(Dining Hall, Redcliffe Castle)

There are fifty well-dressed men sitting along both sides of the long table in the spacious hall. There are dishes prepared on the table.

“Greetings, I am pleased we could meet again, gentlemen.”

Isolde greets the gathered aristocrats.

“Indeed, My Lady. We have been looking forward to resume unsolved discussion from last week.”

“My, you don’t have to be so persistent about it you know.”

The people gathered here are head of lower noble families in Redcliffe region. Unlike other regions, the only high aristocrat here is the ruler, Marchioness Isolde Guerrin, who inherit the position from her deceased husband, Marquis Eamon Guerrin.  Decades ago, Eamon Guerrin had assembled the head of noble families in Redcliffe Castle for dinner on weekly basis. During the dinner, they reported and discussed their affairs. There was separate meeting with the viscounts on another day, which was also held on weekly basis. The tradition continues until now.

“My apology. It seems we got a little too anxious about our sluggish progress recently.”

“Huhuhu…...haste brings us disaster.” Isolde forcefully chuckles in response restless gaze from the men.

“Let’s start from where we left last week. Our neighbours Dioval and Arkland had ceased buying fishes from us. At first, lot of unsold fishes became spoilt and now the villagers refuse to work hard, fearing the captured fishes remain unsold.”

“We had conscripted 1,500 plebeians for Arkland war and over 500 of them are dead. We had lost that much of work force and may jeopardize future military recruitment.”

“And we need more weapons.”

Isolde turns left and right in panic. She tries to divert their probing, “Gentleman, the banquet is ready. Please enjoy while it is still hot.”

She quickly turns the bowl of soup in front of her. Some of the men becomes puzzled and some furrow their eyebrows.

Realizing their mistress fidgetily attempts to escape from the excursus, the men frown at each other dejectedly. The upper echelon, the five viscounts, to reduce the tension, give them the cue to drop the matters temporarily. The men reluctantly eat the meal.   

Since Eamon passed away, the regional affair falls into total disarray. The war against Arkland had affected them adversely but they still fail to manage its aftermath accordingly. The ruler of Redcliffe was once the most influential man in the country but now the female ruler is just a shadow of the charismatic predecessor. Plights that keep piling up lead to unrest among the people, causing the attendees to look so hard-pressed. In fact, there are cases that squabbling among the commoners turn violent. Yet, the inexperienced lady remains in denial mode and escapism.

Unlike other provinces, there is no competition between charismatic leaders in Redcliffe and that was the source of its previous stability. In the past, it was well organized territory with autarkic economy. However, the death of Eamon and Teagan changed everything.

Since the territory was not originally much developed, there were a lot of unused lands. With that being the case, the aristocrats proposed utilization of the resources but they lack manpower and expertise.

As a result of the unprecedented economic distress in that isolated territory, there have been calls to change the way their do things. For nearly ten years, Redcliffe’s strategic decision making had been two men team, but the sole decision maker now is continuously indecisive. Furthermore, there is an obvious lack of camaraderie not only because the sole decider is a woman, but due to age difference. Isolde is in her late twenties. In contrast, the youngest head of noble houses are in the range of mid-thirties and half of them in their late forties. Despite the five viscounts acting as the moderators, strain often escalates due to her prolonged dawdling.

After over half an hour of dining, the men regain their attention.

‘My lady..With regard to our prior discussion..”

“Regarding redevelopment of lands, we think…….”

Isolde interjects with her usual antics,

“Huhuhu……our territory is still a backwater one so it would be nice if you can exercise some restraint though.”

“My ladyyyyyyy!!!!” A man with a bang covering his face stands up with edgy look. He is the youngest among the aristocrats, Baron Curtis, the head of Blackwell family. 

Baronet Stanley, the head of Barclay family, a clean-shaven man in his thirties also stands up. The rest of the men also seem antsy.

Another young noble bluntly voices up his exasperation, “Are you even taking our words seriously?”. Baron Scott, the head of Aldiss family even look daggers at Isolde. His hair is short and looks almost like a bowl.

“Watch your action, young men. The lady before you is one of the great nobles.” A bearded middle-aged man whose sideburn stretches to his beard, Viscount Keigel, the head of Hohmann family enjoins them while still finishing his meal. He is the calmest person in here.

“Please palliate our conduct, my lady. Your demurral is putting us in tough spot. Our subjects fall into austerity, and we are duty-bound to face their daily grievances.”, Baron Leonhardt Strauch, a young man whose blond hair reaches his shoulder remonstrates tactfully.

“Ehem.”

The oldest man in the hall, Viscount Roland Morgen, the one in charge of the wharf, is sipping his cup in laid back manner. Hearing his voice, the men hold back. The hall turns quiescent for a little while.

Viscount Roland Morgen who is even older than the late Eamon Guerrin massages his white moustache before amiably levels with the jumpy men.

“Youngsters. We got the hang of your circumstances. As you know, we the viscounts meet My lady separately on weekly basis. It is culpable to wholly pass the buck to My lady. Even in the past, two men, Lord Eamon and Lord Teagan racked their brains for us. Now, My lady alone has to abruptly bear their burden. Rather than pointing finger at her, we as the men of Redcliffe must better ourselves.”

It appears that the attitude he shows where he prioritizes the prosperity of their province rather than personal benefit has earned him a good reputation not only among the plebeians but noble families as well.

Another veteran noble, the fierce looking Viscount Brian Haddock adds,

“Frankly speaking, we the viscounts have been brooding our matter of contention to no avail. It is the first time for us, the viscounts. Our mind had been complacent for decades as we had easily left everything to Lord Eamon and Lord Teagan to figure everything. When our turn comes, we are at loss.”

“You are being too humble, Lord Haddock. Viscount Brian Haddock yourself is also come through to be stupendously adept in the art of reasoning you know. You contribute the most during our meetings with My lady.” Jascha Alatt, a newly appointed viscount backs him up. Viscount Jascha had taken over the House of Alatt after his father was killed together with Marquis Eamon Guerrin during war against Arkland. Their tale is already widespread in Ferelden. House of Alatt owns nearly half of Redcliffe farm which is located between Redcliffe Village and Hinterland.

“We are blessed as we could get as many fishes as we could from the sea. There is no need to import our food elsewhere. Thus, no matter what we would never fall into starvation.” Another veteran viscount, Keigel Hohmann ceases his tea drinking and starts giving his two cents. House of Hohmann own half of the wharf in Redcliffe.