NationStates Jolt Archive

(OOC: Rping an event that took place over 400 years ago, a few years after Grazhkjistan "discovered" the Island of Tredjo.)

This is an account of the Meeting of the King of Grazhkjistan and the Emperor of Tredjo, September 14th, 1597, found in the Great Archives in the Capital Building in Palkov, Grazhkjistan.

Aeslan Roureska I, then the King of the land of Grazhkjistan, followed by six of his best-trained guards and Riflemen, stopped for a moment at the door to the Great Hall of the Emperor's Palace in Harikana, a heavily-protected city laid in the very center of the large peninsula that composed the nation of Tredjo. He had sailed for weeks to reach this place. He had come to negotiate an alliance with their Emperor.

He was a tall man. At six feet, four inches, he towered over the Tredjoan servants and guards in the palace. He had blonde hair, cut short, and a moustache and goatee, trimmed and groomed with the utmost care. He wore black trousers of fine wool, black sheepskin boots, a white linen shirt and a deep red wool cape, embroidered with silver thread, which billowed behind him as he walked. Over it he wore chainmail and light half-plate armor, and a small amulet of plain silver set with a single emerald. In his left hand he carried the longspear Kulann, the holy weapon of the King, in his right, he held a long, thin wooden box with gold trimmings, tied shut with a strip of green wool.

He stepped into the Great Hall, his guards behind him.

After entering the Great Hall, entrance to the palace of Tredjo, Aeslan and his guards were halted by four men, armed with katanas and heavy armor. Each guard looked the same for they all wore chainmail face covers under their helms, which consealed their faces. The guard closest to Aeslan spoke first, in a tone that made him seem almost emotionless, "Who are you? State your buisness and show proof of who you are."

Aeslan nodded his head humbly.

"I am King Aeslan Roureska I, ruler of Grazhkjistan and hopeful ally of your emperor, here to negotiate an alliance with Tredjo." He reached up and removed the amulet which hung around his neck.

"Behold," he said, holding it before the guard's unseen face. "This is the Amulet of the Lion, worn by Scharlan the Great, first King of Grazhkjistan. It has been passed from king to king for nine centuries."

Next he presented Kulann. "Behold as well the spear Kulann, wielded also by Scharlan the great and likewise passed down."

The guard who spoke, examined the amulet closely. "This...trinket is of no use as proof of who you are, but..." he looks the spear over, "...this is recongnizable. This is true proof of who you are." Then the other three guards approched. "Please hand over your weapons, all of them, and any who enter will need to hand over a sign of respect, a piece of armor. And this package will be allowed in the palace without inspection due to your position and your position only." stated the guard in a slightly demanding tone, as the other three guards moved their hands towards their swords, awaiting resistance.

Aeslan's eye twitched slightly at the guard's words.

Trinket?! How dare he... that he was allowed to even touch it is a great honor! Words flicked through Aeslan's mind, insults of such venom they could boil a man in his own hide, but he held his tongue.

He turned and said a few words in Grazkja, and the guards reluctantly handed over their rapiers and muskets.

Next he handed the box to one of his riflemen and turned to the guard.

"I wish for a personal audience with the Emperor. And as for the gift of respect your Emperor demands, I present this..." He reached up and unclasped the silver chains holding his cape to his pauldrons, and swung it around, holding it draped across his hands before the guard. "My cape. It is made from the finest wool, spun from the fur of a Blood Wolf, and embroidered with the finest silver."

He handed it to the guard, turned back to the rifleman, taking back the box, and stood waiting.

The guards that took the weapons looked at the muskets, slightly confused, then locked them in a chest, with ornate designs covering it. "This is a great offering to the Emporer, it is accepted with the utmost respect." stated the the first guard while he handed the cape to another. "The Emporer will meet you in the private tea room reserved for vists of this kind." explained the guard to Aeslan as he motioned for him to move towards the 20 foot high door at the end of the hall. Aeslan followed.

