[Kallimeyra Estate] Planting to Harvest[open]

[Palacrisis D Jones]

Despite the fact that Kallick had as yet failed to find anyone to oversee the plantation he was determined to get the first crop planted out. The Dorin family that had been there since the start had been tending the tiny seeds that had been sewn out in flat boxes known as flats inside the barn.

The flats had been filled with good humus and fine local potting soil watered and then watched on an candlemark basis for signs of locals bugs and pests. it had taken nearly two cycles before the tell tale plant sprouts had begun to show and at that point Kallick had to make a decision.

He had enough sprouting seeds for the full forty acres but the land was still not ready and that was the point when he had to get hold of some labour. Kallick bought a barrel of beer from a local hostelry mounted it on a flat bed cart and accompanied by the Dorin family drove into Taralon and set up shop in the
central plaza

Speechifying was not something the young Dorin did very often , he left that side of things up to his step father but “needs must when Jalat drives” as they say.

He stood up on the flat bed cart and began

“Folks lend me your ears the Black River Tobacco Company is hiring. We need day labour and we will pay for 100 workers x 24 cycles at 20 crowns per cycle free meals thrown in and a barrel of beer at the end of the brightening . So folks anyone interested if so come and join me for a beer and put your name down on the roster.


Free beer is often a good way to gain attention and in Taralon it works as well as any other place It was not an immediate success these things never are but a constant recitation of his speech over a long brightening proved that it was possible to get a gang of men and women together for some extra cash money and the promise of good grub and a drink at the end of the day.

Kallick was not sure that he could oversee this crowd of locals, true he had some instruction in the Knights of Aslangard on leadership but driving this motley crew to work was different from leading disciplined troops to battle.


Ist Brightening of summer ~ Cryxatum era XIV


The day dawned bright and clear and Kallick waited at the gates of the Kallimeyra Estate with a certain nervousness , his speechifying and bribery of the local populace was not a sure fire way of gaining workers some might just be there for the beer and had made empty promises for a jug of ale. However much to his delight throngs of people began arriving loaded down with tools and most of them carrying packed lunches tied up in handkerchiefs hung on their implements.

Kallick had thought about the ground clearing exercise carefully and now knew that in order to get the best from the soil it needed certain nutrients .thus he had divided the forty acres up into long strips and lain dead brush wood and old dry leaves on the ground gathered from their own trees. His plan was simple they would light this brushwood and plough the resultant potash into the ground along with a somewhat pungent mix of animal dung and straw that they had been building into a huge heap over the past year.

The fact that the residents cesspits had also joined this heady mixture was not something that Kallick was prepared to admit too yet!

The budget for tools had allowed for ploughs and mules and they would be set to work immediately that the ash had cooled and the compost spread.

Dividing his work force up into two teams armed with buckets of water from the stream Kallick set the first torch to the designated strip and watched as it caught fire the army of workers stood by with brushes of twigs and buckets of water to ensure that the fire did not spread uncontrollably.

The brightening was dominated by palls of smoke and roaring fires but eventually as the suns began to set the estate was little more than a smouldering expanse of torched earth ideal for ploughing and full of the precious nutrients that the fledgling tobacco plants craved.

The following brightening was a time for the plough teams and the muck spreaders and the ploughs marched the length of the estate turning over the earth. Behind the ploughs women bent in the hot sun pulling up weed roots and stones as the ploughs uncovered them behind the weeders groups of spreaders made use of the heady compost further enriching the earth. Finally the whole mixture was watered with men and women in a bucket chain following the plough.

OOC ~ I accept that there are bunnies in this post but GM Steve can of course put a spanner in the works if he should so desire. ~ More to follow!

[Palacrisis D Jones]

10th brightening of Summer ~Cryxatum~ Era XIV ~PLANTING.

