Kho
Landed Knight
Posts: 140
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Post by Kho on Jun 9, 2017 18:08:46 GMT
Horkin Rassen rode east through the Ikegami clan's territories towards Almuria. Given the fact that the Union shared a land border with the Almur, the uninformed may think it odd that the dwarf did not simply march off with his entourage over the border and into Almuria, as the Union's other envoys had done with Sacrye and the Ikegami. The fact of the matter was that the Union-Almur land border was now an impassable mountain range from start to finish. Any attempt to get through it would require weeks of careful climbing - not that the dwarf was a foreigner to mountains. It would, however, mean that they could not take their mounts with them and risk various unfortunate fates - they could be stranded, they could fall to their deaths, they could be crushed in an avalanche, they could potentially fall into a lava pit for all he knew. It was established common sense, ever since the great pass that had once run through it had been purposefully sabotaged, so as to become unusuable, by the Union, that one did not simply attempt to cross the Union-Almur mountain range.
Re-establishing a safe route through the mountain, through which caravans could pass easily, was to be one of the propositions he presented to the Almur - if they proved friendly, that was. Of course, the joint re-establishment of the route - with all the potential advantages it presented the two nations - would also require an assurance from the Almur that they would not attempt to use it to attack the Union. After all, the reason it was destroyed in the first place was the Union's fear that the hordes from beyond the mountains would return.
It was some sixty years ago now that Union forces had just about escaped clashing with the Vaigayar hordes as they migrated through Gurd and Thrume - completely ravaging - and continuing to the south through the then-standing pass. The civil war that erupted thereafter meant that the Union felt it was best for the pass to be destroyed so that the civil war would not spill over into the Union.
He wondered if the war-like ways of the giants had thawed. If a nation was hostile and sought war, then the mind was a crafty thing and could concoct the most perfidious schemes and plots to sow discord and reap war. But if a nation was sincerely friendly and sought peace and prosperity, then it found in other friendly and peaceful nations a natural ally and support. Who knew which of the two Almuria would be - Horkin could only hope it was the latter. Having sent a messenger ahead to inform the Almur of his imminent arrival, he expected to be met at the border. And so when he arrived, he did not venture further until he was permitted entrance by the giants - and, indeed, dwarves - who called this place home.
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Post by zurajai on Jun 22, 2017 21:56:56 GMT
Horkin Rassen was most certainly not the first foreigner to enter the United Kingdoms; in fact, the lands that had once been Beg Gurhim were already frequented by many peoples well before the arrival of the Gospodars and since then have continued to host numerous peoples from many far away lands. As such, the toll-roads of the United Kingdoms were well monitored and efficiently regulated, with numerous guards and well kept, paved paths to direct traffic. Rassen had entered into the Songlands, the Dalfold in the Almuric tongue, those lands that once belonged to the state of Thrum before its conquest. As the newest addition to the realms of the Naryur, albeit with sixty years difference between its annexation and the present, the infrastructure here was somewhat lacking in comparison to the rest of the nation.
Nonetheless, when Horkin reached the north-west waystation on the Ikegami-Almuria border he was met with a fitting greeting; Royal Kenyszerit, the official road-guard of the Kingdoms, had arrived to meet with this would-be ambassador. With them was his messenger, waiting patiently for his master's arrival alongside the giant guardsmen. The Kenyszerit, equivalent to Dragoons of the small-folk, stood in their poncho-like military uniforms with fur caps adorning their heads like halos just above their horned brow. Some had their tagelmust-like-facewraps tightly pulled in, the winter weather prompting the behavior, while others left theirs hanging free to reveal their visage. Before the entire crowd sat a plump dwarf atop a burly looking ram with the Royal Seal of the Sultan hanging from the saddle.
"Hail to you, traveler," came the heavily accented voice of the Gurhimic dwarf speaking in a stuttering command of the Haiho language, "I bid you welcome to the United Kingdoms and the Dalfold. Forgive me, for I am but a lowly waystation officer, if I speak your tongue poorly. As your man has told me, you are to serve as Ambassador to the United Kingdoms from the Union of Haiho-Ausvinthus and the Gurd. As is protocol, I would have you pay the modified toll for foreign dignitaries and I shall present you with the Royal Seal so that you may pass through further waystations unimpeded. If this is acceptable, these Kenyszerit-dragoons will speed you on your way."
