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Post by astokohai on Apr 10, 2022 15:09:16 GMT
After a long month of preparation and the construction of several of the largest steamers in Caudian history, the diplomatic voyage of the new Patriarch, Rybakar "Ve-Lod-Enirkach-He-Fyris-Lod-Uns" Sumarmarstris. Along with these grand ships is also a smaller vessel containing the delegation of the White Bloods, however they are not making diplomatic visits to any nation besides WTC and will be accompanying the main fleet only for increased protection, once WTC they shall be sailing back on their own.
Once the ship has been loaded and all passengers and crew have boarded, the ships sail off from the ports of Mercy and out into the Trade Sea and towards the lush and verdant shores of the Technocracy of Dunwik. The journey takes a good couple of weeks but they arrive to the port of Miskatonic and call to port, hoping that the Dunwikki conglomerate would accept their request at a diplomatic meeting as the ships began the process of refuelling for the next voyage.
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Post by Dunwik on Apr 10, 2022 16:23:37 GMT
Due to New Respite being of very limited economic value, very few Dunwikki spoke Caudian and so the initial request was confused. The vessels were recognized as Caudian but their purpose wasn't immediately apparent, and so as they pulled into Miskatonic harbor they were greeted not by a diplomatic delegation, but rather by a gaggle of merchants looking to sell their wares, or purchase anything of note. This was eventually rectified, and soon a proper Dunwikki delegate was sent. Unfortunately, he did not speak Caudian - only the tongues of the W.T.C. and Dunwikki.
A Dunwikki merchant likely involved in illegal fur trades near Caudia was eventually conscripted and forced to serve as an interpreter. With him in tow, the delegate - Irving Llamar - would ask what deals the Caudians would like to make, offering a gift of fruit - in the Dunwikki tradition of exchanging presents at first meeting.
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Post by astokohai on Apr 10, 2022 16:36:17 GMT
The Caudian delegation, luckily being fairly well adept in the Tholish tongue as a sister language to their own, was able to manage fairly well without the need of an interpreter anyway, but the fact that one was provided was appreciated, while they had not come with any intent to make deals and merely as a sign of good will and peace between nations (As well as to give the young patriarch some experience in diplomacy) they were happy to sign to some sort of mutual non-aggression agreement of the like.
As well as this they gave the Dunwikki chairs themselves a wide array of exotic fruits from the Caudian mainland as well as a great helping of pomegranate, etrog and figs, along with this several compilations of science fiction works written in Caudia had been translated into Tholish and brought as gifts as well. Finally, Patriarch Rybekar herself gave the chairs a small straw doll fashioned in the dress of the nation, with its skirt made out of the flag of Dunwik, she claims that the effigy is a traditional Caudian practice for ensuring a good harvest and hopes that if given to the nation itself it may grant them a more bountiful harvest in the coming years, although certain members of the delegation seem to disapprove of this gift given its Pagan origins and the fact it would be blessing the Dunwikki drug plantations.
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Post by astokohai on Apr 12, 2022 16:45:20 GMT
After they had refuelled and left from the tropical isle of Dunwik, the delegation made way towards WTC, due to a change of plans caused by the rumours of civil war in Kaskader, they sailed for another period of weeks before making port at Hull, however, before they make the intended diplomatic meeting the Patriarch Rybakar and previous Patriarch Þancyer attend the wedding of Ludwig Cransnikov and Dymphna Cransnikov before making their way to the capital and King Wilhelm Cransnikov's court by carriage, accompanied by the royal family of the White Bloods who have also come to pledge fealty to the House of Cransnikov.
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Post by Wilhelm Cransnikov on Apr 12, 2022 17:02:39 GMT
The court was deathly silent as they prepared for the arrival of the Caudians. Gedrihts adorned in black fur cloaks and ceremonial armor formed two walls allowing large, clear path from the doors to the throne where Wilhelm sat. Said king was clad in royal splendor and held himself high as he looked down upon the court like a perched bird of prey. To the sides and slightly behind the king stood the Archbishop of Maxinberg and the head of the Royal Gedrihts.
