The Mantle of Leadership????

Life has its twist and turns. What turned out to be a simple rescue of an individual important to a small village, has turned in to political subterfuge, murder, betrayal, and manipulation. On top of all that, I get Knighted and given a keep and get thrust into a town leadership role as well as party leadership that Kemurial didn't want.
 
Kemurial confuses me. A paladin that wishes to be silent, left in the back, unobserved. I sure couldn't let Rory be the leader, he can barely speak clearly and Freya? Well, Freya's dark tendencies could be an issue down the road.
 
I wonder if Kelemvor had a hand in manipulating this outcome?
 
The task was to save Pina, and we did, but an unknown captive, Edmund Bedegar was also being held. Bonebreaker Dorokor was the leader of the Orc tribe. A proud, powerful female, culturally honed, strong, and intuitively wise. Upon entering the abandoned keep, Dorokar initiated parlay. Something you do not see in the Orc community very often. She was blessed with the Wisdom of Kelemvor. Unabashedly proud of her culture, and an effective leader, she recognized the political subterfuge afoot.
 
After conversing for some time, and with Edmund as a credible witness, we determined that Saxton ascended leadership through an agreement with the Whyte Tusks to murder the Bedegar family. Dorokar kept the youngest alive as hostage, figuring that Saxton would eventually betray her, and he did.
 
As I stood before her and listened, I felt her distrust for humanity. I could empathize with her, just trying to provide for her people in peace. Orc culture is a dichotomy of violence and diplomacy. This situation magnified her experience with both.
 
After coming to an agreement, with the sacrifice of my Staff of Withering as a gift to Dorokar, I believe I have sowed the seeds of the beginning of peaceful coexistence.
 
Edmund's witnessing gave us the necessary information to understand that the Orcs were not our enemies. Thank you Kelemvor for this lesson. My initial reaction was conquest, not diplomacy. Dorkar's desire to care for her people is a lesson learned.
 
Edmund asked who the party leader was. I looked to Kemurial, who was much better at Diplomacy than I. He shrunk from the opportunity and I was thrust forward as an unwilling voluntold.
 
Edmund Knighted me and gave me the keep. What am I going to do with a Keep?!?!?!
 
As we rested for the eve, I was visited by a cloaked figure from a clandestine group called The Clock. Great another political hand in the small community of people just trying to live their lives peacefully. They seem good enough at first contact. Hopefully, the decision to trust them does not backfire in the future. They notify me that the warrior we embarrassed earlier in the week is gathering a small force to lay siege to the keep.
 
Upon return to the village, we not only expose Saxton, but delivered Edmund as rightful heir to leadership. Additionally, we notified the town of the upcoming assault. The town has mobilized to repair the keep as much as possible. Now as a Knight of the Bedegars I have things to do
 
1: We need to explore and clear underground with the party. I believe this to have a secret entrance Peleton is using.
 
2: I will try and get in contact with the Clock. I will offer, in return for monetary assistance repairing , and maintaining upkeep, allowing them to use the Keep as a home base. I presume the tunnels will have secret passages that the Clock can use, maybe even expanding them.
 
3: I will contact the Dorokar and notify her of the war about to happen. Offer her a flanking opportunity. They attack via the flank on rear forces. Secondary, offer a treaty and trade agreement for normalization of community relations.
 
4: I will send a messenger to contact the Iron, asking for monetary assistance in fixing the Keep and providing resources for community stabilization and a treaty for launching adventures.
 
5: Fix the statue where the undead were.
 
Hmmm, maybe the Matle of Leadership fits me better then I thought!