Kortelan in Zekran

[Gamemaster]

This is a continuation of the action in the "Verronia" thread in the North Peninsula Region here:

www.naegame.proboards83.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=northpeninsula&thread=1187774695&page=10



City of Zekran
Zekresh Empire

6th day, 2nd month, 41 Cledman VI

Kortelan arrives in Zekran. He has never been to the capital before, so he takes a look around. It is an impressive city with relatively tall buildings, some as much as four stories high. Its defensive wall is in good repair and manned by guards. The port is impressive, but far smaller than the port in Verronia. The marketplace is filled with hundreds of merchants from all over the known world, but it seems to Kortelan that the marketplace in Verronia is larger and more crowded.

Even the Imperial Navy base at Zekran is smaller and has fewer ships than the Imperial Navy base at Verronia.

In general, Kortelan is surprised to see that Zekran is not as large or iimpressive as he had thought it would be. He is more convinced than ever that the Zekresh are not superior to the Verronese in any way and do not deserve to rule the Verronese. It also occurs to him that Verronia would be a better capital for the empire than this town.

Upon inquiry, Kortelan learns that Rubanya is at the Starmet Vyloresh, the Imperial Palace. When Kortelan goes there, he is impressed by the size of the building and the high quality armor that the guards of the fabled "Golden Phalanx" are wearing. Somehow he had the impression that their armor was gold or at least gold colored, but he sees that it is not. It looks like it is made of iron.

Kortelan finds a large amount of activity in the palace with servants, officials and military officers coming and going. Eventually he finds Rubanya and gets an audience with him.

[Rubanya]

"Come in, come in," Rubanya says in Zekresh.

Rubanya sits back in his chair and gestures with a writing quill as he talks, "I've called you here to discuss the situation in your province. Or, rather, in your provinces. I have heard that you've done reasonably well in Kajakan Tros. I also appreciate the help you provided in dealing with that terrible situation at Angenmar Paven. I have received reports that there is some sort of mutiny going on there now and that the old ulor, Tremalkan, may be behind it. I also am aware that you have taken over the government of Kajakan Yost. I have received complaints and accusations of treason against you from Ziyan. Don't worry, I won't take that seriously. Ziyan refused to send troops or even respond to my messages during the crisis. You're right, he needs to go. I've summoned him here as well and I intend to dismiss him. I'm tempted to imprison the rascal, but his actions really aren't quite criminal. You see, he never actually took control of the garrison so it's hard to hold him responsible for not sending troops when they weren't under his command. I suspect he was trying to steer a neutral course and wait to see who would come out on top."

During the conversation a well dressed man comes in and sets a scroll on Rubanya's desk and bows.

"Is that the report from Salan Kast?" Rubanya asks.

"Yes, your highness," the man says.

"Good," Rubanya nods to him and then resumes talking to Kortelan while the man departs, "I'm not entirely pleased with your actions in the crisis. You were too slow obeying some of my orders, especially when it came time to send reinforcements to Yishil. Then again, compared to the treason, indolence and sloth of most of the other Uloro, you shine like a star. As a reward, I am going to allow you to not only stay on as Ulor, I am thinking of letting you move up to a more important province. Kajakan Yost is yours if you want it. If some other province is more to your liking, I would consider appointing you as Ulor just about anywhere in the empire. Of course, you do have to pick only one. This business of running two or three provinces at once was just a necessary expedient during the crisis. You did a decent job of it, too. Speaking of which, whatever province you choose, I'll need you to continue running all three provinces until I can find qualified candidates to appoint. I trust you can get Angenmar Paven under control. I'd hate to send a new man into that mess as it is. Ziyan shouldn't be much trouble for you after I've dismissed him as Ulor. Just to be sure, I'll give you a message with my seal confirming that he is dismissed, that you are Ulor of Kajakan Yost and that any further resistance to your authority is treason. In fact, just to be extra sure, I'll hold him here at Zekran for a few weeks when he arrives so he won't be in your way. So you don't have to give me an answer right away, but in the next few days, pick a province that you want to be Ulor of as you permanent assignment and let me know which it is. You can just send me a note when you've decided. That was the main reason I called you here. Also to hear anything you have to report and to finally meet you. You look much younger than I expected."

[Kortelan]

Kortelan listens to Rubanya the entire time. "Yes," he seems confused as he realizes he is not sure what to call Rubanya for a minute before settling on his title, "Lord Chancellor. I moved at the speed that I could. Ziyan is currently....boarded up. He is in a fortress in the yost part of the Salan or he was about one velasik ago. As for my Salano I will stay with Kajakan Yost, I am just settling in there quite nicely. I will have to move a few things but that is fine. I would suggest that you appoint Galan, the current second in charge of Kajakan Tros as the new Ulor. He has been the adviser since before you appointed me as the Ulor and I trust him to do a good job. There is a new mutiny in Agenmar Pavin and with the troops in Yishil I have offered a small sum to raise a group of peasants to act as temporary soldiers for this one battle. After the small mutiny is over the peasants will be allowed to go back to their old jobs and the Imperial Army will be the only army left. Also can I have access to the docks at the Imperial Navy base in Verronia? I am creating a small fleet to stop smuggling along the Foss Coast of this Peninsula. I would like to dock them at the Imperial Naval base. I would also like to talk to Valast about the ships and possibly show him the completed two. They are built for speed which I figure is the one reason why smugglers are able to get away so easily, their ships are faster.

