Elemental

Johnathon waits patiently, keeping himself out of Hanyeo and Tiyansi's moment. It wasn't his place to intrude, but he did feel a warm sense of nostalgia as he remembered back to when his own children were of comparable age. Once the moment had passed he turned his attention back to the arena, his eyes scanning the field of play. "Before we ruin things by talking of affairs of state, I propose a friendly wager. If Princess Tiyansi scores the first point I will give you a bottle of aged goldenberry brandy and if she does not then you will owe me some of that Petrol Barrel Moonshine, I've been eager to try it and it's impossible to get," he says before letting out a soft sigh, "But yes, I have come a long way and not solely out of a desire to at last see the sights of Tekhum. As you are no doubt aware the Ministry of Trade has failed miserably for over a decade to secure much desired imports of spices and frankly it's a huge embarrassment. Our negotiators just don't seem to gel with the spicers of Mekhala and we can't figure it out and so we look further afield in the hopes that Wakinyan might provide. "It is my understanding that the Llort Society has its eyes firmly set on the exploration of Wakinyan?" The Ishtahn First Minister bows respectfully to the Imperial High Lord, it would be rude to greet His Grace, The Emperor's representative any other way. "Your Excellency, it is a rare pleasure to have you here with us. I am not familiar with everyone else's bets, but the Consul and I were considering a friendly wager between us. Nothing dramatic or exciting of course, after all, could you imagine the scandal if I lost my shirt to Hanyeo? The newspapers would have a field day."

"The Kingdom as always prospers in the Light of the Benevolent Sun, I hope the same can be said of you," Minister Huddleston says with a slight bow, "And of course, the Ministries always have time for the WTU." She follows the Union representative to the nearby alcove, speaking again once they are away from would be eavesdroppers, "Now what does the Union need from the Kingdom that needs to be broached during a chance encounter on Sansar? If it's about our recent declaration, yes we should have asked but we wanted to chill any thoughts of arson among the Arvaxine.""

The Hexenniel Sarah Huddleston Shadowclaw had been to the Arkhive. Once. Twenty years ago. It was perhaps the worst day of her career, even compared to the decade long spice debacle. It's funny how a near death experience causes things to stick in the mind. Unfortunately, she'd been sent back, an unexpected 'perk' of her rising to the position of Minister of Agriculture and being the highest ranking government official who had actually 'met' Constance. A meeting she doesn't recall being exactly graceful on her end. Still, twenty years, no doubt Constance will have forgotten, she was a nobody back then and she looks older and more refined and dignified. That is to say she's wearing a bright green dress with a blue and gold neckerchief that clashes horribly, especially combined with her elegant red and purple silk shawl. But she has pulled her grey-streak golden hair back in a messy bun and wears glasses now. Very refined. Again she carries a briefcase marked "botanical samples" in Low Imperial and approaches Queen Constance once an opening has made itself available. "Your Arkhival Majesty, on behalf of the people of the Kingdom of High Ishtahnos I would like to bestow upon the Arkhive Eternal this gift in the hopes that it shall be kept safe for centuries to come," she bows politely and opens the heavy metal case to reveal its contents. One hundred and twenty neatly labelled glass vials of tiny seeds. On the vials are the names of the plants in four languages and a small colour picture of an orchid flower. "These seeds are of the rarest orchids of the Highlands of Ishtahnos, some of which have only recently been successfully reintroduced into the wilderness once more. Should our efforts fail and our botanical gardens be lost it will be a great comfort to know that these wonders shall remain in Tekhum."

Inter-Orbital Diplomatic Delegation VIP Box #X Johnathon Royston Rageclaw, First Minister of Ishtahnos, stands at Hanyeo's side, but far enough away to avoid any enthusiastic gestures. Compared to the Llort Consul, he appears almost shockingly mundane, an older gentleman with hair turned almost entirely silver-grey by time, one eye beginning to cloud from the early stages of a cataract. He stands just shy of seven feet, his back slightly bent by the burdens of age and office and so he is forced to look up at Hanyeo, a strange experience for an Ishtahn. He has on a black suit with a blood red neckerchief and matching scarf under a heavy coat of black aurochs leather which has been studded with tiny pieces of black glass to make it glitter slightly in the light. It seemed appropriate given he's with the Llort right now, though given Hanyeo's grey robe he's unsure. "As am I Consul. It's a shame we were unable to field competitors, but that just means I'll be excited whoever wins," he says politely.

The Kingdom of High Ishtahnos By the Light of the Sun, His Royal Highness, John IV, High King of Ishtahnos First Minister Johnathon Royston Rageclaw 2019-2021 IR, 2052-2054 IC Actions: 1: [Diplomacy] Press Claim on Region 68, Nadiratna. Roll? Flavour. Mmm... Flavour 2: [Diplomacy] Attend the Fourth Hexenniel Conference. More flavour? This one's honey flavoured. Mmm... 3: [Military 10] Research Military Technology: Shield Generators Even more flavour. Don't lick this one though, your tongue'll get zapped. 4: [Economy] Trains. So much flavour... Tastes of freedom and industry. 5: [Economy] Attempt to buyout TP? in Region 78 for Void Spice. Roll? Spicy flavour. Nonactions: Resist all unauthorised conversions, buyouts, etc. etc. News and Rumours Stuff. Duelling school? New porcelain factory in Vesper? Note: Do the Status and Extravagance and Coronal Catalogues. The Ishtahn government issues the following declaration. While mostly intended for fellow Veehran Elect it is broadcast to the other orbits so they may be aware if they try anything untoward on Veehra: The Kingdom of High Ishtahnos does hereby declare themselves the Defender of the Small across All Veehra. As the power of the Elect grows they have noticed a disturbing trend wherein the rich tapestry of cultures and traditions that has long been part of Veehra's strength has come under threat by expansionist forces. Though the Kingdom of High Ishtahnos trusts that their fellow Elect would not do such a thing solely out of malice, they nevertheless fell it essential to make it known that from hereon the following traditions native to Veehra are viewed as being under threat and thus under their military protection: Dustbound Chivalry, Precomputed Traditions, Anticlericalism, Spiritual Communalism, Radiant Dreams, Eternal Recurrence, the Cycle Breakers, Felinism, the Wolf Heart, the Divine Right of Wizards, Chorbism, the Soulbound Neo Modern Break Dance, the Demigod-Kings, the Deathspeakers, Quantum Predestination, Nominative Determinism, The Long Dark, The Following Dark, The Waiting Dark, the Requiem for the Loop. In addition, the following traditions that as of now have Elect backing may lose it at some point and are thus considered as potentially being in need of protection in the future: The Cult of Avva, the Way of Returning, Death's Wheel, the Cult of the Mother Serpent, Saviour's Promise, the Cult of the Mind, the Church of the Benevolent Sun. This protection shall be considered invoked should the listed traditions be at risk of dying out due to the actions of an Elect, whether of Veehra or elsewhere. In addition any purges, pogroms, inquisitions, forced detainments on the basis of culture, religion or ethnicity, unwarranted destruction or looting of cultural sites, gravesites and temples belonging to minority groups, forced expulsions or the like shall be considered sufficient cause to invoke this protection. As the Irisite Archipelago is a holy land gifted from the divine to the Avvan faith it is considered an exemption to the clause regarding inquisitions as the Cult of Avva may be considered as having first and sole rights to the land and may keep it pure and non-violently expel those who do not share their reverence. In an additional capacity of their role as Defender of the Small across All Veehra, the Kingdom of High Ishtahnos does hereby demand the cession of slavery on Holy Veehra, its moons and its satellites. Subjecting sapient beings to the practices of serfdom, chattel slavery, corvee labour, thralldom, military conscription during times of de facto peace, penal labour, statute labour or the like shall invite military retribution from the Kingdom of High Ishtahnos. Our fellow Elect are given no more than ten years to begin dismantling any such