Wrecking Bar

[Barry Goldwater]

Finally, after a inexplicably lengthy delay and the death of 'the' (original) Clifford with whom he was supposed to be doing this, George de Vere is setting his mind to actually doing his appointed task and plundering the wealth of Bar for his liege, so that he might use it to invade England and take back his crown - a greater prize than Bar, George imagined, not least because it was actually his home.

But first, he would of course have to consult with his assigned partner, the new Clifford, on how best to accomplish this goal. Which George was presently going to do, while sober for the time being: he can get drunk to steel himself when they were actually getting started, after all.

[The Mad Skylord]

Clifford spent most of his time lounging in his solar, a small room attached to his chambers. Somehow he had ended up being in charge of managing the army and the funds. And he was well relieved when de Vere showed up to discuss fleecing the Duchy. "George, I believe we should begin by raising taxes and selling off ducal properties and household furniture."

[Barry Goldwater]

"Alright." Was George's simple answer. Being sober, he didn't need another moment to realize that he should add on to that, instead doing so promptly: "What sounds like a reasonable tax rate to impose? 10 percent, perhaps? 20? I'd rather we not get run out of Bar before an opportunity to take England back arises." He laughed. But in the back of his mind, some sober part of him was genuinely concerned about that - they had no clue when Neville would report back from the homeland, or at least bring back good news, and thus no clue when it would be safe to leave Bar.

[The Mad Skylord]

"A round 25% will do the trick, methinks. You get to that, George, while I deal with getting money from the userers. Once you've set the tax collecting in motion, start tallying up furniture and residences we can sell. Tally the land too, but we'll sell that last, for obvious reasons.

[Gandalfus]

It is made known to Clifford, and, by extension, the Duke of Bar, that the local barons and landholding aristocracy are unhappy at the current policy of the exiled King. His attempts to fleece the Duchy have not gone unnoticed, and thus a herald delivers a message one day that requests the immediate revocation of the taxation measures imposed upon Bar, as well as a request that a dividend from the expulsion of the Jews and usurers is paid to them for their loyalty.

[The Mad Skylord]

The Duke of Bar, aka Henry de Clifford, orders the lowering of all taxes. In addition, he promises to prepare a dividend to ensure their loyalty. In the meantime, however, members of the most prominent of the Barrois peerage are invited to the Duke's court as advisors. He humbly requests their wisdom in the governance of the Duchy.

[Gandalfus]

Most decline. It is clear to Clifford that the Barrois peerage wish to simply be left to their own devices, undisturbed by policies such as this that Good King Rene would never have enacted. One or two of the lower landholders make themselves known, but little more.