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| The "New" Dinner | |
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| Tweet Topic Started: Oct 9 2014, 04:50 AM (239 Views) | |
| Savasan | Oct 9 2014, 04:50 AM Post #1 |
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Jacob's Main Guy
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After the tedious nature of the first meeting, Louis left the Palace. He would beat a hasty retreat to the Auvernian Embassy, where he and his cohorts, such as the Ambassador to Austiana, Georges Archambault maintained the Kingdom’s relationships with Austiana since the late 1990’s, since the last ambassador - also an Archambault - died in the post. Georges established himself in Castrinite high society, creating a miniature royal court for himself, hiring local musicians, inviting famed painters, philosophers, scientists, intellectuals, and local magnates to the large embassy-palace. Anyone who wanted to be anyone needed to seen in the man’s palace. The Archambault Family were close friends of the Royal Family, ever since the 1880’s when the Archambaults rose to power in several prefectural governments in the Kingdom. They hailed from Grenoble, the seat of their first electoral victory in 1882. Over the next decade, They won various victories surrounding prefectures, using the income gained by the positions to build capital for more ambitious projects. They then moved to the Free City of Veldhoven, where they won the mayoral elections, and by nature of the office, gained a seat on the Electoral Council. They managed to pool together wealth, winning elections in Auxerre, and then, finally, in Melun in 1934. By now, there were three branches created by the constant upheaval of their successes. It was the Melunais branch of the family, that were raised into the status of nobility, by giving them the defunct seat of the Counts of Foix, who went extinct in the 1920’s. It was that social capital that they accrued ever since the 1880’s that allowed them to grow into various other positions, such as rectors of the University of Melun, and eventually into the diplomatic seats that the Archambaults held in Dawinia, Austiana, and Valkany. Many Archambaults became mentors of royal children, such as Louis. Louis lived in the City of Castratene from the years of 2005 - 2010, studying at a fancy university in the area, and lived with Georges during those years. As Louis reminisced about those days, those bawdy nights in the streets of Castratene, the limousine pulled into the Embassy’s parking area, where the guards opened the doors for Louis and his aide. They rushed the building, going up a small stairway, passing the front desk. When the pair approached the top of the stairway, they saw the servants setting the place for Lefkada’s visit. Four chairs, set up for the guest and hosts were arranged around a small table, meant for after dinner, when the three would sit down at try haggle out some deals in depth. He exited that room, and entered the small dining hall used for smaller events. The tables were barely set, and would be worked on later. Louis made his way to a smaller hallway which led into personal rooms. In one the rooms, he heard music play faintly - a violin, accompanied with a piano. He followed the noise into the salon room, where Georges was hosting another salon. The piece was nearing conclusion, as the violin and piano joined in the final cadence. Louis entered into the salon, where many people saw him. Georges saw him enter, and soon introduced him to the crowd. “Ladies and Gentlemen, it is my pleasure to see this man this moment, and it is also my pleasure to introduce this young man to you all, Louis Martenot, Duke of Berengac, Right Hand of the King.” The crowd clapped and welcomed the young man. The crowd broke and began talking, taking in wine, finger foods, and other things. Louis pulled Georges aside, and talked to him about the dinner with Lefkada. Georges assured him that the salon would break at 6, and all people would leave. “Go take a bath, get dressed, Louis. It’s only four-thirty. Take a nap.” Louis decided that his former mentor was right. He’d left the salon room and went to his room. He laid in bed for a few minutes, and his eyelids closed up on him, and fell asleep. Louis woke up, the clock read six-fifteen. “Damned”, thought Louis. “I need a bath.” He quickly undressed and jumped into the shower. He quickly bathed, the suds rising, and the grime running down the drain. within ten minutes he was out of the shower and getting dressed. The three-piece suit was quickly put on, and he scrambled for a tie. “Right, full Windsor knot tonight, Louis.”, thought Louis. He exited the room while tying the tie. As he came down the stairway, with a jaunty gait, Georges saw him and said “Great, you’re here. Now we can say hello to this Lefkada character.” As the two headed towards the dining room, A young servant