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Post by zurajai on Apr 11, 2015 17:50:03 GMT
Master Tovenaar Abdur Rashid sat awkwardly on the overtly tall chair provided for him by the local kerk, not used to having dwarf-proportioned guests enough to have proper furniture for one. He would have to make do. For now the tent placed out in neutral land was what he'd work with in this mediation. It was a sparsely furnished crimson fabric with an interior sporting a simple carpet, two other seats, and a table in between along with water to quench thirst and writing implements in order to pen down a proper peace treat if Aed willing. Flanking the exterior of the tent were two Vaekirate Guardsmen, only a small fraction of the entire regiment of mounted Guardsmen the Chief Priest had felt it necessary to send. Rashid lamented the fact that he needed to bring a personal army with him to a discussion about peace. Foolishness. He would have to accept Staas' designs, however, and would simply wait for the best.
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Post by frostwander on Apr 12, 2015 10:10:15 GMT
The representatives from the Wolfwyrd arrived at the site for the meeting later that same day. Fifty guards accompanied the chieftess and her advisers, vigilantly watching the horizon for signs of trouble as they approached. Their watch was not let down even when they passed within the ranks of the mounted Vaekirate Guard, though there was an obvious easing of tension. They stopped a short distance from the tent, then parted ranks.
Lukene gra Otsana walked to the entrance of the tent flanked by Edrigu gro Bernat, a tall scarred warrior who reluctantly passed his weapons to one of the bodyguards before following her, and Basa gro Bingen, an orc with pale yellow eyes who walked calmly to her left side. Lukene nodded to the guardsmen at the tent as they approached, then spoke to her escort, "Thank you, wait for me here." The orcs did not look pleased at the decision to leave them outside, but it was apparent from the furnishings within that it was intended to be a meeting with only a single member of each clan.
The chieftess bowed to the dwarf as she stepped through the entryway, unarmed but clad in light field armor. "I have come at the request of Chief Priest Staas to attend the Vaekirate's mediation. The Wolfwyrd are grateful for the church's concern for us, and the guidance of the Aed in this conflict." Lukene's eyes flicked briefly between the two chairs, and she selected one to be seated. She stared across at the other for a moment before turning to the Tovenaar. "Do you expect the Firetooth representative will arrive soon?"
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Post by talis on Apr 12, 2015 18:17:07 GMT
Elder Rugmar and several attendants arrived shortly afterward. They were accompanied by a dozen Firetooth retainers armed with sword, shield, musket and pistol in the traditional style. The retainers stopped outside the camp and began to pitch their own while they settled in to wait for the negotiations. Elder Rugmar then approached the Tovenaar tent himself, his trademark scowling frown upon his face the entire way.
As soon as he entered he stopped and gave a short bow to the Tovenaar as a mark of respect. "Master Rashid." He greeted the Tovenaar, "I have come on behalf of the Firetooth as requested. Let us pray that Aed smiles upon this meeting."
He took his seat opposite the Wolfwyrd chieftess. He was a short, stocky orc, mostly bald with age but still obviously strong. While he may not have been the great warrior he was in his younger years he could likely throw down with the young orcs still.
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Post by zurajai on Apr 13, 2015 19:22:40 GMT
"Wonderful, you are both here."
Abdur Rashid wiggled forward till he could fall from his chair onto his stocky feet, brushing his robes down to clear the wrinkles from the fine linen before straightening out his beard with his hands. As soon as his minor alterations to his appearance were completed he looked up, grey eyes the color of the very stone his people inhabited. Before addressing the pair once more he stepped over to the table at the side to retrieve two glasses of water before filling them with the water kept cool in the pale of ice below. Once more he was in motion, waddling over to them to place the two glasses in front of them with a smile showing behind his thick, bushy beard and mustache.
