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The emperor's speech was nothing incredibly suprising to the Triarchs, rumors had been reaching the royal court for several weeks from various traders speaking about the things they had witnessed, but for it to be officially acknowledged by the Arkronian court was a suprising thing indeed. The representatives of every nation seemed to respond with barely veiled excitement for their potential gains or with grimaces for their potential losses. The Triarchs met this speech with concern.
Vahn gave a look to the representatives of the confederacy, their long time rival and arguably the biggest threat to the stability of the Triarchate, before returning his focus to his table
"We'll have to stregnthen our border forces if what the Emperor says is true, the Jeteya are always looking for any chance they can get to strike at us. If the Arkronians are really in a situation serious enough that they're not just trying to cover it up, we might not be able to depend on their aid for some time."
"We can dominate the coasts and the mountain clans are more than capable of putting up a fight, worst case scenario we could wittle them down in a war of attrition. For all its posturing the confederacy doesnt have the men to match us, the plains tribes can either take shelter in the cities or hit and run. That said, even if the Arkronians are down for the count I can't imagine the Cynn would be willing to try something so risky as attacking us alone, they're just as dependant on foreign allies as we are."
"Unfortunately for us their foreign allies are signifcantly closer than our are. We're not exactly popular in our region of Mycoria, The Saa'Kaleed and the Yuravians are both likely candidates for confederate allies. We'd still have naval dominance on our side, but it would be difficult to maintain our supply and construction lines if we're facing a three front invasion."
"It may be best for us to reduce the area we have to defend. . . Perhaps if things continue as they are now we should consider withdrawing our forces from Kho, our colonies there are still young enough as to not be particularly productive and we already have the clans there fighting against us, in war it's nothing more than a staging ground to get closer to our heart lands if we try and keep it secure. Depending on the time frame we find ourselves in in such a situation that may mean leaving the colonists behind, but it's easier to replace a few colonists and a weak land claim than it is four hundred years of centralization.
"That's. . . a shockingly bleak view from you Haster. I think that's a discussion for another time, for now we should at least try to enjoy the feast. From the looks of King William and his goose leg it seems to be delicious.
At that the Skekarii rejoined the other delegations at their table in eating and drinking. many of the fruits and animals provided by the numerous wait staff were familiar to the court, exotic animals and spice found only in the jungles of Skekaria, all of which would have had to have been exceptionally expensive to have transported all the way to the capital. Beyond the Skekarii goods there were still many more dishes that were nearly or completely foreign to the Triarchs from all corners of Mycoria. To the lower classes such a feast would have seemed almost insultingly oppulent, but the assembled nobility understood well the importance of power plays and image.
After some time the conversation in the room returned to its more typically pleasant tone, the emperor's notable absence being more or less overshadowed by the splendor of the occasion, glamour being the excellent tool of distraction that it is. The pleasantries were not to last.
”Honored guests. Unfortunately there has been a security incident and the palace has been placed under lockdown until further notice. You will not be able to leave the grand hall. Please enjoy the food and wine.”
"I take it we're not returning to the villa anytime soon?"
Prince Yie woke to the sounds of clashing swords and shouts from the city walls. With a slow yawn and a stretch he got out of bed and waited for his chamber servant to bring him his morning fruit and bread, as well as the daily briefing. As he waited he thought on what had brought him to this far end of the world. In many ways he was a lot like his father, or so he had always been told. He was tall for a Skekarii and had the sandy skin and freckled complexion common to many in the Wya clan, but where his father was content to maintain his lot, Yie had ambition.
The island of Kho had been formally granted to the Skekarii Triarchate nearly fifty years ago in the aftermath of the third rebellion, but no serious efforts to colonize it had been made until the past few years. It was a rugged land with rough seas and sheer cliffs for a coastline, nothing like the hospitable shores of Wyacannae. Still, it was part of the ancestral lands of the Skekarii people and for that reason it was decided that it was to be brought into the fold. As one of the last acts of Queen Kahnys Ae the colonial city of Vosya was established on the south-western coast of the island in an effort to administer and oversee the incorporation and development of Kho. Many governors had been sent and many had failed, there was simply too much resistance from the natives, but eventually the continual importing of settlers from the mainland beat the odds and Vosya was now well on its way to becoming a vibrant metropolis, safe and productive, an excellent staging point for any noble desiring to prove themselves before the court. Or, at least, thats what the letter he had recieved from Haster upon her innauguration had said.
