Grand Survaek Empire / Elon

Queen Chello welcomed him to the Christallo longhall, inviting him to join her for dinner. She was dressed in a dress of burnt orange and a bodice of dark red and earth brown, reflecting the colors of the leaves. Through the nights were growing cold, the days were still warm, but a brisk breeze was sweeping off the northern hills this particular afternoon. The wide widows and large doors of the longhall were open, allowing the sweet smelling wind to blow through the halls and somewhere in the castle someone was playing a pan pipe, the melody echoing through the open doorways and catching on the breeze to mix with the sound of sea birds and crashing waves outside.

"Welcome back to Dovwynn, Chief Olog," she said, as servants brought out spiced wine and a plate of baked figs and cinnamon, "I hope you and all your people are fairing well here in Elon."

It was a lot to consider all at once and Chello thought a moment, before speaking. "Your relative clan joining you here seems a sensible matter and would probably be acceptable to King Azlyn, myself and the rest of Elon, but the conditions around the Naigoy clan is another matter. It seems strange that, if they are not to swear fealty to Elon, we should put forward so much of the expense of their travel and, while the defense of our boarders is a true concern, the influx of so many clansmen, your planned incursion further into their lands, and attempts to subjugate the Wiastlanders would likely to provoke conflict and anger along the borders, ultimately making the area more dangerous than it is at the present time."

She smoothed her dress looking thoughtful, not wanting to seem strongly against the proposal nor strongly in favor. "I do wish to encourage immigration to Elon, but would expect those who come to swear fealty to the throne of Elon and to abide by the nation's rules and taxes. Also, bringing seven whole villages over may be more than the Elonese people can accept so quickly. Even if Elon does accept this, the immigration would have to be spread out over at least a year, if mot more."

Chello gave a slight smile, eyeing him. His agenda seemed very ambitious and he seemed to be assuming a lot about her authority, as well as her willingness to unquestioningly accept such a significant proposal.

"The Vizier and I have discussed settlement, but not a straight out offensive or subjection against the Waistlanders. If the Vizier and his Majesty the Sword wish to go to war against the Waistlanders, they would, of course, have the full support of my husband's armies, as is his duty. However, 30,000 Jinn is quite a lot of gold to pay, for the addition of only two villages. It seems to me, Olog, that if the Naigoy wish to come north as an independent nation, they should make their deals with the Vizier and the Emporer not Elon. If the Emperor wanted to found tribal nation in the north, he certainly wouldn't need my approval. I can not make Chief Musa Tumir Naigoy a vassal King, indeed I can't even approve funding further tribal immigration, without first convincing King Azlyn and the High lords of Elon."

"May I ask, why your cousin will not immigrate without the Naigoy? Are the two married? It seems strange that the Kazim should refuse an opportunity like this because the Naigoy will not be given free reign on our northern board." Chello smoothed her skirts. "I am Surveak, a noble of the southern tribes. I am Chello Yusra, but I am also queen of Elon and must keep the interests of Elon in mind. Spending 30,000 jinn and making a declaration of war for the sake of two foreign villages and a foreign neighbor on our currently open boarder does not seem like a deal that is in Elon's best interest. The Naigoy may be a buffer, but they could also end up being a barrier on our own hopes of expansion. If your kin will not immigrate north with out the Naigoy, that is a real pity, because they would be welcome, but the proposal as you currently present it, would never be accepted my the lords of Elon, even if I advocated it, which at the moment I would not."

Chello looked at him rather cooly for a moment and then folded her hands, glancing down at them a moment, before looking up at Olog. "I find some of the words you choose rather unsettling. "Our" side of the ocean? You also seem to speak with great authority on the Empire's opinions and intentions for a Horselord who is now a northerner and a subject of Elon. When did you meat with the Emporer and become such an expert on his state of mind? Why did he choose to meet with you rather than directly with myself or King Azlyn? Last I was aware, Elon was in quite good standing with the Empire and while I'm sure a gift of such a large amount would impress anyone, Elon is not rolling in wealth. We have no gold mines, no silver or flood of wealth. Our recourses are actually quite sparse and we scrape the bottom of the barrel, so to say, at the end of every season."

"Beyond that, it's more than just the cost at hand here. With the Veakirate mission to the Waistlands in action at this time and the growing resentment against foreigners in Jurturna and other cities, bringing so many tribesmen north could be worse than detrimental. Even if the Empire does so without working through Elon, I'm not eager to be a handy scapegoat should these plans turn the Veakirate, the Waistlanders and the Firetooth against the Empire." She didn't say it, but Chello was also concerned with what effect an independent nation of tribal lords would have on the loyalties of Olog and the rest of his clansmen to Elon. She could easily imagine them denouncing their oaths to Azlyn in favor of becoming one nation with their own people.

"You are a high lord of Elon, Olog, and have every right to present this to the king and the other high lords however you like. But not all of them are so simple as to not see through this ruse. If the Empire wishes to barrow money in order to improve their finical state, I'm certain Elon and other nations would gladly respond however they may, but this plan you have brought quite frankly stinks of guile and puppetry. You came offering a deal as a fellow lord, but apparently in truth are simply the mouth of the Empire begging for money, encouraging deceit, and hissing threats if I don't comply." Chello cocked her head slightly looking at him. In truth she didn't really disapprove of such tactics in diplomacy, but this deal had been sloppily presented and quite transparent. Her suspicions had been aroused immediately and the excuse, or rather admission, that the Empire needed money and the proposal that she could twist things right after he had obviously been trying to twist things for her sake made it seem down right pathetic.

"I will talk to the king about approaching the Viezer with some kind of loan perhaps, but I think this deal can be put aside. Was there anything else you wanted to talk about, Chief?"      

"I want immigrants to Elon, not new neighbors who owe the Elonese king no loyalty and contribute nothing to the economic growth of this nation. If this isn't about the money and political manuvering of the Empire, very well. Lets just cut the Empire out of this deal completely Olog. I see no need to involve their ships or merchants. I will send Elonese ships and food directly to the south to pick up your cousin and and his two clans and bring them here to Elon, where they can swear fealty to house Christallo-Yusra. It seems to me that those are the people who really wish to immigrate to Elon and the Naigoy are simply Imperial baggage, which are over priced, dangerous to the balance and reputation of Elon and offer very little benefit in return."