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Post by Gamemaster on Feb 1, 2007 0:55:45 GMT -5
Haloman says, "Your excellency, we currently pay 126,000 baylo per year for the Imperial garrison troops. If we paid for half as many men, we would save 63,000 baylo. Let us not forget, though, that we have a deficit of 28,500 baylo to deal with. Cutting the garrison budget in half would cause us to have a 34,500 baylo annual surplus."
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Post by Nashlan on Feb 1, 2007 12:13:00 GMT -5
"Thank you Haloman. Send the captain of my guard in when he is ready."
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Post by Gamemaster on Feb 1, 2007 16:24:39 GMT -5
The captain of the guard arrives.
"You summoned me, your excellency?" he says.
(OOC: you do not need to wait for gamemaster intervention to meet with your own subordinates who are located in your palace such as the captain of the guard. Imperial Army officers are a little different since they are not under your direct authority and may also may be out of the capital, but any provincial government official who has not been said to be travelling to some distant place or otherwise indisposed may be assumed to respond promptly to a summons from the Ulor.)
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Post by Nashlan on Feb 1, 2007 16:32:34 GMT -5
"Indeed. I want to congratulate you on the standard of your unit. After I had inspected the kantoro I was fearing for the worst, but your men allayed that."
Ulor Nashlan shuffles uneasily in his chair.
"I also understand that my bodyguard unit is out of Zekran's authority. I'm guessing you have seen the state of the garrison here, and the long story short is that I don't want to pour my money into the drain of the Imperial system. How long would it take to double the size of your unit? How much would it cost?"
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Post by Gamemaster on Feb 3, 2007 1:47:59 GMT -5
The Captain of the Guard replies, "Double my budget and I'll double the number of guards. We currently get 4,200 baylo per year. Make it 8,400 baylo per year and I'll do it. I can have the men pretty fast. Within a month I expect. They'll be new and inexperienced, but in a few months I'll have them looking like soldiers. In a year they'll be as good as the others."
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Post by Nashlan on Feb 3, 2007 9:12:18 GMT -5
"Excellent, do that. I'll see that you get the extra funding. Now, you are a soldier, how much do you know of the Imperial garrison here? How much support is there for there for the Empire and it's Regional Command. What is the ethnicity of the men? Haloman, what do you know of them, what would it take to enact here what seems to have gone on in Helmarie and Aatan?"
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Post by Gamemaster on Feb 5, 2007 9:22:51 GMT -5
Haloman looks stunned, "I'm not sure what you mean Ulor."
The Captain of the Guard glances at Haloman and says, "Your excellency, what's happening there is treason."
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Post by Nashlan on Feb 5, 2007 13:09:37 GMT -5
"That is exactly it! Between pressure from the loyalists in the capital and elsewhere and the insurrections that have sprung up across the land, I want men serving me that I can trust. Clearly you misunderstood me, I meant that I wanted to know more of the garrison because I want to know the best way of maintaining their loyalty to the province and it's people in the times ahead."
"As you well know, civil war is becoming more and more likely with each passing day. I want these troops to be on the streets showing some presence and face. If the Emperor does sadly pass away before his heir is decided then in the civil strife that follows, both factions will be looking to sway provincial kantoro to their cause. If and when such a thing occurs, I want to be able to take control of them with a minimum of fuss, and so I need to secure their loyalty."
"I am not talking of independance or anything silly here, I am simply talking about maintaining the security of this province. Apologies if you misunderstood me."
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Post by Gamemaster on Feb 5, 2007 23:40:05 GMT -5
Haloman says, "Ah. I am greatly reassured. By your leave excellency, I have other matters to attend to."
With a nod from the Ulor, Haloman departs.
After silently watching Haloman depart, the Captain of the Guard starts speaking in Baaniferian instead of Zekresh, "Don't trust Haloman. He's Zekresh and probably a Loyalist."
"You are Baaniferian?" Ulor Nashlan asks in surprise.
"Yep. Same as you. You're not fooling me saying you didn't mean independence. I know that's what you're after and pretty much every Baaniferian wants it, too. You said too much, though. You're not fooling Haloman either. I'll be with you whatever side you take in what's coming."
The Captain of the Guard looked for a reaction from Ulor Nashlan. Nashlan said nothing more as yet.
"My name is Billian, by the way. Now to answer your questions: First, I know quite a bit about the Imperial garrison. They are understrength, undisciplined, poorly equipped and their officers are incompetent. Some of the soldiers take part time work as enforcers for loan sharks here in the city. That's the sort of men they have serving in the Imperial Army here.
As for support for the Empire, there's more than you might expect, but nowhere near a majority. I'd say a quarter of the people or less really support the Empire. As for the regional command, they have virtually no power and nobody cares about what they say or do. You asked about the ethnicity of my men. About half are Baaniferians. About two dozen are Verronese. I got half a dozen or so Foerfens, a dozen Zekresh and Frayeth and the others are odds and ends. A Slythian, a Vipathan, a Ferrillyan, an Otlesk, a Silway Siliken and so on.
Haloman didn't answer your question about what it would take to repeat what's going on in Aatan and Helmarie. I think it's basically impossible here. You see, Aatan is the ancient homeland of the Aats and their Ulor and their garrison commander are Aats. Helmarie is the ancient homeland of the Tronds and the Ulor and the garrison commander are Tronds. It didn't start out that way, but there's been some strange politics going on up there for some time. The problem you've got here is that even though the largest group of people here in Nassavix province are Baaniferians like you and me, we're less than half the population. A lot less. This isn't our ancient homeland, that's Salan Baaniferan in the North. Up in Aatan the Aats aren't just the majority, almost everyone up there is an Aat. Same for Tronds in Helmarie. Nobody is the majority in Nassavix. Not only that, the Aats and the Tronds have only been in the Empire less than fifty years. Some of their chiefs still remember being independent. I've heard that some of the chiefs in the wilder areas still don't acknowledge Imperial authority. We've got nothing like that here. Not in Baaniferan either."
