Helfaer
16-02-2006, 22:12
The door to the chamber opened and the room immediately fell silent. Even the air in the room, heavy with anticipation, seemed to fall still. Around the long table every head was bowed, every pair of eyes cast down. Not a sound could be heard in the room.
Then there were footsteps, boots hitting the stone floor, echoes ringing off the stone walls. Slow steps beat a tight rhythm into the chamber and then along the edge of the room to the end of the table where they stopped.
The Fell seated himself and looked out over the assembled people, still keeping their heads bowed and waiting for him to speak. His daughters were there, Marissa and Sabia, although his son was away on an officer training course for the army. General Brinksmann was there, but then that was a given: Brinksmann was the Fell's oldest friend and one of his greatest advisors, as well as being a shrewd general. Seated next to him was Admiral Drassich, aquiline and regal next to Brinkmann's, who looked like he had been carved out of rock. Inscrutable as ever, he sat stock still and silent, waiting. Lord Pirus, Chief of Intelligence, sat on Drassich's other side, completing the remaining military contingent. Air Marshall Tyresus had recently been sent to the uranium mines for embezzlement.
The Fell's eyes continued to rove over the assorted leaders. The Provincial Governors were all present, although they were currently of little interest, and the Specialist Ministers could be thought of in the same way, except Almarxa. Although he didn't know it, Almarxa's head was on the line if this debate went the wrong way. Word had got out that he had taken matters into his own hands, attempted to break Helfaer's isolation through talks with other nations. If Helfaer maintained isolaitonism, he would be made into an example.
Finally, his lip curled as he saw Tehenazzar, the High Priest of Leviathan, seated at the other end of the table, dressed as usual in his deep red ceremonial robes, his hood down over his eyes showing only his thin, cruel lips. If anyone opposed the Fell now, it would be Tehenazzar.
Without waiting for those assembled to lift their heads, he began to speak.
"Members of the Royal Advisory Court, I have ordered you to assemble today to discuss the future of Helfaer."
Heads snapped up all around the table, eyes intent.
"For decades now, Helfaer has pursued a policy of isolation from the outside world in order to focus on politics within the Ash Desert. However, with the defeat of the Consul of Marenna and the seizure of his lands, the Ash Desert has been unified."
Nods from Brinksmann and Drassich, who had been directly involved. Murmurs from everyone else, suspecting what was coming.
"I believe that the time has come to announce ourselves to the world, for both trade and exchange of embassies, with possible alliances in the near future."
Now came the tricky part. Although the Fell was absolute monarch, he still had to keep the Advisory Court on his good side. As a body made up of nobles, the most influential men in Helfaer, it wielded considerable power, and monarchs who failed to maintain good relations with their nobles were vulnerable. To push ahead with the proposal even if the Advisory Court was against it would lose him support, but to back down would show weakness. His only real option was to win this debate. Quickly formulating supporting evidence in his head, he opened his mouth to back up his statement.
Tehenazzar had got there first.
"My lord, with respect, this idea is an affront both to Leviathan and our nation! Those not born of Helfaer are unworthy to tread upon our sacred soil, save as slave labourers working for the greater glory of Leviathan and our nation, so why should we parley with them?"
Mutterings of assent from around the table. Leviathan was worshipped by around half of the population, so playing off religious sentiments could win a lot of support. The Fell replied calmly.
"And yet Leviathan also told us to make Helfaer ever greater! We must struggle for continuous improvement, and one way to do that is through diplomacy. In fact, we will need foreign trade if we are to survive at all. Our population remained stable for hundreds of years, but it is now booming. Helfaer is a desert- our food production capabilities have been stretched beyond their limits, and without trade we will have mass starvation in our cities."
"Then we follow the ways of our ancestors before they discovered the aquifer drill! We do as Leviathan commands, and begin raiding once more!"
The priest was on his feet now, as was the Fell. They stared at each other, eyes blazing.
"No! To do that would doom Helfaer to destruction. In the international world, we are both outnumbered and outgunned. If we are to begin raiding, we will need powerful allies."
"You speak of dooming Helfaer to destruction! We will be destroyed from within if you are to have your way! I would rather die in battle for the glory of Leviathan than allow the outlander scum to eat us away from the inside, feeding off us like parasites, sapping our lifeblood! Any true man of Helfaer would want the same!"
Drassich stood up now, cutting across both the monarch and the priest before they could tear into each other again.
"High Priest, you overstep yourself. To accuse our esteemed leader of bringing about the destruction of Helfaer is unnecessary and untrue, and it solves nothing. As both sides have their merits I suggest that we put this to the vote."
The Fell nodded, then sat back down and looked around the room again, studying everyone and wondering who they would support. Marissa and Sabia would not be voting- they were only down here for a taste of the political system. Brinksmann would be on his side, of course, and he could probably count on Drassich- although the admiral gave nothing away, he was intelligent enough not to be swayed by dogma, and although he had never revealed his beliefs the Fell suspected that Drassich was an atheist, so the religious line would not affect him. Almarxa would also be on his side. He had been attempting to make international contact already, and he probably knew that he would be an easy target if the motion failed.
