Party

[Blackrat]

"You can only rule well if the people are behind you. Once we convert the hoi polloi, like, the rulers pretty much have to follow. (Bit different in the Realm, I guess, 'coz their whole ruling class is Blooded, but out here it's pretty much true.) S'why I'm workin' on the people in Tredemin - we don't want to be trying to rule over a country that doesn't support what we stand for.

"And yeah, there must be some diplomat or what-not in the palace that can advise us on the goings-on between the states next door. I mean, if we're settin' ourselves up as rulers / advisors, we need to know that anyway."

[oneiros]

"True - but we're not trying to start a rebellion." Azir pauses to consider. "Not yet at any rate. Fomenting restlessness amongst the populace I would have thought is our plan of last resort. My feeling is that the people are less concerned about political concerns at present than simply trying to go about their lives. The Immaculate heresies are just paid lip service around here to my mind - aside from Karondhir (sp?) but even there I doubt loyalty runs to any great depth.

I agree when we make our major push we will need to have the common folk on our side, but for now my feeling is the leaders are the one who can help make our case better. After all if their 'respected leader' is shown to agree, then it must be a good idea. Once the top of the mountain has been conquered, it may only need a small tremor to generate the avalanche."

[Blackrat]

"That's probably fair - at least in places where the ruler is respected. But I'm not suggestin' we start a rebellion. What I'm sayin' is, we start the Faith spreading amongst the people, and then point that out to the leaders, who will then have to follow. There won't be any unrest, because the leaders will show sense and convert. There won't be a rebellion because there ain't any unrest. That's what I mean - I'm not trying to cause a civil war or nothin'. I'm just pointin' out that approaching the people on the street ain't gonna do us any harm when it comes to convertin' the high-and-mighty too.

"Plus also, there's sod all I can do with a ruler, 'coz they ain't in general keen on the beastman look. The scum, though, I can relate to." He grins his trademark fanged grin.

"You're dead right about no-one caring for the Immaculates, too. Even in Karadhron, I reckon - he's an Outcaste, isn't he? They don't have much love for the Realm, in my experience."

[oneiros]

Azir smiles and nods. "You're right - a groundswell of support should not be any harm. Your faith in leaders showing sense if faced with what could be seen as dissent, though, would appear to be greater than mine. I worry that if faced with any problems, some leaders might choose to act irrationally and look to crush or stem the effect quickly. Though this might leave an opportunity for Dalf to seize upon, I'd rather try and keep populus numbers up."

A thought strikes and he turns back to pick up his notebook flipping through the pages to the samples he collected from the wood manse to the south. "As an aside I might be able to do something to help you. If I recall correctly, there are certain plants that can induce a euphoria akin to a religious experious, making people more... responsive to an... elightening message. I would need time to concoct anything in quantity though. Assuming I can find what we need."

[Blackrat]

"There's plenty of stuff floating round Nexus that'll give you a 'religious' experience I'll see if I can get hold of any of that.

"Also yeah, some rulers might not do the clever thing and go along with their people, but that just makes it easier for us to depose them. Plus once one or two have gone down that way, the others'll be less likely to be so stupid.

"Essentially, I reckon we'll have an easier time controlling a few specific high-ups who oppose us than we will the common folk if they do - so I think we'd be well placed to sow the seeds of control there too."

[missdixievoom]

'Great. so we're having a party. Cool. let me know if there's anything needs making. All this discussion is a bit over my head, so I'll be in the forge if you want me.'

[Learned Hand]

So... are we just going to invite everyone?

[oneiros]

"My counsel would be for a series of kingdom-to-kingdom interactions - that way we can guage how successfully one has gone and make any refinements to our plans before continuing." Azir pauses to ponder another sudden thought.

"However, there is possibly a way we could marry the two proposals. Have a grand affair, a 'meet your neighbours' sort of thing - assuming inter-kingdom diplomatic relations permit it - and spy out the lie of the land. See how the groups interact and make necessaary overtures. This should enable us to find out some of their aspirations and motives to make subsequent control attempts somewhat easier - better if we can appeal to their sensibilities I would think.

"Then, if all goes well, we can have one-on-one 'trade meetings' or some other diplomatic pretext whereupon we can concentrate our persuasive efforts rather than being potentially divided."

Azir looks at those assembled before calmly resuming his seat and picking up his notes again.

[Blackrat]

"Yeah, I like that plan. It would actually be pretty interestin' to see 'em all in a room together. I reckon we could get a lot of info out of that that our courtier types might not have picked up."

[Learned Hand]

'It's settled then. With your blessings I shall speak to what passes for a foreign office regarding the invitations'

[bravesirrobin]

It will indeed.

Over the next two weeks repsonses roll in. All four nations accept your invitation in a variety of diplomatically worded ways.

We'll have some time to sort out other stuff, and then have the party.

[oneiros]

[During this time can we also review what diplomatic intelligence we have at our disposal please. Do we know if any of these nations have any (covert or overt) intelligence-gathering agencies?

We may also want Fox to check what passes for the underground to see if there are any spies in Tredamin at the moment or recently]

[bravesirrobin]

There is basically no intelligence service in Tredemin - though you can get a briefing on the current state of affairs.

There is an even worse counter-intelligence service. The queen's envoy is kinda surpirsed when you even suggest the possibilty.

[Blackrat]

bravesirrobin said:

you can get a briefing on the current state of affairs.

Yes please. Surely this is diplomatic intelligence? Just 'coz it wasn't gathered by spies doesn't mean it isn't

[bravesirrobin]

You're correct. I should have said no covert intelligence.

Will post this when I have time to write it - likely tomorrow evening.