Mecklenburg: A fistfull of ducats.
The harbor of Mecklenburg lay quietly under the blazing sun. A rare sight indeed, for the town usually had nothing but rain for the entire year.
Grand Merchant Jyllan was walking towards the ramshackle building the king insisted on calling his palace. And what a king he was. Jyllan never could understand how the former Merchant Board decided to have a king to rule Mecklenburg. The council itself was more than enough to govern the peasant rebble.
Rettin who acted as the church's representative always said that God deemed it necessary for every land to be ruled by a king. Jyllan had to admit the peasants were a lot more docile since they had a king, his grandfather (who also held the position of Grand Merchant) always told stories about rebellions every so many months, those were a thing of the past now.
If they had to have a king, they should have elected one from the Merchant board, a merchant state should have a merchant king. And whom would be more suited then Jyllan himself? He would do a better job than that sniffling fool that they had crowned not so long ago.
Jyllan's bodyguards both watched their employer as he walked towards the palace, he had been in a foul mood all day, but suddenly he started mumbling and smiling like he had just found a pot of gold at the end of a imaginary rainbow. They looked at each other. They both knew they would never understand the minds of the rich.
While they were coming closer to the palace, peasants started appearing coming from the palace, screaming and shouting.
"The king has made a prophecy, the king has made a prophecy.": they yelled.
Jyllan first thought nothing of it, the peasant were known for the irrational behaviour. But as more and more peasants came running by , he became increasingly worried. It would not be the first time the king claimed to be visited by god and Retting usually fueled the kings delusions. Once upon a time the king decreed that god told him that ships were tools of the devil and all trade should be carried out with carts. It was a good thing Jyllan was with his dementing Majesty at that time so he could make sure that, that decree would never come to pass.
If however this many peasants already heared the prophecy then there was nothing Jyllan or even Rettin could do. The peasant all believed their King was blessed by God no matter what the fool did.
"Blois grab one of those peasants for me, would you?": Jyllan requested.
Blois nodded and grabbed one of the many running peasants. The man didn't not even seem to notice, it was clear his mind was in higher spheres than this one.
"Peasant tell me, what did that fool prophisize?"
"Ungrhgh?"
"Blois don't hold that peasant by the throat, he can't answer me like that."
"So once again peasant, what did the "King" say?"
"His majesty has had a vision! The Lord told him what Mecklenburg should do! His Will is clear!"
"Yes, yes praise the Lord and whatnot, but what did his Majestay say the Lord wanted of him?"
"We should conquer all the rich provinces on earth and dedicate their riches to praising the Lord!"
"What? What did you say stinking peasant?"
"We should conquer all the rich provinces on earth and dedicate their riches to praising the Lord!"
Jyllan stood flabbergasted. Conquereing all the rich provinces on earth? Had his dillusionary Majestety finally lost all his marbles? They had a single army consisting of a thousand untrained troops. They were merchants and fisherman, not a race of warriors. He signaled Blois to release the peasant and told him to make sure to wash his hands after they got to a stream.
His mind was working at top speed. He knew that it was impossible to refute the prophecy, he could convince the king that the prohecy was false, but not every single peasant that had heared of the so called prophecy.
He started walking faster and faster, almost running. He could already see all the merchant vessels burning after a naval battle with the English, he could see the coffers of gold in the Austrian vault, he could see French soldiers wearing the imported furs, he could see Spain plundering Lubeck.
Now he was running, the palace came in sight, his bodyguards had trouble keeping up with Jyllan, while Jyllan was still gaining speed.
Jylland ran through the open palace doors, pushing aside screaming peasants. He ran down the corridor and into the room the king called his throne room, an old storeroom from better days.
There the idiot was, sitting on his wooden chair he called his throne.
Jylland was gasping for breath, more exhausted than he had ever been. The king looked at him with a faint smile on his face.
"Ah Jylland my dear friend, there you are! I have some great news to tell you. God visited me!".
"Go..d..?": Jyllan managed to utter.
"Yes yes, god! He told me to that we should go out and conquer all of the worlds riches. Then all good believers can live in the rich provinces enjoying herring and all the evil people can stay in their poor lands and suffer!"
He meant it. He really meant it. There was no way to turn these events back. The screaming peasants had spread the word, Rettin would not help him if there was a chance to spread the word of the Lord, or more specifically the word of Rettin. Jylland wanted to cry. This morning the most pressing concern he had was wether or not the load of furs that should have arrived this morning was still coming or had sunk. Now he had to worry about an insane king that wanted to commit his country to a disastrous war, no not even a disastrous war, but disastrous wars!
"Are you alright Jylland? You are starting to look very pale. Do you want some herring? That always helps me a lot!"
"No... No.. My king.. I...ehehehgnen... need to lay down a bit. Please.... Excuse me."
"Yes of course. You have a lot to do Jyllan. I will as always depend on you to make the prophecy come true"! You have always helped me so much!"
Jylland stumbled out of the room, where his two exhausted bodyguards had finally managed to catch up.
"We are going back...." was all he said.