formerly home to a self proclaimed independent republic of the mountaintops, in recent years the forts have been a group of once mercenaries and now bandits. While technically not a part of Romagna they lie on the edge of your borders, and no one could blame you for removing a bandit stronghold. Soon after receiving The Sforzan letter you decide that fortifications and a center of command would be necessary, so you set off with Captain Ast and your combined forces
[Conquest: Martial, 79+10+18(Ast)+10(Elites)= 117]
The march up the mountain is anything but a pleasant one, fog and later snow and ice do everything in natures power to force you back, but if anything it only makes you more certain of your choice. The ancient fortifications along with these natural deterrents make this one of the most defensible locations in Italy. The only obstacle now is taking it for yourself, and making the locals, if any, accept you as not just another bandit king.
It takes a few days of upward marching before you find yourself in front of the first fort. You see only a single bandit guarding it, marked in their former company colors of red and white so it won't be hard to single them out from civilians. The guard, noticing your approach aims a crossbow towards your group and declares "Halt yourselves churls, this here's the territories of the San Marino free company, state your business then leave." None too polite these mercenaries, you start going forward to speak before Ast stops you and starts to speak to the bandit
"We are the representatives of the governorship of Romagna. We apologize for coming with such a large force but the roads are mighty dangerous these days, and we couldn't leave our cargo unguarded. We've come to bring these gifts to our new neighbors in the mountains of San Marino, so would you be so kind as to bring your leader here so we may give him these gifts?" he says while gesturing towards the crate he had insisted we bring along.
The bandit eyes the gift greedily, before saying "Alright, give me a moment and ill drag him here." And off he goes. You glance towards Ast, wondering if he aims to attack now while the gates unguarded, but he holds his hand up, a sign to wait. Eventually the gate starts to be opened and out comes a man, visibly aged with tufts of grey hair and liver spots on an exposed scalp, but the physique of a man much younger and familiar with battle. His armor is much more complete than the guard on the wall and marked with a sash, you can only assume this is the commander.
"So, ye be soldiers of the new governor up north. Its pleasing to see he respects the other local powers. May we see this gift of yours before we start any talks of peace and support?" the old bandit says "Im afraid I'm supposed to only bring this to the commander of these forces' sir, could you confirm for me that you are him?" "Yes you blasted oaf, I command these men, now show us this gift of yours."
"If you insist." Ast says as he draws his pistol in a fraction of a second and shoots their leader right in the eye. You hadn't seen a man killed before, so the scene is quite a shock for you. the shot is clean, leaving a hole where the mans eye had been and an exit wound out the back. The shot had been so quick you doubt the man even knew he had died. The rest of the swiss guard, taking this as a cue, also draw and shoot the bandits guards, who have little time to react, while your original forces rush through the gate to keep it open and fend off forces there.
Two hours pass before Ast deems that every bandit has been slain, having turned their fort into a slaughtering grounds. He approaches you, blood stained, and says "I shall leave this fort in your hands sir. You take the platoon of guards and hold it while the swiss go to clear the other two forts. We need to get there quickly in case any runner escaped, we cant give them any time to prepare a defense." "Of course Ast, may luck be with you and your men." Ast smiles before saying "Who needs luck when they have skill and gunpowder?" Before signaling for his men to form up and head out.
---
[Development: Stewardship, 38+15=53]
The forestry project goes well. There had already been some small scale forestry happening before your arrival but that was largely for individual use, personal projects or simply fuel for fire while selling off the extra, but you are able to find enough men willing to do it professionally. Eventually you start getting a small but steady supply of oak for whatever needs you have while the woodsman sell the rest, while you get a small part of the profit.
Development becomes easier (+5 to Development rolls) and forestry gives 15 Fl/turn
---
[Introductions: Diplomacy, 49+20+18= 87]
You start penning a letter of introduction to the monk of Firenze while you task Zelic with writing one to lord Este of Ferrara. Writing the letter has been a bit of a hurdle, being harder at first then simply doing this in person, but eventually you write up something you find respectable. It doesn't hurt that you have the quite caustic letter of Sforza to contrast against.
While Girolamo Savonarola is not quite leader of the Firenze yet, that role lies with the Medici family, he is quickly taking the power they have held for decades. The Medici have also long rivaled the papacy, but more importantly as Medola tell you, they are allied to the Assassins, using them to keep their hold of the city. If the man is taking this power so easily he must be a man of skill, and someone you should at least start on good terms with.
"Dear Father Savonarola,
I write this letter to you so I may introduce myself. I am Valentino Borgia, son of Pope Alexander VI, Governor of Romagna. While you are not yet leader of Firenze your ascension and the deposing of the corrupt Medici seems all but certain now, so I wished to start on an early and good note. While there have been some injustices committed to Romagna by Firenze these acts were under the influence of less enlightened leaders, deeming it permissible by law and God to steal the holy lands of the church.
