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Post by Kaelen Silverblood on Dec 25, 2016 6:53:47 GMT
Location: Marston, Mystmarch territory
The council had spoken and the High King had decreed, trade with the other kingdoms was to be furthered. The islands nation had the ships to sail around the continent and the goods to fill them with for sell in foreign markets, but without trade partners they were useless. Gold and silver needed to overflow in the Mystmarch markets so that it filled up the coffers of the aristocracy and commoners alike. But trade required deals to be made and alliances forged. Diplomacy was needed here instead of the blade to advance the progress of the nation.
Kaelen had been charged by the High King to host an initial meeting with a diplomat from Ashdell, a nation of lumber and fur traders, at the city of Marston. He was to await their arrive, find out what it was they wanted in return for a trade agreement, and then proceed to make sure that it ended up in the best interest of Mystmarch. He waited at the gate into the city for whoever this arrival would be in his ceremonial armor. Stormedge was strap to his back and a fine cloak wrapped around his shoulders. The symbol of Mystmarch embroidered into his cloak and etched onto his breastplate. He was ready to represent his people and his King.....should the one that Ashdell sent ever arrive after his letter.
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Post by Stormwall on Dec 25, 2016 15:23:13 GMT
Diplomat might have been a strong word, but Stormwall had shaved and bathed and put on a nice coat, so that was something. He'd purchased new shoes, too, in a blacksmith's shop, and had his hooves trimmed. He'd worn no armor, and for weapons he'd worn only a sword in good condition, a one-handed arming sword that a human could have used as a small claymore.
He didn't look shabby, not by a long shot, but he couldn't help feeling that way in comparison to the man standing at the gate. Large, high-quality sword on his back; embroidered cloak; ornate armor. A noble or an elite soldier, maybe both. Who knew how things worked out here.
Stormwall slowed his trot to a walk as he approached, then stopped two sword-lengths from the armored man. He bowed in the centaur fashion, with a forearm across his chest and a shallow bend from the lower back. "My greetings to your king," he rumbled. "I'm Stormwall, a messenger and occasional negotiator for the Sovereign Guilds of Ashdell. May I assume you're the representative I'm to meet? Kaelen Silverblood?"
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Post by Kaelen Silverblood on Dec 25, 2016 18:30:19 GMT
Ashdell was still mostly a mystery to Kaelen, and most from Mystmarch. The most he knew was that they traded lumber and furs and were from an area a little further north on the main land from them. He didn't know what to expect from them because of this. He definitely didn't expect to be greeted by a centaur of all things. Would his plan for things even work with one? That was going to have to be seen from here on.
Kaelen smiled to this Stormwall as he placed a fist over his heart and gave a slight bow in the same fashion as the centaur. He said in a friendly, polite tone, "That I am. Commander Kaelen Silverblood the Undaunted. Commander of the Mystmarch vanguard, occasional Adviser to the Lord of Silverhearth, and occasional Diplomat of the High King of Mystmarch. I welcome you to Marston Stormwall and wish many blessings upon you."
It was a little showy, or very showy, but it was best to make an impression. Mystmarch had held back the Empire and remained free of their rule, but it was a story that very few outside of the Isles of Storms knew. He needed to make as much of an impression now as possible so that the people of the main land began to spread word of Mystmarch as far and wide as possible. He held his arm out in the direction of the city center as he said, "If you will follow me, I would like to show you what Marston is like under Mystmarch rule."
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Post by Stormwall on Dec 25, 2016 19:35:48 GMT
"I'd certainly appreciate a tour, Commander Silverblood, thank you. The guilds made sure I understood that they want my impressions of this place -- the mood, the atmosphere, the commerce, the prosperity. They're very interested in the future."
Marston bustled like a busybody great-aunt. Among the cities Stormwall had seen, it ranked near the top for bustle and busyness. Locals and travelers swarmed around entertainment and mercantile options. He couldn't imagine a greater contrast with the silence of the wild. The road between Ashdell and Marston had been uneventful, and passed through little of consequence. Still, he'd managed the jarring rural-to-urban transition any number of times, and he fell into step beside Kaelen. They passed through the gate and into the city street. Stormwall opted to stay close to his guide, and was fairly glad he'd strapped his saddlebags tightly. Pickpockets were ever a risk in mercantile cities.
"May I ask how you acquired the name 'Undaunted'? I'd imagine there's a story involved." Probably one he'd told a hundred times, to friends and women, but these things were important to know.
