Author Topic: A telegram to the Dragon (AKA Fred)  (Read 1593 times)

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Offline Geo

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A telegram to the Dragon (AKA Fred)
« on: September 19, 2021, 11:16:48 PM »
Ĉiela, chief adviser to the King on Royal International Affairs and cousin to his Highness, sat back in her chair. As always, like everyday before it, she had nothing to do. All matters of Foreign Affairs had been efficiently delegated by herself and now she could kick back all day and relax. But the relaxation of the first few initial days, those many years ago, had quickly worn off. As such, her mind was bored beyond comprehension. She's taught herself latin and had purchased several books from those merchants who arrived and left as the sun arrived and disappeared everyday. But she'd read all the ones she had a while ago and had been cast back into eternal boredom.

Something hit her window.

She sat up, quickly twisting her head round. A parrot, blue with red stripes along its wings was scratching and hitting itself against the window. She knew what it meant immediately. She let the bird in and, holding it on her arm, opened the capsule on its leg and pulled out its message. Scanning it quickly she gave the order to her subordinates. A message to the Five Men, and a telegraph to be sent.

To the Most Esteemed and Humble and Majestic Dragon Emperor of Lijiang
The Most Highest and Most Serene and Most Magnificent and Most Elevated King of Northern and Southern Hudsonia, Alexios I, sends his humble greetings. He wishes to humbly invite you to his capital of the Silent City, to discuss matters related to agreements mutually beneficial for our two nations. We would be honoured if you would visit his Most High for discussion.
Most Sincerely, Ĉielala Dio de Homo, Chief Adviser to the King on Royal International Affairs

Offline Lijiang

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Re: A telegram to the Dragon (AKA Fred)
« Reply #1 on: September 23, 2021, 10:28:50 PM »
Telegraph....who in this century was still using the telegraph, especially when the fax machine had been invented. Tielin shrugged with surprise as he opened the envelope and saw the message in the strange format that had even taken the Imperial Communications Office by surprise. Having read it Tielin had one of his personal secretaries take down a note and then fire up the equipment to send a response informing them he would be there in a weeks time.

The trip was one that was rather more tricky than the previous trips Tielin had taken. He first flew to the ASA and in order to be courteous spent a day visiting the sites and having tea with Praetor Julius Devaux which concluded with promises of a return trip centred around business. The next day Tielin and his adviser Jin Odinsson boarded a rented river boat which would take them across the border to meet with Alexios I. The boat trip was rather pleasant even if the sites were very different to the valleys of Lijiang's own Dragon-Spine river. Tielin had perhaps grown more accustomed to speedy travel but had managed to get some business completed en route so that he arrived with his head already focused on matters of state. He went ashore first with Jin following a pace behind as they greeted their hosts.



Offline Geo

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Re: A telegram to the Dragon (AKA Fred)
« Reply #2 on: September 24, 2021, 08:22:37 PM »
Lear, first captain of the trankvilaj, the royal guard of Alexios I, stood watching the water's edge. He and a retinue of his guards where standing waiting. Each wore their traditional dress, with tattoos quoting lines from the Mythos covering their torso, and blue and green feathered headresses worn. They wore a cloth around their waist, woven in were the classical herbs and plants of the jungle. Each held a spear, handmade and traditional. Whilst purely ceremonial, each were taught to be able to throw the spear with enough speed and enough strength to penetrate a human body.

Lear stood silently as the boat of the ambassadors pulled up on the small docking platform that had been erected this morning. As they came towards him, he stepped forwards and put out his hand. The guests stopped. Behind him, along the ground, carved rocks laid out the border of the city.

He dropped to a knee, and bent his head to the ground.

"Welcome our most Humble and Esteemed guests. I trust your journey was well. I am Lear, first of among the trankvilaj, aide to the king and the guardian of this most sacred and cursed place. The king requests you enter upon your leisure and to make yourself prepared. But a warning."
He raised his head from the ground.
"This place was constructed in memory of the ripozigas, those who came before us and whomst the accursed gods cast to eternal rest as the trees you see around you. I may request, kindly, that you respect the traditions and the souls of these poor men, and utter not a word once you are in the borders of the city. Upon meeting the king you may talk freely but until then, I plead that you remain quiet. Forgive my insolence."
He rose.
"When you are ready esteemed guests."