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Post by astokohai on Apr 12, 2022 18:39:12 GMT
The delegation from New Respite and the White Bloods enter the court room, flanked by a couple officers and bodyguards for each, first entering is the Patriarch Rybakar, being guided by Þancyer since her veil blocks her sight and is thusly rendered blind, accompanying them are the Rinhithainen of New Respite and two of her newly trained officers, donned in their newly designed uniforms. After they enter and bow to Wilhelm, they are followed by Tiarnon Drenbeal "Þa Steor-Gipod" oð þa Þengling-Gwaedcoed oð þa Midal Volker, king of the White-Bloods, along with his own personal bodyguard, known as the Pentelou, and his daughter and heir, Alwealdarpen oð þa Þengling-Gwaedcoed, all three also bow in front of Wilhelm, although behind the Caudians, allowing them to make their dedication first.
After a few moments of silence, Rybakar alone slowly stands, using her patriarchal ferula to help her get up due to her aforementioned lack of sign, she seems nervous at first before collecting herself and beginning to speak to Wilhelm in slightly accented Tholish. "My liege, we have come from our distant island to again pledge our fealty at the change of the first among our theocratic rulers, as the new Patriarch and Maranasi of the Holy council of the Chadash-Sanhedrin I swear my loyalty to the throne of Tholen in return for our protection and safety to carry on our traditions, culture and faith under it, to symbolise our loyalty we have come bearing a tribute of 30 silver coins and a straw rope", at this one of the officers takes out a small but nicely decorated wooden lock-box from his sachel and places it in front of the throne and opening it, wherein the expertly crafted silver "coins", more like medalions in their construction, sit like little jewels around the noose of straw rope. After this is done the officer returns and a few seconds later Rybakar continues, her accent clearly working class, but her speech not reflecting this background, clearly more rehearsed, "This tribute is symbolic of the traitor Yehuda man of Kerioth, who after abandoning his lord, realised his mistake and hanged himself, our people are much like Yehuda for we abandoned your grace during the Pictish wars, and now we have realised our failings after many years and have returned into your grace through the death of war" She pauses for a moment, catching her breath and collecting herself, seemingly distracted and troubled by something out of sight, not that she can see anything. "W-We have also brought to you a small herd of some of our native beasts which we call Getel-Schep for your royal menagerie..." After this she goes silent again before slowly taking a step forward "And while that is the end of the official gifts I have personally made one more, its not as grand but I hope it still brings the blessings of the angel Rhyan to the fields of your people" She takes out a corn dolly, dressed as if it were a noble lady of Wilhelm's court, its dress' skirt showing the black lines and stars of his nation's flag, and lays it atop the lock box before kneeling again, waiting for his response at her rather long dedication, the final lines of which were clearly unrehearsed and something she did herself, especially considering the look she gets from Þancyer.
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Post by Wilhelm Cransnikov on Apr 12, 2022 19:14:09 GMT
Without speaking Wilhelm rose from his seat and produced an ornate sheathed short sword. The handle was made from darkened steel with a moonstone embedded in is pommel and inlaid with pale gold running across its handle and guard. The sheath of the sword was made from polished leather and had silver guarding its opening and point. Wilhelm pulled the blade from its sheath and gripping the sword by its blade, which nearly shined as it reflected the sunlight of the hall, offers the handle to Rybakar watching her all the while with appraising eyes.
