Recently, there was a mite of a misunderstanding between New Haven and the Peninsula Federation. A meeting was held on Peninsula Federation territory at Midway Island between Solemn and Baron Robert Surcouf over the incident.Solemn saunters inside, tipping his tophat to Tracer as he hauls out a spare chair from somewhere about the room, plopping into it with a sigh and tossing his feet up onto a nearby table. "Hullo hullo!"
Solemn lounges his rifle about his lap and pushes the brim of his tophat over his eyes. "I've a date with a very Baronical person here, so I pray I won't be bothered. On your honor now, Tracer."
You scratch out what was carved there before.
You carve Miday - A Protectorate of the Peninsula Federation. Solemn is here from New Haven to meet with his esteemed Baron Robert Surcouf. You don't want to kill him. onto the wall.
Baron Robert Surcouf enters the airy roof top room and bows
Baron Robert Surcouf says “Good afternoon gentlemen! I have swam all the way from the mainland, boy are my arms tired.... wait, that joke doesn't work with swimming. I must sleep for a bit, feel free to talk...”
Baron Robert Surcouf says “... amongst yourselves as I snooze, I am a sound sleeper.”
Baron Robert Surcouf says “Governor Tracer, before I sleep, I must compliment you on greenifying the island! So many trees! This will surely help the Peninsula Federation's eco profile.”
Baron Robert Surcouf says “Mister Solemn, I thank you profusely for making such a long trip to our beautiful Midway Island. It is a pleasure to have you grace our domain.”
Baron Robert Surcouf says “Father Jack, I am pleased to meet you. It is good that we have a member of the clergy amongst us to say grace and to be available for confession.”
Father Jack says “DRINK!”
Father Jack throws an empty bottle at the baron
Solemn kicks his feet from their resting place atop the center-table of the room, rifle left upon the table as he strides forth to meet with the Baron. "A soggy, tiresome swim it is!"
Solemn would waggle his arm about, several drops of brine flying from his cuff as the still-damp clothes he wore bore the wear and tear of the travel he made.
You say “Of course," he mused. "It was most certainly worth the olympic styled travel arrangements to make it here. The imported fresh water seems to be doing wonders for the rich soil of this island.”
Solemn inclines his head in a nod. "No thanks are needed for my perilous and soggy journey, though, for it is my pleasure to make such a trip after you staved off this visit until after York Season."
You say “That, I most certainly appreciate.”
You say “Now then, as my personal gift to the Peninsula Federation..." The tophatted New Havener fished about in his backpack before producing a dozen bottles of wine, each placed upon the table. "A treat!”
You give a bottle of tasty berry wine to Baron Robert Surcouf .
You give a bottle of tasty berry wine to Baron Robert Surcouf .
You give a bottle of tasty berry wine to Baron Robert Surcouf .
You give a bottle of tasty berry wine to Baron Robert Surcouf .
You give a bottle of tasty berry wine to Baron Robert Surcouf .
You give a bottle of tasty berry wine to Baron Robert Surcouf .
You give a bottle of tasty berry wine to Baron Robert Surcouf .
Baron Robert Surcouf can't carry anything more.
Solemn scoots seven bottles into the Baron's possession before offering the remaining five to Tracer.
You give a bottle of tasty berry wine to Tracer .
You give a bottle of tasty berry wine to Tracer .
You give a bottle of tasty berry wine to Tracer .
You give a bottle of tasty berry wine to Tracer .
You give a bottle of tasty berry wine to Tracer .
Solemn stands back, rather satisfied with burdening the fellows with the richly colored Durhamite wine. "Enjoy, enjoy! New Haven stock and Palermo brewed! The best of both worlds from Durham."
Baron Robert Surcouf wakes up and stretches his arms, dropping all of the wine bottles, fortunately none break and they clatter across the flooring.
Baron Robert Surcouf says “Mon Dieu! This is a treasure for a Frenchman!”
Baron Robert Surcouf says “I have not brought the same quantity of alcohol, but I have brought a vintage 1812 Chateau Breton, cider and beer made by Father Marcinkus, may his soul rest in God's arms.”
Baron Robert Surcouf gives you a gourd of tasty berry wine.
Baron Robert Surcouf gives you a gourd of banana beer.
Baron Robert Surcouf gives you a bottle of apple cider.
Baron Robert Surcouf says “The loss of Father Marcinkus was grievous in deed. There is a chance that he may be found. But as each day passes I fear that hope wanes. ”
Solemn takes the returned offering stoically, taking his tophat off and placing its brim to his chest in reverence. His head bows and the slightest hint of a sniffle could be heard.
You say “Aye, 'tis a major pity to loose one who brews brilliantly the booze that begets our bamboozlement.”
Baron Robert Surcouf says “Now for business. The occasion for this meeting was a misunderstanding in York, let us call it the York incident, which almost led to war between the Peninsula Federation and the Society of New Haven.”
