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Description
In semi-formal attire on the far side of the world from his home, Reival ti'Valcas felt naked. Which was strange given that he routinely sparred in naught but his breaches, but he normally was out and about with at least a dagger. His Master-At-Arms had suggested that he at least carry a concealed blade, but he'd declined. As his boat moved from the Khylhon to the small settlement on this strange shore he saw that his judgement on matters was correct. He was met by an "honor guard" of twenty Oestian Principalic Army soldiers. Back in Illvanicum these men had beaten off Torionese aggression for three centuries despite being outnumbered five to one, and that was before each man was armed with a Coldlander Rifle. Even in his full runic plate that was more than enough to cut him down in a single volley, leaving aside the cannons in the fort. That said, if it came to blows here and now his failure was all but assured.

As he got off the boat alone, he was led up a pathway by the formation. His honor undoubtedly well secured by the precisely drilled fighting men around him. Soon he was met by a man who was reasonably well dressed given his extreme remove from the clotheries of his homeland. The fact that he had a Rapier at his side was a minor issue.

"I must say, your appearance here is most unexpected." He said in the Dark Elven Trade Dialect. "I am don Duarto de Sarnalio, first Baron of Novo Auvorin, Provisional Governer of Novo Oestia, a loyal subject of Her Majesty Prince Marcelia-IV and the Leviathan Throne. And whom, son of Valnothron, are you?"

"Lord Revial ti'Valcas, Forth Son of the Lady Talnara, bearer of General Captaincy in the Armies Valnothron and appointed governor of Velnariath*." He produced a truth stone "I come in peace and I am here to offer my congratulations on your venture's success, as well as to announce to your nation that we to have established ourselves on this Southeastern Continent."

"Well well well." Baron Sarnalio said, surprised. "This is news to me."

"Of course, by our estimates Velnariath is about a thousand miles as the Dragon Flies to the North, more by sea."

"Well then, you have you work cut out for you." The Baron stated. "The Northern is a red desert, blasted and baked."

"There are a couple of useful rivers flowing out to sea." Revial replied. "I would not call the land around my new outposts to be a vision of paradise, but harsher landscapes have been worked and it will suit our purposes."

"And those are what, master Drow?"

"We have a multitude of aims. A safe harbor is one, there are ships from The Nine States which venture to the east which might be damaged in storm or battle. Mineral wealth is another. Much of the landscape fits your description aptly, baked, blasted and Red with the Rust of Iron. A substance which has spiked in value in recent years. We've also found substantial coal deposits, which will be useful for steamships. But if you fear that we seek to reap Novo Auvorin, fret not. We seek no claim to lands south of the Dividing Range to your north. If anything, the flourishing of Novo Oestia would serve our purposes. The Principality has been a Valuable trading partner for centuries and we seek to preserve that relationship on the far side of the world. To that end and as a gesture of good faith, I ask that you consider my proposals and advocate for them on behalf of the Leviathan Throne. I am also commanded to offer you a gift of 25,000 Scimitars as a gesture of Good Faith, whatever your decision may be."

Baron Sarnalio paused for a few second "Very well."

Baron Sarnalio and Lord Revial then spent the next couple of hours outlying the basics of the deal and it's implications. In general, it was mostly an elaboration on the general point, outlying specifics. In general the deal was unusually generous on part of the Drow, requiring little more than a formal acknowledgement of Velnariath as a colony of Valnothron an general delineation of a border to the north. There were no mutual obligations beyond a general sentiment of 'don't bother us, we won't bother you'. All of which were honest as far as the messenger. There was some minor quibbling about specifics, but he was willing to be flexible. It sounded to good to be true, even so there was little he could do against it.

Novo Oestia had been the pet project of the Leviathan Throne for the last fifteen years. Hard pressed to the the west by their aggressive neighbor, the Princess figured the best way to secure the future of his nation would be to be to expand across the sea. Fearful of the Western Continents, she turned his attention to the East. On the far side of the world, her scouts founded what they needed. In the 29th year of the Infrastuctural Age, a small fort was established, home to a hundred and fifty seven sailors and soldiers, among them one Duarto de Sarnalio, fourth son of a minor dynasty. In 31 IA, Four Hundred of their family members arrived along with a smattering of artisans and farmers, with another ship coming the next year. At first this had been paid for by the Princess out of her own pocket, but the establishment of the Petrolium Colony was enough to get Parliament to produce further funds. Now Novo Oestia was home to some 14,300 souls and the main settlement of Novo Auvorin had come to resemble an proper town. A cutting of his homeland had taken root and was doing well, though it still might be unrooted. As it stood a Torionese fleet of a few ships of the line with a couple thousand troops could easily devastate Novo Oestia, especially if they have their own base of operation in the area. Thankfully Velnariath was not close enough to be a practical springboard. Similarly he had neither the manpower nor the ships to threaten it even if that bloody Ironclad of theirs sank right now.

