Empire 4: Treaties in the trees

[kjelfalconer]

It was the waning months of the summer of 198 when the invitations arrived. Though they were written in either Regnan or Coatlan, the surprisingly high quality hides they were written on left little doubt as to the origin. They were simple and to the point, but one line stood out. “-and to negotiate a potential peace treaty with the Flamefather.”

They’d put a surprising amount of effort into this - the date was oddly specific, chosen for the easiest passage through the pollen, though the tropical clime meant the lateness of the year did little to cool the weather. The visitors were instructed to Bastion, where the ‘Ridx (chosen from those with the most experience dealing with other races) would guide them the rest of the way. Between the newly cut road and the time of year, the guide was mostly just a courtesy - and a chance for the guides to show off their knowledge of the local flora.

At a distance, ‘Di’dhu’ve’voj ‘Ve’qa’dh was easy to miss - until the veiwer drew closer, and so the wall of vines in full, weaving around the red wax hexagons than held them. The city proper was no different, no two buildings truly the same, yet all made from the same honeycomb structure, some wrapped with vines, others set with wood, or scale, or bone, and some simply open to the elements. And then the guests came to Di’rogi’dh.

The outer wings of the complex had been fully reserved for the guests, and people from Bastion had been brought in to think of the things everyone else might want but the ‘Ridx probably wouldn’t consider. Like edible plants. And while not particularly grand, the accommodations were adequate and comfortable, though primarily designed with an eye for practicality.

The main hall, on the other hand, had awe as its main directive. The space was massive, three interlocked hexagons that spanned the entire river, each several stories in height. Each was ringed floor to ceiling greenhouses, the lattice of resin windows, cut and polished to near invisibility, displaying a riot of the local plants within, from towering flowers to glossy bamboos, and all of which produced at least something of use. The river, too, had been incorporated - lowered channels in the floor sat below the water line, allowing it to flow through and out of the room unimpeded, and crossed in places by wide, low bridges. Central pillars were wrapped with dozens of mongrelvines, each adding to the mix a different colour, a different shape, a spectacular disharmonius whole. The floor was covered in individually cut hexagonal bamboo tiles, though even this layer didn’t quite negate the slight spring in the floor. And despite being enclosed, the room was a bright as outside, light pouring through thousands of inset coloured scales, giving the effect of an entire wall of stained glass.

The space had little in the way of fixed furnishings - it was usually a public space, and it made it more flexible, but today it had been filled with chairs and tables, many of which had been stacked with various meats, fruits and drinks. Almost all of the lodge leaders were present in some capacity, though most simply because everyone else was going, and they didn’t want to be left out.

The guests would arrive when they would arrive. And ‘Xa’kagx would sure as hell be ready.

[RandoMan]

While Her Holiness Dyfex herself remained in Tria Sanctus overseeing the important projects being coordinated from there she does not skimp in sending well regarded representatives to the Pall to answer the 'Ridi'x's call. Her own Lead Aster Thomas Maccorwin, a thin older Lacian of Cucollotabiban and Argatian tribal heritage marking his skin a deep cedar brown, was the sharp eyes that headed the expedition. He was dressed in the simple white robes of an Ildian priest though colored sashes, pins, and stitching symbolized his spiritual qualifications as a Luminare, Lead Aster, and Magisteraidh of four of the nine Ditharchd: Manach, Sagardos, Feallsofos, and Saicus. For those who knew Ildian clerical traditions it could be seen by his belt color that the white-haired man was currently pursuing a greater understanding of the Ditharchd Grafeas.

Alongside this spiritual hand of the Astérionnag came Kybus, the Kaden dwarf werebadger captain of the mercenaries currently camped near Tia Sanctus and de facto head of the military under the Astérionnag. The dwarf was a rough looking character wearing little more than a loincloth and boots albeit very nicely made. He was a short hairy brute with a crunched up face beneath a long tangled black and white beard. Despite his fierce appearance however anyone who watched him long enough was bound to see him break out in a hearty laugh that suddenly lessened his intensity bringing notice to his absurd lack of dress and wicked smile buried beneath his mane.

Rounding out the party was Varia Norwan a tall larger woman with light tan skin dressed finely and well adorned with jewelry. Her style spoke to a rich lifestyle and she sported a heavy frame elegantly only further elevating her beauty with professional makeup and high fashion. It was perhaps no surprise this flamboyant standout from her fellow ambassadors was not an official Ildian representative but instead represented the expatriated merchants from the former Concordance Republics who had supported Dyfex and sought refuge in Tria Sanctus when Xatax fell. Varia was here to attend to important economic matters with those whom her merchant colleagues had established relationships.

