The Gupta Dynasty
17-11-2007, 01:30
Ajer, Yafor 2
Autumn was a strange time in the Grand Democratic Duchy. It was an in-between time, odd for the weather in the country. Yafor 2 often seemed to have extreme conditions - the oppressive heat of high summer soon gave way to the bitter cold of winter. Many foreigners who visited the Grand Democratic Duchy often forgot that even Yafor 2 had seasons that were neither cold nor hot, neither warm nor cool. Autumn was one of those times, and, while irritatingly short, autumn was one of the few times, for the people in Ajer, at least, that the world was not at the extremes. For many, however, it was a time of anticipation, of waiting until those extremes came.
Nonetheless, it was getting cold in the Grand Democratic Duchy. The trees, once wearing brilliant garments of red, oranges, and ocher, had shed their raiment in exchange for the barren lifelessness that seemed to take precedence during winter. Yafor 2 was a land of trees and grasses and bushes, of plants and animals alike, and for many people, casually striding through the towns and cities in which they lived, the change in the landscape was depressing. In a very real way, it was. Yafor 2's natural beauty was everything that personified the country and the absence (or change) of it changed the face of the entire nation for a time.
The golden leaves crunched soundlessly beneath the feet of Jyorin Kiamelar, the Imperial Yaforite Foreign Minister. His head was shrouded in the hooded jacket that he wore, emblazoned with the icon of the Yaforite government where he worked. The Foreign Minister was one who would have spent an hour or so brooding about the change of seasons, had he an hour to spare for contemplating nature. Of course, being the Foreign Minister, especially in a time where the Grand Democratic Duchy was embroiled in the relationship between the Questarian Commonwealth and Gholgoth and the Royal Georgian League and the other major alliances that governed international interaction. Naturally, Jyorin Kiamelar would have given a lot to get time to spare, but the option simply did not exist.
"Jyorin!" At the sound of the sharp voice, Jyorin looked up, to see the Minister of Defense, Arman Adro, striding vigorously towards him. Adro had held nearly six different jobs over the past four years (including positions in the army, Foreign Ministry, and even handed over independence to Yaforite Marerius, which was having problems (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?t=536496) once again. However, Adro had returned to his "home", of sorts, the place where he had been inducted into the army, where he had gained importance. It had been his own free choice, to join the army again. Nearly any door would have been open for Arman Adro, especially after the skillful job he had done in Marerius. In the eyes of many people, Arman Adro had done his country proud, while transferring independence to a free people. To join the Ministry of Defense, again, seemed, to Jyorin Kiamelar, at least, slightly anticlimactic.
"Nice to see you, Arman. What is it?" As usual, Jyorin found himself immediately asking Arman Adro what the order of business was. It was a strange facet of Jyorin's personality - that he liked to do business first, then enjoy himself second. Recently, Jyorin had been finding far more of the former and far too little of latter for his liking. That was the nature of the world, though. "It's about that...deal, Jyorin." Arman Adro's reply seemed a bit hushed, and Jyorin immediately caught the undertone in his meaning. What Arman was about to talk about was not for the ears of regular people. Moving close to the Minister of Defense, Jyorin Kiamelar put his arm around the younger man, leaning close to his ear. "What is it, Arman?"
"It's about the Adejaani." Arman's voice was even more hushed than Jyorin would have expected. Clearly, whatever Arman Adro has in mind to talk about, it was important. "We know you've been initiating contact with them. They are our allies now, after all, and more sensible than most." Had Jyorin Kiamelar been a more impatient man, he would have motioned for the Minister of Defense to hurry up. As it was, Jyorin Kiamelar was the type of man who took things as they were. Speeding up things simply ended in losing things and messing up. It would be better if Arman Adro gradually meandered to the point, instead of going in whatever direction Jyorin would have pointed him in. It was a lesson that the Foreign Minister had learned a long time ago and had not yet forgotten since then.
"We've been initiating contact from our department, as well." Jyorin raised his eyebrows. While intrigue between branches of the government was no uncommon (though generally frowned upon), it was exceedingly rare to see any member of any department admit to such relations. "We've contacted ..the Adejaani, for, well the military." Jyorin nodded abruptly, suddenly feeling impatient. He had never suspected that Arman Adro was working on some scheme of his own! This was quite nearly unheard of! "As you know, the Adejaani have been operating for some time in the international arms business. They had a joint storefront with the Omzians, though I don't know if it is still in use." Jyorin nodded again, a little more composed this time. If they truly had run an arms business with the Omzians, perhaps Arman Adro had good reason to go behind the back of the Foreign Minister.
"Basically, we've contacted them and they are going to bring some...designs. For our army. With the world as it is, we can't be too careful." The last was rather quickly spoken, as if Arman Adro were trying a further justification of his actions. "Fine, I can see why you did it." Jyorin Kiamelar felt less betrayed than he might have, under other circumstances. "Just make sure that none of this gets out. If they do, the Praetonian and Questarian presses will have a field day. Think about the Allaneans! "Yafor 2 expanding their military!" The headlines are already written!" Jyorin calmed himself down for a second, then went on. "It's too late to change this - all we can do is prepare for the Adejaani to arrive. But be careful." Arman Adro nodded in agreement.
