NationStates Jolt Archive

This is part of the RP based here (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?t=482052)

Ubelheim is an independent duchy ruled by a Grand Duke. It is a cold, mountainous country with a population of approximately 6 million. Somewhat behind the times in terms of cultural development, Ubelheim is still a largely feudal society, with the majority of power and wealth being concentrated in the hands of a few dozen magnates, who rule with an iron fist. Industry is also somewhat behind the times, with a system still based on guilds and serfdom.

The ruler of Ubelheim is the 34th Grand Duke, Celesto VII Sarkozy, who assumed power in 1768 at the age of fourteen, when his father Miklos V died of dyssentry while suppressing a peasant revolt in the north of the country. Although Celesto VII is nominally the ruler of Ubelheim, the real power lies in a cabal of regents, headed by Stefan Sarkozy, Count of Hanswalia, and Maria Tolatsch Sarkozy, the Grand Duke’s mother.

The nation is almost entirely catholic, although perversity and heresy fester under this veneer of piety, and witch hunts and lynchings are common among the peasantry. Furthermore, most noble families suffer from inbreeding, and the ruling house Sarkozy is rumoured to be plagued by hereditary psychotic disorders.

Although Ubelheim is not in a position, militarily or economically, to force global issues, it tends to assume a more neutral and mercenary outlook. Many minor Ubelheimer nobles seek adventure on the high seas and in foreign armies as pirates and mercenaries, bringing their private companies with them.

Ruler: Celesto VII Sarkozy (Nominally)
Language: Ubelspiel
Population: 6 million
Religion: Almost entirely catholic, minorities of muslims and jews, mostly in coastal cities.
Capital city: Faulhexen (population 58,000)
Standing army: 10,000. As much as ten times this figure could be drawn from yeoman militias and peasant levies, although the quality of these troops would be dubious at best.
Navy: 25 ships of the line, the rest mostly fireships and sloops.

OOC: Where are you? Russia? Northern Europe? Some mountains in the Southern Hemisphere? I'm interested to get in contact, but exactly what kind depends to a large extent on where you are.
Oh yeah, landlocked or no?
EDIT: Read properly! I will read properly! I will...etc.

IC: The Admiralty had sent expeditions to survey uncharted or poorly charted waters; one such, comprised of three frigates, each of modern construction and carrying some 40 guns, plus carronades, was beginning to get the impression there was a major settlement up ahead...
(If you have naval patrols, they might stumble across it, if you don't then maybe lookouts on shore...or they can sail into harbour and say 'lo.

OOC: Where are you? Russia? Northern Europe? Some mountains in the Southern Hemisphere? I'm interested to get in contact, but exactly what kind depends to a large extent on where you are.
Oh yeah, landlocked or no?

I didn't really want to decide, until there was a map available to pick from. Also, I wasn't sure if we were using a real world map, or an original map. If it turns out to be a real world map, then it'll be somewhere in northern europe with a coast on the baltic sea. Possibly denmark or lithuania.

OOC: Okay. We'll probably be on a modified real world map - as in its based on real geography, but if you really want a change made you can probably have it.
Can leave that unspecified for now though - if I've sent lots of these expeditions you could be anywhere...
And just as a note, people like if you use OOC: before stuff like this, then IC: before actual RP stuff in IC (in character) threads. Helps keep notes and questions separate from RP/story stuff.

IC: Captain Nomara scanned the coastline with his telescope. Off in the distance, could be seen the hulking mass of a city.
"Number One, do our charts show any cities here?"
"No sir."
"Very well. In that case we should make contact, find out who they are. Tell Biter to stay here; Barker will follow us into the harbour."
Signals were passed. His own ship, the Trumpeter, was followed by the Barker, while the Biter anchored to keep an eye on proceedings from a distance.

And just as a note, people like if you use OOC: before stuff like this, then IC: before actual RP stuff in IC (in character) threads. Helps keep notes and questions separate from RP/story stuff.

OOC: I'm aware of that; I've been on NS for over two years :p I just hadn't anticipated there being any actual RP in this thread.

IC:
The city of Kovanka was a fairly open port, with a population around 15,000. A lighthouse towered over the entrance to the harbour, but even as the sky started to darken, the light had not been lit, as the lighthouse keeper had not been paid in three months. As they passed the tall cliffs obscuring the bay on one side, Nomara's squadron would have caught sight of three ships of the line moored in the bay. Two were older ships, perhaps fourth rates, mounting 60 guns each, and the other a larger third rate, mounting 74. They made no move to immediately counter the approaching foreign vessels; it was a time of peace in Ubelheim, after all. If they followed the traditional peace gesture of firing off their guns before entering the harbour, they would be allowed to approach the city without any issue.