Baron Robert Surcouf says “Fortunately, cooler heads prevailed and war was averted, to the joy of all. ”
Baron Robert Surcouf says “Now, my thinking in terms of ensuring that such misunderstandings do not rise again, which is necessary because cooler heads do not always prevail, is that the...”
Baron Robert Surcouf says “...Peninsula Federation and the Society of New Haven should sign a non-aggression pact by which we would divide the islands of Greater Shartak in half at the waterfall, so that the Peninsula...”
Baron Robert Surcouf says “...Federation shall not wage war west of the waterfall and the Society of New Haven shall not wage war east of the waterfall. ”
Baron Robert Surcouf says “And should such an occurence arise that either side should wish to cross over the north/south border created by the waterfall in an act of aggression against any parties on the opposite side, then...”
Baron Robert Surcouf says “... it should be required, in that case, that the opposing party in this agreement, i.e., either the Society of New Haven or the Peninsula Federation, must agree and give indulgence that such an act..”
Baron Robert Surcouf says “... may be lawfully carried out. To wit, for instance, should this agreement be carried out and in a year's time the Peninsula Federation grew angry with York and decided to invade York, thus...”
Baron Robert Surcouf says “.... requiring the crossing of the border of the waterfall, then we of the Peninsula Federation would be required to ask permission of the Society of New Haven to undertake such an endeavor. ”
Baron Robert Surcouf says “If we of the Peninsula Federation neglected to ask for such permission, or if we did ask and the Society of New Haven answered 'nay' then such an action undertaken by the Peninsula Federation would...”
Baron Robert Surcouf says “... be considered an insult to the Society of New Haven, or even an act of war against the sphere of the Society of New Haven. ”
Baron Robert Surcouf says “But you might ask me, what does this achieve? It achieves a clear cut set of rules by which we might avoid potential conflict. In the future, if any of our people are seen on your side, or your...”
Baron Robert Surcouf says “... people on ours, we shall know that they simply cross the boundary in peace and good will. ”
Baron Robert Surcouf says “If they do not act in peace and good will, if they be murderous, rapists and marauders, then the offended side shall know that they are offended against and may legally act to rectify the situation...”
Baron Robert Surcouf says “... by whatever means are at their disposal. ”
Baron Robert Surcouf says “This is my plan for peace and good will. Like the Spanish and the Portuegese, long ago, I suggest we divide the world in half. ”
Outside, the figure of a giant squid can be seen from the tower-top. Ever the enterprising trophy-hunters, the Baron and Solemn slosh off to do battle off the coast.You attack the giant squid with a cutlass for 3 damage. It dies. You gain 153 XP.
Solemn draws his blade from the flank of the mighty beast, letting loose a victorious shout as he watches it drift away into the murky depths. "Good show, Baron! My first conquest of a giant squid!"
Baron Robert Surcouf gains 10 health from a first aid kit
Baron Robert Surcouf gains 10 health from a first aid kit
Baron Robert Surcouf gains 10 health from a first aid kit
Baron Robert Surcouf gains 3 health from a first aid kit
You use a first aid kit and feel better.
Solemn makes sure to tend to his compatriot's wounds as his thanks. "Now that'll get your blood racing!"
You have a new achievement: Kraken Slayer
Baron Robert Surcouf says “You smote that sea kraken! Shall we skip going back to the tower then? We could go to the grotto. Maybe we should go up north and kill the snake too, while we are at it, that would be epoch. ”
Baron Robert Surcouf says “...and probably a tad much. ”
Solemn beams with the satisfaction of his conquest over the beast, but is suddenly beset by carrier-parrots! Turning his tophat about, they would drop a plethora of messages into it.
Solemn keeps the hat above the water where his correspondence would be kept safe. "I believe continuing this in the shade of Midway's jungle would be rather lovely, unless you mean ol' Saint Nick's."
You say “I am currently waiting on one final message before I continue. The Society of New Haven works abit differently than other places, and a handful of folks' input are needed at important junctures.”
You say “It works rather well for us! Now then, off to shore for me!”
Solemn wades back to the island, seeking refuge along the south of the island.
Following after Solemn, the two would resume their discussion.Baron Robert Surcouf says “I was thinking Santa's Grotto, but this makes more sense, it is shady here and we don't need to walk so far. ”
Solemn would think that the lack of shark-bites would be incentive enough to move here!
Solemn had arranged for threadbare arrangements of a meager table and a stout pair of wooden chairs to be brought out before the Baron's arrival.
Solemn skims through the PenFed document for a few moments in one hand before flipping through a stack of commentaries in all manner of writing and scrawl from the members of New Haven.
Solemn sets them both down, his gaze turns back to regard the Frenchman with a warm smile. "You have taken great care in the document, and I do respect what you are trying to establish with it."
