[centre][h2]Torrik Conference[/h2][/centre]

[centre][img]http://i.imgur.com/yTT8o2H.jpg?1[/img][/centre]

	Torrik was the southern port of Aontas, the first destination for northward international trade and commerce before Kienne. Unlike the smog-ridden streets of that capital city, clogged with bodies, Torrik had retained some of the features which had characterized it since ancient days. The sea along the coast was still clean enough for fish to survive, allowing for the presence of a relatively prosperous seafood industry. Of course, Torrik's domestic production was the David to international trade's Goliath. No city in all of Aontas, spare the capital, conducted more activity with foreign nations than Torrik. It was for this reason that the city's clean streets were decided to be the landing point for the heads of state of western Varius, for a meeting with King Matthias. They represented Aontas' connection to the region, a connection which Matthias hoped to greatly further.
    
	In his own private residence in Kienne, Matthias' surroundings were decidely austere. He loathed the overly formal nature of his title, favouring as little pompousness as could be arranged for a monarch. Here in Torrik, however, the governor's residence that was host to the meeting was quite elegant. The conference room was precisely what one would expect of a locale for foreign dignitaries; rare Sarelian carpets decorated the floor, gemstones from Feratsu were inlaid in the intricate features along the walls, and King Matthias Frederik was standing with a smile in his best suit. The gathered were finally all in the same room, and discussion of matters of substance could begin, pleasantries (blessingly) out of the way. Nonetheless, a certain amount of finesse was always required in such situations.
    
	Matthias approached the joint monarchs of the largest of the foreign states in attendance, and spoke to them with some eagerness. "King Harrison and Queen Layna, the union of your two nations seems more stable than many more singular states. The relationship between the united kingdoms must be a strong one, of enormous mutual benefit."

	Salardian President Cédric Poullain's bow tie stuck out like an unpopped zit; morbid and pale. He straightened it for the third time and yanked the cigar from his lips then settled it back between clenched teeth. "Need not forget the emissaries of these less significant nations, your lordship," Poullain quipped, drawing a stifled chuckle from Tramellian Foreign Minister Hackl, off in the corner. Poulain sat in a high backed chair, having grown tired of meandering about when the Aontan King had kept them waiting. 

	The Foreign Minister of Tramel, nearing his sixtieth birthday wore an overcoat that looked like a throwback to the Tramellian War of Independence, with a high fur collar and thick ribbings. Hackl turned back toward the window, watching Aontan snow continue to pile up in the courtyard below.

	Both Harrison and Layna looked at each other before replying back to the King of Aontas, as they were sitting next to the King. "I agree with you, King Matthias. A union of kingdoms must be a perfect one in order to be the strongest out there. This union might be seem as a threat to many nations, as it had before in the 1500s. Now, we aren't a threat to many; however, we are still stronger than the other nations." Harrison said to Matthias as if he had said it to other people before. Layna then joined in as she said, "And we also have benefits to the union as the Athos provide the steel, while the Stules give us the oil for our ships. This union is one of the best, if not the best benefit in this world.". She stopped speaking as he grabbed to her cup of water and started to drink it. While Harrison kept on looking at President Cédric and King Matthias.

	Matthias' attention turned all at once to Cédric after listening to Harrison and Layna's reply. "My words were intended to be of a demonstrative nature—and you can eschew formalities such as 'lordship' in my case, I've never deeply cared for titles." The King then turned again to the monarchs of the United Kingdoms, attempting to address all present at once. "As Athos and Stules are each individually better off for their union, so too are all our nations for their relationships with one another. The steel that fuels the industry of Salardia, for instance, comes from Aontan mines, just as the steel to fuel Stules comes from Athos. To be utterly concise and unmistakeably clear: we are better off close to one another than apart. This is immediately evident to all men in all our nations. My contention, however, is that our relationship need not be limited to steel. We ought be partners not only economically, but ideologically and politically. There is a place in Sociatatem for all nations, irrespective of how large they appear on a map. As the world becomes more violent and our further off neighbours less and less inclined to follow natural law, these places beckon to be seated in more heartily. The need to present a united front is stronger than it has ever been before, and all nations here assembled are best represented as a part of that front."