Everyone knew the Dark Elves were dangerous and their presence would be something to worry about. Apparently developments in lands to the distant Southwest had unfolded to Drow Designs that were of concern to the Coldlanders. In spite of that there had been good trade relations with the Principality and several Drow states including Valnothron. Declaring their position and limited numbers reduced the effectiveness of a surprise attack and the gold provided could easily be spent on several more shiploads of supplies and settlers, even with a tenth to the Throne. Similarly, all they wanted right now was largely worthless desert, trade and an agreement not to get in each other's hair. The probability of direct hostility was in his estimate small, at least in his lifetime. It was more subtle plays he was concerned about.

This was an issue which he was glad to send up the chain of command. He consulted with his superiors on the far side of the world about it via Linkglass. Surprisingly matters moved quickly and to his shock, the Princess got involved directly. He gave his tacit consent on the matter for the time being and would discuss matters with Valnothron's Embassy. As Lord Revial returned to his boat he turned to meet Duarto.

"I am relieved that this meeting went so productively. If our future meetings are as productive, I look forward to them." He extended a hand. "May Novo Oestia and Velnariath prosper side by side."

"A reasonable hope." Baron Sarnalio said as he shook hands.

And with that they parted. When he returned to the Khylhon he opened up a bottle of finest wine for the captain, his Master-At-Arms and Adjutant in celebration of a minor job well done. Everything had gone off smoothy and without a hitch. The Oestian settlement was a minor complication to the project. They were squatting on valuable land and they could be competitors, but they could also be a boon to House Valcas' plans if properly managed. In this case, the most sensible strategy was to simply accept it's existence, start relations off on a good foot and agree to stay out of each others hair. To that end, he'd given them no false information.

He did leave out what was the main aim of the venture, but that was not relevant to the discussion at hand.

*'Velnara's Domain', named for Lady Talnara's mother and the previous Familiarch of House Valcas. Using her name would be considered gauche.

From the beginning...

Previous: Infrastructure: Part Three Hundred and Thirty Three

Next: Infrastructure: Part Three Hundred and Thirty Five

Description
In semi-formal attire on the far side of the world from his home, Reival ti'Valcas felt naked. Which was strange given that he routinely sparred in naught but his breaches, but he normally was out and about with at least a dagger. His Master-At-Arms had suggested that he at least carry a concealed blade, but he'd declined. As his boat moved from the Khylhon to the small settlement on this strange shore he saw that his judgement on matters was correct. He was met by an "honor guard" of twenty Oestian Principalic Army soldiers. Back in Illvanicum these men had beaten off Torionese aggression for three centuries despite being outnumbered five to one, and that was before each man was armed with a Coldlander Rifle. Even in his full runic plate that was more than enough to cut him down in a single volley, leaving aside the cannons in the fort. That said, if it came to blows here and now his failure was all but assured.

As he got off the boat alone, he was led up a pathway by the formation. His honor undoubtedly well secured by the precisely drilled fighting men around him. Soon he was met by a man who was reasonably well dressed given his extreme remove from the clotheries of his homeland. The fact that he had a Rapier at his side was a minor issue.

"I must say, your appearance here is most unexpected." He said in the Dark Elven Trade Dialect. "I am don Duarto de Sarnalio, first Baron of Novo Auvorin, Provisional Governer of Novo Oestia, a loyal subject of Her Majesty Prince Marcelia-IV and the Leviathan Throne. And whom, son of Valnothron, are you?"

"Lord Revial ti'Valcas, Forth Son of the Lady Talnara, bearer of General Captaincy in the Armies Valnothron and appointed governor of Velnariath*." He produced a truth stone "I come in peace and I am here to offer my congratulations on your venture's success, as well as to announce to your nation that we to have established ourselves on this Southeastern Continent."

"Well well well." Baron Sarnalio said, surprised. "This is news to me."

"Of course, by our estimates Velnariath is about a thousand miles as the Dragon Flies to the North, more by sea."

"Well then, you have you work cut out for you." The Baron stated. "The Northern is a red desert, blasted and baked."

"There are a couple of useful rivers flowing out to sea." Revial replied. "I would not call the land around my new outposts to be a vision of paradise, but harsher landscapes have been worked and it will suit our purposes."

"And those are what, master Drow?"