After leading Aeslan to the Throne Room they moved around the Throne and to a door behind it. "Please enter, the Emporer is already waiting for you." the guard told Aeslan as he bowed to him.

Aeslan nodded to the guard with a short "thank you". He pushed open the door to the Tearoom and stepped inside, holding the box gently, so as not to scratch it on his armor, shutting the door behind him.

"Ah, yes. Please sit, sit" says Emperor Hotoro, a tall thin man with a short beard in armor that resembled dragon scales and a pure black cape, with a gold border, that reached to the ground, while motioning toward a pillow on the floor next to the table. "Please have some tea. My advisor has informed me that you are King Aeslan of Grazykjestan, excuse my pronounciation. So, has your trip gone well?" Hotoro asks in a dignified tone.

"It has gone well, Your Excellency, thank you." Aeslan bowed deeply, before kneeling on the pillow across from the Emperor, setting the box down to his side. There would be time later...
"As your advisor has undoubtedly told you, I am here in the hopes of forging an alliance between the Empire of Tredjo and the Kingdom of Grazhkjistan."
He bowed his head slightly before glancing about for a moment.
"...And forgive me for correcting you, your Excellency, but the name of my country is pronounced "GRAHZH-Kyi-Stahn."

"Indeed, I knew I would butcher the name. And there is no need to ask for forgiveness, it's just an ongoing, learning process." Hotoro told Aeslan politely. "Now as for the alliance, what did you have in mind?" questioned Hotoro with a sweeping hand gesture.

Aeslan looked at the Emperor and said, "Your Excellency, It would greatly strengthen both our nations if we were to establish trade routes between them. The trees of my homeland yield fine, strong wood, and our silver is of high quality and usable for nearly anything, but another of our assets I believe will do you a great service is this."

At that, he reached down and took the box, gently setting it on the table, and, untying the cloth holding it shut, lifted the lid away to reveal a musket of dark hardwood and polished iron, the stock and its bindings inlaid with silver, which shone brilliantly against the near-black wood, also inside the box were several rolls of parchment, on which were drawn the schematics for a basic flintlock musket and pistol.

"We can offer you technology beyond what you have now," He gestured to the musket and scrolls. "It's taken us nearly two centuries to perfect its design, but it is yours to use and improve upon as you see fit. We offer you these, and our friendship, and ask only for your friendship, and a few of your resources in trade. Is this acceptable?" He sat back and waited for the Emperor's answer.

"Ah, yes. I have seen these before, in fact we have been researching the design, but, and I am a little ashamed to say this, have failed in our attempts to make one." Hotoro says while shuffling through the schematics. "Our main resources are the same, but we also have a few more. We have diamonds," the Emporer says while taking out a bag of perfectly cut diamonds and laying them out on the table, "and coal, which can be used for may things." Then Hotoro shuts the lid on the musket he says, "Now, my city has been looking for access to more resources and a city and people to trade with. I would very much like to open a trade route between our nations, but my question to you is: what kind of resources can you offer me and my nation for trading?"

Aeslan considered for a moment. Perhaps he had aimed too high... and then it hit him; in going for the most valuable things to trade, he had forgotten the most important things!

He bowed his head, and said "When we passed through the markets on our way through the city, I noticed that the vendors had almost no vegetables to speak of. We could easily provide those. Our climate and soil are favorable for growing corn, squash, aubergines, beans, carrots and wheat, among many other things. Would these resources be of any aid to your people?"

He picked up a teacup and, pouring himself some, took a tentative sip. The rush of warmth and the distinct, pungent flavor caused him to sit back with a small grunt of surprise. A little strange... but it was quite good...

