What to say...

[NuclearFairy]

Okay so, my main orc has just become the Lord of a territory. Shortly before this they were in the human border town, making arrangements for freed women, and she asked the courtesans why they were the ones handling it, and they told her that their mayor cannot be suspected of colluding with the orcs.

While there she also noticed a distinct lack of able bodied young men in town. There are plenty out in the farms though.

And she has hired a wise old midwife to come back to the orc territory with her.

Anyways, this territory that she has taken over, has a shortage of farmers, and a surplus of able bodied young men who don't want to farm.

She doesn't know exactly what the problem that the humans are facing is though, other than "War is always present" But, she is pretty sure that if she folded this human town into her territory it would be of benefit to the territory at large and the town.

The problem is, it'd be best to have the town come to her and for them to think it's their idea. What could she have said to these courtesans, that are their unofficial liaison to the mayor, that would get him to approach her?

 

[Brandnewbuddy]

I’m gonna need a wider view of the world. I know you’ve brought this world up before but I’m not quite getting the larger world.

So your orc is a lord. and she’s making a deal for freed women (what’s the deal), courtesans (her own or the mayor’s?) handle the deal, saying the mayor cannot be seen dealing with her (which I get general fantasy xenophobia or racism but is this human town affiliated with a rival faction, independent, etc? What is the reason for this anti-orc bias? Your lead became a lord so she clearly has power and as a neighbor it’s odd that it would be unbecoming for the mayor to not deal with her directly.

She notices young men in the town who are lazing about, or at least don’t want to work in the fields, where there is a shortage of workers. While understandable that the work is maybe not fulfilling, what is motivating them to not work when they are in a community and times that demanded such work? It’s fine if it’s a mystery to your character but I’d need their motivation and if it’s somehow related to the mayor.

Also, what makes this town full of youths who won’t work a good target for annexation?

I would need this context to provide an answer.

Cause right now I figure your Lord has a history with the mayor and the mayor is in hiding, worried about a face to face meeting and the prejudice is just a cover. So she somehow realizes the past history and sends a message only they would understand the context to.

 

[NuclearFairy]

So your orc is a lord. and she’s making a deal for freed women (what’s the deal), courtesans (her own or the mayor’s?) handle the deal,

They rescue women from other territories and then offer them freedom within orc lands, or the option to try and return to their homes.

If these women want to return to their homes, they get taken to the human border town, and they work with the courtesans of that town to attempt to return them to their homes.

Most such women wind up returning to the orcs anyways.

saying the mayor cannot be seen dealing with her (which I get general fantasy xenophobia or racism but is this human town affiliated with a rival faction, independent, etc? What is the reason for this anti-orc bias? Your lead became a lord so she clearly has power and as a neighbor it’s odd that it would be unbecoming for the mayor to not deal with her directly.

The reason is not stated, at least not outright, but the reason the mayor of this town can't be seen as working with them, is for fear of reprisals from the human king. Who might fear that they would seek protection from him through the orcs, or decide that they're selling secrets that they don't have to the orcs.

She notices young men in the town who are lazing about, or at least don’t want to work in the fields, where there is a shortage of workers. While understandable that the work is maybe not fulfilling, what is motivating them to not work when they are in a community and times that demanded such work? It’s fine if it’s a mystery to your character but I’d need their motivation and if it’s somehow related to the mayor.

No, there are very few able bodied young men in town. The handful that exist are guards and even they wouldn't be considered young, just not old.

The only truly young man she saw in town was one with a missing leg, and a mangled scared up arm.

Also, what makes this town full of youths who won’t work a good target for annexation?

The human king has not extended his burdensome draft to the farmers, and Larry needs farmers. The town doesn't need as many farms as come there. And Larry's territory has several empty more fertile farms that they could move to as well.