came up to them and said “The Achaian diplomat is here.” “Thank you, Lorenz.” Georges turned to Louis, and said quietly, “We should just make our way to the door.” Louis nodded. The commotion outside as Lefkada and company was greeted by the head chamberlain made its way through the door. The guards sensed the noise, and prepared to open the doors. The Chamberlain said to Lefkada “I hope your trip was not hindered by any traffic. Castratene is a wild city.” By now, he had approached the large doors of the parlor, adjacent to the smoking room. He struck the floor with his staff, which prompted the guards to open the doors. The Chamberlain soon moved in, and said. “Your Excellencies, your guest, Lefkada of the Peloponnese.” Georges nodded, to acknowledge the Chamberlain. The Chamberlain nodded his head forward, and turned away from the trio, letting them open the discussion. “Madam, It pleases me to have you in our estate.” |
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| Mastropa | Oct 9 2014, 04:57 AM Post #2 |
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Zinovios Mesolongias, Epistatis
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Lefkada closed her telephone and pocketed it as she leaned back into her seat. Glancing over at Major Korinna, she said, “The anax has been informed of today’s arrangements.” The major nodded seriously. “And?” “The anax was pleased that the meeting bore at least a little fruit, especially in terms of trade. We are a manufacturing nation, and we are much more likely to achieve greater success in that regard at the center of a trading network than outside of it. We can hope that the trade of our partners will lead to more useful products being built by ourselves--especially those products that we build under the auspices of foreign companies.” Lefkada sighed as she considered the anax’s next words. “He wasn’t pleased about my suggestion that we scrap the Gileadan treaty, but under the circumstances, he understood why it was necessary. Apparently he will see if it will be possible to smooth this over with Gilead in some other way. In the meantime, we can hope that the support of the rest of the League will make up for any possible benefit the treaty could have brought to Achaian Peloponnese.” Korinna considered Lefkada for a moment. “You were extremely hostile toward Gilead in the meeting, Ambassador. Are you having second thoughts?” Lefkada frowned as she considered her actions. “I was acting out of frustration, I think,” she admitted. “It was not the most professional behavior from me, certainly, but nonetheless, I think it was warranted. There was so little that our new partners could or would do against Gilead… And we were no better in that regard, due both to our lack of power and our fear of conflict. But we couldn’t simply do nothing due to impotence. I couldn’t let it come to that.” Lefkada sighed. “The anax was not entirely pleased to hear that, of course. But I think he was more disappointed with the weaknesses of our new allies than he was angry with my outbursts… I hope.” When Korinna only shrugged, Lefkada sighed again and turned toward the window. “At the very least,” she said, “I have some additional news for the Auvernian prince. It may be meaningless, considering Auvernia’s aerospace industry and connections, but it seems that Iraklis Corporation has grown confident enough in its design to offer the Irak-27 to the international market.” The ambassador nodded at the major’s sudden interest in this military matter. “If nothing else, Iraklis hopes to counter the costs of purchasing foreign technology for future designs. The Megaron will, of course, take its cut to reduce the overall cost of its own foreign purchases.” “Are we not negotiating those purchases right now?” Major Korinna asked. The ambassador nodded. “Of course, but we’re not alone. We are gaining more trading partners as time goes on, not all of whom are minor nations outside of the world stage. The anax has already begun considering the most likely places to send ambassadors to look into foreign purchases.” Lefkada shrugged. “Even if our League is now promising cheaper prices and more immediate trade among its members, it would be foolish of us to ignore possible trading partners elsewhere whose products might also be useful to us.” Korinna nodded. “Absolutely.” The ambassador turned back to the window as the impressive architecture of Castratene rolled past. After months staying with her military guard detail in a fine Castratene hotel, Lefkada had come to recognize the major landmarks and important buildings of the city, and she knew based on the facades passing by now that the Auvernian embassy was not far distant. Sure enough, within ten minutes the diplomatic car was pulling up to the doors of an impressive palace-like house with the Auvernian flag and coat-of-arms of the Martenot family fluttering in the breeze above the entrance. Within minutes of having the car door opened for her, Lefkada found herself being formally announced to Prince Louis and a man who Lefkada recognized as Georges Archambault, the Auvernian ambassador to Austiana. Lefkada smiled as the Auvernian ambassador stepped forward to speak with her. “Thank you for inviting me into your home, sir,” she said. “And thank you, Your Highness, for asking me to come here. I have to say that I have been quite looking forward to this meeting.” |
