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Picking Up The Pieces; Thulean Global Diplomatic Mission
Topic Started: Dec 23 2008, 01:50 PM (935 Views)
East Anarx
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Anarchitect

After the disaster at the International Conference, the new king, Lucas Petrov I, felt it was his duty to restore Thule's reputation in the world's eyes. Of course, Claire had basically single-handedly shattered it, but he knew it wasn't really Claire's fault. Sure, she could have been a little more polite, shown a little more respect, but Thule owed so much to that woman. Just because she was undiplomatic now and then didn't make her any less of a heroine, any less of a goddess, in the eyes of the people of Thule.

The king's first stop was Nagasaki, ground zero as it were, where he would attempt to make peace with the hosts of the conference. And hopefully, retrieve the crown of the former king.
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Nag Ehgoeg
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The Devil's Advocate

With the Emperor busy forging relations with Nag Ehgoeg's closest neighbours, and the head of the foreign ministry still occupied with the results of the World Conference, it fell to Shogun Yoshinobu to meet with the young king of Thule.

That the new King of Thule had come to make amends boded well, it showed them to be a reasonable people despite eccentric activities of their "diplomats".

The results of the previous king's autopsy graced the Shogun's hands just as a messenger informed him that Lucas Petrov had arrived within Nagasaki and was awaiting an audience. The Shogun leafed through the report on the death of the previous king of Thule as he entered the room where Petrov was waiting for him. As he took a seat facing the new king, his eyes read the last line of the report.

Cause of death...

****

OOC: I'll leave the cause of death upto you E. Things will go as we discussed via PM. Sorry for the really crappy writing, but I'd rather get this done now to an acceptable standard than have this drag on two months and get it perfect.
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East Anarx
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Autopsy Report
 
Cause of death: Alcohol Poisoning*

*the sheer quantity of alcohol in his blood, (1.23%,) makes it exceptional that he was able to maintain basic motor functions in the minutes prior to his death

The small boy stood there expectantly, but in spite of his attempts at looking and sounding as much like an adult as possible, the over-sized clothes he wore made his age readily apparent. Lucas bowed deeply, determined to make a good first impression on the Shogun.

"On behalf of the great kingdom of Thule, I apologize for the actions of Claire Freedhelm, and I wish to make it clear to you that she is by no means representative of the people of Thule. In fact, and this is something that many outside of Thule find difficult to understand, no one can legally represent the people of Thule without their unanimous consent. When I say that I speak on behalf of Thule, know that I do so only in an unofficial capacity, despite my very official position of absolute monarch."

He waited for this to sink in. Hopefully, this wouldn't destroy all chances of him being taken seriously, but lying about what he could and could not do didn't seem to be a good way to go about it either.
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Nag Ehgoeg
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The Shogun looked at the boy before him carefully.

The nature of Thule was not unknown to him. Or rather he knew that the nature of Thule was unknown to him. They were a bizarre and backwards people... yet at the same time there was nothing bizarre or backwards about them. They would send their king half way around the globe to speak for them - only to say that no-one could speak for them. They would make a boy king by their incomprehensible customs... but was this any stranger than other monarchies who would make a boy king by inheritance rather than any real virtue?

Thule was easy to understand: it was incomprehensible.

"King Petrov The First... the customs of Thule are different to the customs of Nag Ehgoeg. In my nation we do not have Royal Assassins in Chief and our leaders have a duty to rule over the people. In your nation people do as they please. And this is..."

The Shogun paused, waiting to see if the young king would take a seat and stop looking at him like he was.

"Fine. Within your nation, do as you please. If no man can represent your people then that is your way and so be it. For years when my ancestors ruled Japan there was no man who could speak for our people. We cut ourselves off from the world and lived how we pleased with no regard for what people thought of us. How could we judge you for acting 'strangely' when our behaviour must seem equally backwards.

"But while you might not have laws, other nations do. And we do not take kindly to having drunks and murderesses waste our time and flout our laws. Nag Ehgoeg will not trade with people who do not respect the law. And why should we? Why would we buy food from you when it could be poison? Why should we trade gold with you when there is nothing to stop your traders stealing from our merchants? Why should we invite Thule to diplomatic conferences when your ambassadors are liable to get drunk, vandalise and then run off in to the night to do who-knows-what?

