The Campaign Builder's Guild

[ic=Grand Warden Malik to the Archons of Celend]Our predecessors were too weak and wary to make the necessary commitments against our mutual foes. However, we find the presence of Kuregn forces on our borders intolerable. We would suggest a joint campaign to drive them out of the passes they have so recently occupied, and restore the occupied lands to their rightful owners.

For our part, we will fight in the desert to prevent restrict the Kuregn movements. If you would provide us with weapons that will be more effective against the Kuregn soldiery, we may even be able to spare some forces for the liberation of Celenite lands.[/ic]

[ic=Grand Warden Malik to all Commanders]The Kuregn fleas have bitten us for the last time. We must drive them from our lands and restore the righteous purity of the Ma'a. All forces, except those required to train new recruits, must patrol the desert to prevent any Kuregn movement across it.

Be cautious and use your scouts wisely. Commander Faalik has the most experience of desert war, he will be the leader of this effort and answers directly to me.[/ic]

[ic=In the Strava-Alvyne-Holmevyle]Hyslyade sat musing to herself after the message was read out loud.  The male clerk was prostrated at her feet.  He slowly rose his head after about ten minutedss of this.  "My Strava," He implored, "Have you a reply?"

She absentmindedly kicked him in the face and went back to her musings.

Finally, she was finished.  "Yes, yes, listen carefully..."

After he had left, she sent the next clerk was conveyed into the High Hall.  He prostrated himself before her, his face in the same spot where the previous man had bled.  Such was the life of the Strava's servants.

"Speak."

"My Strava, the Ryvan-Holme once again sends their fears of a Demon invasion from the west.  And another of their numbers has fallen to the Hartlas Wytches."  He lets out a nervous sigh, "And this time within the Grycham Rocks, killing two of our sentries.  They are growing more organized and more devious all the time."  This time he actually cringes.  "We do not know theri numbers, as...they escaped, my Strava, my apologies."

While obviously perturbed, she puts on a chill smile and looks down at her scribe.  "Since when were you the Ryvalnya in charge of Grycham Rocks, Scribya Tochoy?  I am not my mother, I do not punish the messenger for bringing bad news."  She settles back in her chair and frowns.  "And they still refuse to allow us to build our outposts?"

"On that note, my Strava, it does seem to me that their resistance is crumbling.  Indeed, if I am to be so bold..."  At the Strava's nod, he continues, "If you were to aid in their defence of the western coast, you will have an excuse to build outposts in the Vrena's lands, as 'resupply posts'".

At the Strava's frown he ducked his head.  "I like the way you think, Tochoy, and I like your idea, but it interferes with some of my plans.  Hmm, perhaps probe the prospect of stationing our strongholds along their coast so that we may defend them against invasion and usurpers and supplement their ship fighting with our Ryvalnya, if need be."[/ic]

[ic=Strava Hyslyade to Maes V]You seem a most sensible man.  I like your proposal.  There are some conditions to be worked around, though.  To be perfectly frank, as I would prefer our relations to be, seeing as we are both sensible individuals, I have certain concerns.  Be warned, again, that Demons have come out from the west, from the Lands of the Dead, to attack our coasts.  So it is necessary to keep a certain amount of our ships on guard in our realm.  And to be brutally frank, and to address one who knows at least as much about politics as I do, it seems likely that some of these "pirates" are state-sponsored.  While I certainly love the glory of battle, I love more the glory of my homeland, and fighting another state will weaken us in the fight against the Demons.  Thus I tell you that I deem it unwise to engage in an aggressive campaign to stop the raiding.

However, consider yourself under the banner of the Starva's fleet when our ships are in your waters.  We will regularly send patrols to keep pirates out of your bays and to escort your merchants to their destinations.  However, on that note, certain  securities re in order from your people, through you.  While I am glad that you understand that the Ryvalnya of Stravam had nothing to do with the Ryvan-Holme's engagement and slaughter of your people, I feel that this may not indeed be the common feeling of your commoners.  Such is that you and I must meet a concession in order for this to work.  This is what I propose, with my reasoning:

We are trusting you and your people quite alot when we go into your towns to resupply for our continued patrols.  My sailors will be far from home and at the mercy of a people who may very well begrudge them the loss of life the sailor's country men inflicted in Avarra.  But we will be fighting for you.  So it is natural for an exchange of trust.  Let it be restated that while the Ryvalnya and I, the Strava, have no love for the Auri, I, nor the Ryvalnya begrudge your alliance with them, nor your role in the defeat of the Nargacya, with whom Stravam had no alliance.  However, the Auri's hatred of us is a concern to me, and you are vassals of them.  Your association with our enemy combined with your proximity to us and your naval forces concern a great many in Andos.