![]() MAKARIA to the Achaian People: Be as Many as the Stars | |
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| Savasan | Oct 9 2014, 04:58 AM Post #3 |
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Jacob's Main Guy
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“I am pleased as well”, said Louis. As the quartet of diplomats exchanged greetings, Lorenz, the young servant, came up to Georges and said “Sir, dinner is served.” Georges responded, “Your Excellencies, follow me, the dinner as been served.” As the group followed him into the dining hall, the smells of food filled the reception hall, as the doors opened before them. They had reached the door frame when Georges saw the last the servant set the table, a last minute adjustment for the guests. The servant sprinted out the room, into the door opposite the diplomats were coming in. What was served on the table were plates of cheeses, olives, cured meats, and mushrooms. What appeared to be a tomato soup sat behind the plates of antipasto. As the crew sat to eat this first of many courses, Louis asked “Well, Madam, you seemed quite interested in the products offered by the member nations of the League of Castratene. Tell me, what interests do your people in Kerkyra have in our industries? Please be in-depth. I’m interested.” Louis took a piece of the cured meat and ate it. |
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| Mastropa | Oct 9 2014, 05:03 AM Post #4 |
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Zinovios Mesolongias, Epistatis
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Lefkada smiled at Prince Louis. “Achaian Peloponnese is built on its manufacturing industries,” she said, “but almost all of our business up until now has been focused on domestic production, in isolation of the rest of Noverra. Without competition, our manufacturers have failed to keep up with international innovations. The Megaron hopes that international products, especially those that represent military and manufacturing technology, will provide a jumping-off point for our own manufacturers to improve.” The ambassador glanced at Major Korinna, before returning her attention to Prince Louis. “The Megaron is also interested in using foreign products as intended, of course, in addition to purchasing them for research. We are especially interested in fielding foreign military products in our armed forces until we are capable of producing weapons of similar quality. Even then, the Office of Military Affairs understands the value of variety in its arsenal, and we will likely continue to purchase foreign weapons for the field for as long as we are able.” As she was speaking, Lefkada reached for a piece of bread and cut a slice of cheese from the closest board. Achaian farms were not exactly known for their products, but those from the cities learned to appreciate the dairy that came from those people still laboring in the country on their behalf. |
![]() MAKARIA to the Achaian People: Be as Many as the Stars | |
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| Savasan | Oct 9 2014, 05:04 AM Post #5 |
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Jacob's Main Guy
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“I guess you’d be interested in our warships.” said Georges. “The early successes of the Frisians were mostly based in trade, and they accomplished this with their large merchant fleets. Naturally, their success translated into Auvernian wealth, as we controlled the region for say…300 years? Well, our navy is largely built and designed by Frisian hands and minds. Boudewijn Cornelissen, the owner and largest shareholder of the company would be pleased to sell three ships, The Armand class, the Fiedler Class, and the Lavine class.” While Georges peddled the ships, Louis took a piece of cheese from his plate and ate cheese. A servant soon brought out a wine cooler with some wine, specifically the “King’s Own” wine, imported directly from Auvernia. Louis spotted the wine, and asked for some wine. The servant served him gladly. As the servant served all ambassadors, Louis picked up where Georges left off. “It’s very possible we could sell off these things. But you said you have a manufacturing industry as well. Instead of selling you these ships, We’d be willing to ask the Directors to sell you the designs instead, freeing you from any Auvernian design that doesn’t suit your fancy. You could produce these under license, unless you need ships now.” |