The idea that someone over a decade his younger had risen to the throne before him frustated Yie, but she was still Queen- and a popular one at that- and if she was offering him a position of governorship at a significant post then he was hardly in a role to refuse. So Yie took the role and boarded a ship to the colony, eager to build his own reputation independant of his status as prince.
Vosya was nothing like he had expected. The thriving metropolis was little more than several crisscrossing roads and a small set of stone walls, a city of perhaps fewer than five or six thousand people. Far from being safe and secure the city experienced raids and skirmishes with native resistance on a nearly daily basis, but despite the setbacks Yie was determined to turn the colony into what he had been promised.
That was nearly three years ago and the sounds of alarm had become little more than background noise, though perhaps less frequent than they had first been.
"Your grace, your breakfast is ready. The steward asks that I inform you of news from the capital, it seems that their radiances have arrived safely in the Imperial Capital. It seems the Arkronians have also recieved a delegation from the Confederacy."
Vahn gave a look to the representatives of the confederacy, their long time rival and arguably the biggest threat to the stability of the Triarchate, before returning his focus to his table
"We'll have to stregnthen our border forces if what the Emperor says is true, the Jeteya are always looking for any chance they can get to strike at us. If the Arkronians are really in a situation serious enough that they're not just trying to cover it up, we might not be able to depend on their aid for some time."
"We can dominate the coasts and the mountain clans are more than capable of putting up a fight, worst case scenario we could wittle them down in a war of attrition. For all its posturing the confederacy doesnt have the men to match us, the plains tribes can either take shelter in the cities or hit and run. That said, even if the Arkronians are down for the count I can't imagine the Cynn would be willing to try something so risky as attacking us alone, they're just as dependant on foreign allies as we are."
"Unfortunately for us their foreign allies are signifcantly closer than our are. We're not exactly popular in our region of Mycoria, The Saa'Kaleed and the Yuravians are both likely candidates for confederate allies. We'd still have naval dominance on our side, but it would be difficult to maintain our supply and construction lines if we're facing a three front invasion."
"It may be best for us to reduce the area we have to defend. . . Perhaps if things continue as they are now we should consider withdrawing our forces from Kho, our colonies there are still young enough as to not be particularly productive and we already have the clans there fighting against us, in war it's nothing more than a staging ground to get closer to our heart lands if we try and keep it secure. Depending on the time frame we find ourselves in in such a situation that may mean leaving the colonists behind, but it's easier to replace a few colonists and a weak land claim than it is four hundred years of centralization.
"That's. . . a shockingly bleak view from you Haster. I think that's a discussion for another time, for now we should at least try to enjoy the feast. From the looks of King William and his goose leg it seems to be delicious.
At that the Skekarii rejoined the other delegations at their table in eating and drinking. many of the fruits and animals provided by the numerous wait staff were familiar to the court, exotic animals and spice found only in the jungles of Skekaria, all of which would have had to have been exceptionally expensive to have transported all the way to the capital. Beyond the Skekarii goods there were still many more dishes that were nearly or completely foreign to the Triarchs from all corners of Mycoria. To the lower classes such a feast would have seemed almost insultingly oppulent, but the assembled nobility understood well the importance of power plays and image.
After some time the conversation in the room returned to its more typically pleasant tone, the emperor's notable absence being more or less overshadowed by the splendor of the occasion, glamour being the excellent tool of distraction that it is. The pleasantries were not to last.
”Honored guests. Unfortunately there has been a security incident and the palace has been placed under lockdown until further notice. You will not be able to leave the grand hall. Please enjoy the food and wine.”
"I take it we're not returning to the villa anytime soon?"