The next two weeks were a constant dawn to dusk labour of ploughing weeding and manureing breaking down the rich soil to such a fine consistency that the delicate green plants could be planted out .the risk of frost had passed and Kallick was desperate to get the new young plants into the soil and to begin the period of growth.

The day dawned warm and bright and as arranged a great horde of labourers appeared at the gates of the estate for a brightenings or two labour and wages. Plus of course free beer and a plate of stew that one lad had remarked eee it were good, fair stuck to me ribs for a week.


The ploughed fields were ready for the planting and the planting began .spaced about two feet apart the seedlings were separated from the neighbouring row by a gap of three feet. The leaves on the seedlings were now about 2” long and this according to the various pamphlets on the subject that Kallick had read was the ideal size. It was back breaking work , a planter drove a hole in the ground with a dibber, a wooden pole, placed the seedling pressed it down fully into the hole and moved onto the next two feet to repeat the process. Following behind was a person who watered the seedling in. the day grew warmer as the lines of men worked the soil dib, plant and water. Lines of men were planting the precious seedlings like some automated line of zombies down up down up water .

By the end of the second day the forty acre estate was a green field of plants that had to be nurtured watered and protected by the workers. Birds and bugs were the enemy and a war of attrition was about to take place on the peaceful field of green plants!

[Steve]

Kallick's estimate to have the the fields planted in two brightenings was a possibility but regardless of seemingly adequate pay and beer at the end of work, not many, in fact most of the workers did not show up on the second brightening. Finding those workers was no easy task either, now that a Provincial Army was be raised. A good many of the lads wanted to fight Orcs. It did not long for the word to spread that work on the Kallimeyra tobacco fields was much too difficult for the available work force. The planting alone would likely take more than a full cycle.

Word spread that workers were needed but replacements did not show up. As Kallick checked on the work being done, he noticed a few of what he first thought were birds flying and hovering among the the young pants as if investigating them. These had a wingspan of about 5 centimeters. These had brown forewings with black wavy lines and orange hindwings with a black edge. There were six orange spots on the abdomen. There was an humming sound coming from them, when they hovered. When Kallick got a better look at them, he realized that these visitors were not birds, they were moths. What he did not realize was that these moths would play a significant role in these tobacco fields, very significant.

His observations were interupted by the voice of a human who walked up to him. "Serale, my name is Bubba. I hear tell that yur in need of an overseer. That's my line of work." Bubba was an average sort; his most significant feature was a red neck. Secured to his belt was a coiled whip.

[Palacrisis D Jones]

“Darnit !” swore Kallick as he realised that brightening two of the planting had the potential for disaster. where are the rest of the workers? he asked one elderly fellow who had turned up gone to join the guard young fella, doing their duty and volunteering to go bash a few Orc’s ‘bout time I reckons.

His lovely workforce was decimated and now the planting was going to take forever . That was not all the estate had visitors and these were not the sort you sat down with a cup of tea and had a good gossip with they were winged beasties and Kallick did not like the look of them at all. They were bugs flying bugs and what was worst of all they seemed interested in his precious seedlings.

These visitors were outside any experience he had gained from his reading , his adopted father had not warned him about nasty stripy brown and orange bugs with an interest in young seedlings. He could hardly tear around the fields and shout at them to “go away!” but he recognised a threat when it hovered over his fields

His pondering about what to do was interrupted by an unprepossessing fellow who marched up and introduced himself. He did not look like a guardian angel with his scarlet neck and coiled whip but the words overseer were music to the ears of a beleaguered Dorin.

Serale Bubba, Kallick D Jones, I am looking after the estate for my father so you’re an overseer are you well Bubba ….and he pointed at the bugs over his fields ever seen those insects before?

[Steve]

Bubba nodded when Kallick introduced himself. He then looked at the hands who were there on that second day and shook his head. Most looked as if they were not going to last the second day. Many were stooped over from all the bending they did the previous day.