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| Mastropa | Oct 9 2014, 05:04 AM Post #6 |
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Zinovios Mesolongias, Epistatis
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Ambassador Lefkada smiled and nodded at the server as he filled her glass with wine. She was curious about the quality of wine from northern Victorium; she knew that in the southern climes, especially on the Victorium and Ramadanhirian Seas, vineyards produced some excellent vintages, and while Achaian brands had yet to be compared with any others (owing to Achaian Peloponnese’s former isolation), requests had already come into the Office of International Political Outreach to look into entering the Peloponnese’s (admittedly few) vineyards into international competitions. So far those requests had failed to attract Basileus Kifisia’s notice, but Lefkada knew that eventually the international luxury markets would certainly attract the Megaron’s attention. She had another reason for her smile, too, and as soon as her glass was full Lefkada said to Louis, “Your Highness understands Achaian intentions perfectly. The Megaron prizes Achaian Peloponnese’s autonomy, of course, and depending on the military supplies of other nations would leave us vulnerable in the future when and if those supplies are taken out of our reach. We are much more comfortable setting our factories to the task of constructing our fleets, regardless of the source of the design. Certainly Achaian Peloponnese would be happy to purchase these designs, as well as models already built for immediate service.” Lefkada sipped at her soup for a moment as she considered her next words. “As I also mentioned at the League meeting, Your Highness, Achaian Peloponnese is interested in acting as Victorium’s factory in the east. We include in this offer any military products Auvernia or any Victorian nation hopes to export. I would like to put forward the offer to Cornelissen Industries to manufacture ships under their name and contract in Aktaion Shipwrights’ docks for export to Auvernia’s eastern markets. This is in addition to our request to build these ships under license for our own navy.” Lefkada smiled as she took another slice of cheese and some grapes from the platter in front of her. After taking a bite, she asked, “What can Achaian Peloponnese do for Auvernia to compensate for such an offer? While we are acting mainly as purchasers at the moment, we have products of our own that seek markets abroad.” |
![]() MAKARIA to the Achaian People: Be as Many as the Stars | |
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| Savasan | Oct 9 2014, 05:05 AM Post #7 |
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Jacob's Main Guy
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“Quite.” said Louis. “We would have to get in contact with the corporations back home so we can get these ships to you. Once that is done, we could bring them in contact that with your government. We could do the same for the Durand and the various oil companies.” The servants came out with the salads, and Louis began working on the soup. "This is a good night." |
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| Mastropa | Oct 9 2014, 06:05 AM Post #8 |
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Zinovios Mesolongias, Epistatis
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As Major Korinna began to eat at her salad, Lefkada swallowed her last mouthful of cheese and said, “I have to say that it is one of the best I’ve ever experienced, Your Highness. While our gathering this afternoon was perhaps less productive than my superiors in Kerkyra had hoped, certainly the Megaron will appreciate closer ties with Victorian nations such as Auvernia. I certainly appreciate the opportunity of this invitation, Your Highness, and I am pleased that it has already borne fruit between our nations. Likewise, I believe that the first meeting of the League this afternoon has at least laid the groundwork for future connections such as these. If nothing else, we can be relatively certain that trade in Victorium and abroad will flourish under the auspices of this League. It will make up for my superiors’ disappointment that military concerns have been largely put aside today, and will probably fare no better tomorrow.” The ambassador filled a fork with salad, which included another piece of cheese, and took a bite. She couldn’t help but smile. “May I ask if this is Auvernian produce?” |
![]() MAKARIA to the Achaian People: Be as Many as the Stars | |
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| Savasan | Oct 10 2014, 06:22 AM Post #9 |
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Jacob's Main Guy
