Rumors

Rumors are a feature in Mount&Blade: With Fire & Sword that allow the player to inspect what kind of improvements a fortress, town or village currently has without having to talk to the mayor or elder. This is useful because the option to improve the place appears only if the player owns the fief, but by reading the rumors of the fief that the player does not own, it will help the player in deciding which fiefs to keep for himself.

Every time the player enters the fief, a maximum of two rumors appear on the screen. To fully inspect what improvements are already there, leave and reenter the fief, and check for new rumors that did not repeat themselves (it might be necessary to repeat this several times as the rumors are randomly chosen).

Rumors have flavor text depending on the nation that controls the fief. If the fief has no improvements, the text will simply say "Nothing of interest happened in^[sic] (type)." Otherwise, the following rumors will appear:

Fortress and Town Rumors

Improvement	Flavor text
	Polish Commonwealth	Muscovite Tsardom	Crimean Khanate	Kingdom of Sweden	Cossack Hetmanate
Armory	The city is full of talk about the new arsenal.	Since the armory was built, the city's public order has much improved.	Long live the Bek! The city now has its own arsenal!	The stores are full of weapons, and well-guarded.	Word has it that the new arms stores in the city have countless pistols inside.
Water supply	Now there is new construction in the city, and plenty of fresh water.	Laundresses now gather at the city well, spreading the latest rumors.	Today at the bath-house I heard that salt prices are going down!	Ever since the sewers were laid through the city, no one in my family has had dysentery.	Yesterday there was quite a party at the pond. Girls were jumping into the water naked...
Academy	Holy Mother of God! My inn grows very prosperous, thanks to the academy!	Yesterday a pair of rich scholars rented my quarters. Now I shall have enough money to buy a cow!	A madrassa is a good thing, but now one cannot find paper or ink anywhere. These wise men buy it all!	After the university was constructed, our pastor finally managed to repair the church -- and the repentant townswomen come every day.	The students were engaged in a drunken brawl at the inn again. Seems they only learn how to drink vodka at that college...
Merchant guild	Yesterday the Sejmic resolved to ban foreign merchants from the market. Trading will be easier now.	A scandal in the city -- the merchant guild used its weight to drive out of business a merchant who didn't want to join.	Yesterday a merchant became intoxicated at the caravanserai, and gave away all his silk cloth for free.	The merchant guild found those merchants who were avoiding tax, and placed them all under arrest.	Today a libertine will receive ten lashes for lechery at the Maidan. Good places at the windows are being sold for ten thaler.
Fortifications	Yesterday our warlord returned boozy from a party, and fell right in the pit. What a laughing stock!	The women like the log barricade. It is a handy place to put out clothes for drying!	Our mufti fell from the fortress walls, but Allah be blessed, he fell straight into the new moat full of water. Too bad he couldn't swim...	There city is mourning -- a drunken patron of the pubs fell into the underground tunnels during the night.	Word has it that the commander went up the tower yesterday to inspect the guards, and looked on as an armor-bearer left his house by the back door. Oh, you should have heard him swearing...
Hidden Treasury (Safe House, Treasury, Banking House, City Treasury)	Our lord is a wise man. He always keeps a purse of thaler for a gloomy day.	Word goes around the market that a pair of fools decided to rob the treasury yesterday. They had no money for the pub, it seems...	Yesterday our lord gave to charity. That must mean his treasury is far from empty...	Our lord opened a banking house, you know! We took a loan and bought some new furniture.	Yesterday the city commander gathered all the Cossacks to drink some vodka. Word is, he took some thaler from the treasury to pay for it.
Barracks	Word is, a caserne was built in the city.
Stable	Word is, a new stable was built in the city.
Weapon-master	Word has it that the executioner uses the new axe he bought from the city weapon-master to shave his beard in the morning...	Word has it that even the nobles come to the new armorer for their pistols.	Word has it that our armorer learned his art in Damascus...	Word has it that a musket made by our new armorer can strike a target five hundred feet away!	The armorer made a new sword for the commander. It can cut a flying feather in two!
Armor-master	On Sundays, the master demonstrates how strong his armor is. He puts a cuirass on the wall and offers folks to shoot it with a pistol. He charges one thaler for each shot...	The warlord flaunted his new helmet yesterday. Word has it he bought it for a full thousand thaler!	Our Bek got himself a new set of armor, covered in gold!	The master of armor is not taking any new orders. He's been ordered to make armor for a whole regiment of Reiters!	Yesterday the Sich Cossacks came, and ordered trousers and whole rolls of mail.
