NationStates Jolt Archive

Tahuantinsuyu, the empire of four regions, better known as the Inca Empire, is now more than five and a half centuries old. The people consider its sacred capital, Cusco, to be the navel of the world, and call its supreme ruler Sapan Intiq Churin- the only son of the sun, believing him to be directly descended from the sun god Inti.

Attacked by the Conquistadores and beset by European plagues, the empire almost collapsed in the C16th, saved only by the ferocity of Huáscar -surprise victor in a civil war after his half-brother fell to the pox- and disparity in numbers between his forces and those of Pizarro, after victory over whom the Inca took on a semi-mythic reputation for invulnerability in their mountain fortress cities, discouraging further European attacks for some years.

In time, European influence did seep in as states like Brazil, Colombia, and Argentina grew-up on the Empire's borders. Amerindian peoples became second class in their own empire, and states were created within the four regions. Peru, Ecuador, Chile, Bolivia, Paraguay on its fringes.

It is only in this century that a native movement has restored the old order, thousands of alienated and obscure citizens of Tahuantinsuyu, recognising that they were never really beaten and their empire never officially dissolved, launched a counter attack on the 21st of June, the day of the Inti Raymi, after descending as usual by the thousand to celebrate the sun festival.

Pachacutec is now not an impotent Sapa Inca hiding in the countryside, but effective ruler of an empire stretching from southern Colombia to the sub-anrarctic end of South America, and from the Pacific coast to the western extent of the Amazon basin. His half sister, Ocllo, is taken as his chief coya, the mother of the next Inca, and more than one billion call themselves the children of the sun.


Now, with the Spaniards on the run, hunted, exiled, slain, Tahuantinsuyu seeks international recognition and association.

Outer Ministry Building, Thunderbay, United Duchies
"Well this is intresting, a billion population for a state we've never heard of..." Acting Secretary Jhon Mellville added as he picked up the annoucement.
"Quite, of course there are some disturbing facts about the new Inca Empire..."
Private Secretary of the Outer Minster, Peter Norton added as he stood in Mellville's office.
"Hmm? Oh yes, quite taking his half sister as his coya..."
"Add in that Pachacutec is the son of his father and one of his sisters..."

Mellville reacted with a slight shutter, "Egads, these people seem to relish in incest, I am surprised their not all imbicles by now..."

"Well it did take them a few centuries to wake up to the fact that their nation actually existed...I wonder if the've gotten rid of the need to continously grow inorder to support the next generation of Incan Emperors?"

Mellville raised an eyebrow to Norton."Well it would seem from our knowledge of the Inca that Emperors never really die. After their deaths, they continue on in mummied form with their former estates supporting the maintence and upkeep of their mummy and its servants," Norton explained.

"Ah so they would be always expansionist, I mean they needed more territory just to support the next ruler in the same style as his predicessor."

"Quite..."

"Well what did the old man decide to do about it?"

"We would ask that Tahuantinsuyu Empire be extended an embassy for the entire region of South America. Oh, and we would like to export some llamas to help lower prices in the Kandi. Typical boiler plate..."


To his Highness,
Pachacutec The Inca, Emperor of Tahuantinsuyu

Greetings on behalf of his Grace, Alexander the Third, Grand Duke of Alcona, Duke of Hubris, Cawahaba, and Zithril, Protector of the Outer Islands, Regent of Calarca, Grand Puba of the Ompa, Lord Protector of Both and Goth, Lord of the Territories of China Wrighty, and Elector of the Federated Klatchian Coast. On behalf of his Grace, the government of the United Duchies would like to exchange ambassadors and construct a consulate within the Tahuantinsuyu Empire for the entire Region of South America.

Futhermore, His Graces's Government is very eager to help facilitate the exporting of llamas for use as pack animals to some of our territories.

Lord Bayard,
Outer Minister,
The United Duchies

International diplomacy was close to a new event for Tahuantinsuyu. It could be argued that the Inca had diploamtic relations with their neighbours in antiquity, but it was exercised only until or for the purpose of annexation and subjugation. Tahuantinsuyu, once built on the back of these relations, struggled to relate with the Spaniards before giving-up and throwing Pizarro off a cliff, and for generations since had failed to gain or even to clearly pursue recognition as an independent national entity.

