(set: $name to (prompt: "How should I address you?", "Scot"))
The year is 1439 and you are a young Scottish woman in need of work. Since your small family farm has been afflicted by (either: "poor harvest", "insurrections from the Scottish War of Indendence", "the Black Plauge") it might be time to see what else is out there. Many young women in the area are making the journey by land to England's north country as there is rumored to be employment there. What do you do?
[[Immigrate to England]]
[[Remain Home in Scotland]]
After a long journey you have finally crossed the border! You have no discernible skills and are in need of employment, so a vagabond lifestyle seems most fitting.
Continue on down this [[road]] to look for potential employmentUnfortunately, farming conditions did not improve and food became extremely scarce. This was not the worst of your problems, however, as a series of insurrections began along the border. If it's not the starvation, its the insurrections, amirite?
Go back to the beginning and try your luck in England as a [[Vagabond]].
While walking you pass by a group of unruly looking men. What do you do, $name?
Avert eyes and [[book it]]
Meet their [[gaze]] and let them know you are a strong independent vagabond woman.
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The men don't even notice you and you make your way along the path and come across a modest looking home with a farm. Do you:
[[Stop in search of employment?]]
or
[[Continue on the path in search of employment.]]You have attracted unwanted male attention! The men begin to approcach, but you sprint away in time. You were lucky this time, however,the Medieval world is not ready for such strong independent ladies and attracting the attention of men through eye contact is discouraged. You stepped outside of your designated gendered sphere and have hopefully learned your lesson.
[[Continue on the path in search of employment.]]
<pre>(set: $gaze to true)</pre>'You have successfully made it to the town of Northumberland, where many Scottish women have found employment as a servant. Should you [[inquire]] with locals regarding employment or take a break at the local [[inn]] because you've worked hard and need a break.
There is a man outside of the home tending to the fields. You stop and inquire about temporary employment and he agrees. You will stay the month in exchange for a small amount of money.
The landowner tells you to assist in plowing the fields. Do you:
[[Refuse]]: I'm a lady, I don't plow.
[[Accept]]: Somebody's gotta do it.The landowner becomes angry at your insolence and terminates your employment.
During the medieval period, women were expected to help with farming during the harvest months, including traditionally male elements such as plowing.
[[Continue on the path in search of employment.]]
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You fulfill all expectations as a seasonal migrant worker and when your time is up, you recieve a meager payment and [[Continue on the path in search of employment.]]Upon further investigation, a wealthy family in town is in search of a female servant to perform domestic duties about the house. The contract is short, but you're desperate.
[[Sign Contract]]An inn is no such place for a lady, $name, way to make a first impression!
(if: $gaze is true)[Meeting the male gaze? Frequenting inns your first night in town? You'll never make it in England!]
Let's keep it moving and [[inquire]] regarding employment.The landowner is respectful and you quietly fulfill your duties of preparing food, cleaning, and performing mending. Your contract has finished and you are ready to collect your payment. Your master refuses to pay you what is owed, but does offer another year of employment. It seems as if you are out of options, you cannot contradict your employer.
(if: $gaze is true)["Ughm, who cares. I want my money."][[Demand Payment]]
(else:) [I cannot disrespect my employer, even if it means another year here.]
[[Accept offer]]You refuse to accept his offer and demand the payment. Your employer, however, is appalled by your behavior and removes you from his home. You have betrayed the expected behavior of a woman and have gained a reputation as a dangerous woman. You are unemployable in Northumberland and must once again adopt a [[vagabond]] lifestyle in search of work.You quietly fulfill the added time and once it is served your employer pays the year's pay.
While employed in Northumberland you seem to have caught the attention of a local English tradesmen and he offers his hand in marriage. What do you do?
[[Accept the proposal.]]
or
[[Politetly decline.]]Congratulations, $name! Your marriage to a native means that you no longer have to pay the Alien tax and are 6 pounds richer!
This does mean, however, that you are unlikely to be accounted for in the census of immigrants during this period as the wives of Englishmen were not taxed and, therefore, not accounted for, but hey 6 pounds is 6 pounds. Well, he did not take that well. It's probably best to find a new town and start over. Time to go back to the good 'ol vagabond lifestyle.
It's a good time to skip town too becuase the summer tax on immigrant populations will be collected soon and due to the mobile nature of vagabonds, it's difficult to trace them in order to tax them.
Good luck on the open road, $name!
Looks like it's back to life on the road. Hey, the bright side of a mobile lifestyle is the locals can't find you to tax you!