1873-12-28: Ransom
Ransom
Summary: Gauvian receives a Ransom letter for his son Corwin, and writes a letter to Thomas.
Date: 12/28/1873
Related: The Battle of Mathis pt I and II
NPCs: {$npc}
Players:
Gauvain  Thomas  

To the Duke Gauvain Tarris, Lord Marshal of Galenthia and protector of the East.

I do not wish to mince words with you Your Grace. Despite your valiant victory at Mathis, I must report to you of your Loss that you must surely feel. Your son. Lord Corwin Ashedown fought valiantly against the Holy City's forces but was ultimately brought low. Do not fret through Your Grace, for I have him in my custody. I am prepared to see to his release and return to you for the following conditions.

The First is the sum of One Thousand Crowns.

The Second is ten Tarris Heavy Chargers, of breeding stock and ability.

The Third is ten Tarris Light Chargers, of breeding stock and ability.

If you provide these things, I will release the Lord Ashedown. I would normally write to his wife to see to his release, but despite being a Bastard, he is of your lineage and therefor I feel the better price is to be gathered from you. This will of course release the Knights and soldiery I have captured as well. Failure to pay in one month's time means that I will begin to execute the Lord's Soldiers and Knights. One a day until there is jsut his Lordship left. Once it is him, I will execute him as well. I can promise that their lives until then will be according to their stations, and that their deaths will be swift.

Sincerly
Seigneurie Vinelto


Gauvian growled and tossed the letter onto his desk and then immediately regretted the action. The gut wound flaring in spiking red hot pain form the sudden movement. Damn the Rikton Vitches. That was … A Considerable sum of money. He can't go himself, he wouldn't survive the travel. It was a minor miracle he could sit up and read the damn letter, let alone make it to his desk. His entire body just… hurt.

With sigh he summons a servent even as he writes. "See these are delivered to the Viscount Thomas Chandus."


Thomas

I included the letter sent by Vinelto. Take whomever you see fit, and speak in my name. Get my son back for me. Try to lower the price, the cost is painful to say the least at this time. I have included my Signet Ring to show you speak for me. One speed my friend.

Gauvain


Your Grace,

I am utterly scandalised by the contents of this letter, and the manner in which Seigneur Vinelto is dealing with the capture of your son, Lord Ashedown. To threaten death upon ones soldiers in non-payment of ransom in such a short time during a long running war is absurd, and detestable. To plan execution upon anointed knights in the same situation is disgraceful. But to openly swear that one shall execute a noble lord for a matter of coin? That is beyond redemption.

Know this, your Grace. I will negotiate with this fiend and I will do so in good faith, for he will receive his payment. In the matter of horses, I feel with the Duchy's good breeding program and cavalry, we can indeed spare ten of each horse from our breeding stock. As for money, I will attempt to drive that bargain down as much as possible, knowing that gold coins we need now, particularly if we are to keep our Duchy strong in the face of the savages to our north who've destroyed two houses and the greenskins to our east. At worst, we know that we shall likely be able to take a loan out for whatever deficit we have with Sir Mattias of Four Corners.

The Seigneur, however, is presumptuous in the extreme. By seeking horse from us, he assumes his longevity. Our good faith will pertain solely to this matter of negotiation. If he is simply using this as a bargaining tactic to be whittled down, then, dishonest as it may be, he shall have his coin. If, however, he is serious in his threat, then our army has other plans for the good Seigneur.

This war will end, and it will end in our favour, no matter how long it takes. With the Bloody Cardinal gone, our way is open. I plan to surge more soldiers in for the spring and utterly crush the remaining holdings in the Fallow Lands. We shall eventually bring this war unto the lands of Rikton, and that is when this Seigneur shall pay in earnest the cost of his threats. Then, he shall reap the harvest that he has sown. For now, we wait.

Yours in faith,
Viscount Thomas Chandus of Repton March


Seigneur Vinelto,

Greetings to you. Stay your hand, mon Seigneur, I ask of you, for arrangement are already under way to procure what you ask. Set a time and place for meeting and we shall talk of this face to face and resolve the matter of Lord Ashedown immediately.

Sincerely,
Brigadier Viscount Thomas Chandus of Repton March, Knight of the Royal Order of the Griffon

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