institutions or face said retribution. The Pan-Tekhum Workers' and Traders' Union shall likewise be considered under the protection of the Kingdom of High Ishtahnos and any who attempt to attack their headquarters and union halls shall meet with military retribution. Though it is expected that this declaration will be viewed as an overreach, it is thought that a threat of force will curb the baser tendencies of their fellow Elect. No specific polity is named, but it is not hard to determine which parts of Veehra are watched most closed by the Ishtahn. With the Helios Hospice refusing to fully stand down and continuing their illegal activities the government of Ishtahnos has no choice but to protest this outrage and the following open letter is sent to the Titania of the Glorious Purifiers by courier even as it is simultaneously broadcast across Tekhum: To Talandaresque Titania of the Glorious Purifiers, As the Helios Hospice has violated the laws of the Kingdom of High Ishtahnos and violated a military cordon of the Royal Navy of Ishtahnos, we demand that all those responsible for these actions be extradited to Ishtahnos within six months. We further demand all Veehran born peoples taken away by the Helios Hospice be returned and that all remains be repatriated immediately. Any delay will be viewed very unfavourably and as complicity by your government in these actions. Failure to comply will result in swift retribution from the Kingdom of High Ishtahnos until these demands are met. Johnathon Royston Rageclaw, First Minister of Ishtahnos. Upon receiving a conciliatory reply, the First Minister quickly drafts a response and dispatches officials to the Moonsoul Mountains to oversee full compliance. In addition requests are made of the Llort Society Protectorate and the Castaways of the Loop to serve as impartial observers to provide unbiased oversight of the process. A separate request is made of the Bafatis Dynasty and the Cloudburst Confederacy to take in those refugees unwilling to be settled in the Kingdom of High Ishtahnos. To Talandaresque Titania of the Glorious Purifiers, Your swift compliance with our request has not gone unnoticed and in the spirit of cooperation we are sending our own officials to help oversee the repatriation of the Veehrans who wish to return and the remains of those who died under the care of Helios Hospice. Please forgive our unwillingness to take the information provided thus far as the truth given Helios Hospice is a known criminal organisation. We wish to ensure that every refugee has been granted the opportunity to make an informed decision. To assuage your concerns about our lack of impartiality we have requested that the Group of Seventeen and the Llort Society Protectorate also provide oversight of this operation as they are neutral in this matter and their reputation is beyond reproach. In addition we are attempting to make preparations for those refugees unwilling to be settled in the Highlands of Ishtahnos. It is our hope that the Bafatis Dynasty or the God King of Agbada will be willing to open their lands and their hearts in this time of need. Finally we must insist on the extradition of those in charge at Helios Hospice who ordered the military cordon violated. Failure to comply with this simple request will result in trial in absentia. If it is your concern that those involved will be sentenced to death then I assure that practice has been forbidden within Ishtahnos for many generations. We will also ensure them full access to legal counsel of their choosing. Our recommendation for independent counsel is to consult the Litigator Clans of Zimbir. Several of their more adventurous scions have become versed in Ishtahn law and can fulfil this role admirably. Johnathon Royston Rageclaw, First Minister of Ishtahnos. Ruler Information First Minister Johnathon Royston Rageclaw Diplomacy: 9 Military: 10 Economy: 4 Faith: 3 Intrigue: 2 Age: 72 Expected stat increases: +1 Diplomacy, +1 Economy Trade Details and Technologies The Highlands of Ishtahnos, Region 65, TP1: Veehran Aurochs Treasure: 1 Dust Hardening Nuclear Fusion Xenolinguistic Cataloguing Arcane Amplification Algorithmic Imagination In Vivo Modification Aclaustrophobic Psychology Other Bookkeeping Grounds units: 5 Space units: 3 Max units: 9 On hold projects: Military Shipyards [2/5]

"Well it's nice to meet you Guyineber, this is Elias Rutherford High Mountain of Ishtahnos," he says politely before having some of his cinnamon enhanced tea. It tastes good despite the gravity-free preparation method. He sees on his display how quickly the Archmage Zabir is outstripping them so far, "Looks like we're being left in the dust. That's honestly a relief, means I don't have to stress for the next few weeks about my lead." And true to that Elias spent the next few weeks not stressing, chatting with the other contestants near to the back of the pack in between very slowly making his way through audiobooks of the 'classics' of Ishtahn literature, many of which were objectively too longwinded, especially 'The Prince of the Bangle'. He answers all of Charyti's questions, enjoying the chance to ramble about his childhood growing up in the desert and how he'd started his racing career at twelve on nightmares before eventually becoming a stunt pilot at eighteen. At the topic of winnings he can only laugh, he gave up on those when he saw how fast the Archmage zoomed ahead. He too shares music, singing Ishtahn classics over the radio in a deep baritone, even once or twice harmonising along with Charyti if she doesn't mind. The Pick Up The relaxation wasn't to last though, eventually the red dot that was Veehra started to grow brighter and brighter as the days ticked down. On the final day of the trip Elias was all business, he wasn't the last there, but that was no reason to rest on his laurels, he was only a few hours behind Charyti after all and he knew the local terrain and conditions. A few carefully programmed final adjustments to his course before he flipped the entire ship around to reverse. He could see the Crepuscular Cliffside in the distance shining like a star. This was the moment of truth, he had to trust the calculations and as soon as the timer reached zero he pushes the throttle to full for a timed deceleration burn. He was nearly thrown forward against the console if not for the harness holding him in his seat. Blinding white fire shot forth from the engines, indicators lit up green and gold all across the console, occasionally flickering red as the fuel tank got lower and lower and eventually everything shut off. Elias sat in the dark for a few moments before the battery backup came online and the whole system rebooted. A reactor fuel warning started to slowly beep before he slapped the disable alarm button to shut it up. Of course the reactor was out of fuel, he'd used it all up to not crash right the Mons Khassia. He flips a few switches as the Eclipsing Eagle returns to facing in the right direction, Veehra now right ahead. He was coming in fast, but he'd accounted for that. He switches to manual controls and levels out, slamming right into the sky above Alaari. Heat warnings immediately started alarming all over the place as the heat shield was put through its paces, but slowly he reached subsonic speeds and it only took two whole flights around the planet. Less than thirty minutes later he was landing by an old hangar at Dantenon for resupply and refuel. He got out of the cockpit, glad of a chance to stretch and really move. As the Sun fell on him he felt revitalised and he felt like wolfing out and going for a run, but he still had stuff to do. His parents were there waiting for him and he gave them a hug, posed with his shovel for the papers as he filled a canister with sand. There was just time for a proper sit down meal of his mum's Aurochs and mushroom stew while the fueltanks were filled. It would be nice to just throw the race now and stay on the ground for longer, but he had a schedule and Minister Cade's assistant minister was there being all dramatic about his watch so once the tanks were filled he gave his parents another hug and took off. The return trip was much the same, once Elias was in orbit he repeated the same process, but once he was clear of any satellites around Veehra he unfurled the solar sail for the additional boost, the gleaming material looking nearly like a miniature sun when viewed from the right angle. It was then that he noticed a slight deficiency in the fuel rate, but he'd started the burn and couldn't turn back now. The strain of atmospheric flight had probably damaged one of the fuel lines and hindered its flow. He'd just have to hope the time he gained on the surface would be enough to keep him from dead last. He turned on the rest of 'The Prince of the Bangle' to listen to while he waited for his unofficial race buddies.