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Kho
Landed Knight
Posts: 140
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Post by Kho on Jun 23, 2017 3:22:15 GMT
Horkin lifted an eyebrow at the strange turn of events. He had travelled long to arrive here, only to be greeted by a stuttering dwarf who could hardly speak and could not even say the name of the Holy Union of Haiho-Ausvinthus and True Eshara properly. And, if Horkin understood it, the impudent dwarf wanted him to pay! The very idea of making a guest pay caused his stomach to squirm; if there was one thing Union dwarves were not miserly about, it was their guests - and they certainly expected at least an attempt at hospitality when they were the guests. Certainly, not all peoples were masterful hosts, but Horkin had yet to come across any host who would actively seek to insult his guest. Perhaps these Almurs would be it. Or maybe this dwarf's linguistic difficulties were creating unintended misunderstandings and presenting meanings that were not actually meant. Withholding the anger and irritation rising within him, he released a mighty guffaw.
'I can't understand a thing you're saying boy. Bring me someone who can talk! Preferably someone with some authority, too.'
For a wise Sage amongst the long-passed generations was one who did sapiently pronounce the immortal adage: Between what is said and not meant, and what is meant and not said, much fondness and affection is lost.
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Post by zurajai on Jun 23, 2017 15:57:22 GMT
The dwarf looked on with utter horror, his eyes wide and his figure dropping low; surely what he had done was only reasonable? Protocol clearly stated that travelling dignitaries from countries abroad without relations should pay the meager sum for the pass, so that liars and thieves could not simply claim diplomatic authority and pass through! But, perhaps he had offended the foreign dwarf and he immediately bowed low, looking to his feet.
"One hundred apologies noble master," the dwarf replied, "Your tongue is not one used here often; in fact, it is a wonder at all, for this is the Ikegami border. The Almuric or Gurhimic tongue would service you well here, if you speak either. And if you had come through th- well . . . Nevermind that, simply know that you were not expected and this was the best we could do. Please, allow me to humbly pay your toll myself so that I may assuage your displeasure. But, you will not have someone brought to you; you must go to them. If all is satisfactory, these Kenyszerit will guide you to your destination in Mog Bhelnom."
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Kho
Landed Knight
Posts: 140
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Post by Kho on Jun 23, 2017 20:07:14 GMT
While any Union dwarf worth his salt would never stand to be slighted, decorum demanded that one be a gracious guest even if the host was...odd. And so Horkin took a deep breath and shook his head, refusing the other dwarf's offer to pay the toll.
'Nay, brother. Be at ease, if this be the custom of your people then I shall abide by your customs and your laws. Here we go now,' Horkin spoke this time in the Gurhimic tongue to ease communication. It was only understandable that none here spoke any of the languages of the Union bar Gurhimc - Esharan and Haiho and Ausvinth and Thrum. With that, he counted out the necessary gold coins - though they had been understandably struck in the Union fashion and so had the head of the Recimir on the obverse and the representation of Eshar-Qiqarius on the other. But gold was gold. As he handed the toll to the dwarf he spoke.
'Brother dwarf, what is your name? How do you happen to speak Esharan? Surely you are blessed with a love for learning. I would like it much if you could keep me company while I stay in these your people's lands. You will help me understand your customs, and I will help you with your Esharan difficulties. What say ye?'
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Post by zurajai on Jun 24, 2017 17:29:13 GMT
"I am blessed to carry the name of Cemil Macar Kundakci, Noble master. But, to answer your question, I am an avid learner of dwarven language in my free time. I speak, of course, my native tongue of Gurhimic, the language of the Thrumish citizens of the United Kingdom, and I dabble in Haiho dialects; such an interest makes me a valued waystation-officer. And though my duty lies here, if travelling alongside you will assuage your passions at my indescretion I shall cede command to my second till my return."
