Only a day had passed since we planted Koram's massive deer-hide sign by the main road. A blizzard had intensified, making the forest howl like a monster. Just as I thought, "No one would travel in this weather," heavy fists pounded on the thick, double-leaf oak doors of our tavern.
Eliz immediately grabbed her bow while I quickly threw back the heavy bolt. Four men, covered head-to-toe in snow with frozen beards, practically tumbled inside. They were a group of hunters looking for valuable monster pelts deep in the woods, but they had been caught in the blinding storm.
"The sign... the sign wasn't lying," the leader of the group wheezed, stroking the stone floor he had collapsed on with trembling hands. The sweet, lethargic warmth of the underfloor heating system felt like the water of life to their freezing bodies.
We immediately guided them to the wide wooden tables around the hearth. It was my first duty as the "Mayor" and innkeeper of Essence Haven. Eliz brought them steaming clay bowls of rabbit stew and Barun's smoked meats. Tears nearly came to their eyes when they tasted Lira's fresh, slightly tangy sheep's cheese. They spent the night in the tavern's warm beds, lined with thick luxury furs, sleeping more peacefully than they ever had in their lives.
The next morning, the blizzard had passed. When the hunters woke up refreshed and stepped outside, they were met with Koram's orderly Leather and Tailoring Store. About to return to the bitter cold of the forest, these men were absolutely mesmerized when they saw the thick deer-hide coats lined with white rabbit fur, stitched with professional Aethelgard steel. Discarding their own makeshift armor, they eagerly donned the magnificent winter gear crafted by Koram's hands.
By the time the hunters left the settlement with words of deep gratitude and respectful bows, it was time to assess our earnings. For the tavern lodging, feast-like meals, and cheese, the hunters had paid me exactly 5 Pure Silver Coins. Koram, on the other hand, had earned a whopping 10 Silver Coins thanks to his flawlessly crafted fur coats and leather armor. In a single morning, 15 silver had entered our settlement! It was an absolute fortune.
When night fell, we all gathered around the large table in the tavern, basking in the warmth of the furnace. Barun was grunting cheerfully, while Lira was inspecting the new wool combs she had fashioned for her sheep.
Just then, Koram quietly cleared his throat. He pulled two shiny silver coins from his pouch and slid them across the table, stopping them right in front of me, next to my 5 silver.
As the coins clinked against the wood, everyone's eyes turned to us. I looked at the coins with a confused expression, then up at Koram's harsh, scarred face.
"What is this, Koram?" I asked, furrowing my brows. "You bought the sewing kit and the saw, you processed those hides with your own hands. This is your earnings."
Koram rested his staff against the table and looked me in the eye with that piercing commander's gaze. "This is a tax, son," he said in a deep, undeniable voice. "This isn't a wild forest anymore; it's an organized settlement. You provided these safe stone walls, these paved roads where we opened our shops, the warm ground beneath our feet, and the vision to plant that sign. A shop only profits as long as it is safe and can find customers."
He pointed at the 2 silver on the table. "Twenty percent of my earnings. But don't misunderstand..." Koram leaned forward slightly. "This is not your personal money. I'm not giving this so you can go buy yourself silk cloaks in Aethelgard. This is the Mayor's Fund, to be used for the needs of this outpost, strengthening our defenses, building new structures, and ensuring the survival of this settlement."
Barun clapped his massive hands together and let out a thunderous laugh. "Ha ha! So our Mayor is collecting taxes now! If I sell meat, are you going to take a twenty percent cut from me too, little guy?"
"Absolutely," I said, proudly sliding those two silver coins into my new fund with an unstoppable grin. "There are no free shops in Essence Haven, big guy."
Eliz giggled, while Lira clapped her hands in excitement, "Does this mean we can expand our roads even more?!"
No matter how harshly the winter stormed outside, within these stone walls, it wasn't just warmth that was being generated; a real system, a real economy was being born. We hadn't just managed to survive; we had started making our own rules.
ESSENCE HAVEN
CITY STATUS: TAX SYSTEM ESTABLISHED (20%)
POPULATION: 5 People