OOC: I apologise. That's considerably longer than me. I assume this is a puppet then?

IC: A lighthouse could be seen at the entrance to the harbour; negotiating this, there were three warships. Two were 60's, or thereabouts, no longer considered line ships in the Incognitian Navy. The third looked to be a 74, but old, slow, and not hugely well loved. The experienced sailors on board noticed other signs of...neglect, and maybe poverty.

Nomara examined the situation, and decided that as there had not, as yet, been any reaction to their presence from the warships, they would approach the wharves with an eye to docking and making contact with the local authorities.

OOC: There we have our first problem. That's a tradition my navy has never encountered before.

OOC: Yeah, I tend to make new puppets for different kinds of RP (or when I get bored of my old nations). My feb 2004 nation went inactive about a year ago, and I never bothered getting it fixed. As for the poverty - The peasants are poor. The navy is the plaything of the 30 or so members of the high nobility, who are sickeningly rich. So while the lighthouse is undermaintained, the ships aren't. The mentality of the crews on the other hand...

IC: The larger of the three ships turned laboriously to approach the Incognitian ships entering the harbour. In general, according to Ubelheimer naval doctrine, it wasn't wise to allow unknown foreign military vessels waltz in without emptying their guns first.

The captain of the 74-gun, the Gabriel VII, was Simeon Gabory, son of the Baron of Wersen. His orders had been to patrol off the northern coast, but instead he was using the battleship as a sort of mobile playboy mansion, rarely straying out of harbour where there was a plentiful supply of alcohol and prostitutes. He hadn't actually been expecting to have to do any work this year, so the unknown squadron entering the bay had come as a bit of a surprise.

The Gabriel VII lowered a boat, to take an officer out to the Trumpeter, carrying a flag of truce. Hopefully, Gabory thought, these people would turn out to be friendly, and he could restart the party.

While a closer inspection of the warships suggested them to be in reasonable repair, the fact that one was finally on the move showed little credit for their vigilance.

A boat was being lowered. Nomara, having observed this, snapped his telescope shut;
"Heave to! Mr Fitz, pass to the Barker to heave to, we have company."
He himself went to the starboard side, facing the approaching boat, and awaited its arrival.

The officer on the boat was Simeon's younger brother, Blasius. The Ubelheimer navy didn't really have any permanent ranks or uniforms, with commands usually being temporary comissions given to members of the nobility. The most striking part of Blasius' outfit was a tricorne hat, decorated with many huge and colourful feathers, and small precious stones.

When the boat came close enough, he shouted out in very broken french, asking the crew of the Trumpeter who they were, and what they wanted.

(OOC: What if this is a bit too early for my character?, should I start my own post or something?)

OOC: Kanami, I'm happy to welcome your character, as I said you might be best off going to my nation (link in the planning thread) if you want to find a democracy, or close to it.
IC: Having problems with the obscure tonuge being spoken, not one of international commere, like Latin, Incognitian, Caladonnian or Angerman; Nomara tried replying in Latin.
"We are ships of the Terror Incognitian Navy, the Trumpeter and the Barker.
I am Captain Claus Nomara; I am in charge of a surveying expedition in this part of the sea.
Whom do I have the honour of addressing?"

OOC: I chose french because it was the RL language of international commerce in the 18th century. But latin will do, or whatever.

IC:
Blasius shouted back, making himself sound as important as possible. While the rest of his speech was heavily accented, he had obviously practised this line a bit more often, "I am Sir Blasius Gabory, Lord of Klow Valley, Lieutenant of the Grand Ducal Navy of His Highness, Grand Duke Celesto VII, Highest Prince of the Ubelheimers." He waved towards the port, "If peace is your intent, you may berth your ship and come ashore."

OOC: Ok. I chose Latin cos it played the same role for the PT RP set about 300 years before this, and it sorta stuck...

IC: "You have my thanks, Sir Blasius; we do indeed come with peaceful intent, inasmuch as we intended to come at all, and if it would be possible for us to meet with the Grand Duke, or one of his advisors, that would be greatly appreciated."
Turning to his ship, Nomara issued a swift series of orders, at which both Trumpeter and Barker got under way, and came in smoothly to dock.

OOC: Last post for tonight; I need to sleep.