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Post by Kaelen Silverblood on Dec 25, 2016 19:56:24 GMT
Marston was certainly a busy place. The presence of trade and entertainment so close together meant there was no lack of things to do or a chances for coin to stay in pouches for long. It was certainly the best place to make an impression. Kaelen was doing his best to match the pace of the centaur so that the horseman could get as good of a look at everything happening as possible. Outdoor plays were taking place at any open space available and musicians practiced their crafts out in the middle of the street. Everything was lively and bustling with life. There was no telling what this Stormwall thought of the city, but it certainly was more enjoyable for Kaelen than other places he had been too.
The question of Kaelen's title came up, as it tended to. He was not the kind of person to brag about that kind of thing, but he rarely needed to. It as always the first question he got following a full introduction. He just kept on smiling as he said in the friendly, polite tone, "I earned the title during our campaign to claim a portion of the main land. I have always been a part of the vanguard since the siege of Marston and I have never once retreated. I always marched ever forward or held key positions no matter what was thrown at me. After a certain battle, the general of the Mystmarch army gave me the title and it was made official by the High King."
Kaelen watched as a pair of ragamuffins tried to sneak up on Stormwall and get into his saddlebags as they walked. The bags were too high for them though and they gave up after a moment. He pulled a couple of copper coins from his pouch and idly tossed them onto the ground near the two. The kids snatched up the coins within seconds and disappeared into the crowd. He smiled softly to himself as he watched the whole thing. He added after a moment, "Tell me my most welcomed guest, how common are your kind in Ashdell? Mystmarch is fairly diverse but we do not have any centaurs living within our borders. I have heard many stories, but I know little truth about what your people are like."
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Post by Stormwall on Dec 25, 2016 20:10:25 GMT
He took in what was said, and what wasn't. If Mystmarch had taken this coastal region through prolonged campaigns, there might well be leftover resistance, hidden tensions simmering underneath layers of commerce and prosperity. And Mystmarch could be as much a conquering as a stabilizing power. Discreet inquiries didn't go over so well when one weighed as much as a horse and rider together. Even so, he'd have to keep his ears open.
"Oh, centaurs aren't the most urban people in general. Ashdell is maybe two-fifths human, two-fifths halfling, and the rest is a mix. There's few enough of my kind in Ashdell, or anywhere that I know." He nodded around. "I see Marston draws from many places as well. Ashdell is prosperous and secure, but I wouldn't call it central to trade, not like this port. The guilds that rule Ashdell -- mainly the woodworkers, blacksmiths, tinsmiths and furriers, though there are others -- have serious interest in exploring trade relations with Marston specifically. It's one of the most significant friendly ports on the west coast, and relatively accessible from Ashdell. My trip was straightforward and safe. The old Imperial roads are still in great condition."
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Post by Kaelen Silverblood on Dec 25, 2016 21:05:06 GMT
Stormwall seemed to be shifting into business now that some niceties were shared. Not a bad thing at all if you asked Kaelen. He knew how much effort the more merchant oriented folk put into extended niceties, but he preferred to just get a feel for someone then move right in. Seemed Stormwall was of the same cloth or just read him correctly. He did note how scattered the centaurs seemed to be here on the main land according to what was said. Had the Empire persecuted his people or were they just not nearly as quick to grow in population as humans or half-lings were? Something to look into later on. History was always a useful tool after all.
Kaelen said as he came to a stop in front of one of the outdoor plays, "I am glad to hear that your travel was safe. We have been doing our best to patrol the roads and improve what infrastructure we could since gaining control of this territory. The previous governor was as corrupt as the late Emperor it seems. Marston is in a much better state now than it was when we first arrived. This play for instance would never have been allowed. The Folly. It is a local play about the Empire's failure to invade Mystmarch and the lose of most of their western navy. It was banned before we arrived because it made the Empire look weak. We allow it though and all other plays as well."
The play before them was a tragedy about an admiral who opposed the invasion and was executed for opposing the will of the Emperor. The conclusion of the play was a scene of sailors returning back home with news of how the admiral's prediction had come true and everyone cursing the name of the Emperor who had ordered the invasion. Kaelen watched for a bit as he enjoyed the performance. It was an interesting play, but he had seen it a little too often to truly get into it right now. He said after a bit of time had past, "The other day on this spot was a play about our invasion of Marston. We were shown as the villains in it, but it was still allowed. We are not here to dominate after all, but to mutually benefit off of each other. We are looking for the same with Ashdell. Is Ashdell looking for the same?"
Kaelen turned his attention to the horseman as he finished speaking. He wanted to see whatever reaction he could get from the taller being. Others might have been intimidated by the centaur's size, but not Kaelen. No matter how big, how strong, how imposing you might be, everyone could be defeated and killed. The Empire had thought it would last forever, but Mystmarch knew that eventually it would be the ruins that everyone looked at in wonder.