One of the problems with Uloro joining sides was if they joined then their garrison would be forced to leave and without a garrison you have no real control. Another problem is that while you had the right of inheritance on your side, your niece's son had the Imperial Army on his side so he was viewed as the one in strength. Also an unwillingness to be on the losing side of the battle. Had there been a battle of Yishil the winner would have had almost everyone who had yet to pick flocking to their side. Also I see the possibility of when the Emperor dies that before you get to your throne that weasel will be back at your throat and we will be back in the same spot we were just in. If I were in your spot I would try to dismiss as many Uloro who were not on your side and replace them with more loyal people. I am sure if Krumluk is half the Gurikan Falanorata they say he is, he is doing something similar. If you will, can you please tell His Highness that the letter I sent to him is no longer valid? I wrote him a letter asking what his view on my command of three Salano was. Since that issue is now resolved I no longer have to ask him what his views are.

The Verronese people stand to defend the Empire as they have since after the Bear Wars. As long as I stand as an Ulor of my people's homeland I will make sure they are allowed to be behind you as they wish to be."

[Rubanya]

Partway through Kortelan's comments, Rubanya smiles as if something is funny. It unnerves Kortelan a bit, but he presses on. When he is finished Rubanya says, "You said 'Olalga Foss' ("Foss Coast" or "Hour Coast"), it's 'Olalga Folon' (West Coast), but you speak Zekresh very well for one whose native language is not Zekresh. Yes, you may use the naval base and speak to Valast. As for your letter to the Emperor, don't worry about it. He never reads his correspondence anyway unless someone he can't ignore gets an audience with him and brings it to his attention. If you want to write letters to the Imperial government in Zekran, address them to me, not to him. Even if it's a message for him. If you send it to me first and it's important enough, I'll make sure he hears about it. You said I should replace the Uloro who are not loyal. You have good political sense for one so young. I am already doing that. Of course, it is not easy to find good and reliable men. I'll consider this Galan you speak of.

I have no objection to your peasant army, but it sounds like folly to me. Don't you have a kantora or two still? I got a note from Ziyan saying he had two kantoro with him. They're yours now. I'll send a note directly to their commander putting them at your disposal. Ziyan himself should be on his way here by now so don't expect any more trouble from him."

[Kortelan]

"I am sorry, I knew it was something like that. Thank you for the permission to use the base. Is Valast here? Any ways as to the peasant army, the garrison in Kajakan Yost was placed under the command of An Op to be sent to Yishil. I have no units at my command right now. So I am having the head of my personal guard set up an army of peasants who use the weapons that they are best at. If you don't mind I will take my leave of here and meet with Valast before heading back to be the de facto leader of my Salano."

(OOC: Sorry for the Latin but de facto fit very well right there)

[Gamemaster]

After Rubanya grants Kortelan leave to depart, Kortelan goes to the Imperial Navy Headquarters at Zekran to meet with Gurikan Falanorata (Grand Admiral) Valast.

Kortelan is told that Valast has gone away to sea. No one seems to know when he will return or to what port.

[Kortelan]

"If he comes here before his next stop at Verronia please inform him that Ulor Kortelan is waiting for him in Verronia." With that Kortelan leaves and goes to his escort.

"Come on we are leaving."

[Gamemaster]

City of Yishil
Slythia Province
Zekresh Empire

9th day, 2nd month, 41 Cledman VI

After three days of hard riding, Kortelan and his escorts have left Zekran behind, passed Nass Umrug and all of Frayethay and have arrived in Yishil.

[Kortelan]

"We are back in Yishil. Is there a naval base here large enough for Valast to dock at? If so I want to leave word with them that I want to see him in Verronia, if not lets go back to Verronia."

[Gamemaster]

Yes, there is a naval base at Yishil. Not nearly as large as the ones at Zekran and Verronia, but there is one. It was being used as headquarters of the entire navy during the crisis.

Kortelan leaves a message with the naval officers there. They check to see if Valast is at the base now and he is not.

Kortelan proceeds on towards Verronia. Along the way, he sees thousands of troops on the road ahead marching in the same direction he is riding.

[Kortelan]

He points to one of his escorts. "Find out who these men are, where they are going and what they will be doing there. Also under who's orders are they acting?"

[Gamemaster]

Kortelan's escort asks the troops the questions and is told that the men he is speaking to are from the Imperial Army's 1st Kantora Grogia. They say there are many other units with them and that they are marching to Verronia and from there their orders are to travel by land or by sea to the north to suppress the rebellion there. They say the expedition is under the command of Ekanor Falan Nemt.

[Kortelan]

"Were is this Nemt? Make sure they know that I want to meet with him when they reach Verronia." With that he signals to his escort and starts riding to the city.

[Gamemaster]

Kortelan is informed that the soldiers do not know exactly where Nemt is. He gets the impression Nemt is not with the troops. (Though actually he is.)

Kortelan and his escort ride on. They see that the column of marching soldiers is even larger than they thought. The force seems at least as large as all the troops that fought at Angenmar Paven on Rubanya's side, probably larger.

Kortelan and his escorts ride on for four more days before reaching Verronia.

(OOC: The action on this thread continues in the Verronia thread here:)
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