Pachacutec was sufficiently impressed by the Alconan duke's list of titles and dominions, and considered that here must be a prince of some power, at least one worthy of the Empire's interest. Getting a sort of tacit recognition for his own dominion over the entire continent put a big smile on the face of the emperor, hardly more than a boy, who may even have jigged up and down just a little and would likely have clapped had it only been something that his people traditionally learned to do. (These foreigners were on to something: this was not a good time to be Hispanic and Colombian, sitting between Tahuantinsuyu and the Aztec National League, with whose Panamanian frontier Pachacutec sincerely felt that his borders should meet.)

Needless to say, the proposed diplomatic exchange was quickly granted.

As to llamas... well, the empire always considered its fabrics the most valuable of its commercial goods, and from bitter experience expected the outside to be keen on metal ores, petrochemicals, timber, and jungle flora and fauna, but llamas were something that few others had previously appreciated.

With an economy based on the mita obligation, international trade was part of modern life with which Tahuantinsuyu still struggled, but, it was supposed, even if cash wasn't required domestically it could still be used to buy complicated manufactures for which the obligation had no time.

An initial offer indicated many 'types' of llama at many prices.
Llamas were male and female, trained and untrained, sterile and 'complete'. An untrained sterile llama (usually male) would cost just a few dollars, and with training his value may rise to a couple of hundred depending on the complexity of work for which he was prepared. 'Complete' llamas, for breeding (tending to be of good stock), were from several hundred to a few thousand dollars (females being the more pricey).

Matarani, formally of Peru

Lord Benson looked out across the massive port facilities of the port and nodded his head. It had been decided to send the new Ambassador to Tahuantinsuyu via a new Arx class battlecruiser A.R.N. Richmond Obstensivly this was to orginize the shipment of goods for the new Tahuantinsuyu Ambassador back to the Court of Apethorpe Palace. But it was also partially to demonstrate that the United Duchies was firm on keeping the Panama Canal open to its ships. His Grace was very keen on that subject, with martime trade being a major component of the Alconian economy.

The adel didn't know what conditions to expect to find in the Incan capital, or the politics in Pachacutec's court. However the United Duchies wanted to probe into this rather intresting new development. As such, Lord Benson was going to have to get used to living in the mountains. He also knew that a throng of corporations and individuals would be following in his wake. Alconians were half Knootian for most part which ment they were keen on trade in just about any commodity one could find. Generally they tended towards forming partnerships with locals to keep public opinion favorable, and to give a ready source of local capital.

Of course with the Incan economy apparently still based on a labor taxiation system, it was going to be hard to have any kind of trade at all. Presently it appeared the Inca was willing to sell some llama's for cash. Which was nice for the Alconian Navy. The Marines wanted some new breeding llamas to mix with their current stock to improve the breed. The animals were primarily used in the dimond rich Kandi where horses and donkeys tended to be quickly killed by the local preditors and diseases. If the those traders could find something that the Inca wanted, well then they could garner a reason for the inca to want more Krondors. Otherwise trade was going to be at best, difficult.

The ARN Richmond signalled as her long deadly lines pulled into the harbor her name and intent. Her crew appeared in their dress whites along the decks of the ships all standing at attention. Then the crew saluted as one as the Richmond's smaller six inch guns fired a salute to the Tahuantinsuyu standard.

In the past it would have taken little more than a day for word of a ship's arrival to reach Cusco from a place so far away as this, chasqui relay runners far out-pacing Spanish horses over the long-haul. Today that was a back-up method of communication in the event of infrastructure collapse in the face of invasion or other disaster, and the Inca received word rather sooner.

The Richmond would find South America's ports unsettlingly still since the Incan take-over. Peruvian naval vessels had been sunk, scuttled, or had fled abroad, crammed with Hispanic and other non-native refugees heading usually for Colombia, at least at first. Pachacutec's people, coming down from the mountains and out of the jungles and of the slums, had in recent centuries experienced little to make them take an interest in the oceans that -so misunderstood- had blighted their empire's defence in the days of colonialism. The Incas' armies had never adapted to the ability of Europeans to appear at almost any point on their coast and by amphibious operation to make-up something of thee otherwise inferior mobility of their armies in the field. Any number of new legends had grown-up over who would come from or go to the seas, and the battlecruiser attracted significant interest, though much of it was fearful.

The salute actually sent dozens of on-lookers fleeing back towards the hills.

Still, slight public misunderstandings aside, things would progress smoothly enough. Perhaps that was a poor choice of words: the ambassador would be driven up to Cusco on a tired old minibus, which seemed to have a lot more trouble on the roads than did the passing farmers and the runners who, like postmen, carried messages from place to place, though in this case between only the minority of wisemen able to translate the quipu knots.

