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Post by Gamemaster on Jan 25, 2007 18:31:40 GMT -5
Haloman says, "You are wise to take immediate action. Answers from Zekran are never swift in coming. The journey there and back is long and those sending the replies are rarely swift in writing, either."
One of the guards outside the door laughs. Possibly at Haloman's comment, or perhaps at something unrelated.
Haloman continues, "I will estimate the amount of taxes necessary to eliminate the deficit and implement your plan at once. Or shall we try for a surplus? I will notify the garrison at once that you will be coming for an inspection."
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Post by Nashlan on Jan 25, 2007 19:01:45 GMT -5
Ulor Nashlan smiles broadly, glad that he appears to have been taken seriously.
"I want to make as large a surplus as possible to try and start paying off this Province's debts, of course we don't want to tax people into the ground. You know the Province better than I, and you know the Treasury officials, between us we can turn Nassavix around. Make sure you check any new taxes with me before you implement them."
Nashlan is silent for a moment, considering. Finally, with a wink he adds:
"And keep a record of it, but keep it between yourself and the Treasury, we'll get more sympathy from Zekran if people still believe we are a bunch of beggars!"
"I will inspect the garrison in a while, make sure the commander knows that I want to see what I'm paying so much money for here!"
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Post by Gamemaster on Jan 26, 2007 21:45:08 GMT -5
All the soldiers of the provincial garrison are assembled on the parade ground near the main barracks in the capital, when Ulor Nashlan and his entourage arrive.
The assembled troops are very impressive. There are well over a thousand of them, organized into three Kantoro.
The leading officers greet the Ulor and introduce themselves.
"I am Ekanor Falan (Lieutenant General ) Gervin," said their leader to the Ulor, bowing a slight courteous bow. "I'm the commander of the Imperial troops garrisoned in the province."
The Ulor smiles and bows in return as protocol demands. He notices that Gervin sounds like an Ilanian name, but he's not sure.
Ekanor Falan Gervin says in Zekresh, "Allow me to introduce my kantoro commanders. Commanding the 1st Kantora Nassavix is Gurikan Balimuk. Commanding the 2nd Kantora Nassavix is Gurikan Ferion. Commanding the 3rd Kantora Nassavix is Gurikan Talan."
The Ulor and the officers exchange bows. Ulor Nashlan notices that their names are each from a different nationality. Balimuk is a name that is used by both Zekresh and also Frayeth people, Talan is Verronese, and Ferion is something else, but definitely not Zekresh/Frayeth or Verronese. It's not Baaniferian either.
The Ulor turns to Haloman, his advisor, and the other assistants and servants he brought from the palace. "Divide into three groups, one for each kantora. Each of you take a section of the line of troops and count it. We'll total up the results."
Ulor Nashlan and the officers walks along the three lines of soldiers on the parade ground. Most of them are armed with spears and shields. Some have swords, but by no means all. Most have helmets and tunics of ring mail armour, but not all. Some of the weapons and armour are rusty. Many of the troops seem to be in poor physical shape.
As if that's not enough, when Haloman totals up the counts of the troops, he says, there are only 1,500 men here, including the officers. Full strength of a kantora is 1,000 men and there are three kantoro here.
"We're at half strength here," Ekanor Falan Gervin says, "The regional headquarters at Trayavix is aware of it."
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Post by Nashlan on Jan 26, 2007 21:50:26 GMT -5
"I see, why haven't the soldiers been properly equipped? I pay more than enough upkeep for them."
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Post by Gamemaster on Jan 26, 2007 23:36:29 GMT -5
"I'll get that corrected immediately," Ekanor Falan Gervin says.
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Post by Gamemaster on Jan 27, 2007 0:10:00 GMT -5
Haloman says, "The provincial budget includes money to pay for lodgings, food, equipment and pay for a garrison of 3,000 soldiers."
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Post by Nashlan on Jan 27, 2007 10:24:13 GMT -5
Nashlan scowls at Ekanor Falan Gervin when he hears this.
"Well then, we shall correct that immediately. The money is sent to the Regional Headquarters is it not? Have the next payment to them halved and attach a note saying that we are understrength by that amount. I'm not going to cause as much of a stir as those Ulor that start firing Provincial officers, but I'm not going to let this slide either."
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Post by Nashlan on Jan 27, 2007 15:46:46 GMT -5
Turning to Haloman, Ulor Nashlan remarks, "This might not be the wisest course of action, but I'm already sick of paying things to the Empire. How do you think they will react?"
