Duc de Canard

Age of Exploration NRP?

This sounds interesting!

Kingdoms of Rheagonn: Norsia

It's a bit of a bum move to take off on us like that without warning, both of you...

Kingdoms of Rheagonn: Norsia

I also promised severe repercussions. I prefer to keep them as a surprise though.

Kingdoms of Rheagonn: Norsia

gowia said
Have we got any update coming?

There's one on the way I have been told.

Fiat Bello: A fantasy geopolitical roleplay

The soft tinkle of water from great, soaring fountains accompanied the harmonious trilling of songbirds in the vast gardens of the Palace of the Sun in the city of Ashänti, and yet not all was well in the hallowed halls of the Tyrisinians. In a gilded seat, a table of hot steaming herb tea on a table beside her, contemplated Queen Elsannis III. She was dressed in a long, twisting garment sewn with living flowers that breathed in the sun as if she wore the very vestments of the world itself.

It all felt like a sham. The very foundations of this carefully planned and cultivated city and its surrounding forest were threatened by the very real possibility of war. Across from her, her mother the Queen-Dowager Alēthiana of Nara-Thitinia sipped delicately at her tea. She was venerable in age, her hair now turned white as snow and her robes embellished with the jet jewellery of the widow, but the incoming events seemed to concern her little. "The Dwarves stir up trouble very often, my dear Elsannis. They are a riotous lot, but they will calm themselves," Elsannis heard her mother say, nibbling at a sugared fig. "Their time spent underground stirs up tempestuous emotions. Your father dealt with it many a time,"

Elsannis bit at the inside of the her mouth. "He did, mother, but never in such numbers. We cannot work our way out of this through diplomacy, as we have before - this is not a call to arms from me. It comes from our alliances," Through the natural din of birds, bees, rabbits and the small noble children of the court playing in the endless fountains and parks of the gardens, Elsannis could almost feel the palatable discontent. "The people have heard of the indignities committed against the Elves and their sympathisers by the Dwarves and they have begun to see it as an affront to our noble bloodline and lineage. Frankly, I agree,"

Alēthiana paused, eyeing her daughter severely. "This kingdom will not burn while there is blood yet in my veins. Consider your decision Elsannis, it is not just your pride at stake. Do you think we have cultivated this splendid wealth and glory by attacking every diminutive cave dweller who insulted us?" The Dowager swept to her feet, shook her head, then turned and walked away. In the heat of the moment Queen Elsannis III forgot the rudeness of her mother's turning her back on the reigning Queen.

Fiat Bello: A fantasy geopolitical roleplay

Still here, not sure where to go from my post.

Kingdoms of Rheagonn: Norsia

Eyildr simply gave a small smile at Bertil's words. She raised a wrinkled hand pre-emptively, and the shadows that had begun to stir behind her with agitation ceased immediately. The Jarless paused for a moment, smoothing down the front of her robe. "I am glad that we find each other so predictable, Jarl Bertil. Your theatrics are most amusing," She noted as he made a display of kneeling and devoting his fleet to the king. "Here as they were at the moot where we selected our new King. Very amusing indeed,"

"But you have a lot to learn. I do not judge you - men not born to this life cannot possibly hope to fully comprehend the complexities of the existence of the Jarl," She smiled sweetly. "The Elves are weaker than us in a naval sense. However, if you believe that the only way to prove a nation's weight is its army and its navy then you are not just an oiled snake in this room but you are a fool,"

The old woman took a small swig of mead. "I will not stand by and let this kingdom be drawn to and fro by the wants of men concerned only with lining their own pockets. We must deal with the pirates, aye, and I will devote all coastal resources to this issue. Firsthold will keep a constant watch for pirates along our coast,"

"The other matter, however, I will not bend on. There is no 'middle ground'. You cannot play both the Elves and the Dwarves. To attempt to use them as if they were commodities is to anger both and incur the wroth of both. I will not let my people suffer and die from Elven fletched arrows because the men in this room could see nothing but the glint of gold," Her words hung heavily in the air, almost a threat. "I have served this kingdom duly my whole life, and I will not stand by now as it is torn asunder by the greedy hearts of new men. Gold is worthless when your cities burn and your people starve,"

Kingdoms of Rheagonn: Norsia

Temperance. Deliberation. The young continued to suggest their blessed middle road, as though it would solve all problems and cause none. When Eyildr rose she did so with more severity than before, and when she spoke her voice was more frosty than it had been before.

