October 2023

World Creation: Villains, Controns and Ofardoes

If you thought that the Controns were bad, then they could only be described as pussy cats in comparison to the Ofardoes. What makes a good villain? All villains are heroes in their own eyes. That is because typically they are fighting for a cause they believe in. Take King Radolf. His mother was outspoken about the selling […]

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Gold, medieval banks, debt, and all the bad bits in between

King Phillip IV was a bit short of cash… well, more than just a bit. He had inherited a sizable debt from his father’s war against Aragon. By November 1286, it was worth 8 tonnes of silver. His primary financiers were the Templars, and the debt was equivalent to 17% of government revenue. This week

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