Vosya, Colonial Capital of Kho.
Prince Yie woke to the sounds of clashing swords and shouts from the city walls. With a slow yawn and a stretch he got out of bed and waited for his chamber servant to bring him his morning fruit and bread, as well as the daily briefing. As he waited he thought on what had brought him to this far end of the world. In many ways he was a lot like his father, or so he had always been told. He was tall for a Skekarii and had the sandy skin and freckled complexion common to many in the Wya clan, but where his father was content to maintain his lot, Yie had ambition.
The island of Kho had been formally granted to the Skekarii Triarchate nearly fifty years ago in the aftermath of the third rebellion, but no serious efforts to colonize it had been made until the past few years. It was a rugged land with rough seas and sheer cliffs for a coastline, nothing like the hospitable shores of Wyacannae. Still, it was part of the ancestral lands of the Skekarii people and for that reason it was decided that it was to be brought into the fold. As one of the last acts of Queen Kahnys Ae the colonial city of Vosya was established on the south-western coast of the island in an effort to administer and oversee the incorporation and development of Kho. Many governors had been sent and many had failed, there was simply too much resistance from the natives, but eventually the continual importing of settlers from the mainland beat the odds and Vosya was now well on its way to becoming a vibrant metropolis, safe and productive, an excellent staging point for any noble desiring to prove themselves before the court. Or, at least, thats what the letter he had recieved from Haster upon her innauguration had said.
The idea that someone over a decade his younger had risen to the throne before him frustated Yie, but she was still Queen- and a popular one at that- and if she was offering him a position of governorship at a significant post then he was hardly in a role to refuse. So Yie took the role and boarded a ship to the colony, eager to build his own reputation independant of his status as prince.
Vosya was nothing like he had expected. The thriving metropolis was little more than several crisscrossing roads and a small set of stone walls, a city of perhaps fewer than five or six thousand people. Far from being safe and secure the city experienced raids and skirmishes with native resistance on a nearly daily basis, but despite the setbacks Yie was determined to turn the colony into what he had been promised.
That was nearly three years ago and the sounds of alarm had become little more than background noise, though perhaps less frequent than they had first been.
"Your grace, your breakfast is ready. The steward asks that I inform you of news from the capital, it seems that their radiances have arrived safely in the Imperial Capital. It seems the Arkronians have also recieved a delegation from the Confederacy."
Port Arkron
Pleasure Barge of the Triarchs
The journey from Wycannae to Arkronia had been a lengthy one to say the least of things, a fact that was only somewhat mitigated by the splendor of the Skekarii pleasure barge, while the ship served no martial purpose and had no capabilities in that area and was thus escorted by two sleek patrol ships, the ship was designed as a home upon the sea for the triarchs and made full efforts to display the ever growing wealth of the Skekarii crowns. Built largely as a floating platform the crown jewel of the barge was essentially a large home in traditionally garish Skekarii style, complete with multiple bedrooms, balconies, baths, and servants quarters, each piece of wood composing the entry ways and the railings was carefully carved to depict scenes from the war of unification, but even the permanently frozen faces of the thousands of soldiers seemed to open ever so slightly in awe of the splendor of the capital city of the Arkronians.
The crew members of the three vessels worked with the translators of the port and the native dock workers in order to make the unconventional form of the barge fit amongst the other ships docked in port. Standing towards the prow of the barge were the triarchs themselves, waiting and watching as the workers went about their business.
"It's fortunate we made the time we did, late as we are we'd be more so were it not for the Saa'Kaleed. Hopefully they'll enjoy the gifts we sent more than the Aegire."
"Not likely. The few times I've ever met a reptile they didn't seem too interested in fruity liqours and gemstones. They seem a pretty rustic bunch. Regardless, we're here and I'm starting to freeze over. I'll never understand why the Arkron would settle somewhere so far north when they had their pick of the litter."
"Not everyone's made for the summer heat, I imagine. Should I wake our dear husband?"
"No, no. It'd best if he's in a good mood when he meets the Arkronians. They're a very orderly people, they love nothing more than proper etiquette, especially the ones here in the capital."