Llewellyn catches sight of the kiss and he feels his heart rate rise in panic, especially when Elias gives Charyti a wink in return. But he can't be helped now, he just had to hope they'd both be too distracted by the race. The race with several weeks of flying on a more or less straight line with nothing to do but talk to people on the comms... Relieved that it wasn't some emergency Elias goes back to mixing cinnamon into his tea, stirring it with a fancy spoon he'd borrowed from Llewellyn's office. He briefly checks the race manifest to make sure he heard the name correctly, which he didn't and he can't find anything close. Honestly it's not easy at all to decipher the Llort accent, but he figures his own must be equally incomprehensible to them so he just tries his best. "You're not disturbing me at all, just making a cup of tea before settling in for the long stretch," he says, the sound of a spoon softly tinkling against the edge of his cup can be heard over the transmission, "How's everything going on your end?" OOC notes I can do this too, fear me I also don't write accents out, mostly because I'm bad at it. For the Ishtahn just imagine they're talking like old timey cowboys.

Elias was getting comfortable, at this point there was literally nothing for him to do for weeks so he'd started making himself a cup of tea as he listened to the latest hits from Ishtahnos. He was just adding a pinch of cinnamon as a reward for not blowing the ship up when an indicator started blinking. With slight panic that almost caused him to drop the precious cinnamon he realised it was the communications array. He flicked a switch and heard the last bit of Guyineber's message. "Hello, you've reached the Eclipsing Eagle, what can I do for you?" he asked. His Low Imperial was heavily accented and the sound of an could be heard in the background. His eyes scanned the holo display. He didn't exactly have a sophisticated detection system, but near as he could tell everyone was on course and no one was spiralling off out of control. That likely ruled out a distress call, not that he could do anything if it was. This burn was calculated, he had only enough fuel to slow down once. That thought did admittedly give him a bit of anxiety.

The starting line Elias watches as the race nears its beginning, his eyes fixed on the countdown as the gentle thrum of the idling fusion drive of the Eclipsing Eagle providing something slow and steady for him to match his breathing to. Once the light goes green though all thoughts of calm flee his mind as he pushes the throttle into high gear. With a silent roar the five primary engines shoot forth a blinding blaze of brilliant white fire, tinged ever so slightly red, and the Eclipsing Eagle takes flight. Indicators all across his dashboard begin to light up, green, green, gold, green, red? No wait, green! He releases a breath he didn't realise he was holding as he devotes full attention to the flight. The holo display that came up over the window displayed a countdown and a graphic of Al-Miraiya receding into the distance along with his projected course. The seconds ticked by slowly, but as soon as the countdown reached zero he slammed a switch to activate the afterburners for a prolonged burn. This was the moment of truth, if the magnetic containment failed then the experimental fuel mix would melt the thrusters and then probably ignite the fuel tank. There was a sudden jerk as the acceleration intensified, the Eclipsing Eagle shooting forth with a trail of blinding white fire behind it. A few of the many green indicators temporarily flicked to red or flashed worriedly, but after a moment all was stable and as the burn came to an end his course was perfectly aligned with Veehra's position in about thirty days. Now he just had to hope he had enough fuel to slow down...

The VIP Dome Llewellyn Cade Silverfang hadn't been to Mekhala for thirteen years when he as a young assistant Minister of the Crown and had to handle the disappearance of the Ishtahnos's chosen racer and most skilled test pilot only to find out that he'd eloped, with a pirate of all things! To say it was embarrassing was quite the understatement and he'd slunk back to Veehra before the party had even started. This time though, things would be different. He was the full Minister of Industry now and he'd made damn well sure that their new racer, Elias Rutherford High Mountain got to the starting line at least! He takes one last look at the staging area to make sure Elias hadn't run off with anyone and then steps into the dome. He wears a stylish black suit in the Ishtahn style with a heavy fur-lined coat of black aurochs leather over top. Around his neck he wears a neckerchief of white, his lower face is covered by a scarf of the same with a simple grey pattern woven into it and of course he wears sunglasses so that the brilliance of the Mirror Flats doesn't blind him. He nods his head politely to Ambassador Yessikruz Donce and holds out a hand for them to shake. "The people of Ishtahnos once again thank you for the invitation to compete in the Mad Dash. This time we have managed to actually get a racer to the start line," he says, resisting the urge to look over his shoulder to make sure that yes, Elias was still there. The Starting Line Elias watches with some consternation as his pride and joy, the Eclipsing Eagle, was moved into position at the starting line. Were it just a stock standard high speed courier fresh out of the royal shipyards he wouldn't care so much, but the Eagle had undergone extensive modifications, some of which he hadn't tested or told anyone about and so each slight jostling caused him to wince. Once it was safely down he approached for the pre-flight checks, pausing to wipe a mark off the hull plating. In appearance it was an unremarkable vessel, about twenty metres in length, sleek and aerodynamic for atmospheric flight. The glossy black of the hull plating gave it the appearance almost of a knife or spear and silver ornamentation does an excellent job of hiding any joints in said plating as it gleams brilliantly in the light of Al-Miraiya. Large windows tinted almost black cover the cockpit to give the pilot as much visibility as desired. Twenty metres was a bit large for a racer, but Elias was seven foot four even in human form and he didn't fancy being in a cramped long range fighter for a couple of months, plus the extra room allowed him to fit in a larger, overclocked Stevens Engine to fuel the main drive. Speaking of the main drive, five fusion driven engines are mounted at the rear of the craft along with chemical thrusters at key points on the hull for more precise manoeuvres, their presence well concealed by silver decorative elements and as a final means of thrust on the return journey approximately fifty metres of golden solar sail were furled up in the hull awaiting deployment. Once he's as satisfied as he's going to be that everything's not going to blow up on him he gives the golden calligraphy proclaiming the ship's name to anyone who can read Ishtahn a polish and steps away to stretch his legs. He definitely does not look like a pilot, he's much too big. He towers over most and his shoulders are much too broad. Plus he's not even wearing a flight suit, choosing instead to dress in a typical Ishtahn cold-weather style with a long fur-trimmed leather coat and a pale blue scarf around his neck. His long brown hair has been pulled back into a loose ponytail and his eyes are covered by a pair of dark goggles that do nothing to detract from his rugged good looks. He looks around at his competition and is honestly a bit nervous. He can't match the elegance of Lady Charyti, the boisterousness of Lewis Norris, the ancient mystery of the Archmage of Kish or the comfort that comes from the homefield advantage possessed by the Protectorate races. The only person who looks less like they belong in this world of professional sports is Chif'Blak, and the Archmage of Kish of course but when you're that old no one can tell you you don't belong right where you are. It'll be better once the race starts, he thinks, then he can just put on the first of many audiobooks and chill out for a few weeks.

