[h2][center][b] The Dominion [/b][/center][/h2] [center][b] Laona, Capitol of the Dominion[/b][/center] [center][img]http://fc02.deviantart.net/fs17/i/2007/200/f/a/Palace_by_RQuack.jpg[/img][/center] The world has changed.. Skies seem darker, The lands feel drained. Was this the true end of days? Strange that a mere two-hundred years ago, A Justinian would’ve been looked upon with fear and anger, but now it was just another day for the majority of the Dominion. An ambassador was welcomed into the borders, Escorted through the peaceful lands and even offered food at the small towns on the way to the city of Laona Upon reaching the massive city gates, it seemed as if day and night, the attitude here was of confusion and fear. One may find it odd that the borders seemed far calmer than the safety of a city fortress hundreds of miles away. As the Ambassador made his way through the city streets, women would hurry their children indoors while men looked on with awe. For many, this was the first time seeing such a creature and furthermore, knowing it was a herald from one of the strongest Justinian nations in existence. The Charlinite found the paranoia of the city in comparison to the quaint and humble villages of the border to be rather unsettling, even bizarre, however he could muster some understanding. As the Charlinite reached the senate building itself, palace guards made their way to the man and directed him up the stairs. Ahead though, a figure appeared to greet the Charlin. King Tetan himself had moved to meet the foreigner. Perhaps for the best as the senate could be rather aggressive at times. Once the Charlinite cleared the stairs Tetan made his way up to him and motioned for the guards to keep their distance. How many years had it been since last a Justinian ambassador walked these streets? In some ways Tetan himself was intimidated, the foreigner towered over him. Regardless he greeted him with a warm smile and spoke, “Welcome to Laona emissary. Please accept my apologies for the people, you cut an imposing figure most have only heard that a rare few northmen can match, not to mention the fact that some old wounds linger. In any case please accept my welcome, if you would there are some things about the Senate best to discuss before entering the chambers.” “It is understandable,” the deep voiced Charlinite reassured the king, “before we continue, my name is Yorrux Tallfist Helmsix. What would you like to discuss?” Tetan motioned for them to walk together and spoke, “Ah, and as you know I am Tetan Serin. Yorrux, the senate is perhaps unlike what you would expect from a court or the like. I wish for you to be prepared as I know of your peoples emphasis on honor. While as a collective I have never known them hasty or foolish, as individuals they are often rude, derisive, and it would be stunning if an insult did not escape one's mouth. Please understand what you hear on the senate floor is not the actions of an individual, but the machinations of a greater mind, one which we have entrusted the laws of this land. What is said much be treated as such.” “You have my word,” Yorrux said. It wasn’t his first mission as a diplomat and certainly won’t be his last. Throughout his years as the voice of Charlin he had learned to adapt to the customs of the hosting country, even sometimes against his own honorable comfort, but he knew he did it for the greater cause. “And I am sure you will keep it. Now please follow me, the senate awaits.” Tetan started walking towards the large doors that opened to the Senate floor, he hoped things would go as well as they had so far. From the outside of the doors, Tetan and Yorrux could already hear the bickering inside. Everything from medication, taxes, even the number of concubines one has could be easily overheard. When the doors opened, the room became eerily quiet as all eyes turned to the king and ambassador. “What.. is that.?” one said aloud. Sharod moved forward and took center stage. “On behalf of the senate, I am Sharod Kephage, the speaker.” The senators were all standing at this point but with sharod making a single motion, they all began to sit. “I.. We are sorry for the.. lack of a proper welcome. However, with current events of this world, I hope you understand that the last thing these people expect is to see a Jus..” He paused began looking around, in his mind he knew announcing his faith right off the bat would be disastrous. “To see an Ambassador from a nation so foreign to us.” Sharod motioned to a chair near the kings throne that, to many would be comfortable but in all reality, would be far too small for a large Charlinite. Regardless of this, it was an attempt at being hospitable. “King Tetan, As per custom, you have our floor.” before taking his own place in the front row of the senators. Tetan spoke simply, “Our guest is here from a long ways and his customs are foreign. Please show the respect he is due regardless of your personal feelings as we continue on with the session, that is all.” “Thank you King Tetan, for your hospitality,” Yorrux spoke plainly with a face of stone. “I bring my agenda,” The ambassador cut to the point in well practiced Dominion tongue, “unless there is any protocol to be touched, would I be too loud spoken to begin.” Sharod spoke up, “You’re fine.” and then turned to the