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Post by astokohai on Apr 12, 2022 19:19:59 GMT
For a while she doesn't really react, possibly though a mix of being not sure what to do and also the fact that her veil is making it hard for her to know what exactly is happening, but she slowly reaches forward and takes the sword, her grip showing that while she certainly isn't accustomed to the blade, she isn't exactly weak, just inexperienced, she places the sword back in its sheath and bows to Wilhelm. "I thank you for this gift your grace, does the sword have a name? I am unsure if it is common in Tholen for swords to be named but I know the White-Bloods name their swords"
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Post by Wilhelm Cransnikov on Apr 12, 2022 19:33:56 GMT
Wilhelm broke his silence with a guffaw, "I suppose it is the way of young-folk to long for legendary blades, I certainty did. While it is named Mónacirfst, the blade itself has no great history; rather, the blade simply is one of the many weapons my family has accumulated over the years for looking pretty. Although perhaps I was a bit off by saying the blade lacks history, for now the blade represents the first proper oath of fealty from your people in many many years." Wilhelm offered Rybakar an approving nod before dropping his friendly demeanor and turning to the Whitebloods.
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Post by astokohai on Apr 12, 2022 19:48:15 GMT
Rybakar returns his nod before returning to kneeling and allowing the White-Bloods their own audience, to which Tiarnon Drenbeal stands and walks forward, drawing his sword before kneeling before Wilhelm, sword resting upon his knee as he reaches up and wrenches his circlet of gold and emeralds from his brow and rests it against his chest "My King, it gives me untold rapture to be before you today, to kneel before the king of this land as my forbearers once did many years ago, to pledge my people, my sword, my life to your great house, while the history of our lineages may have been fractured through our relentless service in the war against the mountain people called the Picts, we return again, ever bound by the will of Elohim, our father who art in heaven, and while we do not bear gifts like those who left my ancestors rule, I have come to offer you my sword, shall it ever be needed". He goes back up onto one knee, and presents his sword to Wilhelm, it is an old blade, well cared for and maintained throughout the years, but its design locked into the past, it is also distinctly of Tholish origin, "While this blade is now my sword, it was once the sword of your people, given to the first of the Þengling princes to swear fealty to your nation in those distant centuries, before they merged with the Gwaedcods, before they had learn the lessons of the Lord Elohim and his son, and now, through war and exile, growth and expansion, the sword returns to serve your noble house but once again, either in your hands or mine own!", unlike Rybakar, Drenbeal clearly didn't rehearse, but allowed his will and dedication to be poured into his words, his Tholish is almost perfect, bearing little evidence of his foreign nature.
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Post by Wilhelm Cransnikov on Apr 29, 2022 19:58:15 GMT
Wilhelm nods before taking the blade and slicing his thumb with it to test its sharpness. Nodding as he saw drops of his life spill out he spoke, "it has been many years since your people last swore themselves to the throne; however, let not the foulness of history erode what was good. Your steel is as fine and sharp as it was a thousand years ago and I am as glad to have it as my ancestors before." Wilhelm stands and brings his sword to the king, "I cannot grant thee a title when you already wear a crown; rather, I bestow you the honor of knighthood and charge thee to always bear this sword justly." With this said he taps the flat of the blade against Tiarnon, "arise sir Drenbeal."
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Post by astokohai on Apr 29, 2022 20:05:25 GMT
Tiarnon Drenbal esquire stands, nodding to the king in humble silence, clearly in great reverence and respect of this occasion as he speaks again, although less loudly this time and in a more calm and refined manner. "I thank you my liege, I shall do my best to uphold the honour of the station you have bestowed upon me and, should what few men I can muster be needed, I will answer the call to glory at your command, to continue a legacy of a hundred generations", he puts a hand to his chest and walks back to the rest of the gathered delegation before kneeling again with the others, now simply waiting to be dismissed and continue upon their journey or to return home with renewed honour and vigour.
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Post by astokohai on May 19, 2022 2:48:56 GMT
After having left the court of King Wilhelm, the delegations went back to their ships and while the delegation from the White-Bloods/Midal-Volker returned home, the Patriarch's fleet sailed onwards through the ringsea to the shores of the city of Sheen, hailing the city folk and requesting a diplomatic meeting with members of the Sheenish government whenever would be efficient and comfortable. Only the necessary ships going to port as to not threaten the Sheenish with their defensive envoy needlessly, as they did not need to refuel due to the relatively short journey between WTC and Sheen.