Actions: 1: [Diplomacy] Use one Treasure to buy up the contract of every indentured servant in all of Kildora and then set them free. Every. Single. One. Finding themselves with a lot of Kroesids from the Imperial Court and no real idea with what to do with them, the First Minister decides to embark on a bold plan that makes the Minister of Finance nearly have a stroke. These Kroesids, so valuable throughout all of Tekhum shall be put towards a noble purpose, ending indentured servitude in Kildora. With the High King's personal approval a plan is drawn up for the High King to buy every contract of servitude in all of Kildora. Thousands of agents dispatched to Kildora who work with the Doomweaver's government begin to make deal after deal after deal, vast quantities of money changing hands as thousands of contracts end up under Ishtahn control and more and more sorcerers are left with a diminished workforce. Each formerly indentured soul is given the chance to be resettled in Ishtahnos and gain all the benefits afforded to citizens of the Kingdom. Even free individuals at risk of falling into servitude are given free transport for them and their families if they wish. It's a monumental undertaking and bound to miss a few people, but it's far easier and quicker than risking the sorcerous might of Kildora. The contracts bought up by the Ishtahn are treated two ways. Those resettled to Ishtahnos have their contracts ritually burned by a magnifying lens in the cathedral of the city they are settled in. Those who choose to remain in Kildora remain technically owned by the High King of Ishtahnos so no unscrupulous sorcerer takes advantage of them again, though the agent responsible for purchasing them swears a sacred Kildoran oath that the High King shall never compel them to perform any service. 2: [Diplomacy] Attempt to press a confederation claim to Region 67. Success! After years and years of negotiations the treaty of accession is at last signed! The Lands of Chorb have been incorporated into the Kingdom of High Ishtahnos and all across the land there are a great many festivities with people turning out by the thousand to watch the signing on public screens. The Lands of Chorb are vast and heavily populated, but diverse and it will likely take at least a generation before everything is running smoothly. In the meantime the local status quo is maintained save for some small changes as a Charter Committee is established to draft a new Great Charter for the new confederation. In the meantime the Ishtahn government appoints advisors from the ruling elite of the Chorbist people to ensure that their voices can be heard. 3: [Military] Great Project. Construct proper military shipyards. [2/5] The first stage of the works comes to a completion. Available records regarding the size oft military and commercial vessels in use in Tekhum have been consulted and a series great drydocks capable of accommodating vessels up to twice as big as the largest known have been cut into an area of arid highland near Dantenon. Underground facilities are planned to go alongside each dock to house machinery and manufactories. Purpose built rail lines connect them to the city and great hangar doors are fitted capable of shielding the interior from both dust and anything but sustained orbital bombardment. Smaller drydocks are also constructed and once their manufacturing equipment is installed work begins immediately on what will hopefully be the first purpose built spice carriers, a design of ship that will go on to be called a Void Clipper. 4: [Military] Attempt to breach the bunker in Region 63. Success unless beaten? After receiving approval from the Group of Seventeen, a crack team of Ishtahn elite forces are dispatched to the bunker buried deep in Mons Orochos. Their shuttle lands at a safe distance from the entrance and they step out onto the dusty slopes, weapons at the ready in case of trouble only to find that they were beaten to the site mere hours before by the Vesperites. A short, tense and very awkward standoff with the Vesperite support team on the outside later, the Ishtahn commandos settle in for the long haul deciding that they might as well stick around in case everything goes horribly horribly wrong and the Vesperites need backup. It's never too early to start mending fences after all. 5: [Economy] Attempt to buyout TP2 in Region 78 for Void Spice. Failure. The Spicers of Mekhala are cursed to Hell and back in the mercantile halls of Ishtahnos. No amount of gifts, friendly introductions or "special one time payments and administrative fees" has managed to sway them towards agreeing on an even remotely reasonable price. The head of the trade delegation gets so fed up he nearly strangles an individual referred to in documents as the "Grand Spicer", likely a mistranslation, to death and ends up being arrested for assault and battery. The remainder of the money earmarked for "special one time payments and administrative fees" has to be spent hiring a lawyer fleeing from conflict elsewhere in Mekhala to represent him in court. Needless to say this debacle has become extremely embarrassing for the government. Extremely. Embarrassing. Nonactions: Resist all unauthorised conversions, buyouts, etc. etc. News and Rumours Prime Marcus and his Prime Paragons are declared personae non grata by the Ishtahn government. Their vocal support of the institution of slavery has soured relations between the Illumined Utopia and the High Kingdom and the First Minister delivers a impassioned speech before the House of Delegates decrying them for their foolishness: As part of the above government position the Kingdom of High Ishtahnos declares their borders open to all those fleeing persecution, enslavement or military conflict. Though it may strain the kingdom's resources it's an important first step in the process. The general downfall of the Basu-Rahman Group draws little interest from the Ishtahn. While any BRG employees and assets within the Kingdom itself are under their protection they make no effort to extend this protection, but nor do they make any effort to hinder the organisation. Difficulties integrating existing track with the Counts of Mirage's new technology have caused the Ishtahn efforts to begin the project to meet with a brick wall, not to mention how to get across the Crescent Sea of Nadiratna. A new approach is needed, especially as the government has failed to actually acquire the schematics. By 2015 IR it has been nine years since Prince Lauren embarked on the Rites of Kingship with only the final Rite left to perform. Many of the Rites were conducted in secrecy, but his parents John and Isolde are said to be very proud of his progress and he has certainly acquitted himself well in the public Rites. The last Rite, the Rite of Liberation, must be performed alone and without witnesses and after a grand feast he heads into the western deserts with only Calamity the nightmare as companionship. He must find a demon and return with a trophy or die trying. He will likely not be seen for many months as even the common demons have become rare and some worry that the Rite of Liberation may soon have to be abandoned Now that things have calmed down and the Kingdom is no longer at war, the Ministry of Arts sends the Arkhive a gift. They've packed a container with copies of important historical artworks from Ishtahnos; paintings, tapestries, illuminated books and scrolls, statues, along with ornamented practical objects such as furniture, weapons and ceramics. Five percent of the pieces are the originals and they are marked as being on permanent loan. In addition there is a panoply of modern works created specifically for the Arkhive, including a life-sized calligraphy portrait of Queen Constance by Marcus Langton Dusthide. Snake News has branched out from just news and begun filming cultural programmes and documentaries for those inevitable slow news days and non-prime time slots. One such programme is the brainchild of the Ishtahn office and it explores the arts by interviewing artists and touring their studios. Their first episode features an Ishtahn artist from the city of Sarcorov, noted master of Gramarye and