Thus, I propose an act of trust on your part:  Reduce your naval forces.  We of Strava are an honorable lot, unlike some who have made up the Ryvan-Holme in the past, and this act of trust will cement our bond to you.  Understandably, this will not be an easy decision for you to make, and we do not expect it to be enacted overnight.  However, if this is not the way of it, our effectiveness in your request will be diminished, as our ships will flock together, fearing an ambush of yours, and will therefore cover less area.  Again, as I understand this will be an idea of some contention, I suggest that it take place gradually.  Give up a section of coast from your patrols, perhaps, and observe our effectiveness.  Your trust will surely be gained as you see our loyalty in action.

A modest and hard proposal, but a necessary one.[/ic]

[ic=Khozun, Agah of All the Auri, to King Meas V]I have no such building; we keep no written records.  Daura and Pinur had such things, but they were destroyed when we took those cities.  I have heard of the utility of writing, however, so I request that you send scribes to Zegarah with knowledge of written record-keeping.

As for a road, I have been considering the same thing - in the steppes such a thing is unnecessary, but the western provinces often make poor ground for chariots.  I would welcome any labor and expertise you could provide, that the western prefectures might be more tightly held.

I hail with gladness your decision to welcome the Light into your land and people.  The teachers you ask for will be sent forthwith.[/ic]

[ic=Grand Archon Donam of Celend to the Grand Warden of Kashtu]We welcome your involvement, belated though it may be.  The best way to accomplish their expulsion would be from two sides - your warriors from the west, and our soldiers from the east.

Regrettably we cannot provide you with weapons.  Our copper source in Beitar has been lost to that deplorable "Prince-Regent," and the tin of Yaffa is now similarly out of our control.  We hardly have the means to replenish our own armories, let alone provide you with arms.[/ic]

[ic=The Strava to the northern tribes {those north of Stravam on mainland Andos}]I offer you great supplies of amber in return for your labor.  Serve Stravam as you once did.[/ic]

[ic=The Strava to the leaders of the Grychgayte]I will break the Ryvalnya's monopoly on amber if you procure for me a great fleet of galleys, superior to anything yet seen, from those giant trees in the ancient forests created by your best ship builders.[/ic]

[ic=Ryvan-Holme to all of Andos]While superior in quality, our canoes are not superior in combat versus other ships.  Thus we shall protect our shores with galleys.  As these are still not up to our specifications, any shipbuilder who comes up with something superior to them will be granted the honor of having the class of vessel named after him.[/ic]

[ic=To the Ivrusken]We most humbly wish to know more of you.  We also enjoy your trade immensely, and are curious as to where your metal deposits lie and as to what we could do or trade to gain access to it.[/ic]

[ic=Gregor to Sarar Udai]
So to what side do you belong? I admit that I do not know the power struggles in the East.  Who is allied to whom, and who must I be wary of?
[/ic]

[ic=Gregor to Tuvan Jalay]
On another note, Celend is experiencing a shortage of Copper. We control a great majority of the copper trade, and are currently unable to deliver it to Celend. Would it be possible to set up lowered margins for copper and tin delivered through you to Celend? The volume would be great enough, I think, to offset the reduced profit.

Of course, if I can find a way through the straights, this agreement will become unnecessary.
[/ic]

[ic=Gregor to Celend]
Greetings Eunuch,

I wish you to know that Inveran will continue to stand by you against Kuregn and her allies. To this end, we are pursuing ways to deliver you again with Copper and Tin, so as to allow you to rebuild your army.

The expenses of this, however, may be extreme, as we must circumvent the straights to supply it. We will take your word of later repayment, be it in land, favors, or a release of our vassalship treaty. But that can be discussed later.

For now, Lord, have you any orders for how we may hamper Kuregn?

Your Loyal Vassal,
Dragonlord Gregor
[/ic]
 
[ic=Proclamation]
Be it Known,

The Northern Colony of the Lost Lands shall be host to a great construction. A harbor and docks whose sole purpose is to construct military vessels.

In addition, with the advent of horses and wheeled conveyances to our land, a system of roads and waystations will be constructed in all the lands, to facilitate communication, trade, and defense.
[/ic]

[ooc]Who the hell are the Bashkyrs? Also, should Inveran have chariots now? The update seems to have implied it.[/ooc]

 [ic=Gregor to Egwydor]
Unfortunately, we cannot spare any men fit enough to be able to work in the mines, as they are needed at home and in our vessels, to aid us in the struggle against the Machta-In.

