Kho
Landed Knight
Posts: 140
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Post by Kho on Jul 4, 2017 12:14:59 GMT
The Recimir frowned slightly. Either Uygoth was deliberately being evasive, or he had not completely understood what the Recimir was saying. As it were, he felt this line of discussion had become a quagmire from which nothing of much use could be extracted. He did not wish for the orcs to be hostile ttowards the Union, and - as the saying went - Between what is said and not meant, and what is meant and not said, much fondness and affection is lost. 'Friend Uygoth, I can see that what is being said is causing you distress, and that is not the intention and should not be the effect. If the prospect of ensuring the safety in Firetooth territory of peaceful healers and doctors from potential accidental attacks by Firetooth troops causes you pain or reason to hesitate, then Eshara shall refrain from sending such delegations at all - though this grieves me severely. We would never expect you to guarantee against attacks by those not aligned with you, such would be ludicrous. But as this matter is clearly distressing to you, I shall put it aside and deign to discuss it direct Chief Artog and his Sacrye counterpart when I have the occasion and pleasure to meet with them.' At this point, the Recimir's attention was caught by one his advisors, a stout dwarf, who rose upon being given permission by the Recimir.
'Your Sacred Majesty, having had an opportunity to confirm the matter with my clerks, I can ascertain that Eshara does, in fact, have the infrastructural capacity for additional land trading routes. A trade agreement with the Firetooth is entirely within our powers.' The Recimir's eyes lit up at this revelation, 'we had intended to reveal the completion of our infrastructural expansions to you at our bi-monthly conciliar meetings, Majesty. It is a very recent development.'
'This is most pleasing, Councillor Thorlund,' he turned back to Uygoth with this news, 'friend Uygoth, you have heard what the good Councillor Thorlund has to say. If it is not problematic for the Firetooth, we can arrange for a trade route to be planned and executed between our nations forthwith. Trade is the fount of friendship, and I am certain that the lost bridges of trust between the Firetooth and us can be swiftly rediscovered through it.'
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Post by talis on Jul 4, 2017 19:53:48 GMT
Uygoth was not sure he liked the Recimir's apparent generosity, but he allowed the issue to rest. After all, trade with the large and wealthy Union was a most more immediate and lucrative prospect. He knew many of the Great Houses would be eager to send their caravans. "This is excellent news." He said, allowing himself a grin. "I will make sure that the Elders are informed immediately. I am quite sure they will be eager to approve such an agreement. May it bring prosperity and understanding to both our realms."
"Now, if that is settled, I must beg leave of your honorable audience. I and my men are tired, and we have many more miles ahead of us. The job of a diplomat is never truly finished."
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Kho
Landed Knight
Posts: 140
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Post by Kho on Jul 4, 2017 20:19:58 GMT
The Recimir nodded in silent approval. The orc was more well-versed in the ethics and conduct of court than the 'diplomat' sent by the Sefti-Berrandan Empire. He clearly knew that simply leaving without first seeking the host's permission was unacceptable.
'I thank you for your graciousness and sincerity and wish you the very best in all your future diplomatic endeavours. You may continue your journey, you have my every blessing and goodwill, and you will find that you will be treated with utmost respect and hospitality while you travel through Esharan lands towards your next destination, or should you choose to travel back through Eshara on your homeward journey.' With that, the Recimir's court stood and saluted the diplomats and wished them a safe journey, knowledge, and enlightenment.
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Kho
Landed Knight
Posts: 140
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Post by Kho on Jul 6, 2017 23:38:00 GMT
To His Highness Chief Artog Aedsword of the Greater Tribe of the Orclands,
Your Highness, we have of late had the honour and privilege of hosting in our domains Your Highness' envoys. We are most pleased to have established amicable and friendly relations, as well as securing a trading agreement between our two nations. It is His Sacred Majesty's heartfelt desire that peace, prosperity, and mutual co-operation should be the hallmark of relations between all the nations of Ergoria. Towards the achievement of this goal, His Sacred Majesty is extremely interested in mediating the resolution to the ongoing Orcish-Sacrye hostility between Your Highness and His Imperial Majesty Aonag of the Sacrye. His Sacred Majesty is certain that the power of the word will prove far more effective in ensuring the safety and security of both your respective realms against the other, and in setting right past wrongs.
