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Post by zurajai on Dec 14, 2017 7:26:42 GMT
Kharok looked on with a slight smile creasing his lips just as the crown was set upon the young orcess' brow; it was not every day that an orc was named queen, let alone royalty. Weeks before it had been decided by the Orzag with the approval of Kharok himself that His Imperial Valiance should be present for the coronation. The Stonefoot, after all, had long been trade partners of of the United Kingdoms and who better to greet the new Queen of Orcland than the Emperor of the newly formed Szekeran Empire. As the coronation came to a close and the celebrations began Kharok left his seat near the rear of the hall to meet with the new Queen. He made the assumption that she knew he had been present, either having been made aware the moment of his arrival or having spotted his undisguisable bulk during the ceremony.
"Cwen Acca Boarsplitter," he spoke with a rumbling tone, bowing his head low and even bending his knee in a dignified and regal bow, "It is an honor to at last make your acquaintance. And here, during such a fine hour in your saga? Truly, I am most lucky to have been present. Perhaps if the skalds are benevolent my kindness in not blocking the view with my height shall be mentioned."
Kharok smiled broadly, hoping that the Warrior-Queen had a sense of humor; it always behooved a monarch to have such a thing, he believed. He admitted she provided for an impressive figure, seeming all the part of what an Orcish Queen should look like. He himself wore the menagerie of attires forming the favored style in the Imperial Court, a mix of designs from all the ethnics groups across the Empire. This had been the first time he had worn such a garment beyond his realm and had full intent to show off the marvels of his multi-ethnic empire.
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Post by aspenivan on Dec 14, 2017 8:09:54 GMT
"Your Valiance," the Orcish Queen replied with a slight bow in respect to her fellow monarch. She was still dressed in her ceremonial armor and mantle, but her gait was more relaxed and free now that the formalities were through. She chuckled at the giant's joke and replied in turn, "Surely Stonefoot bards will make note of it gratefully; we will leave it to your own skalds to boast of how half the would-be onlookers were still robbed of their view, not spared even by your best efforts at making yourself diminutive." She smiled wryly.
Naturally, the Naryur's arrival had been no surprise, but nonetheless it made quite an impression that a monarch of such standing would travel so far for a coronation in what was generally considered a backwater by non-orcs. Acca did not know what she or her father had done to deserve the attention, but she certainly appreciated the prestige Kharok's presence brought to her ascension. This would be the first-ever Stonefoot coronation attended by a foreign -that is, non-Orcish- monarch. Appropriate for the first Stonefoot coronation to declare a Kingdom and its Queen.
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Post by zurajai on Dec 14, 2017 9:22:22 GMT
Kharok nearly burst into laughter at the orcess' response, only just managing to reel himself in. What luck, thought the Almur Emperor, she did in fact have a sense of humor; that would be exceedingly helpful down the line. Not only that but she had her wit; a trait he found less and less common among his peers.
"If only I could be spared such an embarrassment! Alas, that will likely not be so. Nevertheless, I was most excited to be present; your coronation was well expected back in the United Kingdoms and I must say, your official title is far more fitting of your stature. In addition, the changes you have made to the Westanorccland political system will, without a doubt, bare fruit swiftly. I am here, other than to honor you, your house, and your clan, to provide assurances of the United Kingdom's continued friendship with the Stonefoot as well as make offer for perhaps other things. You are a Queen of great ambition and goals; the United Kingdoms and the Auric Bank have the means to assist in such ventures."
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Post by aspenivan on Dec 14, 2017 20:14:59 GMT
"Your very presence today does me honor, how much more do your words of friendship," Queen Acca replied respectfully. "However, I must ask that we postpone further talk of business; an orcish feast is a place not for negotiation, but for songs and stories and laughter. If you would accept the delay, I can grant you an audience afterwards. If it would please you, surely an audience tomorrow or the next day would see the other Chiefs or Orcland still guests in my Hall. You are a welcome guest in Cournoy for as long as you so desire."
That was to say, If you don't want to negotiate with all of Orcland at once, or would prefer to speak of matters best left unsaid to the High Chief, you would do best to wait until they leave.
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Post by zurajai on Dec 14, 2017 20:18:07 GMT
"A fair proposal! I have no intention dash aside the traditions of your people; I am, in fact, rather fond of taking part. Your hospitality does you a great service; perhaps you and the Stonefoot were Almur in a past life. I thank you for your generosity and will gladly bask in the boundless magnanimity of your hearth and kin. When you are ready to call on me, simply give the word; in your hall I am at your beck and call."
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Post by aspenivan on Dec 14, 2017 20:58:59 GMT
It would be slightly over a week before the Western Orcish Queen finally arranged for the Naryur's audience. He would find her seated on her throne, raised high at the far end of the Longhall. Over her flew the new banners of the Kingdom of West Orcland, proud purple and yellow with the black sigils of her Clan, House, and Army. She herself, however, was actually dressed more modestly than at her coronation, draped in furs rather than a fine mantle. Ahead and to each side stood rows of guards as well as courtiers, including bards playing soft tunes as the Almur entered.