IC:
Blasius returned to the Gabriel VII, and his brother sent him ashore, to continue with the diplomacy. He met Captain Nomara on the quayside, when the Trumpeter had docked successfully.

"The Grand Duke is in Faulhexen, about four days ride from here," he explained, wishing there was someone else to speak the latin for him, "But my father, the Baron of Wersen, would see you. It is only a day by coach to his manor."

**Tag**

"That would be quite satisfactory; probably better, in many ways, so that we can establish...an understanding...before we send a proper diplomat to negotiate a binding agreement with the Grand Duke."

Nomara turned to his officers, engaged in a swift discussion with them, and a few minutes later had a party organised, himself and two of his officers, escorted by a dozen Marines.

"Lead on, Sir Blasius."

In typical Ubelheim fashion, the weather chose that moment to break into rain, which started to fall in torrents. Blasius sent a man from the docks to arrange for a coach and an escort, and also to find a priest who spoke latin better than he did. It was an elaborately decorated black coach, bearing the Gabory coat of arms, an eagle perched on a castle, with the motto 'We who ruled' in latin.

Twenty musketeers from the local garrison formed the escort. Blasius invited the Incognitian officers to share the coach with himself and the priest, but obviously expected the marine escort to march, along with his own musketeers. He explained that the country roads were dangerous to travel without an armed retinue, at least, if you were somebody important.

The Marines were used to marching; they were also well used to rain. So, with good natured grumbling they joined the escort.
Muskets slung, with the locks wrapped with rags to keep them dry, and bayonets on the back of their belts, they were practically rather than smartly turned out.
The officers went into the carriage, along with their modest baggage.

The coach rattled out along the country road, past several hanging trees, where a few ex-criminals were still dangling. It was only about 15 miles to the Baron of Wersen's manor, but the road wound around between hills and most of the time it was more of a worn track than an actual cobbled road. It passed through a village at one point, where all the villagers stopped what they were doing, and took off their hats as it passed.

The manor house was built in the grounds of an old medieval castle, which was partly ruined, although it looked like one wing was still maintained.

"This castle was built by my ancestor, Rodolfus Gabory in the 14th century." said Blasius, as they approached the mansion, "He was the first baron of Wersen. My father is the sixteenth."

A rider had gone on ahead of the coach, to inform the manor of their arrival. Simeon Gabory the elder, 16th Baron of Wersen, met them on the steps up to the front of the mansion. He was a stocky, red-faced man with a huge greying moustache.

"Greetings, and welcome to my house!!" he bellowed; the baron was obviously one of those people who was used to shouting all the time, although it sounded rather odd in latin, "I am Baron Wersen!! I trust our roads didn't rattle your bones too much!?"

Kaiser Schmeil spent his time looking over the map spread out across his desk, he plotted the rivers down his borders, the Elbe to the West, the Danube to the South and Dneiper to the East, he was interupted from his quiet musings by his Domestic Advisor, the man was looking rather philosophical stroking his chin and such.

"Mein Kaiser, we are not surrounded by enemies, why just to the North there is a potential ally we could use to conquer the barbaric tribes which surround us." the Domestic Advisor was smiling and looking at his Kaiser, Kaiser schmeil looked up to his domestic advisor and smiled back, "Herr Boltenstein, send out an ambassador to meet with these "allies!" Maybe we are not surrounded!" The Kaiser leant back and took a swig of his drink on the table.

**** **** ****

An Ambassador plus 20 Guardsmen marched out the next day with Guns slung over the back, they did not have to march far, the nation was bordering thiers.

(OOC: basically I'm making contact)

"Why thank you, Baron, we have travelled far worse, and there was no trouble on the journey.
I am Captain Nomara, and I am here to come to an understanding between your nation and Incognitia, so that a formal diplomatic mission can be sent."

(OOC: basically I'm making contact)

OOC: I can't imagine two nations could share a border, and not have established any formal contact before the 18th century. Do you want to just make up some back-history instead?

IC: Wersen twiddled with one end of his huge moustache as he considered the captain. "Let us retire to the drawing room!!!" he bellowed, and then roared at the butler in Ubelheimer, sending the man scurrying off to organise refreshments for the guests.

The inside of the mansion was decked out in the latest fashions. On all the walls were portraits of the old barons, from 17th century gentlemen in full periwigs, back to knights of the 14th and 15th centuries, in gleaming plate and mounted on warhorses.