Horse Master	The horse master has bred amazing stallions. He says that they'll be brought to the fair tomorrow.	A tetchy mare threw the warlord off her back yesterday. Our new equerry found a calmer steed for him, so now our commander falls asleep while riding.	The Bek has taken a new herd of horses from the steppe. We've never seen such horses as these in our town before!	Even Reiters come to our city for hoses!	Our horse-herd breeds excellent horses -- though word has it, he stole them from the Tatars...
Messenger	Rumors are spreading that a messenger arrived at the burgomaster with an important deed.	Word has it that a herald with a secret deed arrived in the city. What sort of deed, no one knows.	Our Bey received an urgent message. These new messengers fly like the wind...	Today the courier brought some mail -- another message from the relatives...	War again! Messengers run between the cities like mad!
Watchman	Embezzlers now tremble in fear of their own shadow. Our new komornik sure is a tough one.	If the watchman keeps hunting thieves so fervently, soon half of the city will lose their ears.	The new mufti is a kind soul. He sentenced a rebel to death by hanging, when he could have had him impaled.	The watchman has accused a wealthy merchant of treason. The hearings promise to be quite intense.	Yesterday the watchman judged a horse thief. Turned out he was a Tatar spy. He was hanged, of course...
Tax collector	The city gentry are full of ire! -- They are required to pay into the treasury!	Yesterday the paymaster went around the farmsteads, looking for taxes owed. He took our pig and two cocks.	Allah the Great! Our wise lord so cares about his subjects that takes away all their excess money. I gave all my money to pay taxes, and now I can't even buy a new robe!	Of course, taxes are no easy burden. But let us hope our money will not be used only for feasts and parties.	Yesterday the townsmen gathered to go and beat up the tax collector. Ever since he took command, the town has known no peace.
Merchant	Word has it, there was a scandal at the stocks today. Our lord's own merchant thought he would commit theft.	Another merchant went out of business. Soon only those traders who work for our lord will remain in the city.	Word has it that the caravan-bashi is smuggling hashish. No wonder he can do it! He's under our lord's protection...	The new sutler has taken all the city's supplies for himself. People say he's in cahoots with the government.	The vodka in that new shop is three times more expensive, but what can you do? -- All the others were banned from trading spirits.
High Priest	Rumor has it that the new Bishop greatly enjoys the choir. He has all our best voices in his cathedral choir...	The abbot christened the warlord's son just yesterday. By nightfall he could barely speak a word.	Yesterday the imam read a sermon. He said that Allah is furious with those who don't pay taxes.	The chaplain in person led a raid on the markets the other day. Word has it they collected thrice the usual taxes.	The priest heard the confession of a widow lately. He was so enthusiastic about relieving her sins that now she's planning to give birth!
Commander	The commander has disciplined the soldiers so well they even go to the toilet marching.	The commander educated the troops the other day. Cracked a few jaws and broke several ribs.	Thanks to the new commander, all our men now go for military training every day. No one is left to do the work!	Damn the new commander! He trains innocent townsmen to death, as if they were recruits...	The new commander is a tough fellow. He gave the lads training poles to make pikes, and ordered them to run around the field until they collapsed.
Infantry Commander	Word is, the zolniers now have a new commander.	Word is, a new commander was appointed.	Men of duty argue only about what place they would raid next spring.	Men say a new infantry commander has been appointed.	Word has it that a new commander was appointed.
Cavalry Commander	There's been a lot of talk about the new cavalry captain.	There's been a lot of talk about the new cavalry commander.	There's been a lot of talk about the new aga.	There's been a lot of talk about the dragoon captain.	There's been a lot of talk about the new yesaul.
Guard Commander	Word has it that a new infantry commander was appointed.	Word has it that a new marksman commander was appointed.	Muskets rumble through the city - the new azab-aga is training the recruits quite well.	Word has it that a new infantry captain has been appointed.	Word has it that a new commander was appointed.
Heavy Cavalry Commander	There is much talk about the new commander.		There's quite a lot of excitement in the city. The beshli-aga trains his new warriors as if they were to fight for the Khan himself!	There is much talk about the new cuirassier captain.	Personal Guard Captain
Personal Guard Captain	There is much talk about the new forces which shall bring us victory.
Mercenary Captain	The city is a mix of nations, like ancient Babylon. There are many foreign mercenaries about.

