The seasons turn, and Orphan has slain five barons and two counts.

Orphan wishes she knew how to take and hold their territory, not just their gold; but she has a sense there are unknown and mysterious arrangements you are supposed to make about that, if you don't want Dukes and Grand Dukes and maybe the Dread Emperor himself arriving where you've conveniently set yourself up in a castle to be killed.

So in place of permanent territory Orphan has her own little bandit-army.  She doesn't really need them to win battles, but they're helpful at the rounding-up and the looting; and also she doesn't have much else on which to spend the loot; and also, how does anyone know you've come up in the world if you have no castle and also no army?

The seasons turn, and Orphan has slain five barons and two counts.

Orphan wishes she knew how to take and hold their territory, not just their gold; but she has a sense there are unknown and mysterious arrangements you are supposed to make about that, if you don't want Dukes and Grand Dukes and maybe the Bleak Emperor himself arriving where you've conveniently set yourself up in a castle to be killed.

So in place of permanent territory Orphan has her own little bandit-army.  She doesn't really need them to win battles, but they're helpful at the rounding-up and the looting; and also she doesn't have much else on which to spend the loot; and also, how does anyone know you've come up in the world if you have no castle and also no army?