All along the way, Lord Benson would see demolition and reconstruction. Western buildings were brought down by native miners putting their explosives to different use, and 'new' ones were rising as thousands worked boulders by hand. Walls and monoliths, grass bridges and hand-cut tunnels, temples and storehouses, forts and shacks, as they had been, though perhaps closer together in anticipation of more population growth. More terraces were being cut, too, and earth moved as efforts were made to force the best out of available resources.

Cusco was just the same, but busier. It was of extra importance to bring down the foreign influence here and return this to its holy state.

The city was colourful, bustling with thousands in traditional fabrics, people of different classes and regions identified by headbands, hairstyles, the colours and number of threads used in this clothes, and even by medallions of different metals worn from their necks. Over the city flew national stripes and reginal cheques. Llamas were almost as numerous as the people and their colours, even after export of the beasts was begun.

The Ambassador would, even in the sensory assault of rainbows, chiseling, and wet llama, be hard pressed to miss the soldiers standing on almost every wall and rooftop. They wore -in addition to medallions suggesting rank and head-dresses identifying unit- black and white chequered tunics, uniform of the imperial soldiery, and they clutched captured rifles backed-up by slings and maces hanging from their hips.

If Tahuantinsuyu needed anything from the outside world, it was most probably military aid. Across the empire almost seven million were under arms and in uniform, and almost all males were now obliged to train at least in traditional martial arts and the understanding of military orders, but most of the military hardware of the fallen Hispanic nations was evacuated or destroyed during the revolution -or restoration, as Pachacutec saw it- and precious few amongst the Amerindian populations would have been able to fly planes and helicopters or service tanks and missiles even if they'd captured many. The imperial army, massive and motivated, suffered from a desperate lack of officers and equipment.

If prepared to engage on the matter, the Alconians(?) would find Tahuantinsuyu's army commander, General Ozcollo, struggling to build a unique sort of military based almost wholly around straight-leg infantry and requiring man-portable and pack weapons and equipment, and the knowledge of their use, not to mention missile defences for cities and shores.

As the mita obligation's... obligation slowly increased (it started far lower than in history as people tried to phase-out partial reliance upon capitalist structures), it became clear that the empire would be more stretched than in the golden days. People had a few weeks each year to provide for their own family's basic needs, farming plots designated to them by the curaca of their ayllu and its quipucamayoc accountants, but after that it was no longer enough to provide food for the state and unskilled manual labour in infrastructure. Public servants would have to take months off in each year as they tended to their plots, or else everyone else would have to work longer for the state and less for themselves in order to support electricians and nuclear technicians and other professionals who previously had not existed.

Tahuantinsuyu was also keen to increase the yield of its already impressive farms. Laboratories normally growing new crops at different altitudes, temperatures, exposures and such would have to test different fertalisers and perhaps even genetic modifications in order to make the farming portion of a person's life more productive and less expensive of their time.

It had been a long while since the Aztec National League government had heard a peep from its southern cousins. The ANL had already tried to influence policy in the Incan nation. While vowing not to spread Aztlán's economic policies into other nations, this was, of course, playing politics - that would be like asking a capitalist not to care about money. However, things have changed much for the Aztec nation. The oil interests in the areas of Columbia and Venezuela didn't all too much concern the ANL these days, since the Aztec's transition to electric and ethanol fired transit. Petroleum based things were pretty much used for only the military and other consumer goods - and even this was changing. Of course, if the Aztec government wanted to, it could easily take over the area and sell the oil, but that was on the back burner as the government was trying desperately to limit the almost out-of-control growth of the already massive, overgrown economy. Instead of taking the oil, the Aztecs could forge a working pact with the Incans to consolidate power into two powerful central forms from Mexico to South America. The ANL's greatest tactical weakness, after all, lied in its lack of control of the vast amounts of land south of the nation. Taking over it would be unpopular both domestically and internationally. That was unacceptable.

Despite the close proximity to the ANL, the United Socialist Republic had little knowledge of the nation of the billion+ people to the south. All the government knew is that this was a golden opportunity to protect itself. The people of the nation felt it as a familial obligation, helping out and allying with a nation of similar origin and struggle as their own. The military, on the other hand, viewed this whole thing as more troublesome work.

Dr. Darius Wellington, the Minister of Foreign Affairs dispatched a classified telegram that the Premier had written. It wasn't an exact copy of the one they had sent a few months ago, it was pretty similar. Although this wasn't considered to be a top secret communiqué, it was a good practice to keep...

