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Post by ravigen on Sept 23, 2014 23:30:42 GMT
Athinea nodded quietly, this had promise to see justice done and possibly delay or prevent the upcoming war.
"Yes, Your Excellency, I would like to charge Cadoc with the murder of King Jotheim Sefti the Third and Prince Jolinar Sefti." |
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Post by aspenivan on Sept 23, 2014 23:42:04 GMT
Vizier Seldu considered the proposal with a troubled expression. There was no doubt that King Cadoc's actions violated every code of honor instituted among lords. However, King Jotheim seemed to have provoked a reprisal. Not to mention that Cadoc was still useful enough as an imperial vassal that Seldu would prefer to keep him in one piece. On the other hand, Queen Athinea was known for her great honor and impeccable nobility, so these charges were not to be taken lightly.
"The charge of the murder of King Jotheim I must dismiss a priori," he finally concluded with a strain of regret in his tone. "Although King Cadoc dishonorably ignored the proper channels of Imperial law, King Jotheim was deserving of punishment. The crimes of each against the other, I declare, shall nullify one another.
"As for the second charge, since there is no evidence to suggest Prince Jolinar was intentionally murdered, I will modify the charge to one of Manslaughter." He could have also added Conspiracy to Disturb the Peace, Gross Mismanagement, and any other number of relevant charges. But that would be too much to subject an otherwise loyal vassal of the Empire to.
"Do I have your confirmation that you are engaging yourself to press this charge against King Cadoc of Cerdigon?"
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Post by ravigen on Sept 23, 2014 23:45:10 GMT
Worse than she'd hoped but better than she'd feared. No matter the outcome, the trial would put Cadoc on the spotlight and possibly turn potential allies against him. She would settle for what she could get.
"Yes, Your Excellency, I wish to charge King Cadoc of Cerdigon with Manslaughter." |
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Post by aspenivan on Sept 23, 2014 23:55:18 GMT
"Very well. You have the next season to gather witnesses and any who would pledge their word of honor in your support. King Cadoc will have the same, as I will inform him by courier. You must each select a Party Arbiter, properly trained as a magistrate in Imperial law, and I will select the Neutral Arbiter." It was Survaekom custom that three magistrates be present at a trial, one for each party and one to scrutinize both. "You must each appear in this court by the afternoon of the second day the following season, lest I declare one party True and Righteous due to the other's absence. I will be the judge in this case, and my decision will be final except as deferred by appeal to his Majesty Emperor Vokoryn II, Aed bless his name.
"My deepest thanks for gracing me with your presence, noble Queen Athinea. You are always welcome in New Byrnis, and I hope to meet you here again under more auspicious circumstances. My guards will escort you out." With that, Ishui Seldu waved for the Khaitis knights who had accompanied Athinea in to accompany her back out.
__________
-- Vizier of the North Ishui Seldu accepts Queen Athinea's petition to charge King Cadoc of Cerdigon with Manslaughter.
-- Each party will select an arbiter, witnesses, and honorable defenders of their character. These can be selected from any realm, as long as they consent.
-- Queen Athinea and King Cadoc must both present themselves in New Byrnis at the beginning of Turn 4, or else the one who is absent will lose the case by default.
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Post by ravigen on Oct 14, 2014 4:32:55 GMT
It was a long journey from Kegosu to New Byrnis but Koizumi Chuugo had always been familiar with traveling the long roads, in his youth he had been one of the Samurai assigned to leading patrols along the outskirts of the territory, the Survaek had called the lands of the Ikegami. While that was true it was a triviality that the Ikegami didn’t usually bother with, their land was their land they didn’t really need to call it anything beyond what was necessary.
But now they needed to expand and to do that they needed Survaek approval, it was Chuugo’s job to acquire that approval from the Vizier. As his party approached the gates of New Byrnis he anticipated the upcoming meeting for the prosperity of Survaek and Ikegami alike.
