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Post by Hasekura Takamori on Jun 3, 2007 13:13:31 GMT
On the highest floor of the Shirezei Palace there is found a room known as The Forum, to those who have knowledge of the inners of this mysterious building.
Four rows of seats rise to each of the walls, seperated by walkways between each group of seats. At the front, four simple wooden pulpits face each other - to show the true position of the leaders of Septrem's native factions - as leaders of the common people.
Great panes of glass allow sunlight to illuminate the faces of these heralded figures, and beautiful tapestries cover the walls.
In ancient times, the leaders would meet here, to discuss and work out Septrem's problems - but dust had taken control of this room for centuries.
Now, four figures stood at the pulpits, for the first time in nigh on 200 years, and their chosen advisors behind them in the rows.
Hasekura looked forward to his fellow leaders, and slowly sighed. Hopefully, ancient grudges would be forgotten for this one day, and the true matter at hand could be seen. His voice rose, and he looked around the room.
"I give greetings to you all, fellow Leaders of Our People."
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Post by Leonardo Leconus on Jun 3, 2007 13:21:52 GMT
Leo looked at the three other leaders his eyes tracing over thier stature, Artaxerxes he had already met a few times after all most of the illegal stuff came from his people.
"It's a pleasure to be here." Leonardo said while he gave a slight nod.
"I hope we are gathered here under a mutual agreement and not because you want something from us."
Leonardo cleared his throat and waited for the others.
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Post by Lu-Nai on Jun 3, 2007 13:27:00 GMT
Lu-Nai nodded to Hasekura, and though he knew not well of this man, he respected him, and deep down feared him a little. It was said that the Shirezei were people of battle, prepared to fight and prepared to spill blood. Whether or not the stories of their barbaric nature were true or propergander from the Imperium, Lu decided to keep to himself, and leave no sooner than when the meeting was over.
It was his first meeting of this kind since the passing of the former Minisu lead - Shigeru. Lu was not the new leader, but instead he was a relay, with the permission to accept and put forward propositions to aid the future of all four factions; the Imperium would always be around in one way or another.
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Post by Artaxerxes Hirren on Jun 3, 2007 13:30:27 GMT
The pirate captain leaned on his pedestal, a rather upset from on his face. The council members had removed his bottle of rum while they were traveling to try and sober him up long enough for him to reprisent his people. Good luck. There was over 10 years of constant alcohol consumption to get over, and this was a hell of a hangover.
A nudge in the back told him he should give some kind of formal thanks for the welcome and his brain tried to kick into gear. "Why thank you mate, for this gracious welcome into your city." He managed, his words stumbling over each other, slurring slightly, although those that knew him knew it was simply his way of speaking.
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Post by Hasekura Takamori on Jun 3, 2007 13:37:01 GMT
Nodding slightly at the first greetings, Hasekura's lips twitched upwards into a slight smile at the pirate captain's slurred input into the ring of welcomes. "Aah, Artaxerxes, I see you are in good health." Although Hasekura had never met the other, his intricate network of spies had relayed some information of this sort to him. And he expected, in fact, knew, that all the others had the exact same on him.
"Gentlemen, I am glad that we can at least get this far, greet each other as equals, without rise to anger. Since the sad passing of Shigeru, I feared that Septrem was entering a dark time." The softly spoken words echoed out into the chamber, and he nodded again, pleased at the sound. "And now, the business at hand. I trust you all know what this business I refer to is, of course?"
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Post by Lu-Nai on Jun 3, 2007 13:42:46 GMT
Lu-Nai swallowed at the dead Monk's name and bit his lip. The Monastery was like a family, when one of those members die it can be compared to loosing a brother.
He refrained from answering at first, and waited for his assumtion of 'business' to be confirmed by one of the others.
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Post by Leonardo Leconus on Jun 3, 2007 13:44:37 GMT
Leonardo sat back his right hand stroking his face.
"I suppose it as something to do with the Imperium?" Leo said while he licked his lips and pulled out a long pipe, the round top filled with a certain type of weed that Leo likes to call 'weejee'
"May I have a smoke or isit forbidden?" The engineer never really liked traditional norms and values, science was ever changing and so his views of the world was through the eyes of science.
"The Imperium by the way is no threat, they haven't started anything for such a long time, why can't we just leave them be and concentrate on other matters?"
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Post by Artaxerxes Hirren on Jun 3, 2007 13:50:05 GMT
Artaxerxes gave the honourable Takamori a grin, although he knew that the advisors had files on all of those here, he had not more than skimmed them, he knew they would whisper imformation to him as he needed it, he was a good blagger anyway.
As he looked over to the more familiar Leonardo, he wondered why he had not brought his own leaf, then again, he was trying to keep a clear head, if only this headache would fade away some. "Of course they are a threat." He turned to look at Leonardo as he spoke. Then again, he found them more of a threat than the others, particularly because of the huge bounty they had on his dead corpse.
