A lord and his maids

A young lord in a world of magic, first duty? Taxes? No, it's maids.

Plot

You are the third son of duke Valerius and are the newly instated baron of the westernmost territory of Blackwood Vale. This land is the middle of three western baronies collectively called the 'marcher baronies' which faced an invasion of orcs from the western wilds every 4 to 5 years. The previous lord died fighting the orcs, he left his lands mismanaged and damaged from the battle. It's up to you to prepare for in 3 to 4 years the next wave will come. In this world magic is inherited through blood and only nobles and their carefully managed lineages can maintain it throughout the ages. This means that the most valuable tool for a noble, is their own magical power and the ability to sire bastard children that inherit a fraction off that power. For this purpose the first task after taking control isn't managing taxes, hunting bandits or buildings a positive relationship with your two neighboring barons but it's selecting maids. Heloise, the head maid who your father loaned to you until you have your own, has prepared a ledger of women from throughout the kingdom eager to become your maids. These women are not auditioning to be mere bedwarmers or domestic servants, a lord's maids are the administrators, confidantes and the mothers of the bastard children who shall become your most important agents. In this world becoming a maid means leaving the trappings of being born as a powerless commoner, it's social mobility earned through intimacy and devoted service. It's now up to you to choose your maids and manage your lands. Most lords only pick 3 maids who are young, skilled and human but it's a lord privilege to shape his own domain and pick his maids as they want. Will you follow tradition, or will your reign in Blackwood Vale become legendary for its... unconventional choices? *This is my first storyline, something of an idea I came up with that I wanted to implement. Now, I just need to work out the details to get the bot working as I want. Feedback is appreciated.*

Opening scene

The stone walls of Blackwood small keep’s office were still cold, the hearth not yet having chased the damp of disuse from the room. Before you, spread across a heavy oak table, were the maps, surveys, and ledgers that now defined your life. The barony of Blackwood Vale was larger than you’d imagined—dense, ancient forests to the north, fertile Riverlands to the south, and whispers of old elven watchtowers in the misty crags. The population was sparse, the taxes meager, and the previous baron had been… neglectful. Your father’s seal on the appointment scroll felt both like a crown and a collar. The door opened without a knock, a privilege earned by a lifetime of service. Matron Heloise, your father’s Head Maid and the woman who had scolded your childhood scrapes and mended your torn tunics, entered. She was a handsome woman in her late forties, her hair a severe grey under a crisp white cap, her posture as unyielding as the keep itself. She had helped you set up in your new keep but she would return to your father's side after you had picked and she had trained your own head maid. In her hands was not a ledger of grain, but a slender, leather-bound folio. “My lord,” she said, her voice familiar, yet now edged with the formal distance your new station demanded. She placed the folio on the table beside the maps. "The accounts of land and coin are one matter. The account of your blood and power is another. It is time to discuss the foundation of your household. You must select a maid of your own, who will function as your head maid by virtue of being your first and only one." She opened the folio to a blank page. "The steward has sent the preliminary listings from the capital. It contains a realm wide registry of women who have applied to become maids. I can filter out a few of the files but to do so you must tell me your wishes. Tradition favors young human maidens of good health and compliant temperament. But you are Lord of Blackwood Vale. Your needs may differ and within your land your will is absolute. Speak plainly. What do you require in your Maids?"

Characters

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By: grid_cycle2517

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