"While this Freedhelm-san does not speak for all of Thule, it was she who was your representative to the world. And if this is what we can expect from Thuleans..."

The Shogun shook his head before continuing.

"Young king, I respect that you have come here to make amends. Such takes courage. We would like to return to you the body of your former king and all his possessions - unless you would prefer us to dispose of them. But if you seek to restore trade and good-will between our nations then you will have to address our concerns."

The Shogun paused, waiting for the boy to speak. He doubted that the king would be able to address his concerns.

****

OOC: I know you probably don't need my help, but I can think of about half a dozen ways you can satisfactorily address the Shogun's concerns. I want things patched up just like you do.
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East Anarx
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Out of respect, the king refrained from interrupting during the Shogun's speech. When he was finished, Lucas bowed again, and then began:

"It disturbs me to think that other nations see Thule as being lawless... Nothing could be further from the truth. The rule of law is respected and honored above all else, and no one, not even the king, is above the law. In Thule, the law is not something handed down from the rulers, subject to the whims of tyrants, but instead is determined by voluntary, unanimous consent, fully responsive to the needs and desires of each and every individual. The body of law is relatively small, and it is simple and clear, even the least of my brothers and sisters can comprehend it, but it is absolute. Only a few things are forbidden: Murder, Rape, Theft, Fraud... in short, Aggression."

I almost forgot. Claire asked me to give you this. It should be enough to cover the property damages she caused, times two, as is the Thulean custom for reparations when uncertain of the exact damage."

At this, the king stopped for a moment, reached into his inside coat pocket, and pulled out a small bag, which he offered to the Shogun. As the Shogun took it and opened it, he saw that it was filled with gold coins. The boy bowed yet again, and continued:

"I confess I am not sure what Claire had to gain by going to that conference in the first place, much less by causing such commotion and chaos. Her motives are unknown to everyone but herself. However, I can say for certain why I have come today. I wish to ensure the continued peaceful trade between our two nations. Reputation means a great deal to Thulean merchants. That is why they have always endeavored to be as polite and respectful as possible in the past. I am sure you remember how not long ago Thule was one of the few nations that traded with you while still respecting your religion and way of life."

Thulean merchants aim to please the customer, and in doing so, make a profit. Can you imagine what would happen if a merchant began poisoning his customers? For one, he would be prosecuted for fraud, and perhaps for murder if anyone died, and even if he managed to make reparations for his actions, his reputation would be in tatters. No one would trade with him until he had shown himself trustworthy again. There are many incentives for Thulean merchants to maintain a good relationship with the Japanese people, and few, if any at all, to attempt to poison them or swindle them."

As for inviting Thuleans to your diplomatic conferences, perhaps you should refrain from doing so in the future. Diplomacy appears not to be our forte. I hope that I have explained my position adequately. If you have any other concerns, please tell them to me and I will attempt to address them as best I can."
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Nag Ehgoeg
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The Shogun considered the boys words. It was true that Japan had little problem with Thule before the World Conference.

"Hmm, I suppose your words make a lot of sense. Very well, Nag Ehgoeg is willing to restore trade with Thule. We shall try to convince others to put aside Claire's eccentricities.

"As for not inviting Thule to diplomatic conferences in the future... well, certainly I have no desire to ever invite that woman to any function. But you seem to be a reasonable man. Even if you have no real authority within Thule - you are in a position to advertise new markets to Thule's traders. If Thule does not wish to attend diplomatic functions in the future... well that may be wise. But so long as whoever attends under Thule's invitation does not act in the same manner as that woman, we Nagians do not mind if they have no authority within Thule."
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East Anarx
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King Lucas bowed again, and after accepting the body of the former king and his crown, took his leave of the Nagian Shogun.

The next stop on the tour was Ireland, despite it being halfway around the world again. Lucas wondered how long he would be able to attend these meetings with foreign heads-of-state without Claire looking over his shoulder. It seemed she trusted him for some reason. Why, he did not know. He was grateful, however. And doubly determined to refrain from exercising power lest he lose what little trust she had already given him.

