NationStates Jolt Archive

The boy is Emporer Titus the 1st, farther of a nation, sire of gods, Lord of lands. The man that founded Aust and set it on the road to greatness, the man that, 1000 years later, will be declared a living god.

At the moment, however, he is just a small 10 year old on the reciving end of the news that his farther has just been murdered and he is now the Emproer of 5 million souls. He's crying and small wet tears run down thin cheeks. It's already odvious that he's going to be a tall man, tall and strong despite his age.

He's upset, not becuase his farthers died becuase he saw little of him in anycase, but becuase he dosn't know how to rule 5 million souls. It's enough to make anyone upset.

A small attendent runs over and bows low, his long, slender nose nearly touching the floor. "Emproer, sire, would your highness grant me permission to take your highness to his corenation cermony." Titus nods and follows the man.

Austian court is long and ritualised, with many cermonys and the corenation is no diffrent. it'll take the best part of the day to get through it and I have no intention of describing it too you, needless to say the boy became restless and impatient as the cermonial flowers where arranged, and the cown was placed on his head.

Now thats over all he has to do is save his nation from destruction.

Nurallain navy commander Edst Cytyr dos Irui was overseeing the advancing ship. Five galleys and three longships. For twenty years, they had been sailing, barely surviving. Their destination was Aust, the kingdom known in Nuralla as "The Far Land". But soon, they would arrive.
"Prepare everything nessecary!" Commander Cytyr shouted to his men.
"Yes, mylord!"
"Commander Zogad never reached this place. But we have!"
He looked upon the island that was rised before them...

The first day of Emporer Titus's reign was spent looking at maps, to be more accurate, maps of Aust. He had never really realised quite how big the country was, and how much more there was to concor.

Before he was Emporer his tutors had concentrated on the basics, Austian, Maths, Etiquet, Swordplay, History, Geography had not been a core requirment for the oung prince but now as Emproer it became key.

Aust boarders covered most of Isildum (The great land), from the East coast and it's jungles to the great red mountain and the deserts to the east. A massive distance, yet still there was more to concor, even now his armies where claiming more land, hunting down the desert tribes and converting them.

The boundrys of Isildum had long been charted by Austian warships, as had the surrounding lands, the little island of iAustan where Aust City was based was just a little way off the main lands southern tip, visable to the naked eye on a clear day. To the far west there was little but ocene and small islands, the largest of which had recent been colonised. Other coloneys where being started up and reeports of feice clashes with barabrians where regually reported.

The east and north where more interesting to the Emproers young mind, to the south east was the land of the long white clouds, inhabited by feice native tribes, to the north millions of islands. To the very far north exploers had discovered a triangle shaped land full of dragons.

One day, Trijan vowed, these lands would be his.

Nurallain navy commander Edst Cytyr dos Irui was overseeing the advancing ship. Five galleys and three longships. For twenty years, they had been sailing, barely surviving. Their destination was Aust, the kingdom known in Nuralla as "The Far Land". But soon, they would arrive.
"Prepare everything nessecary!" Commander Cytyr shouted to his men.
"Yes, mylord!"
"Commander Zogad never reached this place. But we have!"
He looked upon the island that was rised before them...
Aust didn't know about black powder, but it did know about how to build ships, and it did so. Being a colonial power and a island meant a navy was needed.

The Austian ship design was very clsoe to that of 17th centuary men of war, double or even quadruple decked ships under meter of sail, pack with them. Each ship was armed with troops and a ran that clided under the water. Other inventions such as Greek fire and giant catapults where used.

The two ships that spotted Nurallain ships where The Itunda a large 3 decker and The Sgni a small 2 decker. They slowly clsoed in on the galleys and long ships, the large Austian ships dewarfing there smaller coutnerparts.

A warning flame had already been lit upon the crows nest of The Itunda to warn the mainland unknown ships where approching. A network of signal flames would translate the message back to the nearest port, Tanka, and the 4th fleet would sail to where the signal began. They would arrive within two hours due to the steady wind blowing from the deserts.

Meanwhile the two Austian ships, under the command of Lord Captain Ositits would have to deal with the situation. He chose to hail the ships in Austian Talis! je Tomasis o Ripos Austi. (Stop! In the name of Aust who are you)

The S.S. Oka Scaled the blue sea. Having barley recoverd from a rough storm, they we're still in search of a place to call home. Onboard 15-year old Yasashii Himura who was leading the group, searched despertly for any sign of land.

"Captian."

"Yes Ma'am?"

"I think I see land, way out there."

The captian grabbed a small telescope,

"So it be" he said "Shall I prepare for land fall?"

"Why not?" Yasashii said Maybe we can claim it, or set up residence. Anything to get the ball rolling on my so called out post of democracy

Although Yasashii hadn't doubt her efforts, she was begning to worrie. They
still haden't found any place to settel yet, and we're running dangerously low on provisions.
"

"Hold your fire!" Commander Cytyr shouted to his men. They were alreay aiming, but quicly put their weapons away as their leader ordered them to.
"We should not fire before we know they are hostile, understand!?"
"Y-yes, mylord!" the soldiers replied.
"Raise the flag of Negotation!"

The Nurallain navy used a set of different flags to communicate. The flag of Negotiation was blue, with great black cross. And now it fluttered over the eight ships Cytyr commanded.
"Now, what is your move?" Cytyr mumbled.

"Hold your fire!" Commander Cytyr shouted to his men. They were alreay aiming, but quicly put their weapons away as their leader ordered them to.
"We should not fire before we know they are hostile, understand!?"
"Y-yes, mylord!" the soldiers replied.
"Raise the flag of Negotation!"

The Nurallain navy used a set of different flags to communicate. The flag of Negotiation was blue, with great black cross. And now it fluttered over the eight ships Cytyr commanded.
"Now, what is your move?" Cytyr mumbled.
"What the hell does that mean?" Ositits asked the flag lutenant, who strugged,

"It's not in the book, sire." Ositits considered what to do as the warships drew clsoer together. We can't open fire without finding out who they are, they don't understand us, we don't understand them...

"Midshipsman!"

"Sire."

"Get every type of communication we have up, flags, writing, hailing. They must know something!"

The S.S. Oka Scaled the blue sea. Having barley recoverd from a rough storm, they we're still in search of a place to call home. Onboard 15-year old Yasashii Himura who was leading the group, searched despertly for any sign of land.

"Captian."

"Yes Ma'am?"

"I think I see land, way out there."

The captian grabbed a small telescope,

"So it be" he said "Shall I prepare for land fall?"

"Why not?" Yasashii said Maybe we can claim it, or set up residence. Anything to get the ball rolling on my so called out post of democracy

Although Yasashii hadn't doubt her efforts, she was begning to worrie. They
still haden't found any place to settel yet, and we're running dangerously low on provisions.
"
OOC: I'll wait for you to hit land, then respond.

"Oh look sir, they are trying to communicate!"
Cytyr watched the Austian ships.
"Sail closer," he ordered.
"Yes, mylord!"
"But keep the negotiation flag raised. We will not attack unless nessecary, understood?"
"Yes, mylord! Right away!"

"I don't think it necessary to posiblly endanger everyone else." Yasashii said
"We'll explore first, come with me."

About three armed men with blackpowder rifles Followed Yasashii. Her tiny roweboat procedded over rough tides, and onto the beaches.

"Men, it looks like we are alone, but we don't know. Be on guard, do not fire unless fired upon."

Yasashii was only armed with her sword, but it was tucked saftley in her holst. She remained calm still looking about to see if the island was occupied, It looked empty.

Bottin Sacs took out his Pipe as looked over the desert terrain, the two Halflings had landed on this island only last week after several months of exploring, they had survived off the pure genorosity off the natives that they had found who had told them of vicious raiders and such, Tropp Biggins had his eyes set on the horizon through his telescope which showed the mountains and landscape as if it were closer to the viewer, he had spotted somthing, it looked like a town.

"Bottin, make haste, there is a town not too far from here!"

Bottin quickly took a last puff from his pipe and packed it away, the two Hobbits rushed across the desert towards the town, as it came closer they slowed and soon they had reached the walls.

"Excuse me! We are travellers from the Spootian Barrows, may we speak with you?"

"Oh look sir, they are trying to communicate!"
Cytyr watched the Austian ships.
"Sail closer," he ordered.
"Yes, mylord!"
"But keep the negotiation flag raised. We will not attack unless nessecary, understood?"
"Yes, mylord! Right away!"
"There sailing closer sire!" Lord Captain Ositits watched carefully as the small ships sailed closer.

"Are the catipults ready?"

"Aye, sire."

"And the fire?"

"Aye, sire."

"Keep them ready, and keep trying to communicate." Ositits turned his telescope to look to the west and saw that the first ships from Tanka where now in sight, high sails puncturing the clouds. Half an hour, he just had to keep them busy for half an hour.

"I don't think it necessary to posiblly endanger everyone else." Yasashii said
"We'll explore first, come with me."

About three armed men with blackpowder rifles Followed Yasashii. Her tiny roweboat procedded over rough tides, and onto the beaches.

"Men, it looks like we are alone, but we don't know. Be on guard, do not fire unless fired upon."

Yasashii was only armed with her sword, but it was tucked saftley in her holst. She remained calm still looking about to see if the island was occupied, It looked empty.
4 legionarrys of the Austian army watched thhe strangers carefully. They where scouts and Hi-Tungs, a desert tribe that came from the jungles near here. Hidden in the deep undergrowth they watched carfully, blowpipes and bows at the ready.

To most others they where invisable, there bodys where coved with war-paint and there sowrd where sheifed in Kangerro hide. There had been sive earlier but once they had spotted the ship the youngest ahd been sent running back to command.

The leader of the ground was iTrigison, roughly translated as he-Tigris-son, the i denoting masculinity. He was experience, a vertren that had been alive when the Austians had concored his tribe, rising out of the deserts like a plague. He was wondering what to do.

It was possable that these people where merchants from the sotuh or the west, Austians blown off course by the wind. But they ahd light skin, and no Austian had light skin, only the savages from the Land of the Long White Cloud had white skin. The best course would be to kill them, hide there bodys and then no-one would know they ahd ever been there.

But he liked the look of the girl, she was young and pritty and he was supposed to take a captive, and take the captive to talk to the General. Then he could do what he wanted to her. So he gave the order for his men to take out the three men but leave the girl, using a sirise of hand movements.

Four blowpipes spat there deadly poisioned barbs towards Yasashii and her crew, 4 deadly accurae barbs.

Bottin Sacs took out his Pipe as looked over the desert terrain, the two Halflings had landed on this island only last week after several months of exploring, they had survived off the pure genorosity off the natives that they had found who had told them of vicious raiders and such, Tropp Biggins had his eyes set on the horizon through his telescope which showed the mountains and landscape as if it were closer to the viewer, he had spotted somthing, it looked like a town.

"Bottin, make haste, there is a town not too far from here!"

Bottin quickly took a last puff from his pipe and packed it away, the two Hobbits rushed across the desert towards the town, as it came closer they slowed and soon they had reached the walls.

"Excuse me! We are travellers from the Spootian Barrows, may we speak with you?"
The town was a small otupost by the name of oTin, (Female-newtown), and the gates where manned by several bemused guards, that stared down at the deminutive figures. "Who the hell are they?"

"God knows, they arn't Austian, I know that." the second replyed, "Whats your orders Sarge?"

"Get the buggers and take em to the captain, he'll know what to do to them, Maori children fetch a high price on the slave market." The gates of the town swung open before the Habbits and the deminutive men where met by four stony face guards armed with nets...

ooc: mind if i jump in here? nice "subtle" referances to New Zealand, by the way, though now that makes my job harder if i join in.. i was going to base my stuff off of the Maori, at least with reguards to ships and melee weapons.

so, allowing for that, what should i already know?

Four blowpipes spat there deadly poisioned barbs towards Yasashii and her crew, 4 deadly accurae barbs.


Just barley missing Yasashii, she coiled. She pulled out her sword, and her four crew members took aim. "Hold your fire! Hello, we mean no harm." She hestrantly put her sword away and the men lowerd their guns. "Please where ever you are, come out and we'll talk like civilized people. "

"So much for a warm welcome." said one of the men.

"Patience." She replied I was taught how to negoiate my way out of these circumstances.

"I think we should just head back." Another said

"We need provisions. We can't survive otherwise."

OOC: None where aimed at Yasashii, just at her men, they mean to kill them and take her prisioner.

Theres a past Rp thread (Started by myself, cheak my threads Started) for people to join. State your civilisation, and where your absed and you can begin. And I do love New Zeland, gods own country-almost as good as Yorkshire. (Thats a high compliment from a Yorkshireman) I went there on the Lions tour and loved every minuate of it.

it does not take long to reload a blowpipe, meer seconds, you take the pipe out of your mouth, pull out another dart, put it in the pipe and blow. hard. The scouts had years of practace and where confused as to why they ahd missed, they would try again, the four of them aiming for three crewmen...


And fire.

Noticing the nets being held by the natives the Spoot Halflings began to worry, they had faced being enslaved before and they wern't about to let themselves be taken.

"Biggins, throw them your gold."

Biggins took the small pouch of gold from his belt and tossed it onto the floor, he hoped that they might realise that the Halflings could be useful rather than enslaving them.

Noticing the nets being held by the natives the Spoot Halflings began to worry, they had faced being enslaved before and they wern't about to let themselves be taken.

"Biggins, throw them your gold."

Biggins took the small pouch of gold from his belt and tossed it onto the floor, he hoped that they might realise that the Halflings could be useful rather than enslaving them.
"what the hells he doing?" The Sargent asked as the hobbit delved into his pocket after the other had spoken to him in a strange tounge. Close up the Austian could see that these hobbits where not boys but tiny men, dewafs.

The Sargent watched as the tiny man hurled a clinking purse towards them, a bribe? he didn't care, they would have taken the gold anywhere, the Hobbits had just save them the trouble of searching for it. "Now!" The sargent yelled and threw his net over the first one, his men did the same to the other.

Quickly the two bobbits took some powder from a red pouch, they quickly breathed the dust in and soon both Hobbits had passed out, they gave off all the signs of death, their bodies were limp and their hearts stopped.

(OOC: oki, let me explain the dust, in Voodoo culture the people believed that this dust would raise the dead, when scientists later investigated they found out that the dust was made primarily out of the toxin from the Fugu fish (also found in Squid and Newts), it would give all the signs of death, it's not magic as such but there is a large risk that one or both of the Halflings may actually die from this powder, though please tell me if you do consider this a godmod)

Quickly the two bobbits took some powder from a red pouch, they quickly breathed the dust in and soon both Hobbits had passed out, they gave off all the signs of death, their bodies were limp and their hearts stopped.

(OOC: oki, let me explain the dust, in Voodoo culture the people believed that this dust would raise the dead, when scientists later investigated they found out that the dust was made primarily out of the toxin from the Fugu fish (also found in Squid and Newts), it would give all the signs of death, it's not magic as such but there is a large risk that one or both of the Halflings may actually die from this powder, though please tell me if you do consider this a godmod)
OOC: no problem.

IC: "Are they dead?" The sargent asked, examining the bodys, "Was that poision?"

"Don't think so sire. But they ain't breathing."

"Stick 'em in a spare cell, we'll get the doc to cut 'em open later to see what they died of!"

"Ahoy!" Cytyr shouted as the closed in on the other ships.
"Keep all arms ready," he wispered to Col. Arq, his second in command.
"Yes, mylord!"

(OOC: Oh I didn't realize I had to sign up, usually if you do it's posted as semi-open. Would you mind giving me the link?)

(IC) "Guess they don't want to talk. Okay men arm your weapons, try to scare them off."

They armed their weapons swiftly.

Yasashii pulled out her sword, "READY, FIRE!" Puffs of smoke billowed from the riffles.

6 Genuine merchant ships. Of course, they certainly didnt contain merchants, but they were merchant ships with all the flags those merchants used and all their little signs. But the passengers were Frozopians, and they were not here to buy nor sell. Today was a day for a raid.

They had travelled far, from the far north where their frozen home land lay. Provided kindly with the maps of the merchants and traders, they were to raid a new land for them: The land of the Austians.

This plan had taken a year to come together. Rumours of relatively rich lands to the far south had enticed the lords Charles and his arch rival Crawford to put aside their petty rivalries and to work together. More, the success of the noble William in capturing a colony to the west of Frozopia from the Kiriusban had brought about a certain amount of jealously among the upper classes.

Putting together their crews and funds, they had captured 6 merchant ships from the south, probably not Austian ships but merchant ships from the general area. They then crammed the ships with as many men as possible, and prepared the raid. Their plan was to pose as merchant ships, and then offloading off the coast line via rowing boats in the night. They would then raid every village they could, get as many slaves and food as possible and cram them into the ships before getting out.

It was an excellent plan, and both lords expected nothing but complete success.

"LAND AHOY!"
The merchant ships passed forwards, looking like nothing but a merchant fleet. Travelling further south, they awaited nightfull before disembarking.....

6 Genuine merchant ships. Of course, they certainly didnt contain merchants, ...
"LAND AHOY!"
The merchant ships passed forwards, looking like nothing but a merchant fleet. Travelling further south, they awaited nightfull before disembarking.....


If there were three things the people of Angermanland were good at, it was boat building, melee combat, and navigation. Mahkath pondered this fact as the three tall, narrow ships under his command sped across the waves. there wasn't much room on each of them, sadly, but on the other hand, they didn't need many crew. and they were perfectly capable of towing several Wakas full of warriors at much greater speed than the great war cannoes would otherwise be capable of. at the moment each ship powered only one waka each, and those only half full of warriors, the rest being taken up by supplys and trade goods and the like.

much of interest had been learnt since expanding into the island chain to the north west of the homeland. for example, the existance of the great island inhabited by the people of Aust. supposedly it was larger than every piece of land ever seen put togeather. Mahkath had trouble crediting this, as obviously it's inhabitants had seen as much land as it had, and then some. on the other hand, this did tend to indicate it was big, and there would probibly be plenty of tradeing opertunitys. the winds and sea had forced him to take a less... direct rout than he would have liked, however, the choice between takeing longer and sinking was a fairly obvious one.

towards evening, a look out at the top of the mast, an unenviable position, if ever there was one, on such a narrow ship, sighted land. not only land, but several ships. merchants by the look of them, though none amoung the crew or warriors had ever seen merchants behaveing quite like that. generaly, in the experiance of the few who knew anything of such matters, such a large group of merchants would be acompanyed by at least one war ship, as no one was crazy enough to try and take such large numbers without warships of their own or overwhelming superiority.

"helmsman, bring us on course to follow them. i get the feeling something interesting is about to happen," Mahkath began giveing orders, "Ahoy the Main mast!" he called "signel the other ships. we follow those 'merchants'"

'if they are what they appear to be, they know where they're going, and the tradeing might be good,' he thought 'and if not, they're about to do someone a mischif, at the very least it should be interesting to watch'.

The Young explorer Driggins had been off exploring the desert for a while, he had staggered back to the base camp thanks to the mirror light settup, he arrived to find that both the Halflings had gone, noticing some still smouldering baccy he figured that they could not have gone far, a quick search of the Horizon displayed a Town just on the edge, quickly Driggins took out his telescope and looked closer at the town, he could see the two hobbits, they were being dragged into the town, there bodies were limp and obviously dead, even from that distance it was obvious, Driggins quickly ripped the mirror out of the ground and began to wander back to the coast, if he could get back on the main-land and raise the alarm then even if they didn't save the explorers they could take some revenge.

(OOC: Oh I didn't realize I had to sign up, usually if you do it's posted as semi-open. Would you mind giving me the link?)

(IC) "Guess they don't want to talk. Okay men arm your weapons, try to scare them off."

They armed their weapons swiftly.

Yasashii pulled out her sword, "READY, FIRE!" Puffs of smoke billowed from the riffles.
OOC: It's Past Tech RP planning thread I balive.

(OOC: Oh I didn't realize I had to sign up, usually if you do it's posted as semi-open. Would you mind giving me the link?)

(IC) "Guess they don't want to talk. Okay men arm your weapons, try to scare them off."

They armed their weapons swiftly.

Yasashii pulled out her sword, "READY, FIRE!" Puffs of smoke billowed from the riffles.
The scouts where startled by the loud bangs but where to experienced to be frightened by the lighting sticks. Arming there blow pipes ones more they fired, and keapt firing.

OOC: I reply to Angermanland and Topal

IC: the Watchtower system had been set up under the reign of Trijans farther, Emproer Tikal, to deter raders. It was a simple system, a watch tower every two miles manned by two soildiers with a beacon on top. Upon seeing a unknown ship, that is one without an Austian flag, the tower would light it's beacon, a code of diffrent sizes of flames denoting positions, tower number and problem.

Tower Number 78 was manned by iTalki and oSitus, two Austians legionarrys demoted to watch duty after misdeminiours. It was a long, boaring duty, enlivened only by the visits of the women from the nearby village. However today there where no visits planned and iTalki was dozing on his watch. Down below oSitus was preparing a drink of ale for both of them, though it was only midday.

"Anything up there?" oSitus called waking iTalki from his doze, the man climbed to his feet clinking in his chain mail and rushed to the telescope. he crammed his eye to the lense as his partner stepped up. "Anything?"

iTolkis eye scanned the horizions.

"Nothing. Wait a second." His eye had caught the sight of sails on the horizions, straining to get a look he increased the zoom. "Theres 6 merchant men, there Austian, but there signals denote they come from Coloneys. We havn't got any shipments coming from the north have we?"

oSitus skimmed through the schedual book and shook his head, "No shipments schedualed. Probably nothing, but you know the rules." They did know the rules, anything unschedualed and light the beacon. "i'll light it." A small flame was lit, and with it being midday flags where raised. Seconds later to the east and west of there position the other towers raised the smae flags and lit there beacons-Tower 78, unscedualed merchants, 6, patrol needed. Once they reached the nearest port, Al-Ling, a double decker would be launched and it would sail to the ships. The process would atke about 3 minuates.

"oSitus! Theres more!" iToliks voice held a note of panic now. He had seen the Angermanland ships. "Warships! From the Land of the long white cloud. I reconise the deisgn!" iTolik had forght in the war when Aust had tried to concor the south island, "3 of them! Towing Wakas jammed full of the bastards!"

oSitus was pileing wood on the fire, and raising more flags, tens of them to transmit this new information. -Urgent! All ships launch! Raiders! Following Merchants! Tower 78 spotted. Urgent! 3 ships. Towing raiding craft! Within seconds the message would reach the nearest ports and warships would be being tugged out of there bearths, and being made ready for combat. Within the hour a fleet would assemble att the hoarbour mouth, and within another hour they would be here. And oSitus and iTolik would be heros.