Autumn was a strange time in the Grand Democratic Duchy. It was an in-between time, odd for the weather in the country. Yafor 2 often seemed to have extreme conditions - the oppressive heat of high summer soon gave way to the bitter cold of winter. Many foreigners who visited the Grand Democratic Duchy often forgot that even Yafor 2 had seasons that were neither cold nor hot, neither warm nor cool. Autumn was one of those times, and, while irritatingly short, autumn was one of the few times, for the people in Ajer, at least, that the world was not at the extremes. For many, however, it was a time of anticipation, of waiting until those extremes came.
Nonetheless, it was getting cold in the Grand Democratic Duchy. The trees, once wearing brilliant garments of red, oranges, and ocher, had shed their raiment in exchange for the barren lifelessness that seemed to take precedence during winter. Yafor 2 was a land of trees and grasses and bushes, of plants and animals alike, and for many people, casually striding through the towns and cities in which they lived, the change in the landscape was depressing. In a very real way, it was. Yafor 2's natural beauty was everything that personified the country and the absence (or change) of it changed the face of the entire nation for a time.
The golden leaves crunched soundlessly beneath the feet of Jyorin Kiamelar, the Imperial Yaforite Foreign Minister. His head was shrouded in the hooded jacket that he wore, emblazoned with the icon of the Yaforite government where he worked. The Foreign Minister was one who would have spent an hour or so brooding about the change of seasons, had he an hour to spare for contemplating nature. Of course, being the Foreign Minister, especially in a time where the Grand Democratic Duchy was embroiled in the relationship between the Questarian Commonwealth and Gholgoth and the Royal Georgian League and the other major alliances that governed international interaction. Naturally, Jyorin Kiamelar would have given a lot to get time to spare, but the option simply did not exist.
"Jyorin!" At the sound of the sharp voice, Jyorin looked up, to see the Minister of Defense, Arman Adro, striding vigorously towards him. Adro had held nearly six different jobs over the past four years (including positions in the army, Foreign Ministry, and even handed over independence to Yaforite Marerius, which was having problems (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?t=536496) once again. However, Adro had returned to his "home", of sorts, the place where he had been inducted into the army, where he had gained importance. It had been his own free choice, to join the army again. Nearly any door would have been open for Arman Adro, especially after the skillful job he had done in Marerius. In the eyes of many people, Arman Adro had done his country proud, while transferring independence to a free people. To join the Ministry of Defense, again, seemed, to Jyorin Kiamelar, at least, slightly anticlimactic.
"Nice to see you, Arman. What is it?" As usual, Jyorin found himself immediately asking Arman Adro what the order of business was. It was a strange facet of Jyorin's personality - that he liked to do business first, then enjoy himself second. Recently, Jyorin had been finding far more of the former and far too little of latter for his liking. That was the nature of the world, though. "It's about that...deal, Jyorin." Arman Adro's reply seemed a bit hushed, and Jyorin immediately caught the undertone in his meaning. What Arman was about to talk about was not for the ears of regular people. Moving close to the Minister of Defense, Jyorin Kiamelar put his arm around the younger man, leaning close to his ear. "What is it, Arman?"
"It's about the Adejaani." Arman's voice was even more hushed than Jyorin would have expected. Clearly, whatever Arman Adro has in mind to talk about, it was important. "We know you've been initiating contact with them. They are our allies now, after all, and more sensible than most." Had Jyorin Kiamelar been a more impatient man, he would have motioned for the Minister of Defense to hurry up. As it was, Jyorin Kiamelar was the type of man who took things as they were. Speeding up things simply ended in losing things and messing up. It would be better if Arman Adro gradually meandered to the point, instead of going in whatever direction Jyorin would have pointed him in. It was a lesson that the Foreign Minister had learned a long time ago and had not yet forgotten since then.
"We've been initiating contact from our department, as well." Jyorin raised his eyebrows. While intrigue between branches of the government was no uncommon (though generally frowned upon), it was exceedingly rare to see any member of any department admit to such relations. "We've contacted ..the Adejaani, for, well the military." Jyorin nodded abruptly, suddenly feeling impatient. He had never suspected that Arman Adro was working on some scheme of his own! This was quite nearly unheard of! "As you know, the Adejaani have been operating for some time in the international arms business. They had a joint storefront with the Omzians, though I don't know if it is still in use." Jyorin nodded again, a little more composed this time. If they truly had run an arms business with the Omzians, perhaps Arman Adro had good reason to go behind the back of the Foreign Minister.
"Basically, we've contacted them and they are going to bring some...designs. For our army. With the world as it is, we can't be too careful." The last was rather quickly spoken, as if Arman Adro were trying a further justification of his actions. "Fine, I can see why you did it." Jyorin Kiamelar felt less betrayed than he might have, under other circumstances. "Just make sure that none of this gets out. If they do, the Praetonian and Questarian presses will have a field day. Think about the Allaneans! "Yafor 2 expanding their military!" The headlines are already written!" Jyorin calmed himself down for a second, then went on. "It's too late to change this - all we can do is prepare for the Adejaani to arrive. But be careful." Arman Adro nodded in agreement.