His Sacred Majesty looks forward to your response, and looks forward also to many years of peace, friendship, and mutual co-operation between our nations.
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 talis on Jul 7, 2017 0:04:42 GMT
To his Majesty Aulus of the Union of Haiho-Ausvinthus,
While your honest efforts to avert bloodshed are to be commended, know that the Firetooth will not negotiate while under threat. If any negotiations are to be had, Sacrye must first cease all sacrifices of Orcs, release all orcish prisoners and refugees into Firetooth custody, withdraw their troops from our border and refrain from any raids or assaults against Orcland territory. Only when these conditions are met will we consider negotiation with the Sacrye a viable option. I urge his majesty to remember that Orcland is the defender in this conflict, and has never sought enmity with its northern neighbor. It has been our Duty to defend Orcish lands in the face of meritless Sacrye aggression.
High Chieftain Artog Aedsword of Orcland and Guardian of the West.
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Kho
Landed Knight
Posts: 140
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Post by Kho on Jul 7, 2017 3:48:15 GMT
To His Highness Chief Artog Aedsword of the Greater Tribe of the Orclands,
Your Highness, I write to you with the auspicious news that His Imperial Majesty has graciously, in a clear display of his willingness to achieve permanent and perpetual peace between Your Highness and the Sacrye, released his orcish prisoners. They are to be hosted and cared for in Eshara until such a time that negotiations are completed in an amicable matter and peace is achieved. Upon the achievement of such peaceful reconciliation, they shall be permitted to return to the Orclands, on the condition that none of them shall be allowed to enter Sacrye territory again. We believe these terms are most reasonable and have every hope that this news will bring much delight to Your Highness and all the chiefs of the Orclands.
His Imperial Majesty further pledges to refrain from engaging in hostilities on the Orcland-Sacrye frontier if Your Highness can reciprocate this. As cessation of hostilities is fundamental to the beginning of negotiations, we believe a mutual guarantee to refrain from hostilities is both necessary and reasonable. We pray that Your Highness, given the Sacrye pledge not to engage in hostilities, can likewise pledge to refrain from current or future hostilities. This is His Imperial Majesty's request, it should not be perceived as reflecting His Sacred Majesty's view on the situation on the Sacrye-Orcland frontier - His Sacred Majesty's view is that regardless of the situation, we should all endeavour towards a peaceful resolution.
If Your Highness can pledge not to engage in hostilities, this peaceful overture would do much to pave the way towards direct negotiations in Árheimar. With that said, we can happily declare that His Imperial Majesty has met all the conditions given by Your Highness for negotiations to be entered into. We are therefore extremely pleased to report this progress to you and profoundly hope that Your Highness will likewise be pleased and take this opportunity to make the necessary guarantees and authorise, officially, the beginning of direct negotiations.
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 talis on Jul 8, 2017 2:01:41 GMT
To his Majesty Aulus of the Union of Haiho-Ausvinthus,
Although it may be your majesty's intention merely to accommodate, I must emphatically decline your offer and urge you to considered fully the consequences of your proposal. You say that my people will be "hosted" in your lands until peace is achieved. How then could I negotiate in good faith, with their lives held hostage to my capitulation? Whether it is your intention or not, such negotiations will be biased in Sacrye's favor. I cannot and will not negotiate while the lives of my people are held hostage, nor while Sacrye is given an upper hand.
I reiterate my initial demand that all prisoners of the Sacrye be released into Firetooth custody, and shall not attend any negotiations until all original demands are met.
High Chieftain Artog Aedsword of Orcland and Guardian of the West.