The approach to ‘Di’dhu’ve’voj ‘Ve’qa’dh was largely filled with genuine and sometimes merely polite inquiries to their guide into the nature of the Pall jungle's pollen while other times the overwhelming amount of insects or a cloud of pollen silenced conversation. The sight of the wild hex built city which composed the large outpost built by these industrious exiles caused Thomas to pause in reflection on their work. Many people spoke of the 'Ridi'x like barbarians or savages, no doubt by many standards they were, but their peace they had at last come to find in the Pall had given them time to create this. It reminded him in part of Tria Sanctus center and marker to the will of a people. Kybus made right for the tables filled with meat and drink while Thomas and Varia made a more measured entrance. Thomas decided to approach the nearest 'Ridi'x hoping they might be able to direct him to ‘Xa’kagx while Varia simply sought to mingle among the crowd anticipating more foreign guests.

[Minescratcher]

Premier Nocyca had flatly refused to leave the Highlands when the message came. He'd said it was most likely a trap, that he had duties to the Linnadi first, and a whole bunch of other things. Most of his diplomats had expected the Council to agree - but they hadn't. By one Councillor they overturned the Premier, and demanded to investigate this possible end to the war with the Cinder Queen - especially one that left her free to destroy the cursed south but not the north. But Nocyca had demanded to pick the diplomat who was sent, and had flatly refused to spare any more resources than the absolute minimum. No one had any illusions as to what Nocyca was doing, but he'd picked a surprisingly competent enemy to send away.

And so Corllyussillai Oerulluennai, a Pylliar with a waist as wide as his name, had found himself trudging through the least hospitable place in Emjata behind Xituli, his allegedly Coatlean but rather too pale-skinned guide, and listening to the two Pylliar soldiers that followed him cursing as they tripped over roots and pulled at their armor. At least he had remembered an older, itchier tunic to keep his diplomat's robes from getting dirty. It was a miracle, he thought to himself, that he ever made it to "Bastion" in the first place. His dragonfolk guide from there had seemed more reliable, but had an annoying habit of rambling about plants for hours, possibly the one subject Corllyussillai hated most. It was a double miracle that he made it to the city - he wasn't about to try to pronounce its name. He'd tried once, managing about two syllables before the guide began to show all the conventional signs of offense, and he had decided it was probably for the best that he keep quiet.

He eyed the tables of food in the main hall with delight, but decided against eating before the talks began, instead pacing the perimeter of the central room. It wouldn't do to send an overeager message.

[SquirrelWizard]

Tanya Chalun had chosen to attend the event personally despite the implications that it was a trap, this was too important to leave to one of her ambassadors. She needed to be there to see for her self what the dragon worshipers were offering, and make her stance known.

Vaylan had been left back in Yondar and likewise Yven had been sent west and Elise was otherwise occupied. The Yondari Queen had made her way from her boats landing to the bastion of the 'Ridi'req. It had a name, ‘Di’dhu’ve’voj ‘Ve’qa’dh, she couldn't pronounce it to save herself and she was pretty certain her guide was saying it wrong himself, despite him being a native to the region. The 'Ridi'req had been a transplant from the west, a brutally-stubborn people, hunters with a similar background of nomadic survival akin to Yondar. She (and her late mother) had tried to assist them in the past, but as a race their stubbornness only resulted in pushing Yondar away. Shehad been content to let them stew in their new land, as she had bigger fish to fry when it came to local affairs. The Dragon's attacks into the north had occupied much of her attention. Much blood had been spent, and lost, combating the Cinder Queen's attacks. It was only due to the fact that the 'Ridi'r people had stayed out of the fighting that they hadn't been invaded, not that plans had been broached and sidelined.

The Queen of the Yondari League entered the hall, glancing about as she took in the architecture. She noticed that they were using more plants than the stone structures of the 'Ridi'r and idly wondered if their mentality had changed along with their choice in building materials. She noted that some other dignitaries from other kingdoms had shown up, nobody she recognized but then again they could be marching into a trap... She paused, with the occasional flick and twitch of her bushy tail the only indicator of her current emotions, deigning to wait before approaching the others, as any additional business would be better had without being interrupted by the main event at hand.

[kjelfalconer]

"Well, I'd hoped for more. And I know they say work with what you have, but..." He didn't seem all that angry, just... disappointed. "The Flamefather's tired of this war too, you know. And I'd hoped we could get done with it, but..."