You say “The main point of why this event took place, however, seems to have been thoroughly ignored. Black Jack Pershing, who took place in several hostile acts on the Peninsula under Justice Hart's command.”
You say “...walked into a blatantly advertised contest where the participants were Durhamites. When he was killed over events that had transpired that predate the Peninsula Federation...”
You say “...Your soldier-boy took up the mantle of martyr and started this entire dispute. You and I both know he knew better than to have tried to manipulate us BOTH into such a conflict.”
You say “Such an act is little more than a child kicking a dog, then going and whining to Mummy when it tries to bite him the next day.”
You say “I'll defend Noahsan's killing of Black Jack Pershing, not because I have a problem with the PF, but because Black Jack Pershing is an assclown. He made enemies, he sought out his enemies...”
You say “...and he bawled like a babe when the enemies swatted him about. Black Jack Pershing shouldn't have marched in a warband to Durham ages ago, and then he wouldn't have been killed. Ancient history.”
You say “And should he come around again, it won't be my hand that kills him, but I'm sure Durham would be more than happy to remind him of its rather sharp memory.”
Solemn shimmies out a piece of paper from his pocket, bearing the PF's laws concerning its members. "I also see that the laws of Derby now include death for the murder of PenFed members ANYWHERE."
Solemn 's eyes stare above the paper at the Baron, a brow quirked. "Such a law is mad and rather convenient for those with warlike intentions."
Solemn sets the document down between the PF proposal and his own stack of New Haven comments. "For someone with a bone to pick and a mind to travel to Durham or New Haven, it would be child's play..."
You say “...for someone with an agenda from your camp to start up a sham of a scandal. Yes, in light of that, I would imagine that this proposal is a MUCH more safe guarantee...”
You say “...than standing around, biting our nails as we wait for a PF member to skin his knee.”
You say “My good man, you have shown me the utmost in hospitality, civility, concern, and the efforts to arrange not only this meeting but this document says how well you regard New Haven as a peer.”
You say “In regards to you, I can speak nothing but good. Of your town I can speak little, for I only went there once in a brief stint as a cannibal hunter.”
You say “But I see in your government the machinations for something most vile to take root, and if you pair that off with an alliance to the Necromancer's Guild, a group who we regard with chilly relations...”
You say “...The eastern side of that island seems inexplicably drawn to do battle with us, regardless of common sense or reason.”
You say “New Haven, of course, is focused on the defense of the Durham Peninsula. York Season was a contest, not a conquest. Though well over 50 Yorkers lay dead, we hold no claim over that land.”
You say “I do not know why we would ever come to conflict, unless your compatriots way off in Derby decide they want to make an invasion of a target most absurd.”
You say “I will not sign this document in its current form, for it proposes splitting up the island between ourselves, and would also prevent us from taking action against your allies the Necromancer's Guild-”
You say “-should they break the peace we share with them, however unsteady. We are a domestically focused group, and we have all the territory under our domain we coud ever possibly want.”
You say “Unless you have plans of ocean-front property by Palermo, I see no reason why we should ever quarrel.”
Baron Robert Surcouf says “I see then. That is a shame. We plan would have brought unshakeable peace to the island for generations. In any case, then, I have tarried long enough and must return to Derby. Be well!” (2010-10-17 03:54)
From Solemn to the Baron:I am certainly most bamfoozled. We meet to discuss an issue, you plop a document in my lap without any discussion on the actual event, and then when I broach the proper matter you wander off while I'm waiting on a response? Most bizarre.
I traveled a fair bit of land and sea in order to make these talks, which seem to be at this juncture "Agree to this or begone with ye'!". My words were blunt, but not spiteful. I trusted you to talk with me and we could figure something out aside from that single document.
For you, I have the utmost respect. The blurbs from Derby have been nice, but I have yet to experience the city for myself. I only raised the issue concerning the perpetrator of the event and a snippet of PenFed law that made me headtilt.
I am not sure how to interpret your departure, but I am sure that politics is a lengthier matter than "Sign this." "No. We haven't talked about the proper issue." "Kthxbye"
From the Baron to Solemn:Dearest Solemn,
Your reply was enough for me to discern that we had nothing left to discuss. You stated clearly that your interest was your own domestic politics. I can respect that and obviously part of my respecting that is recognizing that I have no part in that so, naturally, I said my goodbyes and left as I had concluded my other business on Midway.
Yours,
Baron Robert Surcouf, Lord of Derby, Port Breton, Midway Island and the South Eastern Isles
In conclusion, from Solemn to the Baron:If such a broaching of the actual matter gave you that impression, I am at a loss as to what we were supposed to be doing there.
You have shown me great hospitality, and for that I will always leave the door open for diplomacy in the future. However, I will not set up a welcome mat for dividing up the island, as that isn't something we'd be privvy to authorize, nor would we like any future dabblings resulting from that blamed on us.
Au revoire.