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Kho
Landed Knight
Posts: 140
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Post by Kho on Jul 8, 2017 6:16:36 GMT
To His Highness Chief Artog Aedsword of the Greater Tribe of the Orclands,
Your Highness, I must protest. The release of prisoners exists within the wider context of coming to an agreement. Making demands of an equal and sovereign nation without offering anything in return is not diplomatic and does not reassure the Sacrye that your intentions for peace are altogether genuine. Your Highness, the Sacrye have made every intimation that they seek a peaceful resolution to the unfortunate state of affairs that exist between you, and all orc prisoners have now arrived in Eshara and are being treated with utmost respect and honour. They are free to move as they please within our royal capital and their every need is provided for by the state, and you have our every assurance that no harm will come to any of them while they are under Esharan protection. As neutral mediators, it is only right for released prisoners to be hosted by us during the negotiation period.
We call upon Your Highness to come to the table, for so long as these indirect and extraordinarily difficult negotiations continue nothing good can come about and misunderstandings will only grow. His Sacred Majesty has every faith that Your Highness seeks peace with earnest and are willing to put aside the no doubt justified feelings of anger and hatred towards the Sacrye in order to achieve what all the citizens of all nations wish for: peace, prosperity, and wealth. It would be extraordinarily disappointing for His Sacred Majesty should these efforts come to nought due to demands which even Your Highness must see are somewhat unreasonable. It was demanded that orcish prisoners are released, and so they were at no small cost to ourselves - indeed, to show his sincerity and absolute neutrality, His Sacred Majesty paid the amount of five [5] gold pieces to secure the release of the prisoners. It was demanded that Sacrye troops should withdraw from the Orcland border, and so they will as soon as that can be reciprocated. All that currently stands in the way of negotiations commencing is, with the utmost respect, Your Highness' unwillingness.
I repeat that His Sacred Majesty has every faith in Your Highness' wisdom and sound judgement, and he hopes greatly that Your Highness will agree to go forward with the negotiations given the various concessions the Sacrye have agreed to make.
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 talis on Aug 20, 2017 15:45:58 GMT
Uygoth and his escort stormed north into the Union on the heels of the news that the Union would intervene in the Ironskull War. Their wargs were exhausted from the swift ride, and the riders themselves had slept little and brought nothing but the clothes on their back. Everything nonessential had been dumped so that they could ride faster. Delaying not a moment, Uygoth marched north to the palace, demanding to speak with the Recimir immediately. The Firetooth's anger and frustration were palpable. Perhaps because they had not expected such an action, perhaps because it was so unexpected to them.
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Kho
Landed Knight
Posts: 140
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Post by Kho on Aug 20, 2017 17:45:18 GMT
Both the Recimir and Hairuwulf Theudis had departed the capital, leaving the Recimera and the various Councillors of the Holy Union to manage affairs at home. As Uygoth made his unannounced journey into the capital, news quickly reached the Recimera and the various Councillors. A few hawks were affronted and demanded the immediate arrest of these unannounced intruders, but the consensus - backed by the Recimera - saw that sending an escort to accompany the delegates to the throne room immediately was better. It was decided that, due to the limited state of war that now existed between the Firetooth and the Holy Union, it would be best not to afford the delegates the three-day ritual of hospitality. In this case, it would probably do more harm than good. As Uygoth and one of his companions - the rest of the escort being hosted elsewhere - were taken swiftly through the gardens, a few orcs made themselves visible. They watched silently as Uygoth passed, a few sending an incomprehensible salute to their fellow. They walked about the place with an air of freedom, and it was clear that they were familiar - friendly, even - with the guards who patrolled the palace grounds.
'There now Karazoth,' one of the patrolmen gestured towards the orc who had shouted, 'they're not here to see you I'm afraid.'
Uygoth was soon escorted into the throne room and the councillors sent out their uniform greeting. The Throne of Words was empty, but beside it on her lowered throne sat the winged Recimera. She gestured for seats to be brought for their guests, and once Uygoth was seated and rested, drinks brought for him and his companion as well as fruits and sweetmeats, she at last spoke directly to him.