third place winner of the Festival of Ability, Marcus Langton Dusthide. It's hardly thrilling television, but the tour is doubtless fascinating to anyone with an interest in the arts as he explains his work process in a friendly, down to earth way and the demonstrations of Gramarye are bound to be clipped and put on the InterPlaNet. The sit down interview especially gets clipped when the topic of the Mekh Gala comes up. "You weren't at the Mekh Gala, why was that Marcus?" asks the interviewer, a middle aged woman and long time veteran of Ishtahn news media. "I never got invited," he shrugs. "Really? I seem to recall you won a lot of money." "I can't speculate, but it was a pretty high class event and I'm hardly some sort of upper class guy." "They invited Baladisilab Tesela." "Really?" it was almost as though there was a record scratch in his brain as his demeanour changes from relaxed to slightly miffed, "He didn't even win. But then I suppose he's local to-" "They also invited Raoic Tàirn." "Oh Sun damn it, now I'm pissed! Baladisilab was at least local, Tàirn's from Sansar! And they didn't win either! Make a weapon of war and you get to go hobnob with royalty but actual artists get snubbed!" At this point in the interview the subtitles that translate Ishtahn into Low Imperial don't exactly match what he's saying, but everyone can tell he'd inserted a few swear words into that last bit. The Duel of Honour Negotiations with the Twilight League of Vesper come to an end and as neither side actually desires anything from the other it is agreed to allow the matter to be resolved through an Honour Duel. Of course, there are cultural differences to be hashed out and the ever present question of fairness. To this end, Dame Susan Rowan Shadowclaw, the Master of Nightmares, and Sir Logan Stephens Riverrun, the Royal Physician, sit down with their Vesperite counterparts and over a few days and a bottle or two of whisky work out a workable set of rules. Blades only until blood stains the arena sands red, dismemberment is permitted but purposeful lethal strikes are out. The place chosen for the duel is the Planum Khassia with Varsa Soom kindly serving as referee. The Ishtahn set up a temporary arena two days east of the pass into the Green Lands. Pride of place among the spectators is a grand wooden chair for the Chieftess and a lesser chair to each side for the High King of John IV of Ishtahnos and Lady Violetta, League Coordinator. Various dignitaries and spectators fill the rest of the stands and musicians sing traditional battle songs from Ishtahnos and Vesper while everyone waits. Snake News cameras sit unobtrusively on the sidelines and a quickly assembled panel of 'combat experts' from across Veehra has taken up residence in a booth to give their opinions for the viewing audience at home. The Vesperite champion, Duellist Black, a member of Seraphine's inner circle, enters the arena first. She is clad in head to toe in black with not even her hair or eyes being visible. Who she is or was is unknown to all in attendance, with the possible exception of Violetta and her retinue. She steps gracefully before the referee and salutes the referees. In each hand she carries a curved and hooked short sword clearly designed to cause as much damage on the way out as in, the metal is darkened to near black though the edge shines with a wicked gleam. Violetta gives her a nod and she moves to stand and wait for her challenger. The Ishtahn champion, Pace Carroll Darksand, the Master of Arms of his clan, enters the arena next. He is in his lupine form and stands seven and a half feet tall. He wears a long black cloak of lightweight cloth, a broadbrimmed hat low over his eyes and out of respect for the Soom a red cloth that covers most of the rest of his lupine face. Across his chest is a sash of purple, red and black in what some recognise as a traditional Ishtahn clan pattern. He approaches the referee and raises his sword in a wordless salute, the sun catching the bright metal of the blade, its gilded hilt and the silver fur covering the back of his hand. In his other hand is clenched a parrying dagger. The handguards of both weapons are studded with short spikes that show signs of use. With a nod from his king he moves into position and adopts a combat stance. Varsa Soom isn't one for wasting everyone's time with speeches and once the two champions are ready she gives the signal, a single word spoken with the clear commanding voice only a leader such as herself can manage. "Begin." Meanwhile in the commentator's booth... "Sir Pace is quite the feared duellist back in Ishtahnos, is that not so Sheriff?" Ophid Sarn, lead sports commentator for Snake News, begins in a low voice. "That's correct Ophid, I've fought him a few times myself and let me tell you never again," said a grizzled Ishtahn sheriff and professional duellist, "He has a nasty habit of suddenly being behind you. Still, my money's on Duellist Black. Pace's techniques are known to everyone, but he's up against an enigma." "I find myself agreeing, the Vesperites are not to be underestimated," an Agbadan leopard with a scar over one of her eyes agreed, "Physically Pace is stronger, but strength only gets you so far and Vesper has bred a stalwart people who don't give up easily." "Luciana, are you able to give us any hints about just who Duellist Black is? The viewers at home have been bombarding us with questions ever since she was announced," Ophid says to a Vesperite soldier, as beautiful as she is terrifying, who just smiles mysteriously. The champions begin to circle each other slowly like predators, neither one seeming inclined to make the first move. The arena is silent as the crowd waits with bated breath. Fortunately for their general health they didn't have too long to wait as a slight movement from Duellist Black causes Pace to charge at her, very nearly going down on all fours as he all but leaps the final five metres at her. It's a feint however, one that very nearly proves disastrous for the Ishtahn as a black sword rises to meet him. At the very last moment he manages to twist his body in the air, the sword cutting through the cloth covering his face and exposing his silvered muzzle. With a great cloud of red dust he lands, rolling as he does to end up on all fours and facing his opponent with a smile. Rather than returning to the waiting game he rushes the Vesperite, his coat covered with red dust as he enters the fray. Both combatants clearly know what they're doing as the noisy clash of steel begins to fill the arena. Both move with deadly grace, dodging, parrying, deflecting. The melee is drawn out into minutes with no sign of advantage to either side, at first. The more predictable and known fighting style employed by Pace eventually proves to be a liability as Duellist Black probes his defences and embarks on a bold offensive. Clouds of disturbed dust fill the air as Black moves like a whirlwind, a lifetime of struggle allowing her to leverage her greater agility against her larger opponent, dancing around him to strike from all sides as he's forced to focus solely on defence. Though to a regular human his speed would be blinding, there is hardly anything regular about a Vesperite and he is unable to close the holes in his defences fully. "Amazing, I've never seen anyone move with such speed," whispers a very aged Kildoran sorcerer, how he sees despite clearly being blind is anyone's guess, "I feel ten years younger just watching." "She might find it difficult if she can't keep up the momentum though, if she slows for even a moment and lets Pace go on the offensive..." "I see what you mean Sheriff, but it'd take something big to distract her right now," Luciana said, her voice clear with confidence. A Tina Wilson who'd somehow become a notorious brawler shook her head, "She's going to have to press her advantage sooner-" At that moment Pace's sword was sent flying, the shining metal skittering across the dust to land metres away from the duelling pair. The entire arena, commentators included, going silent. Was this it? Was the werewolf beaten? Black certainly seemed to think so as she allowed herself a momentary pause. Pace