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When the Tosel family had their fall from grace, the old mansion had to be converted to a tenement to keep finances in order. Adalart was rather unhappy about being demoted from steward of a noble’s mansion to a mere landlord, and even more about the change in the people. The staff might not have shrunk, the new residents brought servants with them but required more consistent service in turn, but nevertheless the constant presence of the lawyers, clerks, merchants, and wizards he couldn’t tyrannize like his subordinates was an… irritant. But like everything in life, he could settle to it with time. Especially as the longer the Tosels stayed away, the more he got comfortable dipping into rent for his own expenses…
Then, two decades later, everything changed. An earthquake ripped through Egorian, destroying much of the housing stock, but sparing his mansion. He might have hoped he could double rents and pocket the difference like some of the other landlords he knew, but tragically the flight of much of Cheliax’s middle class made raising his rents a nonstarter, at first. At least the arrival of the new government’s clerks and lawyers kept him from having to lower the rent. Then, with the announcement of the convention, his prices finally started going up again. But a few weeks before, he realized: the Tosels were coming back. They might actually check his ledgers. What could he do… well, first, he better make some space for the count, taking initiative like that might make him happy? If he’s likely to check by anyway. And then, afterwards, cut the rent down to upkeep plus that forwarded to the Count, keep the remaining residents happy and cover up the embezzlement.
Who to evict, who to evict… better start with that lawyer Espaillat, no one liked him anyway. It’s probably a breach of the lease agreement, but who’s going to sue someone about to be backed up by a count?
