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Post by cerdigon on Jun 7, 2017 17:03:36 GMT
The border stretched out for miles in either direction, for the final stretch of ten miles, only the clop and shuffle of over a fifty horses could be heard. A dust cloud trailed behind the party as the Imperial Lifeguard, personal troops sworn to the Emperor's service, escorted the carriage holding Duke Colwyn. The Duke of Pavil was a heavy man and to Captain Brenin of the Imperial Courier Service it was a wonder that the Sylph could still fly. His cheeks were flush from too much wine and his clothes failed to conceal a growing gut. The tide was only held back by a belt that seemed to be under great duress.
In Brenin's view, Colwyn was a belligerant oaf. A conservative member of the Council of Lords whom had long since advocated that the Empire give '' Haiho a good thrashing! ''. Yet this was not the cigar filled backrooms of the capital, this was the frontier of the Empire, and such words could set off a chain reaction of events if he was not careful. Just what was the Emperor's intentions? Over one hundred and fifty years of ruling, the Emperor had proven to be an incredibly shrewd individual. He wouldn't have sent the Duke here without a reason that fit into a wider plan.
Today, Brenin wore the blue uniform of a member of the Imperial Lifeguard. Yet he knew his assignment was not to protect Colwyn but more to ensure that the Duke arrived in a suitable capacity to deliver the Emperor's demands to the Union court. To his credit, Colwyn had abandoned his previous explotation of wine and drink as he had the past two nights and seemed to be sobering to the challenge at hand.
The party eventually arrived at the only and seldom used border crossing between the two nations. Official word of the parties arrival had been sent ahead by a week and it seemed the message had been received. After a few terse words with Colonel Haldwin, the column began to move again. The borderlands we're a place that few of the Empire got to see, trade was strictly prohibited, and smugging was punished by hanging. For Brenin, it would be the first time that he would slip into the borders of the so called '' True Eshara '' though if the two powers were close to war, he doubted that it would be the last.
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Kho
Landed Knight
Posts: 140
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Post by Kho on Jun 7, 2017 18:46:08 GMT
They would not get too far up the road leading to the provincial capital of New Tarsusin - the large town of New Tarsusin - before coming upon a single waiting rider who had been tasked with guiding the envoy and his retinue to New Tarsusin. They stuck to the road and made steady headway until eventually the large town's stone buildings reared up before them. The retinue's mounts were taken to be fed and groomed after their long journey, and the riders were provided with accommodation in a wing of Tarsusin's barracks. As was True Esharan custom, the guests were given three days of rest and were given food in abundance and fruits, and were in all ways cared for.
On the morning of the fourth day, the ex-Recimir Hairuwulf Theudis himself granted them an audience. He had travelled all the way from Árheimar to meet Colwyn, and the thirty or so chief goblins and dwarves of New Tarsusin sat around him in the modest stone hall to greet this Colwyn and see what it was that he came for. When Colwyn, accompanied by Brenin (for True Esharans never met with lone diplomats), entered the hall, the goblins and dwarves spoke a greeting in unison.
'Upon you be knowledge bestowed and understanding,' was their greeting, and Hairuwulf repeated it after them before permitting the two be seated before them. Hairuwulf sat in the midst of a semicircle composed of the chief goblins and dwarves, and Colwyn and Brenin's seats were located directly before him, just within the semicircle.
'Duke-Councillor Colwyn, I welcome you on behalf of His Sacred Majesty, and pray that your stay with us has been ease and bliss, and that you have found here nought but comfort.' The tall, pale, white-haired Grey Elf inspected the fleshy winged creature before him with cold piercing eyes. These were the ones who claimed the throne of his Recimir's ancestors and even now trampled and even now blemished the land he had once called home with their cancerous presence and dishonourable ways. One had to take care when dealing with these Southerners-in-Northern-Guise, for they had mastered the art of politics like none others, and their treachery and perfidiousness knew no bounds. No doubt, even now they schemed one thing or another and plotted and planned how to weaken the Union and undermine its territorial integrity. But those were not the ways of the Union, those were not the ways of those who had seen the light of Eshar. When these Southerners eventually came, armoured with their deceit and trickeries and betrayals, the Union would stand steadfast and honourable, and it would cast aside their darkness and unveil it to the world. It would not be long before they came, he knew, and so the Union waited and all others waited too.