The watch would be raised, of course, and the villages men would arm themselves, ready to fight any raiders. Each village had a man adempt at reading the signals and even now he would be tearing through there village, calling the men to arms.

The two men of Watchtower 78's duty was clear, to keep watching and transmitting, and to preare to fight.

"Hold your fire!" She commanded. Everyone dropped down to keep from getting hit with the hostile fire.

"Well now there is no way to convince we are freindly and we are just searching for a place to call home. So here is what we do, fire two more shots, but aim high, I don't want to kill anyone needlessly. and in the cover of the smoke, we'll run back to the coast, and get back to the ship. Understand?"

"Yes Ma'am"

"Fire at will."

The men reloaded and fired their weapons, aiming at a redicioulslly high angle.

"Go, let's go."

They haistley ran

"Shit!"
Swore Crawford. Watch towers were lighting their beacons, obviously they found the 6 ships highly suspicious. Or at least suspicious of the ships the Frozopians had spotted tailing them. This caused alot of problems, so for now, they would flee. Turning back out to Sea, their ships pushed forwards in the waves......

Boss Captian Snarlgutz roared out once more as he held aloft a skull from a vanquished enemy, the Noomians took far greater pleasure in killing than the Toop's did, this was the second of the nomadic villages to be sacked by the Raider party, of course they hadn't gained much from these primatives and merely loved the thrill of the massacre.

Some of the Grobbles had returned from a scouting mission, in this heat more and more of the pasty greenskins were dying of dehydration as the time of this radi went onwards, the lead grobble panted before eventually telling the Noomian what they had seen.

"There's a town about a few miles from 'ere, they's look intelligent and could exchange in the technologies we have aquired."

Snarlgutz grinned, it was an opportunity to get rid of some unwanted poundage and a great step forward in the advancement of his Party, he looked over to his boys and shouted.

"Onwards boys, load up da grobbles and get yer arses moving!"

"Hold your fire!" She commanded. Everyone dropped down to keep from getting hit with the hostile fire.

"Well now there is no way to convince we are freindly and we are just searching for a place to call home. So here is what we do, fire two more shots, but aim high, I don't want to kill anyone needlessly. and in the cover of the smoke, we'll run back to the coast, and get back to the ship. Understand?"

"Yes Ma'am"

"Fire at will."

The men reloaded and fired their weapons, aiming at a redicioulslly high angle.

"Go, let's go."

They haistley ran
The scouts gave chase, pulling long throwing knives out of there belts and throwing them at the enermy. They where quick and fit and used to running in jungle conditions and so they quickly began to close the distance between them...

Boss Captian Snarlgutz roared out once more as he held aloft a skull from a vanquished enemy, the Noomians took far greater pleasure in killing than the Toop's did, this was the second of the nomadic villages to be sacked by the Raider party, of course they hadn't gained much from these primatives and merely loved the thrill of the massacre.

Some of the Grobbles had returned from a scouting mission, in this heat more and more of the pasty greenskins were dying of dehydration as the time of this radi went onwards, the lead grobble panted before eventually telling the Noomian what they had seen.

"There's a town about a few miles from 'ere, they's look intelligent and could exchange in the technologies we have aquired."

Snarlgutz grinned, it was an opportunity to get rid of some unwanted poundage and a great step forward in the advancement of his Party, he looked over to his boys and shouted.

"Onwards boys, load up da grobbles and get yer arses moving!"
OOC: Sorry, where do these guys come from?

"Shit!"
Swore Crawford. Watch towers were lighting their beacons, obviously they found the 6 ships highly suspicious. Or at least suspicious of the ships the Frozopians had spotted tailing them. This caused alot of problems, so for now, they would flee. Turning back out to Sea, their ships pushed forwards in the waves......
The watchtower watched this and transmitted the information to the Port where the first ships set out to give chase...

OOC: Sorry, where do these guys come from?

(OOC: From Northern Siberia the raiding party travelled Southwesternly before doubling back in a zig-zag patern down Southeasterly to the coast which they followed to the Malay peninsula before constructing a raft and sailing through the Indonesian islands and down into Western Australia, which according to your description is filled with Nomads called Maori, is this cool? I'll send them back home if you want.)

With a long head start and simialar naval capacities, the Frozopian ships would far outrun the ships pursuing them, although they would never even know their danger.

Crawford ordered the Ships to head out of the enemies sight. The new plan now was to split the 6 ships up into 3 groups, who would land at night in 3 different points. Each ship would raid 2 villages each, get everything they could and then head out to sea before the enemy could counter.....

OOC: You have watch towers across the whole perimeter of Australia? Do you know how many that would be?

ooc: any of you guys ever see the Americas cup? those "warships" look very similar to the raceing boats, only made of wood. there is also not a ranged weapon on any one of those ships. if you think a merchant sailing ship can out run them.. hehe. they're less manouverable than they should be, while towing, but they are FAST.


IC:
Mahkath blinked as the signel fires lit up down the coast "nice to know they're alert," he said, as he turned to the first mate "but it's a fair indication that either we can be expecting hostile company, or those 'merchants' shouldn't be here. either way, it would be in out best interests to raid the ships. if they're going to attack us anyway, it doesn't matter What they are. more trade goods for later, if nothing else. have the master ships run up the de Cant flag, the Northern Trade Guild flag, and the War flag. move as much of the cargo into the masters as possible. ready the warriors," a mischevious grin spread across his face "it's time for some fun".

as orders started flying, the wakas were locked in place behind the masters with a combination of beams and rope, to put them in perfect position for the manovers to come. spinikers[sp] were unfurled as the ships turned, and bore straight down on the merchants faster than most would expect anything to be capable of.

"Ahoy!" Cytyr shouted as they got closer to the other ships. He was hoping that this could go without the need to use weapons. He cursed his destructive minions in his mind for their love of combat. Yet this, they should not spoil.

With a long head start and simialar naval capacities, the Frozopian ships would far outrun the ships pursuing them, although they would never even know their danger.

Crawford ordered the Ships to head out of the enemies sight. The new plan now was to split the 6 ships up into 3 groups, who would land at night in 3 different points. Each ship would raid 2 villages each, get everything they could and then head out to sea before the enemy could counter.....

OOC: You have watch towers across the whole perimeter of Australia? Do you know how many that would be?
OOC: Just round the Austian areas-and no on the far frontiers-most of the towns on the frontier and walled anyway. All the really civilised bits (Easten Aust, Tazmania, the costs have watchtowers. think about the easten quater of Oz, the rich part of Aust. further to the west theres not much except desert to raid anyway.

So basicly I have several thousand around the esten perimiter, quite a few to the fronier but as you go east you get lesss villages and most are walled.

Toops, it seems a bit unlikly...

"Ahoy!" Cytyr shouted as they got closer to the other ships. He was hoping that this could go without the need to use weapons. He cursed his destructive minions in his mind for their love of combat. Yet this, they should not spoil.
The Austian ship could hear the calls from the other ship but didn't understand them. Otisis decidedd to respond by calling back in his own landguage. "Itisi. noviel tri fa!" (Stop! Who are you?"

The Austian ship could hear the calls from the other ship but didn't understand them. Otisis decidedd to respond by calling back in his own landguage. "Itisi. noviel tri fa!" (Stop! Who are you?"

"They speak in tongues of jibjabbing," Cytyr thought. He turned to his translator, Nudor Awres.
"Do you understand them?" he asked.
Nudor stood for a while thinking about the words.
"It seems that they want us to stop and know who we are."
"Arr! What should I tell them back?"
Nudor wispered in Cytyr's ear. The commander nodded and shouted at the other ship in a language he hoped them to understand. Nudor was pretty sure he told the commander to tell that they came Nuralla without hostile intentions.

But messages are easily misunderstood.

"They speak in tongues of jibjabbing," Cytyr thought. He turned to his translator, Nudor Awres.
"Do you understand them?" he asked.
Nudor stood for a while thinking about the words.
"It seems that they want us to stop and know who we are."
"Arr! What should I tell them back?"
Nudor wispered in Cytyr's ear. The commander nodded and shouted at the other ship in a language he hoped them to understand. Nudor was pretty sure he told the commander to tell that they came Nuralla without hostile intentions.

But messages are easily misunderstood.
"Whats that?" Otisis asked an aide.

"I don't know sire, it's roughly Austian, but the pronuciation is unclear. It's sounded like a decleration of war to me, certainly the word hostilaty is in there somehwere, but it could be a paice offering." Otisis looked around and noticed that the 5 ships that he had requested help him where close on hand. With 7 Austian ship in the area he was sure they could win any sea confrontation.

"Midshipman."

"Sire?"

"FIRE!" The Austian ships course abruptly changed as the ship swung round to make best use of it's ram, meanwhile the giant catapults where fired-each one firing a iron ball twice the size of a cannonball. One or two fired chain shot, to bring down the enermys masts, but the others fired lthere balls at the enermys hull, aiming to penitrate and kill.

The Austian secret weapon, greek fire, was being prepared, redy for use if the enermy came too close.

"Whats that?" Otisis asked an aide.

"I don't know sire, it's roughly Austian, but the pronuciation is unclear. It's sounded like a decleration of war to me, certainly the word hostilaty is in there somehwere, but it could be a paice offering." Otisis looked around and noticed that the 5 ships that he had requested help him where close on hand. With 7 Austian ship in the area he was sure they could win any sea confrontation.

"Midshipman."

"Sire?"

"FIRE!" The Austian ships course abruptly changed as the ship swung round to make best use of it's ram, meanwhile the giant catapults where fired-each one firing a iron ball twice the size of a cannonball. One or two fired chain shot, to bring down the enermys masts, but the others fired lthere balls at the enermys hull, aiming to penitrate and kill.

The Austian secret weapon, greek fire, was being prepared, redy for use if the enermy came too close.

"All men take cover!" Cytyr shouted.
He threw himslef to the deck, as chain shots flew like spiky birds over his head. All around him, his soldiers were screaming and many being crushed and falling dead to the deck.
"Fire everything we have!" he shouted to the surving men. "If they want battle, battle is what they'll get!
"Yes, mylord!"
The men loaded the cannon. Chain shot were made ready.
One of the soldiers asked Cytyr: "Shall we use the you-know-what?"
"No," Cytyr coldly said. "They shall fell that pain later. FIRE!"

"Whats that?" Otisis asked an aide.

"I don't know sire, it's roughly Austian, but the pronuciation is unclear. It's sounded like a decleration of war to me, certainly the word hostilaty is in there somehwere, but it could be a paice offering." Otisis looked around and noticed that the 5 ships that he had requested help him where close on hand. With 7 Austian ship in the area he was sure they could win any sea confrontation.

"Midshipman."

"Sire?"

"FIRE!" The Austian ships course abruptly changed as the ship swung round to make best use of it's ram, meanwhile the giant catapults where fired-each one firing a iron ball twice the size of a cannonball. One or two fired chain shot, to bring down the enermys masts, but the others fired lthere balls at the enermys hull, aiming to penitrate and kill.

The Austian secret weapon, greek fire, was being prepared, redy for use if the enermy came too close.

"All men take cover!" Cytyr shouted.
He threw himslef to the deck, as chain shots flew like spiky birds over his head. All around him, his soldiers were screaming and many being crushed and falling dead to the deck.
"Fire everything we have!" he shouted to the surving men. "If they want battle, battle is what they'll get!
"Yes, mylord!"
The men loaded the cannon. Chain shot were made ready.
One of the soldiers asked Cytyr: "Shall we use the you-know-what?"
"No," Cytyr coldly said. "They shall fell that pain later. FIRE!"

OOC: Ok cool.

IC:
"Well?" Spoke Crawford
"It would be a long march, and we dont have the supplies." Replied Charles
"So we cant head through so much desert then....."
"What can we do though?"
"How many men could they muster quickly do you reckon?"
"1000+ whatever their settlement soldiers have. If we lack surprise that is."
"Then that we must risk. Thank god we brought horses, thats all I can say."
"True. Besides our longbows will rip them apart."
"So tomorrow night it is then?"
"Yep."

"All men take cover!" Cytyr shouted.
He threw himslef to the deck, as chain shots flew like spiky birds over his head. All around him, his soldiers were screaming and many being crushed and falling dead to the deck.
"Fire everything we have!" he shouted to the surving men. "If they want battle, battle is what they'll get!
"Yes, mylord!"
The men loaded the cannon. Chain shot were made ready.
One of the soldiers asked Cytyr: "Shall we use the you-know-what?"
"No," Cytyr coldly said. "They shall fell that pain later. FIRE!"
OOC: Cannon? Cannon wasn't used on ships until tudor times. i thought that this was a PT RP with minimal blackpowder weapons, ie, a slow loading musket is the best you get, cannons of this time where messive things that took days to load and often blew up.

Topal, can you just give me an idea about whats going on?

OOC:
You are right those cannons shouldnt be used in this PT.
Im going to pull off the attack. You will see later why.

IC:
"Lord. Several members of the crew have been struck by a plague." Spoke Charles assistant
"A PLAGUE!?" Roared Charles
"Yes sir. They have been isolated, but they need medical help. I've seen cures for this before lord, but we need a healer before the plague spreads."

Charles sighed.
"Set our destination for the Kuriles islands. There will be healers there."
"Yes milord."

Yasashii and her men waited in thick shurbs hiding from the hostile natives. The coast was in plain view.

"Well we can scratch this place off the map." Yasashii said. "Non of them want to talk, I'm sure as hell they won't share the land."

"We'll get our chance next time. In the mean time we have to get out of here."

"Our boat looks like it's still there, but I don't know, it could have been booby trapped since we left."

"So what do we do ma'am?"

"Follow my lead, stay low, stay quite. If they start firing, run like hell, and start praying. I only hope our ship isn't descoverd by natives, or other wonderes down here."

They army crawled through the grass, trees, bushes, and onto the warm sand. They had no real camoflauge what so ever.

OOC: No cannon? I thought this could go up to the 17th century. I have an interesting combination of cannon (Relatively primitive) and longbowmen. However, I don't have anything like Greek fire. Perhaps that's a suitable disadvantage to make up for the cannon? Besides, Caladonn also doesn't use any handguns.

IC: The Far West
Onboard the ICS Armalathor things were going smoothly. Commodore Halfin was surprised that his squadron had gotten this far from Caladonn; after the Great Western Fleet had split up into five squadrons from its original 50 ships, the Commodores' orders were to turn back when they ran out of food or water.

Nonetheless, he reflected, the multitude of small islands in this area meant that provisions were rarely a problem. Though the manufactures of the squadron were starting to show their wear (The Legionaries' pocket knives had been whittled down to slivers from sharpening at the whetstone over the past months) he was confident that his fleet could travel significantly farther before turning back.

And they would have to travel more if they were to have something of substance to report to the Imperial Caladonnian Senate too, he thought, his musings getting more pessimistic. Before the departure of his squadron, a courier cutter had come in bringing news of inconsequential contact with a relatively advanced civilization to the east, Terror Incognita. If the Great Eastern Fleet had discovered something so great, he would be hard pressed to meet that.

Still, it could be done- and it was at precisely that moment was a shout rang out from the crow's nest, the shout that the sailors had been longing to here, the shout that heralded fresh food, possibly native wenches, but something far greater that every sailor on a dreary exploration voyage dreams of- adventure.

"LAND HO!" came the shout. The Commodore stopped dead in his tracks from pacing, then composed himself, and hailed, "Masthead, there! What do you see!" The sound of a telescope clicking out came down from the mainmast, and the sailor shouted, "It's land, sir- sure as I can see it! And nothing small like we've spotted before, sir! This is a good catch!"

As soon as the Commodore heard the news, he knew that the long months of waiting were over. The babble of excited talk from the elves was silenced as the Commodore issued a long string of orders. The caravels shifted into a V formation with the flagship at point. The marines trooped up on deck buckling on crossbelts and donning their helmets, taking up positions with their longbows at the ready.

Watch out, new land! The Commodore thought.

((Oops sorry Aust! My fault! I meant balitstas! Sorry!))

OOC:
You are right those cannons shouldnt be used in this PT.
Im going to pull off the attack. You will see later why.

IC:
"Lord. Several members of the crew have been struck by a plague." Spoke Charles assistant
"A PLAGUE!?" Roared Charles
"Yes sir. They have been isolated, but they need medical help. I've seen cures for this before lord, but we need a healer before the plague spreads."

Charles sighed.
"Set our destination for the Kuriles islands. There will be healers there."
"Yes milord."
OOC: Got you.,

Yasashii and her men waited in thick shurbs hiding from the hostile natives. The coast was in plain view.

"Well we can scratch this place off the map." Yasashii said. "Non of them want to talk, I'm sure as hell they won't share the land."

"We'll get our chance next time. In the mean time we have to get out of here."

"Our boat looks like it's still there, but I don't know, it could have been booby trapped since we left."

"So what do we do ma'am?"

"Follow my lead, stay low, stay quite. If they start firing, run like hell, and start praying. I only hope our ship isn't descoverd by natives, or other wonderes down here."

They army crawled through the grass, trees, bushes, and onto the warm sand. They had no real camoflauge what so ever.
While the persuit had been going on the scot that had been sent to fetch halp had done so and how a regiment of Austian soildiers where matching through the thick undergrowth, making for the shore where the large boat had been seen.

They didn't know that the ship had sent people ashore, or that combat ahd been taking place in the jungle, they wehr just there to stop any landings. Within muinuates they would be at the coast.

----------------
The commander of the scout party was survaying the scene, he'd already sent two of his men forward to block off the invaders route back to the boat. If they had time his men would hole the boat, preventing any escape.

OOC: Caladonn, If your approching from the west you'll run into NZ first, but I'm presuming that you've run into Aust.

IC: The port of Hi-Sdtalis, Austs second city, was buzzing. The 500,000 inhabitants where standing on the city walls, straining to see what was happening.

Reports from the firgate Redemtious had come in earlyer that day of a war fleet coming from the east-possibly from the island of the Long White Cloud. Rumors of an invasion fleet ahd spread like wildfire through the city as men armed themselves.

The remors where, of course, denied, but then they always where. And when the first of Austs great 4 deck warships slid out of the dock into the open sea to join a gaggle of frigates and destroyers the rumors gained substance.

And now the invaders ships where in view, only with a telescope to be sure but in view. The Austian fleet had been launched, a dozen ships from Aust City itself sailing up the coast to join the Hi-Sdtalis fleet. Now the Austian fleet numbered 9 first rate warships,(4 deck) with 20 frigates (2 deck) and 8 destoryers (3 deck) a group of 32 scout craft joining them.

These where the ships that would sail out to join battle with these Moari raiders, the fleet of Easten Aust.

ooc: ouch! .. dude, it's 3 unarmed sailing ships pulling 1 waka each, each of wich has only half it's load of troops coz it's carrying trade goods *laughs* that's a grand total of 75 warriors and 30 spare crew, night watch and so on, plus the 30ish it takes to actually sail the ships. not going to stand up to a warship of any size, and not really capable or raiding anywhere with an orginized watch system, let alone proper defences. i should put these kinds of details in my info thread..

i really need to know where the Real raiders [who i'm currently chaseing, if you'll remember] have got to. so i can do something. i'm currently baring down on them with full sail from upwind... need a reaction..

i'm also curious as to the point in multi-deck warships if you don't have [can't have?] cannon. balista take up too much room and fire up as well as out [if not by as much as a catapult]

ooc: ouch! .. dude, it's 3 unarmed sailing ships pulling 1 waka each, each of wich has only half it's load of troops coz it's carrying trade goods *laughs* that's a grand total of 75 warriors and 30 spare crew, night watch and so on, plus the 30ish it takes to actually sail the ships. not going to stand up to a warship of any size, and not really capable or raiding anywhere with an orginized watch system, let alone proper defences. i should put these kinds of details in my info thread..

i really need to know where the Real raiders [who i'm currently chaseing, if you'll remember] have got to. so i can do something. i'm currently baring down on them with full sail from upwind... need a reaction..

i'm also curious as to the point in multi-deck warships if you don't have [can't have?] cannon. balista take up too much room and fire up as well as out [if not by as much as a catapult]
OOC: it's in reply to Caldoon, coz he's coming from the west m,y men has mistaked his troops for yours.

Austian ships are designed that way, Bastillia don't take up that much room, really. No more than a cannon does.

OOC: it's in reply to Caldoon, coz he's coming from the west m,y men has mistaked his troops for yours.

Austian ships are designed that way, Bastillia don't take up that much room, really. No more than a cannon does.

they're a good three times as wide, at least, and need at least SOME extra high relitive to a cannon to load them. though i'll grant that it's probibly not a lot that way.

ahh. good to know. i was begining to worry there *laughs*

oh, you also seem to have east and west confused.. if he's comeing From the East, sailing West, he'll have come past me, if he's to your West, then i fail to see how you could think he was me, as i'd have to come from the East, or, at a stretch, the North... [the Tasman Sea is actually pretty nasty to go straight accross, especially between tazmania and the shouth island. you really want to go around it to the north if possible]

OOC: Just to clear things up, I'm coming from roughly IRL Mexico, so my 'Great Western Fleet' departed across the Pacific. It's actually to your northeast.

Also, am I ok with primitive cannons, considering my other weaknesses? Or is that too much? I can't really do much of an IC post until that's cleared up.

OOC: Just to clear things up, I'm coming from roughly IRL Mexico, so my 'Great Western Fleet' departed across the Pacific. It's actually to your northeast.

Also, am I ok with primitive cannons, considering my other weaknesses? Or is that too much? I can't really do much of an IC post until that's cleared up.
OOC:
It'd have to be an early connon, but other that thats thats fine.

they're a good three times as wide, at least, and need at least SOME extra high relitive to a cannon to load them. though i'll grant that it's probibly not a lot that way.

ahh. good to know. i was begining to worry there *laughs*

oh, you also seem to have east and west confused.. if he's comeing From the East, sailing West, he'll have come past me, if he's to your West, then i fail to see how you could think he was me, as i'd have to come from the East, or, at a stretch, the North... [the Tasman Sea is actually pretty nasty to go straight accross, especially between tazmania and the shouth island. you really want to go around it to the north if possible]
OOC: I got confused, my apologys.

A cannon actually needs a lot of hight, suprisingly, early connons where very larger-larger longways thatn a Bastillia.

While the persuit had been going on the scot that had been sent to fetch halp had done so and how a regiment of Austian soildiers where matching through the thick undergrowth, making for the shore where the large boat had been seen.

They didn't know that the ship had sent people ashore, or that combat ahd been taking place in the jungle, they wehr just there to stop any landings. Within muinuates they would be at the coast.

