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Post by ravigen on Apr 18, 2015 23:50:22 GMT
In the late spring, Ikegami Himawari made a trip to the home of the Wolfwyrd, escorted by a dozen royal guardsmen she made her way with a merchant caraven to the northern orcs. With the recently successful negotiations between the Wolfwyrd and Firetooth, the road was finally safe again and Himawari had an offer on behalf of her daimyo for the young Wolfwyrd Chieftess.
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Post by frostwander on Apr 20, 2015 18:44:41 GMT
The Ikegami delegation was met at the gates of the city by Apal gro Danel, who bowed as they approached, smiling broadly. "Lady Ikegami, welcome to Erlantz! I am pleased to be able to receive you here, as you did me in your own home."
The orc led the group of elves through the city, remarking on the new construction constantly underway and telling Himawari of their work. He showed them to an area near the manor, with more permanent structures than the large round tents that still provided much of the city's housing. "We're completed living quarters for such honored guests as yourselves who might visit. Please feel free to stay here during your visit with us. It may not match the decor of the Ikegami palace, but you will find the hospitality no less."
Once the elvish princess had time to rest and clean up from her journey, she was shown into the hall of Eguzkine, the central manor of the Wolfwyrd. Banners hung outside the hall with the clan's sky-blue and grey emblem. The hall itself was mostly quiet, just a few orcs working around a large table on architectural plans. One of them detached themselves from the group as Ikegami Himawari was announced, a young orc no older than twenty. She wore a dark golden-toned deel with a black hem, and a beaded headdress of the same pattern. She met Himawari with a bow.
"Greetings and welcome, Lady Ikegami. I am Chieftess Lukene gra Otsana. I hope your travels were not difficult."
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Post by ravigen on Apr 20, 2015 20:32:04 GMT
Himawari bowed formally before the Chieftess, arms hidden by the long sleeves of her dark-blue kimono as she paid her respects to the Wolfwyrd Chieftess.
"Thank you for your welcome Chieftess Lukene my travels were not difficult, it was an enjoyable experience to see the beauty of your country. As to the reason for my visit." She reached into the sleeves of her kimono to produce a small scroll with a map, presenting it to Lukene.
"The Ikegami have been blessed with many natural resources in our home, in some cases an excess surplus of resources. We have a source of good quality stone in the nearby mountains that we have little use for and considering the Wolfwyrd's need for stone, we thought we might ask if you would like it." |
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Post by frostwander on Apr 20, 2015 21:17:29 GMT
Lukene glanced behind her to the table where the others worked to refine building plans. "The Wolfwyrd certainly have need for greater supplies of stone at the moment, yes. There is a great deal of construction to be completed, and even more planned that we haven't yet the resources to begin. Your offer is very generous, and I am happy that you brought this to me.
"Our people have already begun to benefit from the day-to-day goods being traded with the Ikegami. If you have more stone than you can make use of, the Wolfwyrd would be quite glad to offer what we can in exchange for them. What is it that the Ikegami need which we could provide? Our supplies of gold are also somewhat limited, though we also have lumber, or can provide food, as our harvest has been plentiful this last autumn."
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Post by ravigen on Apr 20, 2015 22:09:09 GMT
Himawari smiled, the negotiations were going well she thought and the offer Lukene had made was just what the Ikegami needed.
"The Ikegami currently need food and lumber the most, two tonnes of lumber this season would help the Ikegami immensely and we would happily trade stone for these two resources, perhaps 3 tonnes of stone for 2 tonnes of lumber if you can spare it? And in regards to the future if the Wolfwyrd wish we would offer to allow Wolfwyrd settlers to mine the stone directly from the untapped node, if they can construct the village." |
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Post by frostwander on Apr 21, 2015 5:05:40 GMT
Lukene nodded thoughtfully. "We can certainly agree to that exchange. There is already a caravan preparing to depart for Kegosu with the next shipment of trade goods, I will have arrangements made to expand the caravan to cart the two tonnes of lumber as well.