With that the guard of Kenyszerit and their dwarven charges left the waystation enroute to the capital, Mog Bhelnom. Waystations allowed the party passage past lines with no fanfare as their journey swiftly took them through the Rocky countryside. The great metropolis extended across the landscape inal directions, a city larger than all but New Byrnis itself in the North. Horkin was directed by the city officials that met him to the Great Hall while simultaneously offering to bring his belongings to his quarters in the old Sultanate Palace. The Great Hall remained open, as it always was, with the many tables occupied by numerous courtiers, functionaries, and guests of many different persuasions.
"Hail to you, son of Haiho," came a booking voice rolling across the hall before even a herald could address the newcomer, "Enlighten me as to what brought you so far from your home to the Halls of my father and his line?"
At the end of the hall stood the Almuric Lord, Naryur of the United Kingdoms, Kiraly of Great Almuria, and Sultan of Beg Gurhim, Kharok Szaboyar-Szekeres.
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Kho
Landed Knight
Posts: 140
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Post by Kho on Jun 26, 2017 13:41:34 GMT
Mog Bhelnom was a massive city - nay, it was a state within a state. Horkin, like all dwarves, like massive architecture. Perhaps dwarves, due to their small stature, inherently took joy in creating colossal constructions - as if they wished to let the world know: small we may be, but we are children of the mountains, hewn from their rock, and at our command, great mountains rise and great mountains fall. And so Horkin found the mere fact of being inside so grand a city almost immediately pleasurable.
Brought almost immediately before the Naryur, he bowed respectfully in the official manner of all Union officials and waited on Kharok to recognise his presence - generally, being directly addressed was sufficient and meant the dwarf could raise his head and respond. 'Hail to you also, Your Valiance. I am sent by His Sacred Majesty Recimir Aulus the Chosen-of-Eshar, son of Tacitus Eshar the Younger, son of Oppius Eshar, son of Gaius Eshar, son of His Holiness Tacitus Eshar the Elder, son of His Imperial Holiness Oppius Eshar V, the Holy Martyr, final Basileus of the Old Esharan Empire, son of many great and enlightened Basileis. His Sacred Majesty sends Your Valiance greetings and wishes it to be known that he esteems the Almur greatly. Though a sealed off mountain separates our realms, yet are these lands and its dwarves and its giants a part of Eshara's history, and as is Eshara a part of Your Valiance's national history. Though we have for decades now been cut-off from one another, His Sacred Majesty wishes for great peace and prosperity and friendship between our respective nations - and to the achievement of this grand purpose, His Sacred Majesty has commanded me make the long journey here that I may broach with Your Valiance the possibility of, through a joint effort between our nations, re-opening of the large mountain pass that once connected our two nations even across the great mountains and made trade and travel between our two realms possible. His Sacred Majesty seeks to establish a powerful bond between us, and Eshara knows well that nothing creates feelings of amity better than great joint endeavours for the betterment of both our respective peoples, and through that all the diverse peoples of Ergoria.
We remember well the descent of the great Almuric Hordes from the farthest North, and we consider you to be even purer Ergorians than are we who for long fought for the preservation of our culture and ways against the Southerners who sought only the absolute destruction of all things Ergorian. We are certain that Eshara has much to learn from you, and that through the interaction of our cultures Eshara can purify itself further of subtle Southern influences which have slipped through despite our stalwart rejection of their attempts to make us what we are not. Your Valiance!- we come with our hands extended in friendship, hoping to benefit Your Valiance and benefit from Your Valiance, so will Your Valiance not extend Your Valiance's hand to us in friendship also and build a bond unbreakable as the mountains that separate us, one which we shall hold firmly to and never break so long as Your Valiance is forthright with us and true?'