The commander of the scout party was survaying the scene, he'd already sent two of his men forward to block off the invaders route back to the boat. If they had time his men would hole the boat, preventing any escape.


They still crept alone stealthly, hopping to not get caught, but sadly that didn't work. Yasashii still wanted to compromise, and get out saftley.

"Please, good sirs, I am Yasashii Himura of the Alliance Party, we have no intention of staying, we can see this place is fully occupied, so we will go someplace else. Okay? We'll leave quietly and we won't mention this place to anyone else. We don't want to have violence, only peace."

She bowed, as was traditonal for her

They still crept alone stealthly, hopping to not get caught, but sadly that didn't work. Yasashii still wanted to compromise, and get out saftley.

"Please, good sirs, I am Yasashii Himura of the Alliance Party, we have no intention of staying, we can see this place is fully occupied, so we will go someplace else. Okay? We'll leave quietly and we won't mention this place to anyone else. We don't want to have violence, only peace."

She bowed, as was traditonal for her
The wscots just satred at her, not knowing what to do, blocking the way between the boat and her. They could hear the tramp of soildiers footsteps in the distances that signaled the arrival of the Austian regiment.

Unfortuntly they didn't speak Yasashiis language, all they heard was gibberish in a barbarian toung however the general jist got across and the scout leader stepped forwards, put his weapons on the ground, bowed, and stepped backwards.

OOC:
It'd have to be an early connon, but other that thats thats fine.
OOC: Yes, it is a pretty early one. I mean, it's got pretty long range and isn't gigantic, but it doesn't pack as big of a punch as later models, and is made out of bronze making it much more expensive.

I don't have time for an IC response now but I'll do one tomorrow.

"Ah thank you!" She said, even though she knew they could not understand her, much to her dismay, she felt with some jestures, they could understand she was happy that they we're letting her go without a fight.

The scout leader was glad that the girl had decided to surrender, but puzzled why she had not done as he had-layed down her weapons. In Aust one side laying down there weapons was a side of parley and it is a matter of honour that the other does the same.

He spoke to her, in simpel Austian, "Isi, us tit regb hi. To senus Lord genak" (You come with us. To see general.) Surley she would understand that. In that same moment the first company of the regement burst through the trees behind him.

OOC: *prods the thread, to see if it still lives*

OOC: *prods the thread, to see if it still lives*
BLUMp 4 replys!

He spoke to her, in simpel Austian, "Isi, us tit regb hi. To senus Lord genak" (You come with us. To see general.) Surley she would understand that. In that same moment the first company of the regement burst through the trees behind him.


Is that your regiment or another group?

OOC: Caladonn, If your approching from the west you'll run into NZ first, but I'm presuming that you've run into Aust.

IC: The port of Hi-Sdtalis, Austs second city, was buzzing. The 500,000 inhabitants where standing on the city walls, straining to see what was happening.

Reports from the firgate Redemtious had come in earlyer that day of a war fleet coming from the east-possibly from the island of the Long White Cloud. Rumors of an invasion fleet ahd spread like wildfire through the city as men armed themselves.

The remors where, of course, denied, but then they always where. And when the first of Austs great 4 deck warships slid out of the dock into the open sea to join a gaggle of frigates and destroyers the rumors gained substance.

And now the invaders ships where in view, only with a telescope to be sure but in view. The Austian fleet had been launched, a dozen ships from Aust City itself sailing up the coast to join the Hi-Sdtalis fleet. Now the Austian fleet numbered 9 first rate warships,(4 deck) with 20 frigates (2 deck) and 8 destoryers (3 deck) a group of 32 scout craft joining them.

These where the ships that would sail out to join battle with these Moari raiders, the fleet of Easten Aust.
Admiral Dameon was concerned. While he believed that the Caladonnian ships were surely superior to these barbarian vessels, there were still around 60 of them, compared to his own 20 warships. Still, his intentions were peaceful, so unless the barbarians initiated conflict, he would not come into combat with them.

The Caladonnian fleet sailed towards the barbarians. Marines lined the decks, with their longbows in hand and strung, yet not drawn. The crew waited belowdecks with the cannon ready, yet with the gunports closed. The Admiral waited on the deck in full dress uniform as the two fleets closed.

ooc: note: if the aust guys tryed to invade me earlyer, the presence of ranged weaponary should be a dead give away that those arn't my ships. assumeing the admaral or whoever isn't a total moron and has actually been informed.

Is that your regiment or another group?
OOC: My rediment-as RPed in earlier posts.

Angermanland, does it matter?

Admiral Dameon was concerned. While he believed that the Caladonnian ships were surely superior to these barbarian vessels, there were still around 60 of them, compared to his own 20 warships. Still, his intentions were peaceful, so unless the barbarians initiated conflict, he would not come into combat with them.

The Caladonnian fleet sailed towards the barbarians. Marines lined the decks, with their longbows in hand and strung, yet not drawn. The crew waited belowdecks with the cannon ready, yet with the gunports closed. The Admiral waited on the deck in full dress uniform as the two fleets closed.
The Austian fleet began to form a large crecent, each ship bow to stern so there brroadsides where presented, catapults and slingshots ready to fire. They where just waiting for the command.

Admiral oTit was in full dress uniform, on the prow of his battleship the iTonic. His ships where ready to fight, ever bastilla ready to fire, the deck catpults loaded, all he needed to do was to raise the nesscary flags and the ropes would be cut and the battle begin.

But he was beginning to doubt that these where Maori ships. Moari didn't usually fight with large ships that where equal in size to Austian vessals. He thought for a second and then raised the nesscary signals that would, if the enermy could read them, ask Austs most honourable enermys to dinner.

OCC: So, am I allowed to have an early-level cannon or ...?

I'm sorry if I annoyed you, Aust. after all, it was you that started this, so you should have the last word.

The Austian fleet began to form a large crecent, each ship bow to stern so there brroadsides where presented, catapults and slingshots ready to fire. They where just waiting for the command.

Admiral oTit was in full dress uniform, on the prow of his battleship the iTonic. His ships where ready to fight, ever bastilla ready to fire, the deck catpults loaded, all he needed to do was to raise the nesscary flags and the ropes would be cut and the battle begin.

But he was beginning to doubt that these where Maori ships. Moari didn't usually fight with large ships that where equal in size to Austian vessals. He thought for a second and then raised the nesscary signals that would, if the enermy could read them, ask Austs most honourable enermys to dinner.
The Caladonnian fleet hove-to and formed the Line of Battle out of bowshot. They couldn't read the Austrian signals, but the Admiral was sure the barbarians were attempting to communicate. He resolved to go out towards the barbarians. After their recent display, they must surely be civilised enough not to fire on a peaceful envoy.

He climbed down into the cutter, and a Decury of marines jumped down and began rowing, one holding a white flag above his head. Once the boat was halfway between the fleets, the elves stopped rowing. The message was clear: the barbarians would have to go the rest of the distance, for an equal meeting between the two fleets.

OCC: So, am I allowed to have an early-level cannon or ...?

I'm sorry if I annoyed you, Aust. after all, it was you that started this, so you should have the last word.
OOC: Yes, Caldoon is so i guess you are.

IC: The Admiral spotted what they where doing and did the same, climbing into a smaller craft and sailing towards the enermy carrying a white flag.

Some of Yasashii's men we're ready to fire upon some of these foregin invaders.

"Easy men, easy. The Natives are freidnly to us they will likely be fredindly to all these others."

"This could be an invasion plot. We have no way to fight it off."

"Perhaps we can speak to some of these men, tell them the island is occupied, they may speak our language. i'm fluent in over six, Mr. Tanaka you know Japanese, English, and Kurma. And Mr. Roberts you are fluent in Russian."

Yasashii also pulled out a white hankie, to wave it at the oncomins soldiers. She also went up to one of the Natives who appeard to be in charge.

"You let me also speak to these foreigners yes?"

Some of Yasashii's men we're ready to fire upon some of these foregin invaders.

"Easy men, easy. The Natives are freidnly to us they will likely be fredindly to all these others."

"This could be an invasion plot. We have no way to fight it off."

"Perhaps we can speak to some of these men, tell them the island is occupied, they may speak our language. i'm fluent in over six, Mr. Tanaka you know Japanese, English, and Kurma. And Mr. Roberts you are fluent in Russian."

Yasashii also pulled out a white hankie, to wave it at the oncomins soldiers. She also went up to one of the Natives who appeard to be in charge.

"You let me also speak to these foreigners yes?"
OOC: Who are you talking too, arn't you surrounded by my troops right now.

ooh right, I might have gotten confused, is it only your men that have me, or have other soldiers arrived. Regardless character speaking we would be happy to negotiate a truce or something

ooh right, I might have gotten confused, is it only your men that have me, or have other soldiers arrived. Regardless character speaking we would be happy to negotiate a truce or something
OOC: My scots positioned themselves between you and your boat (That would take you abck to your ship.) As they wehre trying to communicate a regement of Austian troops (100 men) came through the trees to block off your escape route even more.

ooc: i just realized i lost track somewhere in the middle there. my ships were chaiseing down some frozopian ships.. the frozopians split into three and... then i lost track. bring me back up to speed. obviously i only chased one group. some of them landed, yes? and some went cruseing off to some islands because of plague [wich islands, btw?] and the third group went... where? or have i got it wrong?

OOC: Bump! Is this thing on? Or has all the action moved to the invasion thread?

The Admiral spotted what they where doing and did the same, climbing into a smaller craft and sailing towards the enermy carrying a white flag.
The Caladonnian admiral rose in his cutter as the sailors rowed to meet the barbarians. He extended a hand upwards in traditional Caladonnian greeting after bowing formally to the barbarian. "Greetings. I am Admiral Dameon of the Imperial Caladonnian Navy, representing the Senate and the People of Caladonnian. Who are you?"

He relayed this in several different languages including Carib, Japanese, Aztec, Incan and Polynesian, his interpreter filling in some more lesser-known tongues in the hope that the barbarian would understand.

The fast cutter approached Aust City. As the great city rose over the horizon, the Earl dressed himself in ceremonial robes, hoping that he would be able swiftly to see the Emperor or a senior aide, to clear up some diplomatic details. Like which side Terror Incognitia would be on in the coming war.

OOC: This ambassador carries full plenipotentiary status. Any agreement between him and a head of state or foreign ambassador of equivalent status is considered binding on our nation.

The Caladonnian admiral rose in his cutter as the sailors rowed to meet the barbarians. He extended a hand upwards in traditional Caladonnian greeting after bowing formally to the barbarian. "Greetings. I am Admiral Dameon of the Imperial Caladonnian Navy, representing the Senate and the People of Caladonnian. Who are you?"

He relayed this in several different languages including Carib, Japanese, Aztec, Incan and Polynesian, his interpreter filling in some more lesser-known tongues in the hope that the barbarian would understand.
The Admiral oTit listened as the barbarien babled on in a veriaty of toungs, none known to him, he turned to his translator, a small man that stood next to him, as the man began a new babble.

"Do you know what he's saying?"

"I know the Polonesian, sire. He's saying that his name is Admiral Dameon of the Imperial Caladonnian Navy and that he wants to know who we are."

"Tell him that I am Lord High Admiral OTit of the His Most Gracious and Imperial Majesty Emproer Trijian of Austs Navy and that I have 50 vessels on my command. Also tell him that if he wishes to nagotiate a surrender to His MAjestys forces or a truce it can be arranged."

The translator began to repeat his Admirals speech in Polonesian-but in slightly more diplomatic language.

The fast cutter approached Aust City. As the great city rose over the horizon, the Earl dressed himself in ceremonial robes, hoping that he would be able swiftly to see the Emperor or a senior aide, to clear up some diplomatic details. Like which side Terror Incognitia would be on in the coming war.

OOC: This ambassador carries full plenipotentiary status. Any agreement between him and a head of state or foreign ambassador of equivalent status is considered binding on our nation.
From the Walls of the White City the City Guard spotted the cutter fast approching and two ships of the fleet-Distroyers (Two Decks) with an ambassidor on board sailed from the port towards the cutter, intending to incept the ship.

The sun rose over the horizon as the coming of a fiery pheonix. In the great blue sea came five great red clouds. Five ships, each more than 400 feet long, and 40 long paces wide. Each had 5 great red tripple-silk sails. Each could be armed to the teeth if neccisary.

The lookout at the top of the center mast put his hand to his forehead and looked out. In the distance he saw a slowly approaching land mass. "Land ahead!" he yelled down the mast to the lookout below him. Quickly the message was sent down through all five lookouts along the mast.

The call was sent to the large quarter deck where the captain stood. He took out a great brass 'telescope' that the Imperial School had sent to all captains of the Imperial Fleet. It was a new invention that the captain found pleasing to use. He brought the eye piee up to his eye and looked through it in the direction the look-outs had called.

A land mass jumped into his view. It was a long green expanse before him and there looks to be a small curve where he could a place to moor his ships.

"We have made landfall?" asked a voice behind the captain's shoulder. The captain did not need to turn around to identify who it was. He turned and bowed formally.

"Indeed Ambassador Li Hau Pek, we have. And good morning to you," said the captain. He disliked the ambassador, but one can never forget manners.

The middle-aged and rather fat man in silk robes and formal Imperial Court clothes bowed. "Good morning as well Captain Fu Sang. You're quite sure this is the land of...how do you pronounce it...Aust?"

"Yes I am. My charts and those which we bought from the port in Canton showed me an old rought. It was used some fifty years ago, by traders from the far West," said Fu Sang.

"Well, I wonder who it is that rules this land. What do you think they call the potentate of this land? King? Emperor?" asked the ambassador.

"I would think Emperor at the very least."

"Well we have gifts even for an emperor," said Li Hau Pek smuggly. In two of the massive ships were some 3,000 long-paces of the finest Han silk, 10,000 pieces of silver, a set of gold-red armor, five hundred ornamental swords, 20 of the most beautiful Court concubines. All gifts for the Emperor of the Aust.

"Indeed. I simply hope we do not run into bandits or any enemies," said Fu Sang. As captain-general of this expidition he commanded the 500 Imperial soldiers on each of the massive ships, 2500 in all, 700 of all the sailors and crew on each ship, and the servants and lower concubines, merchants, engineers, carpanters, workers, and all the men neccasary for the ships to be run and guarded.

The Ambassador nodded at what the captain said. Fu Sang looked through his telescope once more.

"I simply wonder when we will meet them, or how long before we are able to speak with this 'Emperor of the Aust'," said Li Hau Pek. Fu Sang brought his telescope back down.

"You may soon find out Ambassador," he said. He pointed off the bow to the land that had grown closer as they had spoken. A modestly sized village or town was off the coast.

Seeing the huge ships on the horizion Watch Towers 1085 and 1086 lit there becons and rose there flags, transmitting information to the nearest ports-Al-Ling. There th last few warships began to take sail, there where only two-both distroyers, but they sailed out of port proudly towards the junks.

Raising flags of peace they made there way slowly towards the Junks...

Seeing the huge ships on the horizion Watch Towers 1085 and 1086 lit there becons and rose there flags, transmitting information to the nearest ports-Al-Ling. There th last few warships began to take sail, there where only two-both distroyers, but they sailed out of port proudly towards the junks.

Raising flags of peace they made there way slowly towards the Junks...

Captain Fu Sang saw the two ships of war sail out of the nearby harbor. They were smaller than the junks and more manueverable. From looking in his telescope he could see that they had no rockets aboard their ships. A good thing, for if it came to a fight, the enemy could not run circles and do damage as smaller pirate junks could to a greater Junk like his.

He called down to the foredeck. "All ships to halt and weigh ancor. Soldiers are to be ready, no one is to fire or attack unless I command!" The yell went up and his ship made ready. A message by way of flags was sent between the four other great ships as the two ships came closer.

Fu Sang had a white banner waved from his foredeck at the approaching ships, signalling for them to come along side. They noticed and seemed to understand. With quiet and good sailing grace one of the supposedly Aust ships came along side, the other moved into a watcher position guarding it's friends rear. Fu Sang thought it sound tactics for finding an unknown ship and approaching it.

Ambassador Li Hau Pek was in the middle section of the ship and on the side. He turned to one of his aides who had learned several languages in the past.

"Call out first in Hanese, then in Kirisubian : 'We come in peace, and wish to speak and possibly consider trade'. Do so now," said Li Hau Pek. The man turned to the ship, its white tanned skinned occupants watching closely the strange ship, and complied by yelling out in the two different languages. They waited to see if they would be replied to.

OOC: Yes I'm still here. But I have a question for all, seeing as I'm surrounded by Aust's troops, I'm not sure if any of the other people here are in my area.

Captain Fu Sang saw the two ships of war sail out of the nearby harbor. They were smaller than the junks and more manueverable. From looking in his telescope he could see that they had no rockets aboard their ships. A good thing, for if it came to a fight, the enemy could not run circles and do damage as smaller pirate junks could to a greater Junk like his.

He called down to the foredeck. "All ships to halt and weigh ancor. Soldiers are to be ready, no one is to fire or attack unless I command!" The yell went up and his ship made ready. A message by way of flags was sent between the four other great ships as the two ships came closer.

Fu Sang had a white banner waved from his foredeck at the approaching ships, signalling for them to come along side. They noticed and seemed to understand. With quiet and good sailing grace one of the supposedly Aust ships came along side, the other moved into a watcher position guarding it's friends rear. Fu Sang thought it sound tactics for finding an unknown ship and approaching it.

Ambassador Li Hau Pek was in the middle section of the ship and on the side. He turned to one of his aides who had learned several languages in the past.

"Call out first in Hanese, then in Kirisubian : 'We come in peace, and wish to speak and possibly consider trade'. Do so now," said Li Hau Pek. The man turned to the ship, its white tanned skinned occupants watching closely the strange ship, and complied by yelling out in the two different languages. They waited to see if they would be replied to.
OOC: Kqanami, I don't reckion there are.

IC: "What the hell are they saying." Commandor iHicus demanded of his translator,

"I don't know sire." The translator admitted, I know little of the language they speak. But the jist of it is that there freindly and are here to trade."

"Find out where there from, and ask them to follow us, we'll start towards the White City." The translator began to reply to the strange ships, in as many languages as he knew.

Seeing that two destroyers had come to meet them, the Captain ordered signals to be made requesting permission to come alongside. Through unofficial channels, Austian signalbooks had been acquired, and one of these was put to good use.

Having approached to within hailing distance, the Captain called through his loud-hailer, asking in a passable imitation of the Austian tongue that he was here to negotiate, carrying an Ambassador from the Court of Terror Incognitia, and asking how he should proceed.

The Admiral oTit listened as the barbarien babled on in a veriaty of toungs, none known to him, he turned to his translator, a small man that stood next to him, as the man began a new babble.

"Do you know what he's saying?"

"I know the Polonesian, sire. He's saying that his name is Admiral Dameon of the Imperial Caladonnian Navy and that he wants to know who we are."

"Tell him that I am Lord High Admiral OTit of the His Most Gracious and Imperial Majesty Emproer Trijian of Austs Navy and that I have 50 vessels on my command. Also tell him that if he wishes to nagotiate a surrender to His MAjestys forces or a truce it can be arranged."

The translator began to repeat his Admirals speech in Polonesian-but in slightly more diplomatic language.
The admiral was shocked. A surrender? Who did this barbarian think he was. Yes, the Caladonnians were outnumbered, but his carrier pidgeons would be ready to call on quite substantial reinforcements if needed.

The words of the barbarian surprised him. A truce? He resolved to respond and find out what the barbarian meant. "Greetings, Admiral OTit. It is a pleasure to meet you.

I am slightly concerned at your words. Our two nations have never met before, and yet you regard us as a common enemy. This is a strategy which will surely lead to unfortunate and eminently avoidable conflict between our nations. I see no reason to sign a truce when our nations are not currently at war."

ooc: well, Caladonn, i'm sailing some of the fastest ships in the rp, downwind, after some frozopian ships that appear to have just.. vanished... so, i'm left on a bit of a limb too. don't feel too lonely.

edit: oops, forgot i was looking at the previous page, not the last one. now I feel lonely. hehe.

Mahkath was puzzled. something very strange had happend when he had ordered the ships riged for chase and battle. they would not move! now, instead of the masters pulling the wakas, it was the other way around, as the crew and warriors bent their backs to the oars, sailing down the coast for the nearest port that might be capable of helping them repair whatever had happend to their ships. wtach fires on the shore had lit their way constantly, so they had not stoped moveing even at night.

now, in the distance, on this, the third day of rowing, they saw a large city, with a great harbour. the only downside was that it appeared to be surrounded by warships, of various alegiaances to judge by their flags, though that could mean anything.

Once again, Mahkath gave orders to raise flags. a different set this time. guild flags, the flag of Angermanland, region flags... every identifying flag they had available to them was flowen from the masts of the master ships, wich currently bore no sail. hopefully, he thought, they would not be attacked and their goods would be of value here. food and water were running low, though not yet to the point of being an issue.

OOC: justification for the frozopian stuff just disaperaring, an opertunity for envoys, oh boy is this post doing multipul dutys. as for why the ships wouldn't move, i'm thinking something to do with reefs and keels, though not haveing maps, the crew don't know that. oh yeah, and, incase you couldn't tell, they're gate crashing you're negotiations at sea there. well, the one's near the white city,that is, Aust. at least what part of it is occuring at sea.

"What the hell are they saying." Commandor iHicus demanded of his translator,

"I don't know sire." The translator admitted, I know little of the language they speak. But the jist of it is that there freindly and are here to trade."

"Find out where there from, and ask them to follow us, we'll start towards the White City." The translator began to reply to the strange ships, in as many languages as he knew.


Ambassador Li Hau Pek turned to his translator. "You understood what they said?" The man listened for a moment longer then bent his head in concentration. He looked up at Hau Pek.

"I believe they wish us to follow them. I heard something that is similar to a island's language. Its a near forgotten dialect of Hiod Island (Indonesia). I heard white...and city. I believe that is what they call that city. The White City is where they wish us to go."

Li Hau Pek nodded and looked up at Captain Fu Sang. The Captain nodded and turned to his watchmen.

"Make ready the sails! Bring down the foremast! Bring up the ancor! Watch the trim! Soldiers to the foredeck, weapons stowed!" called out Fu Sang. His ship burst with activity as his orders were followed. A great rams horn was blown to signal the others ships.

"Signal an affirmative to the Aust ship that we will follow them!" Fu Sang called out to the signal bannermen. They nodded and began waving red flags in concert with a white one. Fu Sang hoped that they understood.

Ambassador Li Hau Pek stepped up next to Fu Sang. "You're sure they are the people of Aust?"

"Well either that or we've discovered a new world and people," replied Fu Sang.

