Party

[Learned Hand]

'My friends, if we are to ingratiate ourselves with the rulers of our neighbouring kingdoms perhaps we should invite them to a feast within our city walls? I'm certain that by the time they've spent a few hours in our company they will be more than willing to grant us whatever favours we might ask of them'

[Blackrat]

*Fox sniggers*

'I bet they will That'd be pretty nifty, actually. I'll spend a while talkin' to the servants and stuff too.'

[Learned Hand]

Kairos briefly wonders what favours he could extract from Fox in exchange for creating a fad for bestiality, but quickly dismisses the thought with a shake of his head, and looks towards the others.

[missdixievoom]

'Sounds like the classic 'we get them drunk and then beat them to death' idea. Are you sure that it would be for the eventual good of society? If so, I'm in.'

[Blackrat]

'Yeah, but there's no need to beat them to death. We just point out to them that we are going to be the winning side in this war, and it'll be loads easier for them if they just join us now. Plus if I have a word with 'em about the Golden Lord, they'll probably realise he's the chap they want to worship.

So yes, it's much better for society if they join us. There are fewer deaths, less hassle, and a better world for everyone. Plus there's the great way that then they're, y'know, worshipping the god who's actually Lord of all Creation.'

[Learned Hand]

[Fortunately, Ferric's perception + socialise pool renders him unable to spot Kairos stifling a laugh]

By 'join us' do you mean give us everything they have and swear allegiance to us?

[Blackrat]

"I mean join us. See the good in what we're doin' and support us in doin' it. I don't reckon we'll need everything they have - least not half as much as they will. We can't rule an entire country just a handful of us, so we need to leave 'em able to rule theirselves while we're not around. There ain't no point in rippin' 'em off and bleedin' 'em dry, if that's what you were thinkin'..."

[oneiros]

*Azir looks up from his notebook*

"Friend Fox speaks well. We're definitely going to need stewards for the various districts of this nation we're building. Co-operation is easier if you haven't demanded everything in fealty... if you're good enough, the threat of such should be sufficient.

Demand too much and we risk losing the infrastructure we need."

[Blackrat]

"Erm... Yeah. Those long words."

Fox grins.

[Learned Hand]

'Great. Then perhaps we can get one of the members of the court to organise a trip. They're always around - presumably they serve some function.

Shall we start with the mortals to the south? Thaumaturges are not, the family leaders will be much less able to resist our charms than other exalts. Do you think we could acheive all we wanted in a few days?'

[Blackrat]

"Only one way to find out. I reckon the kingdom to the South is a good place to start - although can't we invite the leaders of all the nearby kingdoms to the same party? Seems to me that'd be better as no-one will get pissy because they weren't first on the list - or weren't on the list at all!"

[bravesirrobin]

[Remember that there are 4 kingdoms in the immediate vicinity of Tredemin, and the conventional thing to do would be to extend an invitation to the ruler (and possibly ruler+entourage) of the kingdom if you wanted to invite someone to a feast. So you'll need to decide the list of invitees if you're going ahead.]

[Blackrat]

"My point exactly," says Fox, apparently to no-one.

[oneiros]

"My only counsel would be that with all four kingdoms present, we risk problems if we are not able to sway all of them to our way of thinking at the same time. Grand gestures are one thing and success will mean our path progresses like wildfire but we run the risk of having too many key parties to keep an eye on and/or them resisting our... charms and then moving against us.

"If we are looking for a speedy consolidation of the area, I would favour a staggered round of parties. Invitations go out simultaneously but we invite each of the four kingdoms on successive weeks. That we can focus on each one, they feel like it's personal diplomacy and we can more carefully control the situation.

"My primary concern though at this stage is do we know if there are any undercover agents at work here in Tredamin? Also, what relations do they have with each other? Can we find this out? - especially if we do decide to go the 'all at once' route, we wouldn't want to offend if there are any simmering enmities."

[Learned Hand]

Even if there were such agents - and Tredemin seems inconsequential enough that you wouldn't bother - we're not doing anything secretive. Festering resentment between the kingdoms could be a problem, though. Presumably somebody in the palace has an idea about the state of play.

It's possible for Fox and myself to persuade the citizens of the kingdom to believe joining us would be a smart idea. I'm uncertain as to whether that's a smart move, though; it might provoke hostility amonst the ruling class?