'We welcome you before us now and bid you speak what you have come to say, and let all know what you have travelled to convey.'
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Post by cerdigon on Jun 7, 2017 20:07:24 GMT
'' In the name of His Majesty, Emperor Aeron Sefti, I bring greetings and tidings from Morgraig. I apologize if I seem taken aback, but I was under the impression that I would be granted an audience with His Majesty. '' The Duke said, his beady eyes moving from the goblins to finally rest on the aged Hairuwulf. Colwyn allowed pudgy fingers to ball into a fist while Captain Brenin kept his attention split between the delegation that had been sent to greet him and his charge.
'' Nevertheless, let us continue. '' Brenin was surprised at Colwyn's composure. '' The Emperor is keen to decrease tensions along our shared border. The King must relinquish his claims to the Esharan throne. Emperor Aeron Sefti and his co- Emperor Carlos Rodrigo by right are the true successors. It was Emperor Aeron who defeated the Southern Empire and it was Emperor Aeron whom claimed all of former Eshara's territorial holdings. '' Colwyn was aware that his demand was going to be flatly refused but it had to be said anyway. '' In exchange, the Emperor is willing to open the northern border to trade and will not seek to impede the Union's colonial aspirations. '' Bold, blunt, direct and to the point. For a messenger, Brenin judged Colwyn to be adequate. He just hoped that the man's temper would keep for the duration of the meeting.
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Kho
Landed Knight
Posts: 140
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Post by Kho on Jun 8, 2017 0:13:49 GMT
The one-hundred and eighty-six-year-old Grey Elf was silent for a good minute once the Duke had stopped speaking. His words had brought about an instantly hostile reaction from the gathered goblins and dwarves, and they whispered darkly to one another and eyed the Duke with renewed suspicion. They should have known better than to think any good would come of a Southern envoy's words. Eventually, however, their whispers ebbed and a deathly silence reigned. Hairuwulf broke it.
'His Sacred Majesty is occupied with matters of supreme importance. While it was His Sacred Majesty's greatest desire to meet you in person, His Sacred Majesty deems it fit that I should carry out this duty on His Sacred Majesty's behalf. I have been invested with all the authority of His Sacred Majesty for this particular task, so be assured that even though His Sacred Majesty be leagues and miles away from this place, His Sacred Majesty's authority and word is present.
'It is a most noble want that your Imperial Masters profess, and the Holy Union of Haiho-Ausvinthus and True Eshara can only say it wants the same. Ours is a long border, and it does not befit the civilised to sit and glower over the border at one another, and it does not befit the enlightened to make or respond to absurd and strange demands. His Sacred Majesty, in whose veins flows the blood of the true kings of Old Eshara and who is a steadfast protector and upholder of the Esharan religion and ways, is always prepared to sit and speak with those who speak reason and seek peace and friendship with sincerity. With regards to your offer of trading relations between the Union and your Empire, it is not something we consider necessary at this juncture - though perhaps in future when your Imperial Masters' intimations of peace and friendship prove lasting, we will consider establishing such relations. As for this pledge to not impede the Union's "colonial aspirations", I can assure you that the Union has no such aspirations which the Empire can hope to impede. The Union has never been, does not plan on becoming, an aggressive and expansionistic nation. Our only desire is true prosperity through the pursuit of knowledge and understanding, and the achievement of enlightenment. When all have true understanding, then all prosper and war is no more. While ignorance yet reigns supreme and folly shackles understanding, the enlightened will fight and die to protect their light - and scatter ignorance wherever 'tis to be found.' The ancient Grey Elf spoke all this with a cool, firm tone. At points, he made a small gesture with one hand or another as though lecturing to a child or leaned forward to emphasise certain words in a lower tone.
'If you have more to say, then speak; and if you wish to mend your words and speak again, then you may if you so please - for if you come seeking friendship, speak like a friend.' He sat back in his chair and eyed the Duke with a deadpan - almost bored - expression. The chiefs of Tarsusin looked to one another, clearly pleased with Hairuwulf's words. It was only expected of one who lived in and saw the glory of Old Eshara, who learned from its great learned men and wandered its magnificent libraries and places of learning. Who were these Southerners, who knew nothing of the True Esharan ways and had no claim to Eshara bar some land under their control, to come before him and demand he renounce his Esharanness? Who were they to come and demand of the Recimus in whose veins flowed the blood of the Esharan kings of old that he renounce his Eshar-given blood right? Who were they, these imposters, who would deny the Esharan legitimacy of he who sat on the Throne of Words? These Southerners were indeed buried deeply within the catacombs of their ignorance and arrogance. One could only pray with all sincerity that the Gods would guide them the path of knowledge and bestow upon them understanding and light their hearts up with epiphanic enlightenment. Nothing was impossible for the Gods!