Seeing that two destroyers had come to meet them, the Captain ordered signals to be made requesting permission to come alongside. Through unofficial channels, Austian signalbooks had been acquired, and one of these was put to good use.

Having approached to within hailing distance, the Captain called through his loud-hailer, asking in a passable imitation of the Austian tongue that he was here to negotiate, carrying an Ambassador from the Court of Terror Incognitia, and asking how he should proceed.
The signals came back quickly from the Austian boats, the Terror Incognitia ships where to sail towards the white city, one distroyers would lead them, the other would follow behind. They would be led into the port and ehre there diplomat would be met by one from the Imperial Palace.

As the ships passed into Aust city the newcomers must have marvelled at the great water gate that streached over the ports entrance, two great iron gates that could be closed to lcok out an attacking enermy. The marble arch above, actually granet plated with marble, contained murder holes and boiling should a enermy breach the gates.

The walls of the City where huge, 25 meters high, ringing the entire island, all coated with Whtie marble that glowed in the sunlight. The city itself was fine for only the richest where permitted to live there, and the streets gleamed with the white buldings. Surley there was no city so great or powerful in the world?

00o0o0oo00o0oo00o
Ambassidor qIntin was a man of peice, accomnieed by 5 of the imeprial guard, a dozen retainers and transltors he hurred down to the port, or at least he ws quickly carried in his sedan chair, to the port.

He had, had little under and hour to prepare for this visitors arrival, his cermonial robes where creased. But still he was sure that the barbarian people would be overawed by his citys majesty.

The admiral was shocked. A surrender? Who did this barbarian think he was. Yes, the Caladonnians were outnumbered, but his carrier pidgeons would be ready to call on quite substantial reinforcements if needed.

The words of the barbarian surprised him. A truce? He resolved to respond and find out what the barbarian meant. "Greetings, Admiral OTit. It is a pleasure to meet you.

I am slightly concerned at your words. Our two nations have never met before, and yet you regard us as a common enemy. This is a strategy which will surely lead to unfortunate and eminently avoidable conflict between our nations. I see no reason to sign a truce when our nations are not currently at war."
Admiral oTit was suprised by the affects his words has called, perhapse thay had misunderstood, or perhapse these people wern't who he thought they where. We apologise. We had you msitaken for raiders that have attacked several citys in this area from the sea, thus the show of force before you. We balived that we where at war with you, and acted as so. I invite your highness to come aboard my ship and visit the White City, to learn more abotu our nation and talk trade with yourselves.

Mahkath was puzzled. something very strange had happend when he had ordered the ships riged for chase and battle. they would not move! now, instead of the masters pulling the wakas, it was the other way around, as the crew and warriors bent their backs to the oars, sailing down the coast for the nearest port that might be capable of helping them repair whatever had happend to their ships. wtach fires on the shore had lit their way constantly, so they had not stoped moveing even at night.

now, in the distance, on this, the third day of rowing, they saw a large city, with a great harbour. the only downside was that it appeared to be surrounded by warships, of various alegiaances to judge by their flags, though that could mean anything.

Once again, Mahkath gave orders to raise flags. a different set this time. guild flags, the flag of Angermanland, region flags... every identifying flag they had available to them was flowen from the masts of the master ships, wich currently bore no sail. hopefully, he thought, they would not be attacked and their goods would be of value here. food and water were running low, though not yet to the point of being an issue.

OOC: justification for the frozopian stuff just disaperaring, an opertunity for envoys, oh boy is this post doing multipul dutys. as for why the ships wouldn't move, i'm thinking something to do with reefs and keels, though not haveing maps, the crew don't know that. oh yeah, and, incase you couldn't tell, they're gate crashing you're negotiations at sea there. well, the one's near the white city,that is, Aust. at least what part of it is occuring at sea.
More ships! Indeed the city was busy today as the citizens of Aust City lined the walls to see the foregn vessels arrive, only for more strange ships to appear on the horizion, another pair of destoryers was set out to meet these strange ships, to try and communicate.

Ambassador Li Hau Pek turned to his translator. "You understood what they said?" The man listened for a moment longer then bent his head in concentration. He looked up at Hau Pek.

"I believe they wish us to follow them. I heard something that is similar to a island's language. Its a near forgotten dialect of Hiod Island (Indonesia). I heard white...and city. I believe that is what they call that city. The White City is where they wish us to go."

Li Hau Pek nodded and looked up at Captain Fu Sang. The Captain nodded and turned to his watchmen.

"Make ready the sails! Bring down the foremast! Bring up the ancor! Watch the trim! Soldiers to the foredeck, weapons stowed!" called out Fu Sang. His ship burst with activity as his orders were followed. A great rams horn was blown to signal the others ships.

"Signal an affirmative to the Aust ship that we will follow them!" Fu Sang called out to the signal bannermen. They nodded and began waving red flags in concert with a white one. Fu Sang hoped that they understood.

Ambassador Li Hau Pek stepped up next to Fu Sang. "You're sure they are the people of Aust?"

"Well either that or we've discovered a new world and people," replied Fu Sang.
Upon the affermative from the Han ships the first of the Austian distroyers turned for home while the second took up the rear, leading the ships towadrs the white city, before long the marble walls had appeared on the horizion, twinking in the morning sun....

OOC: Sorry for the short post, I'm a little rushed.

Having made their way into the city, flanked by destroyers, the Incognitian vessel had smoothly docked. While the crewmen gawped at the marvels of the city, greater opulence than most of them had seen, the Ambassador debarked. With a small escort of Marines, he descended and greeted the Austian dignitary who had come to meet him. The man would perhaps struggle with understanding his poor Austian, and he would soon resort to the translator he had brought, but initial greetings were best handled personally.
While he was impressed with the city's riches, he was no yokel to openly stare. This was a time of crisis, and would be dealt with appropriately.
Accompanying the Austian dignitary through the city, the omens seemed good. These negotiations could well be fruitful.

the men where exhausted. even the officers had been doing shifts rowing, even the capitans. seeing what appeared to be warships aproching them, and well aware that if it came to a fight now they would lose, not that fighting was why they were here anyway, Mahkath called for a halt.

The various warriors and crewmen shiped oars, and waited.

Having made their way into the city, flanked by destroyers, the Incognitian vessel had smoothly docked. While the crewmen gawped at the marvels of the city, greater opulence than most of them had seen, the Ambassador debarked. With a small escort of Marines, he descended and greeted the Austian dignitary who had come to meet him. The man would perhaps struggle with understanding his poor Austian, and he would soon resort to the translator he had brought, but initial greetings were best handled personally.
While he was impressed with the city's riches, he was no yokel to openly stare. This was a time of crisis, and would be dealt with appropriately.
Accompanying the Austian dignitary through the city, the omens seemed good. These negotiations could well be fruitful.
qIntin greeted the Terror Incognitia diplomat with a low bow and spoke a few cermonial words of greeting before ordering over the Sedan chair and indicating that the Ambassidor was to get in. As the sedan chair made it's way back to the Imperial Palace, accomnied by the squad of Imperial Guard, the Terror Incognitia sailors and soidliers where greeted by the populance, and though there where a few problems with language quickly the a basic system of hand signals and basic communication came into play. The soildiers where soon escorted off to a veritaty of tavens and establishments.

In the Sedan chair qIntin made small talk with the ambassidor, and the chair was carried ever onwards towards the towering collossus that was the imperial palace, it was a huge building and as they passed through the otuer gates even qIntin had to marvel at it, though he'd been there many times before.

The Sedan chair halted in front of the palace steps, coated with gold, and they made there way up, through the palace towards the Throne room wehre the Emproer himself would greet them. On the way they passed many guards, courtiers and fine artworks, the way to the throne room was designed to impress anyone that came to visit. Many tribesmen had been known to surrender by just looking at the gold chandleers and fine arts. The entire place reeked of richness and power.

And then the throne room itself, red draps hung from every wall and guards lined the red carpet that led towards the throne in the middle, vailed so that only the Emproers hands, in white gloves, could be seen. The rest of his body was hidden in shadow.

Statues of former Emproers line the walls, towering majestys, weapons in hand. And the Emporer himself speaks, his voice young and unbroken. "I greet you, vistitor from the foregn lands, and greant your nations good tidings and fortune. Why have you come here to the Palace, to beg surrender of talk terms of trade and allince." This is quickly translated




(ooc:, if you have any problems, just say the word.)

the men where exhausted. even the officers had been doing shifts rowing, even the capitans. seeing what appeared to be warships aproching them, and well aware that if it came to a fight now they would lose, not that fighting was why they were here anyway, Mahkath called for a halt.

The various warriors and crewmen shiped oars, and waited.
The Austians hailed them in a rough version of there own language, Why are....little potaoto, naked woman....here? who are you?"

This, at least, was more than they had expected. To be ushered straight in to the Emperor himself.

"I bring you greetings and wishes of long life and happiness from the High Seneschal and Consilium of Terror Incognitia. I am certain that one so powerful as yourself will have long since been aware of a planned invasion of your lands. Any such invasion must pass through us on it's way to you. We would like to offer an alliance, so that our great nations can together halt this impertinence before it ever reaches your shores."

The Austians hailed them in a rough version of there own language, Why are....little potaoto, naked woman....here? who are you?"

Mahkath struggled to keep a straight face when he hurd the hail. turning to the capitan of the ship he enquired "well, at least they know the language, ... sort of,"
the capitan responded deadpan. "indeed sir. shall we reply? or are you going to let them just shout incoherancys at us all day?"
finaly giveing in, Mahkath laughed "a point, a point. call back, and try to keep the language simple. something to the effect of:
'we are traders from the guild of merchants of Angermanland, in ships of the guild of Capitans of Angermanland, bringing with us warriors of the Sutland tribes as security. we came to trade in all ports willing, and to contact any and all previously undiscovered peoples in the name of Prince Chargone uf Cant, ruler of Angermanland. some ways to the [north?] oh here we encountered suspicius ships, when we tried to investigate, our own would not move, despite full sail. we have been rowing here ever since, folowing the signal fires along your coast. as for why we are here specificly? a need for food, repairs, and water, and a desire to sell off our cargo. reporting a loss to the guilds on such an expidition is.. not healthy.'
and that's an understatement" the last half sentance was muttered as he turned and paced the length of the ship. already the capitan had simplifyed his message, hopefully enough, and was haveing one of the under officers shout it out. meanwhile, other under officers were getting the men ready to move once again.

ooc: .. ok, the post quoted at the top.. cracked me up. umm.. if i refured to Mahkath as a capitan earlyer, it was in error. he is more acurately described as a commodore, though that isn't right either. i just realized i may have left som inconsistancys in there, so, that should clear them up.

Upon the affermative from the Han ships the first of the Austian distroyers turned for home while the second took up the rear, leading the ships towadrs the white city, before long the marble walls had appeared on the horizion, twinking in the morning sun...

The five large junks sailed through the harbor defenses and came into the harbor itself. It was fairly wide. A little bigger even than Canton. The citadel sitting on a rocky hillside overlooking the city was also very impressive.

Fu Sang followed the guiding ship as close as possible and then managed to find a good place to weigh ancor. When he looked back he noticed that the five ships took up a great deal of the harbor.

This, at least, was more than they had expected. To be ushered straight in to the Emperor himself.

"I bring you greetings and wishes of long life and happiness from the High Seneschal and Consilium of Terror Incognitia. I am certain that one so powerful as yourself will have long since been aware of a planned invasion of your lands. Any such invasion must pass through us on it's way to you. We would like to offer an alliance, so that our great nations can together halt this impertinence before it ever reaches your shores."
The empofer thought for a second adn then answered, "We did know of the planned invasion, indeed we know far more about it than you; Your offer of an allicne is both welcome and accepted, your people are freinds of Aust and shall eb treated as such forever more. Never shall a Austian step foot in your lands as an enermy, unless you break your honour-in the evnt of which nothing less than your deaths will surfice."

Mahkath struggled to keep a straight face when he hurd the hail. turning to the capitan of the ship he enquired "well, at least they know the language, ... sort of,"
the capitan responded deadpan. "indeed sir. shall we reply? or are you going to let them just shout incoherancys at us all day?"
finaly giveing in, Mahkath laughed "a point, a point. call back, and try to keep the language simple. something to the effect of:
'we are traders from the guild of merchants of Angermanland, in ships of the guild of Capitans of Angermanland, bringing with us warriors of the Sutland tribes as security. we came to trade in all ports willing, and to contact any and all previously undiscovered peoples in the name of Prince Chargone uf Cant, ruler of Angermanland. some ways to the [north?] oh here we encountered suspicius ships, when we tried to investigate, our own would not move, despite full sail. we have been rowing here ever since, folowing the signal fires along your coast. as for why we are here specificly? a need for food, repairs, and water, and a desire to sell off our cargo. reporting a loss to the guilds on such an expidition is.. not healthy.'
and that's an understatement" the last half sentance was muttered as he turned and paced the length of the ship. already the capitan had simplifyed his message, hopefully enough, and was haveing one of the under officers shout it out. meanwhile, other under officers were getting the men ready to move once again.

ooc: .. ok, the post quoted at the top.. cracked me up. umm.. if i refured to Mahkath as a capitan earlyer, it was in error. he is more acurately described as a commodore, though that isn't right either. i just realized i may have left som inconsistancys in there, so, that should clear them up.
OOC: Fine. (Italics is Austian)

IC: the Austians tried again to answer in there visitors language. "Your....little person....rampant bull...Shit trade is welcome, pleasew follow our...yellow duck....msall orange...ships into the great harbour of the green city. Did I say that right? We are sure that many....theves....lyres....blackguards....merchants would be willing to trade with you."

One AUtsian ship sailed to the front of the colloum, the other to the back.

The five large junks sailed through the harbor defenses and came into the harbor itself. It was fairly wide. A little bigger even than Canton. The citadel sitting on a rocky hillside overlooking the city was also very impressive.

Fu Sang followed the guiding ship as close as possible and then managed to find a good place to weigh ancor. When he looked back he noticed that the five ships took up a great deal of the harbor.
The junks, Abmassidor mErcadise estimatd, where the same size as a battleship, of which Aust City housed 8. Those 8 where all out to fight the opposing fleet that was coming from the west and so the junks took therre harbour places.

The ambassidor ordered his Sedan chair carriers to the junk where he had been told the ambassidor from Han was on board.

by the end of that speach, half the warriors were rolling on the decks laughing, and even the capitans were haveing trouble trying not to grin.

never the less, enough men were still able to do their jobs to man the oars again, getting the ships moveing.

Mahkath summoned his asistant, Deehow Coinerson, from one of the other ships, a skilled linguist, he would be invaluable here. would that he had done this sooner. it may have saved the crew of the other ship much embaressment, but in all honesty, he hadn't thought of it.

by the end of that speach, half the warriors were rolling on the decks laughing, and even the capitans were haveing trouble trying not to grin.

never the less, enough men were still able to do their jobs to man the oars again, getting the ships moveing.

Mahkath summoned his asistant, Deehow Coinerson, from one of the other ships, a skilled linguist, he would be invaluable here. would that he had done this sooner. it may have saved the crew of the other ship much embaressment, but in all honesty, he hadn't thought of it.
The Austian ships led the newcomers into the harbour where an envoy adn several merchants where waiting to meet them.

The Austian ships led the newcomers into the harbour where an envoy adn several merchants where waiting to meet them.

OOC: doesn't give me a lot to go on, huh?

IC: the crew stared around the harbour. the place was large, with meny ships. the harbour on the southern penintula of Cant, and the one in the northern bays, might equle this one day, when they were compleate, but for now this place was Very impressive.

various crew members were takeing soundings on the way in, however, as no one knew the depth of the harbour, and the hidden keel gave the masters a greater draught than most would expect. fortunatly it could be raised partially, but this reduced stability, so was done only in ideal curcumstances, and often still didn't reduce it by enough to accomidate harbours not built for such depths.

The junks, Abmassidor mErcadise estimatd, where the same size as a battleship, of which Aust City housed 8. Those 8 where all out to fight the opposing fleet that was coming from the west and so the junks took therre harbour places.

The ambassidor ordered his Sedan chair carriers to the junk where he had been told the ambassidor from Han was on board.


Fu Sang has his men throw their ship's ropes over the edge and watched as Aust harbor men tied them securely to the wharf. When it was secured fully a wooden bridge was lowered from the side. Several Han sailors marched off and re-checked the ropes and ties.

Ambassador Li Hau Pek walked down the ramp followed by a small group of other court members and four armed guards. The guards carried between them two large chests.

They found themselves standing as a seden chair was brought forward. The carriers set it down and a tall man got out. He walked toward them.

Ambassador Pek bowed, as did those around him. He turned to his aide. "Speak in Kirisubian. They may know that."

The man turned to the ambassador and spoke. "We thank you for allowing us to use your harbor. We are from the Empire of Han, far to the north, ruled by the Son of Heaven Emperor Shui Han Di. We come bearing gifts for the Emperor of the Aust and wish to discuss a possible alliance or trade treaty with him."

OOC: doesn't give me a lot to go on, huh?

IC: the crew stared around the harbour. the place was large, with meny ships. the harbour on the southern penintula of Cant, and the one in the northern bays, might equle this one day, when they were compleate, but for now this place was Very impressive.

various crew members were takeing soundings on the way in, however, as no one knew the depth of the harbour, and the hidden keel gave the masters a greater draught than most would expect. fortunatly it could be raised partially, but this reduced stability, so was done only in ideal curcumstances, and often still didn't reduce it by enough to accomidate harbours not built for such depths.
OOC: Apolodys, I was leaving for work as I wrote that. (I'm working 3 tiems today, from 6-8 in the morning on the farm, 12-4 at the pub and 7.30-2 babysitting.) I'm a little tired, okay.

IC: Luckly the harbour was deep, so as to accomidate the large ships that came in so often. On the shore a crowd was gathering to look at the new arrivals, men women adn children that had never seen a foreginer before and wanted to start now.

The City guard had formed a cordon around the quays where the foregn ships where to be docked, and at each one an ambassidor waited for the ships to tye up.

Fu Sang has his men throw their ship's ropes over the edge and watched as Aust harbor men tied them securely to the wharf. When it was secured fully a wooden bridge was lowered from the side. Several Han sailors marched off and re-checked the ropes and ties.

Ambassador Li Hau Pek walked down the ramp followed by a small group of other court members and four armed guards. The guards carried between them two large chests.

They found themselves standing as a seden chair was brought forward. The carriers set it down and a tall man got out. He walked toward them.

Ambassador Pek bowed, as did those around him. He turned to his aide. "Speak in Kirisubian. They may know that."

The man turned to the ambassador and spoke. "We thank you for allowing us to use your harbor. We are from the Empire of Han, far to the north, ruled by the Son of Heaven Emperor Shui Han Di. We come bearing gifts for the Emperor of the Aust and wish to discuss a possible alliance or trade treaty with him."
mErcadise listened to the barbarians foreign tounge adn looked towards his translators, hoping for some conformation as to what they wehre saying. Slowly one of them trasnlated for him and he prepared to reply.

We are always glad to welcome peaceful visitors to our nation and we prefer to speak of freindship adn trade rarther than blood and steel. We send out greetings to Emporer Shui Han Di and our Empoer Tijian Lord of the Air bestows good forune upon your nation.

We are willing to discuss terms of an allicne with you and I request that you come with me At this he indicated to the sedan cahir Your men will be looked after. However I must enquire what is in the box for it is not unknown for assination attempts to be made ipon the Emproers life from such objects.

The empofer thought for a second adn then answered, "We did know of the planned invasion, indeed we know far more about it than you; Your offer of an allicne is both welcome and accepted, your people are freinds of Aust and shall eb treated as such forever more. Never shall a Austian step foot in your lands as an enermy, unless you break your honour-in the evnt of which nothing less than your deaths will surfice."

The ambassador was impressed. No days of court ritual messing about from this emperor. A man to deal with, even if his voice hadn't yet broken.

"Thank you, Your Majesty. By your leave I shall remain here to settle arrangements, and meanwhile send a message home with the cutter that brought me, to confirm the success of my primary mission. For now, unless you wish to discuss the matter further, I shall withdraw, so as not to waste your time with calculated inanities."

The ambassador was impressed. No days of court ritual messing about from this emperor. A man to deal with, even if his voice hadn't yet broken.

"Thank you, Your Majesty. By your leave I shall remain here to settle arrangements, and meanwhile send a message home with the cutter that brought me, to confirm the success of my primary mission. For now, unless you wish to discuss the matter further, I shall withdraw, so as not to waste your time with calculated inanities."
"You shall, and with this 'cutter' you shall take a gift for your leader," At this the one gloved hand viasble gestured to an aide. The man game over and there was the sound of whispers and murmers in Austian, then the aide rushed out.

The ambassador and a small staff, with a few guards for ceremonial purposes, were to remain. All their kit was swiftly removed from the cutter, and the vessel prepared to return to Nescia with the good news - and to send a replacement to allow further swift communication.

It now awaited only the emperor's gift.

The ambassador and a small staff, with a few guards for ceremonial purposes, were to remain. All their kit was swiftly removed from the cutter, and the vessel prepared to return to Nescia with the good news - and to send a replacement to allow further swift communication.

It now awaited only the emperor's gift.
The gift was designed to impress, it came in a large wooden box, with cast-iron hinges and gold inlaying. It was heavy, unsuprisingly, and 4 men carried it on board the cutter.

Inside it was another box, this one of hardwood. When you opened it up it would reveal yet another, long thin box inside that was covered with red velvit. in golden letter on the top was the words "From the Lrod of the Air" in Austian.

Inside that was a sword, but not any sword, no this one was made of diomond, razor sharp and hard. It was perfectly balanced and inlaid with gold filigary. Diomands studded the hilt and handle.

Thus was the Emproers gift.

Brief formalities ensued. Then the cutter left, with the sword-gift on board. A suitable return gift would have to be arranged. For now, the promise of ships and men would have to suffice.

The Ambassador finally looked around as the cutter left the harbour - to realise that at least two other nations were currently represented in Aust City's harbour. This would be an opportunity, not to be missed, to establish relations.

mErcadise listened to the barbarians foreign tounge adn looked towards his translators, hoping for some conformation as to what they wehre saying. Slowly one of them trasnlated for him and he prepared to reply.

We are always glad to welcome peaceful visitors to our nation and we prefer to speak of freindship adn trade rarther than blood and steel. We send out greetings to Emporer Shui Han Di and our Empoer Tijian Lord of the Air bestows good forune upon your nation.

We are willing to discuss terms of an allicne with you and I request that you come with me At this he indicated to the sedan cahir Your men will be looked after. However I must enquire what is in the box for it is not unknown for assination attempts to be made ipon the Emproers life from such objects.


