Run By: Dokuganryu (3xp)
Players: Cathak Zuriel
Summary: Zuriel strongarms the Varang into an alliance, but they leave him hanging and keep the alliance provisional at best.
The country of Varangia. Locked within an everpresent caste system descended from the ancient Dragon Kings, their greatest joy is not their advancement - merely their contentment.
So it is that when the Cathak armies arrive, airships in the sky, cavalry on the ground, there is no fight. The thirty thousand soldiers - assigned due to the tedious casting system and mostly soldiers merely because that is what they were born to be - lay down their arms and armor, and the country offers no resistance to the Cathak intruders. After all, blood would stirr up the populace.
We can't have that, now.
The massive cavalry horde, for such a large collection of horsemen can't possibly be a cohesive army, rolls in and their leader accepts the surrender. Their leader, one Cathak Zuriel, looks pleased as he has his men collect the arms of the Varangian. He sets his men on the capital city of Yane, hoping to speak with the ruling council of the Varang confederacy, never doubting that they'll deny him a hearing. After all, he has them by the short and curlies.
Indeed, the Varang Council has denied Zuriel a hearing. A messenger offers him condolences, noting that in this time of tumult, the Council must be allowed to make their decisions without contamination from the outside world, and that the leaders would of course meet with him as soon as possible - after the decision has been announced to the rest of them. He apologizes profusely once again before moving to scuttle out of the room.
(Judge) Cathak Zuriel rolls Intelligence + Lore: [ 2 4 5 5 5 7 <10> ]
Resulting in 3 successes.
-= OOC =- Cathak Zuriel says, "Bah... 4 sux. If this fails though, I have a backup plan that just might work."
-= OOC =- Debok Moom says, "Hmm."
-= OOC =- Debok Moom says, "I'm going to say that's enough to realize that Zuriel might be able to get in with the proper caste tattoo and outfit."
The messanger gets nothing but a polite nod of assurance and an obol of jade (in scrip) for his troubles--no reason to kill the messanger. However, the long days of wait give Zuriel the opportunity to speak to the city of Yane. His airships flying high overhead just beneath the clouds serve as the perfect backdrop for his campaign. The young Cathak himself flies across the skies of Yane on his wings, speaking loudly in his big, booming voice ladden with Essence. He is akin to a god, with the airships being his wardens. "People of Yane, hear me and hear me well," he begins, "I am Cathak Zuriel, you all know me as the Satrap of Chiaroscuro. I have come to your lands to seek a mutually beneficial alliance. Your own armies have surrendered to me. Yet your leaders do nothing but try to stonewall me with bureaucracy. Your own leaders have left me to my own devices while they sequester themselves in their palace and leave you all to rot. Were I not a righteous man, I would take insult and lay waste to the land. But I am not petty, for the Dragons have looked down upon me and given me their blessing. I say to you, are those the leaders that you want? Leaders that leave their people to the wolves? You need look no further than to the safety I have provided Chiaroscuro to know what I am willing to do in the face of threats. I offer such protection to you. Indeed, that is the wisdom I impart to you and yours."
(Judge) Cathak Zuriel rolls Charisma + Performance + Performance/Speeches + Performance + Performance/Speeches + 3: [ -1- -1- -1- -1- 2 2 3 3 3 5 5 6 6 6 7 7 7 8 8 8 8 9 9 ]
Resulting in 9 successes.
The people, hearing this speech as Zuriel shouts with fervor beyond fervor, with power beyond power, with essence pumping through his veins, let out a mighty cheer, throwing up their fists. Contentment, yes, that was important - and Zuriel had stirred up one major problem.
The leaders were not helping their contentment. They were hiding, rather than acting. They were leaving their people to assume that nothing would change. And then, like so much fire and passion, comes change in the form of the young Cathak.
The doors are thrown open for Zuriel to enter the chamber of the Varangian leaders, allowing him passage. The leaders stand as one from their chamber, staring at Zuriel with shock.
"What is the meaning of this?" One of them demands.
Zuriel flutters down in the face of the Varangian council so that they may better hear him. He smiles an innocent smile and cants his head in mock confusion, "The meaning of 'this'? Well, I suppose it is a word that refers to a thing, item or object being indicated." That little bit of humour aside he gestures behind him and says, "If you're referring to that, I was simply in comunion with the people of Yane. Just words mind you."
"Play no games with us!" The council chamber is awash with noise pollution as one of the central-looking leaders stands. "How dare you enter this sacred chamber with neither caste mark nor permission, outsider? We know of your airships and your armies - you dare to brazenly enter our city, then claim you desire an -alliance-! We know what you want!" The woman points accusingly at Zuriel. "You wish us to surrender, to bend knee to your people! One seeking an 'alliance' does not bring with him an army!" She crosses her arms over her chest, glowering at him. "What have you to say in your defense?"
Zuriel smiles, pleasant as you please and says politely with just a hint of sarcasm, "I am Cathak Zuriel, Satrap of Chiaroscuro and Strategos of the 25th Imperial Legion, it is a pleasure to make your acquaintance. Your greeting is most polite and generous, I am humbled by your etiquette and manners." Of course, it is all a lie since they have not followed etiquette. He looks at the woman and says, "Please, calm yourself, m'lady. If I was here to conquer Varang, there wouldn't be any talks. However, I am not stupid enough to think that you would listen to me had I come alone or with just my contingent of Gunzosha and Brass Legionnaires. If you will note, they haven't attacked and are in fact making your city very wealthy by spending money here. And to think, we don't even have an alliance in place yet."
