Raby Castle, Seat of house Neville

[Alexandrine]

Lands

Yorkshire 32. Kirkby Moorside - Average Income. NEVILLE. Richmondshire 4. Leyburn/Middleham - Sparse Income. NEVILLE. Durhamshire 4. Barnard/Bowers/Raby - Sparse Income. NEVILLE. 2. Brancepeth/Lumley - Sparse Income. NEVILLE. Total income: 1100 pounds per annum

Posessions & Bonus

Raby Castle: Recently built by the Nevilles of Raby, this serves as their base of power in the county of Durham. +3 siege rolls, -3 raid rolls. Middleham Castle: The principle seat of the Neville family, this massive structure is an ostentatious display of their growing power and influence throughout the north of England. It grants a +4 bonus to siege rolls and a -4 malus to hostile raid rolls, well as possessing a stout keep that will last for half a year (3.5 days) should the outer defences fall.

[The Mad Skylord]

The Baron de Clifford arrived, seeking the Lord Neville.

[Alexandrine]

Baron Clifford is received by Lord Neville himself. He is an man in his early 50's, yet he looks a bit older then that. The lord of Raby has a belly and his heads is slightly balding. He was dressed in a simple black doublet; it was his style to dress simply but refined. Much in contrast with his elder son, whom they called the Peacock of the North.
Baron Neville was present in his solar, checking his bookkeeping when his guest arrived. He stood up to greet the man. "Ah, Baron Clifford." he said to him. The man was around the age of his eldest son. "Welcome to Raby."

[The Mad Skylord]

OOC: My mistake, lol, Baron Clifford is 14, We'll have to retconn it to be his Uncle, Simon de Clifford.

Simon de Clifford bowed somewhat stiffly. "Lord Neville, I've come today to discuss a rather pressing matter. With the defeat at Bannockburn, and the death of my brother the late Baron de Clifford, I have stepped in to govern my nephew's estates until he comes of age.

Bannockburn leaves us in a greater quandary than the loss of a few peers though, the North has suffered losses and soon we will be fully at the mercy of the Scottish. It is my desire to band the lords of the north into an alliance, a league of our own to represent the northern interests."

[Alexandrine]

"It pains me to hear of your brothers death. His absence will be a great loss for the North." Neville tried to offer some comfort. "The boy is lucky to have you as his mentor and guide. It is best for children to be raised by their own kin and not be traded around as wards." Neville was a family man through and through. He came from a big family and he himself had a big family.

Neville put the bookkeeping aside. And when Simon began talking about a league of their own. he called out for some refreshments for Clifford and himself. Which where brought in soon by a a servant. "Keep talking." Neville said. "A united North is naturally in all of our interests."

[The Mad Skylord]

Simon offered a weak smile.
"I am honoured by your condolences, my Lord. "

Back to business then, this Lord Neville seemed a pragmatic man.

" I have already approached the Perry's, and we have agreed that we must reach out to Fauconberg, Umfraville, Durham and Pembroke.

It is my belief we must band together, for soon we will find ourselves at the mercy of King Hobbe and his hounds, Randolph and Douglas. We must stand against Bruce, and use our alliance to present a strong league of Northern Lords with which to gain books from the King, to be used to make safe our lands and homes. "

[Alexandrine]

"Indeed, we must defend ourselves against the Scots. They are a severe threat to us all. This nasty business of Bannockburn will come again soon and it will bite us again. Now the border is open, it will be our lands and homes that will burn first when they come down south. An alliance of mutual defence sounds like the most sound thing to do. We sadly cannot rely on the King to protect us." He carefully indicated.

Neville had listened to the names of their neighbours, Lancaster wasn't one of them. "I will join a league protecting us from our enemies to the North. Lord Faucenberg's son is married to my daughter Anne. He might listen to us, if I back you up."

Neville finally takes a sip from his cup. "I am curious though; what about the earl of Lancaster? Will he join this league of Northman? I don't recall you naming him."

[The Mad Skylord]

"I, personally, am not in favour of inviting the Lord Lancaster. I believe he would twist our purpose into another weapon with which to influence his rivalry with the Crown, however, Sir Geoffrey Percy brought up the same point, and I believe it would be best dealt with by a simple vote once we have invited established ourselves sufficiently. "

[Alexandrine]

"That seems fair. A vote will done fine for me." Neville commented. Not really sure what to think about Lancaster. In one way he would bring a great support, but in another way it was likely that the whole alliance wasn't based upon mutual reliance anymore.. as Lancaster would bring the alliance out of balance.

"I have one proposal, though.." Neville pondered. "To make this alliance work and really bring out the best out of it. We should unify this alliance and cement it with marriage. That way we can make sure we all have the same goals. I have a large family, you see, so I have to ask for a betrothal between your nephew and one of my younger daughters. Preferably one with Baron Percy too."

[The Mad Skylord]

Simon pondered that, but in reality it was a good match that left his nephew well married, and the three most prominent Lords of this alliance inter married.

"I can agree to that. Will you then approach Lord Fauconberg? Geoffrey Percy will approach the Umfravilles, and I will talk to Mowbray.

The only other matter would be of a dowry. Is £1000 acceptable to you? "

[Alexandrine]

"Good to hear. I will welcome baron Clifford into my family as my son. It is good for us Northerners to be united in kinship. I always tell my children that family is everything." Neville chatted, looking around. Ah, yes aDowry. It was a very large sum to be paid. A double sum if Percy also agreed. Two times his land income.. He already had paid something similar for his daughters Anne and Joan, those daughters were expensive. Hopefully this alliance was worth the cost. But he simply wanted the best for them, being married to a peer would give them a comfortable life.
"Yes.. that seems to be alright." he finally said, a bit reluctant. "It is not easy, providing for a lot of daughters.. But alas, you know you do everything for them. The price will be paid when they are legally wed."

"I will talk to Fauconberg, For the family bonds between our families, I am the most reasonable choice for it." he agreed.