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Post by talis on Mar 20, 2015 20:01:12 GMT
Gormith Wargchaser rolled his head and jostled his shoulders, feeling the crack of aching bones weary from long travels. Apparently his success in Juturna and other places had earned him a position as one of the Firetooth's top diplomats. Hurrah.
But there was little time for complaining now. Hessynia was in many ways a mystery to the Firetooth, and he had been charged with making contact with these strange people and, hopefully, establishing another lucrative trade deal. He doubted he'd get a statue out of this king, but he would do his best. He and his riders stopped for the night at one of the nicer inns inside the city while a messenger was sent up to the castle to request an audience. It was anyone's guess how long they'd have to wait - sometimes it took half an hour, sometimes it was weeks before the local ruler would make time for them.
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Post by saoshyant on Mar 20, 2015 22:45:25 GMT
King Casomir had been informed of the Firetooth's arrival long before their messenger graced the cobblestone road up to the palace in Wyverncliff. Orcs were a rare sight in Wyvern's Landing, so local gossip and reports from the gatehouse they came through trickled into the royal court to proceed the messenger. The King of Hessnya could hear the screams of his ancestors as he told the messenger that he would receive the diplomatic party in his court as soon as possible. There was no sense in being rude after all.
Almost immediately after the messenger left though, nobles in Casomir's court voiced their concerns. Some called for them to be cast out of the city, others to simply be cautious of their words. Casomir decided to meet them in the main hall, with the Lord Premier of the City and various retainers and scribes present, including the royal bodyguard, the Teeth, armed in the wings and outside the side doors.
Soon everything was ready, Casomir sat on his throne with Lord Premier Volkyn standing next to him. The teeth and even a few nobles waited in the wings of the hall, those keen enough to see the Firetooth party. The center of the hall was clear except the burgundy carpet that the orcs would walk along when they arrived.
King Casomir thought with his crown on his head and his chin in his palm of what this orc diplomatic venture came to accomplish. As he waited, the King wondered what could possibly engage the Firetooth into coming to him and his people finally. Hessnya had heard of the claims of exorbitant taxation the orcs had brought up to the Elonese.
If Casomir remembered correctly, the bridge was built out of Hessnyan stone, so the thought of the firetooth asking him to dismantle the bridge and take his stone back was an amusing fantasy that helped his mind wait for the orcs to arrive.
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Post by talis on Mar 20, 2015 23:34:31 GMT
Gormith had to admit that the court situation made him somewhat uncomfortable. So far most of the monarchs he had dealt with had preferred less formal audiences, and he had much preferred it that way. Here he felt more like an oddity on display - a curiosity for the courtiers to gaze at. He now regretted keeping his party small; he would have felt more confident with a few dozen Firetooth at his back, rather than a half dozen orcs, of whom four were guards. His Grandfather had damn well better appreciate all the trouble he went through.
"Greetings, king Casomir. I am Gormith Wargchaser of the Firetooth Clan. I have been sent by Chief Garlog Whiteshot and the Elder Council of the clan to speak with you on matters of trade and commerce. We propose that both our nations open our doors to trade with one another so that we may both prosper by it."
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Post by saoshyant on Mar 21, 2015 17:18:21 GMT
The Hessnyan King watched the orcs walk across the hall and listened intently as the diplomat explained who he was and his purpose. The Lord Premier swept his eyes off the Firetooth towards his King as if expecting a hasty response.
"Gormith Wargchaser, before we discuss such matters, let me first say that we here in Hessnya are ever grateful for your peoples valorous actions and sacrifices at the battle of Thundercrown" Casomir orated to the room as well as the Firetooth delegation.
"Tell your Chief and your Elder council that if they require stone to rebuild your city's port district, they need only ask and I will offer what I can" King Casomir shot a smile to the lead orc. "After all, we're both loyal subjects of the Emperor, are we not" The King of the Hessnyans said as he shifted his weight on his throne, the palms of his hands pressed against each other in a neutral gesture.
"I'm afraid to tell you though, Wargchaser, that Hessnya has already committed its merchant navy to Elon for at the very least another year. Surely you understand that I must honor my agreements" Casomir waited then for the Firetooth's representative to make his response.
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Post by talis on Mar 26, 2015 1:44:42 GMT
Oh. It was going to be one of those audiences. Alright, time to be sickeningly civil and choose his words as if his life depended on it. "Thank you for the generous offer your highness, but I must decline. Our docks were built of wood, not stone." And more importantly they had already made arrangements with the commonwealth in that department.
"I understand completely if Hessynia's fleet is at capacity, yet the great benefit of trade is that more trade means more profits. If at any point your majesty were to consider expanding your merchant fleet or merchant caravans, we of the Firetooth would be more than happy to establish trade which could only serve to benefit us both."
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Post by saoshyant on Mar 28, 2015 11:47:02 GMT
King Casomir listened intently to the firetooth envoy with one of his booted feet on his opposite knee, perhaps looking too relaxed for such an occasion. The king of the Hessnyans wasn't hurt at the rejection of his nation's stone, at least he made the offer. Then the orc was persistent in his intent of opening trade between their nations, even if it meant waiting for Wyvern's Landing to build up the facilities for it.