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Post by zurajai on Jun 26, 2017 17:16:24 GMT
Kharok sat patiently, looking on with concerted interest at how long the foreign dwarf would speak the laurels and bloodline of this Aulus, Chosen-of-Eshar. Before their settling of Beg Gurhim, the Gospodars and Almur in general did not have the same concepts of nobility and title as these southerners did; in the Szekeres Empire, so many years ago, titles held import, but over the thousand year period of the wandering their value was lost on the nomadic people. Despite this, Kharok was entirely curious as to hear how far the dirge of long-dead Recimirs would go. As the tale winded down and was replaced with grandiose offers, Kharok's black hair settled and his brow deepened. The words Horkin spun were unique, to say the least, and entirely not what Kharok had expected; the giant simply leaned deeper into his throne in consideration. As the Haiho Dwarf ended his speech, Kharok stared deeply at his figure for many moments as the crowd at tables or resting areas murmured their opinions.
"You are a credit to your people's legacy and their mastery of words, son of Haiho," he at last replied, leaning forward from his throne to speak clearly to Horkin so that all in the Great Hall would hear, "But I must profess, I am not so swayed as you may have hoped. I understand your desire to link yourself to the Eshara of the past, quite personally in fact, but you will not find much influence gained by bandying terms that mean so little to my people and I. Ergorian, North, Old Eshara; these words are meaningless to me.
Before the very first Esharan Emperor sat on his throne, the Szekeres Empire had already been founded, seen its golden age, and fallen. Ergoria is a term made by southerners to describe their separate continent from other southerners, but in the end you are far more similar in my eyes than you may wish to hear. It may surprise you, despite my birthplace far from these southern hills, that I was educated in the halls of New Byrnis, Berranda, and farther south still. You speak of purity, of subtle influences, and of benefiting from friendship yet as you stand here you do not understand my people despite your vaunted love of learning.
I tell you this, Horkin Rassen of the most Southern Holy Union of True Eshara, that your Sacred Recimir has failed to truly educate you on the people he has sent you to offer friendship to. This is disappointing, as I had read much of your faith's most famed and voracious hunger for learning in the libraries of Messara, but not surprising. You think like a southerner, with your thoughts of My Valiance and Your Sacred Majesty; such things carry no weight before the endless snow and the boundless storms of the True North. Here, in this little slice of the North surrounded by an ocean of southern values, a nation is not led by its ruler but directed by the hopes and wants of its people; you shall not benefit from My Valiance, nor shall I benefit from your Sacred Majesty.
But I am not without appreciation for your journey, nor the reason for your Master sending you here. Trade is the start of all friendships, mutual understanding and openness; this, my people want. As the oaths and words that bind me to me people allow, I shall see to it that trade between our lands might be opened. What was broken shall be mended and made whole, together, and from that we shall see where our friendship might bloom. I accept your offer to open the passage, together, and may our mutual understanding grow from the endeavor.
Tell me, has your Master provided you with the exact details of his offer for such a task?"
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Kho
Landed Knight
Posts: 140
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Post by Kho on Jun 26, 2017 19:19:02 GMT
Horkin bowed deeply once the Naryur had spoken his part, standing firm before the stony gaze of he who wore the Granite Crown.
'I thank you for your praise, though I know myself unworthy of so much as a mite of the legacy of my forebears. I must apologise if my intention was misunderstood - if my usage of words by which I sought only to introduce our people's understanding of themselves came across as an attempt to inspire within Your Valiance sympathy or camaraderie or some kind of common ground between us. I only speak to Your Valiance what we are, if it displeases Your Valiance that I should express so much of what makes me and my people not you and your people, then Your Valiance has my most sincere apologies: I can only be that I am. For I do not use words that I use because they are meaningless to Your Valiance, but because they are meaningful to me.
And yes, I speak of your purity despite Your Valiance being the most soaked in the Southern ways. It is not for lack of contact with them that I consider Your Valiance and Your Valiance's people pure, but due to so great an exposure and so great a retention of all that you are. If Your Valiance misunderstands what an Esharan means when he says purity, then I can only apologise most sincerely and offer a humble explanation: purity is that which can be found in all peoples across all times and places. Purity is that which, when all other things are distilled, remains. It is the essence of all; that is what all Esharans seek. We embrace all that is good in the Southern ways, and we reject the stalwartly the subtle influences which undermine the essence that generation after generation of Esharans have tirelessly worked to uncover. Today we are come to you, and there is yet another generation of Esharans eager to uncover that which Your Valiance and Your Valiance's people hold. I do not reject Your Valiance's accusation that I do not know or understand the people of these great United Kingdoms - I am not sent because I know, I am sent because I am eager to learn; just as this Cemil who now accompanies me well knows. After all, is it not said, Your Valiance, that above every sagacious and knowledgeable Sage is one more sagacious and knowledgeable still? It is no crime to admit to having little knowledge even as one loves learning, it is a grievous thing to claim to know all - or to even be close.