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Post by xander10 on May 21, 2022 22:55:50 GMT
After having left the court of King Wilhelm, the delegations went back to their ships and while the delegation from the White-Bloods/Midal-Volker returned home, the Patriarch's fleet sailed onwards through the ringsea to the shores of the city of Sheen, hailing the city folk and requesting a diplomatic meeting with members of the Sheenish government whenever would be efficient and comfortable. Only the necessary ships going to port as to not threaten the Sheenish with their defensive envoy needlessly, as they did not need to refuel due to the relatively short journey between WTC and Sheen. The convoy was guided into the port where tug boats then pulled them through the busy port, with the help of Pilots getting on board to the ships to assist in navigating the busy port and taking them to dock where Marston sat awaiting their arrival, afterall the court's business was finished early and he was not needed home until late. |
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Post by astokohai on May 22, 2022 15:31:30 GMT
Marston would be greeted by a few less notable priests at first as the Patriarch more slowly navigated her way off the ship and onto the dock with the assistance of the previous Patriarch Þancyer, after she finally makes it to the dock she greets Marston with a slight curtsey before beginning to speak in Tholish, her accent is quite low class but the words themselves are more fitting for her station.
"Greetings Lord Mayor, I hope the day has been treating you well, may I ask to where or who our diplomatic gifts should be delivered? We thought it fitting that due to your reputation that we should bring a gift symbolic of your progress and as such we have custom built a miniature railway set based on our own East-Coast line, although we imagine that it pails in comparison to your own far more developed railways, we could make a model of our own far more accurate and its less likely that you already have a model somewhere" She smiles softly, her veil still obscuring her eyes "Oh also, would you know if we may have something delivered to the Honourable Councillor Yerkes? If I am correct, and forgive me if I am wrong, he does bear foreign title, but I assume he still resides in the Associated Cities?"
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Post by xander10 on Jun 12, 2022 23:35:17 GMT
Marston would be greeted by a few less notable priests at first as the Patriarch more slowly navigated her way off the ship and onto the dock with the assistance of the previous Patriarch Þancyer, after she finally makes it to the dock she greets Marston with a slight curtsey before beginning to speak in Tholish, her accent is quite low class but the words themselves are more fitting for her station. "Greetings Lord Mayor, I hope the day has been treating you well, may I ask to where or who our diplomatic gifts should be delivered? We thought it fitting that due to your reputation that we should bring a gift symbolic of your progress and as such we have custom built a miniature railway set based on our own East-Coast line, although we imagine that it pails in comparison to your own far more developed railways, we could make a model of our own far more accurate and its less likely that you already have a model somewhere" She smiles softly, her veil still obscuring her eyes "Oh also, would you know if we may have something delivered to the Honourable Councillor Yerkes? If I am correct, and forgive me if I am wrong, he does bear foreign title, but I assume he still resides in the Associated Cities?" "Good day to you as well, Patriarch, I hope your journey across the Ringsea was not too bad. To answer your questions as well as I can, You may deliver all diplomatic gifts to the Alliance Court, and I thank you for such generosity, it is uncommon for us to recieve gifts from our fellow peoples of the ringsea, and indeed Mr Yerkes lives here in the Association, he is a very busy man as First Councillor and is needed to be here to govern the association as a whole." |
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Post by astokohai on Jun 18, 2022 21:43:30 GMT
Partriarch Rybakar nods softly, and motions for her aides to begin delivering a mediumish box on wheels to the Alliance court, before she turns back to Marston
"Thank you kindly Lord Mayor, may I ask where would be best to deliver a gift to the Honourable Councillor at this time, I wouldn't want to disturb if he is busy, but we did bring a gift for him specifically, although we do not wish to show... How do you say it..." Rybakar fumbles with her words before Þancyer whispers to her "Ah, right, we do not wish to show any political alliances or favouritism in your nation, it merely presented itself as an interesting way to export some of your culture to you, although of course we also are not attempting to assimilate or convert you either"
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