Gusano for all please.

Aurora was slightly confused in how this turn around had seemingly happened. They had gathered here in the frozen south with the idea that the Pharoah would be trying to convince them to let them into COSNAT or for some other method of co-operation and here now the monarch of Clysperis was asking them to present a way forward. Gusano were a nation with very different culture and government than many of them around the table and they desired little more than being allowed to muddle through this world and ensure that the Solitude conducted all the rites and rituals required to ensure that one day the God Aetharus could return. It was as far as Aurora could see a strange set up to gather everyone here and then have no requests of the membership. It seemed therefore like the talks would be paused while people thought. Aurora figured she better break the silence. "I'm fortunate to represent a nation that sits among a friendly neighbourhood. Globally our network is not much beyond what is in this room. If we are talking about how we present things to the wider world might I suggest we release a memo of understanding." She quickly scribbled on a piece of paper and then showed it the others.

Following a meeting between the membership of COSNAT and the Kingdom of Clysperis the nations involved have agreed that they will, as and when considered appropriate by all parties, meet for discussions on major global events in order to present a more unified response for the betterment of all parties. Furthermore the parties are committed to ensuring all voices within the international community are given volume.

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It meant that there would at least be some outcome from the get together but now it was up to the Pharaoh to determine whether they wished any actual depth.

A trip to the coldest parts of Mundus with a metal mask attached to your face didn't seem like a great idea. The Veiled One hadn't really wanted to fly into subzero temperatures with a chunk of silver on her face and so had commissioned a kind of thin silver lace mask specifically for this meeting. She was a little nervous heading into this meeting but had got on well with Aldwin at their first meeting so was hopeful of being able to work well with him once more.

6th January 2024

One of Lady Aurora's initial plans for the Eyrie was to find a way of allowing greater interaction between the citizens allowed to inhabit the Solitude and those forbidden from going there. The way forward for this was the creation of a city called The Vale. Construction of the new settlement has so far seen several key parts of infrastructure built and the opening of several buildings intended to be a central part of the city in the future. So far several apartment buildings, a exhibition centre, a college and several key buildings such as hospitals have been completed. The idea will be that the city will become "active" in the coming weeks with the first few hundred permanent residents moving in. The Veiled One will be visiting the site in the coming days to view the progress. 4/5th of the City is built on one side of the river that seperates The Solitude from the rest of Gusano and a check point will prevent people not a member of the Order of the Talon from crossing. The Casa will however be a building built spanning the river which will be classed as a kind of "no-mans land" and be a symbolic meeting point for people within the nation.

The Casa is yet to be completed and is expected to be finished early next month. The Veiled One has said its construction will be cause of a great celebration and that she will be requesting that its opening coincide with a CETO cultural festival after the Eyrie became the latest member of the organisation. In a statement released by Lady Aurora she said, "CETO is an organisation that will allow us to fully embrace the purpose of The Casa. It is a crossroads between the two unique cultures and communities that make up Gusano. I can't think of any better way to celebrate our nation coming together as never before by helping bring Mundus together."

The following businesses from Gusano will be showcasing at the event.

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Specializing in the harvesting and processing of the region's famous eels, this business showcases a variety of eel-based products, from smoked eel delicacies to eel skin accessories.

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Showcasing the impact of shale gas exploitation, this business features innovative technologies and products related to shale gas, such as sustainable energy solutions, home appliances, and educational exhibits on responsible resource usage.

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As the largest settlement, Fuerte Aguilar hosts a weekly market that represents the diverse craftsmanship of the region. Visitors can explore and purchase handmade goods, from traditional textiles to woodcraft. The Market is run by a collective of artisans who manage the market themselves while keeping traditional industrial practices alive.

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Embracing the traditions of the Order of the Talon, this business features handcrafted items such as weapons, armor, and talismans, all made by skilled artisans within the guarded forts of the Solitude.