On the high seas, Lucas was free to act like a boy, and could forget for days at a time that he was the King of Thule. He often ran about on the deck, playing tag with the other young boys and girls who helped out on the ship. In the evenings, he would play cards with the sailors down in the engine room, and sometimes even drink a little. He usually lost, but he always enjoyed it. And of course, when something needed to be done, whether it was sweeping, mopping, or even cleaning the latrines, as long as he was able, he would do it. No one even mentioned that if he refused he would be swiftly tossed overboard. He simply understood that out here, as in Thule itself, his title meant nothing. Every single individual in Thule was sovereign, and the only time his kingship held any sway at all was with foreigners who didn't understand that.
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Sedulius
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Four battleships were dispatched to escort King Lucas' ship upon hearing his next stop was Ireland. Hugh O'Neill knew the way the rest of the world looked at Thule, so he wanted to ensure King Lucas would arrive in Dublin safely. He only wished he had received the word sooner, and hoped pirates hadn't assailed the King in the Indian Ocean. The battleships met King Lucas near the Cape of Good Hope under a white flag, delivering their orders of escort to the Thulean King. However, one might wonder if this was just another show of Irish power rather than a gesture of genuine concern, for Irish battleships rivaled any other design.

Much fanfare was shown at King Lucas' arrival in Dublin, and Hugh O'Neill, along with an honor guard, personally greeted him upon disembarkation from his ship. The two proceeded to Dublin Castle to discuss the issues at hand, as well as relations between the two nations. They settled in a lounge area where food and drink was brought to them, the High King sipping on Irish honey whiskey.

"You know, King Lucas, it's good to finally have someone closer to my age in Europe's royalty. I tire of entertaining kings and politicians thinking themselves superior simply due to their advanced age. I was only just crowned this year, as you were. I'm seventeen myself, though war and ruling an empire make me feel older than I should... You are lucky, King of Thule, though you've probably gotten the taste of a normal King with all this traveling, eh?"
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East Anarx
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"Yes. Though the Nagian I spoke with was quite understanding and respectful, I have noticed that ageism is rampant in much of the world. People under the age of 18 or sometimes even older tend to be treated as second-class citizens, practically slaves in some cases. We are frequently denied basic rights, and the fact that most nations deny us the right to any means of personal self-defense sickens me. After this tour, I will enjoy being back in Thule again, where I don't get dirty looks just for wearing my side-arm in public." Lucas patted the silver revolver in his holster and smiled.
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East Anarx
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There were a few moments of slightly awkward silence, presumably because the Irish King was taken aback at the notion of this 12-year-old's possession of a firearm, but then Lucas cleared his throat and continued, "As our neighbors and comrades to the south, the Irish people have long been friendly and respectful of Thuleans, even though our customs may differ. I hope that the... umm... impolite... actions of Claire Freedhelm at the Conference in Nagasaki will not alter our relationship. May Hibernia and Thule continue to enjoy the blessings of prosperity that free and peaceful trade provides."
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Sedulius
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"I'll drink to that!" O'Neill downed his whiskey. They exchanged polite conversation for the rest of the evening, and the O'Neill wish the Thulean King a safe journey when he was on his way.
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East Anarx
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OOC: Who's next?
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Telosan
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OOC: I was.

IC: As the young king of Thule and his envoy crossed St. Georges Channel to Angelcynn, they were met by two cruisers, which then escourted them around the southern portion of the island. Not long after entering the North Sea, they sailed up the Thames River.

Knowing the views Thuleans had towards 'royalty', Cynn William awaited at the dock himself, with no one but the honor gaurd and his youngest son, of about King Lucas' age, with him.

"Greetings, King Lucas, how was your trip? This is my son, Andrew. He expressed great interest in meeting you."
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East Anarx
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King Lucas bowed to the Cynn and then to his son. "Greetings, Cynn William. And greetings to you as well, Andrew. The trip was most enjoyable. Clear blue skies the whole way."
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Telosan
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"Yes, most of our weather is fine, but as with everywhere, it changes quickly. We should hurry along, it should rain any moment now. Besides, I'm sure you didn't travel all this way to stand on a dock discussing weather patterns, now have you?"
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East Anarx
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"Certainly not. We probably have something important to discuss. Shall we get a bite to eat from one of the local eating establishments?"
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Telosan
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"Can we go to the Elțeodig Cafe, dad? Lucas would probably like it."