"Excellent. Let us begin. I would like to request we keep this matter civil; I know I need not remind you both that you must treat each other with the Dignity afforded to all of Aed's children in these discussions. For now I shall allow you to discuss amongst yourselves but if it should become too heated I will step in. The matter at hand, first off, shall be simply finding a peaceful accord. Elder Rugmar, what say you to this? From the scant information I have received it was, in fact, your man who began the conflict? Do we know why he has thrown himself to such a task? And, more importantly, do his actions represent the Firetooth Clan or his own ideals?"
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Post by frostwander on Apr 13, 2015 19:35:18 GMT
Lukene nodded in a respectful, but not friendly, acknowledgement to Elder Rugmar when he entered the tent, then sat patiently while Abdur Rashid commenced the discussion. She looked across the table to meet the older orc's gaze as the dwarf invited him to speak first. She waited eagerly to see what the Firetooth would have to say.
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Post by talis on Apr 13, 2015 20:08:58 GMT
Elder Rugmar took a sip of his water, looking at both of the others before launching into his summary. He spoke without excess emotion and had obviously reviewed his information beforehand. He intended to lay down the legal justification behind their actions as succinctly and concisely as possible.
"While Tavian was certainly overzealous in his haste, his actions fell within his given orders and were reasonable given the situation. I have interviewed many of the Firetooth present and they all give the same account. The Firetooth have always maintained a claim over the northern mountains in both tradition and policy. In our founding song the Hero Ortag retreated to the mountains to discover the creation of gunpowder, and in Poetic Canon our Territory has for a millennium been defined as stretching from the mountains of the north to the swampland to the south. We have always maintained this claim and denied the Empire the right to construct a fortress in the mountains for the same reason."
"When we heard that the Wolfwyrd were beginning to develop settlements there we were thus perturbed. The Elder Council agreed to send troops to reassert our sovereignty and hopefully prompt the Wolfwyrd to slow their expansion while we prepared to send an ambassador to the Wolfwyrd to discuss the issue. The battle at Itzair occurred before that could happen."
"According to testimony, a group of Wolfwyrd settlers, along with three thousand professional infantry, arrived at one of our claimed locations in the mountains. Our sentries informed the Wolfwyrd that the land was our territory and requested that they withdraw. The Wolfwyrd refused this requests and further offers of mediation and began settling the area in defiance of our overtures, even after being informed that their blatant aggression was a violation of our territory and thus a declaration of war. Tavian accepted the Wolfwyrd's actions as an act of war, and determined that he needed to act immediately rather than give the settlers time to further expand their illegal claim and overwrite our own in the eyes of the Empire."
"We regret that the situation has come to blows and wish that both our subordinates had been more prudent and less hasty, but we nonetheless stand by our claim. We wish for no enmity with the Wolfwyrd clan and are willing to negotiate a peaceful solution."
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Post by zurajai on Apr 13, 2015 20:19:36 GMT
Rashid nodded in contemplation as his thick sausage-like fingers stroked his beard to add to the thought-generation of the previously mentioned motion. His eyes remained mostly on Elder Rugmar but jumped to Lukene occasionally to judge the woman's own feelings on the matter, curious to see reactions that might betray thoughts. As far as he could tell neither side was malicious in their actions and this was simply a border dispute turned bloody; nothing a seasoned Master-Tovenaar couldn't handle.
"Well phrased, Elder Rugmar. With such knowledge in legalities you'd make for a good Gelaer. It is true, based on my information, that the mountains are sacred to the Firetooth. But we must come to some sort of compromise. Lady Lukene, do enlighten me if you would, what are your thoughts on the matter?"
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Post by frostwander on Apr 14, 2015 19:42:11 GMT
Lukene sat, hands flat on the table in front of her as she listened to the Firetooth's speech. It was obviously very carefully phrased to make light of the battle and emphasize his claims, and her jawline and fingers became notably more tense as she held herself back from interrupting. Her eyes did not waver from his, and she did not speak until she was addressed by the Tovenaar.