	The Tramellian Foreign Minister huffed, though whether it was reactionary or intentional was not certain. He slid a fist across his mouth and coughed, then turned from the window to the Aontan monarch: "The Sociatatem knows a thing of partners, I say." He approached, his hand first falling to find the glass of whiskey on the nearby desk, per special request of the serving staff. Huckl sipped, then wafted a free hand about in the air. "So fortunate is Tramel to have forsaken her colonies many decades ago, lest the Sociatatem to sell them off to Survaekom dogs."
  
	President Poullain attempted to conceal his grin, but the attempt was elementary. When Huckl had finished, Poullain again readjusted the unlit cigar clamped between his teeth. "No need to yell, dear Huckl. The man has a point. It's been Athosian and Stulian neutrality that's kept us alive and well in the last thirty years." Poullain stood, a free hand finding it's way to the pocket of his trouser. He pulled a time piece, glanced at it then returned it. "While you speak some truth, King Matthias, Foreign Minister Huckl does as well. Your track record.. as it seems, may be more in line with a Kalpian schoolboy than what the Sociatatem has alawys promised in ink."
  
	Huckl had already turned away, meandering back toward the window. Poullain had more to say. "The open trade laws have never changed. Salardia has long flourished as a neutral party, and I see little that would change by joining the Sociatatem then being forced into some mess over some land in Faresia that I know nothing about!" He stomped his foot against the carpet, more for theatrics than anything.

	Harrison looked interested at Matthias' way of speaking as he felt like he was speaking with a fine leader. He waited until he was done speaking to correct his lack of using the word, lordship. "Sorry about that, your lordship." Harrison said as he turned to Layna, which she had a couple of words to say to Matthias, "We agree that this partnership has to be more than economically for both sides. But, we need to be more peaceful at each other before we tear this world apart over greed.  I believe that we are the nations that will protect the natural law of men and women. As others will fight each other over colonies and resources, we need to set up some kind of front from that. And I also believe that we can represented that part of the front."

	Then, the King and Queen looked at President Poullain as he was getting more angry at this conference. Harrison turned to Poullain and said to him, "Your nation can benefit from this as much as my nation does. We both need to make our nations profitable and protect it for threats at the same time. Salardia could benefit from this conference in the long run, just hear him out before you decline." By the time he was done speaking, a serving staff member gave him a glass of water, which he drank as soon as he got it.

	The eyes of the King of Aontas were placed firmly on Minister Huckl. "There is a war, a large one, larger than any other war in history, that will plague Varius and all foreign continents within our lifetime. It could very well be declared today. Whether or not any one nation joins any particular side in this war will not stop it from occurring. Instead, what will be changed is the likelihood of victory. Tramel and Salardia are two small nations whose fate, whether they care for the fact or not, is largely dictated by the whims of their larger neighbours, both regionally, across Varius, and abroad. As the representative of a nation which has only comparatively recently won its independence, I would imagine that you, sir, would be rather amiss to have your country turned into a province of this empire or that one, or to have its government turned into a rubber stamp for Serranthian rape and pillage. If the wrong side wins this war, and that may very well be the case if the correct side does not muster forth all the strength it can, the 'Survaekom dogs' you so loathe might very well decide over a hookah whether or not Tramel should exist. Salardia and Tramel cannot afford any option but to assist the men who are about to fight and die for their independence. If you honestly believe that when the Surv-Akur come marching through the capital cities of Varius, they will uphold the dignity and sovereignty of every nation-state they march atop, then I welcome you to continue your nation's neutrality and cross your fingers that it still exists when you're on your deathbed. If you have any informed opinion of the nature of Survaek or her allies, however, the wise decision at this venture seems fairly clear."

	"There very well could be," Huckl agreed, turning his back to the window to face the king. "It is our neutrality that will protect Tramel, as it always has!" Huckl listened on, but seemed unimpressed by what Matthias was apparently selling. "Tramel has seen how the Sociatatem protects those in need."

	President Poullain nodded. "Without claim, there exists little reason to entice your offer, King Matthias. You intend to start a bar fight and implore bystanders to join in, on what accord? You think Survaekom diplomats have not come pandering to me as well?" President Poullain mulled the cigar between his teeth, then pulled it free and wafted it around. "You come promising Survaekom hordes rolling through Varius, but you offer nothing in return!"

	King Matthias interjected, "I come promising for those hordes to drown to their deaths in the Zellonian Sea, rather than to shell Caldwell until nought is left but smoke and murdered families. My offer is the continuation of the existence of your country. It might seem very stark for me to offer as little as the status quo, but it is the status quo that is at stake. I implore the onlookers in this barfight to join in, Mr. President, because if they don't, the bar won't exist tomorrow night, and every last drop of the booze will be pissed out of the Emperor of Survaek's pecker."