If it is Your Valiance's belief, however, that we cannot benefit from Your Valiance and Your Valiance's people, and that you likewise cannot benefit from us, then that is fair and that is your belief. It is not my belief, and so I beg Your Valiance to forgive me, for I must endeavour to benefit from Your Valiance and Your Valiance's people - and you will find that so shall every Esharan who passes through these Your Valiance's domains. If it is Your Valiance's belief that we of the Union are no different from the Southerners, then I must submit my protestations and invite Your Valiance to visit Eshara before saying such things - no two peoples or civilisations are entirely the same, all have some grasp of an essential truth perhaps lost to all others, and all certainly have grasp of falsehoods lost to many others.' Horkin had grown redder and redder with embarrassment as his attempt at countering the Naryur's words grew longer and longer, and he, at last, decided to stop and say no more - he could continue speaking, but there was little use in saying any more.
'As for the matter of the practicalities of the reopening of the mountain pass, His Sacred Majesty's advisor's have suggested the careful demolition- using powder kegs - of the most well-sealed elements of the old pass. This will be followed by a joint clearing out of the pass from both sides - from Your Valiance's side by Your Valiance's workers, and from His Sacred Majesty's side by His Sacred Majesty's workers. Once cleared, the pass is to be inspected to ensure its safety and to investigate any potential improvements or expansions that can be made. With the aid of the Gods and with our own co-operation and diligence, we will be able to officially re-open it by the end of the year.'
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Post by zurajai on Jun 26, 2017 19:49:57 GMT
"You still do not understand," Kharok replied, a slight snarl in his lip revealing his distaste, "And perhaps that is a fault of my own; let me try to enlighten you. You said before that you had come hoping to benefit me and benefit from me; this is not possible and it is this behavior, this view, that reveals your southern ideology clearly to me. You think of me, much as your master, as an Imperial Monarch who rules, benevolent or otherwise; this is not the case. As set down by my father, Yurok the Liberator, these United Kingdoms of Almuria and Beg Gurhim exist to give power to our people. Before my own ascension to the throne, we Almur still belonged to hordes and our shared nation with the Gurhimic dwarves was known as the United Holds. You cannot benefit me, or benefit from me, for I am, as you say, what I am; just one man. If our friendship is indeed destined, it will be between the United Kingdoms and the Union, NOT between Naryur and Recimir. If, when I meet him, I make fast friends then we shall be exactly that but our peoples will not be swayed by such things; it is the will of my people that will decide our shared fate.
But, let us move on. This seems a most reasonable proposal, one that I am sure I could present to the Artificers and gain their assistance to make sure the passage will be far more resilient in the future to stave off potential collapses caused by its earlier weakening. This agreement is most acceptable, as well as an agreement to open trade come its opening. Before we continue, though, I would like to add that you need not address me with such pleasantries; a simple you will suffice. Now, with that in mind, is there anything else you wish to speak of before I let you free to enjoy the hospitality of my father's Halls?"
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Kho
Landed Knight
Posts: 140
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Post by Kho on Jun 26, 2017 20:29:14 GMT
'I thank Your Val- uh, apologies. Our people insist on referring to those who have earned a rank or title by his or her deserved position within the Esharan social order. It is out of respect and humility before those who have, by their works and pursuit of enlightenment, achieved also temporal authority. As it is Yo- your explicit request, I will endeavour to refer to you without such title, however.
