Elder's Valley

The GRA Imperious begins its descent to the Elder Valley. The crew locates the makeshift docks and sets about mooring at them. The warning about wearing heavy clothes had been heard, but given how heavy normal duty clothes where no additional coverings were added. Thick woolen coats with stitching to ward against falls and chill would have to do. The king stepped off onto the improvised air dock and looked around for whoever would be greeting them.

Arianne had a cloak brought to her, as well as gloves. The velvet gown she wore was thick enough to shield her from the temporary cold of the docks, given the handsome cloak worn over it.

The young queen followed after her husband, a subtle tiara in her hair to mark her rank, and a warm and bright smile on her face as she was gently handed down onto the ice.

"Thank you for your warm welcome," Arianne said before Renaux could even speak. The Queen's excitement to be there was obvious, and infectious. She stepped forward, extending her hands to take Havador's own. "Your land is beautiful. I cannot wait to meet more of its people."

Only then did she become aware that she had once again broken protocol and she turned her head to look at Renaux. "If there is time, of course."

It was altogether possible that Arianne would make time regardless of what would be said. Stubborn. Willful. Spoiled. And very, very charming.

Havador maintained a respectful distance between himself and Arianne, even as they embraced hands. He knew young people could get touchy about that sort of thing. "If all goes well, you will be able to visit whenever you wish."

He turned to the king. "Well, from what your scouts were gracious enough to tell me, the capital is surrounded by water, and you have many ships that travel by water. As a land-locked nation that is most intriguing to us." He looked over towards the ice docks he had made. "Perhaps myself more than the others." He said with a warm smile. Havador's demeanor in general was rather warm and kind. Most of his movements were done with a steady, patient pace. Despite his life being in its last stretch, he was able to stand and walk upright with no difficulty.

"I am Elder Havador, the first of the Elder's council. Each person you see before you was chosen by the people to represent their individual clans. We are called elders because most often it is the oldest and wisest among us who become the leaders, though..." He gestured towards Sangilak, a brown-skinned woman who was only in her 30s. "Occasionally there are exceptions." Sangilak waved at the king. Then she paused, realizing she was being a bit foolish, and with an apologetic grin bowed slightly as Renaux did. "That is Sangilak, leader of the Saskatoon clan. You might be speaking with her later, but for now, we should head to our council hall." Havador bid him and the Queen to follow their venerable entourage towards the large temple-like structure just north of them.

As they approached, a horn would blow, and several ordinary looking citizens of the Land-Tillers would come streaming out of the structure. It would be completely empty just as the elders and their party were to prepare to enter.

"As you may have seen, our nation is characterized by our connection with nature and magic. Many of us embrace the natural energies around us, and our economy is almost entirely agricultural. We trade mostly food, some lumber, and medicinal plants. Hopefully there is something we can offer your nation."

"Well I suppose when you view it like that we are a water continent. Though our main trade is in the sky."

Renaux remarks wryly as he glances at the air ship. His attention turns to each of the Elders as they are indicated and he nods to them in turn. It was an encouraging sign that they appointed a relative youth to their ruling council. It meant they would not look down on him for his age. He follows Havador as his wife answers a question meant for him.

Renaux was not bothered by his wife's out burst. He had already picked up that Havador and the rest of the Elders did not put much stock in formality. Besides he even with his regal mask on, every time he looked her way the love shone through. It was obvious that there was little the woman could do to actually upset him. Still it was good she recognized when she over stepped her bounds. His tone of voice is wry, but filled with genuine warmth as he speaks.

"As my Queen says I am sure we can come to an agreement."

The more Elder Havador spoke, the more questions Arianne wanted to ask, her curiosity almost bursting from the scenes. She wanted to ask what magic Havador favored, she wanted to know if each tribe was only limited to one type of magic, she wanted to know about the natural affluences to their magic as their magic school seemed to differ greatly from what she had known in Gauldin.