TO: The Tahuantinsuyu Empire
FROM: The United Socialist Republic of the Aztec National League
SUBJECT: Salutations

Greetings to the Tahuantinsuyu Empire and its honorable people,

Although we have been aware of the Empire's existence for a while, it is good to see that the Empire is starting to take interests outside of its own borders. We would like to establish formal diplomatic relations with your nation and possibly begin trade. Although our economic and legal systems are different, I am sure that we can find an acceptable agreement. I believe it is in the best interests of both of our states, the Empire and the United Socialist Republic to begin building a friendship considering the strategic location of our nations.

I look forward to future communications. I hope to visit your country in person soon. Aztlán would also be honored to entertain your leaders in our nation as well.

In camaraderie and solidarity,
-Quetzalcoatl Nochtli - Tlayacanqui Toxillan Nenepanoliztli (Premier of the Union)
-Dr. Darius Wellington - Minister of Foreign Affairs
The United Socialist Republic of the Aztec National League

OOC: Ah, glad to see you are back.

Cusco was quite welcoming to the Aztecs, and accepting of diplomatic exchanges and relations.

(And I've been distracted already! Sorry! Curses!)

After months more isolation brought-on by the aftermath of the restoration and all of the social and economic chaos that it brought, the Inca has once more ordered his people to engage with the world.

Cusco wishes to expand trade links and to begin major export of silver and gold, timber, fine fabrics and hand-woven clothes, artworks including curiosities and handicrafts, exotic wildlife, working llamas, alcohol, unique strains of maize and potatoes, and -to any neighbouring states- electricity. The Inca has also authorised the return of tourists to the historic empire, though new regulations will protect the cultural and particularly the religious purity and function of Tahuantinsuyu.

On the other hand Tahuantinsuyu very much requires assistance in rebuilding the Imperial Army. Following the restoration that booted-out the Hispanic ruling classes the Children of the Sun have lacked men with the training to construct and operate high-tech defence equipment, and so the vast military is a fanatical mob of skilled warriors armed with assault rifles if fortunate and slingshots if less so.

General Ozcollo seeks help in establishing domestic production of rifles and ammunition, including the training of involved workers, and also requires man and llama transportable machineguns, mortars, anti-tank weapons, surface-to-air-missiles, communications equipment, and the like. He also requires larger air defences to protect the Empire's cities and anti-ship missiles to protect its shores... the Inca have no desire to construct a navy of any kind. Finally, a small air force must be constructed as most Peruvian, Chilean, Ecuadorian, Bolivian, Paraguayan, Colombian, and Argentinian aircraft in the areas restored to Tahuantinsuyu were destroyed or flown out of the county during the Inca's return to power.

Unfortunately anyone supplying Pachacutec Inca's Imperial Army with equipment and training will have to be comfortable with the probability that it will be used to complete the conquest of Colombia.

...oh, and Cusco is advertising cocaine as a legitimate export, having thrown thousands of cartel members and leaders off Andean clifftops and taken-over the trade for the state.

To: The Tahuantinsuyu Empire
From: Khailfah al Muslimeen
Subject: Aid

Greetings from the KLM, we wish to help your nation get on its feet once again and become a true power, as it deserves to be in this mad world of ours. We wish to send your nation aid in terms of arms, officers, and funds to help rebuild your nations grand armies.

It had been a long time since the last attempts by the Democratic Soviet Republic of Kahanistan to establish diplomatic relations with the Tahuantinsuyu Empire. They had handed over thousands of assault rifles and even some aging MiG-25 and MiG-29 fighters, though their attempts to train the natives to fly had taken off slowly at first (no pun intended.)

Today, the government was uncomfortable with the weapons they had once sent to protect against imperialism now being used to further the imperialist agenda, and arms shipments had stopped shortly after the first shipments arrived. However, many Kahanistanian pharmaceutical companies, chemists, and bars imported Tahuantinsuyu cocaine by the kiloton. Since it was not illegal in Kahanistan, the price was not grossly marked up by distributors, nor was it "cut" (i.e. adulterated to increase mass) with such substances as baking soda, powdered sugar, or talcum powder.

Cusco, navel of the world

"Ah, the House of Osman still sits in distant Anatolia? Contemporaries. The Children of the Sun shall gladly trade with these respectable people."