In the drawing room, some tables and chairs had been arranged specially for the occasion, in a circle so that nobody was placed in a more important position than anyone else, although the baron's chair was clearly the largest. He dropped himself heavily into it. "Sit, sit!!" he bellowed, in as hospitable a tone as his voice would allow. He shouted at a servant in Ubelheimer, and the servent spread a map of the 'knowne worlde' on the table. It was a bit out of date.

"You have us at a disadvantage; Perhaps you'd show me where your country is, captain Nomara!?" Wersen suggested, deafeningly.

"Of course. It would be most rude to come here and not tell you where we are from.

Our nation is situated here." Pointing somewhere in the middle of the word 'dragons'. Noticing this, the Captain shrugs. "Shall we use one of my charts?"
With the latest Admiralty 'Chart of the Orbb' spread on the table, Nomara resumes.
"Our nation stretches from the top of this peninsula here" pointing to the Malay peninsula "to this island here" just East of New Guinea.
"We also hold a few trading cities scattered across India and Southern Africa."
Leaving a few moments for the Baron to take in the distance they had travelled, he then had his own question
"What is the extent of your nation? We have come here, but we know not where your power spreads."

OOC: I can't imagine two nations could share a border, and not have established any formal contact before the 18th century. Do you want to just make up some back-history instead?

(OOC: Good point, i'll post somthing up on the Gorel Factbook)

"Our territories extend from here, to here," said the baron, tracing the area of RL Latvia and Lithuania on Nomara's map.

"These are the ancestral homelands of the Ubelheimer tribes, before they were united into a nation in the 12th century. We don't have any colonies; settling distant lands leads to social upheaval!! I've heard of colonial powers executing their own kings!! We're happy the way we are!!"

Well, maybe the nobility are. The peasants in their crude huts are far away and voiceless.

"Who rules Incognitia?!" the baron asked, perhaps checking to see if this is one of the colonial powers that has executed its king.

"The High Seneschal rules, as his father before him, and his grandfather before that.
He takes advice from the elected Consilium, but the High Seneschal has the final say, just as in the regions of our land his representatives have the final say, above the assemblies of those regions."

Mein Freunden Celesto VII Sarkozy
Kaiser Viktor Schmeil

We are about to undergo a military expansion and are informed that you have a wide range of citizens wishing to hire themselves out as arms, could you please give me a list of your greatest soldiers and thier prices so that I may peruse their skills in this mission?

.

A letter to Kaiser Viktor, from Celesto VII

Many of my subjects seek glory on foreign battlefields. I have prepared a list of our finest, who are looking for campaigns to join this year. I have listed those who promise at least five hundred men.

His Grace, Miklos Janisch, Count of Istwald, and his Cuirassiers
His Excellency, John Tolatsch, Baron of Valanod, and his Hussars
Sir Gabriel Tolatsch, Lord of Sweiland, and his Hussars
Sir Stefan Tolatsch, Lord of Weist, and his Musketeers.
His Excellency, Laszlo Sarkozy, Baron of Borovia, and his Musketeers.

Borovia is my cousin, and assures me he has over a thousand men.


OOC: I'm not going to list prices, because I have no idea how much mercenaries cost, and assigning arbitrary figures would be pointless. Just assume the prices are reasonable. Ubelheimer mercenaries are renowned for being highly skilled, but somewhat brutal and ill-disciplined. Ubelheimer musketeers make better skirmishers than line infantry.

Unless I'm meant to say something and I've missed it, bump.

Unless I'm meant to say something and I've missed it, bump.

OOC: Sorry. I seem to be lacking any imagination at the moment, and can't think of anything to post. Do you want to just assume that they get round to arranging for an official diplomat to meet with Celesto VII? That might get my brain going.

OOC: Fine by me. Anything complex would be thrown out by my....minor civil disturbance.

It had been a little while, but there was now arriving a boat from Incognitia. Knowing the form this time, they let off their guns in the harbour before entering, lowering a boat as they came.

An official entourage of coaches, and an escort of the Grand Duke's own curassiers, was ready to take the official diplomats from Incognitia to the court of Celesto VII in Faulhexen.

The Baron of Wersen and the Bishop of Kovanka had the official task of meeting the diplomats and accompanying them to Faulhexen.

OOC: Sorry about the delay. I haven't had much time for NS this last week.

An Admiral had been sent; Admiral James Graham.
As he was rowed in to the harbour, he saw a large official looking party, and had his boat brought in there.
Stepping ashore, accompanied by two Captains, he said
"I am Admiral James Graham; I have been sent by the Consilium with a mandate to conduct diplomatic negotiations with your nation."