Aurora knew that she faced no issues the like of which Themyscaria had. She was satisfied to simply sit and listen, thankfully her silver mask hiding the expressions on her face. "The Eyrie would be happy to join up too under current terms. We are desperate for our nation to begin branching out into the wider world and I think shoulder to shoulder with like minded, and similar nations, we could make a real statement with this today. Count us in."

Aurora had very little knowledge of East Moreland's knights of the realm. She was unsure as to what Sir Charles could actually do and it pained her to have to admit to that. "I'm afraid Sir Charles that I do not really understand the Morelander system of nobility and government. I would hate to request from you something beyond your power. I came here to meet people from other nations as I understood the festival is a place the leaders of Mundus gather but beyond that I had hoped to meet some of the technical powerhouses behind the various Chamwick projects as we believed, I think wrongly, this would have an element of an defence show within it. Have I got the wrong end of the stick or is this possible?"

"How is luck assessed?" Aurora repeated that part of the question, her mind wondering exactly that, "Its actually rather simple. Our druids maintain lists of things that have happened on days of great joy for our people, anyone whose day of birth matches these is believed to be fortunate. As a result on the first birthday a Druid checks for further omens that are recorded as being positive, I guess you could say that two good reports mean your into the exclusive club, at present around 80,000 people wthin the Eyrie are members however not all work actively within it." As David spoke of a joint degree the mask hid her smile. "I too would support such a programme, I've been sadly neglected in terms of exposure to the world beyind the Eyrie and as a result my understanding of Mundus is drawn from books and travel documentaries, and I suspect they don't always give a totally genuine view of these lands outside my own. I am though planning on changing that and giving people similar age to me that opportunity is something I'm happy to go along with. In terms of managing an institute perhaps you could either suggest to me someone we can put in position to establish it initially or who we could borrow for say a year to get things rolling?"

Aurora had expected the question about her nations division and had in mind a rehearsed response. "Our faith is one that believes humanity began in those hills." she pointed towards the snow capped mountains, "A God named Aetharus, who takes the form of an Eagle, brought that land here from the realm of the Gods to save humans from what I supposed we'd call a cosmic war. Over time once in this world those people left and explored Mundus spreading across its surface to become all the races and cultures we see today however to re-enter the territory takes the ability to be able to commune with the Gods. Those of us lucky enough to be born into the Order of the Talon have that ability and so can travel freely between Mundus and what we believe is Aetharus realm. Now in terms of what would happen if you were to go there we believe you will have tainted the purity, while there is no prescribed punishment historically in the middle ages for example people were simply killed on sight. For us though its now just to ensure our traditions are upheld." She hoped her explanation made sense. "I like the idea of keeping the nature aspect that we have here currently, rest assured we'll have plenty of green space. I wonder though whether we could persuade your Chamwick Institute to open an overseas academy here?"

24 x F-1 Fynbos Multi-Role Fighter
5 x E-20 Ezells Surveillance Aircraft
2 x E-3 Eyrean AEWACS aircraft
5 x C-13 Czyzes Transport Aircraft
3 x C-39 Czajas Transport Aircraft
10 x H-33 Hyssop Helicopter
20 x H-20 Hyrcan Helicopter
12 x H-50 Hypoid Helicopter
12 x T-5 Tzuris Advanced Trainer
12 x T-3 Tzetze Basic Trainer

It was times like this the mask was a menace. She watched as a servant took the bracelet and transferred it over to Aurora, she picked it up and examined it, her face smiling broadly but unseen to the Morelanders. She slipped it on and admired it. "Its wonderful, thank you very much. " She lead them deeper into the tent to where the makeshift lounge was. She waited for David and his cousin to get settled and then joined them. Between the couches was a model of a city, not a huge city but a modern one, blocks of metal and glass, wide streets, green areas and even what looked like an airport. "This is why I asked you to come. We are building this city from scratch here. We are...." She hesitated and sat forward looking at the model. "here" she pointed to a building just to one side of a large park with a lake in the centre. "This building will be the Solitudes Embassy, our culture means most people are never allowed beyond those foothills close by as beyond is a spiritual place, the city will act as a way of us bringing our spiritual way of life in The Solitude to the rest of the nation. It is our hopes that it can also be an economic centre for our nation, we lack such a thing at the moment. We asked you to come because you have similar experience of building a city from nothing and we'd like to learn from that. Can you tell me the process of Chamwick?"