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Post by cerdigon on Jun 8, 2017 0:37:05 GMT
'' We need not mend our words, we are speaking bluntly as equals. The King's of Eshar are dead. '' This time it was Brenin who interjected. '' Hunted down to the last babe by the Survaekom, your King may claim to hold the blood of the King's of Old but we do not nor will recognize it. You claim not to hold Imperialist aspirations, yet your propagandists refer to my master as the 'Fradulent Entity', it implies that sooner or later you will seek to threaten my King and seek to liberate lands that are not oppressed. You, who did nothing to break the shackles of Imperial oppression by word or deed. It was King Aeron who help liberat the North from Southern oppression with the aid of those you call southern puppets. Wasteland Orc's, Navaran Sylph's, and Berrandan's. He is the true heir to Eshara's legacy and the races of humans, sylphs, goblins, and elves that he has binded to his cause would agree. '' He said, failing to rise to the Old Sage's bait.
'' Take our words back to your master and if he does not want war, you will tell him to publicly renounce his claims. '' Corwyn spat. Brenin laid calloused fingers on the fat Duke's wrist, the slightest squeeze bringing him back to heel. '' The Duke is correct. The King's sentiments must be reported back to your master, I hope before tensions boil over. I see that we will gain no more productivity from this meeting. We have delivered our message. '' Soon words would be backed up by an Imperial army. '' We thank you for the hospitality and for you taking the time to meet us. '' Brenin said standin, giving a bow. Corwyn reluctantly following suit.
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Kho
Landed Knight
Posts: 140
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Post by Kho on Jun 8, 2017 4:11:51 GMT
Hairuwulf remained seated as the two delegates railed against him. He had expected many things from the Southerners, but outright disrespect and insults when they were his guests and had been well cared for caused even the ancient Grey Elf to raise an eyebrow. He saw then, with clarity, the deceitful ploy they were playing and the petty foundations and justifications for war that they were attempting to lay. These were not diplomats at all, but provocateurs who had come to sow discord and reap war. He had bid them speak as friends if they indeed came in friendship, and they had proven that it was not in friendship that they came. As though their slurs against the Recimir were not enough, they then rose from their seats - clearly intending to depart - without their host's permission. The chiefs seated around Hairuwulf exploded with fury and indignation.
'They come before us, they make their obscene demands, they insult our sanctities and question our Recimir, and now they add another gratuitous insult to it all!' A brown-haired dwarf fumed.
'Off with their tongues and out with their eyes, I say!' A raven-haired gobliness squealed.
'Our wounded honour demands their blood!' The same dwarf continued.
'Peace, Iguarmil,' Hairuwulf's voice sounded and the chiefs were immediately silent. The dwarf sank low in his seat on being mentioned by name. The cold-eyed Grey Elf then turned his eyes to the standing delegates. 'Return to your people, your insults and slurs hurt us naught, but they injure your own honour and disgrace your nation before all. I will not, on His Sacred Majesty's behalf, sink so low as to respond to mere taunts and slurs; and I will not stand to sully the honour and dignity of our people by punishing guests. You will be escorted from this place and a rider will show you to the border. When your Masters sincerely desire friendship, and genuinely wish to ease tensions on our borders, we may then engage in true talks.' For to Hairuwulf, these were not talks at all but merely an attempt by the Southerners to create a crisis leading to war. By the will of the Gods, their deceit will have come to nothing, and they would return safe and without crisis to their masters' domains.
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Kho
Landed Knight
Posts: 140
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Post by Kho on Jun 27, 2017 18:07:38 GMT
To their Imperial Majesties of the Berrandian-Seftian Empire,
Given the unfortunate breakdown in communications between our two realms after the coming of the envoy of Your Imperial Majesties, it is my pleasure to write to you with news that His Valiance the Naryur of the United Kingdoms of Almuria and Beg Gurhim has agreed to mediate the various disputes between our two nations if the Empire is willing and able. The Union is aware of the amicable relations that exist between the Naryur and Your Imperial Majesties, and we thus have no doubt that such a mediator will be acceptable to Your Imperial Majesties. It is the utmost desire of His Sacred Majesty to see peace and prosperity reign supreme across Ergoria, and the settlement of the various disputes between our respective realms will go far towards the attainment of this noble aspiration.
