| new kashmir falls when my wrath boils over |
| Summary: | Mercy speaks to Dertan about the continuance of trade should she declare independence from Aequor. The reality of that move is discussed some. |
| Date: | 20th may 2019 |
| Related: | Relates to the events of the aequor civil war mostly. |
| NPCs: | None |
| Players: |
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| Sokar Manor Garden, Four Corners |
| There is a gazebo in the grounds of the Sokar mansion with a single table and a handful of chairs inside and roses, not yet flowered, climbing the sides. |
| 1875-05-20 |
There is a gazebo in the grounds of the Sokar mansion with a single table and a handful of chairs inside and roses, not yet flowered, climbing the sides. It is here that Dertan is sat, with papers on the desk in front of him, and a pair of hawks - one peregrine and one saker - resting on perches nearby. The man himself is wearing a pair of highly polished boots, near black trousers and a maroon coloured doublet made out of a rather lush looking damasqued silk. He's got his vambraces on - black leather ornamented with silver images of hawks and serpents - and his hair tied back with a silk ribbon - but otherwise wears no other ornament.
As Mercy arrives he closes the book he was working on and folds the paper over before setting what looks like a small cannon ball down on top of the documents as a paper weight. Then he stands and gives her a small bow. "Good evening Mercy. I took the liberty of having wine brought out in anticipation of your arrival."
The trip was abit harrowing, she had to have the airship pilot take an out of the way route, but she made it. Now that she was here, she smiles, wearing a black full length dress with a long flowing black velvet coat with silver embroidery and black fur linning, her face is made up with a bit of makeup, much less than the average aeqyoran woman, though, she did nothing to hide the scar she has. Her waist is tight, showing that she is probably wearing a corset, and on her feet are a pair of polished black boots, of course her weapons belt is worn, though, the blades are peace tied.
Mercy smiles as she bows as well and takes a seat, setting a black leather folder on the table top. "So, a baron now? well, at least you have ships to play with, which are, by the way, always welcome in new kashmir."
"Yes." Dertan says after a moment. "My uncle was ill and wished to reduce his workload." He contemplates her for a moment and then half turns to pour her out a glass of wine. He hands it over to her and then settles back into his seat and starts gathering the rest of the papers up into a neat pile. "I am pleased to be honest. I found I had a taste for ruling whilst my wife was ill."
"Ex wife, or is that particular divorce only on paper?" Mercy asks, and looks to the wine, swirling it around abit. "Hmmm… who makes this?" She asks as she doesn;t take a sip just yet.
"That is one of your arcadian reds." Dertan replies. "From the Esterly Vineyard I believe." He folds his hands on the tabletop and gives her a contemplative look. "I could have purchased trade ships from any house." he offers eventually. "But it does please me to managing a house with such extensive trade links. It looks as if it requires a lot of guesswork from the surface but there are actually patterns there if you look closely enough. I've been told that not everyone can see them. Yet I find them almost glaringly obvious. A curious thing really. It had never occured to me that I might see the world differently to other people. Not truly." He pauses and lifts his own cup to his mouth before settling it back down on its saucer again. From the slight haze of steam it is probably some variety of tea. "Did you truly come all this way just to find out if I was available?"
Mercy smiles and takes a sip. "That's it.. two rivers make.. I'm more a lumos vineyards woman myself." She says as she takes another sip and sets the glass down. "Oh come now, if I wanted you I would have stolen you much sooner, well… okay I DO want you, but I also have enough respect to not kidnap you and start a war over it." She says with a wink. "Actualy.. I need abit of advice from you, a logical perspective… King maris is crumbleing his own kingdom, The arrani are about to rebel, and if the king does what I think he will do, the d'Armaz will probably turn on him as well. New Kashmir cannot operate when most of the west hates her, my coin will suffer, my people will suffer, and all because I chose loyalty over survival." She says as she leans back. "If I made new Kashmir a free port, and free city… would you still do business?"
Dertan listens to what she says with quiet focus but instead of answering her he says. "I think your current decision was the one required for survival Mercy. If you choose independence. How do you intend to keep your city? Your fleet is almost gone is it not?" He takes another drink of his tea. "But the answer to your question is yes. Probably. It would depend upon several factors however which cannot be accurately assessed at this point. Should Galenthia declare you an enemy for example then I would not trade with you. I do not think that would happen. Aequor's interior wars are her own problems."