crowd. “I present.. Yorr. Yor. hmm” He turned back to the Charlinite, “Just go ahead.” With that, Sharod stepped aside and the crowd looked to Yorrux, eagerly awaiting what a Charlinite had to say. “First on my list is the ever present friction between Justinians and the Yuwanists,” Yorrux began calmly, “I would hope on this day it ends here, with a special alliance between the Eastern powers and the Dominion. There are many threats to us both, Ghuls, the plague, fanatical regimes forming in the anarchal somnus. Today I say, let us join our efforts to suppress these troubles with our combined might.” Yorrux cleared his throat, “What is offered is continual peace between nations in return for military might when called for against ghuls, plague outbreaks, and rogue states. Nothing more is asked, just that the Dominion stay clear of the Somnus Imperium until it can be pacified, or it becomes such a large threat our combined force will be needed. The Paladins of Krax of Charlin offer in addition to Eastern alliance: training in containing the plague to stunt its growth in the west as well as the east.” The group began whispering and after a moment, an older senator stood up and smiled a bit. “I am sorry to say but we cannot “stay clear” of the Somnus.. They constantly assault our borders and we will continue a campaign to end that threat. They are our biggest enemy and you expect us to just.” He laughed a bit, “Sit back and hope that foreigners a world away will solve it?” The ambassador nodded, “and you speak for every man here?” The old man nodded, “Indeed, I hear no one arguing.” He started walking towards the center of the room. “You see, The Dominion has been putting up with the ‘Somnus’ for decades.. they attack our walls, storm our gates and we are to just sit back.. It was them who nearly destroyed the balance of this world. Their split could’ve destroyed all we knew had the Dominion not held strong.” The crowd nodded in approval, some even standing and clapping a bit. “We aren’t going to stop fighting these people until they either submit or be destroyed. They have long hated us, even before Justinian himself led them in to our lands two centuries ago. There will never be an Idle Dominion so long as the Somnus exists as it does now.” The Conviction in his voice was shining bright and the other senators were basking in it, clear defiance but if the Charlinite had ever studied Dominion history, he would note that the Senator is right, they wouldn’t ever stop fighting an enemy that had haunted them for so long. The Charlinite silently contemplated the senators, and after pulling on his long black beard he spoke with curiosity, “I wonder, does the Dominion seek everlasting peace with the East?” The senator just shook his head, “We have seeked peace since the Dominion first split, When Yuwans grace crossed our borders we had tried to secure peace. But what happened? First.. The somnus, under command of the Red gods attacked us.. Then.. under command of Ju-” Sharod moved in quickly and motioned for the Senator to sit down. “Senator, Times have changed, Some of that faith aren’t as blinded as the Somnus are. Please respect our guest.” The senator nodded and sat down. Sharod turned to the Charlinite, “However, you must understand… Yes, we do wish peace with the east but we will not sit idly by while a rampant Somnus still threatens our borders. Our military has long stood guard and in some areas have made gains against a foe that will stop at nothing to see not only the Dominion defeated, but everything that Yuwan represents. Their war isn’t about land.. It’s about the worst weapon of all, Faith.” The quiet Charlinite folded his hands on his lap and looked over the crowd of old politicians, his voice uplifted,”Then let us consider tactful alternatives” “Rather,” The man began, “than the Dominion staying clear, you may do what you will as always, uninterrupted.” “However, the East will not support these actions, but neither will they argue if you enter a pact, a pact of peace, and a pact of war against common enemies.” Sharod turned to the crowd. “Well?”. The Senate was quiet but many started to raise their hands. “Well, You may not understand our customs, Yorrux We are ready to listen to your actual proposal, It is beneficial to all to have a united front against threats as powerful as the Plague or threats so plentiful as the Ghul.” He stepped aside, ready for actual laid out terms. “Here are the terms and conditions of a joint alliance,” Yorrux began, “ The Eastern Entente will cooperate in an alliance with the Dominion, which entails safe passages for citizens, and open trade restricted to foodstuffs, luxury and raw commodities. Also, it entails the continuation of the Justinian - Yuwanist armistice that both groups of the pact currently follow, which includes pacifism towards each other and the usual cease fire terms, void if provoked into battle by a breaking party under the influence of either governments. Provocation includes raids, offenses, and black operations, against the opposite government, it’s soil, or it’s lawful citizens. The alliance is also void if a government supports a country or insurrection that directly harms the other government in the alliance. Direct harm is identified as helping any force that is invading, resisting, or provoking the