'It is both a surprise to see you here again and an honour to host you once more, Han[lit. "Mister', "Herr", Signor"etc.] Uygoth. We were informed that you had requested a meeting with His Sacred Majesty, but unfortunately His Sacred Majesty is currently leading troops in the Sacrye Empire. If We can be of any assistance to you during this period of extreme difficulty, We would be more than happy to oblige.' The Recimera looked at Uygoth with a stoic, unsmiling severity, her brows creased with concern.
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Post by talis on Aug 20, 2017 19:31:29 GMT
"Indeed there is." Uygoth got right to the point. "We have recently heard strange reports involving your government's involvement in Sacrye. To be honest, we are rather shocked, having taken your Recimir at his word that he would remain strictly neutral in any conflict between Orcland and Sacrye. I have been sent to ask whether these reports are true, and if so to inquire what has caused such a drastic and sudden reversal of policy." He met her eyes directly in grim confrontation, jaw set. No doubt about it, there was a challenge in his words, and perhaps a sense of betrayal. The assurance Uygoth had personally obtained had been broken, instantly and without notice.
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Kho
Landed Knight
Posts: 140
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Post by Kho on Aug 21, 2017 15:43:17 GMT
The Recimera met Uygoth's gaze coolly and her response was equally so.
'His Sacred Majesty had been in the middle of mediating between the Sacrye and the Firetooth when news reached us of a sudden declaration of war by the Firetooth upon the Sacrye. His Sacred Majesty had not received a response to his last letter written to His Highness of the Firetooth and was still expecting it. That the Firetooth would choose to forego all decorum and dishonourably declare war in the midst of negotiations causes Us to pale, but We are certain there is some kind of explanation. Whatever it is, however, We are compelled by Our principles to side with any nation - whomsoever it be - against aggression. This is especially so when We had become involved already and put substantial time and resources into bringing about peace. We made it clear before and make it clear again, had the Sacrye attacked the Firetooth, it would be with the Firetooth that We sided. And the reverse has come to be, and so We have sided with the Sacrye. Our policy is consistent and unchanging.' The Recimera looked at Uygoth for a few moments before continuing, 'however, We agree with you in that We should have given the Firetooth notice of our decision on this matter. We apologise for not doing so - know that it had been Our intention to, but that other matters have unfortunately taken up Our time. We feel it important to make clear that the Holy Union does not consider itself at war, properly speaking, with the Firetooth. We shall not seek to strike out into rightful Firetooth lands, and We would expect that the Firetooth would likewise refrain from striking out into Esharan territory. Our troops shall only seek to defend lands which are currently recognised as belonging to the Sacrye. We condemn utterly the Firetooth's abandonment of negotiations, and would encourage that this war come to a quick end and negotiations recommence.'
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Post by talis on Aug 21, 2017 16:21:29 GMT
Uygoth bit his lip in silent fury as he listened to the Recimira's excuses, a mixture of convenient interpretations and excuses. "This is not some petty dispute over border fees or a squabble between old men who cannot stand each other. Gusko's rest and the Delta of Korath are an occupied part of Orcland, the ancestral homeland of the Ironskull Clan. We are fighting to restore what is ours, taken by the Sacrye in brutal war over a century ago. You claim to defend against aggression, but we have seen this excuse many times in the past - conquerors who take what they wish, then decry just retaliation as 'aggression' and pretend to be victims. The Sacrye took our land, slaughtered our people and drove them from the region. Yet you choose to stand with them, using willful ignorance of history as your excuse."
"You accuse of of refusing to negotiate, yet the High Chief made the conditions of his participation clear, and those conditions were never met. No matter, here are our terms: The giants of Sacrye must leave Gusko's Rest and the region to its rightful owners, immediately. We refuse to play parley for what is rightfully ours. We will not pay tribute to conquerors for our own land, nor "share" our ancient rights with invaders.
