Archolia continues to grow. A banquet hall is built onto the castle in order to entertain members of Chalyela’s court and foreign dignitaries. As the kingdom grows however, so does its troubles.
Crime has grown. News of muggings and killings spread through the kingdom and makes its way to the queen. Citizens who live in the village are afraid and complaining about conditions in the village. They have risen in a revolt and Queen Chalyela must figure out how to deal with it all.
Queen Chalyela is on her way to town square to deal with villagers who are fed up with the poor condition of the kingdom. A peasant by the name of Hamfast has led them in refusing to eat until the queen fixes the state of the village.
Just hearing news of the peasants who are starving themselves voluntarily makes Chalyela realize that she is famished. She enters her new banquet hall. If she must deal with unpleasantries, she will first eat a good meal.
She calls to her servant, who immediately begins preparing a fine stew.
Justinian the servant prepares a large bowl of stew. Other members of court begin to migrate to the banquet room to enjoy dining with the queen.
The meal is particularly delicious today, or maybe its her beautiful surroundings that make the queen enjoy the meal that much more.
Chalyela would like nothing more than to enjoy entertainment from her jester along with another bowl of the fine stew, but her citizens are awaiting.
She arrives at the town square and sees a dozen or so peasants along with her royal advisor Kenna, who has been monitoring the situation closely.
Everyone bows deeply as the queen approaches looking particularly royal and authoritative.
Chalyela approaches the leader of this small revolt, Peasant Hamfast. “Your majesty,” Hamfast greets Chalyela with respect, but there is no mistaking the scorn on her face.
“I have come to hear why you have staged this revolt,” Chalyela announces.
She continues, “and just so that you are aware, staging a revolt against the queen is treason, punishable by death!”
“All due respect your majesty, but what are we to do? The conditions in the village are deplorable. My children are hungry, we have no fresh water and are not safe in the streets. We are desperate your majesty!”
Chalyela has compassion for Hamfast. After all, she once lived in a village and knows what it is like to be at the mercy of a monarch.
Hamfast continues, “See your majesty,” Hamfast says pointing out the rest of the revolting villagers, “Can you see the pained look on their faces? We refuse to eat until things have changed and if you do nothing, their deaths are on your hands.”
“I shall think this over,” Chalyela says walking away.
Chalyela has a lot to think about. On one hand, her goal for this kingdom is to allow it to grow and be a safe, happy place to live. On the other hand, she cannot have her citizens rising up against her whenever they want to. She can meet their demands, or allow them to starve and die as an example to the other villagers.
Chalyela refuses to make a hasty decision. She will allow this situation to sit on her mind for a while.
Chalyela returns to her castle to complete some of her duties. Thus far, she has made no efforts to secure loyalty with neighboring territories. She decides to write an edict making passage between the territories safer for merchants and travelers.
She writes out the edict.
She places the edict onto the territory map.
The edict is now ready to be voted on. To pass, there has to be enough votes from members of Chalyela’s court, as well as dignitaries from the neighboring territories.
Chalyela’s edict passes. She now goes to work on writing up a couple of new laws.
The first new law she drafts has to do with villager complaints and how they should be handled from now on.
Chalyela does not want her subjects to feel that they have to rise up in revolt in order to be heard. She includes in her law that town meetings are to be held, and a proposal is to be drafted and sent to her, the queen, whenever an issue arises in town. Chalyela wants to be a fair understanding queen.
