A conversation between Grand Chief Dheskerallai of the
Panchayyah and Lord-Governor Huacoatl of the Kaeirean
colony of Rimrivertown largely about Milakanur
(secret)
Setting
The conversation takes place in the audience hall of
the Grand Chief after a protracted meeting of the Rim
River Council meeting. In contemporary terms the hall
appears as if it was an attempt by greenpeace to
create a gothic cathedral/teepee out of Lincoln logs.
The structure integrates living and carved elements to
remind the leaders of history and the land. Bronze
ornaments hang everywhere . It is early evening and
the censers shave been lit. The smell of the smoke
from the council members pipes still fills the room.
Lord-Governor Huacoatl
I should point out that at this point the major
threats to Kaeirean-Panchayyah cooperation are
Milakanur, Aixelsydan and Mir. The first two because
they border Panchayyah, and Mir because it views
itself as being the regional power in the northern
Midsea.
To that end, Kaeir will also share with the
Panchayyah Grand Chief some Kaeirean intelligence.
Kaeir intends, by about the year 1460, to start a
military conflict with Milakanur for commercial,
strategic and religious reasons. The goal will be to
force Milakanur to stop persecuting the Millati church
in Milakanur (80% of Kaeir is Millati), and to open
Milakanuri ports to Kaeirean traders. Kaeir will keep
the Grand Chief updated, but has notified him as he is
Kaeir's ally and a neighbour of Milakanur. I am not
sure whether the Panchayyah could or would want to
play a role (and whether Kaeir would want you to), but
I will keep you informed.
Grand Chief Dheskerallai
The normally affable and comparatively breezy dealings
with the tribes gain an immediate and palpable chill
with the mention of a conflict with Milakanur.
"It is good you mention this idea to me privately,
several members of the council have lost sons and
ancestors to the filthy Milakanur. Even the
unconquered tribes would be insulted If you were to
attack them alone. The southern Avaera is our
destiny, and natural border to our lands. this leads
me to believe two things. the first is that we may be
focusing our efforts on the wrong river, and the
second is far more ominous. I cannot complete any
agreements until I have assurances from the highest
levels on this troubling issue." The Great chieftan
makes rare visible attempts to maintain his composure
while speaking.
Lord-Governor Huacoatl
Lord-Governor Huacoatl relaxes at this point, the
knowledge of the Senate's general plans for Milakanur
springing to mind.
"I am very glad to hear this, O Grand Chief
Dheskerallai, as will be the Consul and the Senate
back in Port Kaeir. However, you must understand our
reasoning for pressing against Milakanur. It is a
combination of religion, commerce and politics. To
the the north in the Calarnar lies the Shanari
Commonwealth, long an ally of the Kaeirean Republic
and whose people share the same religion as most
Kaieireans, the Millat ("the Path"). Milakanur was
the birthplace of the founder of the Millat, the
Conveyor Faymiyun al Shawari. For the crime of
preaching the truth, he was forced to flee into the
Calarnari desert in exile, where he settled in the
deep desert city of Akbari. In the southeastern city
of Milakanibur, where he had been born, his family the
al-Shawari, an important Milakanuri noble family, were
persecuted and deprived of their property and rights.
Since then the Millat has grown, but the Millati
church in Milakanur remains illegal and persecuted.
Many Kaeireans, and our allies the Shanari
Commonwealth, wish to see this changed and freedom for
the Millati church in Milakanur established.
"That though is not part of state policy for Kaeir,
as the Compact of the Great Houses of the Green
Republic of Kaeir forbids religion playing a role in
state affairs. I myself, as a state official, am
forbidden from using my position to benefit my
religion, the Millat, or from allowing my beliefs to
influence decisions that I make in my position. The
main reason for Kaeir's designs on Milakanur is
twofold: firstly, gaining control of the Milakanuri
protectorate of Port Jabau which lies west of
Milakanur, and secondly, gaining access to the
Milakanuri markets. A third unstated reason is that a
free Millati church in Milakanur will undermine the
Milakanuri government, making the Milakanuri people
far more friends then enemies.
"I had not been aware, good Dheskerallai, that the
Panchayyah harboured such anger, and such designs,
towards Milakanur. I know my superior, the Inquisitor
of the Republic, Lord Karl van Kahshaar, and the
Consul and the Senate, will be glad to hear of your
position.
"One thing complicates this, and this is why Kaeir
has tread cautiously while planning a campaign against
Milakanur. Mir. The ancient wizards of Mir, and all
their ungodly power derived from the Dreaming, have
strong ties of culture, sorcery and trade with Mir.
The royal house of Milakanur infact has ties with Mir.