He responded to the Dorin's question, "Them there critters are Humming Moths. They look kinda pretty and sing a nice tune but they gonna cost ya more'n half ya plants, 'less ya keep afta them. They been holed up fer the winter. Right now they not eat'n much 'cause the He Moths and the She Moths wanna make whoopee. The He Moths gonna have so much fun with lots of She Moths that they gonna die from it, but they sure gonna die happy. After the She Moths finish messin' around with the He Moths, they gonna eat some tobacco leaves but not much. Then after a bit, they gonna lay eggs on the under side of the tobacco leaves and then die. "In a few cycles the eggs gonna hatch lots of Hornworms, more hornworms than one can count. They so small that they hard to see, same color as tobacco leaves. Then they eat and eat and eat. In two or three cycles they get almost two centimeters long. Take a lotta tobacco leaf ta make dem dat big.

"Now do ya see that ya got big trouble flying around here and ya gonna get a lot more of dem soon as more get a smell of ya plants."

There was a self satisfied grin on Bubba's face after he finished his talk. He was pretty sure he convinced the Dorin that there was big, big trouble ahead and indeed that was true.

[Palacrisis D Jones]

Humming moths eh, well Mr Bubba you certainly seen to know your moths and their habits and that may well prove useful but ….Mr Bubba do you know tobacco as well?

The young Dorin hoped that this chap did know his stuff , he was flying on guess work at the moment considering what he actually knew about the practicalities of the operation.

He had played a smart card with the thane but Kallick was beginning to realise that no matter how smart you were events usually took over and the loss of his workforce to the military was such an event he could not have foreseen in his planning.

Kallick scratched and ear and made a decision “Very well Bubba you look the part I cannot deny. I need someone to manage this place who knows his stuff. But what with wars and moths it looks like those plants are never going to be planted let alone grow into sturdy bountiful adults.”

“If you want the job as overseer its yours but Bubba you are going to have devise a method to protect the plants from those moths. But before that can you find me an economic workforce to work this estate. Look I am a realist I tried being a considerate employer but that obviously doesn’t work and by the sight of that whip at your belt you have driven men before . My father loathes slavery but what he does not know will not hurt him, we need these crops and a good harvest to establish the plantation. So Bubba find me a workforce and the jobs yours and we will not be ungrateful. Can you do that ?”

The Dorin pulled himself up to his full impressive height and looked deep into the overseers eyes. If he came up trumps then the D’Jones family would look after him well if not ……well !

[Steve]

It seemed that the young Dorin was a perceptive individual. He had pretty well figured out what Bubba had in mind. Bubba appreciated that, because he certainly took the time and effort to learn what Kallick was doing. It was not difficult to learn how many hands were hired originally or how much Kallick was paying them. Bubba also knew that the Governor of Imperia was the owner of this plantation. Among his own kind it was common knowledge that Imperia was not a friendly place for Slavers. So, he had to come up with something that would be acceptable to the son of an Abolitionist. Indeed he had something ready.

"Well sir, here's what we can do. At the end of this brightening you get rid of the people you have now. Not to worry 'bout them, what with the new Provincial Army, the new Forges and increased output at the mines, they'll all find work pretty quick.

"I'll provide a work force of 100 slaves tomorrow. Gonna be mostly families, men,women and children. Slave families are easier to handle and with tobacco there lots of work for the little ones. They gonna pick the hornworms, easier for the little ones to bend over and do it. When we let a few of the best plants go to seed, the little ones do the seed picking.

"Your total cost gonna be 40,000 crowns. For that ya gonna get 100 slaves that are yours to keep. All there offspring too. Most slaves breed pretty good. Ya get my services fer 24 cycles too. After that ya decide if ya wanna keep me and we talk about pay. They can build their own Slave Quarters. Ya got plenty of wood from when ya cleared the land. Gonna cost ya less than what you planning on paying the others and ya get to keep the slaves to boot. They already marked as slaves.

"If ya feed them good, they gonna work harder and won't be much need fer flogging."