Word had reached Hessnya several days previous that relations between the Firetooth and the Elonese had been tense recently. It made sense to Casomir that taking away someone's trade treaties with other nations would make them more weaker economically, and therefore weaker overall. King Casomir couldn't help but think that this was more political, although why would their envoy say that they would wait for Hessnya to open another separate trade route altogether.
"I'm not entirely sure what resources are available in your people's lands? At least resources that I can't get from any other nation in the North?" Casomir decided to sate his curiosity and test the worthiness of such a trade venture.
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Post by talis on Mar 29, 2015 6:52:00 GMT
"I am no expert in the wants and needs of Hessynia and its people, your majesty." Gormith replied almost too smoothly. Pull it back a little. "But I can say that we Firetooth can offer fine skins, pelts and furs the like of which you have never seen on the continent. Our hunters follow great herds of the beasts from wolf-back and choose only the finest to shoot and bring back. We also produce an abundance of crops such as wheat and barley, and brew fine honey-meads. Our craftsmen work iron as well as any smiths on the continent, and our young men are always eager to earn honor in battle as mercenaries."
Would the offer work? Gormith wasn't sure. His goal was to get as much glory and credit for House Wargchaser as possible. Elder Ukhmar was old, and his House waning. Gormith's grandfather had a good chance of becoming the next Elder on the Council thanks to Gormith's efforts, and that would make Wargchaser one of the Great Houses. The Elders who sent him, of course, had other plans. Trade was the lifeblood the the Firetooth, and they had an inkling that other nations might start seeing eye-to-eye with them if they were suffering under Elon's tolls as well.
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Post by saoshyant on Mar 30, 2015 0:02:56 GMT
Casomir let his brow drop into a quick frown at the orc's quick response.
"I wouldn't know what to do with your mercenaries if I had them right now Wargchaser, I have enough levies and standing troops to look out for my kingdom. Hessnya has enough Iron for it's needs as well as oats and barley and if it peaks your fancy, you could take a few bottles of Hessnyan herb liquor back with you to your country" Casomir informed the diplomat of the Firetooth. The King of the Hessnyans didn't want to become dependent on resources he didn't have control over, food and iron especially.
The pelts and furs were the most interesting of the items described, though the benefits of them wouldn't be a significant boon to his nation. Only the Firetooth's coin were of significant worth to Casomir and the royal coffers.
"I think Hessnya would greatly appreciate your furs, though perhaps in a occasional exchange rather than a full trade agreement" Casomir was honest to the diplomat and hinted that he wasn't keen on the idea of trade with the Firetooth. Sailing up the Ryn river seemed somewhat out of the way for merchants to sail up and down for so products they already could get from the villages.
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Post by talis on Mar 30, 2015 17:49:57 GMT
"It is of course your prerogative to decide who you will trade with." Gormith admitted. "But Firetooth coin is just as heavy as other land's. We both stand to make much wealth from such an agreement." He let his eyes survey the rest of the court. In his travels he had usually found that it was the nobles who were most interested in trade deals. They were usually the ones who owned merchant houses and stood to gain the most from new deals.
"If cost is your primary concern, we would certainly be willing to work out some sort of arrangement concerning the construction of new trade facilities."
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Post by saoshyant on Mar 30, 2015 18:08:09 GMT
"Well... I have recently been thinking of commissioning a new trade port in Wyverncliff... If you could make certain guarantees that there will be goods waiting for them in Thundercrown and the Ryn river is well patrolled, then I should think the merchant fleet will go there" Casomir told Wargchaser, glancing over at the Lord Premier beside him for a brief moment.
"Though if you would like our trade arrangement to last longer than a year, I would recommend that your people acquire more lucrative trades and goods" Casomir told the diplomat, a smile peeled across his face as he gazed at the orc delegation.
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Post by talis on Mar 30, 2015 18:19:35 GMT
"Our merchants are always eager to trade. They will have warehouses ready upon your arrival. The Ryn itself is well defended by a series of fortifications and patrolled regularly; you will find no trouble there." Gormith replied, hiding his internal exultation. Another trade deal by Wargchaser.
"And of course, we will endeavor to acquire suitable goods for your markets. It would be immensely foolish for us to ignore such a wise recommendation."
And that was not sarcasm. Gormith could agree with the need to find goods his potential new customers would desire - any merchant would.
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Post by saoshyant on Mar 31, 2015 11:29:17 GMT
The King's hands stayed clasped as he clapped them together and let the sound ring out through the hall.
"Very well, tell your people to expect the first ships just after the new year?" Casomir looked to the Lord Premier, who nodded to that estimate of the port being ready by that time.
"Do you have any other words you wish to relay between your elders and myself?" Casomir looked to the diplomat again with a polite smile.
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Post by talis on Mar 31, 2015 14:58:20 GMT
"That is all, your highness." Gormith bowed lightly.
He spent several more days in Hessynia, making arrangements and contacts among merchants and nobles in Hessynia so that trade would go smoothly and, most importantly, so that House Wargchaser would have a leg up on the competition when trade started. He also sent a gift to the king from among his trading supplies: a fine and supple cloak made of the softest fur and leather, with a silver cord and clasp to hold it around the neck. It would stay dry in rain, warm in winter and was soft enough to lie on but tough enough to endure abuse. He packaged it gently and sent it to the castle with a trusted courier, then departed for his next goal.
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