"We have a multitude of aims. A safe harbor is one, there are ships from The Nine States which venture to the east which might be damaged in storm or battle. Mineral wealth is another. Much of the landscape fits your description aptly, baked, blasted and Red with the Rust of Iron. A substance which has spiked in value in recent years. We've also found substantial coal deposits, which will be useful for steamships. But if you fear that we seek to reap Novo Auvorin, fret not. We seek no claim to lands south of the Dividing Range to your north. If anything, the flourishing of Novo Oestia would serve our purposes. The Principality has been a Valuable trading partner for centuries and we seek to preserve that relationship on the far side of the world. To that end and as a gesture of good faith, I ask that you consider my proposals and advocate for them on behalf of the Leviathan Throne. I am also commanded to offer you a gift of 25,000 Scimitars as a gesture of Good Faith, whatever your decision may be."

Baron Sarnalio paused for a few second "Very well."

Baron Sarnalio and Lord Revial then spent the next couple of hours outlying the basics of the deal and it's implications. In general, it was mostly an elaboration on the general point, outlying specifics. In general the deal was unusually generous on part of the Drow, requiring little more than a formal acknowledgement of Velnariath as a colony of Valnothron an general delineation of a border to the north. There were no mutual obligations beyond a general sentiment of 'don't bother us, we won't bother you'. All of which were honest as far as the messenger. There was some minor quibbling about specifics, but he was willing to be flexible. It sounded to good to be true, even so there was little he could do against it.

Novo Oestia had been the pet project of the Leviathan Throne for the last fifteen years. Hard pressed to the the west by their aggressive neighbor, the Princess figured the best way to secure the future of his nation would be to be to expand across the sea. Fearful of the Western Continents, she turned his attention to the East. On the far side of the world, her scouts founded what they needed. In the 29th year of the Infrastuctural Age, a small fort was established, home to a hundred and fifty seven sailors and soldiers, among them one Duarto de Sarnalio, fourth son of a minor dynasty. In 31 IA, Four Hundred of their family members arrived along with a smattering of artisans and farmers, with another ship coming the next year. At first this had been paid for by the Princess out of her own pocket, but the establishment of the Petrolium Colony was enough to get Parliament to produce further funds. Now Novo Oestia was home to some 14,300 souls and the main settlement of Novo Auvorin had come to resemble an proper town. A cutting of his homeland had taken root and was doing well, though it still might be unrooted. As it stood a Torionese fleet of a few ships of the line with a couple thousand troops could easily devastate Novo Oestia, especially if they have their own base of operation in the area. Thankfully Velnariath was not close enough to be a practical springboard. Similarly he had neither the manpower nor the ships to threaten it even if that bloody Ironclad of theirs sank right now.

Everyone knew the Dark Elves were dangerous and their presence would be something to worry about. Apparently developments in lands to the distant Southwest had unfolded to Drow Designs that were of concern to the Coldlanders. In spite of that there had been good trade relations with the Principality and several Drow states including Valnothron. Declaring their position and limited numbers reduced the effectiveness of a surprise attack and the gold provided could easily be spent on several more shiploads of supplies and settlers, even with a tenth to the Throne. Similarly, all they wanted right now was largely worthless desert, trade and an agreement not to get in each other's hair. The probability of direct hostility was in his estimate small, at least in his lifetime. It was more subtle plays he was concerned about.

This was an issue which he was glad to send up the chain of command. He consulted with his superiors on the far side of the world about it via Linkglass. Surprisingly matters moved quickly and to his shock, the Princess got involved directly. He gave his tacit consent on the matter for the time being and would discuss matters with Valnothron's Embassy. As Lord Revial returned to his boat he turned to meet Duarto.

"I am relieved that this meeting went so productively. If our future meetings are as productive, I look forward to them." He extended a hand. "May Novo Oestia and Velnariath prosper side by side."

"A reasonable hope." Baron Sarnalio said as he shook hands.

And with that they parted. When he returned to the Khylhon he opened up a bottle of finest wine for the captain, his Master-At-Arms and Adjutant in celebration of a minor job well done. Everything had gone off smoothy and without a hitch. The Oestian settlement was a minor complication to the project. They were squatting on valuable land and they could be competitors, but they could also be a boon to House Valcas' plans if properly managed. In this case, the most sensible strategy was to simply accept it's existence, start relations off on a good foot and agree to stay out of each others hair. To that end, he'd given them no false information.

He did leave out what was the main aim of the venture, but that was not relevant to the discussion at hand.

*'Velnara's Domain', named for Lady Talnara's mother and the previous Familiarch of House Valcas. Using her name would be considered gauche.

From the beginning...

Previous: Infrastructure: Part Three Hundred and Thirty Three

Next: Infrastructure: Part Three Hundred and Thirty Five