The Han translator listened carefully. It was a farelly uncomplex language they were speaking. He tried breaking down the vowels and constanents sa they spoke, doing as he had been trained to do in the Imperial School. He listened as their own translator used a dialect similar to the one they had used on the ship, when they had been met by the Aust ships.

He turned to Li Hau Pek. "My Lord, I believe that this lord or magistrate says that he will take us into the pressence of their Emperor...Tria-jun...some barbarian name that I cannot pronounce, But he says that he must search the chests we have."

Li Hau Pek nodded. They had good sense to check everything an unknown delegation carried. It would have been done the same in Han as well.

"Open the chests."

The four soldiers complied and lowered the chest. They opened them. One chest was filled to the brim with silver coins. Each coin had the symbol of the dragon on it. The second chest was filled with a large role of gold-threaded silk.

"Gifts for your Emperor," said the translator. "May we be allowed to present them?"

IC: Luckly the harbour was deep, so as to accomidate the large ships that came in so often. On the shore a crowd was gathering to look at the new arrivals, men women adn children that had never seen a foreginer before and wanted to start now.

The City guard had formed a cordon around the quays where the foregn ships where to be docked, and at each one an ambassidor waited for the ships to tye up.

with no sail out, and keels raised, the ships had no trouble docking. even with the keel left down, the ships would have been fine, except perhaps at an exceptionaly low tide. the fact that they were useing the Wakas as a power source rather than the sails made it easier. as one capitan remarked to his 1st mate "it's better than most, but i still wouldn't want to try it under sail or on a bad day. the ships would be nothing more than splinters!"

while docking was underway, Mahkath and Deehow had orginized themselves. Mahkath in full armour, wich bore his heraldric crest. the crest was imencly complex as it incorperated various guilds, ancestry, titals, positions, unions, and meny other things. heraldry was important. it showed who you were, and what you were, as well as being significanly linked into the Way.

Deehow, on the other hand, wore guild robes, long, flowing, decorative, and deceptivly easy to fight in. one never knew when one would be ambushed. his heraldry was only margionaly less complex, but among the various marks of alignement were two of great significance: an oath bond to Mahkath, and a badge of service to the prince. amazeing what accidently foiling an assasination by falling over the right way after gettting drunk will do for one's carrier.

each of them gathered 10 of the warriors, all in their armour as well. the heraldry there ran the gauntlet from depressingly little, to almost as complex as Deehow's. the laqured wood armour was light, strong, and very easy to colour. in defferance to the fact that they were esentualy playing the role of diplomats, the men they would take were those of the way of the river rock. carrying large wooden shileds, and armed only with the short rounded Greenstone Sword, they were trained to fight in small groups, defending themelves and each other, disrupting an enemy's lines of advance and formation. it also made them idealy suited to controling riots and protecting from assasination atempts. and, Mahkath thougth to himself, damned if it didn't make them look impressive.

upon docking, the warriors lined the ships, in the perfect formations they had been trained for and, at a subtle signal from Mahkath, saluted those on the dock it's self as they had been trained. as fists struck armour plate ofver sholder joints, a loud shout was heard, "Kia Kaha," be strong. comeing unexpectedly from as meny men as it did, it could be quite startleing.

Mahkath smiled at the reaction from the men on the dock as he, Deehow, and the 20 men who would be going with them marched down the twing gang-planks from the masters, the waka being lower to the water than the dock.

The Han translator listened carefully. It was a farelly uncomplex language they were speaking. He tried breaking down the vowels and constanents sa they spoke, doing as he had been trained to do in the Imperial School. He listened as their own translator used a dialect similar to the one they had used on the ship, when they had been met by the Aust ships.

He turned to Li Hau Pek. "My Lord, I believe that this lord or magistrate says that he will take us into the pressence of their Emperor...Tria-jun...some barbarian name that I cannot pronounce, But he says that he must search the chests we have."

Li Hau Pek nodded. They had good sense to check everything an unknown delegation carried. It would have been done the same in Han as well.

"Open the chests."

The four soldiers complied and lowered the chest. They opened them. One chest was filled to the brim with silver coins. Each coin had the symbol of the dragon on it. The second chest was filled with a large role of gold-threaded silk.

"Gifts for your Emperor," said the translator. "May we be allowed to present them?"
The Austian guards cheaked under the gold, to make sure that there was nothing dangerious there, and then nodded to Ambassidor. "There safe."

The Ambassidor nodded curtly to his troop commander and then turned back to the Han envoy. "If you would come with me sire?" He gestured to the Sedan chair and they both climbed in before the chair was hoisted by the slaves.

mErcadise attempted to make small talk ass they where carried serinly towards the gigantic Imperial palace but foudn that the langauge barrier prevented him from doing so. Instead he used his time to stare out of the window at the majesty of the city. Surley there could be nowhere as great?

Within minuates the chair had reached the top of the hill and was through the inner wall and in the Imperial Grounds. Here flowers bloomed and men marched, ready for the coming war. The Empire had issued conscription and the new recruits where being trained.

Once inside the Imperial Palace mErcadise led the man straight to the Throne Room where the Emporer had just finsihed reciving a visitor frim foregn ladns. mErcadise confided in the Han Envoy that the Emproer had sent the man running in fear of Austs might.

They made there way through the wicker door and down the red carpet lined with Guards. The Emproer was in shadow unseen except for white gloved hadns. "Is this the Envoy from Han?" He asked.

with no sail out, and keels raised, the ships had no trouble docking. even with the keel left down, the ships would have been fine, except perhaps at an exceptionaly low tide. the fact that they were useing the Wakas as a power source rather than the sails made it easier. as one capitan remarked to his 1st mate "it's better than most, but i still wouldn't want to try it under sail or on a bad day. the ships would be nothing more than splinters!"

while docking was underway, Mahkath and Deehow had orginized themselves. Mahkath in full armour, wich bore his heraldric crest. the crest was imencly complex as it incorperated various guilds, ancestry, titals, positions, unions, and meny other things. heraldry was important. it showed who you were, and what you were, as well as being significanly linked into the Way.

Deehow, on the other hand, wore guild robes, long, flowing, decorative, and deceptivly easy to fight in. one never knew when one would be ambushed. his heraldry was only margionaly less complex, but among the various marks of alignement were two of great significance: an oath bond to Mahkath, and a badge of service to the prince. amazeing what accidently foiling an assasination by falling over the right way after gettting drunk will do for one's carrier.

each of them gathered 10 of the warriors, all in their armour as well. the heraldry there ran the gauntlet from depressingly little, to almost as complex as Deehow's. the laqured wood armour was light, strong, and very easy to colour. in defferance to the fact that they were esentualy playing the role of diplomats, the men they would take were those of the way of the river rock. carrying large wooden shileds, and armed only with the short rounded Greenstone Sword, they were trained to fight in small groups, defending themelves and each other, disrupting an enemy's lines of advance and formation. it also made them idealy suited to controling riots and protecting from assasination atempts. and, Mahkath thougth to himself, damned if it didn't make them look impressive.

upon docking, the warriors lined the ships, in the perfect formations they had been trained for and, at a subtle signal from Mahkath, saluted those on the dock it's self as they had been trained. as fists struck armour plate ofver sholder joints, a loud shout was heard, "Kia Kaha," be strong. comeing unexpectedly from as meny men as it did, it could be quite startleing.

Mahkath smiled at the reaction from the men on the dock as he, Deehow, and the 20 men who would be going with them marched down the twing gang-planks from the masters, the waka being lower to the water than the dock.
To the Austians armoured men yelling what seemed to be warcries in Aust city harbour was of course to covnern. So much so that the 20 or so Guards that had been holding abck the corwd turned and drew there weapons, forming a sheild wall 2 ransk deep oppersite to the ship. A cry for renforcments went up and Guards from all voer the horbour ran to help, swelling the Austian Ranks to 60 or so men.

The Austians banged there sheilds with there swrods and roared there war cry, "For the Emproer." Archers from the Imperial Palace began to form behind the spearmen, ready for a fight.

OOC: Auystian spearment fight with spears, and then, when the enermy had got through the spears with swords and sheilds.

The obvious state of panic going through the Austian guard amused Mahkath emencly. as if he could take such a mighty city with so few men, even if he tryed.. now, if he had been being stealthy, it might have been possible, but announceing one's self is such a way? it simply showed that these men lacked experiance.

As the capitans were dismissing the men back to their lesure and tasks, he addressed the escort "Escort Squads! we need to make a good impression. blades at rest, shields on backs, form double colom. squad van, squad rear. Delegate Deehow and i shall be between the squads once we start moveing. form!"

The squads followed their orders, reversing their swords so they were along the insides of their arms, protecting vains and ready to hand but not threatening, and slinging tower shields onto their backs out of the way.

Mahkath and Deehow steped forward to meet the ambassador and his men

He saluted in the style of an officer of the Prince's Guard, of wich he was a member, then bowed as was fitting for one of inferor status meeting a superior who's relitive status was not sufficiantly defined to allow for more apropriate greetings. Again, he was amused. The Way often seemed complex to those not born to it, and if you tryed to explaine it in any detail, it Was.. but to one who had growen up with it constantly a part of life, as almost all citizens of Angermanland had, it was second nature.

In a very basic form of the speach of Angermanland, a language wich untill recently had needed no name, for there was nothing to compair it to, Mahkath spoke. for the moment Deehow would simply listen, and atempt to analyze the languages around him.

"Sir. I am Mahkath, leader of this group. we come with trade goods, and a desire to learn what we may. we are honered that you saw us, unknowen as we are, as worth your time."

The Austian guards cheaked under the gold, to make sure that there was nothing dangerious there, and then nodded to Ambassidor. "There safe."

The Ambassidor nodded curtly to his troop commander and then turned back to the Han envoy. "If you would come with me sire?" He gestured to the Sedan chair and they both climbed in before the chair was hoisted by the slaves.

mErcadise attempted to make small talk ass they where carried serinly towards the gigantic Imperial palace but foudn that the langauge barrier prevented him from doing so. Instead he used his time to stare out of the window at the majesty of the city. Surley there could be nowhere as great?

Within minuates the chair had reached the top of the hill and was through the inner wall and in the Imperial Grounds. Here flowers bloomed and men marched, ready for the coming war. The Empire had issued conscription and the new recruits where being trained.

Once inside the Imperial Palace mErcadise led the man straight to the Throne Room where the Emporer had just finsihed reciving a visitor frim foregn ladns. mErcadise confided in the Han Envoy that the Emproer had sent the man running in fear of Austs might.

They made there way through the wicker door and down the red carpet lined with Guards. The Emproer was in shadow unseen except for white gloved hadns. "Is this the Envoy from Han?" He asked.

Li Hau Pek was rather annoyed with the Austian Ambassador. The man was too talkative and often boasted. Li Hau Pek had known many men like him in the Forbidden City, all playing the great Game for Imperial positions, and most always ended up dead or sent to low provincial posts.

As they were carried in the sedan chairs Hau Pek watched and looked around the city. It was a fairly nice city, crude by Han standards, and not nearly as clean! Why moments before Li Hau Pek had seen a woman hanging out her front window pouring out a bucket of dirty water, probably sewage.

Li Hau Pek had then relied on his training and put on his Imperial Court mask of serenity. It was a good guise for none yet had been able to see into his thoughts when he wore it. His aide had assumed a similar face.

When they entered the Imperial Palace, Li Hau Pek's first impression was a well fortified keep. It was larger than the surrounding city, but Li Hay Pek knew that the Citadel at Canton was twice as big, and was sure that six or eight of these could fit within the citadel of the Forbidden City.

As they stepped out of their sedan chairs and headed toward the Throne Room his aide translated what their greeter had said; that another foreign ambassador had been sent away with fear of the Aust in their hearts. Li Hau Pek grew doubly annoyed then. To boast of ones power in ones own house to a guest was crude and showed the stupidty of the person who said it. However this was not displayed on Hau Pak's face as he simply nodded and smiled to the man.

When they entered the Throne Room, Li Hau Pek's first impression was that it was small, but it seemed to serve it's purpose. The Emperor of the Aust himself sat in shadow with only his white gloved hands showing in evidence. Whether this was by chance or custom, Li Hau Pek did not know; but it was the same in the Forbidden City when the Emperor held ceremony he would sit behind a screen thus giving his subjects the honor of his glorified voice.

Li Hau Pek stepped forward and bowed 24 inches to the Emperor of the Aust. 12 inches was the standard bow, whereas 24 was for those of Royal position.

"Greetings to the Emperor of the Aust from the Son of Heaven, Emperor Shui Han Di, ruler of the Middle Kingdom, the great Empire of Han. We are thankful to your greeting and hospitality and are here to promote peace and trade. We also bear gifts for your royal person," said Li Hau Pek. He snapped his fingers and the guards stepped forward holding the chests. They set them down, bowed, and then opened them, then stepped back. The light shone off the great chest of silver and the chest holding the ducat of gold silk.

Li Hau Pek indicated the silver chest. "We have 40 other such chests in our ships and," he indicated the golden silk, " 3,000 ducats of Han's finest silk. We also carry 20 ceremonial gold-inlaid armor sets, 300 of the finest made swords from Han, and 20 concubines from the Forbidden City, seat of my Emperor's power, from where he sends you all of these gifts."

Li Hau Pek's aide, who by now had begun to understand the local tongue moderately, translated well.

"Greetings to the Emperor of the Aust from the Son of Heaven, Emperor Shui Han Di, ruler of the Middle Kingdom, the great Empire of Han. We are thankful to your greeting and hospitality and are here to promote peace and trade. We also bear gifts for your royal person," said Li Hau Pek. He snapped his fingers and the guards stepped forward holding the chests. They set them down, bowed, and then opened them, then stepped back. The light shone off the great chest of silver and the chest holding the ducat of gold silk.

Li Hau Pek indicated the silver chest. "We have 40 other such chests in our ships and," he indicated the golden silk, " 3,000 ducats of Han's finest silk. We also carry 20 ceremonial gold-inlaid armor sets, 300 of the finest made swords from Han, and 20 concubines from the Forbidden City, seat of my Emperor's power, from where he sends you all of these gifts."

Li Hau Pek's aide, who by now had begun to understand the local tongue moderately, translated well.
Trijian was intregued by the mans words, one they ahd been trasnlated, he stood adn stepped out the shadows, "I think I'm a little young for concubines, don't you?" He amde his way over too the cheast and inspected them, the silk was good, well amde but no better than any nobleman of the court would wear, certainly not fit for a Emproer, but these where barbarians and this was probably the vbest they could do.

He moved over to the gold and inspected it, agin it was good and well made, a small fortune, he gestured to an aide, "Have this distributed to the poor." The aide nodded and ordered the cheast barers to follow him. Meanwhile Trijian rounded on the Ambassidor.

"Your gifts are indeed welcome and shall play a part in elivating the poorer elements of Austian society. Your silks are also useful adn I shall enjoy wearing them," Never let a giftbearer know that there gifts where unwelcome or inferior-you mgiht offend them, "Indeed I would like to have allince with your people for they must be powerful if they can give away such riches." I could give away twice as much and not notice.

"From what i can see here your nation is powerful and worthy to be held in the highest estime. I would be glad to have both allince adn trade rights with your people. But come, you must be tired from your long journey. We can talk more of this later, over dinner. My adie here shall show you to your room." With that the Emproer returned to his throne, satying there until the man had left adn then leaving through a small door in the rear of the canompy,

Trijian was intregued by the mans words, one they ahd been trasnlated, he stood adn stepped out the shadows, "I think I'm a little young for concubines, don't you?" He amde his way over too the cheast and inspected them, the silk was good, well amde but no better than any nobleman of the court would wear, certainly not fit for a Emproer, but these where barbarians and this was probably the vbest they could do.

He moved over to the gold and inspected it, agin it was good and well made, a small fortune, he gestured to an aide, "Have this distributed to the poor." The aide nodded and ordered the cheast barers to follow him. Meanwhile Trijian rounded on the Ambassidor.

"Your gifts are indeed welcome and shall play a part in elivating the poorer elements of Austian society. Your silks are also useful adn I shall enjoy wearing them," Never let a giftbearer know that there gifts where unwelcome or inferior-you mgiht offend them, "Indeed I would like to have allince with your people for they must be powerful if they can give away such riches." I could give away twice as much and not notice.

"From what i can see here your nation is powerful and worthy to be held in the highest estime. I would be glad to have both allince adn trade rights with your people. But come, you must be tired from your long journey. We can talk more of this later, over dinner. My adie here shall show you to your room." With that the Emproer returned to his throne, satying there until the man had left adn then leaving through a small door in the rear of the canompy,

ooc: Chinese silk the same as any other? :confused: tushay. ;)

IC:

Li Hau Pek had never before had a conference with anyone that had ever taken such a short time. But he again remembered his training and had hid his annoyance. Not to mention his own thoughts. When they reached their room inside the palace Li Hau Pek and his aide and body servants entered.

It was furnished to the local style. Li Hau Pek stepped over to the bed and felt the sheets. They were course and unrefined compared to what he slept on at home. He turned to his servants. "Replace the sheets with my own and see to it that a bath is made ready. But boil the water first then let it cool, so as to kill disease within it." The two servants bowed and left the room.

Li Hau Pek sat in a chair and his aide with him sat across. He had been moving around the room in a slow fashion carefully checking the walls.

"How many?" asked Li Hau Pek. It was only natural that such ambassadors would be watched so he had his aide search the walls and room for some.

"I can find only one, there behind the bed's far left post."

"Outrageous! Why if I were in Canton I could easily count 12 at the very least!"

"Indeed my lord, but then these people do not know our ways or refined speech, thus I see no way in which they would be able to use such a spy hole."

"Indeed, indeed Mo Tang that is true. Have the chests off loaded and sent to the palace. And tell Captain Fu Sang that he is to come with me tommorow when I ask for a second audiance with the Emperor. You noticed that they are mobilizing?"

"Yes, they are preparing for war it seems."

"Yes, I want Fu Sang's opinion on these peoples war capability." Li Hau Pek then started using the Imperial Hand Code gestures. Only Imperial Courtiers knew it. Should we need to, I would like to have soldiers nearby.

The aide nodded. Four of my servants are really soldiers in disguise. We are well kept here for the time being.

ooc: Chinese silk the same as any other? :confused: tushay. ;)

IC:

Li Hau Pek had never before had a conference with anyone that had ever taken such a short time. But he again remembered his training and had hid his annoyance. Not to mention his own thoughts. When they reached their room inside the palace Li Hau Pek and his aide and body servants entered.

It was furnished to the local style. Li Hau Pek stepped over to the bed and felt the sheets. They were course and unrefined compared to what he slept on at home. He turned to his servants. "Replace the sheets with my own and see to it that a bath is made ready. But boil the water first then let it cool, so as to kill disease within it." The two servants bowed and left the room.

Li Hau Pek sat in a chair and his aide with him sat across. He had been moving around the room in a slow fashion carefully checking the walls.

"How many?" asked Li Hau Pek. It was only natural that such ambassadors would be watched so he had his aide search the walls and room for some.

"I can find only one, there behind the bed's far left post."

"Outrageous! Why if I were in Canton I could easily count 12 at the very least!"

"Indeed my lord, but then these people do not know our ways or refined speech, thus I see no way in which they would be able to use such a spy hole."

"Indeed, indeed Mo Tang that is true. Have the chests off loaded and sent to the palace. And tell Captain Fu Sang that he is to come with me tommorow when I ask for a second audiance with the Emperor. You noticed that they are mobilizing?"

"Yes, they are preparing for war it seems."

"Yes, I want Fu Sang's opinion on these peoples war capability." Li Hau Pek then started using the Imperial Hand Code gestures. Only Imperial Courtiers knew it. Should we need to, I would like to have soldiers nearby.

The aide nodded. Four of my servants are really soldiers in disguise. We are well kept here for the time being.
OOC: it's not hard to make silk, and Austians are pritty good at some things you know.

IC: There are more ways that one to spy upon someone. Spy holes and listeners are not the only methods that Trijian had to keep an eye on his people, though there where some. False bottoms to cubords, varses and other devices all serve there purposes, though none are as good as a good spy.

And Aust has many of them, you have already met one, though I won't say who, and another is entering the equation right now. His name is iLing, son of iLing, son of iLing, from a wealthy old familly. He speaks 12 langauges and is completely loyal, and he's walking down the corrador towards the Han ambassidors rooms.

He knokes, politly, and waits for an answer, as the door opens he smiles and bows, speaking in Cantonise "iLing, your Austian liason, I'll be staying wtih you while your here."

The Incognitian ambassador was settled into his new quarters - comfortable enough, though in both comfort and decoration tending to the excessive.
His men had been sent out around the city to get a feel for the popular mood, and familiarise themselves with it's layout. (He kept only a guard of two, save on ceremonial occasions, doubting that the Austians would be so stupid and incompetent as to allow an Ambassador to be killed, unless they wanted him dead, in which case his escort would only delay the inevitable.)
He himself was wandering the palace's public rooms, taking the pulse of the rarefied portion of Austian society afforded access, wondering how and when he was going to contact the other representatives of foreign nations present.

The obvious state of panic going through the Austian guard amused Mahkath emencly. as if he could take such a mighty city with so few men, even if he tryed.. now, if he had been being stealthy, it might have been possible, but announceing one's self is such a way? it simply showed that these men lacked experiance.

As the capitans were dismissing the men back to their lesure and tasks, he addressed the escort "Escort Squads! we need to make a good impression. blades at rest, shields on backs, form double colom. squad van, squad rear. Delegate Deehow and i shall be between the squads once we start moveing. form!"

The squads followed their orders, reversing their swords so they were along the insides of their arms, protecting vains and ready to hand but not threatening, and slinging tower shields onto their backs out of the way.

Mahkath and Deehow steped forward to meet the ambassador and his men

He saluted in the style of an officer of the Prince's Guard, of wich he was a member, then bowed as was fitting for one of inferor status meeting a superior who's relitive status was not sufficiantly defined to allow for more apropriate greetings. Again, he was amused. The Way often seemed complex to those not born to it, and if you tryed to explaine it in any detail, it Was.. but to one who had growen up with it constantly a part of life, as almost all citizens of Angermanland had, it was second nature.

In a very basic form of the speach of Angermanland, a language wich untill recently had needed no name, for there was nothing to compair it to, Mahkath spoke. for the moment Deehow would simply listen, and atempt to analyze the languages around him.

"Sir. I am Mahkath, leader of this group. we come with trade goods, and a desire to learn what we may. we are honered that you saw us, unknowen as we are, as worth your time."
The Austian envoy ordered his men to lower arms, "I apologise for the misudnerstanding, but you must udnertand that there have been raids and attacks throughout Aust and my men are extra valigiant. Indeed we would like the to treade and exchange ideas with your people, if your en stand down mine shall."