I believe that we will be able to come to a fair and righteous agreement on the return of these lands once you have taken your place as lord of Firenze. And I would be overjoyed to meet you in person once you have taken your role. When the time comes please do send a letter of invitation, I have heard grand things about the city and would love to see it.
Best regards, Valentino Borgia."
With Zelic also completing his letter, you mark them both with your seal, split in half with one side having the bull of Borgia and the other the eagle of Romagna. You hand them off to couriers and await their response.
---
[Scouting: Intrigue, 8+17+20=45]
You had decided you really needed more information on the city of Ravenna itself. You'd been here over a year now and still knew little about the factions that lived within it. You knew of the clergy here, split amongst the many churches, who had acted as leaders for the citizens when necessary, but none had come forward to meet you. You don't know if they didn't accept your rule and refused to acknowledge you or if they decided that you were a good enough leader and left it all in your hands.
Then there are the criminal elements of the city, and of them you know even less. You have no idea if its one large organization or multiple petty gangs. You don't know how many there could be, what goals other than "get Florins" they may have, or if they even have a leader.
There's also the exiles of the city, the romanis and jews you had camped alongside outside the city walls for a time. While technically not a faction "of the city" due to your citizens actions they should not be ignored. You decided that this was a good trial run for Melodas new spies, and so she sent one of them out to infiltrate and get information on the groups.
The next week the man is found, his throat slit and body dumped outside the city's walls. Meloda is furious, enraged at whatever "filth", as she puts it, would kill one of her men, and mad at the dead man for letting himself get caught despite her training. You ask whether this could be the work of the Assassins and she says no. Their modus operandi is stabbing usually, not slit throats, harder to get information if they're gurgling on blood. So that leaves someone in the city to have done this.
---
[Recruitment: Learning, 74+15=89]
After your recent taking of San Marino you find yourself some luck. These walls and towers have been maintained for generations, the skills of their fathers being passed down for generations and generations, each one adding some new secret. Luckier still, you've found a prodigy, Elena Farnese. Daughter to one of the oldest dynasties here, her father had no sons and had to teach her in their family's ways and she excelled, mastering the ways of no only construction of forts, but also how to tear them down, learning the intricate workings of cannons and mortar. Sadly her works were wasted in recent years, the bandits refusing to let her work on the walls.
You are in no place to deny the services of a skilled engineer, so you soon approach her with your offer. Tawny hair cropped short and out of the way, a few small scars that dot her face and hands, possibly from her work on cannons, and dark hazel eyes that are currently glaring at you as you approach. Embarrassingly she is also looking down at you, being almost half a foot taller than you and muscled from her work. This isn't going to be easy.
"Hello Signora Farnese, I am-" "I know who you are, the Roman lordling that kicked out the bandits and decided to stick around, what is it you want?" okay, rude and curt, you can work with that. "I am in need of an engineer in my services, I've tried looking elsewhere in Italy but it seems engineers are in fashion amongst the nobility. I've heard of your skill, with walls and cannonry and near all else you put your mind to and thought you'd make a great choice. Would you accept the position?" hopefully she won't be too demanding
"And what is it that me and mine get out of this? And I don't just mean your coin, though ill gladly take it, my people have dealt with over arrogant brutes for too long, and I want your word, writ in law, that San Marino will be given the respect, rights, and authority that any city would. I'll not hear anything about hiring me before those are guaranteed, and let me remind you of your own words before you make a decision, engineers are a scant few and already claimed and I would be a great choice."
Well damn, this isn't the best outcome. While it isn't impossible to give San Marino a city's rights it won't be simple. While definitely a great fortification it isn't as developed as many cities, though you can't really say Ravenna's a great example right now. It'll take the rest of the month just making its status official. But like she said, you don't have many options, and so you consign yourself you an aching wrist and hold out your hand. "I'll accept you conditions Farnsese, I look forward to working with you." she blinks a second before taking your hand and giving it a shake that feels like it'll rip your arm off. "Didn't think you'd accept, guess I work for you now Borgia."
---
[Training: Learning, 24+20+15=59]
Once again you spend your afternoons and evenings trying to gain some greater insight into your sixth sense, but this time you find no luck. You tap into it the same way, closing out all other senses and trying to find something new, but all that comes is the silent but ever encroaching whispers, and you make sure to silence the sense before they can herald the arrival of the presence.
---
At the end of the month you receive letters once again, though you doubt they are poisoned with pox this time. One is from the lord Ercole d'Este of Ferrara, the other from The Soon lord priest of Firenze Girolamo Savonarola, and neither is exactly what you expected. You decide to start with lord Este's letter.