wasn't about to give up just yet though and out of either brilliance or more likely desperation he grabbed his cloak and swung it up to wrap around one of Black's arms and with a tug that would break a human's arm in at least three places pulled down and reduced her to a single blade as well. He followed up with a flurry of blows, the sophisticated and graceful duel devolving into a vicious fistfight as the cornered werewolf lays strikes against the Vesperite with the spiked handguard of his dagger. She doesn't take long to respond though and the battle resumes with a new intensity, but Black is unable to utilise her sword to its full extent as Pace keeps right on her and doesn't allow her to gain distance. Eventually the commentators regain their voices. "What an upset!" Ophid Sarn exclaims, "Viewers at home did you catch that? I'm not even sure I did!" Tina shakes her head, "She thought she'd won before she'd won. Maybe against most people, sure, but you don't get to their level by giving up just because things look bad." "This is definitely a fight for the ages, but I'm down a hundred Marks," says the Ishtahn sheriff with a sigh. "I'd just like to take a moment to remind our viewers to gamble responsibly," Ophid grins as the sheriff begins counting out banknotes. To her credit Black makes certain that Pace is forced to work for every blow, even going so far as to land a vicious cut on his arm, the hook of her blade very nearly tearing his sleeve clear off. The wound itself is shallow though and his blood merely stains the torn fabric before his body begins to restore itself. He grins viciously and doubles his efforts, wearing her defences down bit by bit until at long last he drives his dagger into her shoulder. He draws it back in triumph, an arc of bright red blood following the blade through the air as it falls down into the dust. Varsa Soom rises from her seat, raising a hand to silence the crowd before they start to cheer. "Victory goes to Ishtahnos." With those four simple words the crowd erupts into cheers, some in victory but most were simply there to enjoy a good fight. Pace holds out a hand to help Duellist Black to her feet and once she's up and he's sure she's not bleeding to death he holds his dagger to the sky in triumph. Following the Sun - The glare recedes The aid of the Knights of Kildora is indispensable in uncovering the secrets of the past. Their sorcery compels the truth from ancient demons and their influence opens doors closed to the Ishtahn. All but forgotten through a thousand years of darkness with what faint memories remained lost in the glare of a resurgent Sun, the truth is at last made bare. The Mother Serpent has awaited the Ishtahn all these centuries, her benevolence unceasing despite their inability to truly see her. Archbishop Colton calls a synod of all the bishops and canons to proclaim the truth of the revelation. The Sun and the Serpent are one and the same and the light is her blessing upon the Ishtahn! Across the Kingdom the woven solar icons are taken down from their pride of place above the altars of the cathedrals and new icons depicting a serpent crowned with solar light take their place. A great religious awakening begins to spread through the Highlands. The question as to whether the Valley of Kings is real or allegorical excites Ishtahn archaeologists, as does the potential of finding the Temple spoken of in the poem unearthed by the Kildoran Knights. No one knows where to begin, but aerial surveys begin to be conducted of the entire Kingdom as old records are examined for any hints of ruins left unexplored. Not all agree with the Archbishop however and a splinter faction forms led by Bishop Marsden of Dantenon who feel that the rest of the synod are rushing things and needlessly abandoning tradition. The debate goes back and forth and though Bishop Marsden has the backing of no more than ten percent of the canons he refuses to back down and is ultimately expelled from the synod until he's willing to accept the decision of the clear and overwhelming majority. Ruler Information First Minister Johnathon Royston Rageclaw Diplomacy: 7 Military: 9 Economy: 3 Faith: 3 Intrigue: 2 Age: 66 Expected stat increases: +1 Military, +1 Diplomacy Trade Details and Technologies The Highlands of Ishtahnos, Region 65, TP1: Veehran Aurochs Treasure: 1 Dust Hardening Nuclear Fusion Xenolinguistic Cataloguing Arcane Amplification Algorithmic Imagination In Vivo Modification Aclaustrophobic Psychology Other Bookkeeping Grounds units: 4 Space units: 3 Max units: 8

Actions: 1: [Diplomacy] Attempt to sway the government faction of Nadiratna, Region 68. Success! As the new High Siifoh of Nadiratna sets about bringing their nation into a period of isolation, the Ishtahn government enters into negotiations intended to keep diplomatic ties open. In return the Ishtahn promise to come to the defence of Nadiratna against foreign aggressors. 2: [Diplomacy] Attempt to press a confederation claim to Region 67. Failure. Negotiation drag on and on for years. The people of the Land of Chorb are diverse and each group fears the loss of their ancient rights and privileges, fears that only grow as the negotiations continue with seemingly no end in sight. Diplomats and legal experts try to reconcile ancient charters and forgotten legal codes with the modern state of affairs in a vain attempt to make everyone happy that just falls flat. 3: [Military] Great Project. Construct proper military shipyards. [1/5] The makeshift shipyards near the city of Dantenon that have worked 'round the clock ever since the Emperor's gift years before are rapidly showing signs of their unsuitability. They are a patch job of mismatched, inefficient facilities, rushed to completion without proper forethought in regards to expansion. Frankly it's a miracle they've managed to raise the fleet they have, but analysis indicates that they can't guarantee speedy repair and refit. New purpose built, properly planned out facilities will have to be constructed. The Ministry of Finance who have been in constant shock since the military build up began are somewhat mollified as the shipyards will also be used for constructing ships for civilian use. 4: [Military] Raise one space unit. Seeing the value of orbital superiority in future conflicts, a third battlecruiser, the RNI Khassia, is commissioned and launched with the usual fanfare and is soon followed with the next two years by the usual contingent of support ships including the cruisers RNI Sarcorov and RNI Ak'Harrek 5: [Economy] Attempt to buyout TP2 in Region 78 for Void Spice. Failure. The spicers of Mekhala are a stubborn bunch and the Ishtahn merchants are getting more and more frustrated. Back on Veehra millions of Ishtahn suffer blandness in their day to day lives and these greedy merchants constantly refuse a lucrative deal. The Ishtahn very nearly resort to bribing officials, but they just can't even with these people any more and they go home empty handed. Again. The Minister of Trade hands in his resignation the moment he lands back in the capital and decides to pursue painting, their real passion. At least something good came out of this. Nonactions: Support conversion to the Cult of the Mother Serpent in Ishtahnos. News and Rumours Doctor Otara's research is interesting, but ultimately not considered worthy of attention by the Ishtahn government. Nevertheless several notable astronomers and scientists assemble their own theories. Professor Susan Milner High Mountain hypothesises that the planet's orbit was perturbed by rogue planet. Sir Professor Todd Stevens advances that the hypothetical planet was destroyed by the Imperial Court during a time of crisis. Professor Ian Jones Darksand suggests after a bit too much whisky that maybe it crashed into the Rings of Ophon due to tidal forces, but when he sobers states that it was more likely to have been ejected entirely. Of course radical conspiracies abound, the most insane one being that the Rings were built using this hypothetical planet, a "theory" soundly debunked by the clear fact that they are obviously magic. Ishtahn military and judicial officials watch as the planetary headquarters of Basu-Rahman