"stand down?" Mahkath was... curious, not to mention somewhat put out, "There are only 60 warriors, two thirds of whom are currently slacking off as they have nothing to do, and the other 20 are simple escorts. even if the ships crews were to fight, what damage could 150 men do to a city this size, especially one this well defended? i suspect your vigilance borders on paranoia, sir. post guards at the gang-planks if my men worry you that much. i was, however, under the impression that government officials deserved the honour of a salute and unless you have laws against it, my own position and rank certanly entitle me to some form of escort. i had thought to save you the trouble of provideing one."

"stand down?" Mahkath was... curious, not to mention somewhat put out, "There are only 60 warriors, two thirds of whom are currently slacking off as they have nothing to do, and the other 20 are simple escorts. even if the ships crews were to fight, what damage could 150 men do to a city this size, especially one this well defended? i suspect your vigilance borders on paranoia, sir. post guards at the gang-planks if my men worry you that much. i was, however, under the impression that government officials deserved the honour of a salute and unless you have laws against it, my own position and rank certanly entitle me to some form of escort. i had thought to save you the trouble of provideing one."
"Maybe you'll udnerstand that sending armed men into the greatest city in the world is not a recipie for freindlyness. If your men disarm then they can come down into the city, you, as an officer, may retain your sword and I can offer you a escort."

"you know" Mahkath was begining to speak rather softly "it is generaly considered that there is a difference between 'bringing' and 'sending'. i have been meny places in my life, and do you know what i have noticed? it's always the ones whre the officials insist i leave my escort behind, clame thier city is perfectly safe, and so on, where i end up haveing to kill people who are trying to kill me. i Do hope this isn't one of them, or this is NOT going to go well for anybody." upon saying that, he turned to the two squads formed up behind him. "the foward 2 men of each squad shall remain. the rest of you, back on the ships. and someone get my taiahu. MOVE!"

the men quickly returned to the ship, and Mahkath's taiahu was soon in his hands. slinging it over his sholder by the strap he had had attached to it, for easy access, he turned back to the ambasador

"better?"

Wandering through the city, as he had before, the Ambassador came across one of the foreign vessels. Some form of confrontation seemed to have just been defused, involving armed men on board ship, and local soldiery. The ambassador resolved to keep a subtle eye on them as they proceeded, presumably, to the palace.

He knokes, politly, and waits for an answer, as the door opens he smiles and bows, speaking in Cantonise "iLing, your Austian liason, I'll be staying wtih you while your here."

Li Hau Pek smiled outwardly, but on the inside was angry. One sent spies indirectly, for of course this "liason" was a spy, only an idiot would consider otherwise.

Li Hau Pek nodded. "Of course. We thank you for being at our disposal. For the time being we do not need your services, but perhaps if you could arrange for us to see your Emperor tommorow or the day after, whenever it is suitable to have a meeting with him."

The liason nodded. "Of course."

"Now, I have personal things to do, please allow me to excuse you," said Li Hau Pek. With a smile he closed the door.

Li Hau Pek smiled outwardly, but on the inside was angry. One sent spies indirectly, for of course this "liason" was a spy, only an idiot would consider otherwise.

Li Hau Pek nodded. "Of course. We thank you for being at our disposal. For the time being we do not need your services, but perhaps if you could arrange for us to see your Emperor tommorow or the day after, whenever it is suitable to have a meeting with him."

The liason nodded. "Of course."

"Now, I have personal things to do, please allow me to excuse you," said Li Hau Pek. With a smile he closed the door.
damn it! iLing swore in his head, [i]Of course he hadn't expected to get in, but it would have been a help. Luckly there where Austians, above, below and in walls to each side of this new ambassidors aparcment listening in.

There where also several spyholes that had yet to be discovered, but these guys where good, he was sure they soon would find his men. There was still a few ways to get round this though, to get them out of that room so his men could look at there luggage.

He knocked again, the door oepned and the ambassidor was standing there again. "Sire, the Emproer wishes for you to accompny him on a tour of the city, if you would be so kind as to follow me. Your men are invited as well and I balive that his highness is eagar for them to accompny us."

"But of course iLing. I would be more than pleased to accompany his majesty on a tour. But seeing as my men have not yet had time to bring my luggage from our ship. Perhaps the Emperor would admit my absence for the time being? Or allow my man servant to be accompanied by you or your staff to go aboard ship where the Captain can not only get my luggage but your own men may start helping in off loading the gifts we brought for your Emperor," said Li Hau Pek.

ooc: Aust.. ever going to awnser Mahkath's question?

ooc: Aust.. ever going to awnser Mahkath's question?

ooc: give 'im time, patience is a virtue.

ooc: he's posted since then. but i can wait. i'd just like to know how long i'm going to be waiting.. or why i'm waiting.. or something.. and i'm impatiant. hehee.

"you know" Mahkath was begining to speak rather softly "it is generaly considered that there is a difference between 'bringing' and 'sending'. i have been meny places in my life, and do you know what i have noticed? it's always the ones whre the officials insist i leave my escort behind, clame thier city is perfectly safe, and so on, where i end up haveing to kill people who are trying to kill me. i Do hope this isn't one of them, or this is NOT going to go well for anybody." upon saying that, he turned to the two squads formed up behind him. "the foward 2 men of each squad shall remain. the rest of you, back on the ships. and someone get my taiahu. MOVE!"

the men quickly returned to the ship, and Mahkath's taiahu was soon in his hands. slinging it over his sholder by the strap he had had attached to it, for easy access, he turned back to the ambasador

"better?"
"better. I doub that you will need to kill anyone though, we wouldn't be so careless as to give you that oppertunity."

"But of course iLing. I would be more than pleased to accompany his majesty on a tour. But seeing as my men have not yet had time to bring my luggage from our ship. Perhaps the Emperor would admit my absence for the time being? Or allow my man servant to be accompanied by you or your staff to go aboard ship where the Captain can not only get my luggage but your own men may start helping in off loading the gifts we brought for your Emperor," said Li Hau Pek.
"I am sure that can be arranged, I can have a large amount of servents at our disposal if you wish. I am sure the Emproer would be happy to help you. If youw ait a second I will call the Il-Lizec and we can arrange it." He turned away and whistled, within seconds a tall, thin man was making his way down the corrador.

iLing spoke quickly in Austian to him, and the man nodded. iLing turned abck to Li Hau Pek, "If your servents would just follow him, he will take them to the docks. I ahve ordered a dozen or so servents to help with the unloading. Do not worry about your rooms, they will be quite safe. And now, if you would just come with me we can go meet His Majesty."

"let us hope, for your sake, and mine, and that of any unfortunates who might end up proveing you wrong, that you are correct." Mahkath took a deep breath and tryed to calm himself. this whole stiuation was somewhat insulting, but loseing his temper compleatly, or worse, sucumbing to the battle rage, would be a very bad thing at this point. he continued "at any rate, shall we procead? there are meny things that need doing, saying, and so on. not to mention maps to be drawn up, and diplomatic negotiations to wrangle through, i have no doubt."

"I am sure that can be arranged, I can have a large amount of servents at our disposal if you wish. I am sure the Emproer would be happy to help you. If youw ait a second I will call the Il-Lizec and we can arrange it." He turned away and whistled, within seconds a tall, thin man was making his way down the corrador.

iLing spoke quickly in Austian to him, and the man nodded. iLing turned abck to Li Hau Pek, "If your servents would just follow him, he will take them to the docks. I ahve ordered a dozen or so servents to help with the unloading. Do not worry about your rooms, they will be quite safe. And now, if you would just come with me we can go meet His Majesty."

Li Hau Pek nodded. "Thankyou for your consideration." He snapped his fingers and his man servants came forward. "Follow this man and make sure that Captain Fu Sang unloads the ships on time. Have our luggage brought here, but only my first ten carrying-chests, I don't want more than half my wardrobe here." The servants nodded and went away, following the tall thin man.

Li Hau Pek and his assitant turned to iLing. "We are ready to follow you."

"let us hope, for your sake, and mine, and that of any unfortunates who might end up proveing you wrong, that you are correct." Mahkath took a deep breath and tryed to calm himself. this whole stiuation was somewhat insulting, but loseing his temper compleatly, or worse, sucumbing to the battle rage, would be a very bad thing at this point. he continued "at any rate, shall we procead? there are meny things that need doing, saying, and so on. not to mention maps to be drawn up, and diplomatic negotiations to wrangle through, i have no doubt."
"Indeed there will be, I'm sure that the Emporer would be pleased to meet you. currently he is entertaining ambassidors from other countrys, so I'm sure that he would be delighted to see you as well. If you would just follow me."

Li Hau Pek nodded. "Thankyou for your consideration." He snapped his fingers and his man servants came forward. "Follow this man and make sure that Captain Fu Sang unloads the ships on time. Have our luggage brought here, but only my first ten carrying-chests, I don't want more than half my wardrobe here." The servants nodded and went away, following the tall thin man.

Li Hau Pek and his assitant turned to iLing. "We are ready to follow you."
iLing lead them through the maze of Imperial Palace corradors to the courtyard where the Emproers Sedan chair was waiting. Inside the Emproer himself was waiting, as Li Hau Pek climbed in the Meproer greeted him with a smile, "ah, Ambassidor, welcome. I hope your rooms are satifactory."

In the rooms theselves the first Austian spys where creeping in, searching through the Ambassidors and his staffs belongings, noting anything they deemed important. new spy holes where boared and the luggage searched throughly. Though they had just minautes to spare before the Ambassidors entrage returned they made sure to return everything to it's original place.

"Indeed there will be, I'm sure that the Emporer would be pleased to meet you. currently he is entertaining ambassidors from other countrys, so I'm sure that he would be delighted to see you as well. If you would just follow me."

Mahkath nodded, raised his hand slightly, and the 4 remaining escorts and Deehow formed up in a small double colum, with him and Deehow in the lead
"lead on, sir"

Mahkath nodded, raised his hand slightly, and the 4 remaining escorts and Deehow formed up in a small double colum, with him and Deehow in the lead
"lead on, sir"
The mabssidor gestured towards the sedan chair, "After you, sire, we will proceed directly to a redaviou point with the Emproer."

The mabssidor gestured towards the sedan chair, "After you, sire, we will proceed directly to a redaviou point with the Emproer."

Mahkath looked at the... thing.. dubiously. "and what, exactly, is this? are you suggesting i am incapable of walking and must be carried? i presume that is how this thing is moved, given the lack of horses." after a second, something clicked in his head "hold on.. the Emperor? straight away? ... that's astonishing. no beurocrats? you don't even know who we Are! errrmm... and why would we need to see the Emperor in order to get our ships readied and trade in goods? would that not be the task of some minor official? all we need is the material, and we can trade for that, even, and supplys. i mean, we can do it ourselves, and i doubt anyone here would be able to..."

he was ... babbleing, is the best word to discribe it. stunned at this occurance. that and remembering Angermanlands last "Emperor" a mad man who had all but ruined the nation, and had been removed only after a long and bloody war. a tyrant and a despot, he was knowen in the books as "Kerj the Bloody" it had been a dark time.

OOC: i think i'm remembering what a sedan chair is right...

Mahkath looked at the... thing.. dubiously. "and what, exactly, is this? are you suggesting i am incapable of walking and must be carried? i presume that is how this thing is moved, given the lack of horses." after a second, something clicked in his head "hold on.. the Emperor? straight away? ... that's astonishing. no beurocrats? you don't even know who we Are! errrmm... and why would we need to see the Emperor in order to get our ships readied and trade in goods? would that not be the task of some minor official? all we need is the material, and we can trade for that, even, and supplys. i mean, we can do it ourselves, and i doubt anyone here would be able to..."

he was ... babbleing, is the best word to discribe it. stunned at this occurance. that and remembering Angermanlands last "Emperor" a mad man who had all but ruined the nation, and had been removed only after a long and bloody war. a tyrant and a despot, he was knowen in the books as "Kerj the Bloody" it had been a dark time.

OOC: i think i'm remembering what a sedan chair is right...
OOC: You are.

IC: The Ambassidor smiled at him. "You are from the Land of the Long White Cloud, yes? And you are also a nobel and leader of your people? Thus the Emproer wishes to meet you as we rarley ahve representatives from foregn countrys. I shall see to your ships myself, while you shall see the empoer. We rarley ahev visitors from your nation, and he wishes to speak to you-persoanlly."

"errrmm... right... and there's no way we could just walk or something?"

then Deehow spoke up "sir, we should take advantage of this offer. the advantages are meny, the disadvantages few."

Mahkath just stood there looking at the chair for a while... "ok. fine." then got in

ooc: how meny people fit in one of those? one? two? not meny, i assume. anyway, if it can hold more, Deehow would ride too, unless the ambassidor does or.. something. whatever. they're moveing now.

"errrmm... right... and there's no way we could just walk or something?"

then Deehow spoke up "sir, we should take advantage of this offer. the advantages are meny, the disadvantages few."

Mahkath just stood there looking at the chair for a while... "ok. fine." then got in

ooc: how meny people fit in one of those? one? two? not meny, i assume. anyway, if it can hold more, Deehow would ride too, unless the ambassidor does or.. something. whatever. they're moveing now.
OOC: 2 usually, of course the chair is all cermony, keeping above common people ext. I'll post after Oda does.

iLing lead them through the maze of Imperial Palace corradors to the courtyard where the Emproers Sedan chair was waiting. Inside the Emproer himself was waiting, as Li Hau Pek climbed in the Meproer greeted him with a smile, "ah, Ambassidor, welcome. I hope your rooms are satifactory."

In the rooms theselves the first Austian spys where creeping in, searching through the Ambassidors and his staffs belongings, noting anything they deemed important. new spy holes where boared and the luggage searched throughly. Though they had just minautes to spare before the Ambassidors entrage returned they made sure to return everything to it's original place.


Li Hau Pek's aide translated. Hau Pek bowed. "Yes Emperor, the rooms you have given us are more than satisfactory." Actually they were rather dull and small, but Hau Pek kept that to himself.

"You are taking us on a tour?"

Li Hau Pek's aide translated. Hau Pek bowed. "Yes Emperor, the rooms you have given us are more than satisfactory." Actually they were rather dull and small, but Hau Pek kept that to himself.

"You are taking us on a tour?"
"Just a short trip into the city, apparently a Ambassidor from the Land of the Long White Cloud has arrived. Given present circumstances I feel that it would be best to meet him quickly. I am sure that your nation would also like to foster links with other nations and I am sure that you would have wanted to meet him as well." As they spoke the Sedan chair lifted in the air and began it's slow way towards the city.

"I arranged to meet in the garden of Enternal Hope, a marmorial garden to my farther, it is a little way away. But coem now, tell me of your land. i have never travelled beyound the shores of Aust and I am keen to learn of other lands."

B-u-m-p

"Just a short trip into the city, apparently a Ambassidor from the Land of the Long White Cloud has arrived. Given present circumstances I feel that it would be best to meet him quickly. I am sure that your nation would also like to foster links with other nations and I am sure that you would have wanted to meet him as well." As they spoke the Sedan chair lifted in the air and began it's slow way towards the city.

"I arranged to meet in the garden of Enternal Hope, a marmorial garden to my farther, it is a little way away. But coem now, tell me of your land. i have never travelled beyound the shores of Aust and I am keen to learn of other lands."


"Our Empire I imagine is either as big, or bigger than your own. This due in part to recent conquests made by his majesty the Son of Heaven," said Li Hau Pek. The Sedan chair was moderately comfortable, and Li Hau's aide was doing very well translating.

"There are, at the last Imperial Census, some 100 million citizens within our Empire. Our army is large of course, and protocol demands that I do not speak of it at the time being. But needless to say, it is very powerful. Our fleets are strong, some 100 or more large vessels similar to the one we arrived on.

"Because our empire is so large, the terrain and physical features of the land are varied and wide in description."

"Our Empire I imagine is either as big, or bigger than your own. This due in part to recent conquests made by his majesty the Son of Heaven," said Li Hau Pek. The Sedan chair was moderately comfortable, and Li Hau's aide was doing very well translating.

"There are, at the last Imperial Census, some 100 million citizens within our Empire. Our army is large of course, and protocol demands that I do not speak of it at the time being. But needless to say, it is very powerful. Our fleets are strong, some 100 or more large vessels similar to the one we arrived on.

"Because our empire is so large, the terrain and physical features of the land are varied and wide in description."
"That is indeed a great country, yet I wonder how effectivly such a vast expance of land could be defended. Surley it would be easly to raid and destroy, for even a army and fleet as large as yours could not patrol all the choast."

"I also wonder about your resistance to rebellious activities, with such a vast expance of ladn Imperial control must be weak."

"On the contrary my Lord, our Emperor has firm control over the Empire. Due to our provincial system and the total loyalty and faith our people have in our Emperor, we have very little rebellious people. Only in our newly conquered provinces would we expect such, and our Commissariat takes very good care of such instances. Not to mention that each governor is required to raised a provincial army and maintain it for policing the province," said Li Hau.

"We are quite a civilized people. No one would dishonor themselves, or their families, or their Line to do such things. It is simply not done."

"On the contrary my Lord, our Emperor has firm control over the Empire. Due to our provincial system and the total loyalty and faith our people have in our Emperor, we have very little rebellious people. Only in our newly conquered provinces would we expect such, and our Commissariat takes very good care of such instances. Not to mention that each governor is required to raised a provincial army and maintain it for policing the province," said Li Hau.

"We are quite a civilized people. No one would dishonor themselves, or their families, or their Line to do such things. It is simply not done."
"Yet from what we know of your nation, it seems that your nation has a unstable histroy, but if you have solved those problems thenI conggratulate you." The Emporer looked out from beneath the folds and saw they had reached the garden.

"Ah, we have arrived. And it appears that the delegate from the Land of the Long White Cloud is here as well. Welcome, sire, to Aust."

ooc: not sure how i missed that, but it Was hard to spot that it was directed at me. umm... even if i seems a little forced, could you give me something more to work with next time?


IC:

Mahkath was just getting out of the somewhat claustriphobic box that was the sedan chair. if he were to be brutally honest he would really rather have walked, even after trying it. hearing the greeting as he turned to look around, he faced the speaker, unsure as to what was said, exactly, or who to. in part this was because he was too busy enjoying breathing properly again. Deehow and the 4 man escort formed up around him, the warriors takeing the corners of a square.

Deehow turned to Mahkath and asked "sir, are you all right? you look decidedly unwell..." he trailed off, as he had a habbit of doing when expecting an awnser

"i'm fine, i'm fine. just damned claustriphobic in that thing. you'd think after ships cabins it wouldn't worry me, but it Feels like being sealed in a coffin. i'll get over it" he shruged

The alliance with Aust had been repudiated. The Austians must be informed.

Thus a naval sloop, the "Yesterday", had been dispatched, with a piece of paper putting it all diplomatically, and a brief to extract the ambassador who had been left in Aust. She would shortly be arriving in Aust City, and hopefully soon after that would be leaving.

OOC: Your refusing the allince, why? Do i get any reasons?

IC: The Emproer smiled as his translator repeated the mans rwords, though they wehre not directed at him he still replyed to them. "I am sorry that the Sedan cahir is not to your liking, sire, but it is the most efficent and honourable way of travelling round Aust. And may I please introduce to you, the Ambassidor from the Han Empire." The Emporer turned and gestured towards the ambassidor that was climbing out of the chair.

OOC: Reasons? There'll be a pretext...the Consilium refused to ratify, in these uncertain times, etc. Then they'll ratify the Frozo deal sharpish.
But really, just because I got a better offer. And this way the fighting doesnt largely go on in and around my home islands. (probably).

OOC: Your refusing the allince, why? Do i get any reasons?

IC: The Emproer smiled as his translator repeated the mans rwords, though they wehre not directed at him he still replyed to them. "I am sorry that the Sedan cahir is not to your liking, sire, but it is the most efficent and honourable way of travelling round Aust. And may I please introduce to you, the Ambassidor from the Han Empire." The Emporer turned and gestured towards the ambassidor that was climbing out of the chair.

Unsure of which who was who, Mahkath and Deehow did the msot logical thing that came to mind, and bowed as one would to an unknowen superior.

"if i may say so, sir, if that is true, efficiancy..." this senctance was compleated with various idiomatic phrases that may or may not have been highly offencive to efficiancy's perants.. if it had any, and would disturb meny animals.

Deehow blinked. that had been a very unhelpful comment, diplomaticaly speaking. of course, it would be even worse for him to correct his superior in the current situation.

instead, he stepped forward and spoke "honerable sirs, if i may ask, why are we to see men of such rank? we are traders and explorers who's ship has been damaged, not official emmisarays as such. we cannot make agreements binding to our nation in our own right unless the entire agreement would be compleated befor we could get home, have the Prince decide the issue, and return. which, at this point.. is all of about a month and a half, fully loaded with cargo, if we stop at ports along the way as traders are wont to do. a matter of mear days if one were to brave teh sea of winds, i suspect. send 10 ships of any sort into that, you're lucky if one returns, and none get anywhere And return."

Unsure of which who was who, Mahkath and Deehow did the msot logical thing that came to mind, and bowed as one would to an unknowen superior.

"if i may say so, sir, if that is true, efficiancy..." this senctance was compleated with various idiomatic phrases that may or may not have been highly offencive to efficiancy's perants.. if it had any, and would disturb meny animals.

Deehow blinked. that had been a very unhelpful comment, diplomaticaly speaking. of course, it would be even worse for him to correct his superior in the current situation.

instead, he stepped forward and spoke "honerable sirs, if i may ask, why are we to see men of such rank? we are traders and explorers who's ship has been damaged, not official emmisarays as such. we cannot make agreements binding to our nation in our own right unless the entire agreement would be compleated befor we could get home, have the Prince decide the issue, and return. which, at this point.. is all of about a month and a half, fully loaded with cargo, if we stop at ports along the way as traders are wont to do. a matter of mear days if one were to brave teh sea of winds, i suspect. send 10 ships of any sort into that, you're lucky if one returns, and none get anywhere And return."
OOC: Your bowing to a kid, cool, if I where you I'd have thought that he was just some random slave or somthing...there you go.

IC: "Ah, so you are not Emassarys." The Emporer replied, looking angraly at one of his aides, the man quailed, "I was misinformed, never the less you can still inform me and the ambassidor here," He gestured towards the Han ambassidor, "of your nation and it's intendtions, then perhapse you can take a allicne offer back to your nation?"

