Tableface
Member
Anoké Jandro
"Ambassador Jillias," Anoké says as he stands, "if the Realm is capable of coming in and toppling us, the Bull, and the Harbinger, I don't think you need to worry about what your relationship is with it. It would hardly make a difference." Anoké moves to the edge of the room, standing before the window. He folds his arms behind his back, and looks out past its walls, beyond the towns and crops. "But if they're worried about what this means for you culturally... their fears are well-founded.
"Diamond Refuge will not be the given the option to continue as it has, as an isolated holding acting as major power in their own Confederacy. I don't mean this as a threat, I mean that all of these forces and powers are not going to leave you alone for it. You will either be destroyed or assimilated. In our case, we don't wish to conquer or direct your city. But even so, in time you will come to do what we say. Not because we force you, but because you'll have more to lose by ignoring us.
"Consider what we've done to Icehold. Our manses are capable of producing more than just weapons, they can make whatever we set them to. A single one changes the way a city, even a nation operates. We could build you dozens, provided the demesnes existed. Or our training methods. In two months we could turn your entire military into a force which could crush the legions of the Realm, just as the Bull did. Provided they are willing, I can invest certain government figures with my own talent, giving them the power to organize projects of astounding scale in days. Roads built in weeks instead of years, all debts paid, all budgets balanced. We could--and would--train your artificers, allow them to use our own facilities here to build and repair in record time. Our own surplus in all these things alone would end up tying you inexorably to us through trade. And if you stuck a knife in our backs, or told us to pack up and go, it would all leave or fade away."
Anoké pauses to glance over his shoulder at Qietias. He hadn't intended to be so blunt, and realizes that doing so might sour the impression.
"All of this isn't an intended effect. But it is unavoidable should you deal with us, much like how teaching a group of Icewalkers basic medicine would change their cultural paradigm. In ten years time, this Direction will be changed, regardless of what the Refuge does, even regardless of what Icehold does. With us, in fifty years the Refuge will probably be directing the entire region and the reclaimed Rajtul Isle--which, yes, is currently an issue we intend to deal with once and for all once we've handled the Harbinger."
Anoké breaks from the window and approaches the sitting ambassador. "Qietias," he says, "however you choose to frame this when you report to your superiors, remember this: others will come to you, and their fists will be closed and their swords will be shaking and they will say 'do as we demand, or we will destroy you.'" He offers her his hand, open-palmed and far softer than his strength should allow. "Do as we request, and we will do whatever we can for you. We don't want to rule you, or dictate how your territory runs. We just want your support, and in return we will give you ours."
"Ambassador Jillias," Anoké says as he stands, "if the Realm is capable of coming in and toppling us, the Bull, and the Harbinger, I don't think you need to worry about what your relationship is with it. It would hardly make a difference." Anoké moves to the edge of the room, standing before the window. He folds his arms behind his back, and looks out past its walls, beyond the towns and crops. "But if they're worried about what this means for you culturally... their fears are well-founded.
"Diamond Refuge will not be the given the option to continue as it has, as an isolated holding acting as major power in their own Confederacy. I don't mean this as a threat, I mean that all of these forces and powers are not going to leave you alone for it. You will either be destroyed or assimilated. In our case, we don't wish to conquer or direct your city. But even so, in time you will come to do what we say. Not because we force you, but because you'll have more to lose by ignoring us.
"Consider what we've done to Icehold. Our manses are capable of producing more than just weapons, they can make whatever we set them to. A single one changes the way a city, even a nation operates. We could build you dozens, provided the demesnes existed. Or our training methods. In two months we could turn your entire military into a force which could crush the legions of the Realm, just as the Bull did. Provided they are willing, I can invest certain government figures with my own talent, giving them the power to organize projects of astounding scale in days. Roads built in weeks instead of years, all debts paid, all budgets balanced. We could--and would--train your artificers, allow them to use our own facilities here to build and repair in record time. Our own surplus in all these things alone would end up tying you inexorably to us through trade. And if you stuck a knife in our backs, or told us to pack up and go, it would all leave or fade away."
Anoké pauses to glance over his shoulder at Qietias. He hadn't intended to be so blunt, and realizes that doing so might sour the impression.
"All of this isn't an intended effect. But it is unavoidable should you deal with us, much like how teaching a group of Icewalkers basic medicine would change their cultural paradigm. In ten years time, this Direction will be changed, regardless of what the Refuge does, even regardless of what Icehold does. With us, in fifty years the Refuge will probably be directing the entire region and the reclaimed Rajtul Isle--which, yes, is currently an issue we intend to deal with once and for all once we've handled the Harbinger."
Anoké breaks from the window and approaches the sitting ambassador. "Qietias," he says, "however you choose to frame this when you report to your superiors, remember this: others will come to you, and their fists will be closed and their swords will be shaking and they will say 'do as we demand, or we will destroy you.'" He offers her his hand, open-palmed and far softer than his strength should allow. "Do as we request, and we will do whatever we can for you. We don't want to rule you, or dictate how your territory runs. We just want your support, and in return we will give you ours."