The others were more difficult to gauge. Lord Pirus was nothing if not loyal, but he was also unfortunately stupid. Although the Fell had wanted to get rid of him for some time now, Pirus had given him no excuse and seemingly random executions or enslavements of his ministers could lower his favour with the Advisory Court.
Meanwhile, Tehenazzar would obviously be voting against, and he had no small support. Several of the ministers and governors had close ties to the Church of Leviathan, and they would be likely to side with him.
The ballot box circled the tabel once and came back to the Fell, who opened it, reading the papers inside. He called Tehenazzar over to verify the result, making sure that everyone knew it was fair.
"Thirteen in favour, seven against. The measure passes. Lord Almarxa, prepare an open telegram to the leaders of the world."
To: International Leaders
For many decades now, Helfaer has maintained a policy of isolation from the outside world, forgoing diplomacy and guarding our borders fiercely. However, we believe that the time is right to bring in a new era of negotiations and openness.
In the interests of international diplomacy and free trade, we are willing to exchange embassies and begin trade, especially for foodstuffs. Any nation wishing to make diplomatic contact with Helfaer should reply to this message.
For embassy exchanges, we must lay down some rules in the interests of national security.
1. An embassy may not have more than one hundred (100) armed guards
2. All weapons brought into the embassy must be for the use of ambassadorial staff only
3. No land vehicle weighing more than 35 tonnes is permitted, and no attack helicopters may be stationed at the embassy
If any nation has an objection to any of these rules, they may be discussed on a case-by-case basis. For security reasons, we will need a list of every member of personnel at the embassy, as well as every weapon and every vehicle. Recent photographs of staff members will be needed, as will registration numbers from the vehicles.
Embassies will be treated as sovereign territory of the nation whose ambassadors operate from there, and any actions taken there fall under the jurisdiction of that nation. However, should any of the staff leave the embassy for any reason they are under Helfaer law.
Also, all embassy staff will be issued with Citizen's Rights Permits. Although they are not granted full citizenship, the permits give them all of the rights associated with such. If the staff member is withdrawn from the embassy staff for any reason, the permit will be withdrawn.
If possible, we would like to send our own embassies to any nation setting up an embassy in Helfaer. Please tell us if this is possible in your reply.
K. Almarxa, Foreign Affairs Minister, Helfaer
Then there were footsteps, boots hitting the stone floor, echoes ringing off the stone walls. Slow steps beat a tight rhythm into the chamber and then along the edge of the room to the end of the table where they stopped.
The Fell seated himself and looked out over the assembled people, still keeping their heads bowed and waiting for him to speak. His daughters were there, Marissa and Sabia, although his son was away on an officer training course for the army. General Brinksmann was there, but then that was a given: Brinksmann was the Fell's oldest friend and one of his greatest advisors, as well as being a shrewd general. Seated next to him was Admiral Drassich, aquiline and regal next to Brinkmann's, who looked like he had been carved out of rock. Inscrutable as ever, he sat stock still and silent, waiting. Lord Pirus, Chief of Intelligence, sat on Drassich's other side, completing the remaining military contingent. Air Marshall Tyresus had recently been sent to the uranium mines for embezzlement.
The Fell's eyes continued to rove over the assorted leaders. The Provincial Governors were all present, although they were currently of little interest, and the Specialist Ministers could be thought of in the same way, except Almarxa. Although he didn't know it, Almarxa's head was on the line if this debate went the wrong way. Word had got out that he had taken matters into his own hands, attempted to break Helfaer's isolation through talks with other nations. If Helfaer maintained isolaitonism, he would be made into an example.
Finally, his lip curled as he saw Tehenazzar, the High Priest of Leviathan, seated at the other end of the table, dressed as usual in his deep red ceremonial robes, his hood down over his eyes showing only his thin, cruel lips. If anyone opposed the Fell now, it would be Tehenazzar.
Without waiting for those assembled to lift their heads, he began to speak.
"Members of the Royal Advisory Court, I have ordered you to assemble today to discuss the future of Helfaer."
Heads snapped up all around the table, eyes intent.
"For decades now, Helfaer has pursued a policy of isolation from the outside world in order to focus on politics within the Ash Desert. However, with the defeat of the Consul of Marenna and the seizure of his lands, the Ash Desert has been unified."
Nods from Brinksmann and Drassich, who had been directly involved. Murmurs from everyone else, suspecting what was coming.
"I believe that the time has come to announce ourselves to the world, for both trade and exchange of embassies, with possible alliances in the near future."