Village Rumors

Improvement	Flavor text
	Polish Commonwealth	Muscovite Tsardom	Crimean Khanate	Kingdom of Sweden	Cossack Hetmanate
Mill	People say the old miller almost killed himself when he learned about the new mill.	The miller is spreading rumors that the new mill puts some foul stuff into their bread.	Bless Allah! Now there are several mills in the city, and the faithful can choose where to mill their grain.	Since the new mill was built, the price of flour has dropped.	Rumor has it that the miller is a sorcerer...
Storehouse	People say that the lord keeps not only grain, but gold in the new storehouse.	I heard yesterday the warlord's shed was robbed. He had it coming.	The greedy Bek filled his barn with grain, and sells it at three times the price at the end of winter.	Our lord is cunning as a fox. Stored the grain in his shop and sells it for an inflated price.	Mice ate all the grain in the new granary, and the people rolled with laughter!
School	We put our son in school. Now we'll have to spend all our money on books.	That school is nothing but nonsense, and with our children away all day, who will watch after the goose?	Our children are attending the school. Perhaps they will grow up to become kadis or muftis?	Of course, reading is good for children. It's quite expensive though...	Cossack children have no use for reading. But if our lord says it's important, then we shall send them to school as ordered.
Hidden Treasury	Folks say the elder is hiding a treasure somewhere -- a full twenty thaler!	The elder hid all the vodka somewhere, and the men haven't been to work for three days. They've spent all their time searching for the hiding place!	Our Bey is a greedy one. He built a storehouse but no one knows where.	The men say there's a huge stock of goods in a hidden cache somewhere. Now we no longer fear raids so much.	Yesterday the lads found a secret cache filled with vodka and lard. The elder almost burst from ire -- they ate and drank all the stocks!
Council House	The elder and the tax collector sat in council the other day until early morning. When the sun arose, the townspeople carried them both out by their ankles.	One of the townspeople got himself drunk and made quite a nuisance of himself all night long. He was forced to spend three days in captivity for his behavior.	The village caught a thief the other day. He was held captive in the Bey's house until the guards arrived.	My neighbor was arrested yesterday. What did he do? Nothing much -- he just stole a horse...	Since the village house was built, you can't find the lads wandering the streets in the evening. -- They all gather in the village house to talk politics.
Judge	Folks say the new judge will accept no bribes. How hard must it be for him to make judgments?	The new judge only takes bribes in liquid thaler. He'll be a drunkard in no time.	Kadi Astakh hears a new dispute every evening. All the folks gather to watch -- his elaborate judgments are wonders to behold.	Word has it that the new judge will not yield to corruption! How can the villagers live now?	Yesterday the judge decided that the neighboring monastery's floodfield should in fact belong to the warlord. The warlord bribed him with a mere piece of meat.
Treasurer	The new bursar shortchanged innkeeper Yankel. The latter in his misery decided to turn to the Christian faith.	The villagers found out that the new treasurer used to be a clerk at the mint. Word has it that he was fired for drinking.	Our baskak must have learned math in Baghdad! He shortchanges you in an eyeblink.	The treasurer has began keeping a book of accounts. Whatever he's writing there, only God knows, but now folks have to pay more...	The village paymaster came here the other day. Said we have to pay back taxes for two hundred years or so. We have him a quart of vodka, and now we're in debt only for a hundred years.
Priest	Our priest gave communion to two women from our parish -- the whole night long.	The holy father expelled a witch from the village the other day. The people say that she took the holy host right out of his mouth.	The new mullah is very young, but he knows all the Quran surahs by heart!	The new pastor gives absolution twice as frequently than the old one, but charges twice as much!	Our priest has a new wife -- his fifth or sixth, I think.
Marshal	Our marshal is a great guy. He put an end to the bandits in the nearby forest.	The marshal found a stolen pig -- in a neighbor's kennel.	The new muhtasib caught a pickpocket the other day.	The marshal found out and put and end to a gang of counterfeiters.	The marshal caught a horse thief. That poor guy didn't live long enough to see a trial.