Ikegami-Almuria

Unsurprisingly for well respected and honored allies, the Ikegami were met with welcoming smiles and open-arms. Along the roads they were met with a number of Royal blockhouses serving as checkpoints for trade and travelers only to be swiftly directed past any queue that might have formed; it was, after all, unbecoming to keep such vaunted travelers waiting for long. The realm of the Gospodars, consolidated underneath the newly titled Naryur, had changed greatly since the end of the war; southernization had entered full swing as the wide-ranging education of Kharok Szaboyar-Szekeres led to a number of reformations within the Gospodar nation. Now officially Gospodaria and one of several other Almuric realms within the united country of Almuria, the lands once held by the Gospodar horde now functioned as a well organized province akin to that of the south. It was the province of Beg Gurhim however, of which the Naryur ruled as Sultan, that the capital of the United Kingdoms sat squarely within.

Mog Bhelnom, the ancient city of the Gurhimic Dwarves, was an imposing sight for any within the north. Reminiscent in many ways to southern cities like Byrnia and Foedinei, albeit less populous, the industrialized city extended outwards in all directions as if the seems that held it within its old walls had burst altogether. At every road travelling into the city were well organized checkpoints, guarded by well armed Almur or richly dressed Sultanate dwarves. Each bowed with deep respect for the foreign monarch, the Ikegami procession receiving the utmost care. It was from the outer checkpoints that the party received the Royal Seal, providing free reign for their travel deeper into the thriving metropolis.

The Royal Palace, albeit a slight misnomer, consisted of the old Great Hall constructed by Kezur Yurok on his arrival to Mog Bhelnom, the old Sultan's Palace reconstituted into the Parliamentary Chambers, and the burgeoning bureaucratic halls making up the growing Administrative District. It was here that ambassadorial lodgings were provided, notably within the Sultan's Palace for the Ikegami Royal family. From there, quick talking Gurhimic receptionists and itinerary-bearing assistants directed the effort to organize the final push to the great hall.

The Great Hall was, despite being much of the same design that Kezur Yurok had installed during his tenure as ruler of the Gospodar realm, greatly changed since the century before. Relying on wood for much the construction in its first iteration and designed to accommodate far fewer individuals than would be necessary for the expanding majesty of the nation, necessary renovations had been put into work two decades prior. Now finally reaching completion, naturally to the meticulous specifications of numerous Artificers, the Great Hall was fit for the heir to Szekeres' great empire.

"Presenting," came the heavily accented cries of the Gurhimic herald, "Her Majesty, Daimyo Ikegami Sayoko and the Royal Family of the Ikegami Clan."

The assorted crowd, consisting of tribal leaders from all the Almur provinces as well as numerous Gurhimic nobles and countless government functionaries, turned from their business at long tables and lounging areas to watch the arrival of the foreign monarch to the Naryur's Court; though nearly six decades had passed since the end of the war for the Almur, such visits had been few and far between during the reformation period.

"Welcome, dear friends. Your presence alone brightens this great hall and promises a smile on Aed's lips at this meeting."

The Naryur stood down the hall at the very back of the primary chamber, his great throne sitting atop a raised pedestal of granite topped with a richly colored Gurhimic carpet and flanked by tapestries depicting all manner of stories and tales. He himself wore an eclectic mix of garments that would put a historian to work for days determining their origin; with a simple look one could see elements of Almuric, Gurhimic, and even Byrnian clothing mixed into one functional yet austere piece of clothing. The Granite crown, resplendent in its fully reforged state, sat upon his sable-haired brow as his thick mane billowed out from under the crown and around his pair of ring-pierced horns.

"I am pleased to see you in the halls of my esteemed father, may he rest with Aed among his ancestors, once again. It was lacking much without your peoples flare. Please, sit, eat, enjoy everything this great country has created; you have missed much since you were away."

Kharok leaned back in his throne, his thick raven hair moving like water as he did so. The proposition was an interesting one and certainly fell within the scope of the time frame he'd set for such endeavors; the Ikegami had proven themselves in the past to be trustworthy with such join actions and he could hardly see any reason to deny them now. Though eventually he intended to reunite as much of Szekeres' lost empire as he could, this would be a reasonable step in the right direction.

"Trade Partners and Allies are always welcome in Mog Bhelnom," rumbled the giant-lord, taking a hand to his clean-shaven chin in thought, "Especially when they are proven friends of the United Kingdoms. Trade, of course, will be welcome without issue; our ports are broad and our markets broader. According to Almuric law, my father's oaths of friendship with the Ikegami still stand and I see no reason to overturn his wizened decision.

Together than we shall return to the lands of my ancestors and seek what was lost there, together. I warn, however, that many of my kin will take great grievance to mistreatment of our ancient soil; I would seek your word now that you would tread lightly in matters of Almuric history in the Far North so that I might find assuaging worries all the easier. 

My father, in his lasting wisdom, saw fit so long ago to afford your kin room along the river; Mog Bhelnom has grown fat and healthy with unification and there is room to spare along the waterway. If you should seek an Enclave in the Sultan's City, I shall gladly provide. You must, of course, afford to pay the sums needed to construct such infrastructure but of that I do no doubt you would agree."

