Ravenhelm
31-12-2005, 20:09
"Morning, gentlemen, my apologies for calling you all in at such short notice."
Xan V. Dorian swiftly walked to the head of the table, taking his seat on a handsome leather chair. The representatives on Ravenhelm's Executive Council grumbled responses, not exactly caring at this late hour what Chairman Dorian had to say. They had all been in their beds, lost in luxurious silk and woven-gold sheets.
"Would Vallista take roll, please?"
"State of Irmensk."
"Present."
"State of Perquiece."
"Present."
"State of Catonia."
"...State of Catonia."
Dorian smiled at all the representatives as Catonia's absence was marked. His eyes flashed contentedly as if he knew something his subordinates did not. It seemed to spark interest in all of them, and in seconds, Vallista spoke up.
"Would you like to say someting, Chairman?"
The Chairman smoothed back his gel-saturated dark hair across his pate, reclining in his seat. He released a gentle sigh and then looked at the room's occupants. He stood up briskly and crossed the room until he stood at the wide window, which overlooked a matrix of city lights, people, transportation, and buildings. When he turned around to face the Council, he was grinning.
"My friends...if I was to say that you all could double-- nay, triple, your worth, how would you respond?"
Everyone blinked. Councilman Cruzzo even stuck a hand underneath his flower-patterned pink pajamas, scratching his enormous belly. Dorian continued.
"Just like this, I suppose? Dumbfounded?" he laughed. "I guarantee, however, that I have caught your attention, true? Good."
The Chairman paced around the table, the councilmens' eyes following his path.
"Last month, the State of Catonia announced that its gold-mining trade was flourishing. I know that you all were jealous, it is foolish to deny that. We all know, now, about the massive gold deposits that the Catonian people have built their State upon. And we also know how Catonia failed to share their new-found wealth with us! We, the stronger States, have supported them for ages, a weak and wizened people. And now? They ignore our presence as though we have done nothing for them."
Chairman Dorian paused, and sat back down at the table. The silence was deafening, but Dorian knew that the councilmen were too greedy to reject the thought of the gold they could earn.
Councilman Greyhill pressed his speech request button, lighting up a small red button on the table. Vallista snapped out of a small nap he was taking and immediately muttered, "Speech granted." Greyhill steepled his long and thin fingers.
"So......How do you plan to acquire this gold, Chairman? Obviously, you cannot intend for us to march into Catonia and simply raid the stores of gold. We have allies and enemies within our States, and those not representing on the council will surely support Catonia, while fighting against our attempt to plunder the gold. It would merely be out of hopes of getting the gold themselves."
Others nodded, and Dorian smiled his wolfish smile.
"Of course," he replied. "You're absolutely right. We can't hope to wage a war against ourselves. We would need other nations to assist."
"Which is why we won't be the ones invading."
Xan V. Dorian swiftly walked to the head of the table, taking his seat on a handsome leather chair. The representatives on Ravenhelm's Executive Council grumbled responses, not exactly caring at this late hour what Chairman Dorian had to say. They had all been in their beds, lost in luxurious silk and woven-gold sheets.
"Would Vallista take roll, please?"
"State of Irmensk."
"Present."
"State of Perquiece."
"Present."
"State of Catonia."
"...State of Catonia."
Dorian smiled at all the representatives as Catonia's absence was marked. His eyes flashed contentedly as if he knew something his subordinates did not. It seemed to spark interest in all of them, and in seconds, Vallista spoke up.
"Would you like to say someting, Chairman?"
The Chairman smoothed back his gel-saturated dark hair across his pate, reclining in his seat. He released a gentle sigh and then looked at the room's occupants. He stood up briskly and crossed the room until he stood at the wide window, which overlooked a matrix of city lights, people, transportation, and buildings. When he turned around to face the Council, he was grinning.
"My friends...if I was to say that you all could double-- nay, triple, your worth, how would you respond?"
Everyone blinked. Councilman Cruzzo even stuck a hand underneath his flower-patterned pink pajamas, scratching his enormous belly. Dorian continued.
"Just like this, I suppose? Dumbfounded?" he laughed. "I guarantee, however, that I have caught your attention, true? Good."
The Chairman paced around the table, the councilmens' eyes following his path.
"Last month, the State of Catonia announced that its gold-mining trade was flourishing. I know that you all were jealous, it is foolish to deny that. We all know, now, about the massive gold deposits that the Catonian people have built their State upon. And we also know how Catonia failed to share their new-found wealth with us! We, the stronger States, have supported them for ages, a weak and wizened people. And now? They ignore our presence as though we have done nothing for them."
Chairman Dorian paused, and sat back down at the table. The silence was deafening, but Dorian knew that the councilmen were too greedy to reject the thought of the gold they could earn.
Councilman Greyhill pressed his speech request button, lighting up a small red button on the table. Vallista snapped out of a small nap he was taking and immediately muttered, "Speech granted." Greyhill steepled his long and thin fingers.
"So......How do you plan to acquire this gold, Chairman? Obviously, you cannot intend for us to march into Catonia and simply raid the stores of gold. We have allies and enemies within our States, and those not representing on the council will surely support Catonia, while fighting against our attempt to plunder the gold. It would merely be out of hopes of getting the gold themselves."
Others nodded, and Dorian smiled his wolfish smile.
"Of course," he replied. "You're absolutely right. We can't hope to wage a war against ourselves. We would need other nations to assist."
"Which is why we won't be the ones invading."