[Palacrisis D Jones]

Kallick was doing some rapid figuring in his head the business plan had earmarked a figure for labour costs and to Kallick’s amazement this deal over slaves actually might prove cheaper than the original estimates. However his fathers displeasure at the idea of running the plantation on slave labour was a stumbling block he was caught on the horns of a dilemma!

The practicalities of getting a harvest planted protected and picked versus the political objections of the Governor of Imperia.

Kallick thought furiously for a while “Very well Bubba I am going to hire you now and next brightening I expect to see you here with 100 indented workers ,we do not use the word slaves on this plantation. Your responsibility will be to produce a healthy profitable harvest, my duty will be to free the workers at the end of the harvest. As long as you and your associates can guarantee me a fresh supply of labour for next planting season to next harvest.”

I believe that this way I can get over my fathers objections and with a bit of luck we might be able to persuade some of these workers to stay on for next season.

Kallick was thinking with a long head this estate was only the beginning , if they turned a profit over two seasons the plan was to expand into different interests and a supply of labour was going to be useful especially if he could gain their loyalty to D ’Jones Industries.


OOc sorry for delay reviewing Pala's finances

[Steve]

Bubba was quite pleased with all this. He was getting a handsome number of crowns for his own services and just might get to sell these Slaves once again. Those of faint heart could make themselves feel more pure by freeing their Slaves but the matter was not so simple as it seemed. A Slave in Sheria was marked as such and no paper or intention could change that. Often the plight of a freed Slave was worse the what had before. After all, Bubba seldom laid the whip on a Slave. In most cases the threat was sufficient. However, Bubba had no intentention of trying to disuade Kallick from a course that might bring more profit to Bubba.

Of course Kallick could could keep the workers here and pay them. That would give them a freedom of some sort but only so long as they remained workers at Kallimeyra Plantation.

Bubba was not particularly greedy. He would not risk the money he was getting from this original deal in order to get more. If by some means, Kallick found a way to actually free the Slaves, that would not bother Bubba a bit. The need for Slaves seemed endless, thus the supply of Slaves would remain endless.

[Palacrisis D Jones]

“The following brightening”

The deal was done the estate could function again, Bubba was as good as his word and by the following dawn a motley collection of humanity and other races were standing at the gates of the estate under the hard gaze of their lord and master the overseer. Men women and children of various ages dressed in clothes that barely deserved the name. Their eyes cast down and spirits at their lowest ebb. The threat of the whip was enough to drive them to their work.

More money changed hands Kallick wrote a cheque to Bubba for the agreed price of 40.000 crowns and passed the order across feeling vaguely dirty as he did. But the matter was done and dusted the estate could get back to the rhythms of work. The planting was completed within two brightenings and the workers were charged with the duty of protecting the precious plants from their deadly enemies the “Humming Moths”.

Fortunately the plantation had plenty of wood and some of the stronger workers were set to build rude cabins and shelters to house the loose knit families on a secluded spot well away from the main house. Scrimpy’s Second Hand Furniture got a large order for old furniture, “nothing fancy just the bare necessities” and certain shop holders found they had a steady order for nourishing foodstuffs. Lots of potatoes and beans and cuts of cheap meat. Cedric Rioja was busy baking bread everyday and his blackened cauldron was always full of a stew that was added to every morning.


The children were set to work hunting the lava of the moths called “hornworms” quick nimble fingers snatched the awful harbingers of doom from the underside of growing leaves, hard back breaking work at the best of time under a boiling sun of the Taralon summer but vital in the battle to grow the crop.

Good food and sense of safety allowed some spirits to rise. Bubba the over seer and his whip was never far away his hard eyes glowering and looking for slackers amongst the workers but the huge Dorin was never far away either and the workers were of the opinion that the overseer was being watched as well. Which was true but Kallick was learning all the time asking questions of Bubba about the details of the process of growing tobacco.

