The Investigation
The past week has been calm. Mayor Bernardo has slotted in naturally on your council. All the other men there respect his position and know better than to challenge his experience. He's been set to work on reforming the alcabala which for your father's rule relied on a literal honor system. He would have Uncle Enrique calculate what the tax should have yielded, and then he would start publicly whipping merchants if they didn't produce that money for him. Needless to say, this system is not terribly efficient.
Besides, that you've doing the dull work of ruling— hearing petitions, resolving disputes, meeting with important men. There is always something to do and you have perilously few men to pawn it off on. Your brother in law is busy with the whole black market business and Uncle Enrique is out building roads. Then there's your mother still holed up in her room grieving and demanding we catch my father's murderer.
So you've been looking into it. Or rather, you've had Fernando look into it. He's invited you to his estate a few hours ride outside the city to discuss the matter with you. You have your whole entourage of household knights accompanying you including your bastard half-brother Luis who your mother is so suspicious of. The burly tank of a man rides at your side, his eyes constantly scanning the rolling hills for threats. Why couldn't you inherit such physique? The Gods are unfair.
He catches you looking at him and clears his throat to speak.
"Please do not teleport away when you're done this time, your majesty," he requests in his deep bassy voice. It's smooth like butter too. What handsome peasant woman did your father bed to produce such a man?
"I make no promises," you reply.
The young knight grimaces. Well, that's fair. He is the one tasked with ensuring your safety and you've been vanishing at a moment's notice. Still, a mage must be free to teleport. It is part of your nature.
"It is our sworn duty to protect you, your majesty. Your enemies could learn that you do this and set a trap for you that we, your guards, can't protect you from," he points out.
You open your mouth to respond but he isn't wrong. So, you shut your mouth and grumble. You could teleport away anyway and make him deal with it. But such pettiness is unbecoming on a monarch.
"You are right," you sigh. "I will ride back this time."
Luis nods, satisfied. "The realm depends on your safety, your majesty."
You shrug indifferently, "The realm depends on a great many things. I am but one small one. Besides, my succession is well secured. If I should die then Ramon will inherit and then my Uncle Ansur after him. One man is as good as any other, really."
The man at your side goes silent. What is it about the subject of inheritance that gets people so upset? All men are mortal. Even the elves. "Is that what you think?" he asks.
"It's what I know. The world is vast and strange and the future uncertain. Even the mightiest among us play rather insignificant parts in the grand scheme of things when all is said and done. Man proposes and Heaven disposes," you morosely state, your gaze fixed on the blue sky overhead. It's a nice day out. Yet at any moment, the clouds could darken and the wind could bring the smell of rain.
"I see..." the knight mutters, his tone betraying the fact that he clearly doesn't. "What brings you so low, my king?"
"The world does, Luis. Happiness is but a canvas with which paint greater pain... If it even lasts long enough to be drowned out in the first place," you sigh. Your father's death was enough to lift your mood for the past week, but like all good feelings, it comes to an end. You can't delight over the passing of that tyrant forever. If only you could bring him back and kill him again.
"I see," the young man replies. He turns his gaze forward. He knows better than to keep pressing you on the subject.
You ride onward, enjoying the scenery for another few miles. It is not yet springtime and the air is chilly, but not so cold as to warrant extra layers. Soon the peasants will be out sewing the fields in droves and praying this years harvest will produce enough to last them another year. A meager existence. You are grateful your position doesn't put you in such a pitiable situation.
Finally, after another hour or two, the village comes into view. It's a small one surrounded by a wooden stockade with a watchtower and a gatehouse. The countryside manor of Lord Fernando is built atop a small rise just north of the town, a wooden curtain wall with a double gate and a wooden tower rising two stories above the wall provide defense for his manor. The gate opens as the procession approaches.
Servants greet you on horseback and lead you into the courtyard, a grassy enclosure where you find Fernando and his son waiting to greet you. His wife is conspicuously absent although you've heard she spends most of her time outside of the manor.
"Welcome, my king. Welcome," Fernando smiles as you and your retinue arrive. "I trust the journey was not too taxing on your constitution?"
"We made good time," you reply, "And I'm quite comfortable, thank you." You're not sure if that was supposed to be a back handed comment. Mages have a reputation for poor constitutions but you've always kept in fine shape. Certainly, you won't win any endurance contests, but you're far better than some noodly bookish mage.
"That is good. Come, I've set lunch out for us."
Everyone always wants to eat...
You're led into the manor where the main hall has been rearranged for the meal. Long tables are covered with plates and platters. Wine, water, and juice are all present. Fresh fruits and vegetables have been cut and placed in a variety of bowls, and there are a number of bread baskets as well. The main table is laid out for four with the largest plate and cup before your seat.