"New Kashmir's wall has been reenforced, and actualy, I have quite the number of ships at my disposal, I managed to keep most of the zephyr legion, though, the royal navy suffered quite abit, those ships I will send back to Lyonisse, granted, sans armaments." She says as she tilts her head. "You see, I plan on securing a deal with four corners, that will keep bitralund off my ass if i do decide to declare indipendance, Aequor's military is streched thin, al'Calenta is pulling up levies, and I do beleive eosphora is getting help from the imperials, it's what I'd do." She says with a nod. "So, the only problem is the inquisition, which, my military and ships could make short work of, not only that, but a truce with bitralund would allow them to raid north of the mejestic."
"So your plan is simply to let them siege you" Dertan asks "And to hope that you can retain control of your port? Perhaps you do have the naval strength to do that. I can not say for certain. But it sounds like a dangerous tactic. It is almost guaranteed you will lose your hinterlands." He falls quiet for a moment and then says. "And you must remember that trading with an independent city is quite a different proposition to taking on blockades manned by Galenthia's allies. I do not think you could pay me enough to counter that sort of risk." He falls quiet and then adds. "Disarming an entire fleet would be quite a challenge." Another long pause. "Why do you not approach Bitralund directly if you wish for their support?"
Mercy sighs. "Because I don't speak their silly language, That and without a proper neutral diplomat, I don't trust their… 'King' at all." She says as she leans back and lets out a sigh. "They can't siege me when they have no one left to siege, remeber, the two greatest generals in aequor are going to be locked in battle. I pull my forces from the south, and duke al'morena will be hard pressed to keep the bitralunders at bay, and the majestic.. hard to cross it when i demolish the bridges." She says and shakes her head.
"You dont need a great general to establish a siege Mercy." Dertan points out. "Nor even to win it if time is on the besiegers side." Theres another pause whilst he lets his gaze drift onto the hooded form of his peregrine and then he looks back to her. "Are you going to initiate this plan the moment you return to New Kashmir? You take considerable risks discussing it like this. When Aequor hears of it you will be punished."
"Not yet, like I said, I shall see if anything get's better." Mercy says as she looks at Dertan. "And unless you go off and snitch me out… I doubt there will be trouble."
Dertan gives a slight nod. "What are you hoping to see change?"
"If Maris happens to fall ill, his children might be a better fit. I'd like this all to end with little to no bloodshed, but that's a naive dream." Mercy says as she looks at him. "That or if everyone turns from his majesty… might be for the best if I do as well."
"His heir stands solidly by his side doesn't she?" Dertan asks Mercy. "Or is there trouble brewing within the royal household as well?"
Mercy smirks. "Atreis loves the sea, besides, his son Sylvain would make a much better king." She says with a smile.
"It sounds like you wish to put Sylvain on the throne instead of Atreis." Dertan says after a moment. "Why?"
Mercy looks up at Dertan. "Because he is the better choice, because I trust him to act for the good of the people." She says as she looks off to the side. "I mean, short of myself taking the throne, which no one would back because I have no blood tie to it."
Dertan studies her directly for several moments before once again giving one of those slight nods. "It is a difficult situation you find yourself in with a King you do not respect, a crown heir you do not see as being fit to rule, and a Kingdom that is splintering into many fragments. I remember our civil war. It called for the hardest choices. Sometimes a brother was called upon to fight his brother. A tragedy truly." A pause. "I hope that you do not end up in such a trying position yourself. Personally I recommend that you remain loyal to your king. He has given you great respect and power."
Mercy frowns. "And when this loyalty get's me killed? will you avenge me?" She asks, finishing her wine and moving to stand up. "I feel a spell of faintness comming over me. I must head back to d'Juliano manor, should you be about later, perhaps I can show you the menagerie, we keep quite a few exotic birds there." She says, half tempted to just wash her hands of the whole thing and stay in four corners.
"Perhaps I will." Dertan moves to his feet and lifts one corner of his mouth in a smile of sorts. "I do not imagine I will avenge you Mercy but if you ask it of me I will have one of my merchants carry a message to Bitralund."
"Not yet… later, as I said, I have to think and consider… I cannot make any rash choices… I cannnot let my anger hinder my thoughts.. new kashmir falls when my wrath boils over." She says before she simply walks off, she did give a nod of respect, but other than that, the viscountess does need her rest, probably to help sort all the thoughts.