Now came the tricky part. Although the Fell was absolute monarch, he still had to keep the Advisory Court on his good side. As a body made up of nobles, the most influential men in Helfaer, it wielded considerable power, and monarchs who failed to maintain good relations with their nobles were vulnerable. To push ahead with the proposal even if the Advisory Court was against it would lose him support, but to back down would show weakness. His only real option was to win this debate. Quickly formulating supporting evidence in his head, he opened his mouth to back up his statement.
Tehenazzar had got there first.
"My lord, with respect, this idea is an affront both to Leviathan and our nation! Those not born of Helfaer are unworthy to tread upon our sacred soil, save as slave labourers working for the greater glory of Leviathan and our nation, so why should we parley with them?"
Mutterings of assent from around the table. Leviathan was worshipped by around half of the population, so playing off religious sentiments could win a lot of support. The Fell replied calmly.
"And yet Leviathan also told us to make Helfaer ever greater! We must struggle for continuous improvement, and one way to do that is through diplomacy. In fact, we will need foreign trade if we are to survive at all. Our population remained stable for hundreds of years, but it is now booming. Helfaer is a desert- our food production capabilities have been stretched beyond their limits, and without trade we will have mass starvation in our cities."
"Then we follow the ways of our ancestors before they discovered the aquifer drill! We do as Leviathan commands, and begin raiding once more!"
The priest was on his feet now, as was the Fell. They stared at each other, eyes blazing.
"No! To do that would doom Helfaer to destruction. In the international world, we are both outnumbered and outgunned. If we are to begin raiding, we will need powerful allies."
"You speak of dooming Helfaer to destruction! We will be destroyed from within if you are to have your way! I would rather die in battle for the glory of Leviathan than allow the outlander scum to eat us away from the inside, feeding off us like parasites, sapping our lifeblood! Any true man of Helfaer would want the same!"
Drassich stood up now, cutting across both the monarch and the priest before they could tear into each other again.
"High Priest, you overstep yourself. To accuse our esteemed leader of bringing about the destruction of Helfaer is unnecessary and untrue, and it solves nothing. As both sides have their merits I suggest that we put this to the vote."
The Fell nodded, then sat back down and looked around the room again, studying everyone and wondering who they would support. Marissa and Sabia would not be voting- they were only down here for a taste of the political system. Brinksmann would be on his side, of course, and he could probably count on Drassich- although the admiral gave nothing away, he was intelligent enough not to be swayed by dogma, and although he had never revealed his beliefs the Fell suspected that Drassich was an atheist, so the religious line would not affect him. Almarxa would also be on his side. He had been attempting to make international contact already, and he probably knew that he would be an easy target if the motion failed.
The others were more difficult to gauge. Lord Pirus was nothing if not loyal, but he was also unfortunately stupid. Although the Fell had wanted to get rid of him for some time now, Pirus had given him no excuse and seemingly random executions or enslavements of his ministers could lower his favour with the Advisory Court.
Meanwhile, Tehenazzar would obviously be voting against, and he had no small support. Several of the ministers and governors had close ties to the Church of Leviathan, and they would be likely to side with him.
The ballot box circled the tabel once and came back to the Fell, who opened it, reading the papers inside. He called Tehenazzar over to verify the result, making sure that everyone knew it was fair.
"Thirteen in favour, seven against. The measure passes. Lord Almarxa, prepare an open telegram to the leaders of the world."
To: International Leaders
For many decades now, Helfaer has maintained a policy of isolation from the outside world, forgoing diplomacy and guarding our borders fiercely. However, we believe that the time is right to bring in a new era of negotiations and openness.
In the interests of international diplomacy and free trade, we are willing to exchange embassies and begin trade, especially for foodstuffs. Any nation wishing to make diplomatic contact with Helfaer should reply to this message.
For embassy exchanges, we must lay down some rules in the interests of national security.
1. An embassy may not have more than one hundred (100) armed guards
2. All weapons brought into the embassy must be for the use of ambassadorial staff only
3. No land vehicle weighing more than 35 tonnes is permitted, and no attack helicopters may be stationed at the embassy
If any nation has an objection to any of these rules, they may be discussed on a case-by-case basis. For security reasons, we will need a list of every member of personnel at the embassy, as well as every weapon and every vehicle. Recent photographs of staff members will be needed, as will registration numbers from the vehicles.
Embassies will be treated as sovereign territory of the nation whose ambassadors operate from there, and any actions taken there fall under the jurisdiction of that nation. However, should any of the staff leave the embassy for any reason they are under Helfaer law.
Also, all embassy staff will be issued with Citizen's Rights Permits. Although they are not granted full citizenship, the permits give them all of the rights associated with such. If the staff member is withdrawn from the embassy staff for any reason, the permit will be withdrawn.
If possible, we would like to send our own embassies to any nation setting up an embassy in Helfaer. Please tell us if this is possible in your reply.
K. Almarxa, Foreign Affairs Minister, Helfaer