"In regards to offering the Wolfwyrd to settle and mine stone from a new source directly, I am certainly impressed by the offer. However, that is something that would take a little more time, and I would need to discuss that further with my advisers. As well as seeing if there are enough of my people interested in relocating there. It would be much further from home than we have built so far. And recent events have made my people somewhat wary of settling in the direction of our neighbors, especially on 'claimed' land." This last remark was certainly not made with any resentment toward Himawari, but it was clear that Lukene still held some bitterness over the events of the Itziar settlement.
The orc smiled again. "I do hope that you will have at least a few days to spend here in Erlantz, you and your people are welcome friends. Perhaps you could join me and my advisers for supper this evening? We have no great feast prepared, but a small celebration of your visit would be in order."
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Post by ravigen on Apr 21, 2015 18:02:48 GMT
Himawari smiled, "That is an excellent deal Chieftess Lukene, I will send a letter with them to ensure the stone is ready to go immediately and you need not worry, the Ikegami are not as...'excitable' as the Firetooth and I am sure my father would be able to guarantee whatever provisions you would require to ensure the safety of your people."
Itziar had been a distinctly unpleasant memory, the Vaekirate's negotiations being the only thing that had forestalled an Ikegami envoy from doing the same, but Himawari understood the Firetooth pride well enough which was why this offer was so important besides the generous intent, lessening the chance of further conflicts with the Firetooth would hopefully keep peace in the West for a time.
But that was consideration for another time and Himawari had a lot to consider before proposing further negotiations, while her older siblings were more active warriors, Himawari preferred patiently planning, some things would just fall into line if you allowed the proper set up. For the moment she would gladly stay for a little time to enjoy the Wolfwyrd's offered hospitality.
"I would be more than happy to join you for supper if you would have me, I am eager to learn more of the Wolfwyrd's customs." |
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Post by frostwander on Apr 24, 2015 22:32:00 GMT
Supper took place in a smaller room in the manor, able to comfortably seat a dozen rather than the hundreds that could be accommodated in the great hall. The table was decorated with a broad collection of dishes, ranging from meat dumplings and barley soup to northern vegetables and sweetened biscuits.
The chieftess sat at the head of the table, with the space at her right side reserved for Himawari. Four other orcs sat spaced around the table, leaving room between them for any of Himawari's retinue she chose to bring. All of the orcs stood as Himawari was shown inside, bowing and giving welcoming smiles. Once the Ikegami princess was seated, Lukene gestured to each of the others in turn to make introductions.
"You already know Apal gro Danel. He organizes much of the work done by our craftsfolk, and is an avid observer of different peoples' customs.
"Edrigu gro Bernat is my Military Advisor. He's dedicated a good deal of effort in planning our nation's defenses, even long before we were enough to call a clan." Edrigu smiled broadly, his scars indicating how often he had fought in the Wolfwyrd's defense.
Lukene waved a hand toward the older woman at the table, "Ametza gra Terese is our Minister of Finance. She has a mind for numbers and ledgers like Edrigu does for troops and terrain. Ametza was the first to suggest we should discuss trade with the Ikegami, when we began to settle this land.
"And this is Basa gro Bingen, who leads my personal guard. He sees to the security of the manor, and of my travels and expeditions."
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Post by ravigen on Apr 24, 2015 22:48:10 GMT
Himawari offered a smile and a polite bow to each of the orcs as they were introduced, she'd brought only one of her retinue with her, an athletic woman in red lamellar armor and short red hair, she followed closely behind Himawari and only left her side to sit reluctantly.
Himawari inclined her head in a polite nod, "This is Hoshiguma Satori, my bodyguard and friend for almost 80 years now." Satori bowed before each of the orcs but said little, she took her seat and watched the proceedings carefully.
"I am honored to meet all of you, and I thank you for the generous treatment of myself and my retinue, it speaks well of the honor and hospitality of your people." |
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Post by frostwander on Apr 27, 2015 22:25:20 GMT
"Hospitality is one of the most important virtues among the Wolfwyrd Clan. We have all been wanderers and without a home taken in by another at some time or other, so as we build our own home we feel it important to share and be welcoming. We also tend to stand very little upon formalities and ceremony in our own homes, so we wish our guests to feel as relaxed and comfortable as ourselves."