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Post by Stormwall on Dec 25, 2016 21:19:00 GMT
An evenhanded, liberal approach to the arts? Proof that the local regime felt secure, benevolent, and not overbearing. Those were interesting qualities in a potential trade partner, at least by the estimation of the guildmasters back home.
"Being ruled by Mystmarch, even as kindly as I see here: no. But mutual benefit as equals, absolutely. It's a matter of identifying where each of our kingdoms has an advantage and where the other has a corresponding market. For example, Ashdell produces a good deal of detailed metalwork, mainly steel and tin, but the main focus of the economy is furs and timber. Special timber, in fact: Ashdell is located in a forest that some consider enchanted. It grows aggressively, and some of the wood can have unusual properties. Magicians, for example, have found it useful for various purposes. The guilds are extremely interested in supplying your shipbuilders with bulk timber, metal fittings, and leatherwork. I'm not speaking as a salesman here, just pondering your point. Mutual advantage: where does your advantage lie? What does Mystmarch produce most and best? Give me an overview, and I can tell you what would find a need to fill in Ashdell."
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Post by Kaelen Silverblood on Dec 25, 2016 21:43:24 GMT
It would seem Ashdell was of a similar mind to Mystmarch on what was being looked for. Trade was far better than conquest when it came to gaining resources. Let others worry about dealing with the various things that always went wrong. Mystmarch claimed their current territory out of a need for easier ports and cities for trade from the main land to reach than their islands were. The storms proved too much of a challenge for ships to travel through without the help of a stormcalmer, and that was an art that was kept hidden in secrecy as much as possible. This was what Kaelen was going to have to work with for this trade talk right now as well.
"We do need more timber and furs for our traders, so trade for that is very possible. We also produce steel and iron back on the islands, so that is not as needed. This mention of enchanted wood however would be of particular interest to the Runic Circle, our order of mages. I am certain you would find a steady, reliable demand from them." Kaelen said as he went back to watching the play. This centaur was asking them what they offered, but had not made a mention of even what they needed. Was this a ploy to gather more information out of him or just an unintentional slip?
"What we can offer to Ashdell is a wider market, jewelry, access to a college, and magical goods." Kaelen said as he reached into his pouch. He pulled out a bracelet made from silver covered in etchings of intricate lines all seeming to connect to one another. Several small gems were inlaid into it in the center of areas were the lines all seemed to connect. He held it out to Stormwall and said, "This is a gift for you and an example of our silversmiths goods. This came from my home of Silverhearth and all of the materials in it were mined from around it. It is a more simple piece of jewelry as well that lacks any form of enchantment our Runic Circle can place onto items."
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Post by Stormwall on Dec 25, 2016 21:58:45 GMT
Stormwall accepted the silver bracelet gravely. It didn't fit over his big hands, but he knotted it into his long hair, with appropriately aesthetic results. "Thank you for this token," he said. "It's very fine workmanship. The guildmasters will be fascinated to examine it when I return."
He folded his arms. "Of precious metals, jewels, and enchantments, Ashdell has relatively little; these things would trade well there. The guilds will certainly be interested in access to a broader market. You mention a college: education is of great interest to the guilds. Noises have been made about potential exchange programs, sharing techniques and best practices. Naturally all guilds involved would want to keep their own secrets, their own advantages, but those are all internal matters. As for your college itself...I could see our king sponsoring a handful of scholars to attend, represent Ashdell, and return home afterward. You understand there's some concern that Mystmarch's opportunities and culture could draw away people who could be of real value to their homeland."
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Post by Kaelen Silverblood on Dec 25, 2016 22:30:51 GMT
It seemed his people's craftsmanship had gotten a rather positive reaction out of the centaur. Kaelen couldn't help but feel a bit of pride about that. He might have not been back to the islands since the campaign on the main land started, but he still felt affection for his home and missed the youthful familiarity of Silverhearth often. The concerns over the college was understandable. People tended to migrate to places with more opportunities, and it seemed Mystmarch was viewed as such by Stormwall. That was not inaccurate if Kaelen had to be honest, but he could not make any claims until he had been to Ashdell and seen what it had to offer himself.
"I am certain the college of Stormhold would welcome any who can pay the price to enter, but there is little we could do about people choosing where to go after becoming educated. We would not wish to treat them badly, and the best we could do is treat them the same as our own. Outside of that, it is more about what your own country can do for her people to make them return." Kaelen said as the final scene of the play began. He turned his attention to @stormwall and added, "Has hunger set in for you yet? We have all kinds of foods available in the Marston markets."