To: King Aldwin VI of Weißenwald
From: The Veiled One, Lady Aurora of the Eyrie of Gusano

I believe that co-operation between nations is a path that the Eyrie has ignored for too long. We believe that it is our duty to try and support the creation of a better Mundus but that as a nation of under 13million its a task we will struggle to achieve single handed. I think the idea you have put forward is an interesting one and while it may not bring about a better Mundus on its own it certainly has the ability to help us begin that journey. Please expect me and three of my advisers to attend your talks. I am excited for your proposal on this matter.

Best Wishes
Lady Aurora.

The Master of Scribes removed a small, old looking, black bound book from under the seats of the helicopter. At the top already written was todays date and the words "The Visit of King David of East Moreland". There were some notes there already giving Bartolomé some background about their guests. It was tradition that any visitor to meet with the Veiled One had such a page and these black leather books would be placed in the Eyrie's vaults ready for the perusal of various scholars at some point in the future. "I thank Your Majesty for the understanding you have shown and the information you have given me."

Somewhere in the Gusanon countryside below final preparations were taking place. There were three huge marquees set up, one in red, one in gold and one in black. The Red one was put aside for the Morelanders, there were dividers inside to make rooms including a fully furnished lounge in which works of art the Master of Scribes thought they may like, a vast array of beverages and foods. A staff stood ready to provide King David with anything he required during his stay and there were even several areas established as bedrooms. The gold one was where the meeting would take place. It had its own kitchen from which the aroma of lunch, a pig slowly roasting, washed over the tent. It also had an area for a banquet and for people to sit and talk around a nice oak table. The final tent was Auroras own personal one. It was a large bedroom with everything from her room back in the Solitude laid out almost identically. As the incoming chopper was heard a staff of around 100 people made their way from the gold tent to await the arrival.

As the aircraft touched down it would perhaps be an odd experience for the King of East Moreland. He was meet at the door of the helicopter by a large gentleman who both in height and attire resembled a bear. The Sergeant of the Guard, Florián Montero, wore a cloak made out of the skin of a bear and this was topped off with a mask that in many ways could be considered simply a hollowed out skull of a bear. He didn't speak a word to the King instead once the Morelander was out of the aircraft he performed a quick about turn and shouldered a large ceremonial war-hammer. Two files of men dressed in black cloaks and black iron helmet appeared to make an aisle into the tent. Montero lead the guests to the tent and as they were about to enter. It was now that the Master of Scribes scurried forward and stopped in front of the King. Inside the tent sat in a wooden chair was a figure dressed head to toe in black, only a shiny silver mask breaking the blackness. The figure was a small girl and she did her best to sit bolt up right regally as possible. "Lady Aurora, representative of the mighty Aetharus, your guests have arrived." He stepped to the side to almost reveal the King, "I ask you to bless His Majesty King David Ironside the third of that name, Captain of the East Moreland Alpine Cadre, Duke of Seabrooke, Grand Cordon of the Most Glorious Order of the Double Dragon, Baron Grey & Earl of Simcoe. Member of the Ngāti Rongomaiwahine Iwi, Baronet of Iskor Inlet and holder of the Croix de l’Ordre du Mérite Diplomatique. Father of Prince Caspian, Princess Rhiannon and Prince Llewellyn. May his stay in the Eyrie bring joy to both nations." The assembled ranks of servants applauded and Aurora stood. Her movement caused her hood to fall back slightly and revealed a few whisps of blonde hair that as she got closer to King David he would have been able to see feint pale blue highlights. She stopped at a point that the Sergeant of the Guard had calculated was just over a sword blades length away.

"King David I am excited that you accepted. While I am relatively new to ruling a nation I have seen what your nation has achieved and I hope that you don't mind me saying this I hope to achieve similar results in less time. Its my hope to pick your brains and learn from you. I hope that our God Aetharus and your own Gods help us make great progress. Would you like to come and sit down?"