"What was it like when you were here last? What brought you all the way out here?"
King Vahn sighed a little under his breath, his eyes going a bit out of focus as though he were trying to see something he'd long forgotten about. In truth he was just allowing himself a moment to remember that there was little more than obligation and mild friendship in their marriage, she'd never know him the way her predecessor did, nor would he ever experience the affection he had before her passing again, at least not in the same way. While there was no romantic affection, Vahn did feel a ever so slightly like a father figure to the young queen. Regardless, it didn't hurt to share stories from time to time, after all, he felt his own years go by more and more quickly and soon enough his son would replace him, as was the way of life.
"I wasn't too much older than you are now, it was shortly after my coronation so I couldn't've been much more than 25. At the time I was the first new monarch to be crowned since the 3rd rebellion, so I guess the Arkronians wanted to impress me or terrify me, I'm still not sure what their goal was, they did both in equal measure. You see, back then Wyacannae wasn't nearly so large as it is now and the court didn't have the same wealth it does now, but we've always been proud people so naturally when I got a personal letter from Arkron I accepted it. It wasn't any particularly grand affair, just some state banquet to honor some high lord or another, but what the Arkronians consider a mundane affair is extravagant to anyone else who's lucky enough to see it, but back to the story. I know I seem dull to you two now, but I was young and in a position of power and had the self confidence to match that, I had the largest ship in the Wya fleet outfitted with the best I could at the time and set sail, all the while thinking I'd show up and be talk of the town, so imagine my suprise when my ship was nearly knocked to pieces by a whaling vessel- a solid reality check. The moment I stepped off my ship and left the port into the actual city is one I don't imagine I'll ever forget, even with my memory failing from time to time as it does now. The sheer splendor of the city, the gridlike order of the streets, and the marble monstrousity of a palace. The Arkronians may not love color so much as we do, but they make up for it in spades with the scale they build in, the definition of that old addage 'money and ambition to challenge the gods'. . . I think that the moment I stepped into the palace is the moment I knew that there would never be any point in defying the Arkronians. I just hope that Mahd can learn that too."
"You've known Mahd longer than I, you know he can be a bit. . .Difficult when he's got an idea into his head, but he's stubborn because his plans have worked out well so far, just look at the mines. You have to temper him over time if you want him to listen well. . . He's got ambition, and he's working on the money. Maybe one day he'll challenge the gods too, I just hope that they don't strike him down. " and with that Hastor leaned into her older counterpart, less like a queen to her king more like a daughter to her father. She bore a familiar resemblance to her aunt who had preceeded her but she had her own unique beauty to her, they had the same tall and slender frame, but Hastor had the wide almond shaped eyes of the nomadic clans of her mother that gave her the impression that she was always mildly suprised by whatever was going on, no matter how mundane.
After a few more moments of leaning Hastor left to go direct the a handful of dock workers in what to unload and how from the cargo deck. Vahn felt the chill of the city cut ever so slightly closer.
@Trinais I edited the letter from Hastor to the sealords. I changed it from finely crafted jewels to precious gems. My reasoning behind that is that jewelry making and luxury crafting are the Aegire things for the most part, while mining is the big one for the Skekarii. I think the Skekarii just sell what they mine to the Aegire, who'd then process and sell it for more.
Wyacannae, Skekaria
The Warm morning sun shone on the multicolored city of Wycannae, which was rapidly starting to develop a sprawl on either side of the estuary it had been built upon. The city of Wyacannae, true to her roots as the merging point of the three great clans, was built with no singularly dominate style, instead preferring to merge the three into, as considered by some, a shockingly garish city of colors- a feature that made it one of the more memorable cities of Mycoria. Regardless of the widely variable foreign opinion the Skekarii of the city consider it to be of unparralled beauty, central to the prismatic city and dominate of its' skyline lay the Palace of the Triarchs, situated in the midst of the multitude of palaces built by lesser nobility, the palace normally featured a constant hustle and bustle of merchants and workers in the courtyards, or bureaucrats and representatives either plotting in the azratikiq or delivering the end results of those plots to the kaiazratiq, but today the palace sat in quiet deliberation.