The closing line was delivered shortly after Kaelen finished speaking. A cheer erupted from the crowd as coins were being placed into a bucket being carried by one of the backstage workers for the play. Kaelen continued to wait for a reply from the horseman as he pulled out a pair of copper coins and placed them inside of the bucket as it past by them. Only the finest in street plays for a tour of the city he thought with a mental chuckle.
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Post by Stormwall on Dec 25, 2016 23:12:58 GMT
A give and take of opportunity and responsibility lay at the heart of negotiations. Such things meant as much for relative positioning as his admission that some might want to leave Ashdell for cosmopolitan Marston. Ashdell was a prosperous, stable, and generally happy society, but it was also isolated. Some kinds of people would always want to feel more connected, more elite. Others simply wanted to pursue lives that Ashdell didn't provide. You could be many things in Ashdell, but making a living in the arts was a rare luxury.
"Cultural exchange does come to mind. I have little doubt the play we just watched could find a willing audience. Performers from Ashdell might find success here as well."
Part of him remained unsettled at the thought of influencing so many lives, but he moved past his discomfort.
"Your generosity - are you unusual, or is this a cultural trait? Am I offending by not giving out money?"
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Post by Kaelen Silverblood on Dec 26, 2016 1:31:36 GMT
It would seem that Stormwall had noticed all of the coins that Kaelen had been handing out that day. This got a slight smile from him. He motioned back towards the street to the centaur before he began to head towards the next location in the little tour. There was plenty of more things to see. Marston was a little different than Stormhold or Silverhearth was, but each March city had a uniqueness all its own. "We would welcome your people's plays. Art is a gift of the divine and not restricted by borders." Kaelen said as they past by a sculptor openly working in full view of an ever shifting crowd of spectators. It was a woman but what state of dress she was ultimately going to be in was still unclear. The city had many sculptors of skill, which was sort of a surprise as far from the old capital as it was. "To answer your question about the generosity, it depends. It is considered polite to offer at least a single copper for viewing a play. When the play is open like that last one at least. I paid for us both since you are a guest after all, so you do not need to worry about paying for a thing." Kaelen said as he stopped for a moment to allow a wagon full of goods to pass by. "In the Mystmarch, the Lords and Ladies are expected to take care of their people. It varies how each chooses to do this. My family, the Silverbloods of Silverhearth, believe in spreading coins around to our people for various tasks. Bounties, rewards for festivals and tournaments, and even requests for arts. The more coin that is given out, the more people that can benefit from it. I am no Lord, that would be my eldest brother, but I still hand out coin for those who need it."
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Post by Stormwall on Dec 26, 2016 2:10:30 GMT
"I admit I'm not sure what the drama scene is like in Coalhurst -- the capital," Stormfall said. He eyed the statue in progress: shapely torso, weird human legs. "I could see quite the market for your stone sculptures. Artisanal metalworking and woodcarving are popular in Ashdell. Most homes display intricate carvings -- posts and beams in houses, for example, and furniture."
He paused with the wagon's passing and pondered Kaelen's explanation of local power structures. "That's an interesting and sensible approach. Our own king is more of a ceremonial position, but one that involves largess. The most powerful agencies in Ashdell are the guilds and their guildmasters, and though they take care of orphans, the poor, and so forth, a good deal of that is bound up in employment, training, workhouses and so forth. Not to an egregious extent -- no guildmaster would retain his influence long if a child of eight or ten was expected to work to feed himself or others -- but these are men of business. They believe in labour." Stormwall shrugged. "And if conditions grow dire in their workhouses, their peers correct the situation. Respect is crucial in Ashdell, for the poor, the young, as much as for one's peers."
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Post by Kaelen Silverblood on Dec 26, 2016 3:13:08 GMT
The conversation was beginning to sound less like diplomatic chat and more like a cultural discussion in the college of Stormhold. Kaelen didn't mind that sort of thing as he had been around it plenty in his college days, but this was suppose to be a meeting between Mystmarch and Ashdell about political and economic ties. The conversation needed to be moved more to that sort of discussion rather than the one they were currently in.
As Kaelen began to move forward yet again, he said, "Mystmarch is looking to expand further South, particularly along the coast. What can you tell me of this 'Darkwood'? We have received some scouting reports, but I would rather withhold judgement until I have heard more."
The Darkwood. It was a small kingdom, if you could even call it that, to the south of Mystmarch near the central regions of Ardell. From what the scouts had said, it was not the kind of place that most would care to visit. There didn't seem to be much there of value, but places could surprise you. The mountains always looked as if they were one step away from desolation yet great treasures were always hidden deep within them. Perhaps this Darkwood would be the same.
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