"I must first caution all here than working dually with the Elves and the Dwarves will be entirely detrimental. Neither nation will entertain this once they discover that we are working with one behind the backs of the other - and it will only serve to anger both factions rather than one. Likewise, abstaining from working with either will isolate us and weaken us, as well as making us look very weak in the eyes of those who seek to destroy us,"

She paused, point apparently raised. "I thank Jarl Bertil for seeking my opinion," Her voice softened as she nodded her gratitude. "You are correct. The Dwarves are wealthy when it comes to gems, jewels and metals. He is also right in suggesting that the nation suffers from dissent. I am no great expert on the Dwarves, but from my correspondence with those around that area and within it I can confirm that dissent is increasingly common amongst the populace. This, coupled with those creature's characteristic cowardice, does not make for strong allies,"

"The Elves are steady and dependable. Their sense of morality, in my very experienced opinion and the scrolls of my family, is almost impeccable. Nearly all wars with them have been Norsian wars of aggression. They cannot offer us a wealth of material goods - silver, gold and the like - but what they can offer is, in my opinion, altogether more valuable in the long term and I urge all of you to stow away your love for gold for a moment to consider it thusly. The Elves can offer knowledge, and they can offer experience. When my ancestress Thaerina the Undulating first met with the Elves they granted us new agricultural technologies and chronicles that have documented much of the knowledge of Rheagonn for which, before this, we were unaware. These chronicles are stored here, now, in this capital city, amongst the scholarly Orders. These are an insular peoples, and their security can only be breached legitimately, through trust. My Jarldom has come a long way, but I can tell you here and now that the Elves possess knowledge and secrets in regards to technological innovation, history, divinity and even knowledge of the magical and arcane," An observant Jarless of Ashfall might question whether Eyildr eyed her for a moment when she said this. "These, in the long term, a thousand times more useful than any shining metals, swords or baubles the Dwarves can offer us,"

Kingdoms of Rheagonn: Norsia

I'd love to see more activity in the IRC!

Kingdoms of Rheagonn: Norsia

The summer had restored some vigour to Eyildr, as if it had thawed her joints. Today she wore a sky blue garment, a great twisting robe-like dress that was with embroidered, glimmering sapphires. Her effervescent cane was again leaning against the table, and in the background lingered two of her daughters garbed themselves in unblemished white linen. She listened to the opening pleasantries with a polite disinterest that hinted at the fact that she had been through this many times before, but sat upright to attention at the announcement of the ambassadors.

She smiled softly at the Elven ambassador, and her eyes spoke of a recognition of him. She regarded the Dwarf coolly, but her expression soured somewhat at his offer of gold to the King. After they both departed, she was the first to offer her voice, as always.

"My Jarls and Jarlesses," Eyildr glanced around. The invigoration the summer had granted her was obvious in her voice and her disposition; she seemed almost much younger. "All of you are aware of the Vale's close proximity to Galadriel, and through this - as it has always been with my family - I have been in almost constant contact with the Elves for half a century,"

"During that time they have always been creatures of their word. Always. No payment went unpaid, no trade went undiscussed. I know this very Therayn who has today spoken unto us and he too is good. There is an inherent goodness in Elves, for that I can vouch, and they have been responsible for the continued prosperity of the Vale and thus have put the food on your tables for decades. They are dependable and they are not creatures who speak lightly nor do they speak empty words. I have worked very hard to forge friendship with them, and a national policy unto this would be only beneficial, that I pledge with my life. Besides - should they double cross us, it will be my lands that are the bulwark," She gives a small, sharp laugh.

"This dwarf has turned up with gold, but that is all the dwarves are. They crave wealth more than anything. They will forsake loyalty and ties and words all for the sake of gold and jewels, and these chests of gold only prove that they expect a greater return. I do not know what they want - but they will ask for it. And when we need their aid, they will disappear beneath their mountain like beetles. Do not trust them. Their baubles and their gold may glint with beauty now, but it will turn to ashes in your hands. I issue this warning strongly,"