_______________________________________________________________

Lear lead the way into the city. Built from stone, large amounts of the city has become overgrown and reclaimed by nature. Trees rose out of dilapidated towers, whilst monkey chattered and watched the humans from the safety of a multitude of bush. A glimpse of trankvilaj in none ceremonial dress could occasionally be seen, their bolinhas uniform and the glint of metal weapons present.

They reached an entrance. It was in the shape of a roaring jaguar, the darkness inside through the mouth the way in. Here the stones were in almost pristine condition and the dome shaped building stuck out like a soar thumb from the rest of the city. Lear beckoned them inside.

Offline Lijiang

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Re: A telegram to the Dragon (AKA Fred)
« Reply #3 on: October 01, 2021, 09:16:01 PM »
In normal circumstances Tielin would have found this rather insulting. The whole being quiet nonsense, but he remembered that perhaps some of the customs of his own land may seem strange to foreigners but this was perhaps a step beyond that. The jungle was different to what they had at home, forests covered a lot of Lijiang but this wasn't the same, it was far warmer for a start and the trees seemed more dense. After being given the warning the Dragon-Emperor informed Lear that they were ready to proceed.

It was a rather strange place where the trees seemed to have taken ownership of the city and the idea of walking through a Jaguar's mouth seemed a little un-nerving. That being said Teilin checked his step and as was tradition back home placed his left foot into the mouth before following Lear inside.

Offline Geo

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Re: A telegram to the Dragon (AKA Fred)
« Reply #4 on: October 01, 2021, 10:48:45 PM »
Lear lead the way through the mouth, into the entrance of the palace. The hallway before them was big and open. windows high in the air allowing sunlight to shine through. There was no artificial light. The roof was held up by great stone pillars, between each of them was a door way, leading into a dark corridor.

As they advanced further down the hallway, it got darker and darker as the windows got smaller and smaller. Eventually, all light ceased altogether, and the party found itself walking in darkness. Lear stopped. Reaching forwards with one hand, and drew the darkness back.

Light streamed towards them as the heavy purple curtains sealing off the chamber before them was drawn back. A carved sunlight stood in the ceiling, its light flowing out of it and illuminating the room. Lear ushered them silently through.

The room was circular. Upon a dais a stone throne sat a child, their face covered by a carved wooden mask, painted with a stylised skull. They were covered in a multicoloured robe of feathers, covering them next to toe. On either side of them stood an adviser, each dressed in the furs of a jaguar. Around the edge of the chamber, dozens of courtiers lay on their back and watched, some smoking. Trankvilaj guards stood round, dressed in ceremonial wear just as Lear did.

The delegate was ushered into the centre of the room as the King leaned forwards, and whispered something into the ear of the adviser on their left. A look of relief passed over the man's face.

"The king bids thee speech," he said, words clearly practised, "thou unclean ones, begone."

A sudden hub of noise started up, as the silence of the room was shattered by struck up conversation amongst the courtiers. The man on the king's right angrily turned to the king, and whispered a few to the king. The king seemed to sigh, and raised his hand. The noise dropped like a stone. The man on the right bowed to the king and addressed the delegates.

"We thank thee for joining us. I am the king's loyal regent, Wyatt. Welcome to our fine nation and please enjoy dinner. You will undoubtedly be tired, so i bid thee rest for the night after dinner, so we may do talking in the full security of our mind. You may speak whilst within the palace, it is the king's pleasure."

He clapped once and a curtain at one side of the room was brushed open. A group of servant's marched in, on their shoulders steaming plates of local dishes were prepared. Tables were quickly set up and and rugs laid down.

Offline Lijiang

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Re: A telegram to the Dragon (AKA Fred)
« Reply #5 on: October 04, 2021, 08:38:40 PM »
Jin Odinsson had for some time been the highest elected official in Nya Aland, and before than a member of the cabinet in the Union of Nordic Peoples. While the Dragon-Emperor was the undoubted leader of the Empire, Jin had a rather unique insight into diplomacy. He saw through a lot of the rituals and traditions and saw events such as this as just a way of trying to show the nation of a host as one that you would want to do business with. He simply followed along and found himself amused that there was clearly some kind of disharmony among their hosts what with the King's reaction to what Jin assumed was some kind of adviser of his own.

Tielin meanwhile found the notion of such hospitality and custom prior to talks to be rather about face. Where he came from you did your business and then enjoyed meals together as a way of celebrating. Jin though had warned him that nations such as this would be ones that had more extreme customs. Jin had also warned him to be on his toes should he meet the Maori. The two from the Empire sampled the food, very different to that back home but not unpallatable before as advisered retiring for the evening.