"Welcome once again, your Valiance. I pray you accept my apologies for the wait; I presume your business is with the Stonefoot Clan, not with the whole of Orcland, so I felt bound to wait for my compatriots' departure before summoning you once again. Now tell me, noble Kharok, what friendly dealings did you mean to bring me during the feast?"
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Post by zurajai on Dec 14, 2017 21:20:00 GMT
"You have presumed correctly, honored Queen of Wistanorcclanda," spoke Kharok with a deep rumble, now seeming all the part of a distant lord and not the boisterous carouser he had come off as during the coronation. The Naryur bowed his head and bent at the knee, providing a respectful bow before the Queen that was more for the looker-ons than the Queen herself; he had not doubt that she already understood the nature of his respect for her and now intended to show it to her court for her benefit.
"As you say, I bring tidings of camaraderie from the United Kingdoms and the whole of the Szekeran Empire. Deliberation with the Royal Orzag and representatives of the Auric Bank have given me results I am pleased to present. First, an official declaration of non-aggression between our two nations with a further offer for a defensive pact; a colony of my people, Szekemaradek, lies very near to your western reaches. As both our peoples travel west, I see no reason why we should not do so hand in hand. The westerners bare teeth well and should be respected for their ferocity.
Further, as a result of our long standing trade organized by your blessed father, may he rest in the halls of Aed free of woes, I would present an option to your Your Highness. The Auric Bank has, for some time, expressed interest in opening a Chapter-Branch within the realms of the orcs. The Firetooth chose to rebuke such an offer till such time when they are not at war. With your coronation, however, I believe Wistanorcclanda presents a far superior option.
The benefits of membership are considerable, of course; access to low interest loans and even investments for development, for instance, that I have no doubt Your Highness would direct with great efficiency. Your goals are lofty but in my experience such things are easily attained by individuals of worthy merit and can be made possible with but the smallest assistance.
It should be said that these deals are not connected. The Non-Aggression Treaty and potential Defensive Pact are with the United Kingdoms of Almuria and Beg Gurhim while the deal with the Auric Bank I present on the Banks behalf. In fact, I have been joined by a representative of the bank if after our deliberations your interest requires further investigation."
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Post by aspenivan on Dec 14, 2017 21:57:56 GMT
"The affirmation of trade between our peoples, the pact of non-aggression, and the defensive alliance I accept without hesitation. Let it be known that you and I stand as friends, and our realms likewise."
"Your second offer touches on a more complicated matter. The Auric Bank indeed has much to offer, but one cannot deny that it holds its own bold ambitions. And one cannot, therefore, entirely blame the Firetooth for their hesitation. Where great debts are amassed, there is great power. While I trust your goodwill, what assurance have I of the goodwill of a Bank where I hold only a single vote? Where I - or one of my heirs - might find myself isolated by circumstances of Northern politics and petty grudges - Could Western Orcland not find itself outvoted and extorted with punishing interest or demands for early payments?
"It has been enough work building my Kingdom, with the power and influence necessary to avoid being subsumed under the dominance of other Orcland Clans. But for this I need only balance against three compatriot realms. For the Auric Bank, should Western Orcland become too entangled over time, the work of returning to independence over the votes of twelve or more "equal" realms would be insurmountable, would it not?"
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Post by zurajai on Dec 14, 2017 22:05:11 GMT
"A fair and wise worry, friend Queen. And perhaps one day there shall be such a time when the Auric Bank is a mess of such entanglements. But, for the moment, there stands only five members with Wistanorcclanda as a potential sixth. No Chapter-Branches wish to be subsumed beneath the bank and I have no doubt that you would find equal friendship in that cause. The Bank has no binding requirements and cannot pass legislation; it can only offer loans and put forward investments using the wealth donated to its coffers by the United Kingdoms, the Ikegami Clan, and all the members since or that has been generated on its own.
If Wistanorcclanda joins now it will have the power and influence to direct the growth of the Auric Bank's policy to keep it out of what it fears; if Wistanorcclanda joins several decades from now, it may lose that potential avenue. With the growth of the Uryen, as well, the potential to mint your own variant of the coinage provides great opportunity in directing the growing economies of the North in opposition to Southern influences."
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Post by aspenivan on Dec 14, 2017 22:36:49 GMT
The Queen smiled. "You make a fair case, noble Naryur. But allow me the time to consult with the Auric Banker accompanying you, and then perhaps time to consider the matter on my own and seek the input of my advisors. What I can say now, if it is any reassurance, is that I regard the project with interest and trust in your good intentions."
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