"There's no point to this war - no one's going to gain anything from it. It's just death on both sides because no one's willing to back down. It's stupid. And yeah, she started it. Because her mate got murdered. Can you honestly say you haven't done something you regretted in the heat of the moment? And to her, a few decades is a moment, that wound is still as raw as if it was yesterday." He sighed. "I hadn't even been going to ask you to surrender. All I wanted was people to agree to stop fighting if she was willing to do the same. Move somewhere that isn't built on painful memories - it worked wonders for us. She doesn't understand people very well - and why should she? She's a goddess. I don't understand how she keeps the world's heart burning, and that's fine. And I don't understand what the ants beneath my feet are thinking. Well, she tried to. But she got it wrong. She's trying, she never stopped trying - she keeps trying to help us, even now, but she doesn't know what we want, or need. She was the one who needed help, but she was too proud to admit it, and who could she have even asked?"

"I wanted to speak to her, not as god and servants, but ruler and ruler. To try and make her understand why it all went so wrong. Try and make her see that trying to rule people against their will just doesn't work. I learned that the hard way. I'd wanted her to leave you all alone." He tossed a blank roll on the table. "But I wont waste our time writing up an agreement that wont be worth the hide its written on. After all, if the rulers of Emjata have no interest in listening to me, why should she? Except yourself, thanks for at least being willing to try," he added after a slight pause, turning to the Yondari queen. "If the rest of you are so determined to fight to the death, then... Well, what can I do to stop you? Let the stone itself remember the peace that was spat on."

He shrugged "If anyone wants to discuss anything else while you're here, trade or whatever, feel free. Otherwise, leave whenever you want. We've got plenty of people to hand who can show you the way."

[Corona]

The Sfaïri delegation arrived on ships, new ships, the pine planks dark with the sap permeating the wood. The ships were abundantly decorated with carvings, ensigns and bright, star-spangled flags.

The expedition had two clear leaders - he was a muscular, broad-shouldered man with short curly brown hair, almost an a stereotypical Sfaïran. Though dressed in a military uniform of a high-ranking officer, he had suprisingly little scars or other signs of ever having been in genuine battles. She was a black-haired Inyoni woman of short stature, wearing a loose red dress adorned with fanciful patterns. Her overly graceful and polite manners betrayed a childhood spent in the unique atmosphere of decadence of the Whitefeather Empire's last days. Together they marveled at the clever designs of the city, somehow achieved in spite of the weakness of the materials used by the 'Ridx. After a while of looking around and spotting more peculiarities that were all throughout the location, they moved on to the main hall.They were always under the watchful eyes of a sizeable company of guards: even here in this faraway place, 'incidents' could very well happen with the war spreading over half of Emjata.

'Ridi'dreq

To the military commander's great displeasure, Kisa, who sometimes seemed to him to be a mere plaything of his sister's, outranked him, so she had the prerogative to speak first.

"A good day to you, 'Xa'kagx (Her pronunciation was decent, except for the rolled consonants. Being a noble, she had the time to practice foreign languages all day long.) We are the representatives of Sfaïr, Kisa Redtail and Edwin Blanc, and we have primarily come to fulfill the agreement made between our nations. We bring to you the secret of Resin Casting. Due to the sudden and unfortunate war in Inyaka, however, we have some financial difficulties, and cannot purchase the grain you have offered immediately. We would appreciate, therefore, if you kept other traders away for a few years, and allow us to claim the trade route at a later time."

"We are greatly interested in other matters as well. I have heard that you are planning to have the dragon give up on her grandiose political schemes by negotiating with her. Is that true?"

Ti Linnad

Kisa spots Nocyca and greets him. "Premier. Word has reached us that Lindeen's army is preparing to cross your borders, in violation of their treaty with Ti Linnad, given no prior aggression on your part. I am to announce to you that in spite of Sfaïr until now paying homage to Lindeen, Leader Elena Blanc will not tolerate such flagrant violation of a nation's goodwill. Sfaïr will not join Lindeen in the offensive on Ti Linnad, and will urge them to desist immediately. If they do not, measures will be taken.

Ahem... I do believe this might be a bit of an overreaction by our Leader (however it might favor Ti Linnad), given that Lindeenese religion is fairly popular with the Sfaïri, and such an abrupt, poorly explained, cutting of relations might spark revolts, even if it is ultimately the right choice, ethically. She has a personal stake in the war, as I am sure you know, and would rather have it end as quickly as possible."