Palace of the Triarchs, Skekaria
"The inauguration ceremonies and festivities will take place five weeks from now in the royal palace in Arkronia. As honered guests and subjects to the crown your attendance is expected. Yours’s sincerely, Drokon-Al, Steward of Arkron." King Vahn finished reading aloud for his junior partners before reclining with a heavy sigh as far as the low backed seats of the Kaiazratiq chamber would allow. Five weeks certainly doesn't give us much time to prepare, does it?"
"No, I don't suppose it does, what with us being across the continent and all. It oughta be possible if we go by ship, though that'd take us through Aegiri sea lanes. I don't suppose we'd get away with sending a few clan leaders? I don't see why we should trouble our treasury so much for the Arkron, especially when we've got plenty to spend it on here." came the quick reply from King Mahd, himself reclined nearly into the lap of Queen Hastor, who was toying with his hair, an intimacy afforded to them by the privacy of the Triarchs' meeting chamber.
"They seem fairly adamnt in their letter that we all three be present, anything less than that might be considered an insult, or worse. I don't necessarily relish the idea of a month's sailing either but the Arkron do provide us with at least some form of legitimacy by inviting us as the rightful representatives of the Skekarii. Sending another clan leader is tantamount to acknowleding their pretensions. No, it simply has to be us three. Moreover, it's not everyday a new Arkron is crowned. We'll get to develop a feel for our fellow subjects, that ought to appeal to you, Hastor." If Hastor found the idea appealing or not she didn't show, instead maintaining her practice in dexterity.
A few moments of silence passed as the junior triarchs weighed the words of their older counterpart, the sweltering heat and humidity of the midday beginning to make its' appearance in the condensation on the chilled fruit set in the middle of the table. After several more seconds Mahd sat up and regained a bit more of a regal posture before he finaly said " Maybe the insult of only sending one, or a representative, is what we need. If the Arkron read it, the other powers will too. The city dwellers are more and more on our side, and the mountain clans' support is a near guarantee at this point. We're the lone power on the western end of Mycoria that consistently stands with the Arkron, an insult might help us gain a few friends, or contacts at the least."
Queen Hastor, seeming to take particular exception with this issue, placed her hands in her lap before grabbing a fruit from the table to occupy her fidgeting. " I don't think that would be wise. Our information may not be the most up to date, but my men do hear things from the various merchants making their way around. The Saa'Kaleed are traditionalists, and the Aegire are rarely forgetful, ommitting the Thassites' objection to us already, insulting the Arkron won't win us any new friends. We're surrounded already, no sense in driving a wedge between us and the one ally who'd be capable of breaching an Aegiri blockade in order to help us. I vote that the three of us attend.
"Seconded."
"Well I suppose it's settled then. I won't fight this vote, but don't expect me to be pleasant during the voyage."
I would hesitate to call you pleasant at the palace, let alone at sea. I'll have the scribes draft the orders for the ships and the retinue from the Wya. Hastor, I trust you'll manage the correspondence with the Aegire, or whoever it is that the strait of Ikesh belongs to at the moment?
"Of course, I'll have it sent with whatever merchant sails that way next. I suppose that we'll be ready to leave within the week if we rush things a bit. The Ae will provide the coronation gift, a decent chest of gems and metals, and a cask of Skekarii wine, from each of us should be enough given that it's already been a tribute year. Perhaps something smaller of that sort to soften the Aegiri."
Following their own exchange the gaze of the room focused on Mahd, silently urging him and his clan to contribute in their own way- an urge which would go unsatifisfied.
What followed was a lengthy day of heated debate dedicated to deciding the appropriate responses to the multitude of bureaucratic issues that would arrise from their absence and the drafting of the various edicts needed. At the close of the day's chamber meetings a modest procession of crown representatives made their ways from the palace and through the still-warm streets of the city towards the various clans, cities, and shipyards from which the voyage would be provided. As the week came to a close and the ships began arriving at harbor, and as the chests of goods came from the mountain clans and the jungle wineries, the Triarchs boarded their shared ship in unison and made the order to set sail to a land that only the most senior had ever been before.
