Spheres of Influence: Alliance

The Postmaster Deputy gave a warm little hike to his grin, before settling back into the more appropriate Chill. "If there are legends? Well are there? It doesn't sound like we're working on anything concrete. If they've never come out to aggress, and can be avoided completely by simply not running into their holes, they are not any more of a threat to the Alliance than Elves generally are, when left to their own devices. Doesn't seem like this is the time for that. I'd rather not get attacked at all, personally, and the money doesn't seem worth the risk even on a practical level."

Ovis ponders:

"You know, going to the Down Under seems less and less safe, as time goes by. My people are good warriors, but even we know when we are out of our elements. However, since the now the surface shipping is at stake, (because I am sure Borok will double their thiefy pirates if we don't help them in he Down Under after promising them as such), we all should consider helping out Tiranóg, once we are strong enough. Maybe make boats that are resistant to magic." Ovis wiggles his eyebrows knowingly.

"Or like, after we finish this Reclamation of Friend Thedrín. " Ovis looks at a tiny calendar book that he fished out of his pockets. "Which is scheduled within a few days, I think? Gowsh."

"Oh by the way. I wonder, how would the Elves know that Kor Vurneus friends didn't receive any share from the reward? Do they have spies here? Is one right over here?" He ducks under the meeting table, examining the floorboards, clearly looking for elves.

The underside of the table seemed safe... for now.

Cregit Exiro also checked under the table, his own paranoia definitely flaring up. He would also, for good measure, start scrutinising people and looking about the room with Auspex cause... yeah... Dangerous.

"I don't think the elves will be any less...Aggressive whether the money is taken or not. Asking for more could infuriate them somewhat, but as for their spies? It would be feasible for any of us to spy on an afar nation and the elves have been doing this for a long time, so I'd imagine they could tell if we were simply handed a large sum of gold.."

"This raises a question." Geród began. "If the Elves have one cloak that can make athe bearer invisible, surely they must have more. If nothing else, Khuln Thorjron's defenses seemed more than capable of destroying such an unwelcome, invisible guest. Now that we know this is a possibility and the Elves have at least implied they'll be 'watching' us to see the reward, if we accept it, does not go to Kor Vurneus in any way, perhaps it might be wise if we entreat King Rykarth and other holds if they have the availability, to create similar such defenses for sensitive areas in the alliance."

"I feel I must point out that, our agent did still manage to enter Thornton's hold. Despite almost being struck dead and revealed, and the elves are assumedly much more practiced at infiltrating and fighting dwarven defences than I am if the history of their war with the dwarven empire is anything to go by. But, I agree on asking for support and knowledge of their defences since it certainly reacted violently to the presence of an elven-armed trespasser."

"Perhaps the reward money from the elves could be used to fund a research project set in Thorjron that the rest of the Alliance, sans Nor Vurneus, could copy, to research and understand the ancient runes and knowledge available there? It would benefit the dwarven people as a whole, and help protect us all too. And Kor Vurneus would likely simply pay separately to hire specialists to install runic protection rather then learn how to do it ourselves."

"Also, as a note, it is one of the rings that grants near-invisibility, and the destroyed cloak merely granted protection and also its own minor stealth enhancements. By all means, let the items be tested and shown to those here. The sword and ring of invisibility are specifically interesting to be seen used, as is the ring of rejuvenation, although we never really accurately stress-tested that particular item." Exiro touched his own slightly wounded leg actually. "Apart from our dwarven agent who barely survived Thorjron's defences I suppose. He would probably be the most familiar with that particular items effects."

"Lets not assume a dwarf, any dwarf, would so readily allow foreigners to study their secrets, even for a large sum of gold. How many of us would happily allow others to study our own specialties of technology we'd rather keep to ourselves? I would sooner pay him for the finished product rather than try his patience any further and ask if we could study the craft itself."

"Paying King Rykath to install said safety measures after researching them is an option I would also support. Something like a hired security measure then."

"Excuse me a moment," Durgana said, rising to go check on the Thorjron diplomat. He was kind of needed here.

The diplomat was outside, having just finished writing a letter and folding it up to put in an envelope. It looked like he was about to head outside to look for a postman.

He said that there were limits to the leeway Rykarth had given him to negotiate; and due to the specific nature of this matter, he needed further instructions from his king before being allowed to make any decisions.