A trio of servers began filling the plates of the diners, beginning with the chieftess and her guests, and then the advisors. The first few courses were filled with light talk. The orcs shared details about their origins and coming together into the clan, and in turn those who had not before met with the Ikegami inquired about their customs and lifestyles.
Ametza was the one to bring up the subject of the Ikegami's settlement offer. "Both our peoples have benefited from the trade between us, and similarly value hospitality and friendship. But isn't it very unusual for a nation to offer a permanent settlement within their lands to another nation? I find the idea curiously strange. Is it a typical thing for your people?"
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Post by ravigen on Apr 27, 2015 23:58:13 GMT
Himawari nodded, most nations did not do such things and the trend was new for the Ikegami but the reasoning her father had expressed was sound in and of itself.
"It is not something that the Ikegami have always practiced and certainly there isn't a lot of precedent for it, we simply have more than we need to use and thought others might appreciate the resource more."
And hopefully with the Wolfwyrd mining the stone themselves it would not seem to them to be 'patronizing' which the Ikegami had no intention to do, they understood pride well enough and wished to have the Wolfwyrd not need to worry about the flow of stone cutting off abruptly.
"Besides, the chance to engage culturally with other peoples is something my father has been long working towards." |
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Post by frostwander on Apr 29, 2015 1:38:55 GMT
Apal gro Danel smiled. "Engaging with other cultures can go much farther toward establishing peace through respect than fear of military might, I have long believed." Edrigu made a small grunt of dissent, but did not raise what was obviously an argument with some history between them.
Lukene nodded, and after a few moments added, "We would like to pursue this opportunity, and as you can see have many questions about it. Can you tell us where in the Ikegami lands this quarrey would be raised? And is there anything you would have us provide in exchange for such an offer?"
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Post by ravigen on Apr 29, 2015 1:51:47 GMT
Himawari reached into her pocket for a rolled up scroll, unfurling it to reveal a map of the Ikegami lands, setting it gently onto a clear portion of the table, there had been three locations to choose from but in the end they had decided upon two different locations that would fit.
"There are two different locations we would offer you, the first is here at the end of the mountain chain just south of our manor, the second would be in the center of the mountain chain, both would work reasonably well I think for your stone production."
She pointed out both locations to the orcs at the table before continuing.
"As for compensation, well besides constructing the resource yourself, the Ikegami are in need of lumber and food, we can negotiate the specifics as needed." |
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Post by frostwander on Apr 29, 2015 3:14:18 GMT
"Food we have been blessed with abundantly, and our supply of lumber is regular, though in heavy demand for use," Ametza spoke. "If the Ikegami need a certain supply of those, we would be glad to make good on an exchange. If the Ikegami need a consistent supply instead of a one-time shipment, though, would it not be simpler for your people to mine the stone and trade it with us, as what we arranged earlier?"
While Ametza discussed the matter of exchange, Lukene and Edrigu looked together at the locations on the map that the elf princess had indicated. "These are very deep into your lands, and far from our own. Any settlers there would be quite far from home," the chieftess said.
The scarred warrior nodded, looking at the distances on the map between the mountains and the edges. "Yes, and with what we've heard of the recent events in the east, it sounds like there is considerable chance of war with your eastern neighbors. A village positioned in the mountains here could easily fall into the path of an assault. What sort of safety could such a village expect?"
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Post by ravigen on Apr 29, 2015 3:29:53 GMT
Himawari nodded slowly, the looming conflict with the Commonwealth was something to be sufficiently wary of but her father had great hopes for a peaceful outcome and she believed they would reach one, eventually.
"While it is true tensions are indeed rising in the east, my father is even now attempting to broker a peaceful resolution to the conflict and I have great hopes for his success, but the safety of your people is a valid concern and while I don't think the Commonwealth would attack a village of non-Ikegami when their conflict is with us, both locations are close to Kegosu and the manor, any hostile incursion against them would be immediately met with a rapid military response for their safety I can guarantee it."
"Now regarding compensation, we are trying to establish our own farms and villages but our simple lack of wood hinders that, a onetime payment of lumber would allow us to hopefully expand our farms and our lumber production more quickly than we would on our own." |
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