	"For how long can neutrality protect us?" Layna said to the President, "You and I know that people get greedy with power and they will do anything to get more. A war, larger than any other in history, will be coming and it will be so large that it will reach the whole world. A world war, you could say.". She was done speaking as he kept on hearing what the others had to say. Both the King and Queen were impressed and amazed by the way that Matthias spoke to the President.

	Harrison looked at both the President and Kings as they were going on until he decided to speak up. "We all are here for a reason and that reason is because we want to hear out the offer for protection against threats beyond us-beyond our thinking. But, we need to offer a way to protect each other as we would with our children as the threat of war with nations is likely to happen to one of us soon. We would increase our changes of winning a war by having allies on our side. Even known, there is a risk with this alliance and I would take the risk over any thing.". He was finished as he looked at the President for a responce. 

	Huckl would've put on his coat, had he not already been wearing it. "For too long, Tramel has watched nations war with one another, and Tramel has long stood on the sidelines. I would not bring word back to 'my' King that I have signed the death warrant of thousands of young Tramellians for the sake of the status quo." He pushed past President Poullain, who was too slow to move out of his way. He didn't slam the door, but it was most likely because of it's heavy Deltoran oak make rather than a conscious effort not to.

	Poullain thumbed the tip of his cigar, his eyes stuck to the back of the door on the far wall. "About.. one million," he said. "About one million Salardians in Stuler territory. The ultimate inclusion of territory encompassing all Salardians may be what it takes for Salardian entry into the Sociatatem." He looked briefly at the King and Queen, but turned just as fast back to King Matthias, for that was whom he was propositioning.

	Matthias was entirely unperturbed by Huckl's outburst. He found the more more insulting of the two dignitaries' statements to be Poullain's. "I am the King of Aontas, and I have respect for the institutions of state of all nations. I do not determine the boundaries of any kingdom but my own. If the border between Salardia and Athos-Stules is to be altered, it is entirely a matter for Salardia and Athos-Stules."

	Their reaction to Huckl was nothing as they knew that soon or later he would leave with some kind of statement. But they were suprised by the demand of the Stuler territory, there were about one million Salardians in the space. The queen was the first one to speak about the offer for Poullain, "Well, that's a lot that you're asking about. Giving up a territory isn't easy and we would give it up; however, we wonder how this deal will benefit us as well. If we give up our land, then what will we get in return?" The queen was done speaking when she looked at the President carefully.

	"The return of Salardians to Salardian rule would guarantee our friendship. An alliance," Poullain added. "Partitioning the province to encompass the expansion of Salardian territory to include all Salardians. With that guarantee, you would have Salardia's promise for a defensive alliance. If this war 'does' break out, the Salardian Royal Army, and Navy, will be at Athos' and Stuler's disposal."

	The King and Queen looked at each other once more, with the King nodding his head at the Queen. The queen then turned back towards the President and said with a strong and powerful tone, "The United Kingdoms of Athos and Stuler will give the territory back to your country in return, you offer us an defensive alliance to protect our nation in the coming future. Even known it will take time to give the territory back to your people, Poullain, but you must do your part as well. If you don't and you send troop to the territory anyway, we will have no choice to fight back. I hope that it doesn't happen and we both do our parts.". Both the King and Queen were done speaking and the King wrote in some notes about this new deal and how they must give the territory back as soon as possible."

	The King of Aontas raised a glass of wine, recently produced by an attending servant. "It is settled, then. Salardia will be whole after the partition, and all three of our nations will play their role in the war to come. Let us drink to the status quo!"

	The clink of four glasses produced a relatively faint sound in the conference room, but one with far reaching implications. The Salardian Republic and United Kingdoms of Athos and Stules would join Sociatatem, and pledge their strength on the side of the status quo in the battles ahead. It was a victory for King Matthias and for his country, and in the eyes of the King himself, staring out after the toast into the gathering snow outside the window, a victory for all free men and all those who endear themselves to them. Victory, in the unfortunate but inevitable war to come, was now all the more likely.

[i]((Collaboration between [url=http://www.roleplayerguild.com/users/the-grey-warden]The Grey Warden[/url], [url=http://www.roleplayerguild.com/users/theodorable]Theodorable[/url] and myself.))[/i]