Durgana nodded, wished him and his King well, then went back in to report this to the Council.

"The diplomat's waiting on instructions from King Rykarth," Durgana told them all. "He just sent off a letter. Now, I can't afford to stay here for a few weeks. Khuln Verdaral is about to be reclaimed, and I'd like to be there for it. A diplomat will be left in my stead to handle any remaining negotiations."

She paused a moment.

"Any of you that want to come for the occasion are more than welcome, as well," she told them. "In any case, anything else before we adjourn this? Thorjron's input on the matter is quite important, considering they probably have the remains of the cloak."

Geród pushed back from the table and rubbed his face.

"Right, well, I had already given Thedrin my word I would come in any case but held it off when word of this got to me. Seeing as King Rykarth will need a few weeks for the information to get to him in time and for his response, we'll have no choice but to wait for his response. I will have the minutes of this meeting transcribed and sent to Khuln Thorjron, unless anyone has any further objections, I move that the artifacts in question should perhaps be held in a central location in the alliance in preparation for their return to the Elves. Any volunteers?"

"If we're trying to be diplomatic here, the artifacts resting in a Dwarven hold would probably ignite their tempers further," Durgana said. "So I'm not an option there."

Geród turned to the Freed Bay Post representative. "Perhaps the Post could host them collectively? Politically the Post would perhaps be seen as the most neutral in the Elven eyes."

"The less we have to do with it the better." The Cregit had slumped down in his seat, dejected. Well, there went months of diplomacy for the sake of a series of inconvenient coincidences. He momentarily considered the possibility of rampant and precise murder as an option here and discounted it almost immediately. "If they wish for it, I would agree with the Post holding onto them."

God, more problems upon more problems. Shit on shit. Least nobody here seemed to be mind-controlled or secretly an elf, as far as he could tell. Small blessings. And Kor Vurneus had mostly teamed up with Rykarth to try and set up another option against Thedrin, which wasn't as big a problem in KV's eyes now with the threat of elves so... So long as Vogfur functioned as an independent dwarven state, that would do actually.

"We in the Unity could hold the artifacts," offers Alyn. "They did not send us a letter, so perhaps they are not watching us."

"Oh, absolutely." The Deputy smiled, leaning back in his chair, and then chuckled. "King Rykarth sent a subordinate who can't make an emergency decision to an emergency meeting, and we may as well have just written each other, with this amount of setback. Who better to hold onto these items for an uncomfortable amount of time to antsy Elves- than the people they already figured could hold onto their word? And, with no offense to present company, is perhaps more aware and prepared for Elven spying as a possibility. Nothing to hide in the Post, let'em see that we're starting to collect it."

Side note? Nearest postman was probably the Postmaster her gosh darned self, who was outside and in the process of leaving, and who would be glad to get it on its way through the Kilfulin-Fawnhunt route in establishment, whatever it was. She might have been like, the Most Important Mailman, but she was still. Like. Literally a mailman.

"The Unity of Nature's Friends' offer is appreciated and noted, Alyn." Geród said, acknowledging their offer. "It is odd they didn't give letters to the Unity, come to think of it, something to ponder, but since the Post has agreed to house the artifacts and they are closer to Rykarth's hold, I'd say we'll let them have it."

"Very well, it was only an offer."

Alyn looks around.

"With that settled, I believe it is time to leave. Until we meet again."

They leave the meeting, catching a ship back to the Unity.

Geród also stands up and gives a brief nod of recognition to the gathered assembly.

"So be it then. I'll make arrangements that those diplomats who wish to stay for a day or more for scheduling reasons will be taken care of." He would then take his leave, but first he has orders for the final minutes of the meeting drafted up and a copy sent by special courier to King Rykarth as promised. He would then meet with the local lord to give his warmest regards and thanks for hosting this meeting, promising him future consideration for his hospitality before leaving for Dunfaelín to meet up with his host to leave for the Reclamation War.

Later, after conclusions and the Deputy had left, a surprising reunion took place on the dock, just as the mail-ship was preparing to leave. A short exchange of hissed Pratois followed.

“It’s over already? How strange, took everyone so long last-

...

So we have to wait...

...

We’re taking them WITH US?”

The meeting was concluded, and a couple of news articles were published before it resumed a little while later.