Thus, outright conquest of Milakanur is not possible,
for that would bring Mir into the conflict, and that
is something no-one in Kaeir wants. Mir already has
taken steps to re-creating their old Empire - they
already control southern Tirmar around Talishara, and
will soon take eastern Taltheran around Tal. If Mir
was given the chance to intervene for an old associate
like Milakanur, we would face threats from Mirrish
warmages and dragons on our own territories, good
Grand Chief.
"What Kaeir intends to to is this. As early as
1459, Kaeir will begin a short campaign to take over
Port Jabau. This is of immense religious, commercial
and strategic value to Kaeir and the Shanari
Commonwealth, as it is the gateway to the Calarnar,
the holy city of Akbari, and the
Trans-Calarnar trade. Control of Port Jabau shall
ensure Millati pilgrims will be able to travel to
Akbari unheeded, and that the Milakanuri will not be
able to interfere with Kaeirean merchants trading with
the Shanari. Just as importantly, Port Jabau shall
give the Kaeirean fleet a naval base located very
close to Milakanur.
"After this, Kaeirean diplomats will work to buy
Mir's silence and inaction for the approaching
conflict with Milakanur.
"Then by about 1464, the Kaeirean fleet using naval
bases in Port Jabau and Rimrivertown, will be able to
blockade Milakanur. Our Shanari allies will begin
raiding the western Milakanuri border. Your people,
Grand Chief Dheskerallai, could do the same from the
east.
"By 1465, Kaeirean troops will raid the Milakanuri
port city of Elanbur from the sea, putting it under
siege or capturing it entirely. Panchayyah warriors
could invade southeastern Milakanur, and head towards
the southeastern city of Milakanibur. Under such
pressure, Milakanur would have no choice but to sue
for peace.
"Honestly, I do not think Mir would tolerate Milakanur
being divided up between us. Do not underestimate
Mir, and what Mir can do. Separately or combined, we
could not overcome Mir. Mir is a sleeping giant best
left to sleep away. Could the Panchayyah gain all the
land south of the Avaeran river? No, but it could
gain eastern Milakanur, not including the cities of
Shein Avaer and Milakanibur. Possibly one city, maybe
Shein Avaer or Milakanibur, but not more.
"Additionally, Mir will always intervene in any
conflict if there is an opportunity for expanding
Mirrish territory. So if Milakanur was under threat
of disappearing, Mir would quickly turn on its friend
for a slice - something neither the Republic nor your
good self, Grand Chief, would want. Mir is a
frightening neighbour.
"It would also depend on how many men the Panchayyah
could field. It is a large area of territory between
the Rimriver and the Shein Avaer-Milakanibur area,
requiring a lot of time and manpower to subdue it.
Perhaps a joint Kaeir-Panchayyah campaign against
Milakanur would also depend on how successful the
current Panchayyah actions are against the Alorathean
tribes on the Avaeran Plains. Mir might hesitate if
an overwhelming horde of Panchayyah warriors had
occupied Shein Avaer.
Grand Chief Dheskerallai
"I understand your reasoning for pressing against
Milakanur. to meet a filthy Milakanur is to want to
kill them, what more is there to understand? In our
language Milakanur also means "smells as if you have
laid with the livestock". Port Jabau is not part of
our ancestral lands so we have no objection to your
conquest of it. We have no objection to establishing a
joint port, or a joint project, or building a temple
in the area, we don't care what religions do as long
as they do not restrict our own temples. you may use
our warriors to aid you in taking the port, but no
matter how much blood you spill there our blood will
always lay deeper then yours in the soil. Any treaty
must clearly recognize our claims to that land."
Lord-Governor Huacoatl
Lord-Governor Huacoatl stirred uneasily. "Good
Grand-Chief, with all due respect, religion places
little role in any major decision of state by the
Great Council, the Senate, the Consul or myself. In
fact, to decide something on the basis of religion is
a crime against the state in Kaeir.
I think you underestimate the danger posed by Mir.
Do not think that Kaeir cringes at the mention of
Mir's name, but merely that we are aware of Mir's
power, and will push Mir as far as Kaeir can push Mir
before Mir begins to stir. At all times, we should
avoid giving Mir a reason to get involved in our
affairs. One of the reasons Kaeir desires a stronger
Panchayyah is because it helps to counter-balance the
power of Mir. Additionally, weakening Milakanur in
turn weakens its ally, Mir.
I understand your position regarding Milakanur
now. You see it as part of your ancestral lands,
stolen by the Milakanuri nomads many centuries ago,
and that your ancestral lands are the Avaeran lands.