Pachacutec, though raised to believe that he was descended directly from the sun god Inti, never received a formal education in anything buy astrology, custom, martial arts, and agrandised Quechua history. He could read the future in the sky, dismember a jaguar with his bare hands, and recite from memory the lineage that leads his noble family back to creation, but he would be hard pressed to tell you with confidence that the Portuguese had stopped exploring and annexing in the Amazon basin, let alone whether or not the Ottoman Caliphate was still standing.

The Sapa Inca sent to the Caliph word of his approval, and did so with much grand language promoting the virtues of such as Tahuantinsuyu and the Caliphate as respectable, strong states with right of dominion over the petty little nations of the world. Osmanli officers would be invited to visit the Empire and take-over from withdrawing Kahanistanis in training the Inca's few pilots.

Meanwhile Kahanistani merchants will find that, yes, the Inca's product is fine. His trade is overt, and so he can not hide behind others if his exports turn out to be of inferior quality. Due to the decreased risk associated with Cusco's legalisation of the narcotic substance the price was also reduced, if only a little (Pachacutec now had a kind of monopoly, and didn't feel compelled to slash the price massively).

OOC: The Khailfah al Muslimeen is more or less the successor state to the old Ottoman Khailfah.

IC:

The Imperial Government was please with the Incas agreeing with the Imperium sending adviser to help train their air force and other arm forces. Soon shipments of arms will be arrive at Inca port cites.

Empire Hiring Merchant Sailors, Purchasing Ships

Since retaking their homeland from the Europeans and expelling their alien populations, the Quechua and affiliated peoples -the Incas- have lacked links to the world. Few in the long-oppressed native population can fly a plane or navigate a ship, let alone co-ordinate air traffic control or manage a trade fleet.

During the Spanish Wars the Inca's armies were often out-played by the invaders' ability to appear at almost any point along the coast, the defenders never embracing or fully appreciating the concepts of maritime voyage. In this respect little has changed.

Cusco is putting out a contract for fifteen hundred (1,500) merchant vessels of all types to carry ore, timber, foodstuffs, livestock, liquid fuels, arms and munitions, and consumer goods to and from the Empire. Pachacutec Inca has decreed that up to one hundred thousand men may be hired at the state's expense to crew these vessels.

One imperial citizen shall travel on each ship, and while the captain will be foreign this citizen shall have power to enforce strict Imperial discipline upon the whole of the crew. Don't lie, don't steal, don't be lazy. This, the code of the Inca. Live and work by it aboard Pachacutec's ships and the minimum yearly wage shall be US$50,000, and many will be eligible for bonuses on long-haul voyages, and shared housing shall be provided in Tahuantinsuyu's ports for men away from home. Break the code and expect the same for your back as the Inca's agents risk a diplomatic incident by executing a foreign citizen.

Who shall build the Inca's ships? Who can accept the Inca's discipline and win his treasures?

*Khaif, are there any specific weapons, or shall I just assume that we're receiving generally what the Inca has requested and not worry about exactly what the weapons are called? Either way is okay.*

*Khaif, are there any specific weapons, or shall I just assume that we're receiving generally what the Inca has requested and not worry about exactly what the weapons are called? Either way is okay.*

OOC: We will supply you what you have requested for the most part.

The Allied States would be pleased to establish diplomatic contact with the Inca people. Our own state is newly emergant upon the diplomatic scene as it were, and we are seeking any contact we can in order to build up international credibility.
We would of course be most interested in trade, and perhaps conducting a meeting to establish closer political ties, we beleive that both of our nations could benifit greatly from closer contact and economic dealings.

(OOC:
Provided, of course, you dont mind non-humans in your RP. Other than the species differences, however, I do everything strictly MT.
Longer, more amusing, posts will follow. I got tired of writing out big posts to have people go, "lol mt only,k" or ignore them entirly >_>)

*Well, I would have only thought of playing with humans, but good RP is good RP, and you've got me curious as to what exactly your 'people' are! Hey, mine wear ponchos and sandals at 15,000 feet and live off guineapigs and potatobread, and our mighty imperial flag is frequently mistaken for a statement of gay pride, so we're not exactly normal, either!*

(OOC:
Elves, Orcoids, Goblins, what most people think of as gnomes. Some humans as well. Kind of a 'what if Tolkien colided with Russia and the Holy Roman Empire' thing. Only with tanks and such.
And it is rather unfourtunate about the Inca flag. I often steal the Argentinian flag when I play them in various RP's. Much less...flamboyant ;))