"Hmm. Well Lucas, it seems my advisor here has a place picked out. I find the place has very good food. Better than my own chef could make anyways. Shall we go?"
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East Anarx
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"Sure, if Andrew thinks I'll like it then it sounds good to me. Elțeodig? If I'm not mistaken that means alien, or foreign, right? What sort of cuisine is the food there?"
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Telosan
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"It does mean foreign. It is one of the very few places in the country that have sprung up to serve food only found in other countries. There are wonderful varieties ranging from foods found just over the water in Ireland, food from as far as eastern Asia and the Americas. Of course there is European food, and they've recently started serving native African foods as well. They've become very popular."

"He means the food is unusual, but good."
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Rhadamanthus
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OOC: Is Lucas' diplomatic mission going to come to the City by any chance?
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East Anarx
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OOC: Yes. In fact it can be the next stop if you'd like.
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Rhadamanthus
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OOC: Sure, but if its more convenient to stop somewhere else first, that is fine too.
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Telosan
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OOC: Well, I'll not keep you, you've spent to much time with mundane details in conversation on the docks.

IC: Following lunch at the Elțeodig, the two heads of state discussed somewhat important matters that mostly bored Andrew out of his mind. Then Andrew and Lucas took a tour of London, with Andrew pointing out all his favorite places. Once the tour was finished, the cynn and his son stood on the docks waving to Lucas and his men aboard the ship.

"Send my compliments to Emporer John X when you see him. I think you shall make a fine king Lucas, I wish you luck!"

They watched as the ship made its way out of the Thames, escourted by the Englisc battleships.
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East Anarx
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OOC: Convenience shouldn't be an issue, feel free to RP Lucas' arrival at the grand city immediately.
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Rhadamanthus
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The imperial Roman escort appeared as King Lucas Petrov passed Cossyra (or Pantelleria), which was the home of a Roman naval base, and was the western-most outpost of the imperial rule. From there, the escort guided his ship toward Malta. Malta was the location of one of the empire's customs ports. Once a merchant made it past Malta, he would find himself entering Roman waters, with full access to the bulk of the empire's trade markets. From fabled Alexandria, to exotic Eudaemon or gorgeous Thessalonica, and, of course, the Queen of Cities herself, merchants that passed through Malta would find themselves granted access to the greatest trade centers in the world.

But King Lucas' ship was not a trade ship, and being fully expected and having an official escort, she was allowed to pass without hinderance. From there, King Lucas' ship would sail through the Ionian Sea, between the Morea and Crete into the Aegean, and finally through the Dardanelles into the Propontis Sea. From there, she was free to enter the Bosporus, and to moor in the Golden Horn. The pilgrimage had reached its destination; King Lucas had reached the center.

Perhaps to his chagrin, when King Lucas stepped off the boat, he was greeted with the full dignity of his rank, for the Romans stubbornly refused to recognize that he was anything other than a full and lawful king, the sovereign in his own lands and, even here, honored highly and deferring in the civil precedence only to the emperor himself. From the Prosphorian Harbor, he was taken through the streets of the City of the World's Desire. People of every nation crowded the streets trying to catch a glimpse of the exotic stranger travelling through their midst. At the same time, this must have been something of a sight to King Lucas himself. But as Thule was a nation of traders, King Lucas must surely have been comforted by the sight of the City's thriving markets, which continued their operations uninterrupted by the grand spectacle.

The escorts could have allowed King Lucas to take a direct route to the Great Palace, which was his destination. But instead, they had been instructed to take Lucas in procession through the City. While the procession never left the ancient Severan walls, and only passed through the first five Regions of the Old City, Lucas could nevertheless not fail to take in the power and glory and ambience of the City. When he finally reached the Great Palace, he was greeted by several men of his own race. An honor guard of Varangians, who had originally come from Thule herself, took the King of Thule to his quarters, where he could refresh himself before his dinner with the imperial household.
Edited by Rhadamanthus, Apr 21 2009, 11:53 PM.
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