"Dear young Valentino Borgia,
I thank you for sending a formal introduction, I worried that either you were too fearful or arrogant to acknowledge your neighbors and am glad to be proven wrong. I am afraid however that a personal meeting must be postponed for more pressing matters are calling me. If you are still governor by the time these matters are over I may invite you to Ferrara.
As for the matter of territory we acquired from Romagna, these are lands that the papacy had left forgotten and my people decided to settle. It would be unlawful for me to tear this land from them and so I shall not, and so long as they remain my people they will remain a part of Ferrara. I apologize if this inconveniences you but I refuse to change my position. I hope you understand.
Sincerely, Lord Ercole d'Este of Ferrara"
Oh you understand alright. The man hides behind the will of his people, people he likely sent himself. And you did not overlook him refusing to use any term of respect, not lord nor governor nor anything else, thinking you merely a young Borgia. While you have no high and mighty opinion of yourself his lack of respect shows that diplomatic endeavors with the man will not be easy.
You put the thoughts of Ferrara out of your head for now and move onto the letter from Firenze. You can see that the man, similar to yourself, personally wrote his letter, though its not quite to your benefit. His handwriting is poor to say the least, seeming like a harsh scratching over the paper rather than anything else, though you give the man the benefit of the doubt in that he likely hasn't had much need to personally write and so merely lacks experience.
"Dear Romagnan Lord Borgia,
I thank you for your kind words. I shall be lord of Firenze by this time next year, so feel free to call me such. There shall be no righteous agreement for the lands already lie in righteous hands. If you truly have reverence for what god desires then you should purge yourself of desire for this land, along with the heretical arts and devilish technologies that plague our age and return to a simpler life.
May God have mercy on your soul, Girolamo Savonarola"
Well it seems that this one isn't going to be of any help either. He refuses to return your land, and what was that nonsense about purging art and technology? It feels as if you truly are without allies on any side. However with the lack of much tact or offers from the priest he doesn't seem a great statesman, perhaps that's not the only thing he is poor at? If he proves to be a poor leader this might be the opportunity to take back your lands forcibly.
In other news the king of Naples, King Ferdinand, has passed, and logically the title of king should fall to his son, Alfonso II, however King Charles VIII has disputed the inheritance, declaring it should fall to him due to some old marriage. While it is a blatant powergrab he still aims to push his claim. Your father has started to form an alliance against France, composed of most powers of Italy, even the despised venetians, as well as the forces of England, Spain, and the Holy Roman Empire. While you are a small and unimportant part of Italy and unlikely to be targeted it is still a dangerous situation.
---
You have 360 florins, one basic platoon, and one elite platoon
You have two requests left
You have six actions, use them as you will
Please make your vote in plan format
Requests
[] While you already have some florins to spend more couldn't hurt (200 Florins more)
[] You might want your guards more heavily armed, request for them to be given arquebuses (upgrades your guards)
[] Ravenna is by the sea, request for a small fleet of ships (5 barques, 10 galleys)
[] write in
Martial
[] Perhaps you should look into mercenaries you could hire
[] You don't have an army but you have a few platoons, send them out to scout the stolen lands
[] Perhaps you should recruit some locals for the guard?
[] There are plenty of gangs and thieves throughout Ravenna, maybe you should send in your men to clear them out
[] Write in
Stewardship
[] There are mountains and hills near the city, perhaps you can send off miners to search for ore they could mine. (75 fl)
[] There's a large manor that's fallen into disrepair, perhaps you could repair it and use it for something. (75 fl)
[] That wall needs to be repaired, try to find some skilled workers to start repairing it. (150 fl)
[] The woods are dense and large, perhaps you could expand your operations (50 fl)
[] The docks are in good repair at least, perhaps you should purchase some ships to help with trade and defense (100 fl)
[] Write in
Diplomacy
[] Perhaps you should go meet one of your neighbors directly?
-[] Which one?
[] Send a letter to a different Power, such as Venice, the Ottomans, etc
-[] Who?
[] Write in
Intrigue
[] Perhaps you should scout the stolen lands, quietly
[] Someone killed one of your spys, find out who
[] the city is filled with gangs, maybe you could get them on your side?
[] an uninformed ruler is a weak ruler, send someone to one of your neighbors to find out what their situation is
-[] Where?
[] while you are unlikely to be targeted by The Assassins, it doesn't mean you shouldn't prepare, write up some instructions for your guards so they know what to look for and how to look for it
[] write in
Learning
[] Try to repair and reinforce the walls of Ravenna
[] Establish an armory to store and build new weapons
[] Let your engineer design as they please, perhaps building something of use
[] Write in
Personal
[] Send a letter to a family member
-[] To who, and what about?
[] You should learn how to use that dagger Cesare gave you
-[] Or maybe something else?
[] Write in