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Post by aspenivan on Oct 15, 2014 5:29:34 GMT
The samurai was welcomed into the Court with all due respect and timeliness. Upon hearing that a representative of the far-off, generally isolationist Ikegami Clan was making a petition, Vizier Ishui Seldu made certain that the man was brought in as quickly as possible.
With a pleased, almost eager smile, the Vizier of the North stood up from his throne and bowed to the samurai.
"It is an honor to receive a dignitary of Clan Ikegami. It has been a long time since I have had the pleasure of granting audience to the Empire's noble Far Northern vassal-subjects. Tell me, for what business has your Daimyo sent you to my Court?"
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Post by ravigen on Oct 15, 2014 5:37:02 GMT
Koizumi bowed low as was proper for a man of the Vizier's position, holding the bow with textbook precision and timing. Slowly he rose, reaching into his hakama and pulling out a small letter from Naozumi-sama.
"Your Excellency, I come on behalf of my Daimyo, Naozumi-sama, with the recent collapse of the Sultanate as you know, dwarven refugees have been pouring into the lands of the Ikegami, speaking of terrible infighting and bickering in the capital. This has caused needless turmoil in our lands and we wish to correct the issue."
He paused to allow the Vizier time to take in his words before continuing.
"Naozumi-sama wishes to request formal permission from the Vizier to march into Sultanate lands and add them to our own in order to bring peace and stability to the region. To further facilitate the stability and to remonstrate with the actions of the Sultanate, my Lord has offered to pay the back taxes owed by the Sultanate plus interest over the next two seasons, totaling up to ten-thousand jian in exchange for giving us exclusive right to the Sultanate lands."
The Ikegami request exclusive right to all Sultanate territory.
The Ikegami will pay ten gold over 2 turns to the Vizier in addition to their taxes. |
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Post by aspenivan on Oct 15, 2014 5:47:40 GMT
The Vizier of the North's smile widened slightly, though his overall expression remained happy but just measured enough to keep the tone serious. Lord Naozumi's proposal was very interesting, especially with the promise of back-taxes with interest. And it was very well-timed, too. Doubtless the new Sefti-Cerdigonian Commonwealth had ambitions for the mineral-rich Guhrim lands, and giving exclusive rights to the Ikegami Clan would help to keep the sylphs contained.
"Your petition is accepted," Ishui declared with no doubt in his mind that it was a good decision. "As supreme representative in the North of his Majesty, Emperor Vokoryn II, Sword of Aed, grant your Lord, Daimyo Naozumi-sama, exclusive rights to the reconquest of the fiefdom formerly known as Beg Guhrim. This declaration constitutes Imperial Law, unless the Emperor in his Aed-inspired wisdom sees fit to override my decision." On cue, a black-robed scribe walked from the edge of the Court to the samurai and handed him a scroll: The official Writ of Lordship for the fief in question.
"Now, is there any other business your Lord would see fit that we attend to in this meeting?"
__________
-- Ikegami Clan is granted exclusive right to reconquest of Beg Guhrim for the Empire, in return for 10,000 jiien (10 gold) in tax arrears to be paid over the course of this year.
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Post by ravigen on Oct 15, 2014 5:50:37 GMT
Koizumi shook his head, allowing himself a small smile at the acceptance of his request, his lord would be pleased with the news.
"Not at this time, Your Excellency, you have my thanks, the thanks of my lord, and the thanks of my people as well." |
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Post by cerdigon on Oct 15, 2014 16:34:28 GMT
It had been several seasons since the last meeting between Lord Carawyn and the Vizier. In that time many things had changed. King Cadoc had abdicated and now more or less was the Viziers prisoner and the Kingdom of Sefti had been annexed by Cerdigon in the War of Succession. Now the diplomat found himself waiting outside the Vizier's chambers waiting to be received -- if the Vizier would see him that is.