It was perhaps a month later that rumours spread amongst the “slaves” and words like “freedom and jobs with wages” began to circulate amongst them. Kallick went about the process quietly dropping the occasional hint when he leaned over a sweating slave and asked about the future of the man grafting in the fields. Words like “Arakmat and self determination” began to circulate, “after the harvest” was the time scale and “help” appeared to be being offered.

Only if the “harvest was brought safely in” was the caveat to these rumours. If the slaves believed these whispered bits of language it was up to them nobody was saying anything with any degree of concrete certainty!

[Steve]

The threat of the whip was indeed an effective tool. It was likely that Bubba would not use it at all during the entire season, but none doubted that he would if need be.

The Slaves came dressed in rags but gradually their lot improved. New sturdy clothes were gradually provided by Bubba. The first of these garments went to families whose members had the best production records. This included weighing the horned tocacco worms that the children brought to the Overseer in the tin buckets at the end of the brightening. A full bucket usually meant that Bubba would also hand out a piece of fruit. For the particularly efficient families, the new garb was attractive, particularly that for females.

Bubba took care to allow sick Slaves sufficient time to recuperate. He was not paricularly compassionate, it was simply a matter of effificiency.

The Overseer took care that those females who warmed his bed came of their own accord. There were no invitations or solicitations from him. Still, Bubba never slept alone.

Kallick was learning all the time, asking questions of Bubba about the details of the process of growing tobacco. Along with the details, he learned that ensuring all the work was done was a full time job and one that was being accomplished with a balance of reward and and threat threat of punishment. Kallick could probably do this himself but then he would not have time for his present duties.

The overseer ensured that the proper suitable rumors were circulated.

“Freedom and jobs with wages” were illusions. Standing between Kallimerra and any promises of "Arakmat and self determination were tens of thousands Orcs. These Orcs would take the strongest men as Slaves. The females would be raped continuously and the youngsters would be eaten. Kallick was a kind Master but he did not understand the cruelty of those beyond the Plantation. This was the "inside information" that was circulated throughout the Slave Quarters. For most Slaves freedom was a danger, not a joy. Still, there were a few who would risk their necks for liberty.

[Palacrisis D Jones]

Following his conversationwith the thane Kallick was more confident that he could get the slaves off the estate and away to a new life. So the efforts of workers could now be concentrated on the harvest and the constant battle against the moths. Summer in Sherian province seemed to be typical and the tobacco plants were apparently growing well

The plants were growing on a single stalk about shoulder height, "suckers" began to sprout at the joints of the leaves and primary stalk. These were pinched off by the workers before they could "steal" the nutrients from the main plant. However a small portion were left alone as from these flowers precious seeds develop. The process of “topping” continued on the main part of the crop so that the leaves could grow in the best conditions,

Once the plant has been topped it stops growing. But the process of keeping suckers and pests off the plant continues The plant will be about another two cycles in its dying stage. The leaves began to turn yellow a sure sign that the moment for harvest was close!

This was a matter of cutting down each plant and taking stalk and leaf to an area where they could dry in sun and air . Perhaps another five brightenings later when the overseer was satisfied with the condition of the plants they were taken inside to be hung from the rafters of the barns to finish the process.

[Palacrisis D Jones]

Kalendryas ~ 1st cycle Era XIV


The small party reined in their horses at the gates of the Kallimeyra estate J’lyara , Hassan Bey the sorcerer. The four knights, Sirs, Tristan, Gareth, Tarquin and Percival
all knights of The Argent Sword acted as guards. Palacrisis had explained to them that he was now a private citizen and they were free to go and search for their fortunes but the knights simply echoed the statement of the sorcerer saying “ life was interesting around Palacrisis and with his leave they would stay around to ensure his and his families security”

Their unannounced arrival had not gone unnoticed and two figures ran towards the gates , a hulking Dorin, Kallick and a blonde haired young woman, Meyra. After the greetings were exchanged and the babble of conversation faded Pala had a moment to survey the estate, the fields were bare stripped of foliage and lying fallow ready for the next planting season.