As I say, I thank you for your elucidation. Your way of governance is intriguing, and your separation between the monarch as an individual and the state as entity is something I have not come across before. Eshara has never had cause to separate between its monarchs and the state; our Recimir today and our Basileis in bygone days were the living manifestation of the state and the speaking will of the Gods and the people. Even now, as I stand before you, I do not speak out of any authority my own, but I am a manifestation of the authority of the Recimir: in other words, I have been invested with all the authority of His Sacred Majesty for this particular task, so that even though His Sacred Majesty be leagues and miles away from Yo- your hall, His Sacred Majesty's authority and word is present. But if it would not offend, I would very much like to speak with you more on this at a later time - or perhaps with one of your learned subj- uh, countrymen, if you or they would indulge a curious old dwarf.' He was certain that this 'separation of state and monarch' would intrigue many of his fellows tremendously. He simply had to learn more about it - its basis, its justification, how exactly the monarch functioned and what gave his commands any authority or legitimacy. Who knew, perhaps, if there was good in it, the Recimir himself would look into this foreign form of governance for inspiration.
'Nevertheless, I pray to the Gods that, our peoples shall become friends, and that you the Recimir shall also find friendship if ever you two do meet - perhaps that opportunity would arise when our nations re-open the pass...' with that he paused and considered whether there was anything else he wanted to say. 'I am aware that the Ikegami Clan and the United Kingdoms are old and firm friends and allies, know that we have established trading relations with the Ikegami also and hope that the the future will see much greater cooperation between our three realms. It is too soon to judge yet, but I wished only to let you know that the Recimir looks towards establishing tighter trading relations between our nations in future - perhaps even a resurrection of the old Trade Alliance that existed many decades ago. This is not something I am proposing at the moment, I merely wished to make you aware so that you are aware of our willingness and enthusiasm towards development in that direction should the United Kingdoms wish it.' He let out a deep breath before turning to his next concern.
'This is the last thing of which I speak, and I do it only due to disturbing developments in the recent past. Eshara not too long ago received delegates from the Empire to our south - that which lies to the east of the United Kingdoms. The delegates were provocative in the extreme and demanded ludicrous things of us - and insulted our councillors and esteemed figures despite the great hospitality we displayed. We fear very much that this was an attempt to deceive Eshara into a war it neither seeks nor desires. We are only too aware of the close relations that the United Kingdoms enjoy with the Empire and we would be honoured if You- the United Kingdoms could act as a fair mediator between our two nations in the interest of ensuring perpetual peace; or at the very least to put an end to the tense situation on the shared Esharan-Imperial border. If the United Kingdoms could do this for us, take up the role of a fair mediator and arbitrate with justice between us, then Eshara will be forever grateful.'
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Post by zurajai on Jun 26, 2017 20:50:42 GMT
As the representative of the Holy Union closed off his statements regarding friendship, the Ikegami, and further ties Kharok remained altogether quiet; he was, admittedly, satisfied with this line of conversation and, unlike before, saw nothing to disagree with. It was, indeed, the hope of the United Kingdoms and Kharok himself that peaceful interactions with all countries could be maintained and he would certainly not openly oppose such ideas in his father's hall. It was the final talking point that roused thoughts of response from him, a curious request but not an unwelcome one. At last he stood from his throne and stepped down, a form of pacing he'd adopted to while away moments of thought.
"An interesting request. Before I respond to that, let me say that you are welcome to dine at my table in this hall and that all of the Old Palace, where your accommodations can be found, are open to you to explore. The council chambers are there, as well as the library that holds the legal documents of the United Kingdoms; I'm sure among the curators and councilors you will find other fonts of knowledge to learn from, in addition to a welcome conversation with myself.
But, to return to the point. By old Almuric law, an Almur's word is his bond; my father, may he look upon us favorably, made such an oath of bondage with the Berranda Lord Rodrigo and so, though the oath does not continue to me, it is one I intend to respect. Rhodri, Crown Prince of the Esharan Empire, bares his blood and for that I owe him great respect; it is from this tie, and the blood of Rodrigo's own line, that I share friendship with the Empire. I have heard from their lips similar statements, of your people's saber rattling and warmongering; a desire for a title they say they rightly claim. These matters are uniquely southern, as I have learned after taking some of my own, but ones most heated. I shall acquiesce to your request on the grounds that your people's twin makes the same request; bring them to the table, and I shall be there."
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