"I see," said Nashlan.
"Tell you what, though, the Ulor in Baaniferan, Ulor Yandimuk, he's a real bastard. He's a Zekresh and a Loyalist and a born tyrant. People are afraid to say anything about him up there because he's ruthless on any hint of disloyalty. We're out of his reach here. That might count for something."
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Post by Nashlan on Feb 6, 2007 10:40:10 GMT -5
Ulor Nashlan is by now getting over the fact that Billian saw through him so easily, although he still looks a little shaken.
"I was aware Haloman was Zekresh, although I thought him more forward thinking than that."
He leans forward to mutter to the captain.
"Could you have one of your men keep an eye on him? Preferably a non-Baaniferian but loyal to us, I'd like to know who he keeps as acquaintances."
Straightening back up in his chair, Ulor Nashlan begins speaking normally again, although his eyes wander toward the door more than once.
"I didn't know of Ulor Yandimuk, but yes, that could be useful to us. Might it be worth getting in touch with the more disgruntled of his subjects? Let us open the border for them to come south, especially the Baaniferians, let them know that the grass is greener on the other side. I'm sure you or some of your men know Salan Baaniferan and it's people, let us appeal to them with a sense of equality. In fact, I have an idea on how to do that, but I'll see to it later."
Ulor Nashlan pauses and thinks for a while.
"Now, I am intrigued about your description of the Imperial garrison. You say that the employ a low standard of men, such men that could, perhaps, be construed as criminals?" Nashlan smiles wickedly before continuing, "I want your men to begin arresting the Zekresh and other loyalist soldiers in the garrison while they are off duty, charge them with causing disorder, petty theft, anything that will give us an excuse to get them out of the garrison. I want their replacements to be Baaniferian, or at least non-Zekresh. I'll find a way to deal with officers later."
"That will be all for now Captain."
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Post by Nashlan on Feb 6, 2007 11:28:58 GMT -5
Acting on what he said earlier to Billian about encouraging immigration from Baaniferan province, Ulor Nashlan begins work on a new decree. This slightly controversial policy would undermine the loyalist Zekresh population and serve to entice new immigrants, especially Baaniferians as they were the closest neighbours, into the province.
By decree of Ulor Nashlan:
Henceforth let it be known that Zekresh (of full or half blooded descent) citizens of Salan Nassavix, being the wealthiest members of society, will be required to pay an extra sixty Doveko in tax. Zekresh in the employ of the provincial government will be required to pay half of this.
Henceforth let it be known that immigrants of non-Zekresh descent will be offered appropriate areas of farmland on credit from the provincial government, to be supplemented by the revenue of the above tax.
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Post by Gamemaster on Feb 10, 2007 6:09:50 GMT -5
Haloman comes to speak with the Ulor, "Your excellency, I must advise against this latest decree. It has been difficult getting Zekresh settlers to come here in the first place. Now many are considering leaving and it will be impossible to attract any more."
"Also, I should mention that there was a fight in town last night in which some soldiers from the local garrison were involved. Four of them were arrested by the Rizado Uloresh for breaching the peace."
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Post by Nashlan on Feb 10, 2007 10:49:51 GMT -5
"Haloman, the latest decree was aimed at attracting settlers to the province, and we need to pay for the incentive somehow. The Zekresh tend to be the wealthy citizens."
"And as for the garrison, I instructed the Rizado Uloresh to keep an eye on their soldiers, the Imperial Army has dragged some of the scum of the earth into this province. We will collect evidence of what went on and then pass it along to the garrison to deal with."
Ulor Nashlan watches Haloman coldly as he leaves.
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Post by Gamemaster on Feb 10, 2007 16:56:01 GMT -5
The next day, Haloman does not show up for work. Ulor Nashlan sends his valet to inquire. The valet reports that Haloman's quarters in the palace have had most of Haloman's belongings removed. He is gone and most of his possessions with him, but no one saw him leave except the guards. They said he left in the middle of the night.
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Post by Nashlan on Feb 10, 2007 18:30:17 GMT -5
Smiling to himself, Ulor Nashlan calls his senior staff together.
"It appears that I am in need of a new advisor. I also wish to appoint an Ulor Ekanor to help run the province. I am not sure if any of you are aware of the current situation in the capital, but I will tell you what I know."
"The Imperial Chancellor has sent me a letter, he says that a coup is underway in the capital and some of the army units there have defected and either captured or killed the Emperor. Rubanya has already declared himself Imperial Regent and dismissed the entire army in Zekran, those who will listen anyway."
"I don't want that disorder spreading here, not one hint of it. I want a decree issued that this province supports Rubanya Cledman's legitimate claim to the Empire. I want the province readied for war, as per his instruction, and I want any would-be traitors and usurpers imprisoned immediately. Now, get to it. Captain Billian, stay a moment..."
Ulor Nashlan waits until the others have left before addressing Billian.
"This letter also commands me to take command of the kantoro stationed here, but I don't know how well they will take my orders. You will take some of your men and head down to the barracks, inform them that they are now under my authority. I want them on the streets, making a show of their presence here, of course, don't put the particularly scruffy ones where the public will see them. I want you, or one of your officers installed in those kantoro and keeping them in shape for me, hopefully they will be awed enough by your men not to question this too much."
Ulor Nashlan smiles, before belting his own sword onto his belt and heading for the door.
"And I am borrowing a few more of your guards, I am going to pay a social call on Ekanor Falan Gervin."
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