"But enough of that, please talk, tell us of the Land of the Long White cloud."

ooc: the Way, combined the Heraldric system of Angermanland is such that if you meet someone and are unsure of their standing [which, in a culture that doesn't use heraldry the same way these guys do, is EVERYONE] it's best to assume they are superior. and to never assume anything else.

IC:

Deehow spoke again:
"we have been charged with initiateing friendly contact with other nations, so we are emmisarys of a sort. but we are exploeres and traders mostly, as i said, so we were not given any significant authority, no. the Prince did no think it wise, given that we have little or no knowledge of the outside world.

last i knew, all we were doing was exploreing and tradeing. but things can change in large and unexpected ways when one isn't looking.

of late Angermanland has grown to include more than just Aotearoa. there is the Cresent, the northern tip of which boarders Terror Incognita closely, and the Sun Isles, which scatter off to the east."

he continued to speak of his homeland for quite some time


ooc: at this point i direct you to my thread's first post, http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?t=465079 , as i really don't want to have to type it all out again. there are a few things in their i guess he wouldn't tell you, but they should be easy to spot. and you can always have your emperor ask questions.

The Emporer nodded, "An interesting place, very diffrent from anything our people have encountered before, but oddly...what is the word....correct. You seem to have every event planned out adn katered for, though this 'representive' stuff does worry me. How can the people rule themselves, it would anarcy."

"However you are certainly worthy freind of Aust, and I would as for your allince, I shall ahve an aide draw up terms, you do not need to sign only convay it to your Prince. If you would just go with iBon here," He gestured to a small aide, "He shall draw up the terms, you may have imput. i shall return later to look over them and atify them."

ooc: argh! what is it with you people and the RP equivilant of the closed question/awnser?

IC: "yes, it does run the border between anarchy and oppressive control. on the other hand, most of the time very little taxation is required to keep things moveing, and the prince Can step in and stomp anyone getting Too out of control. checks and balances." he shruged "and nothing in excess."

finaly Mahkath spoke again

"I'm sure the Prince would be delighted to recieve such a doccument."

ooc: argh! what is it with you people and the RP equivilant of the closed question/awnser?

IC: "yes, it does run the border between anarchy and oppressive control. on the other hand, most of the time very little taxation is required to keep things moveing, and the prince Can step in and stomp anyone getting Too out of control. checks and balances." he shruged "and nothing in excess."

finaly Mahkath spoke again

"I'm sure the Prince would be delighted to recieve such a doccument."
OOC: t's my Emporers style of speech, he's used to everything he says being obayed. He thinks your just going to go and draw up a treaty with the clerk.

IC: The Emporer odviously wasn't listening to Mahkath anymore and was locked in conversation with the Han delegate. iBon tugged on Mahkath's sleeve. "If you would come with me, sire." He led them to a small room in the Palace where a quill and wiriting equipment where sent up.

"Now," He said, "I', thinking a basic non-agression and millitary aid pact? What do you think?"

OOC: t's my Emporers style of speech, he's used to everything he says being obayed. He thinks your just going to go and draw up a treaty with the clerk.

IC: The Emporer odviously wasn't listening to Mahkath anymore and was locked in conversation with the Han delegate. iBon tugged on Mahkath's sleeve. "If you would come with me, sire." He led them to a small room in the Palace where a quill and wiriting equipment where sent up.

"Now," He said, "I', thinking a basic non-agression and millitary aid pact? What do you think?"

ooc: yeah, well, i'd still sorta expect that to have ended on something like iBon saying.. well... his line from this post, actually. heh.

IC:

looking around, Mahkath replyed "well, that depends what you mean by 'basic' and 'aid' probilby. and i've never come accross a 'non-agression' pact befor." he turned to Deehow "actually, is non-agression even a word? never seen the negative suffix attached to the word agression befor. especially not in that context"

Deehow thought on this a moment. "given the use of that suffix, it is a legitimate word, if not a commonly used one. we'd normaly word the sentance differently so it was a postive. but you're being distracted, sir... the issue at hand?" he indicated iBan with an inclination of his head

Mahkath blinked.. "what? oh! oops. right..." turning back to iBan, apologeticly, he continued, "so.. perhaps if we were to go over this in somewhat more detail? i'd like to at least know what i'm talking about when i present this stuff to the prince, you know? looking incompitant is not a good way to earn rank, favour, or good postings. errr.... if i can take back any trade offers too, that would be good. the trade guild will want to hear of them, i'm sure, as will the sea capitans guild." here he paused again "and the prince, obviously.. err.. and the schollars will want to know Everything .. gah..."

Deehow coughed, slightly

blinking agian, Mahkath refocused "oh right.. sorry. so, yeah... tell me about this "basic" agreement...?"

ooc: yeah, well, i'd still sorta expect that to have ended on something like iBon saying.. well... his line from this post, actually. heh.

IC:

looking around, Mahkath replyed "well, that depends what you mean by 'basic' and 'aid' probilby. and i've never come accross a 'non-agression' pact befor." he turned to Deehow "actually, is non-agression even a word? never seen the negative suffix attached to the word agression befor. especially not in that context"

Deehow thought on this a moment. "given the use of that suffix, it is a legitimate word, if not a commonly used one. we'd normaly word the sentance differently so it was a postive. but you're being distracted, sir... the issue at hand?" he indicated iBan with an inclination of his head

Mahkath blinked.. "what? oh! oops. right..." turning back to iBan, apologeticly, he continued, "so.. perhaps if we were to go over this in somewhat more detail? i'd like to at least know what i'm talking about when i present this stuff to the prince, you know? looking incompitant is not a good way to earn rank, favour, or good postings. errr.... if i can take back any trade offers too, that would be good. the trade guild will want to hear of them, i'm sure, as will the sea capitans guild." here he paused again "and the prince, obviously.. err.. and the schollars will want to know Everything .. gah..."

Deehow coughed, slightly

blinking agian, Mahkath refocused "oh right.. sorry. so, yeah... tell me about this "basic" agreement...?"
iBon sighed, he was used to dealing with trained diplomats, not amatures. "Basically, sires, a non-agression pact is where the two nations agree not to attack each other, on oath. A Military Defence Allince is where the two nations agree to help each other if one is attacked, with millitary aid and any other sort of aid there ally needs. A Agreesion Allince means you agree to attack somewhere together, say if we decided to attack Caldoon for example."

"I am preposing a non-Agression and a Millitary Defence allince, however you seem to want a trade agreement as well which can be brought in. I can agree that your people get to trade in certain Austian ports with certain materials, things that Aust needs. You then agree that Austians get to trade in your points for things that you need. Simple."

iBon sighed, he was used to dealing with trained diplomats, not amatures. "Basically, sires, a non-agression pact is where the two nations agree not to attack each other, on oath. A Military Defence Allince is where the two nations agree to help each other if one is attacked, with millitary aid and any other sort of aid there ally needs. A Agreesion Allince means you agree to attack somewhere together, say if we decided to attack Caldoon for example."

"I am preposing a non-Agression and a Millitary Defence allince, however you seem to want a trade agreement as well which can be brought in. I can agree that your people get to trade in certain Austian ports with certain materials, things that Aust needs. You then agree that Austians get to trade in your points for things that you need. Simple."


"heh. simple enough indeed..." Mahkath was pondering this information, "we have such things, but exact terms tend to be somewhat variable, so we never really got around to nameing them.

well.... write up the paperwork, tell us what it says so we can write it in Angerman, and we'll take it back to the prince as soon as our ships are repaired."

he looked around some more "i see you have artists graphite, but do you have any writeing brushes? it takes a Long time to write in our script with graphite. too angular, no conections from one charicter to another."

he paused.

"oh yeah.. talk to Deehow about trade. he's actually an official representitve of the trade guild, and thus perfectly entitled to make binding agreements on Their behalf."

"heh. simple enough indeed..." Mahkath was pondering this information, "we have such things, but exact terms tend to be somewhat variable, so we never really got around to nameing them.

well.... write up the paperwork, tell us what it says so we can write it in Angerman, and we'll take it back to the prince as soon as our ships are repaired."

he looked around some more "i see you have artists graphite, but do you have any writeing brushes? it takes a Long time to write in our script with graphite. too angular, no conections from one charicter to another."

he paused.

"oh yeah.. talk to Deehow about trade. he's actually an official representitve of the trade guild, and thus perfectly entitled to make binding agreements on Their behalf."
"austian treaty making is....ahh....very formal." iBon replied, "There are many set rules about what you can and cannot do. And I balive we do have some writing brushes, though i do not just them myself. You shall have to ask the stores clerk for them, his office is over the other side of the hall." With Mahkath despeatched he turned to Deehow.

"Is there anything your nation particually needs, etchnologies, metals?"

"austian treaty making is....ahh....very formal." iBon replied, "There are many set rules about what you can and cannot do. And I balive we do have some writing brushes, though i do not just them myself. You shall have to ask the stores clerk for them, his office is over the other side of the hall." With Mahkath despeatched he turned to Deehow.

"Is there anything your nation particually needs, etchnologies, metals?"

Deehow spoke calmly "i can make deals reguarding materials. technologys, however, would require imput from at least one of the universitys or schollar houses, so i can't garantee anything there. i do, however, have contacts in some of them, so i can arange that at a later date.
but yes, material goods i can trade and deal in at my discretion. we have fine Green-stone wepons and jewlery, well crafted furniture and wooden weapons, dyes and faberics, all in our ships. a few of the less perishable delicacys from our land as well. i would be interested to see what you can offer in that reguard."
here he paused "though.. i must ask. what metals? or better yet, what ARE metals? i have never heard the word."

the word came out strangely. wherever it had come from, it certainly wasn't Angerman in origen.

OOC: when it comes to useable metles at this tech level, the ones available to me are... gold. that's about it. so you can understand why they wouldn't have a word for it, yes?

iBon deicded to demonstate, he pulled out his sword and showed it to the man, "This is a metal, steel. There are many types but steel and iron are the most effective for making weapons." He gave the blade to the man to get a feel for it.

iBon deicded to demonstate, he pulled out his sword and showed it to the man, "This is a metal, steel. There are many types but steel and iron are the most effective for making weapons." He gave the blade to the man to get a feel for it.

"humm... this is a weapon, yes? the edge.. so sharp, but so thin.. would it not shatter upon impact with another of it's kind? or snap in half if impacted from the side?"

takeing it by the handle, he held it out for a moment, then let it fall around in an arc in his hand. griping the handle properly again.. well, so he wouldn't drop it at least, he continued

"it IS very well balanced though. against our weapons it would soon lose it's edge, i suspect. litteraly that is. we might have use for these, incidently, though a demonstration of their effectiveness would be in order.."

he looked in greater detail at the tip "a stabing point? surely this would break on any decent armour? it could inflict a fair bit of damage though... yes, i really must see how these are best used. and the material is unuseual. the closest i have ever seen is the northern Gong. and the schollars are resaonably sure that's not from our land, originaly. what else is it good for? and what other sorts of metals are there? for now, we'd only be interested in finished goods, but there is resonable chance of setting up manufactureing facilitys eventually, at which point access to raw materials would be important. depending how useful it is, of course. how does one work it, anyway? for wood one uses stone, for stone one uses cut stone, water, and to a lesser extent heat? oh yes, i am curious..... "

"humm... this is a weapon, yes? the edge.. so sharp, but so thin.. would it not shatter upon impact with another of it's kind? or snap in half if impacted from the side?"

takeing it by the handle, he held it out for a moment, then let it fall around in an arc in his hand. griping the handle properly again.. well, so he wouldn't drop it at least, he continued

"it IS very well balanced though. against our weapons it would soon lose it's edge, i suspect. litteraly that is. we might have use for these, incidently, though a demonstration of their effectiveness would be in order.."

he looked in greater detail at the tip "a stabing point? surely this would break on any decent armour? it could inflict a fair bit of damage though... yes, i really must see how these are best used. and the material is unuseual. the closest i have ever seen is the northern Gong. and the schollars are resaonably sure that's not from our land, originaly. what else is it good for? and what other sorts of metals are there? for now, we'd only be interested in finished goods, but there is resonable chance of setting up manufactureing facilitys eventually, at which point access to raw materials would be important. depending how useful it is, of course. how does one work it, anyway? for wood one uses stone, for stone one uses cut stone, water, and to a lesser extent heat? oh yes, i am curious..... "
iBon smiled, "But it does not break, it does not lose it's edge, though it does rust if you don't clean it. Maybe I can demonstrate it's cutting power." iBon walk over to a large iron case in the corner and unlocked it, inside was a suit of steel armour, but underneath that was another suit of leather.

"IF you just hold this out in front of you I will demonstrate." Once the man was holdijng the leather iVBon shoved the sword straight through the hide, it's gleaming point coming out the other side. He pulled it back and did the same, again and again.

"You see sire, metal does not blunt quickly, or break. Should you smash it against stone it might do so, but against meer leather it will not. And there are many types of metals, from steel like this to copper which bends and is lgihter and lead which is heaver and stronger. You work it with heat, I am sure we could show you a blacksmiths room if you wish."

iBon smiled, "But it does not break, it does not lose it's edge, though it does rust if you don't clean it. Maybe I can demonstrate it's cutting power." iBon walk over to a large iron case in the corner and unlocked it, inside was a suit of steel armour, but underneath that was another suit of leather.

"IF you just hold this out in front of you I will demonstrate." Once the man was holdijng the leather iVBon shoved the sword straight through the hide, it's gleaming point coming out the other side. He pulled it back and did the same, again and again.

"You see sire, metal does not blunt quickly, or break. Should you smash it against stone it might do so, but against meer leather it will not. And there are many types of metals, from steel like this to copper which bends and is lgihter and lead which is heaver and stronger. You work it with heat, I am sure we could show you a blacksmiths room if you wish."


"as i said, against our weapons it would quickly lose it's edge" he drew, from within each sleave, a Green-stone short-sword. a round paddle shape, with an edge running around it, a hand grip, and a stabbing point on the back of the grip "some of the hardest stuff we have ever come accross, it takes a long time to shape. it doesn't take so fine an edge as your metal, but on the other hand, it keeps it for a long, long time."

he paused "this metal sound's useful. i would like to see this 'blacksmith' later. perhaps after the paperwork is done for the diplomacy side of things?"

as he said this, Mahkath returned, brush in hand
"well. that took a bit of doing. shall we get down to writeing?" looking at the metal sword, he blinked "shiney. remind me to ask about that later."
takeing off his taiahu and leaning it against the wall, he sat down ready to write.
"if you write up the papers, and dictate to me what they say so i can write them in our text, we can get the nessicary signitures and things here. and then take them home for the prince's signature and seal."

"as i said, against our weapons it would quickly lose it's edge" he drew, from within each sleave, a Green-stone short-sword. a round paddle shape, with an edge running around it, a hand grip, and a stabbing point on the back of the grip "some of the hardest stuff we have ever come accross, it takes a long time to shape. it doesn't take so fine an edge as your metal, but on the other hand, it keeps it for a long, long time."

he paused "this metal sound's useful. i would like to see this 'blacksmith' later. perhaps after the paperwork is done for the diplomacy side of things?"

as he said this, Mahkath returned, brush in hand
"well. that took a bit of doing. shall we get down to writeing?" looking at the metal sword, he blinked "shiney. remind me to ask about that later."
takeing off his taiahu and leaning it against the wall, he sat down ready to write.
"if you write up the papers, and dictate to me what they say so i can write them in our text, we can get the nessicary signitures and things here. and then take them home for the prince's signature and seal."
"Indeed we can start right away." iBon began to write down quickly the terms of the allince, translating as he did so.

"Indeed we can start right away." iBon began to write down quickly the terms of the allince, translating as he did so.


ooc: ok.... that gives me.. zero to work with. i'll try and come up with something, but it'll have to wait untill tommorow.

ooc: ok.... that gives me.. zero to work with. i'll try and come up with something, but it'll have to wait untill tommorow.
OOCl the idea was that you could input your ideas into the treaty now.

"Indeed we can start right away." iBon began to write down quickly the terms of the allince, translating as he did so.

ooc: the fun bit is that it really doesn't matter What i do here. hehe.

IC:
"it is most likely" Deehow spoke "that the prince will not sign any sort of aliance that commits our nation to any action. that is to say, it would need the option of not doing anything if it was felt not to be in our interests. it is quite likely he would sign a treaty of non-agression, but the more solid commitment he must make to use our resorces, especially at a time when we may or may not have enough to start with, the less likely he is to sign it."

Mahkath thought for a moment "if one worded it carefully one could come up with a treaty that said our nations would not attack each other, and would help one another in times of need if able. that would proibbly be signed unless strange events have occured since we left."

he grinned mischeviously "unless, by some bizare fluke, your emperor would be willing to swear fealty to a lowly prince?"

ooc: the fun bit is that it really doesn't matter What i do here. hehe.

IC:
"it is most likely" Deehow spoke "that the prince will not sign any sort of aliance that commits our nation to any action. that is to say, it would need the option of not doing anything if it was felt not to be in our interests. it is quite likely he would sign a treaty of non-agression, but the more solid commitment he must make to use our resorces, especially at a time when we may or may not have enough to start with, the less likely he is to sign it."

Mahkath thought for a moment "if one worded it carefully one could come up with a treaty that said our nations would not attack each other, and would help one another in times of need if able. that would proibbly be signed unless strange events have occured since we left."

he grinned mischeviously "unless, by some bizare fluke, your emperor would be willing to swear fealty to a lowly prince?"
iBon grinned, "I don't think so, and I prssume the same for the prince." He stared down at his work. "Done, I've included a non-agression traty, your suggestions that we aid each other if we can, though it isn't binding. And I'vwe also included somthing saying that the ports of Asut City, tanka, Al-Ling and bambinio will be open for your traders. Is that okay?"

iBon grinned, "I don't think so, and I prssume the same for the prince." He stared down at his work. "Done, I've included a non-agression traty, your suggestions that we aid each other if we can, though it isn't binding. And I'vwe also included somthing saying that the ports of Asut City, tanka, Al-Ling and bambinio will be open for your traders. Is that okay?"

Deehow responded "that is true enough. however, you may wish to place the trade segment in a seperate document, as it's really more of a restiriction than an allowance. not to mention i can sign it now. generaly speaking, all our ports are open to all comers, though only the main port in Kant and the port in the capital will take anything large. even our own Masters have problems in most others, some they must raise board, some they can't enter at all. the costal traders can, of course. based on your harbour here though, i'm guessing most of your ships could dock at most of our harbours. even if we were at war, trade ships would still be let in. they might not be let out again of course. not imediatly at least, but they'd be allowed to dock and resuply and so on. after being well inspected, of course."

Mahkath also spoke "heh. yeah. the prince wouldn't do that unless it was to his replacement by due process. anyway. it looks good, all in all. get it signed, we'll take it back when we leave. which leaves us with the task of selling or otherwise tradeing our goods. we Really can't afford a loss on this one."

Deehow responded "that is true enough. however, you may wish to place the trade segment in a seperate document, as it's really more of a restiriction than an allowance. not to mention i can sign it now. generaly speaking, all our ports are open to all comers, though only the main port in Kant and the port in the capital will take anything large. even our own Masters have problems in most others, some they must raise board, some they can't enter at all. the costal traders can, of course. based on your harbour here though, i'm guessing most of your ships could dock at most of our harbours. even if we were at war, trade ships would still be let in. they might not be let out again of course. not imediatly at least, but they'd be allowed to dock and resuply and so on. after being well inspected, of course."

Mahkath also spoke "heh. yeah. the prince wouldn't do that unless it was to his replacement by due process. anyway. it looks good, all in all. get it signed, we'll take it back when we leave. which leaves us with the task of selling or otherwise tradeing our goods. we Really can't afford a loss on this one."
iBon nodded, "I'll send it through right now." He sealed the document with his official seal and ran out of th room, a minuate or so later he returned, "It's on it's way to the Emproer." He said, "It'll be returned later. Is there anything else you want to see?

iBon nodded, "I'll send it through right now." He sealed the document with his official seal and ran out of th room, a minuate or so later he returned, "It's on it's way to the Emproer." He said, "It'll be returned later. Is there anything else you want to see?

Deehow was the first to speak "a demonstration of these 'steal' weapons would be good, and of the armour. the second, at least, we would be able to sell at a very tidy profit if it is as good as you say. the first... well, none of our combat styles that i am aware of would adapt particularly easyly to your blades, but it doubt the revers is true? and you said something about a 'blacksmith'? so.. yes.. "

Mahkath spoke up at this point "weponry, huh? we have some for trade in our ships.. .. we sould also demonstraite it's effectiveness. if nothing else the Greenstone we make most of the weapons out of is apparantly quite rare outside of Aotearoa, so that should make it worth something."

iBon smiled again, "How about you go back and fetch our weapondry while I take Deehow to see the blacksmiths?"

iBon smiled again, "How about you go back and fetch our weapondry while I take Deehow to see the blacksmiths?"


"you do realise i'm technicly the superior of the two of us, don't you?" Mahkath grumbled "as for our weapons, well, you saw Deehow's blade, i'm reasonably sure he has another one or 3 up his sleeves, and" he picked up his taiahu "i've got mine right here. the guards who escorted us, and incidently, who have been standing outside the whole time, carry our other type of sword, and the weapons in the hold are just more of the same, though with various different carevineg patterns"

"you do realise i'm technicly the superior of the two of us, don't you?" Mahkath grumbled "as for our weapons, well, you saw Deehow's blade, i'm reasonably sure he has another one or 3 up his sleeves, and" he picked up his taiahu "i've got mine right here. the guards who escorted us, and incidently, who have been standing outside the whole time, carry our other type of sword, and the weapons in the hold are just more of the same, though with various different carevineg patterns"
"Could I see the blade?" iBon asked, "an intresting artifact, not as primitive as I would have thought, elss sharp than an Austian bade but you could Bludgeon people to death with it-yes?"

"Could I see the blade?" iBon asked, "an intresting artifact, not as primitive as I would have thought, elss sharp than an Austian bade but you could Bludgeon people to death with it-yes?"

IC:

Deehow responded,
"used correctly it's more effective than you might think. the continuous edge makes it a relitivly effective sliceing weapon against unprotected areas, and the spike will puch through most of the armour we make, if used correctly. generaly one uses two at once, as well.

as for bludgeoning, well, a blow to the right part of the head or neck with sufficiant force will kill or stun most people, and it does tend to crush rather than cut when used that way. though i have seen a couple of instances where someone skilled in the way of the eel has compleatly removed someone's head with one blow from these. hit them frome both sides, i belive.

i'll admit it's not as sharp as your sword. on the other hand, it takes a Lot to remove what edge it does have."

