[b][u]Empire of Toubres[/u][/b] Valério Lopes was an old man. He had watched the powers of the Known World shift and change, the balance of the world forever moving, but forever level. When one rose, one fell. And when there was success, there was always failure. All this he had seen in his life, carving out his own comfortable existence on the eastern coast of the Toubres Empire. His family was a noble one, and when he walked the corridors of his villa, inherited from his father and sprawled over a ridge, he was watched by the eyes of ancestors stretching back for centuries. And he had made use of his position, becoming a successful trader in his own right. In his younger days he had travelled all across Eurania and Faresia, visiting the colonies of Toubres, and visiting other strange, and exotic lands with his offerings of spice, rich wine and hides. Once, he had even travelled as far as the Fifth Continent, and his memories of that far-off land stayed with him, all these years afterwards. But through all his far off travels, one place still remained as the most fond in his memories. A fishing village, almost too small to even be called a village, just a handful of low houses clustered around the small, narrow bay. He had stopped there for the first time, when he was a young man, naively looking to sell goods to those who had no need, or want for them. He had met her then, like an angel as she watched his ship draw close to the shore, her curiosity drawing her to him. Since then, he had visited the village countless times, taking fish in exchange for whatever payment the villagers would expect. And every visit, she would watch them arrive from the shore, and the two would cast fleeting glances to each other throughout the visit, passion never realised burning between them. Now, he was an old man, and he did not captain his own ships anymore. He had left the running of the company to his apprentice, the closest he had to a son, leaving Valério free to enjoy his retirement. But he could not enjoy his time if he couldn’t see her. And every few months, he would charter a modest craft, and sale across the strait to the little village on the waters edge. Now that he was old, he did not bring trade, but the people had come to welcome him as one of their own, and he and his modest crew were warmly welcomed. And the girl, who he had never spoken a word to for years, who he had watched grow old just as he had, continued to watch him arrive, waiting on the shore. Her name was Rosa, and she was just as beautiful as the day that he first saw her. Every visit, he would meet her on the gentle sands, lapped at by the sea, and they would talk and laugh long into the night. She was his one, and only, love, and every moment he spent away from her, his heart yearned. Valério Lopes opened his eyes. From where he stood, on the grand sweeping balcony of his villa, he could make out that small, fishing village, clinging to the coast of the Serene Empire of Tara, the strait separating them. The relationship between the two neighbouring empires, Tara and Toubres, had been a long and complicated one. And his love, Rosa, was born on the wrong side of the sea for the two of them to ever truly find happiness together. But no more, a smile crossed his wizened face as he looked down at the parchment he held in his hand, bearing the seal of the Empress, Maia Bastos. Ensuring that his old eyes were not deceiving him, he read the words again. [hider=Formal Alliance] [b][u]To Her Imperial Majesty Liliana, First of that Name, Empress of Tara[/u][/b] ----------------------------------------------------- [b]Regarding a formal alliance in which the Serene Empire of Tara will: [/b] [i]-Allow the construction of a Toubres Empire embassy in it’s capital, Rigour. -Agree to a pact of non-aggression between the Empires of Tara and Toubres. -Agree to aid the Empire of Toubres at times of war. -Pay half the required funding to construct a bridge between the two nations. -Work in collaboration with the Empire of Toubres in the invention and creation of naval assets, and other inventions that will aid both nations. -Host a bi-annual conference of naval engineers and other inventors in their capital, Rigour. -Support the Empire of Toubres on the international stage. [/i] ------------------------------------------ [b]In return, the Empire of Toubres will:[/b] [i]-Allow the construction of a Serene Empire of Tara embassy in it’s capital, Amzores. -Agree to a pact of non-aggression between the Empires of Tara and Toubres. -Agree to aid the Serene Empire of Tara at times of war. -Pay half the required funding to construct a bridge between the two nations. -Work in collaboration with the Serene Empire of Tara in the invention and creation of naval assets, and other inventions that will aid both nations. -Host a bi-annual conference of naval engineers and other inventors in their capital, Amzores. -Support the Serene Empire of Tara on the international stage. [/i] ---------------------------------------------- [b]Both nations will agree to:[/b] [i]-Meet monthly to discuss issues in which collaboration between the two nations will aid in their resolution, as well as to discuss international events. -Meet annually to discuss the renewal, or adaption, of this agreement. [/i] ----------------------------------------------- [i]Please respond with your considerations of this agreement.[/i] [u][b]Regards; Her Imperial Majesty, Empress Maia Bastos. [/b][/u] [b]Empire of Toubres [x] Serene Empire of Tare [ ][/b] [/hider] Valério turned away from the view, and saw that his once apprentice Ennio Zanni was already by his side, watching his old master with affection in his eyes. [i]“Prepare a ship for me, Ennio. I sail for Tara, for Rigour.”[/i] Ennio nodded, and quickly slipped away, his footsteps echoing away down the hallway. Valério turned back to the view, a tear forming in one eye as he whispered, words intended only for himself, and his lover. [i]“This is our time, Rosa. Watch for me on the coming tide.”[/i] ----------------------------- [b]OOC: +2 to Order 2[/b]