[Forum Game] The World at Dawn!

[Polycarp]

[ic=Zhureyan, Agah of All the Auri, to Dragonlord Gregor II]I thank you for your gift, but I am not interested in such a project in my lands, and the cession of the territory of Pinur - or any territory of the Auri, for that matter - to those ignorant of the Light is unthinkable.  Our chariots move well enough over the open plain, and require no road there.  The only righteous course of action is to reject your proposal, in its entirety, as contrary to the Light.[/ic]
[ic=King Yezad of Atamn to Numenas]The Agah - through my person - objects not at all to the claiming of this territory, or any other not belonging to people of the Light, by the vassals of the Agah.[/ic]
[ic=Bashkyr Jaghed of Jalulai to Numenas]I do object to this - your people are merchants and have no need for the steppes.  We often cross the Great Serpent for grazing land when winters are harsh.  I have consulted with the Bashkyrs of the Confederation and they share my opinion.[/ic]

[Stargate525]

[ic=Numenas to King Yezad]We thank you for your support.[/ic]

[ic=Numenas to Bashkyr Jaghed of Jalulai]Merchants must also eat; the land is arable, and we could farm with plenty of room remaining for your tribes to graze. As allies, we see no reason why you would be restricted in any manner from this proposal, your people would still be allowed to roam freely across the land.[/ic]

[ooc]Who's the Confederation, Xukhia, Tescha, or both?[/ooc]

[Polycarp]

[ic=Bashkyr Jaghed to Numenas]So you say, but your farms will cover the grazing land and once the roots of your plants have dug in, you will claim it as yours, and with time you will come to control it totally while it is lost to us.  Your request belies your claim that the land will be shared freely, for the land is shared freely now without your interference.[/ic]
[ooc]

Who's the Confederation, Xukhia, Tescha, or both?

[Stargate525]

[ic=Gregor to Jaghed]
I disagree. While in theory the land is shared freely, little can be done there in the manner that Numenas does things without you claiming that we have claimed it. By maintaining this, you continue to ensure that your people can freely use this land, without caring for its defense, well-being, or development, while simultaneously preventing us from enjoying its benefits. Freely indeed. It would seem to me that this land belongs to the Confederacy already in everything but name.

Is there a compromise that can be reached, one that allows true freedom for all parties, the town builders and the herders?[/ic]

[Polycarp]

[ic=Jaghed to Gregor]The land is free for all to graze upon, and has been so since our fathers' days.  The fact that you foreigners do not graze animals is of no concern to us.

If this land belongs to the Confederacy, as you claim, are you implying that you would challenge us for it?  If so, I think you will find that we "care for its defense" more than you seem to assume.[/ic]

[amikaligula]

[ic=The First Council of the Third Hall, as recitd by Ohvytyne Hegswylor, Chirubyan]Be it known that the Second Hall of the Ryvan-Holme will be preserved as a shrine to the Valor of the Vrenas and their children who repelled the Demon invaders.  Yet it is also not fit for Holme (council), as the Demons have surely tainted it and the Ryvan-Holme must make sure that their descisions are not tainted.

So it is that the Ryvan-Holme currently holds Holme in the Geethall of the most gracious Vrena Tychrov in Krynam until the Third Hall is completed.  This Hall shall be wondorous.  It is to be constructed atop a most defensible cliff in full sight of the Second Hall and also in sight of the Grycham rocks.  It shall be of stone and shall serve as a great keep if ever it be needed.

It has been decided that a warden of the Holme-Hall will be appointed by vote of all forty-two of the Ryvan-Holme Vrenas.

And last, but most significant, the Ryvan-Holme has reached an agreement with the Ryvalnya and Stravam:

The Ryvan-Holme has decreed that all men of Tree-age shall be required to serve under the Strava for no less than six years, though only three of these need be consecutive.  But let this not trouble you, for of even more importance, the Strava shall hence be decided upon by the Ryvan-Holme.

*As an exercise in humility and trust, the choice of the Strava will drag on for over two years before the latest Strava will be appointed as the Strava once again.[/ic]

[ic=To the Sorghedai who aided Andos in his time of need and those thes Sorghedai deem worthy]Thank you from the teeth, thank you from our ancestors.  Be it known that you have proven beyond a shadow of a doubt that your Blood is worthy to mingle with our daughters.  If there is a single household here who would not open themselves to you, then let shame and dishonor of the greatest and most lethal variety flood into theirs.  We can still travel to you overland, so let us know if we can aid you.[/ic]

[Stargate525]

[ic=Numeans to Jaghed]
Of course not. I'm not stupid enough to challenge you when you have stationed outside my city a battalion of your troops. I am merely saying that your two claims are mutually exclusive in our eyes.

And you did not answer my question. Is there a way for us to utilize this land in our methods without interfering with you?
[/ic]

[amikaligula]

[ic=To our friends among the Sorghedai]We wish to travel freely throughout you lands must we appeal to your people's council to be granted this?  And, as we propose to do so so as to expand our knowledge and learn new innovations, are there any too vile to trade with or contact?  And are there any methods you would suggest to travel over your vast lands?[/ic][ic=To the Ivrusk]Thank you, northern allies, for you assistance.  We humbly invite any of your warriors who so wish it and you would allow to enter under the command of our Strava, as we feel such training will benefit your people.  If this is not fitting, please feel free to have us repay you in some other way.[/ic]

[Stargate525]

[ic=Numenas to Murrhat]
Greetings,

We wish to thank you for your generous gift, as well as the trust you place in us by allowing us an ambassador. This letter is borne by our ambassador, as well as gift of fine trade goods from the far west.