A weary collection of workers huts marred the perfect vista and Pala raised an eyebrow at the sight. A few strangers were hanging around the shanties kicking up the dust in idle boredom.

He nodded his head towards the shacks and Kallick walking beside his fathers horse simply replied indentured workers father …..Mmmm, tell me all later my boy was all Palacrisis said.

The tobacco was drying in heavy bales in the barns and even a cursory glance suggested that the harvest had been bountiful but more of that later.

The two family retainers Clarisse von Dribblepot and her husband Cedric Rioja were standing on the porch that surrounded the house beaming at the sight of their old masters arrival, they might be a bit cramped in the house but for the first time in eras they were all together and that alone made up for cramped conditions.


Over a huge table set out on the grass in front of the house a brimming feast was prepared by the adroit master chef and the happy sounds of laughter and conversation were ringing out into the Sherian darkness. Over a plate of crisp barbequed pork Palacrisis got filled in on the details of the workers and his brow furrowed at the sorry tale.

Very well Kallick I cannot say I approve but I recognise the need and the dilemma you were placed in. these people are free to go or stay as they decide. If there is any problem the lads referring to the four knights can organise these people and get them to safety .any way I have an army of 15,000 Arakmatians coming here to Sheria and I am sure I can get a detachment of Nairu tribesmen to help out. Which reminds me my boy there is someone I want you to meet General Pasha Godah a noble Dorin of the highest moral fibre. You could learn a great deal about your people from him and no doubt there is nothing I can do if you want to go off and join your brothers in the forthcoming battle against the Orcs.

Meyra put her hands up to her face …. No daddy, not Kallick ….. Palacrisis looked over at J’lyara , she loved these young people dearly …but …. It is Kallick’s decision he is Dorin, it is time he found his destiny and his heritage the Dorin is proud noble and most of all honourable. I cannot give him his birthright only his brothers can do that. What is coming is a dark shadow and each of us around this table must do his or her part to ensure that Sheria and the empire does not have to suffer the Orc’s anymore.

A few minutes later he excused himself from the table and lighting his pipe strolled away to stand by the stream and contemplate the brown trout swimming lazily along the gravel bottom .

He had much to think about and sometimes thinking out loud to someone he loved made more sense than talking in whispers to a deaf fish.

[Palacrisis D Jones]

Costs and Profit Margins as agreed by GM Steve

Kallick D’Jones the manager of the Kallimeyra estate walked the sheds hung with finely cured tobacco leaf , his companion was the surly Bubba a man driver and the overseer of the estate .Bubba was not a nice man but he knew tobacco. Well what do you think?

Bubba replied My estimate is that you have 66,000 lbs of first rate leaf ready for sale your problem is to find a buyer !

Fortunately Kallick’s step father had given the Dorin a name and location for a potential buyer, now was the time to test the market!

1st Aperitus era XV

To the Trader Musif of Arakmat

Serale Sir

My father the ex governor of Arakmat has given me your name. Palacrisis tells me that you were pointed out to him in a certain center of Arakmatian cultural activity on the darkening of 15th of Imperos last era and that you sir were one of the leading traders in Arakmat.

Thus I beg that you do not ignore this letter. The Kallimeyra Estate of Taralon in the province of Sheria has 66,000 lbs of the finest grade tobacco leaf for sale. For which we expect to realise the price of 5 crowns per lb.

I should point out that the vendor will bear the cost of shipment should you choose to purchase stock from our company the Black River Tobacco company. To this end I have included a package of 10 lbs of our leaf as a free sample of our product which we hope you will find acceptable.

Should you find our product acceptable it would give me great pleasure to meet with you personally to conclude any deal.

Your servant

Kallick D Jones

C/O ~The Black River Cigar Shoppe