@Milkman Hey, I made the changes on the Nationsheet. I also gave each of the factions an opinion on the third rebellion, the Cani voted for rebellion but were vetoed, I don't know if that would affect the Arkronians' thoughts on the monarchs, but figured I'd mention it. Also I want to clarify a little bit here since I gave some vague numbers in the factions set. In my head the Skekarii are decently numerous for the ammount of land they have since they've rarely had to worry about food shortages thanks to their blessed aquacullture. I listed some numbers for the major clans and said roughly what the larger subordinate clans would be like, but in total I think the Skekarii number just over 5 million. I'm guessing based off world dimensions that they're about half the size of modern day France, so I kinda went about it by using medieval population counts as a guess and adjusted it from there. Most of the population is on the coast or the mountains. I'm not sure if I should make the number higher or lower for them to be considered populous, but not overly so, in Mycoria.
@Milkman Thanks! I appreciate it! I just wanted to make sure that all three monarchs were needed, and how the Skekarii monarchs fit into the hierarchy, so I appreciate the response.
As far as what I was wanting to change goes, I was wanting to edit the economy and charachters a bit. I already have that the Skekarii mountain clans engage in mining and agriculture but I also say that King Mahd is kinda notable for expanding mining so I was wanting to stress a bit more in the economy section that a big portion of it is from the mining operations, as their aquaculture is mostly just used to feed their people and doesn't have much export. I also wanted to mention magic a little bit since it does exist in this world. Since magic comes from other worldly sources I thought it might work to have the High Priests have some ability with it, mostly in regards to being able to help make sure that the aquaculture harvests are sizeable. Beyond that I was also thinking that I would detail a bit more the three major clans that the monarchs come from, as well as a couple of the more notable factions, in order to just give a bit more flesh to my people.
As far as what I was wanting to change goes, I was wanting to edit the economy and charachters a bit. I already have that the Skekarii mountain clans engage in mining and agriculture but I also say that King Mahd is kinda notable for expanding mining so I was wanting to stress a bit more in the economy section that a big portion of it is from the mining operations, as their aquaculture is mostly just used to feed their people and doesn't have much export. I also wanted to mention magic a little bit since it does exist in this world. Since magic comes from other worldly sources I thought it might work to have the High Priests have some ability with it, mostly in regards to being able to help make sure that the aquaculture harvests are sizeable. Beyond that I was also thinking that I would detail a bit more the three major clans that the monarchs come from, as well as a couple of the more notable factions, in order to just give a bit more flesh to my people.
What's the discord btw?
@Milkman Gotcha, we can assume either way that the Skekarii delegation is coming via ship I think. Are all three monarchs expected to be there, or would the Akron just want one or two? I'm curious how aware the Akron are of the dynamics of their vassals. Actually now that I'm thinking I'm kinda curious how nobility/monarchs from our countries are treated? I know the Arkron consider our races, the Skekarii, the Saa'leed, etc. to be inferior by default, but does it work in a similiar race to how the Spanish saw native nobility? I mean, obviously we're considered far beneath the Arkron monarch and I'd imagine still pretty far beneath a native major noble, but would Queen Hastor, for example, be considered on the same par as a minor Arkron noble, just with the special status of representing a dominion, or would their treatment be different?
Also, can I make a few edits to my NS and run those by you? I have a couple things that I want to flesh out a bit more.
@Trinais Would you mind if I mentioned Aegeire in my country's history section?
Also, can I make a few edits to my NS and run those by you? I have a couple things that I want to flesh out a bit more.
@Trinais Would you mind if I mentioned Aegeire in my country's history section?
@Milkman For narrative reasons for my Ic post, about how large is the continent? I ask because Skekaria is the farthest vassal and I'm trying to think about how long it would take them to go across the continent by land, I'm not sure if I want them to sail or take a carriage yet.
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