One of the problems with the Eyrie possessing so much territory with such a small population meant that it was the case that most places lacked names. That could sometimes make travelling around rather difficult as you couldn't easily give directions to "The middle of that field just outside the forest where the river runs through it". With this in mind it was important that the Morelanders not be permitted to just wander across the land as it would be rather embarrassing that the King of East Moreland got lost. To make sure that this didn't happen Bartolomé Ybarra, the Master of Letters, had been sent to the nations single international airport to make sure that the guests arrived and reached the meeting spot safely.

That had meant Aurora, known as the Veiled One, was free to travel to a random spot that was currently nothing more than a dot on a map. Soon it was hoped this dot, that marked nothing more important than a grassy plain flanked to the east by pine forests with a gently babbling stream running by, would become a "gateway city". If you glanced to the East, just beyond the forest the snowy peaks that dominated the North East of the nation could be seen, snow clinging to their peaks. It was among these grey and white outcrops that The Solitude existed, the spiritual and cultural heartland of the Gusano and a place so sacred not even the King of East Moreland would be permitted to set foot there. This set the agenda though for this dot, it would become "The Vale" a crossing point between the more secular lowlands and the spiritual peaks.  For now though a huge golden tent had been erected. It was large enough to contain a vast table that would provide seating for many of the Eyrie's grandees and any delegation the Morelanders would bring. Outside several large yurts had been set up should the Morelanders stay the night.

While Aurora put the finishing touches to her long black hooded robe and gave her silver mask a final polish Bartolomé stood ready to greet their guests from across the Illumic. As they arrived he wondered whether they would have expected the mass bands of a military and some kind of ceremonial honour guard. In the Eyrie though the military was rather small and largely committed to ensuring no one from the lowlands entered the Solitude. Bartolomé bowed deeply, "Your Majesty I am privledged to the Master of Letters, Lord Scribe Bartolomé Ybarra. We are deeply honoured to welcome you and your party to the Eyrie. I do trust you do not mind a helicopter ride?"

The Order of the Talon is perhaps the single most important group within the nation of Gusano. It is a non-heriditary religious order that has taken on administrative and military roles across the nation.

Origins

The people of Gusano worship a God called Aetharus, a giant spiritual Eagle. The people of this faith believe that two worlds exist, there is the spiritual world and the physical world we inhabit. In the spirit world all manner of mystical creatures existed and many of these had powers that we would consider to make them Gods. While they often interacted with the physical world most elected to simply ignore the physical. Sadly the inhabitants of the spiritual world began a cosmic war and in one battle some of Aetharus' favourite playthings (humans) were likely to be wiped out as the Gods battled. Unable to permit this to happen Aetharus ripped there home from the soil and carried out of the spiritual world and into Mundus where he deposited it a top the mountains. Within this land were 50 couples who the faithful believe were given the task of spreading the human race across Mundus. It is they who were the first members of the Order of the Talon. However their special connection to the spirit world became less and so now not all children born are connected to Aetharus.

Role

The Order has three main tasks.

1) Spread the faith - Aetharus has tasked humans with preparing to one day return to the spirit world and retake it from the forces of evil. This shall be achieved by recruiting people to the faith. The Order has Druids who are responsible for managing the faith and also ensuring all the required rituals for the faithful are undertaken. The biggest job they have is searching for new members of the Order of the Talon. This is done by taking and recording omens at the day of all births. Then on the first birthday of a child they also review these omens and if satisfied that the child is special they produce a report for the Grand Druid. Should this report be accepted by the Grand Druid then the child is enrolled in the Order.

2) Protect the faith - The Order maintains a small military force which is today also part of the nations military. They guard the Veiled One and also the entrances to the Solitude.

3) Keep the Solitude pure - As the Solitude is land not actually from this world it must be protected. The Order maintains a staff who manage all aspects of this land from forestry to road maintenance.