Of course, should this war come to a conclusion, we would be happy to send some men there. But for the time being, we request your aid in the fight, to bring this conclusion swiftly to an end. [/ic]

[ic=Vys of the Anarvi to Strava]We will not be your servants for any price.  Tell this to your craven masters in Stavram - You will never break us![/ic]

[ic=Ivran Cavuln to Andos]Nen vai, southrunners.  Much valued was your tribute, the more so as you are worthy, if odd, warriors - though all know the heat of the south does strange things to the minds of those who live there.  Keep the Tree always and we will remain in blessed harmony.  Ivran Voldun tells me to warn you of the mountain demons, who we have seen stalking our gatherers, and the cart-riders, who have been very active of late.

Copper comes to us from the Ash Giants by the White Sea; tin, from the gray cliffs of Tuarescou, a fierce people indeed.  Watch the seas of the north for them.[/ic]

[ic=Sarar Udai to Gregor]Long have I cultivated a relationship with the Triple Alliance, which is why they trusted me to communicate with you.  The Xuk are my enemies for now, but things can change.  The Triple Alliance has been shaken; one of their great tribes, the Hadam, have already left the Confederation.  The Xuk are fickle - one Bashkyr will war on the Chalun while another allies with them to fight the Sorghedai.  In other words, these things change constantly, and may change even by the time you receive my messenger.

For now, the steppe bows to the alliance of Ar-Auriban, Tescha, Chalun and Xukhia.  Such a grand alliance cannot last long in these contested lands, however - there will be a falling out, likely sooner rather than later.  You had best pray that the Auri and Xuk are not the ones to go at each others' throats, as that would leave you in a difficult position indeed.[/ic]

[ic=Tuvan Jalay to Gregor]I do not know of this "Celend" or how the caravans would take copper there.  Our trade relationships end at our borders and go no further.[/ic]

[ic=Grand Archon Donam of Celend to Gregor]I thank you for your efforts to aid us, but it will be difficult now that the League has betrayed us and Yaffa is in the hands of the Despotissa.  I do not believe that you will realistically be able to assist us - I have it from a good source that the Despotissa now sees you as the greatest threat to the grand empire that she envisions.  Were it in our power to aid you against them, we would - we may be able to unite the Atur against Kuregn and thus prevent the Despotissa from bringing her full strength against you.

The most you can do for us at present is to unseat the Machta and seize his lands, which I presume you are already working towards.  Seek out any eastern allies who might help our cause; we are aware that you know of many peoples we have never seen.[/ic]

Quote[ooc]Who the hell are the Bashkyrs? Also, should Inveran have chariots now? The update seems to have implied it.[/ooc]

The Bashkyrs are the lords of Xukhia.  An etymologically related title, Beshwur, refers to the lords of the Sorghedai.  Tuvan Jalay is a Bashkyr.

You do not have chariots, though with some Xuk craftsmen and contact with several charioteering cultures, you could be quite close if you pursued it.  Having a chariot or two, or having a few foreigners who can build them, is different from your people as a culture being familiar with the technology.

[ic=Gregor to Udai]
I will inform you of something you may or may not know; the Auri will collapse from within, most likely soon. Inveran will ride the wars like a boat upon rough waters. With luck, we may even profit from them.
[/ic]

[ic=Gregor to Tuvan Jalay]
My apologies, I should have been clearer. Celend is an ally of ours in the West, and to our south. unfortunately, our mutual enemy stands between us and them. To go around them, it would necessitate taking our supplies through your lands, southeast to the coast, and ship them back westward.

We request that you charge less for the service of taking the copper through your land, as the cause is just, and without this aid Celend, and by extension Inveran, will die.

We also humbly request that any further soldiers you could spare in this noble cause of defense be sent westward to aid us.
[/ic]

[ic=Gregor to Commander charged with retaking Numenas]
Commander,

I have reconsidered my previous orders. Those mercenaries who refuse to bow to Inveran will die.

However, all other mercenaries shall be given an offer to come west and fight Kuregn.[/ic]

[ic=To the Auri]
We have attempted to solicit aid from Balan and Atamn, but they have replied that only an order from you will move their armies.

I have learned that Kuregn herself is after Inveran. This is a dire, dire threat. We will need these troops if Inveran, your loyal vassal and ally, is to remain sovereign.
[/ic]

[ooc]Wait, how did you learn that? It's not like it was a public proclamation or anything...[/ooc]

[ic= To the Agah of the Auri, herald of the light]
Then it must be another city in your lands perhaps. our records tells of a great city, once part of the Inveran, named Isedun, which was a scholar city in the time of my fathers father, and I had thought that the old Isedun, is what is now called Zegarah.
none the less, Avardera will honour the Agahs request and scribes shall be sent to your lands, so that you may learn of writing at your lieasure.

with those scribes will craftsmen be sent, well versed in the art of road construction, along with what labor that Avardera can provide, though in a task of constructing roads in a nation the size of yours will also requere labor from your own lands.