Kharok leaned forward, his thick black mane rolling over his shoulders to hang down in front of his chest while he looked on with an interested grin; now that was an unexpected proposal and certainly not one unappealing to the aged Naryur. With no effort the Naryur stood from his throne and strode down the steps, his black-feathered roc leaping from the rafters to perch upon his shoulder as he did so. The Naryur made an impressive figure, his reserved yet austere garments only furthering the ideal image of an Almuric lord.

"This is a wonderful idea," he said now standing directly before the collected group before kneeling as to be closer to eye level, "As you may know, I myself was educated in a worldly manner; my father, in his bountiful wisdom, sent me forth to Berranda, New Byrnis, Byrnia, and even Messara eventually. I feel my travels and life in distant court as a youth granted me a necessary perspective and one that I considerably appreciate. I would be remiss not to offer the same gift. In fact . . . "

The Naryur stood, looking about the chamber with squinting eyes before shrugging with disappointment and looking to his dwarven Chamberlain. The dwarf shook his head apologetically before motioning as if asking for permission to go find whatever the pair had been looking for. With a simple negative motion of his hand the dwarf returned to his passive state in waiting and Kharok returned to addressing his guests.

"Well. It seems my children are not where I should want them, but that is the nature of youth," he continued, a slight grin creasing his lips, "I should be pleased, albeit with their approval, to see any number of my progeny to do the same; it would do them well to remove themselves from their homeland and see the world in a new light. I would have it be those lands under the Ikegami Clan that so enlighten them, if you would be open to the exchange."

Kharok smiled and nodded deeply, doing his best to approximate an Ikegami bow despite no real education on the matter. With the four elf princelings having bowed before him he waved an open palm towards the royal table.

"Please, sit; if you are to stay in my home and treat it as your own, then the very first place you must become accustomed to is my hearth and table. You may dine as you wish; these halls are yours as they are my sons and daughters, for within Almuric tradition that is what you are till they day I die. And, honored Daimyo, where my children may sit so too may their most righteous Mother. Please, enjoy the hospitality of the United Kingdoms."

The Naryur stepped down to the table, pulling out seats and looking on with a broad grin; one, as many have pointed out, would not have been out of place on his late father. Though Kharok certainly was his own man, the hospitality of his home and the openness of his arms were not to be found wanting.

"Now, Daimyo, I would discuss with you further on personal matters. I have spent my life, as much of it as I could, working towards the goals and visions my father had seen with the Seers and within his own heart. The Ikegami were close in spirit to the Gospodars and, indeed, all of the United Kingdoms now; I would see to it that this common spirit be held aloft for all to see what it is. Though by Almuric law our bonds of brotherhood in ages past remains unbroken as yet I live, here in the South I have found that words etched dark and richly last far longer than those spoken into the wind. I would have us renew our two nation's non-aggression pact and would further suggest the codifying of a true defensive alliance; what say you to such ramblings?"

Kharok nodded with satisfaction before taking his seat at the table alongside the elven guests as a gaggle of servants arrived to offer assorted offerings of delicacies and beverages. Kharok opted to take a plate of pilaf mixed in with assorted meats alongside a glass of mammoth airag. As soon as the meals had been placed the hall returned to its bustling self as diplomats, dignitaries, functionaries and bureaucrats all discussed dealings both personal and national in scope.

"So, tell me," murmured Kharok just as he finished swallowing down the contents of the glass, directing his attention to the young Ikegami, "Though we will have much time to get to know one another, I would be grateful to learn a bit about you. What interests you, hmm? What is best in life for ones such as yourselves?"

"Fascinating," nodded Kharok, his lower lipped pursed with interest, "I had no idea the scions of the Clan were so knowledgeable at such a youthful age. These are good qualities, interest and desire to know, it benefits all around you to have such things."

At the mention of economics Kharok lit up even further, his lips tightening into a smile to reveal his pearly white teeth before the old giant leaned away from the table and motion for a dignitary. The very rotund dwarf waddled over, his voluptuous beard tucked under under his belt. A quick exchange of quiet words and the dwarf nodded, offering up a tightly rolled piece of parchment held in a dark-iron tube. Kharok motioned for him to bring it before Sayoko, pulling it from its case and rolling it out before her.

"This, my honored friend, is a plan of mine I think you will be most interested in," purred the Naryur, leaning over the table to peer at the page and Sayoko's reactions in equal measure, "A Northern Currency. THE Northern Currency."

The page illustrated and laid out the thoughts behind a new currency for the North to replace the jien as the primary currency of Northern nations. Several possible sources of gold, including the gold stored over the years by the United Kingdoms and purchasing the gold directly from the Ikegami were proposed on the page.

"Perhaps then we may amend this plan and see that our two nations are as partners in this endeavor. The United Kingdoms and the Clan both stand to benefit from such cooperation, a concept we both understand quite clearly, and in this we could grow even closer from success. What say you, your thoughts on the matter?"

"Good!"

Kharok stood, proudly waving to several of his courtiers who quickly sauntered over to join the conversation. The group was, for the most part, made up of Gurhimic dwarves but had the notable inclusion of two Almur and one blonde, Thrumish dwarf. As each one introduced themselves it became apparent that this was a team of economists and other specialists in their fields assembled by the Naryur for the development of this new currency.

"This team I've assembled only recently, but they are the best in their fields here in the United Kingdoms," he continued, leaning back in to the table, "I intend to grow the team further and I would be most honored if we could draw from the very skilled financiers of the Ikegami."