are put to the torch, bearing witness to the passing of the corporation's sentence, the light of the flames reflecting in their eyes. Meanwhile, back in Ishtahnos as Basu-Rahman pays their fine in the full amount their broadcasting license is restored. The news of the Peludo's grand ambitious planetary rail network is met with great interest by the Ishtahn government, however the technology involved will have to be examined, new rolling stock developed, existing lines upgraded and new ones surveyed. It will take some years before they're able to begin the work. The rumour is that the High King is unsure of how to respond to the revelation he's been shipped, as the kids say, with various other heads of state in a state of considerable intimacy. But as no statement is made it's assumed he's just ignoring it. Archbishop Colton of the Church of the Benevolent Sun declines to send a delegation to the Verdalfi Conclave finding the whole idea thoroughly impious and wreaking of simony. With the kingdom technically in a state of war all Ishtahn of the necessary calibre to compete on Badal are duty bound to remain on Veehra. Several schools of arms consider putting together their own tournament and inviting the Badalians to make up for it. A series of archaeological excavations of the abandoned tunnels near Ak'Harrek uncover the oldest known Ishtahn burials which contain the oldest samples of Ishtahn writing alongside other priceless relics dating back as far as seventeen hundred years ago that promise to shed light on a difficult to study era of history. The "War" To say the Ishtahn Parliament is unimpressed by Violetta's response to the First Minister's letter is an understatement. Speeches against her are made by several prominent politicians from many parties in the House of Delegates, commenting on her lack of decorum, her apparent childishness and her reliance on petty name calling. These speeches and debates, however, quickly get repetitive and the Speaker finally tells the Delegates to shut up and stop wasting time. The Ishtahn media, however, has no one to tell it to shut up and Violetta is regularly discussed in the press. Within the following weeks the following declaration is issued on radio and television by the High King on behalf of First Minister Royston's government: "As of this moment, High Noon above Harazan, a state of war will exist between the Kingdom of High Ishtahnos and the Twilight League. I call upon League Coordinator Violetta to surrender before unnecessary bloodshed and though we now deploy our fleet to the Vesperite skies we remain hopeful for a negotiated settlement to this unfortunate conflict. We call upon all the peoples of Veehra and Tekhum at large to avoid Vesperite airspace until the cession of hostilities has been announced and verified as the Royal Navy of Ishtahnos will commence with a blockade against all shipping save that carrying the flag of His Grace the Emperor. "May the Sun shine upon us in this dark hour." As promised the blockade is established and then... Nothing happens. The Vesperites remain in dry dock and the Ishtahn fleet ignores Violetta's attempts at provocation. Conditions do not allow safe targeting of the Twilight League's military installations and neither the Ishtahn military nor government seem inclined to cause civilian casualties attacking a target that refuses to defend itself. Some radical newspapers affiliated with the Wolf Heart publish stories decrying the lack of action, but the larger public ignores them, at first. But as the year drags on with the fleet just performing manoeuvres public opinion starts to get fed up and they demand the fleet either return home or do something. These demands are echoed in both houses of Parliament and finally a decision is made to end the blockade if, and only if, the Twilight League agrees to negotiate a solution that satisfies both sides. With Violetta's assent to negotiate the fleet returns to its usual duties and talks commence regarding a potential way to bring everything to a close. Following the Sun - A search for revelation Military chaplains of the Church of The Benevolent Sun who fought alongside the Soom in the thick of combat have become impressed and intrigued by the Cult of the Mother Serpent. As the Varn had always kept their sacred traditions to themselves the similarities between the teachings of the Cult and the Church had gone mostly unnoticed until now. Upon their return to Ishtahnos intense theological discussions follow that eventually culminate in a general synod and debate. The correlations between the Benevolent Sun and the Serpent Mother's solar aspect are hard to ignore, but a thousand years of tradition is hard to overturn and as the debate begins to heat up Archbishop Colton brings the synod to a close to give everyone a chance to look into the matter. Ishtahn priests are not theologians, their role is to provide alms, perform rites and serve their communities. As such there is very little written about the nature of the Benevolent Sun and so all involved are forced to look at progressively older sources, which even for many of the bishops and the canons of the Church is their first try at serious theological scholarship. Ancient fragmentary texts from around the Advent of the Dawn that have been left mostly undisturbed in university and cathedral libraries are examined with the aid of historians and something unusual is found. Though the language used is clearly Old Ishtahn, many of the ancient hymns are in a metrical style only otherwise found in Kildoran epic poetry. Then the trail goes cold for eight months. Eight months of debate about whether the style was borrowed or hints at something more. Eight months until an ancient stone tablet left forgotten in a crypt was uncovered during an unrelated excavation. It is not particularly unusual for such a tablet to be placed within the tomb of a clan chief, but the words scribed upon it are anything but: "I leave the Land of Darkness to be with the Serpent of the Sun in the next life" With the tablet dated back approximately seventeen hundred years hopes of further evidence are slim and so Archbishop Colton does the only thing he thinks to help resolve this. A formal request is sent to the Doomweaver of Kildora for temporary access to their archives. Ruler Information First Minister Johnathon Royston Rageclaw Diplomacy: 6 Military: 8 Economy: 3 Faith: 3 Intrigue: 2 Age: 63 Expected stat increases: +1 Military, +1 Diplomacy Trade Details and Technologies The Highlands of Ishtahnos, Region 65, TP1: Veehran Aurochs Treasure: 1 Dust Hardening Nuclear Fusion Xenolinguistic Cataloguing Arcane Amplification Algorithmic Imagination In Vivo Modification Aclaustrophobic Psychology Other Bookkeeping Grounds units: 4 Space units: 2 (+1) Max units: 7

Actions: 1: [Diplomacy] Attend the Wedding of Lord of Fire Artavasdes II and Princess Monite Ebonne. -Pay one treasure to the Imperial Court as tax. The High King and two of his three children travel to Sansar, a wretched hell of humidity, to attend a delightful wedding. Awkward conversations with certain Sansarite nobles are avoided and Artavasdes and Monite are gifted a barrel of aged whisky, matching platinum pocket watches, a few Ishtahn books about plants and animals with splendid illustrations and two nightmares for the purpose of romantic rides through the countryside. There's also a meeting between state officials and Imperial representatives about arranging for the payment of taxes in gold coins and treasury notes, but that's less important. 2: [Diplomacy] Attempt to press a confederation claim to Region 67. Failure. Negotiations grind to a halt while bureaucratic agencies across the land of Chorb scramble to provide reports necessary for the minutiae of a successful and prosperous integration. The issue of parliamentary constituencies and appropriate representation for minority groups promises to delay proceedings for many years. 3: [Military] Raise one ground unit. With the outbreak of hostilities against Basu-Rahman and attacks on Ishtahnos by the Twilight League, further military investment is considered of paramount importance in preparation for further operations. 