The tavern was filled with cheer. People of this era had yet to realize how terrifying the Black Death was. In truth, compared to natural disasters, man-made calamities were even more dangerous.
Historically speaking, when the Black Death began, the church had already decided to use the opportunity to promote faith, claiming that those who died had been cursed by demons and that the impious would face such danger.
To receive God's protection, people had to donate more money to demonstrate their devotion. Of course, they would not put it so bluntly. They would only say that sinners would die, and that anyone wishing to cleanse their sins had to buy Indulgences.
If anyone refused to acknowledge the church's claims, then they could have a chat with the weapons held by the Skitarii and the Inquisitor. They had always had only one way of dealing with heathens who did not believe in God.
Lords and nobles would face problems as well.
Because the sanitation standards of the lower classes were poor, they were often the first to die. This would severely affect agricultural production.
As a result, there would no longer be enough food and wealth to support the nobles. Yet the lords had armies, and when faced with such circumstances, they would often choose to rob their neighbors.
Wasn't there an old saying: "My neighbor stockpiles grain, I stockpile guns. My neighbor is my granary"?
That logic was generally applied to the apocalypse, and there were no guns in this era, but during outbreaks of the Black Death, rampaging armies could often be seen burning, killing, and looting.
Food, drink, valuables, women—everything was on their "shopping lists."
You robbed my territory, and I robbed yours. Attacking castles was naturally not very wise; plundering towns and villages offered the best