"In fact, you are correct, our climate is suited for mostly tropical items. A trade route that can supply us with much needed vegetables, would be very profitable for both sides I believe." Hotoro said with a slightly excited tone to his voice. "Under the circumstances, I would like to start planning and construction as soon as possible." Hotoro said while fiddling with his beard. "In return we can provide fruits that cannot be found anywhere else. I believe we have a deal then, do we not?" Hotoro asked as he extended his hand to Aeslan.

Aeslan smiled and gestured to the teapot sitting on the table. "And if you can spare it, I'm sure that will fetch a great deal in Grazhkjistan. Winters are cold, and we could use something to warm our spirits."

He drained the cup, setting it on the table, extended a hand and shook, sealing the deal.

"Of course, tea is always good for the spirit. I would be happy to trade it with you." Hotoro said after draining his cup and filling it again. "Now as the final part of the deal..." Hotoro pulls the musket and shematics towards himself and then pushes the diamonds on the table towards Aeslan, "...we shall trade gifts!" Hotoro says joyously. "I shall send a messenger to your city when I finish drawing up the plans for the trade route, and when they arrive feel free to make adjustments and changes, as you see fit. Then send them back and when we agree on the route we shall start building. Is this agreeable?"

Aeslan picked up the bag of diamonds, and took one out, holding it up to the light, letting it sparkle like a star in the night sky. Beautiful. A grand gift indeed.

He set the bag down, and nodded to Hotoro.

"Agreed!"

He filled his cup again and raised it in a toast.

"May that musket serve your family for a thousand years, and may your dynasty last as long!"

At that Hotoro refilled his own cup and raised it to Aeslan's and hit their cups together, "Good. And this musket will indeed serve my family for many years. Then I believe this conference of great minds is adjourned!" Hotoro said gesturing his guest to the door, "Now, let me escort you to the Entrance Hall." They left the room together and the guard posted there moved to make room for the Emperor and his guest. As they passed Hotoro motioned to Aeslan and said to the guard, "Bring the King here some of our finest tea, wrapped in our most decorative cloth, to take with him to his castle for his family to enjoy."

"Right away, Emperor!" said the guard, who then proceeded to rush off towards the east wing of the palace.

"Please right this way." Hotoro said leading Aeslan towards the entrance of the Throne Room.

Aeslan stepped into the Entrance Hall, carrying the bag of diamonds.

He saw his guards, At Ease, waiting. He briskly barked an order in Grazkja, and they stood at attention.

Aeslan turned once more to Hotoro, and bowed respectfully.

"I am honored and grateful that we have come to this agreement, Your Excellency. When we both are gone, I hope that this alliance will remain."

Hotoro bowed at Aeslan in response. "I shall instill the importance of this alliance to my childern and have it put in the Tredjoan records that your kingdom is an important ally and should be respected." Hotoro stated as he turned to see the guard sent to get the tea catch up to him, carrying a package.

"Sir, the tea that you requested!" the guard stated rigidly.

"Here we are." Hotoro said while taking the tea, wrapped in a silky black package with the Tredjo house symbol embroidered on it, and a perfect knot on the top. "Please take this for your family to enjoy." Hotoro said as he turned to Aeslan, handing him the tea.

Aeslan accepted the tea gratefully, tying the diamonds to his belt, that he could hold this precious gift with both hands.

"Thank you for your generosity, Your Excellency. We will leave here as allies of the Empire of Tredjo when our weapons are returned."

"Of course." Hotoro said to Aeslan. Then something in a language that Aeslan did not understand to the guards protecting the chest. They jumped at this and took the weapons they had confiscated out of the chest and gave them back to Aeslan and his guards. "And we shall see you off, knowing in our hearts that we are allies of the Kingdom of Grazhkjistan. Kosakira!"

Aeslan bowed again, then turned to his guards, and spoke a phrase in Grazkja. They stood at attention and waited.

"Thank you again for your generosity. We leave in peace."

He walked to the door, his guards falling in behind him. "Geenwir!"

They turned, and marched out of the entrance, headed for the port where their ship waited, from there they would begin the long journey home.