Transcendence?

***Norfolk, Sarn-Valley***

So this is my new home! A collection of old wood-houses at a river which comes from the mountains. There are about ten thousand inhabitants in the City of Sarn. It's the biggest city... hrm... village on my land.

The Sarn-Village is the only bigger one because it has access to the sea.

Actually Sarn isn't just a single valley. It's a fjord which was created by a glacier. The following erosion of the mountains created a small maze of valleys which lead towards Sarn-Village.

There is a single river that comes from the mountain-range which encloses the main-valley. To enter the valley you either have to use one of the four pass-streets which lead over the mountain-range. Or you come over the river by ship.

Besides Sarn-Village there are quite a few small settlements throughout the whole valley. But none of them are worth mentioning.

Altogether there should be about a hundred thousand commoners here. Including women, children and old people. So less than fifty thousand who can really do some work. This will be a bother. Probably I should think of even less. Twenty or ten thousand workers in the whole valley should come closer to reality.

The others are either too young, too old or occupied with keeping the infrastructure running. First I will have to shut down this place against the outside world. That means taking over the local guards and enforcing strict security on the pass-streets.

I ponder above the problems while I am followed by a hundred burly men and Den. Walking down a street, I am heading towards the town hall.

Until now the people here governed themselves because the Jarl didn't bother to waste his time. But that will have to end.

Further forward is something like a central plaza with a big building. Of course it is made of wood. I snicker while I think about the villager who called this a town-hall.

A few steps take me across the plaza and I enter the town-hall, followed by Den and his burly men. A cute little female secretary is trying to stop me from entering through another door but one of Den's men blocks her.

Beyond the next door, I find ten old and middle aged men in a round room with a moderate size. They are sitting at a round table and an old geezer is in a big and comfortable chair. He looks like the leader.

~I always wanted a chair like that!~

“Who are you to disturb an important meeting of the elders.” The old white haired wobbly geezer sneers at me.

“What are elders?” I arch an eyebrow at the group.

“We are governing Sarn in place of the Jarl. And we have some important matters to discuss, so get out. Sarah! Why did you let those men inside.” The geezer wails at the secretary who is looking frightened around the corner.

He didn't see the hundred burly men with full armour and weapons in front of the building yet.

I sigh. “If you don't change your tone towards me, I will burn you to a crisp. And for who I am. I am the one who owns your asses! The Jarl sold me this whole desolate place. Call me Ascathon Asceron.”

The expressions of the group turn sour and the old geezer jumps out of my chair to wobble in front of me. “We have a democracy in this valley for over a hundred years now. I will be damned if suddenly someone from outside barges in and turns our society upside down.”

“Who are you?” I hate that guy already. He didn't introduce himself and I want his chair! Correction! He was sitting on ~my~ chair!

“I am the first elder! I governed this valley for half of my life!” The geezer snaps back.

“What are your qualifications besides being old?” I scratch my chest while I think about the situation.

“Huh? What qualifications? I was voted into my office by majority!” The geezer starts a tantrum in front of me.

“So all you can do is talking big and waste the time of people who are stupid enough to listen to you. ~Not needed.~” I wave my hand at one of my burly men and the old geezer is picked up at his collar and carried outside.

Hah. ~Nice~. I walk towards the big chairs and let myself fall into it. Then I take a look at the remaining nine men in front of me and fold my hands in front of my chest. “So what are ~your~ qualifications.” I look at the first guy to my left.

A short game of questions and answers follows. Several guys are carried out of the town hall by burly men and in the end just three persons sit in front of me.

“Randuin. I speak for all fishermen, dockworkers and merchants. I studied economics at the merchant university in Westerhagen. I also manage the taxes and their use.” Randuin strokes his white hair. He has a small figure and looks like he isn't eating properly.

I nod and look towards the next guy.

“Sammael. I am in charge of the city guards and the customs offices. I got my knighthood at the Norfolk Capital. Then I was charged with keeping order here and never left my post since.” Sammael is in his best years and looks like a competent city guard. His hair is blue and he looks healthy.

Then for the third guy.

“My name is Rostock. I studied architecture and management in the Academy. Unfortunately my magic talent isn't that big, so I went back to my birthplace after I was done. I am in charge of the towns affairs, from waste-management to city planning.” Rostock is a middle aged guy with a big belly. He has to be a very healthy eater. But I hope he won't share the same fate as the Jarl.

I frown at those words. “You guys did everything on your own? What's with the other seven grandfathers. This town looks so desolate. I already thought that I would find nobody in the least bit capable here.”

“All they ever did was talking and postpone decisions.” Randuin mumbles towards himself.

“It's not like they ever understood what they were talking about. I am just sitting here because I have to.” Sammael shakes his head.

“There isn't much I can do about the city without money......” Rostock looks at the desk in front of him with an unhappy expression.

I sigh. “How much are the taxes?” I take a look at Randuin.

“Ehhm. We take just enough to pay the Jarl and keep the city going. The small rest went into the pockets of us elders for their administrative work.” The former elder becomes a little smaller under my eyes.

“You are a studied man.” I smile at him. “From now on the taxes will be high enough to satisfy the Jarl, plus keeping the city going, plus having a bonus for new projects. And no more pocket money besides what you deserve for a days work.”

I grab my last pouch and count two hundred platinum coins onto the table. The eyes of the three former elders almost pop out of their heads.

Then I shove the money towards Randuin. “Add that to the city's capital. I want that money used for infrastructure. And ~only~ infrastructure. If it's used for something else, I will ~nail~ you onto the roof of this building for everyone to see until you are frozen.”

Rostock is the next. “From now on you have money. You heard me. Infrastructure! And I want schools! Enough for every child and young citizen who is willing to learn something new. Hire teachers. Get Blacksmiths. Alchemists. I want a functioning city. And every child between six and twelve has to go to school from now on. Get some capable people to help you.”

I look at Sammael. “If I see a child on the street or working somewhere I will ~nail~ you to the roof. Then for the pass-streets. I want a firmer grip on them. Build some control stations there and take taxes for using them. There are some filthy rich regions behind the mountains. They are walking in and out of our valley to use the port while paying nothing. I want two percent in taxes for everything that enters or leaves the valley.”

“I don't have enough trained men for that.” Sammael shakes his head.

“Then hire and train them. Den and his men will help as teachers if necessary.” I wave to Den and he nods.

“Then there are some minor issues and orders. New laws and so on.” I take a stash of papers out of my folder with documents and separate it into three piles. Each of my new subordinates gets a pile. “I want that done. Ah, and before I forget it. Improve this town-hall. I want personal quarters here. Buy and demolish those run down shacks around it if necessary.”

I wave my hand to dismiss the three men and soon I am alone with Den.

The burly werewolf just arches an eyebrow at me. “You go for the whole hog. A hundred and forty years I've been in this world and I can tell you this. The thing you are trying to do will create a lot of enemies. More enemies than you have now. I find it hard to believe that someone as young as you would throw away his life that easily.”

I grin at Den and fold my hands in front of me. “Would you believe me if I told you that my soul is immortal? I just decided that I would always do what I want. And if I die, I will simply start anew! ~Hahahahaha!~ Living is no fun if you do what others want from you.”

I lean back and enjoy my ~chair~.

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