"Elder Rugmar, 'come to blows' is a phrase best used to describe children scuffling in the field. Not a surprise attack by night that leaves over two thousand of my people felled, and more than that of your own by all reports. To use such shallow terms dishonors the dead of both our clans.
"You state that the Firetooth borders extend from the mountains in the North to the swamps in the south, but the site of Itziar is on the northern side of the mountains, beyond the passes your forces have since blocked. I have personally explored the region north of the mountains extensively over the last year, seeking resources for my clan. In my time there, I found no evidence of any Firetooth claims, construction, people or presence. When the settlers arrived at the site of Itziar merely three weeks after my own survey to find a Firetooth unit freshly camped there, they requested evidence that the lands were already claimed, and were shown none."
The orc woman turned slightly to address the Tovenaar along with Rugmar, "Zwerkir Gerolf, bearing tidings from Chief Priest Staas, delivered the Vaekirate's request to my clan to have a Kerk constructed within our borders. If the Wolfwyrd could provide the stone, the Vaekirate would supply the other expenses of the construction. When word reached me, I focused my efforts to locate a suitable quarry.
She fixed the elder with her stare again. "Given the recent war with the Wasteland orcs, it is only prudent to send military forces to escort unprotected settlers. It angers us greatly that such a dishonorable attack would come from our professed 'friends' instead. If the Firetooth stand by General Tavian's assault as right, I wish to know what you can offer that will show your intent for peace beyond placating words."
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Post by talis on Apr 14, 2015 22:32:34 GMT
Rugmar smarted at the accusations of dishonor and was sorely tempted to protest out of anger, but held his tongue. Much debate had been had among the elders as to whether Tavian's actions had been honorable, and the general consensus had been that it was, but only just. By all accounts the Wolfwyrd had been informed they were at war, and thus the Firetooth had every right to use whatever tactics would ensure them victory in said war. Still, Tavian's underhanded tactics were distasteful. He had not yet escaped the prospect of punishment for his actions.
More important was, as the young Chieftess said, finding a way to solve the current situation. They could argue all day upon justifications and accomplish little.
Rugmar reached into hit satchel and pulled out a vellum scroll, which he unraveled before them. The writing was in both Survaekom and Orcish script. "Very well then. This document is our proposal for a settlement regarding claims to the mountains and end to hostilities. It has already been approved by the Elder Council, although that does not preclude amendments. Allow me to read it.
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Post by frostwander on Apr 15, 2015 3:26:36 GMT
Lukene gra Otsana listened as Elder Rugmar read off his prepared offer. The list of concessions requested from the Wolfwyrd earned a contemptuous glare, but it was nothing compared to the hatred that flashed across her face at the mention of weregeld.
"In short, you offer to buy cheap not only the full extent of Wolfwyrd growth since our formal recognition, but also the grief and blood of my people. Promises of future assistance do not outweigh the sweat, toil, and livelihood of a full year, and gold does not buy back the siblings, parents and children slain.
Lukene took a deep breath, settling her gaze upon the scroll. "Allow me to offer a counter-proposal: let the mountains be a natural border between us, as you say. What is south of the mountains we Wolfwyrd will not contest, and what is north of the mountains the Firetooth shall not encroach upon again.
"The Wolfwyrd offer once and half again the price in jien of the newly founded village that you would leave behind - eighteen thousand jien, to be paid over the course of three seasons. It would be far easier for your people so newly settled to leave one village, than mine two that have stood for some time.
"And the Wolfwyrd will agree to a Non-Aggression Pact under guidance of the Vaekirate, for a period of three years as you say, upon one condition: General Tavian must make personal and public apology and satisfaction for his assault. The form of satisfaction will be decided upon by our good Master Tovenaar Rashid by the Vaekirate's judgment, whether in recompense or in punishment; I expect it will be far more forgiving than what my people have suggested. That much is required for my people to have any faith in this peace: if such an undeclared attack against neighbors is condoned by your clan as reasonable and just, my people will have difficulty believing that a formal pact would hold any more weight of honor."