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Post by Gamemaster on Jan 28, 2007 4:49:11 GMT -5
Haloman smiles and says, "It's not paid to the Regional Headquarters. We pay the military money directly to Ekanor Falan Gervin, the provincial garrison commander. I think I can predict what the reaction will be. Gurikan Falan Trenyva at Trayavix may complain, but will probably take no action. There's nothing he can do to you anyway. Gurikan Falanorata Krulmuk in Zekran may call for your removal, but the Lord Chancellor will probably approve of your action and prevent any reprisal against you if you denounce the situation here as another example of "ghost soldiers" and senior military officers skimming money from the budget. And make no mistake sir, Gervin was pocketing most of that extra money. It's standard procedure for Army officers. Here's another thing, if you write to Gurikan Falan Trenyva accusing Gervin of corruptly taking salaries for "ghost soldiers" who don't exist, it may interfere with his chances for promotion. He might even be removed, especially if the Lord Chancellor has anything to say about it."
Haloman continues, "The Regional Headquarters doesn't really know what's going on out in the provinces. An Ulor can send reports praising or criticizing specific officers and affect who gets promoted even though the Ulor himself may not have the authority to control this. An Ulor can also affect the performance of military officers by giving them extra funds or by delaying or withholding their budget. If the officers know this, they will be motivated to do as the Ulor says even though he may not have command authority. Your predecessor did all this to bend Gervin to his will. I saw it."
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Post by Nashlan on Jan 28, 2007 6:14:26 GMT -5
Ulor Nashlan smiles widely at Haloman's explanation, "This is excellent news then! I did not realize I had that much control over the garrison here. This will solve our budget problem with ease!"
Seeing the confused look on his advisor's face, Nashlan explains, "We can simply not pay for the Kantoro to be brought up to strength. The amount of upkeep we pay will be significantly reduced and Ekanor Falan Gervin will not be able to protest to his superiors for fear that we will bring the matter of the ghost soldiers to their attention."
"And now I wish to see my own bodyguards, I hope they make a better sight than this sorry lot."
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Post by Gamemaster on Jan 28, 2007 21:34:42 GMT -5
The Rizado Uloresh (Gubernatorial Guards) line up for inspection. There are exactly one hundred of them. They are all equipped with swords, shields, spears, helmets and chainmail armor. They seem to all be in good shape and well disciplined. Their leader, whose title is "Gurikan ya Rizado" (Captain of the Guards), seems to know what he is doing and take pride in his work.
He is assisted by four Ekanoro (Lieutenants).
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Post by Nashlan on Jan 29, 2007 12:40:42 GMT -5
Ulor Nashlan nods contentedly.
"These make a finer sight! Captain, your men may stand down now, they make a better show than the Imperial Kantoro, despite their small numbers. You put them to shame in fact!"
Once a private moment is available, Nashlan inquires to Haloman, "Is there a limit on the number of governer's guards allowed? It seems to be an obvious flaw in the system otherwise, an Ulor could recruit his own private army!"
Smiling at the thought, he continued, "As it is, I would like to divert some of the funding which was mistakenly going to be paid to the Kantoro to these men instead, give them all a small gift from their Ulor and have the Gurikan ya Rizado pay me a visit as soon as possible, I wish to speak with him."
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Post by Nashlan on Jan 29, 2007 17:23:41 GMT -5
"Oh and Haloman, when you get a moment, I'd like to take a look at a revised budget without the excessive payment to the garrison on it. It isn't pressing, but we may as well find a use for whatever is left over."
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Post by Gamemaster on Jan 29, 2007 20:33:01 GMT -5
Haloman says, "Yes, your excellency. I'll get you a revised budget and a meeting with the Captain of the Guard. As for limits on the guards, I don't know of any. At some point, if you really built a substantial army of them and it became known in Zekran, they might object unless you had a very good reason for it. But you certainly could expand their numbers. Some provinces have at least twice as many such guards as we have here."
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Post by Nashlan on Jan 31, 2007 14:15:03 GMT -5
Nashlan sits in his office, a copy of the old budget before him on his desk.
"I am ready to see the Captain of the Guard now Haloman, I know you won't have had time to see to a new budget, but could you give me an estimate of how much we will save in not paying for those 1,500 troops? I'd like to have that number available when I speak with the Captain."
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