4: [Military] Deploy two ground units to assist in the Soom Clan's invasion of Region 55. They will take a route of being dropped off in Region 74 and complete the rest of the journey over land to avoid becoming embroiled in space warfare. The recent actions of Basu-Rahman infuriate the people of Ishtahnos and a military action is declared as necessary to ensure such insults cease. Though the Antithotron and his people are not enemies of the Ishtahn, they unfortunately stand between them and justice and so the Royal Army is deployed, the riders of Ishtahnos joining alongside the warwheels of Khassia to lend their fierce strength to the subjugation of the greenlands in the name of the Soom-Clan and the destruction of Basu-Rahman. 5: [Economy] Attempt to buyout TP2 in Region 78 for Void Spice. Failure. Unfortunately the Ishtahn are not masters of commerce and despite travelling far to the scattered worlds of Mekhala, they are unable to sway the spice merchants of the Divine Stars. Perhaps the gifts they brought were insufficient to grease the wheels of negotiations, perhaps the goods they offered in exchange were considered lacklustre, perhaps they accidentally insulted the locals through cultural misunderstandings. The end result is the same however and the Ishtahn Ministry of Trade's delegation returns home without anything more than a few free samples. Nonactions: Protect against the sack of TP1 in Region 65 with one unit. The Royal Armour is surprised at the Vesperite attack in response to their diplomatic objections against Vesperite expansion, but not so surprised they are caught with their proverbial pants down. Border outriders supplemented by local shrieval forces and clan militias respond quickly and leverage their superior knowledge of the local terrain to harry and delay the would be Vesperite cattle rustlers until forces left in reserve can arrive and send them packing. Any captured raiders are provided food and medical care until their safe return can be arranged. Accept the Pan-Tekhum Worker's and Trader's Union's request to be allowed to inspect working conditions. Additional oversight cannot go amiss in ensuring everything is done properly and so the Ministry of Industry and the Ministry of Justice gladly comply, promising their full support to the WTU's inspections. After all, how often do you get the opportunity of a free independent audit of safety practices? Ishtahn inspectors could be missing things obvious to an outsider after all and a safe workplace is a productive workplace and happy and prosperous workers are productive workers. The Ministry of Finance is particularly ecstatic given the WTU is doing it FOR FREE, at least they were until the Ministry of Industry offered to help cover the WTU's expenses. The Ishtahn subscribe to Snake News! The Kingdom is always happy to support competition in the media industry and given they now have all this spare studio equipment (see News and Rumours) they give some to Snake News. This surely won't end in disaster. News and Rumours Stuff and things. Aside from important declarations and letters this will probably have to be delayed until next round, sorry. Legal proceedings are brought against the Basu-Rahman Group for violating Ishtahn law regarding advertising standards and, more seriously, promotion of slavery. Across the Kingdom BRG assets are seized and local executives and high level managerial staff placed under house arrest pending investigations into their personal culpability. With the evidence so widely broadcast it's not hard for the prosecution to secure a judgement and defences of 'it was just a joke' are not accepted. The Basu-Rahman Group is found guilty of promotion of slavery and ordered to pay an exorbitant fine. Until such time as the fine is paid their broadcasting license is rescinded and every day they continue to broadcast to the Kingdom of High Ishtahnos the fine is increased by one percent compounding. Ultimately it is concluded that Basu-Rahman's head Veehran office is responsible for this oversight and the Royal Army is dispatched to ensure that whosoever replaces them does not dare to make a similar mistake. In response to Vesperite aggression against the Land of Wizards (Region 67) the Ishtahn issue a statement indicating their intention to defend the region against such an attack and they offer their support to the Bafatis Dynasty on this issue. More pressingly, a short confidential letter is delivered to the Twilight League regarding their recent aggression against Ishtahnos, the contents of which are kept secret from all but the highest echelons on the Ishtahn government. A sealed letter on parchment bearing the seal of High King John IV arrives in Narsai to be hand delivered directly to the Iron Monarch by a heavily armed Ishtahn messenger who arrives on nightmare back. Despite being armed he is very respectful and given he came alone the weapons were likely to deter unscrupulous individuals along the way. The letter is written twice, side by side, first on the left in beautiful Ishtahn handwriting, likely that of the High King himself, and second on the right in a different hand in the Narsai Dialect, likely supplied by a secretary. Ruler Information First Minister Johnathon Royston Rageclaw Diplomacy: 5 Military: 7 Economy: 3 Faith: 3 Intrigue: 2 Age: 60 Expected stat increases: +1 Military, +1 Diplomacy Trade Details and Technologies The Highlands of Ishtahnos, Region 65, TP1: Veehran Aurochs Treasure: 1 (-1) Dust Hardening Nuclear Fusion Xenolinguistic Cataloguing Arcane Amplification Algorithmic Imagination In Vivo Modification Aclaustrophobic Psychology Other Bookkeeping Grounds units: 3 (+1) Space units: 2

Given there was nothing happening on Veehra to keep him otherwise engaged the High King of Ishtahnos had elected to personally lead the delegation to attend what was shaping up to the wedding of the century. Due to the heat of Sansar he had chosen a light grey suit and waistcoat with golden buttons and a rust red neckerchief and had forgone a coat in favour of a rust red cape of some light fabric with a golden border. As usual he wore the heavy golden chain of his office from which hung a bejewelled sunburst pendant which glittered in the intense Sansarite sunlight and atop his long, wavy black hair he wore a platinum crown set with gleaming rubies. At his waist was belted a sword with a gilded hilt with a single large sapphire set into the pommel. For this momentous occasion he was accompanied by two of his three children, his second son Prince Lucas and his daughter Princess Janice, Minister Sanders of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and, as usual, Ira his loyal bodyguard who was in lupine form and stoically suffering in silence as his thick black fur refused to shed any heat. Prince Lucas wore the dress uniform of a lieutenant junior grade of the Royal Navy of Ishtahnos, though it's clear he's unused to the weight of the uniform and the black fabric is not suited to the Sansarite sunlight. Princess Janice meanwhile was resplendent in a long gown of pale purple silk subtly embellished with silver threads and her long black hair was elegantly braided with matching ribbons. As crowns are not part of the naval uniform only the Princess wore one, a silver coronet set with pale purple sapphires, amethysts and pink freshwater pearls. Both were, however, armed with a sword and dagger each. Minister Sanders seems to have decided to wear the most boring outfit possible, looking more like an accountant than a diplomat. They approached to a respectful distance once it was their turn to greet the Queen of Ushere. John gave a polite nod of his head as the rest of his party, minus Ira, bowed respectfully. "Chalise, it is an honour to be invited to this happy occasion. The people of Ishtahnos wish the happy couple to be a long life filled with love even in the face of adversity," he says with a genuine smile, "Please accept the apologies of my wife Isolde. Our eldest is conducting the Rites of Kingship and he needs her guidance, guidance she cannot provide through a communicator." Note for those interested: As of 2040, Prince Lucas is twenty-one and Princess Janice is eighteen.