In Friendship from His Sacred Majesty and the Holy Union of Haiho-Ausvinthus and True Eshara,
His Sacred Majesty's Private Secretary, Councillor Thorlund Great-Wealth III
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Post by cerdigon on Jul 4, 2017 20:54:23 GMT
To His Majesty King Aulus,
Emperor Aeron Sefti extended his hand in friendship in prior talks and was rejected. While the Union claims to be the representative of ' True Eshara ', there can and will not be any negotiations until our demands are met. By right of conquest, blood, and Aed, Emperor Aeron and Emperor Francisco have reforged Eshara into a Holy Empire that contains all of its former lands, holdings, and peoples more than a century ago. We beseech you to end your false claims to Eshara, its legacy, and acknowledge Emperor Aeron and Fracisco's successor Emperor Carlos as the true heirs of Eshara. Once this impediment to peace is removed, we can discuss terms to our mutual benefit.
In the name of Friendship & Peace,
Imperial Chancellor Rufus Warwick
First Minister of the Holy Empire of Eshara
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Kho
Landed Knight
Posts: 140
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Post by Kho on Jul 4, 2017 21:43:27 GMT
To their Imperial Majesties of the Berrandian-Seftian Empire,
Recognising that these matters are subject of much controversy, His Sacred Majesty invites Your Imperial Majesties to personally attend an arbitration hosted by His Valiance the Naryur of the United Kingdoms of Almuria and Beg Gurhim. His Sacred Majesty finds these issues of importance significant enough to warrant direct negotiations between monarchs, arbitrated by a friendly and fair mediator. His Sacred Majesty extends only His hand in peace and binds himself, before the world, to accept the final and everlasting judgment of His Valiance regarding all the matters on which there is dispute between us. In such a way will we ensure peace for our time & all of posterity, and prosperity for all.
In Friendship from His Sacred Majesty and the Holy Union of Haiho-Ausvinthus and True Eshara,
His Sacred Majesty's Private Secretary, Councillor Thorlund Great-Wealth III
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Post by cerdigon on Aug 19, 2017 20:48:44 GMT
To His Royal Majesty,
His Imperial Majesty, Aeron Sefti, is extremely concerned by the mutual buildup of military forces on the frontier between our two Realms. In an effort to defuse tensions, the Emperor has authorized me to extend the offer of a non aggression pact for two years. The requirements for the pact would be the complete withdrawal of military forces from the frontier, this would be verified by independent military observers from both of our armies. In addition, the Emperor requests that His Majesty Aulus suspends all diplomatic talks and guarantees with the Southern rebel territories of Ontare, Berranda, and Lucente.
In the name of Friendship & Peace,
Imperial Chancellor Rufus Warwick
First Minister of the Holy Empire of Eshara
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Kho
Landed Knight
Posts: 140
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Post by Kho on Aug 20, 2017 1:27:27 GMT
To His Imperial Majesty of the Seftian Empire,
His Sacred Majesty has in the past been very amenable to the creation of friendly relations built on mutual respect and peace between our nations, and His Sacred Majesty remains of such a mindset. The Holy Union has in the past extended offers of mediation overseen by His Valiance the Naryur, and we extend this offer once again. While we cannot accept a Non-Aggression Pact at this time, and while our recognition and support for the independence of the Berrandan Successor States stands, we are willing to take the first step towards establishing amicable relations with the Seftian Empire. As a show of good faith and trust, His Sacred Majesty has approved the movement of the 1st Esharan Army away from the Esharan-Seftian border, it should no longer be stationed at the border by the time this letter reaches you. It is our hope that His Imperial Majesty of the Seftian Empire will meet this show of good faith in kind.
Moreover, His Sacred Majesty would greatly recommend that His Imperial Majesty not pursue a war of aggression against the Berrandan Successor States. Negotiation are highly recommended and, should negotiated reunion not be possible, separation with an amicable relationship is best.
In Friendship from His Sacred Majesty and the Holy Union of Haiho-Ausvinthus and True Eshara,
His Sacred Majesty's Private Secretary, Councillor Thorlund Great-Wealth III
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