"And what would you receive out of this little -alliance-?" The woman grunts in his direction.
Zuriel grins and says, "Ah, so you've decided to hear me out then? Good choice." He rubs his palms together anticipatory and says, "For starters I'd get an ally. You'd get one too." He jabs a thumb into his chest, "I'd be your ally. But more importantly, you'd be in the perfect position to get preferential tarrifs in Chiaroscuro, which as you know is the Nexus of Southern trade. All I ask in turn is that you cast your lot with House Mnemon and House Cathak. Of course, as a Realm Satrapy you would pay your taxes to me and in turn you get the protection provided by my armies along with the benefits of free roads, public services and so on. All in all, a fair trade. That is, of course, the simplified version. We'd have to hammer out the finer details, but I can assure you that if your people would be nothing if not pleased if you took my offer."
A murmur sweeps through the conclave room. After maybe ten minutes of whispering, some loud arguing, and a bit of shouting, finally, the woman sighs and nods, standing. "We ask that you give us a chance to discuss this more fully," she says through gritted teeth, "And submit an appeal through each of the cities to allow our citizens the chance to vote, as well as examining the long-term ramifications. Moreover, we ask that you allow us to consult our priests for a forecast - and then we will answer you in full. Is this acceptable, Cathak Zuriel, Satrap of Chiaroscuro?"
Zuriel frowns, it isn't a frown of anger, but merely one of confusion. It is the frown of someone who has been asked a question to which the answer should be obvious. Indeed, when he answer it is in a matter-of-fact tone, "Of course, I would expect nothing less. I simply ask that you allow me to sit in on your council as a silent observer." He looks outside and smiles, "Of course, if that is unacceptable, I can stay outside. I'm sure I can find something to amuse myself with."
"It will take time," she warns, "We have many options to consult, and we will not be privvy to the work of our forecasters for a fortnight at least."
Zuriel nods, "I see. Let me ask you this, though. I am a little versed in matters of the occult such as thaumaturgy, which is I believe the core of what your astrologers do--The Art of Astrology. Are you aware that predicting events around the Exalted is hard and usually results in incomplete readings? I ask this because I am an Exalt so your results may be slightly mussed by my resplendent destiny."
"We are not predicting around you," the woman grunts, "We are predicting around ourselves."
Cathak Zuriel raises a finger, "Ah, but I am now involved in your fates."
Another councillor - a man - stands. "What the honorable councillor means is," he says briefly, "We will consult whether or not this course of action will bode well for us. We do not make moves without the precision of our astrology - even if you have 'mussed' it, I am certain our astrologists are more than capable of correcting any 'mussing', or looking for such inaccuracies."
Cathak Zuriel gives the council a formal bow and says, "Of course, the precision mechanics of Varang are legendary. I can only imagine that your astrology charts follow the same rigours. In any event, I will take my leave of you for now."
"Thank you for your patience, Satrap," the man states after a moment, giving a bow, "We hope that the auspicious charts will show good fortune for your long life."
-= OOC =- Cathak Zuriel says, "Okay, it's time to get my game face on... I'm gonna do a strong prayer to the Maidens to tilt the astrology in my favour. I'll also send in a dematerialized elemental into the meeting room to find out which astrologers they'll use."
-= OOC =- Cathak Zuriel says, "I'm doing a Res 4 sacrifice to reduce the difficulty."
(Judge) Cathak Zuriel rolls Charisma + Performance + Performance: [ -1- 3 3 4 5 5 6 8 8 8 8 8 9 <10> ]
Resulting in 8 successes.
-= OOC =- Debok Moom says, "No response, but you've certainly gotten the attention of the Bureau at least, who is probably sending a smaller deity to skew it."
-= OOC =- Debok Moom says, "The elemental reports that they're using a variation of their favored astrology for determining difficult horroscopes, the Brighter Star ritual. Their horoscope seems to be favoring Zuriel."
Zuriel is no fool, of course. As he leaves, he buys various interesting Varangian artifacts: sextants, telescopes and even some armour. He reserves a whole floor at an inn and uses the space and privacy to pray to the Maidens that the destiny of Varang be tied to his own. Meanwhile he dispatches an elemental to eavesdrop on the council... dematerialized of course.
The elemental returns quickly, reporting that their auspices have turned up in his favor - fortunately for him, it seems whatever prayer he said got the attention of some little god or another. Not strongly enough to be the Maidens' hand, but certainly a good urge towards him, a friendly, gentle poke, if you will.
Zuriel's next move is a calculated one. While the auspices are in his favour, the Varang council might not actually use the real auspice and try to pass a fake one as a real one. However, that is a risk he is willing to take and he goes to the palace to await the deliberation to be announced.
In short order, the council has made their decision. The announcement is set forth - from this day, Varangia counts itself among Chiaroscuro's allies...on the provision that, should a more worthwhile alliance be offered from another nation, the Varangians are free to extricate themselves should fate so allow it. So bound are they by their castes and their auspices that apparently the very idea of substituting a fake one never occurs to them.
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