You take your place and Fernando sits at your left hand and his son at his left. Luis and the rest of your men sit at the other tables. You all say a prayer in thanks to the Gods for this bounty and the meal begins.
"How goes the investigation, Fernando?" you inquire, nibbling on a sweet and soft loaf of bread.
He seems surprised that you've skipped ahead to business so quickly, but you've had a long ride over and you'd like to get home before it gets dark and since you can't teleport...
Fernando cleans his lips with a napkin and clears his throat, "I'm afraid it is not going the way you expected. I am an avid gardener as you well know and I have knowledge of many natural poisons which could possibly induce a stroke. A most common one is the 'Bleeding Nettle' which I have in my garden. However, it leaves a blockage with a distinct orangish-yellow color that I did not find in the blockage that killed your father. To be blunt, my king, I do not believe he was poisoned, but..."
You wait for him to continue he lets it hang for a long moment. "But?" you gesture for him to get on with it.
"The king was not poisoned but clearly many believe that he was so why not direct that energy toward a suitable lightning rod. Saraqusta or Castellon, perhaps," Fernando proposes.
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(Let me know in the comments if it break the story for you guys if I add rolls etc..)
If you agree, we will immediately roll an intrigue action for Fernando to frame someone for the murder. This will have diplomatic consequences if it fails.
If it succeeds, your estates may feel it's necessary to give extra support for a war against the perpetrator.
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Dice: 1d50+18
Options: Sum. Threshold: 30.
41 + 18 = 59 (Success!)
Perfidious elfbloods poisoned the kings? Of course! Who else could it be?!
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"You suggest lying?" you ask.
"In a word? Yes," Fernando plainly states.
You hum thoughtfully and sip your wine. It is a bold move. It would be useful casus belli against Castellon, and while you need no pretext to attack Saraqusta, it will rally additional support behind your cause. The latter would also be far easier to sell as well. You don't need to convince anyone in Saraqusta that their queen poisoned your father. You need to convince your own people and ideally the general community of human monarchs. There will be far greater scrutiny if you accuse a fellow human of it.
"You've thought about this at length, have you not? For the sake of argument, let us suppose that I countenance your scheme and bid you to frame Saraqusta. What will you do?" you ask. You want a concrete plan of action before you agree to anything.
Fernando smiles devilishly. He knows he's got you on board now. "Your father had quite the notorious sweet tooth. It was his one allowance to splurge on. Sugar is an expensive commodity as you well know. There is a confectionary in Almedina he liked to buy these caramelized hard candies from and had them shipped in regularly up the Estrella which must pass through Saraqusta first. I will claim to have found Bloody Nettle sap in his candy and immediately cast suspicion upon Saraqusta for smuggling it in while it passed through their territory."
You nod slowly. That... that could actually work. That will work.
"I see. A simple and elegant plan, yes. And if they can produce evidence to the contrary?"
"I will fabricate further lies and say that their protests attest to their guilty consciences," Fernando explains.
Devious. It's a good thing Lord Fernando is on your side. He would be a dangerous enemy.
"Very well. You have my permission. Make it happen, Fernando," you command.
"Of course, your majesty."
"As a matter of curiosity. Let us suppose I bid you frame Castellon. What would be your story?" you ask.
"I have a... trading relation with Count Manuel of the Fortuna valley. He orders various tinctures and rare herbs from me and I provide them for the right price. He is Duke Diego's spymaster and his torturer. He is fond of my paralytics and mixtures which only cause pain and stress. I would forge a letter with his seal asking for Bloody Nettle, lie about the presence of Bloody Nettle in the King's body, and then connect the two. Perhaps I would spin a story about Castellonese designs on another polity and frame this as a move to cover his flank by putting us in disarray," Fernando explains.
"... you sell poisons?" you ask.
"I do, my liege. Gardening is my passion, but it is an expensive hobby to keep my plants fertilized and in the right conditions. Selling their yield in this manner pays back the cost," Fernando replies.
You're not sure how to feel about this. "How do I know you didn't poison my father?"
His smile dies on his lips.
"How do you not know? I would never betray you like that, my king. Not only are we friends, but also our families have been entwined for generations. My fortune lives or dies with Alfida, and while your father was harsh, he was a good king. I would not jeopardize everything to kill him. And for what? I gain nothing from his demise," Fernando insists.
He makes a lot of sense.
"Alright. I'll take you at your word. Let's go with the Saraqustan angle. It's a more likely scenario," you decide, "If that is all, I would like to sleep in my own bed tonight so I best get moving quickly. Thank you for meeting with me, Fernando. I look forward to seeing you at our next council meeting."
"Of course, my king. It is always a pleasure."
You finish your lunch, exchange some pleasantries with his son, and make your exit.