Lukene leaned forward, her elbows on the table edge and hands folded together against her chin, to listen to the elder's response.
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Post by talis on Apr 15, 2015 5:30:13 GMT
Had the Wolfwyrd haggled they could have easily gotten more gold, and probably an apology or worse from Tavian. Banishment or imprisonment would not have been out of the question if Firetooth land and customs were accepted. They were apparently not.
"We reject the ridiculous imagining that building a hut and tilling the land for a season somehow gives an infallible claim upon it." He replied, perhaps a bit too angrily. "Too often we have seen this ridiculous ploy by kings, emperors and chieftains alike. Some power-hungry lord sits down and decides that he desires what is not his, and so he sends men down to build a house or a bridge, and Aed behold! Somehow squatting upon the land for a season wipes the land clean of all former claims and uses, rendering them somehow invalid no matter their age or legitimacy.
"Some of your people are still nomads Chieftess? Suppose they were to leave their usual fields for a season or two - as often happens during times of drought or cold winters. If men went and built upon the empty fields while they were away, would you consider them justified?
"No, you would not. The fields would belong to your people through customs, and they would no doubt feel justified in waging war to reclaim them. Those are the lands they fought for and remember. No doubt they have stories of all those who had lived and died there, perhaps the very name of the land and its features was given by them. I have laid out our claims to the Urag mountains, and can provide as much evidence as our host requests. Our bards can tell dozens of tales of mountain-orcs and named peaks, and show you the hidden barrows. We defended these claims years ago against the Empire and nearly went to war against them then.
"Building your towns and villages without regard for our claims and objections is little more than an act of conquest under another name - conquest made with a pretense of civility, daring your victim to take up arms against the 'siblings, parents and children' you have sent as invaders.
"I musk ask then: what claim does the Wolfwyrd bring upon these lands? Let us see them and here them and compare our claims. That we would listen to and respect."
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Post by frostwander on Apr 15, 2015 17:44:32 GMT
Lukene shook her head slowly, lips slightly pursed and brow furrowed in concern. "There is a great deal of difference between use and claim, and the lands I explored showed signs of neither. "The Wolfwyrd do not place great weight on tradition and song as do the Firetooth. We are newly founded, and our future is guided by our separation from the Wastelanders, much as the Firetooth established their own beginning so long ago. "I have no doubt that your bards are as skilled and well-versed in tale and song as you say, Elder Rugmar. But we do not have the time for music and entertainment and history lessons; we are here to decide, today, a way in which we can prevent more of both our peoples from killing each other. However, to back our assertion that we have not trespassed at any time on Firetooth lands, I would be glad to provide the evidence you request." The young orc stood and produced from a bundle a long roll of thick cloth parchment, leaning over the table to spread it facing the elder. "This is the most recently published map of the north, bearing the Imperial Seal as proof of its validity. I'm sure all of us have seen it before many times. Her finger traced a line along the Urag mountains. "You can see here clearly where is marked the official border of the Firetooth Clan. This is the same border that has been shown on older versions of the map, even to before the placement of the Wolfwyrd. I can produce those older copies if you like. Now here is Pelara, and here Lukesern. And here, Itziar. On the north side of the mountains, and beyond the established Firetooth territory." Lukene sat again, and paused to take a swallow from her water glass. "Now perhaps we can discuss a satisfactory compromise between our two offers." ----- [Map attached] churchandstate.freeforums.net/thread/4/world-map |
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Post by zurajai on Apr 15, 2015 22:36:52 GMT
"Honored Elder, your Highness, please. This is no way to discuss terms."