We wish to establish trade with your peoples, so that both of our peoples may proser. We have discovered that if we are allowed to construct a small shrine, theater, and merchant's warehouse in friendly cities, trade and wealth in those cities is increased. We humbly request this privelege of you. If not, we are still willing to trade.
[/ic]

[Kindling]

Name: Zorvia
Government: Theocracy. Power lies with the Sacred Council, made up of the 13 Matriarchs and Patriarchs. Administration and local government are handled by the lesser clergy.
Religion: Zorvian Dualism is the belief in the sibling-deities Tysk and Usk, the first representing the sky, and the latter embodying earth and the sea.
Culture: Zorvians are principally shepherds, and move with their flocks. As such, there are no static settlements, but rather tent-towns that move with the seasons.

The exception is the Sacred Keep, a fortress-cathedral at the heart of the land, which houses the Sacred Council and their attendants.

Horses are rare in Zorvia, but camels are commonplace, employed both as mounts and pack-animals. In fact, the Zorvian nation relies on them so much, it would probably collapse without camels.

Plant-pots are widely used to create easily-transportable herb gardens, allowing the Zorvians to add a variety of different flavourings and sauces to an otherwise repetitive diet of mutton and sheep's-cheese.
This also allows them to have a constant supply of dye-producing plants on hand, resulting in an abundance of brightly-coloured clothes.

The arts are highly prized by Zorvians, but theatre as such does not exist in their culture. However, poetry, music, painting, sculpting, storytelling, and many more are widely practised in Zorvia.
Location: Imagine a triangle, with Celend, Beitar and Nem-Ammar as the points. Roughly in the centre of this triangle, lies Zorvia.


 [ic=To the Governments of Kuregn, Kashtu, Celend, Beitar, Zur'a and Nem-Ammar]

Greetings, outlanders!

For too long, we Zorvians have remained solitary in our pristine demesne. No more! The modern state of Zorvia rejects the isolationist policies of our forebears, and wishes to become a part of the wider world!

We have no great wealth at present but, with your friendship, we hope to grow rich, and when we do, we shall share our bounty with our allies!

Enclosed is a mutual non-aggression treaty for your signature.

We have also sent you a gift - a pure lamb, one of the prizest of our flocks. It is the greatest treasure our humble people have to give you.

On behalf of the Sacred Council,
Matriarch Exsaeka
[/ic]

[ooc]
Looks like I made a slight miscalculation... the area on the map I chose for Zorvia is more grasslands/light forest than desert... I have made appropriate adjustments to my post.
[/ooc]

[Wensleydale]

[ic=Emperor Talor, Machta of the Southmen, Despot of Kuregn, Ruler of the Mandrian Isle, to Zorvia]Greetings. I am willing to offer you mutual peace in return for vassalhood. I do not require more enemies, but if I cannot trust you to sit below the greatness of our Empire, then you must be considered a threat. I apologise for the seeming aggressiveness of this letter, but, sadly, such things are necessary in today's dangerous age.[/ic]

[Kindling]

[ic=To Emperor Talor]
The humble Zorvian people owes allegiance to the Great and Holy Gods Tysk and Usk, and their mortal representatives in the Sacred Council. We admire your mighty and prosperous nation, and wish to be your friends and allies.

Vassalhood is not an option.

You may still sign the treaty we sent, and it is our most fervent and imploring hope that you do so.

On behalf of the Sacred Council,
Patriarch Zsarvu
[/ic]

[Wensleydale]

[ic=Emperor Talor, Machta of the Southmen, Despot of Kuregn, Ruler of the Mandrian Isle, To Zorvia]Then we will consider you a neutral party... for now.[/ic]

[Kindling]

[ic=To Emperor Talor]
Your generosity is appreciated more than words can convey. It is our humble and sincere hope that one day you will change your mind and sign our treaty, but you have our gratitude nonetheless.

On behalf of the Sacred Council,
Matriarch Exsaeka
[/ic]

[amikaligula]

[ic=To King Maes from Agruga]Greetings, honorable ruler.
I am Agruga, an agent of the Grychgayte.  I am interested in the prosperity of my Motherhouse, which lost much of its assets when the, er, western interlopers, whom we call Demons but may be known by another name by you, seized the lands close to Lost Arrania.  These interlopers have a reputed fellowship with the Auri and you have a confirmed fellowship with the Auri.  So I wonder if you yourself have a fellowship with the interlopers.  You see, I feel much can be recovered from that land and much can be gained from the interlopers themselves in trade.  However, as dealing with the Auri directly is unwise for an Andosen, I hope that if you are on good terms with the interlopers, you will be willing to act as or provide a third party in dealing with them.

In a related matter, but totally separate in your considerations, I have an odd request.  Many of the Grychgayte's galleys were destroyed by the interlopers in our war with them and still more where seized unlawfully by the Strava.  So, as I have the channels to procure a sizable price, would you be willing to sell some of your galleys?  Twelve at the most, and of course price and how many you are willing to part with shall be the final say on that.  What i ask first is are you willing?

In admiration of His Grace, King Maes,
Agruga.[/ic]