"Their ships are gettin' bigger, and braver. It won't be long 'ti; they challenge us out on the open sea, i don't doubt." One on one he thought that their ships might take down some of the minor vessels the town used, but they did not have enough ships to mass attack the town, and they were too well defended by the marsh to be attacked easily from land.
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Post by Hasekura Takamori on Jun 3, 2007 14:01:08 GMT
The solemn nodding of Takamori continued through the points of Artaxerxes and Leonardo, then he slowly clasped his hands on the desk in front of him. "But for how long can you expect them to remain 'no threat', Leonardo? How long before the Imperium starts to use your own tecnology against you?"
These words had power behind them, where the others had been quiet, polite, these were edged and emotional. "How long can any of us rely on our own safety from this encroaching menace? As singular factions, we can but watch as the Imperium grows fat and strong upon the spoils of our land, taking what they want from us, and giving what in return?"
In a corner behind Hasekura sat a small man, getting smaller and paler the further the Shirezei leader went in his speech. His attire and seal gave him away as the Imperial ambassador, not deemed important enough to be allowed into the Forumate.
"They give us nothing."
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Post by Lu-Nai on Jun 3, 2007 14:10:30 GMT
Lu-Nai took a breath;
"They remain the balance in Septrem, Takamori. They only get stronger due to our growing weaknesses. If they did not get stronger the balance would not exist." He said then looked at the other three leaders. A sigh escaped him, "I fear that the banance, however is soon to become that of the Imperium, for even in our weaknesses we will still cling to our ways, and the only way for for complete Imperialization we must be eradicated."
The Imperial Ambassador said nothing still, seemingly cowering slightly at the Monks words.
It was definately not like the Minisu to stir up a war, but even they could see the dire times ahead if everyone continued to do nothing against the Imperium.
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Post by Leonardo Leconus on Jun 3, 2007 14:18:26 GMT
Leonardo shook his head.
"This is pathetic, why should we fight and risk war when we can gain soo much from the Imperial?" Leonardo lit up the pipe and inhaled the smoke.
"I understand what you mean about the Imperial using the technology we created but most of it is out of date, they will be no match for the concept designs we are creating right now."
The engineer turned his attention to the Imperial ambassador and then to Artaxerxes.
"You have seen what we have been creating for your ships, do you honestly think that the Imperial would be a match for your upgrades? and with no disrespect Hasekura we can give you the means to defend yourself against the weapons of the Imperial, this goes to all of you."
Leonardo didn't want a war but even he knew that it was coming.
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Post by Artaxerxes Hirren on Jun 3, 2007 14:24:59 GMT
Artaxerxes frowned, how could there be any debate on peace with the imperials. Their ambassador had given him a rather cold look, seemingly infuriated that he could not have the man killed on the spot, but thankfully this meeting protected the pirate captain of his crimes, for now.
"You can't be serious. All they will do is cut our throats and stamp out our cities." He captain cast his dark, kohl lined eyes around the room and at the faces of each of the other leaders. He knew that should the imperials take over, Hirren would face extinction, simply because of their trade. The whole town was held accounted for the crimes commited, because everyone there benefitted.
"War is here, whether you like it or not, but if you want to sit there and wait until you are ankle deep in your own blood, feel free." He was a little more animated, simply to save his own throat from spilling it's blood. His words still intermingled but his hands moved rather wildly as he spoke, rings clashing together like a hyperative symbolist.
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Post by Hasekura Takamori on Jun 3, 2007 14:31:26 GMT
"Although my earlier sentiments may have suggested it, war is the last thing I want. A costly war, especially with this Imperium that seems to go from strength to strength, would be terrible for our people. But that will not stop the Shirezei from fighting, should it come to that."
Hasekura was worried - it seemed the sides were beginning to appear: Ulthan willing to sit back and let the Imperium have it's way, and Hirren ready to slaughter them were they stood. A fight between the factions would be terrible, truly worse than if the Imperium took over.
"The Imperium will adapt to even your new tecnology, Leonardo, they probably already have started developing similar things. Spies are everywhere." This last was said with a pointed look over his shoulder to the ambassador.
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Post by Lu-Nai on Jun 3, 2007 14:40:36 GMT
Lu-Nai knitted his brows and looked towards the ground.
He took a sharp intake of breath then his attention turned to Hasekura.
"Our people have co-existed for hundreds of years, the Minisu will follow you to battle, but we will by no means initiate it." He said simply. "Let us hope something is resovled before then..."
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Post by Leonardo Leconus on Jun 3, 2007 16:09:17 GMT
Leonardo snarled this was going nowhere and Ulthan would never approve of what he was about to do but the rest of the leaders would need to know.
"Ok well then I have something that could tip the scales in this battle you all seem so glad to fight in."
Leonardo's lips curved into a smile.
"I'm creating something that could topple the Imperium city if enough resources was sent to Ulthan, you would all recieve the benefits of this new creation too."
Leonardo waited for the rest of the leaders to ask what this invention was, the steam tank would indeed prove useful in battle.
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