"I recommend that the Recimira and the Union take this matter seriously, because I can assure you that we shall. If you stand with the Sacrye we will view you as conquerors and invaders as well, and we will fight with every fiber for what is rightfully ours. Stain the land red with the blood and we will persevere, even should we die in the tens of thousands. We will fight, and we will use every means at our disposal - every favor, every trick, every jien in our treasury - to reclaim what is ours. You are a fool to claim that we are not truly at war - wars are not something one plays at like a game of chess. Your Recimir should be prepared to face the consequences of his decision rather than hiding behind fancy words, because once he enters there is no backing out: this will only end with an army marching through the streets of Thundercrown, or Orcland preserved."
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Kho
Landed Knight
Posts: 140
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Post by Kho on Aug 21, 2017 17:03:08 GMT
The Recimera was silent after Uygoth's outburst. She placed her chin in her hand and considered the orc for a few moments.
'You know, Han Uygoth, the Sacrye gave over all their orc prisoners to Us - We are certain you saw them on your way here. They were waiting on the Firetooth response to Sacrye overtures. They were expecting that their brethren would think highly enough to give dialogue a chance. What are We to think of you who think so little of your brethren? You claim to be marching to liberate orcish territory - but what use is orcish territory if orcish lives mean nothing to you? Land is of no significance if those who live on it are of no significance to you.
We are not ignorant of history - We are well aware of the wars that took place between the Sacrye and many other peoples over a hundred years ago. The Firetooth have chosen to resurrect past wars when the present offered us the possibility of peace. Gusko's Rest could have been open to all orcs - dialogue can achieve much. But you chose to be stubborn and you chose aggression - and no matter how sincere and right your claims are, it does not justify aggression. The Holy Union has suffered the Sefti at its borders for decades, has suffered to see Esharans just across the border from Us under the Sefti boot. We have never considered a war of aggression - it is simply not right. Our ancient capital lies today in the United Kingdoms, our holiest sites under the rule of your brothers of the faith - We have never considered waging war against Our neighbours to reclaim these lands though, if We took on an orcish way of thinking, We would be in Our right to do so. We would be in Our right, according to you, to wage war against near enough all Our neighbours. It is a flawed way of looking at the world and will only reap misery. We reject all wars of aggression, and We care little how strong your claims are.
The conditions High Chief Artog made were met by the Sacrye who offered their own conditions also. All that lay between us and peaceful resolution was for the Firetooth to offer some trivial guarantees to put Sacrye fears of a sudden orcish attack at rest. And it appears to Us that the Sacrye were right to be wary, for the Firetooth have done exactly what they feared. Our disappointment is beyond measure, and your outbursts and demands and threats only go to strain relations between us further. Again, the Firetooth must see reason, they must come to the negotiating table. Without doubt there is more to be gained out of dialogue if only the Firetooth would put their stubbornness aside for a moment and give it a chance. Again, as We say, the Holy Union has intervened in this conflict only to preserve the status quo, and We have advised the Sacrye not to strike out into Firetooth or Ikegami territories. The Holy Union certainly will not be. Han Uygoth, unless you have chosen to see reason, please do not deign to speak more or threaten Us while you are in Our care - the Holy Union has nothing against the Firetooth, We only hate with a passion aggression from whomsoever it comes.'
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Post by talis on Aug 21, 2017 17:33:14 GMT
Uygoth's fist clenched at her words. He glanced over at his escort briefly, anger on both their faces. "They mean more to us than you know. But they fight for the same purpose we do, in their own way. While their brothers sleep in the fields and fight on the battlefield it is their duty to endure. It would bring only shame and dishonor on their Houses if we were to surrender for their sake."
"Your veil of willful ignorance does you well in palaces and halls, but it will quickly tear on the battlefield. Hide behind it at your own peril then. You choose to dismiss righteous anger as a tantrum, and to pretend that your expedition can bring harmony between enemies. But everything that I have said is true, and blood will be spilled before this is over. Now will you take this seriously and speak to us as equals, or will you continue in the insulting delusion that you are the only adult in a room full of children?"
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