Displeasure showed on the dwarven Tovenaar's face as he watched the two pull out all the stops in supporting their claims; like two beardlings arguing over a coin both found on the floor. As much as he had hoped his simple presence would be more than enough to reach an accord it had become clear that these two people were far two obstinate to change their point of view through simple discourse. In that case, it was his turn to do some speaking and finger wagging. With one gentle brush of his robes he stepped forward and bopped his open palm on the table three times to elicit the proper response; eyes to him in slight indignation of his interruption.
"Your Highness, what you argue is valid. Politically speaking the Firetooth do not have legal claim on the mountains as, based on Survaekom culture, there is nothing there to truly claim the land. But you must understand that within Firetooth historical lore that the mountains hold near religious significance. Those mountains are not simply lumps of granite overlaid with soil and laced with precious metals; they are the very hills that one of the core cultural trappings of the Firetooth was discovered! You must hold some respect for that. The Firetooth have historical claim to the mountains, despite not having any settlements in their reaches for Survaekom map-makers to judge ownership. That must be accepted. What matters is your own claim.
Now, I have an alternative to both of your proposals. A compromise. The Firetooth wish to have the land and villages currently occupying the Urag Mountains whilst the Wolfwyrd has offered, instead, for the Firetooth to leave. Perhaps the only option now is to allow all those who currently reside in the lands to remain, with all further ventures to colonize the area made by the Wolfwyrd being discussed with the Firetooth, as it is their cultural land. Feel free to alter terms or add to it, this is simply an idea to move us in the right direction for discussion."
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Post by talis on Apr 15, 2015 22:59:07 GMT
Rugmar stifled the burning indignation at the suggestion that the empire had any authority to dictate the Firetooth's boundaries and instead sat back in his seat. He took a drink and allowed himself to calm down and consider the Tovenaar's words.
"IF the Wolfwyrd are willing to recognize the Firetooth's claims to the Urag mountains we are willing to compromise. We understand the Wolfwyrd's need for ores and resources to defend themselves and would willingly cede the territory already occupied as a gift to the newly Aedekom clan. We are also willing to provide compensation for the Wolfwyrd warriors who were slain in honorable battle and did their Clan proud, but as the Chieftess has expressed her disdain for the notion of weregeld I will hear what she would propose regarding the issue."
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Post by frostwander on Apr 16, 2015 5:44:17 GMT
The chieftess bowed her head in deferrence to Rashid's intervention. She had let her temper flare, and enjoyed the barbs she'd used to rile Rugmar's as well, but the Tovenaar was correct: a different direction was needed. His words apparently had a similar effect on the orc elder, and the next offer was significantly more agreeable. Lukene took a deep breath.
"The Wolfwyrd are willing to acknowledge and respect the Firetooth's history and heritage within the mountains, and will agree not to establish any further settlements in the Urag range without first consulting the Firetooth. The Wolfwyrd will accept the gift of land as you offer."
Lukene tapped her fingertips on the tabletop a few times, considering. "Weregeld is not a custom of the Wolfwyrd, but we can come to an agreement that should pacify the angry and ease the burdens of the grieving. Assisting us in completing the settlement begun at Itziar could be seen as making amends.
"On the matter of General Tavian, my people will still desire his personal apology along with whatever penance the Vaekirate will assign him. The Master Tovenaar may provide this judgment at his own discretion, if he is amenable.
"I hope that our peoples will cooperate and share this border in all good faith, and put this conflict behind us. Once tensions and resentment have eased, perhaps we can even find like purpose in trade, though that should be the subject of a separate meeting." The chieftess rose to walk halfway around the table toward the elder, standing near Abdur Rashid, and extended one arm in Rugmar's direction, palm upward. "Do you find this an acceptable solution?"
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The Firetooth will provide half the remaining materials required to complete the Itziar Village (4 gold, 1 wood) this turn.
The villages created along the disputed area will each remain owned by their founding nation.
The Wolfwyrd will cease further exploration and settlement in the Urag Mountain range without first requesting permission of the Firetooth.
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