First of all, a new republic had emerged in Vogfur. The so-called Vogfur Republic was organized in a similar fashion to the Freed Bay Post, with a bureaucratic paramountcy. The cultural ambassadors of Kor Vurneus, sent so far afield earlier in the year, were rebuilding its great library with books taken from across the Alliance, while the new Paramount, Gazadar Jembrilgan, made sure that everyone knew that Vogfur would be seeking membership with the Alliance. From what could be told, it seemed like Kor Vurneus and Thorjron had worked together to take Vogfur, and now they had just released it as an independent nation, albeit one with strong ties of friendship with Kor Vurneus due to that being the original home of most of its populace.

In unrelated KV news, they had brought a new product into the general market - a red metal from the desert, which could be easily ignited and burnt without being consumed. It eventually went out without mages keeping it stoked, but it didn't take much effort to keep it burning, making it useful as a potential component both in industrial development and in military research.

And beyond that, Khuln Verdaral had fallen to the Army of Reclamation. The ancient capital of the dwarven high kingdom was back in dwarven hands - specifically Thedrin's hands. But the fighting there wasn't done, and the leaders would not be back in time for Rykarth's reply, so those who went would need to send ambassadors or other government figures to keep the emergency meeting going.

Eventually, word did get back from Rykarth. His diplomat had been replaced with a much more senior ambassador, one empowered to make decisions affecting not just military and defense policy but to enact Rykarth's will in all matters. This senior ambassador was an elderly dwarf with a very long white beard, and he took his seat at the estate in north Tiranóg waiting for people to reconvene. The other minor nations had also quietly upgraded a number of their diplomatic representatives, as this was not some military threat that needed warding off, but rather a major diplomatic threat that needed actual decision-making.

Once everyone was present, the ambassador stated that his king was disappointed with the conduct of Kor Vurneus, as spying on another Alliance member was a gross violation of the fundamental trust that held the Alliance together. He relayed that Rykarth hoped that the other Alliance members would follow his lead in delivering censure on Kor Vurneus, and hoped they would fine the Kimarisal a fair sum for their breach of trust. The ambassador had brought the remains of the cloak, and would hand them over to the Alliance to deliver to the elves, as proof that it has been destroyed. He saw no reason to be troublesome in this matter, when the Alliance needed to stand shoulder to shoulder against the elven threat.

Díuc MkFieldan, the new lord of Kilfulin, where this meeting was hosted and empowered by the Ríoch to act as regent in his stead due to his family's closeness with the Royal House in times past. Agreed with Khuln Thorjron's representative, that some form of recompense would be needed in order to dissuade further spying and to show Alliance members can be held to account for their misdeeds against fellow allies. However, he echoes his king when he says he'd rather not see the money be split amongst alliance nations as spoils or sent to a central agency of some kind.

He suggest that a one time censure of Kor Vurneus in the form of a fine, large enough to sting, but not so large it would cripple or seriously impair their economy. And that the money of this fine could be utilized in some manner to benefit the alliance as a whole. Perhaps with shoring up the road networks or some other use we could all benefit from. He puts forward the possibility of the fine being between 500k to 1 million, subject to discussion.

Cregit Exiro took a moment before the meeting reconvened to congratulate those involved with the retaking of Khuln Verdaral.

Besides that. "Kor Vurneus would be willing to hand over 500k as a fine, but could we request that, since we don't seem to be using any Alliance funds otherwise to deal with the unknown terrorists building holes underneath our capitals, that the money is used to finance a small and for now temporary force to look into this matter. The other nations may either recommend agents, or put the word out amongst their own populace, Kor Vurneus will not supply manpower to this group if the Alliance does not wish us to do so, and simply finance it. To see what leads or hints may show up, and if nothing else, to cause this force to lay low for a while. Dwarves and adventurers and so on considering it is an underground threat I believe, bounties for provable leads or work well done."

A servant emerges from the nearest doorway!  He taps on the Díuc MkFieldan's shoulder and mutters, quiet, but loud enough to be picked up - something about a tall green handsome liaison from the Steppe come to discuss the matter on behalf of Anora Khan the Evenstar, leader of the Nogroon. They wish to take part in the meeting and have surrendered their (myriad) arms, and come bearing the Staff of the Prophet to prove their legitimacy - or so they claim, at least. Might they come in?