IC:

Deehow responded,
"used correctly it's more effective than you might think. the continuous edge makes it a relitivly effective sliceing weapon against unprotected areas, and the spike will puch through most of the armour we make, if used correctly. generaly one uses two at once, as well.

as for bludgeoning, well, a blow to the right part of the head or neck with sufficiant force will kill or stun most people, and it does tend to crush rather than cut when used that way. though i have seen a couple of instances where someone skilled in the way of the eel has compleatly removed someone's head with one blow from these. hit them frome both sides, i belive.

i'll admit it's not as sharp as your sword. on the other hand, it takes a Lot to remove what edge it does have."
"It is auite hard to remove a sword edge you know." iBon replyed, "But come, maybe you will think ebtter when you have seen the blacksmiths, yes?"

"It is auite hard to remove a sword edge you know." iBon replyed, "But come, maybe you will think ebtter when you have seen the blacksmiths, yes?"

"we shall see, eventually. perhaps i will."

"well then!" Mahkath was slightly impatiant "perhaps we should go Do that rather than standing here talking about it, yes?"

"we shall see, eventually. perhaps i will."

"well then!" Mahkath was slightly impatiant "perhaps we should go Do that rather than standing here talking about it, yes?"
iBon led the two diplomats out of his rooms and through a serise of passages to the rear of the palace. Hear they could hear the great clamour and bang of weapons being forged, a large cloud of steam rose from over a small stone building to the east.

iBon led them towadrs it, finally pushing open the large doors that led into the building. They where standing on a balcony overlooking a giant factory. Hundreds of men worked and the forges rang witht he sounds of anvils. iBon had to yell to be heard. "It's built into the side of a hill!" He yelled, "Where on the observation deck. Theres 3 mroe levels like this below!"

iBon led the two diplomats out of his rooms and through a serise of passages to the rear of the palace. Hear they could hear the great clamour and bang of weapons being forged, a large cloud of steam rose from over a small stone building to the east.

iBon led them towadrs it, finally pushing open the large doors that led into the building. They where standing on a balcony overlooking a giant factory. Hundreds of men worked and the forges rang witht he sounds of anvils. iBon had to yell to be heard. "It's built into the side of a hill!" He yelled, "Where on the observation deck. Theres 3 mroe levels like this below!"

Mahkath and Deehow broke into a sweat almost imidiatly. it was Hot. and large. and loud. and there was MORE? they were stunned, to say the least.

"well" Mahkath responded "this is certianly impressive. what's it achiveing?" being used to makeing himself heard over the sounds of battle, he knew how to pitch his voice to carry through background noise, so did not need to shout.

Mahkath and Deehow broke into a sweat almost imidiatly. it was Hot. and large. and loud. and there was MORE? they were stunned, to say the least.

"well" Mahkath responded "this is certianly impressive. what's it achiveing?" being used to makeing himself heard over the sounds of battle, he knew how to pitch his voice to carry through background noise, so did not need to shout.
"Forging metal" iBon welled back, "A good sword can be made in a day or two, we can produce hundreds in a day or so!"

"Forging metal" iBon welled back, "A good sword can be made in a day or two, we can produce hundreds in a day or so!"

the two men were... stunned, to say the least. "you can arm 100 men in les than 2 days? from raw materials? that's just... that's NUTS... " Mahkath wasn't entirely speachless. but he wasn't entirely coherant either.

Deehow, however, was thinking more clearly "well then, i must ask: what constitutes a 'good sword' and what is the survival rate of these hundered men in combat? the whole thing is staggering."

the two men were... stunned, to say the least. "you can arm 100 men in les than 2 days? from raw materials? that's just... that's NUTS... " Mahkath wasn't entirely speachless. but he wasn't entirely coherant either.

Deehow, however, was thinking more clearly "well then, i must ask: what constitutes a 'good sword' and what is the survival rate of these hundered men in combat? the whole thing is staggering."
"I am talking about a swors of this quality," iBon said, pulling out his own, "It won't break, loses it's edge and it's very easy to sue. Then we have the pike which is wooden and so takes 50 days or so to create, it has a metal tip to icnrease pentration. We then have metal armour-breastplate, gaunclets and chainmail-as well as a metal helmat. These are far superior to the leather armour that your people wear."

"Our men use limewood sheilds which take a week or so to create, but they can go into battle with just metal weapons and armour which will take a day or so to create, maybe less with our new 'mass-production techiques."

"I am talking about a swors of this quality," iBon said, pulling out his own, "It won't break, loses it's edge and it's very easy to sue. Then we have the pike which is wooden and so takes 50 days or so to create, it has a metal tip to icnrease pentration. We then have metal armour-breastplate, gaunclets and chainmail-as well as a metal helmat. These are far superior to the leather armour that your people wear."

"Our men use limewood sheilds which take a week or so to create, but they can go into battle with just metal weapons and armour which will take a day or so to create, maybe less with our new 'mass-production techiques."

ooc: you've now just told me you can make a very high quality sword in 1 or 2 days [a joke in it's own right] but it takes 50 to make a pike? that's crazy sounding. especially if you're not useing steam powered factorys. the british did that in the napolionic wars for their cavelry sabers... the things were utter garbage, and that was with metal casting and stuff, anyone with money to spare would get their own one made properly as an individual thing. i can see the armour being possible to make that fast, but it greatly incresses the odds of it have flaws in it. the only things comeing out of this place that are going to be Any use and not self distruct within the first day's fighting are the pike heads. and the shafts won't last that long. the only way this makes sence is if you claime IC propaganda. which would be cool.

oh, and proof of how strong this [armour makeing] technique COULD be? the russians built tanks with armour like this at one point. the only way it was inferior to steal at the time was an increased fire risk. and it was cheaper. i think it was the russians. someone did.

IC:

"you would be surprised at the strength of our armour, sir. though it's real advantages are that it helps somewhat, is light, and is easy to replace or repair. i'm not sure about metal but our armour, made from wood as it is, has a grain to it. meaning if you try and cut accross it, it's going to be very resistant. add a few layers at different angles, and compress it while soaking it in steam, fix the layers togeather, and it's really quite strong. and there is leather underneath it. on the other hand, i haven't actually seen what it takes to puncture or break your metal armour yet. a demonstration, perhaps?"

ooc: you've now just told me you can make a very high quality sword in 1 or 2 days [a joke in it's own right] but it takes 50 to make a pike? that's crazy sounding. especially if you're not useing steam powered factorys. the british did that in the napolionic wars for their cavelry sabers... the things were utter garbage, and that was with metal casting and stuff, anyone with money to spare would get their own one made properly as an individual thing. i can see the armour being possible to make that fast, but it greatly incresses the odds of it have flaws in it. the only things comeing out of this place that are going to be Any use and not self distruct within the first day's fighting are the pike heads. and the shafts won't last that long. the only way this makes sence is if you claime IC propaganda. which would be cool.

OOC: i know it takes longer but iBon is exaggerating a bit here. (Ie: He's trying to impress your guys and make it better than it is.) A pike takes a long time bcause you have to cure the wood ect.



IC:

"you would be surprised at the strength of our armour, sir. though it's real advantages are that it helps somewhat, is light, and is easy to replace or repair. i'm not sure about metal but our armour, made from wood as it is, has a grain to it. meaning if you try and cut accross it, it's going to be very resistant. add a few layers at different angles, and compress it while soaking it in steam, fix the layers togeather, and it's really quite strong. and there is leather underneath it. on the other hand, i haven't actually seen what it takes to puncture or break your metal armour yet. a demonstration, perhaps?"
"Indeed, I can arrange one immidietly if you would give me a peice of your armour we can compare them..."

OOC: wooden armour, thats going to be VERY heavy.

OOC: This might not seem to relate, but ISTR that aircraft made from wood were quite light and could take quite a lot of punishment, e.g. the WW2 Mosquito; so wooden armour is not impossible and could be really quite light.

http://users.pandora.be/bdc/Tadj/sos3.jpg

"Land Ho"
The Aglarrama had been underway for two months now, searching for the land that was called Aust. Now finally it seemed, they had found it.

"Is that Aust?" Captain Hedragan asked as he looked through his binoculars. One of his officers took out a map and began calculating their position.
The number of days and the average speed allowed him to say where they were "According to the map it is sir. We should be seeing a city over there."

Hedragan searched the horizon and spotted the city that merchants called Tanka, "There it is, lieutenant, bring me to that city."

The ship was still fighting with the waves of the Ocean but remained superior as it was built for such long distances, this was a unique well armed vessel designed solely for diplomatic and royal voyages.
Slowly the Aglarrama altered its course and set sail to the city of Tanka.

OOC: i know it takes longer but iBon is exaggerating a bit here. (Ie: He's trying to impress your guys and make it better than it is.) A pike takes a long time bcause you have to cure the wood ect.


"Indeed, I can arrange one immidietly if you would give me a peice of your armour we can compare them..."

OOC: wooden armour, thats going to be VERY heavy.

ooc: that explanes it then. and i'm talking armour like the japanese used. a mix of leather, laquered wood, and... paper, apparantly. only mine is tweaked a little bit. it'll stop an arrow, stand up to a few slashes, help deflect a bludgoning attack or slash depending on how you angle it and it'll slow a stabing attack, reduceing it's power. it may even be more effective than mettle at stoping arrows, about comparable with the slashes, and worse in all other ways.

IC:

"well, if we could go outside for the demonstration i'll have one of the escort remove their body armour. if you have an apropriate stand to hang it on in roughly the shape of a person wearing it, and do the same with one of your metel sets, we can test the relitive merrits of the weaponary. kill several birds with one stone, as it were. of course, the Taiahu really needs to be used against a human, not just a set of armour, but neither of us want's anyone dead that i know of."

ooc: that explanes it then. and i'm talking armour like the japanese used. a mix of leather, laquered wood, and... paper, apparantly. only mine is tweaked a little bit. it'll stop an arrow, stand up to a few slashes, help deflect a bludgoning attack or slash depending on how you angle it and it'll slow a stabing attack, reduceing it's power. it may even be more effective than mettle at stoping arrows, about comparable with the slashes, and worse in all other ways.

IC:

"well, if we could go outside for the demonstration i'll have one of the escort remove their body armour. if you have an apropriate stand to hang it on in roughly the shape of a person wearing it, and do the same with one of your metel sets, we can test the relitive merrits of the weaponary. kill several birds with one stone, as it were. of course, the Taiahu really needs to be used against a human, not just a set of armour, but neither of us want's anyone dead that i know of."
I balive so, we haev the appropriate dummy's." They went outside to where a man stood facing several dummys with Asutian armour of them. He held a longbow in his hands and was firing arrow after arrow into the breastplates, every ones glancing off with a clang.

"We are testing the armour," iBon explaained.

http://users.pandora.be/bdc/Tadj/sos3.jpg

"Land Ho"
The Aglarrama had been underway for two months now, searching for the land that was called Aust. Now finally it seemed, they had found it.

"Is that Aust?" Captain Hedragan asked as he looked through his binoculars. One of his officers took out a map and began calculating their position.
The number of days and the average speed allowed him to say where they were "According to the map it is sir. We should be seeing a city over there."

Hedragan searched the horizon and spotted the city that merchants called Tanka, "There it is, lieutenant, bring me to that city."

The ship was still fighting with the waves of the Ocean but remained superior as it was built for such long distances, this was a unique well armed vessel designed solely for diplomatic and royal voyages.
Slowly the Aglarrama altered its course and set sail to the city of Tanka.
There where very few ships in tanka, most where way with the main Austian fleet to the north, but two Sloops remained to protect the port and thus the Austians sent them out to encounter the strange vessel. They where armed and ready to fight, knowing that enermys where approching Asut.

"Ships incoming!" the guard yelled when he saw two Austian sloops approach.

Captain Hedragan ordered his men to prepare for a friendly meeting
"Lower the sails bring the ship to a halt, they must surely understand that we are not here to fight if we do that, or how else would we manuevre? Get our Imperial banner up so they can see we are not one of their enemies"

Lord Balkumagan, the Emperors diplomat had heard what was happening and came with his guards to the upper deck, wearing his black cloak decorated with gold he stood next to the captain awaiting the arrival of the Austians.

"Ships incoming!" the guard yelled when he saw two Austian sloops approach.

Captain Hedragan ordered his men to prepare for a friendly meeting
"Lower the sails bring the ship to a halt, they must surely understand that we are not here to fight if we do that, or how else would we manuevre? Get our Imperial banner up so they can see we are not one of their enemies"

Lord Balkumagan, the Emperors diplomat had heard what was happening and came with his guards to the upper deck, wearing his black cloak decorated with gold he stood next to the captain awaiting the arrival of the Austians.
"is that a Froztopian banner?" Captain hItis called from the foredeck, Lutentant Richards was thumming through his book of signals and flags.

"No sire! It's not an enermy! I havn't seen that flag before!" he responded, shouting to make hismelf heard above the waves. The captain nodded at him and then yelled orders to both his own ships and the other.

"Pull to starboard, show them our boradsides. if they want a fight we'll give it them!" He yelled again before striding to the side of the ship. He sparkled above the story sea in his white and gold uniform, staring at the enermy ship coming straight at them. Knowing that hailing them would be no use in this weather he decided to put up flags.

The red, yellow then bluwe went up in the classic Austian greeting, Who are you

"A red, a yellow and blue flag? what does that mean?" Balkumagan said as he saw them in the distance.

Hedragan, unlike most Tadjik captains, had had some lessons in foreign flags and international signals for as far as those existed.
"They are asking us who we are!"
"Lieutenant, signal back that we come as friends."

The Lieutenant was quick to get his signal flags up, as he saw the Austian vessels turn and prepare for hostilities.

"A red, a yellow and blue flag? what does that mean?" Balkumagan said as he saw them in the distance.

Hedragan, unlike most Tadjik captains, had had some lessons in foreign flags and international signals for as far as those existed.
"They are asking us who we are!"
"Lieutenant, signal back that we come as friends."

The Lieutenant was quick to get his signal flags up, as he saw the Austian vessels turn and prepare for hostilities.
"Tadjikistan where the fucks that?" The captain asked to nobody.

"it's a country sire, far to the north. it's quite powerful, maybe they wish to ally with us?" Ensign Wilhelm replied, slightly too quickly. The Captains eyes narrowed, he already suspected this Ensign of being too clever and his suspicions had just been confirmed.

"Ah, so we'd better do the whole diplomatic thing yes. order the Portalius to take there read and we'll lead them in. Signal that to them Lutentant. and Ensign."

"Sire?"

"You watch the clock. And note down at what time everything happens okay."

"yes sire."

"Ah, They are bringing us into their port I believe" Hedragan noted

Lord Balkumagan, the only one on board who spoke different languages saw a ship, named Portalius take the lead.
"Lets get everything ready for the official meeting! Send all soldiers in the cerenomial dress to the upper deck and clean this mess up. I want to make a good impression when these Austians come on board."

"Yessir" The lieutenant replied, imediatly ordering his sailors to work.

I balive so, we haev the appropriate dummy's." They went outside to where a man stood facing several dummys with Asutian armour of them. He held a longbow in his hands and was firing arrow after arrow into the breastplates, every ones glancing off with a clang.

"We are testing the armour," iBon explaained.


Mahkath and Deehow were both somewhat more interested in the longbow's ability to launch projectiles than in the armours ability to deflect them.
"ok, now i'm curious. what is it and how does it work?" Mahkath asked.

ooc: incidently, that better be cavelry armour. any infantry man wearing sufficiant armour to deflect every arrow fired at him would not be able to move very fast for very long. or for very long at all. even the best plate would eventually get punctured by an arrow. that's why the knights and so on wore chainmail as well. and it still didn't difflect everything. rounded plate had a chance, but only if it wasn't a dirrect hit to start with, and it still left exposed points.

Mahkath and Deehow were both somewhat more interested in the longbow's ability to launch projectiles than in the armours ability to deflect them.
"ok, now i'm curious. what is it and how does it work?" Mahkath asked.

ooc: incidently, that better be cavelry armour. any infantry man wearing sufficiant armour to deflect every arrow fired at him would not be able to move very fast for very long. or for very long at all. even the best plate would eventually get punctured by an arrow. that's why the knights and so on wore chainmail as well. and it still didn't difflect everything. rounded plate had a chance, but only if it wasn't a dirrect hit to start with, and it still left exposed points.
OOC: Actually it's fine noblemans armour-cavalry. And he's aiming at the strongest point.

IC: "You don't have bows?" iBon asked, suprised, "It's very simple, the tension in the wood and the spring launches projectiles forwards very quickly. we tip them with metal so that...." he singalled to the Longbowman who changed aim and fired at a straw dummy without armour, the arrow went trogh up to it's feathers. "...That happens."

OOC: Actually it's fine noblemans armour-cavalry. And he's aiming at the strongest point.

IC: "You don't have bows?" iBon asked, suprised, "It's very simple, the tension in the wood and the spring launches projectiles forwards very quickly. we tip them with metal so that...." he singalled to the Longbowman who changed aim and fired at a straw dummy without armour, the arrow went trogh up to it's feathers. "...That happens."

"ouch. painful looking. i can see why you'd want good armour."
"indeed" Deehow spoke up again " to be honest, you once again have exceaded our knowledge. we have no such thing. i belive the closest equivilant to be.. the hunting sling, actually. a pouch and cord, spun to speed, launchs a rock, which is generally enough to bring down a bird. well. most birds.

it would be interesting to see how our own armour stands up to such things."

he called one of their escort over, and after promiseing to re-emburse the man for the armour, should it be damaged (which was a near certianty) presented it to iBon "set it up as you see fit."

ooc : prods the thread to see if it shows up on Aust's list this time

"ouch. painful looking. i can see why you'd want good armour."
"indeed" Deehow spoke up again " to be honest, you once again have exceaded our knowledge. we have no such thing. i belive the closest equivilant to be.. the hunting sling, actually. a pouch and cord, spun to speed, launchs a rock, which is generally enough to bring down a bird. well. most birds.

it would be interesting to see how our own armour stands up to such things."

he called one of their escort over, and after promiseing to re-emburse the man for the armour, should it be damaged (which was a near certianty) presented it to iBon "set it up as you see fit."
OOC: Thanks m ate, I was drowning my sorrows last night...

IC: iBon put the armour on the dummy and stood back, ordering the man to fire. The arrow thumped into the wood, being partally stopped but still peicing the layer of wood. "Stood u[ better than I expected," He said, "But that'd still give you a nasty stomach ache."

OOC: Thanks m ate, I was drowning my sorrows last night...

IC: iBon put the armour on the dummy and stood back, ordering the man to fire. The arrow thumped into the wood, being partally stopped but still peicing the layer of wood. "Stood u[ better than I expected," He said, "But that'd still give you a nasty stomach ache."


"true. but men of this type generaly wear more leather under neath that, and their carry sheilds as well. shall we see how each withstands the melee weapons?"

ooc: terror and i did a whole big bit on my thread about my armours ability to stand up to guns, crossbows, and long bows at various ranges, and his as well.

the up shot: steal will deflect far more, but when it doesn't, the guy's going splat. my wood/lether mix will deflect little, but nothing short of a gun at 25 yards is going the whole way through the thicker points. of course, like all armour it has weakpoints. the sholder guards and lack of helmit make it horribly vulnerable to arrow fire from above. this was remided by replaceing them with Incognitian sholder guards and helmits.

"true. but men of this type generaly wear more leather under neath that, and their carry sheilds as well. shall we see how each withstands the melee weapons?"

ooc: terror and i did a whole big bit on my thread about my armours ability to stand up to guns, crossbows, and long bows at various ranges, and his as well.

the up shot: steal will deflect far more, but when it doesn't, the guy's going splat. my wood/lether mix will deflect little, but nothing short of a gun at 25 yards is going the whole way through the thicker points. of course, like all armour it has weakpoints. the sholder guards and lack of helmit make it horribly vulnerable to arrow fire from above. this was remided by replaceing them with Incognitian sholder guards and helmits.
"Sure, if you wish too."

"very well, which weapons would you like to test on them first? obviously each of us already knows how our own armour stands up to our own weapons, so shall we try the eel-blade, the rock-edge, or the taiahu on your amour first?"

"very well, which weapons would you like to test on them first? obviously each of us already knows how our own armour stands up to our own weapons, so shall we try the eel-blade, the rock-edge, or the taiahu on your amour first?"
"They are your weapons so you choose. If you would care to demonstrate on the dummy?"

"very well. the Taiahu first, then."

Mahkath unslung his weapon, steped back a few paces, swung it a few times "if you would step aside a bit please? all the effectiveness in this weapon comes from wide, fast arcs" after they had moved a little, he started running, the weapon set accross his sholders and gripped near the point. as he approched the target, he whirled it several times around his head, changing his grip at various points in the spin to get the right angle and speed, the then brought it down on the dummy's "arm", the paddle edge crashed down on the armour with a most horrific noise. the armour seemed fine. then the arm fell off, broken in two. meanwhile, he had spun again, shifting his grip, whirling the weapon, bouncing the paddle off of the armour at various points, then he brought it around for another strong blow on the other arm. this time he hit it differently, and the armour was bent beneath the force of the blow, though the arm was intact. continueing the spin, he changed his grip once again, so that the point was now leading the spin, and he was holding it in both hands. he ducked forward and jabed one of the joints, then bounced back, spun the weapon verticaly again, and brougth the blade down on the "head" of the dummy. the helmit rang like a gong, but already he had used the recoil to swing the blade up between the dummy's "legs" catching the edge of the mettle armour on the way. bouncieng the weapon off again, he brought it down on the "sholder" of the broken arm, causeing the armour to skew something horrible, then backfliped away, kicking the helmit off as his feet passed it.

"not very good at obsorbing an impact, is it? still, i couldn't peirce the actual armour with the point, which is good.. errr.. i think there was a flaw in the wood of that arm though. heh. a human should have a very Very nasty bruse, mabey a break.. but their arm wouldn't drop off like that."

ooc: sorry, i need my guys back.. and this thread has stalled.. so.....yoink!

IC: after more demonstrations in a similar vein, Mahkath and Deehow gathered up the official documents and their guard and returned to the ship. for the next week while it was being repaired [mostly by their crewmen. the locals wouldn't kow how to build a fast ship if their lives depended on it, let alone repair a trio of Masters in various states of disrepair.] they traded off all the goods out of their hold for maps of Aust and the surrounding waters, and supplys for the return trip.

as soon as all was in readyness, the took their leave of Aust, and returned home.

OOC: Okay.

OOC: Okay.


ooc: yeah, sorry about that. but like i said, i sorta needed them back. and even when you were here this thread was barely moveing. leaves you free to concentrate on teh war, really. or more so, at least.

Fine, ta.