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Louis leaned back in his chair, collecting his thoughts. "I am not aware. I do know that the wine, honey, cheese, tobacco and marijuana comes from largely Auvernia and Acadia - My cousin owns vineyards there, hence the name of the brand name - 'The King's Own'. The company was established by Louis XVIII, my great-grandfather, after enjoying some wine while was touring the Acadia after the Dawinian-Auvernian War of Succession. He enjoyed the wine coming out of Acadia so much that he decided to buy up land. While in Auvernia, the servants also produced cheese for consumption by the royal household. My great grandfather brought in peasants who desired to work in the city by employing them as producers of cheese, and having the servants teach those peasants. Needless to say, he sold his wine and cheeses to the people. It's become a more niche brand since those days." Louis took a sip of wine and worked on the tomato soup again. He wiped his mouth, and continued on the story. He thought he was probably going into too much detail, but he started this, and so he would end it. "For the honey, it's much more steeped in history. I'm not if you saw my Auvernian Bee lapel pin. The relationship with the bee is rumored to have started with barbarian tribes, where they crowned 'bee kings'. The bee was thought to be immortal to those tribes, because it arose from rotting flesh. The Hadrians came into contact with these tribes and documented the relationship, providing some primary source. Sigismund, a local tribe leader, became the first king of Auvernia made the bee his sign, and then the sign of the Kingdom. Beekeeping has been a secondary job of the Auvernian King ever since the days of Louis IV." Louis stared at the wine, and trailed into the sentence "We do a lot of farming in Acadia. Even in our Rendarian fiefs." |
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| Mastropa | Oct 10 2014, 07:38 AM Post #10 |
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Zinovios Mesolongias, Epistatis
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Ambassador Lefkada raised her eyebrows at the prince’s list of King’s Own products. “Marijuana, Your Highness?” she asked, surprised. “As I understand it, many nations in Noverra have attempted to ban marijuana entirely; here Auvernia considers it royal produce! At least in Achaian Peloponnese, while no anax has ever made a specific ruling on the legality of any drug, it is illegal to work while intoxicated with any mind-altering substance. I admit, I have never had the opportunity, or really any desire, to sample.” She took another sip of wine before adding, “Achaian Peloponnese has no real corollary to your brand, the King’s Own. An anax possesses power through his office, rather than through his person or his family line, and while Anax Kerameikos holds stakes in many important Achaian corporations, he owns none of them outright. Even if he did, what Anax Kerameikos owns is his personal property, not the property of the office he holds, and it will not be passed on to the next anax unless that anax is his rightful inheritor.” Lefkada glanced back at the bowl of salad in front of her. “We are no strangers to farming in general, of course,” she said. “Achaian Peloponnese is an industrial nation, but Achaians living in the city to fuel that industry cannot farm on their own. Almost everyone living outside of the cities is occupied with farming in order to feed those cities, unless they are stationed outside the urban centers as part of their military service. Fortunately, we have a lot of space in the Peloponnese, and a great deal of it is made up of arable land. Our population is small enough that we can support it all through this land, but the farming population is too small to manage it without the help of equipment.” The ambassador looked at the prince inquisitively. “In fact,” she said as she considered the situation more seriously, “our industries are required to build farming implements as well as warships. And I have no doubt that the corporations in question, as well as the Megaron, would be more than happy to sell that equipment abroad. Would Auvernia have any need of additional farming equipment? I am not well-versed with the specifics--I was born in raised in Tinos by an urban military family--but it would not be difficult to contact the Megaron and the corporations in question to provide more certain answers for you.” |
![]() MAKARIA to the Achaian People: Be as Many as the Stars | |
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| Savasan | Oct 11 2014, 07:11 AM Post #11 |
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Jacob's Main Guy
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Louis opened a second bottle wine, and then poured it onto his glass. He responded, "I guess we do. The Emperor of Dawinia gave a fief to my cousin as a gift for his actions during the Victorium War. The area is dominated by large plantations. If we could convince the landowners to grow grain for us, that would be excellent, as we could reduce our dependency on Gilead. Naturally, more tractors mean could cover more ground, and expand those plantations. What do you have in mind?" |