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Post by aspenivan on Oct 15, 2014 21:06:10 GMT
Lord Carawyn was duly welcomed into the Great Hall and lead to the Vizier's Court. Ishui Seldu awaited on his throne as usual, but with a somewhat disinterested air about him. He had his predictions for why the representative of the new Commonwealth had arrived, and he wasn't looking forward to disappointing King Aeron's grand ambitions.
"Welcome again, noble Lord Carawyn. What tidings bring you from the East? It is with great relief that I received news of King Aeron's final victory and ascension to the Sefti-Cerdigonian Throne."
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Post by cerdigon on Oct 16, 2014 17:01:25 GMT
'' The King regrets that he cannot be here in person today to swear fealty properly. However, dangerous tidings bring me here. King Aeron is extremely concerned over the status of the Sultanate and the movement of the Ikagami Clan. '' While the Commonwealth had little to no contact with the strange Elvenfolk across the mountain, it had heard reports from its courtiers here that the Vizier had granted them rights. '' Specifically, rumors here at court have claimed that Your Grace has given the Ikagami exclusive rights to the reconquest of the Sultanate. The King is shocked at such accusations, if they are true. The Dwarve's have been devastated by war and should be allowed to determine their own political fate. King Aeron would like to formally make his protest known to the Vizer and would request the immediate withdrawal of all forces from the Sultanate. '' In reality, the King wanted a buffer state between him and the Ikagami. A powerful neighbor bent on expansion while the Commonwealth was devastated by war meant that the samurai could soon get ideas about expanding across the mountains.
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Post by aspenivan on Oct 16, 2014 21:02:36 GMT
If Lord Carawyn expected his little speech to endear the Vizier of the North to King Aeron's cause, the sylph noble was about to be sorely disappointed. Underhanded insults followed by outright challenge to Ishui Seldu's authority! He would have to send a missive to the Commonwealth King advising him to select more tactful diplomats.
"My decision stands," he declared plainly, steely-grey eyes wandering away from his host to remind him how little his accusations meant in this hall. "The dwarves are living under the tyranny of warlords who have no allegiance to Aed and his Sword. Even their late Sultan spurned his Majesty the Emperor, neglecting to pay tribute for an entire year. The Ikegami Clan has demonstrated honorable willingness to prove itself a loyal vassal by restoring order to these rebellious lands. If it mismanages them, the Emperor will certainly use his authority to revoke the fiefdom and assign it to better rulers.
"As for the Commonwealth and the young King Aeron, it is hardly becoming to start his career by levying accusations and protests against the supreme representative of his Liege, let alone to do so before his Imperial Coronation Ceremony. Speaking of which, I have heard most disturbing rumors of an enormous war debt owed by the Sefti-Cerdigonian Crown to merchants and officials in New Byrnis. If these stories have any truth to them, and interest accumulates on such loans unchecked, then I may eventually be forced to conduct an investigation for the financial health of the Northern Administration."
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Post by cerdigon on Oct 16, 2014 21:55:00 GMT
'' I am unaware of any such debts, Your Grace. Though you can be sure that I will relay these stories to the appropriate treasury officials to be properly investigated. If such debts exist, they will be paid. King Aeron is a man of his word. '' Carawyn replied flatly. He had known his mission was to end in failure and that Aeron had been enraged by this turn of events. The King was proud like his father but he had to wonder if this had perhaps been part of a larger plan... '' You know of the King's objections. I have completed my mission. '' With that the diplomat gave a low bow and backed out.
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Post by Vaklu on Oct 18, 2014 5:47:39 GMT
Thane Gudrik had been sailing for weeks. He'd finished a bit of business in the lands of the goblins and then stopped at the appointed fort to pay his "Harbor Fees". He'd decided to make a detour at New Byrnis and make a visit to the Vizir's court. He wore one of His finest cloaks over his armor and his sword was peace bonded. He waited in the antechamber until he was admitted into the Vizir's presence.
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