But she didn't ask these things, or the questions that could branch from them. She remained poised, although those that knew her best -- like her ladies in waiting, like her husband -- could tell that she was itching beneath her skin to explore and wander and know things.

"Thank you," she said graciously when they were complimented on their garb. Her gaze wandered toward what was around them, reaching up to untie her cloak and fold it over her arm, to which a lady in waiting stepped forward to take it from her because, most likely, Arianne was bound to set it down somewhere and forget all about its existence.

"The Black Tower has been very useful and helpful," Arianne said, knowing her own personal experience with the Black Tower and some of its affiliates. "Were they interested in expanding to the Land Tillers' State?" her gaze returned to Havador's face.

Havador nodded. "Indeed. As you are not our enemies I believe we could work something out. There are some things I'd like to discuss with you as well." They would enter the stone passage way into the meeting hall. Once again there appeared the stone seating areas lines with moss, and a central podium for a main speaker. "The Black Tower has in fact opened up a based here. We appreciate their presence for the sake of international cooperation, but the truth is we have few enemies at the moment and they haven't had to do much."

The elders decided that the auditorium set up wasn't quite ideal for this particular type of talk. They didn't want to put the king and queen on a pedestal exactly, nor make them feel too awkward. So Sangilak, with a wave of her hands triggered the appearance of a hidden stone table in between the podium and the main seating area. As the stone slab rose, several stone benches rose with it. One of the elders brought out some quills and scrolls. Another elder, interestingly, had brought food for everyone. He and his servants distributed bread, vegetables, and an odd sort of sweet drink filled with bits of fruit and some ice.

The blue flames in the background erupted so that the lighting was better. Once again, no discernible increase in temperature.

When everyone was comfortable, Havador spoke once again. "There is in fact something we've been meaning to discuss with any new potential allies. As you know our primary export is food. Fruits, vegetables, and medicinal herbs are what we supply to other nations. In exchange we receive things that are difficult to produce for us. The undead kingdom of Belrow has given us enchanted tools and weapons. Isra gives us other metal items and textiles and other tools. For the most part we are quite happy. However, we understand that our engineering skills are, somewhat lacking."

A man in his 50s, with salt and pepper hair and leathery skin, spoke up. "My name is Goga, of the Dittany clan. Recently my son has joined an organization that our great founder, Van'ei the Earthwarden, has created. They call themselves the Gaurdians of Gaia, and their mission is to teach other nations how to live with nature without harming the environment. My son in fact showed me a most intriguing design for a farm which could be created... underwater." Havador smiled. "I had a feeling he would do something like that someday." Havador turned to the king. "Your eminence, while our people are happy to produce food for other nations, the truth is we are starting to feel some strain as the populations of all our lands continues to grow. Would you be open to allowing us to teach you how to create these, underwater farms? They would most likely increase your food production considerably, and take some pressure off of us."

Sangilak rose her hand. "Hang on." She said sternly. "Before we forget, the venerable elder mentioned that our engineering skills were somewhat lacking. We are offering Gauldin a chance to create a base here, as well as presenting them an agricultural technology. I think it's fair we ask for something in return... Perhaps the basic designs for an airship?"

The other elders started murmuring.

Renaux enters the grand hall face just as impassive as it had been for everything else. It was an important rule of negotiation and diplomacy hide your emotions. If people knew how you truly felt they could use it against you. The king listen attentively as Havador and the others talk. Gauldin had fertile farmland and though much of it, perhaps to much was devoted to vineyards, there wasn't a great need for them to import food. It would help for winter stores, but it would not make of break their kingdom. Still the farms were an interesting idea and worth exploring. The counter request though...

"The submersible farm certainly sounds like an interesting prospect. Not necessary for Gauldin, but it may help my people. Teaching you basic airship design though... Gauldish technology is proprietary, it requires materials only found in our land. We maybe able to have our mages and engineers fabricate a design that would work for you. Still I do not know what we can promise. Let us discuss particulars..."

<Fade to Grey.>