allied country in any way. ” “The second proposal’s, or the military supports terms and definition are as follows,” the ambassador cleared his throat with a loud cough before proceeding,” proposal two or otherwise the military support joint force agreement between the Eastern Entente and the Dominion would include the obligation of military support in the case of defense against a common enemy or offense against a common threatening enemy. A common enemy would be defined at the time by the two governments but as for now all known common enemies that would be signed as plausible terms for military support are the plague, cultist insurrections, and Ghuls. This military support joint force agreement does not include the obligation to protect each other from invading countries or retaliating countries that are not deemed a common enemy now or at the time of the offense. This military support joint force agreement also does not guarantee help in an offense if the victim of the offense is not deemed a common enemy. However, failure to uphold the defense or assistance of the other government in the joint force agreement during episodes of attacks and defenses against a sworn common enemy voids the joint force contract and puts the alliance contract on strain of dissolvement.” The Senate floor burst into a heated debate. It was clear at this point that the senate was going to stay divided on the issue as the majority of the noise seemed to be anti Justinian. Some of the older senators stood at the sidelines, staring at the mess on the floor. They knew this would only end bad if they couldn't come to a consensus. Sharod had to make a move as it had went from discussion to insults, “Everyone, quiet down!” but no one listened, more so, no one heard him. “Quiet down!” he shouted to no avail. “Damnit,” he muttered before yelling at the top of his lungs, “Quiet! Sit down!.” Somehow, the command pierced the debate. “Finally.” “It’s time to put this to vote.” he said. “Everyone take time to review the proposal, to yourself.” At that point, Sharod walked to a large box on the floor and withdrew a bag of colored rocks with an equal number of red and blue stones.. “Everyone, pass these around. we will vote once they have been distributed.” It didn’t take long before the senate had passed out the stones. “All right, we have the first part of the proposal but before they could begin to vote, another senator stood up, “I have a question, How would we honor such an alliance with such a large distance between our nations? And even more so, to even reach your nations, it would involve either moving through the Somnus remnants which could be seen as an invasion or moving through the plague lands which, as you know, is completely unacceptable.” The senators turned towards Yorrux. Yorrux grunted, a little insulted at the question, “Ports of course, the long sea distance will increase and stimulate such an alliance’s economic bonus. Besides, Charlin itself is undergoing a border quarantine, whereas port is the only way in, and the only sensible option in this day and age. Open interaction is only a positive reinforcement to a great relationship, despite any proposed distances.” Many of the senators nodded at the answer but many did think about how long it would take to send or receive reinforcements if a war were to break out. Weeks at best. Regardless of this, the group began to vote. Each one cast their vote by putting one of their colored rocks in a bucket. After a few minutes passed, the votes were in. “Well, it seems by a pretty fair majority, the Senate agrees to those terms regarding the first proposal. We will now vote on the second.” The second vote didn't take much longer and like the first one, it was a success for the Charlinite ambassador. As the group turned in the rest of their rocks and sat quietly. Sharod moved to the center of the stage, “We have reached a consensus but as you all know, the King has an opportunity to force a new vote if he does not approve our decision.” He then turned to Tetan, “Do you object to those terms or our decision?” Tetan smiled, “Nay I do not object, as usual I bow to the will of the senate. Both decisions have passed.” [hider=Things to know.] Charlin and Dominion has finalized a military treaty. [/hider].. [hider=How gov’ment work in the Domizzle] “Hold up my homie!” shouted Tetan, “it might be best to tell ya that we only speak in smooth raps here!” Tetan started, “Theres no need for surprise, since when I speak all rise, to hear a real OG speaking no lies! Now please listen here, these men assembled no Justinians do they fear, so don’t worry bout offending cuz if ya do we’ll just sneer! So open up with your lines! We know ya got all kinds, Just step up and blow our minds!” “The beat slows down and the rhymes grow hotter, but little did Tetan expect a total SLAUGHTER!” [b]*Brutal fight scene*[/b] -And then the senate stood up, ball caps all turned backward.. we are the senate you mess wit’ us, you gon’ regret it! We are the big balla’s We are the shot calla’s Gonna blow these loads on ya’s Got the tools to make the rules We aint gots’ time for your petty duels Cuz’ all you bitches, you are the fools we passsin’ laws you gonna enjoy Dont be thinking that it is a ploy So break it down Pinocchio [b]“I’m a real boy!”[/b] BITCHEN@!! word~ [/hider]