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| Mastropa | Oct 11 2014, 08:18 AM Post #12 |
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Zinovios Mesolongias, Epistatis
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“We would like to provide Auvernia with the equipment that it needs to increase its productivity and thus its self-reliance,” Lefkada said. “As far as I can tell, Your Highness, Auvernia faces the same issue that Achaian Peloponnese has long feared: reliance on others that can be used against it by an enemy. Indeed, according to your words during our meeting this afternoon, Auvernia’s response to Gilead’s provocation must balance the kingdom’s irritation with the material needs that Auvernia requires Gilead to meet. As I made clear during the meeting, Achaian Peloponnese would like to see more forceful action in response to foreign provocation, and we are disappointed to see that the League of Castratene seems unable to provide that action at the moment. Achaian Peloponnese benefits when its allies are stronger, of course; anything that we can do to bolster that strength, we most certainly will. In this case, providing farm implements will strengthen Auvernia’s domestic situation as well as Achaian coffers, as it will act to offset some of the cost of the purchases the Megaron intends to make from Cornelissen Industries, and will hopefully--well, forgive me for being so blunt, Your Highness,” the ambassador interjected, “but greater strength in Auvernia will provide a stronger shield for Achaian Peloponnese. I am sure Your Highness already understand that my nation is not equipped--yet--to stand against the might of nations like Gilead. We hope to pull our weight in this League in other ways, and we hope that providing goods and products for Auvernia will be the first step to doing so.” |
![]() MAKARIA to the Achaian People: Be as Many as the Stars | |
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| Savasan | Oct 12 2014, 04:54 AM Post #13 |
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Jacob's Main Guy
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Louis began finishing his tomato soup, to which the first course was coming out with the fish course. A fried fish in tomato and onion sauce. "Quite. Charles is less willing to stand up to Gileadian monderings, and is making overtures to the governments of his realm to begin actions ensuring Auvernian security. At the moment, there is a trade meeting in Acadia as we speak with the President of the Trade Association of North Gilead and the Consuls of Acadia. The King wonders whether if we can get any good out of it. It seems that we will benefit immensely from such a trade union. With lower tariffs in Acadia, we could make Acadia purchase food on our behalf, and we reap the profits. Combined with the increased output from our Rendarian fiefs, we could begin stockpiling grain and other goods."
Edited by Savasan, Oct 12 2014, 04:54 AM.
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| Mastropa | Oct 12 2014, 05:13 AM Post #14 |
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Zinovios Mesolongias, Epistatis
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Ambassador Lefkada nodded to the server who laid out the fried fish and picked up her fork. She took a bite and nodded as she listened to Prince Louis’s explanation. Swallowing, she said, “We might be grateful that Gilead desires to spread trade into Auvernian territories instead of cutting them off entirely. If Auvernia must rely on Gilead, it is certainly better to do so at a better price, at least for as long as it takes to wean itself from that dependence. Let us hope that this trade organization provides still more opportunities for Auvernia--and for the League that Auvernia is now attached to.” Lefkada raised her wineglass to the prince and took a sip. “Attached to trade in Victorium and North Gilead… Auvernia might well become the trading hub of Noverra. Obviously Achaian Peloponnese would enjoy a close relationship with a trading partner in such a prominent position.” |
![]() MAKARIA to the Achaian People: Be as Many as the Stars | |
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| Savasan | Oct 12 2014, 05:27 AM Post #15 |
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Jacob's Main Guy
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Louis began eating some of the excellent fish, and said to Lefkada, "I say, Madam, why don't we take you to see the farms in Rendaria? It would be better, so you can see what type of mess that place is in? Perhaps, we could also visit the Cornelissen shipyards in Veldhoven and Melun. My cousin is having a ball after the LOC summit, to close the social season." |
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