I look forward to to the arrival of your teacher

May We All Prosper[/ic]

[ic= To Andos, delivered by mouth, by the same King Voice]
Unfortunately, thought your intention are noble, then the King fear those intention cloud your judgement. you say you can not spare too many ships to fight piracy, to protect your own coast, yet you ask Avardera to reduce her own naval and make her even more inefficient in combating piracy herself.
you raise your concerns about being too aggressive against the pirates, concerns that the king understand though, yet at the same time, you ask Avardera to not hunt those pirates themself.

The King express his appreciation of the intention behind the Andos proposal, but he is concerned that even thought the proposal will strengthen the bond between Andos and Avardera, and make Andos more efficient in combatting piracy, then it will also make the overall effort against piracy less efficient and he can therefor not support it.

Instead, the King understand the need to protect ones own people, and therefor propose that Andos focus on combatting piracy in thier own water and the water bordering Avardera, allowing you to at the same time protect your coast from the western demons.

The King also wishes to at the same time let Andos know, that the plans of his late brother, may his spirit be with the land and the ancestors, to explore the lands north west of Andos, will no longer be supported by Avardera.

May We All Prosper[/ic]

[ic=To the Dragonlord of Inveran]
In the same way that my proposal was unacceptable to you, then your proposal is unacceptable to Avardera.

I therefor suggest a compromise, to have the western edge of the border be in between the point you suggest and the point I suggested, and the eastern border be at the point that we both agrees on.

I hope that this will settle the matter.

May We All Prosper[/ic]

[ic=Tuvan Jalay to Gregor]I do not see any way of granting your request.  We trade your copper with Murrhat, but I have no way of controlling where it goes after that.  As for soldiers, I cannot in good conscience ask my warriors to fight in faraway lands foreign to us.  A Xuk wishes to die in the land of his ancestors, not over the sea in someplace unknown to them.[/ic]

[ic=Khozun, Agah of All the Auri, to Gregor]The warriors of Balan were worthless and easily defeated; I do not know what you would want of them.  As for Atamn, my cousins have only ruled there briefly, and require their warriors to consolidate their hold on their realm.

I have already offered the assistance of the troops of my western provinces, and I will send my fleet at Pinur to aid you as well.  More than that I cannot offer given the current situation.  This already is the largest force we have ever sent over the waters; I am confident that the Light will bring us victory.[/ic]

[ic=Khozun, Agah of All the Auri, to King Meas V]My distant predecessors did not greatly value the writings of Isedun; they did not contain the knowledge of the Light and were destroyed.  That structure is now a workshop.  I have rethought their policies and have decided that the Light is best served by having the words of righteousness put to writing.

I have thousands of foreign slaves to devote to the task of building this road; I do not lack for crude labor, only the proper expertise.  Skilled laborers, such as stoneworkers, are needed as well.[/ic]

Quote from: Wensleydale[ooc]Wait, how did you learn that? It's not like it was a public proclamation or anything...[/ooc]

[ooc]Learn what now?[/ooc]

[ic=Gregor to Meas]
Fair enough. May we both Prosper. [/ic]

[ic=Gregor to Tuvan Jalay]
I understand. I wonder, though, if aid could be given in other ways. For instance, you could finance an army whose people are not Xuk, and aid me in that way. Alternatively, you could bequeath us supplies, with which to better equip our men. Or a third method is that of defense. If you were to take your army as far as our homeland, we could take our men off of defense, and press them to the attack.

Not necessarily men, but any aid you give us would be greatly appreciated.[/ic]

[ic=Gregor to the Agah]
In regards to Balan, we can use them as homeland defense, or in places which require a military presence, but not expertise.

Your fleet is greatly appreciated, and will be put to great use. In exchange, we will provide your shipbuilders with the plans for War Galleys, a recent Inveran improvement on the old design. [/ic]

[ic=To the Agah of the Auri, herald of the light]
Then Avardera will applaud and commend the Agah for his insight, and so, the first written record made in your lands with the aid of Avarderas scripes, shall be the teachings of the light.

Also, such expertise is what I have thought of providing, not only providing thier skills, but also teaching thier skills to any people that you wishes to learn these things, so that the progress may hasten.
it gladdens me, that we view these matter in the same light.

May We All Prosper [/ic]