In that case, I fear you may have to prolong your
program for conquering Milakanur. They are a highly
developed society, with sophisticated magic and a good
army. Outright conquest of all of Milakanur will take
far more time, and will require far more resources,
and, will create a regional crisis which will make Mir
interested. If you cannot be persuaded away from
complete conquest of Milakanur, then very well, Kaeir
shall help you, but a timetable for such an action
must be lengthened in terms of time. Complete
conquest of Milakanur by the Panchayyah and Kaeir
would also be very costly for Kaeir, so Kaeir will
have certain things it would want from Milakanur
beyond what we have discussed.
I should reinforce though the fact that Milakanur is
of particular importance to all people who follow the
Millati faith, which has spread across the northern
Midsea from Kelshir and Bel'Adne to Aixelsydan, Kaeir
and Morvali. The city of Milakanibur on the southern
shore is of particular importance, as the birthplace
of the Millati prophet, the Conveyor Faymiyun, and as
the place the Millat (Path) was first preached. Any
program for the conquest of Milakanur would have to
take that into account, and the fact that a good
number of Milakanuri are Millati (though secretly
so). I am very sure the Great Council in particular,
when the time comes to declare war on Milakanur, will
make great issue of these two points. I know the
Senate will, soon enough.
Grand Chief Dheskerallai
"I am merely trying to state that people who share
culture ties with you will not suffer any limitations
under our rule. religion is not an issue for use
either, except perhaps for the manner in which the not
only fail to honor their ancestral spirits, but
enslave them with necromancy."
"The prophecies that state our rule over the lands
of Milakanur are vague about time, I was not thinking
anytime soon."
Lord-Governor Huacoatl
Kaeir is not very concerned about the Panchayyah rule,
as the Panchayyah have shown themselves to be very
honourable. As in all things though, Kaeir is
concerned with the reaction of other societies,
especially societies that may use such things as
excuses for involvement. A special status for the
city of Milakanibur would be advisable, as it would
ensure the Panchayyah do not lose the good will of the
many Millati believers across the Midsea. Special
status for the family of the Conveyor Faymiyun, the
House al-Shawari, would also be highly advisable.
I should point out though that the Shanari
themselves have a sort of prophecy concerning the
Milakanuri. Their prophet, the Conveyor Faymiyun al
Shawari was a Milakanuri prince before he received the
call to prophethood. Part of his message was that the
"Lost Sons of Shanar"
should be returned to the Shanariyya, the Shanari
nation. This included Jabuar, Milakanur and the
Morvali. Kaeir is not particularly concerned with
this Millati prophecy, nor is it with the Panchayyah
prophecy, except in how either could benefit its
allies and itself.
Provided that Kaeirean trade is not affected, and
that Kaeir gains greater access to the Milakanuri
market, then Kaeir would be quite supportive of
Panchayyah plans.
As a side thought, in any future invasion of
Milakanur, Kaeirean troops could occupy Elanbur and
Milakanibur in order to "save" them from their
Panchayyah allies, thereby preventing any other nation
from having an excuse to intervene in Milakanur. It
would allow Panchayyah troops to focus on the inland,
and provide excellent diplomatic PR for Kaeir. In
fact, in such a situation, it would be possible for
Kaeir to appear as a "neutral" nation. A deception of
neutrality would prevent Sedonia and Mir from sending
their navies to intervene, and give both the
Panchayyah and Kaeir time to achieve what they want
from Milakanur. Anyway, such things are for the
distant future, but worth considering now.
So the Panchayyah are looking to tackle the
Stihlweese first, then the Shaktari. Who is the third
tribe in the far north?
I had hoped to contribute the Tirmaeiri Rangers, the
Kaeirean cavalry, but they are currently busy on the
Kaeirean northern border. I am looking at landing a
large force of Kaeirean Marines in Rimrivertown though
to help you, around 800-1000 troops. They would also
be of value in making assaults on coastal tribes north
of Rimrivertown.
Perhaps landing the Kaeirean Marine force further up
the coast, behind the Stihlweese, would be better, as
the Kaeirean Expeditionary Force could then meet with
the Panchayyah army, catching the Stihlweese
in-between.
Grand Chief Dheskerallai
Slamming his fist on the table and pointing at the
Lord Huacoatl, the Grand cheiftan says
"Kaeir should be concerned with the Panchayyah
prophecy. The Panchayyah are the only people who can
make the Milakanur lands balanced again. Eastern
Milakanur was not always a wasteland. the filthy
Milakanur made the land die to protect themselves from
the powerful Panchayyah warrior priests, now only the
Panchayyah can make it healthy again, because we are
the only ones who know and keep the old ways. The
Panchayyah do not lay temple revelations at the doors
of foreigners lightly." He takes a breath to calm
down.
Then from a hollow compartment in the base of his
skull rod, the grand chief pulls out a antique scroll
that looks to be of Avaeran design mixed with
something else. "It was told you would speak of Mir."
The scroll rolls and shows a dragon flying over a
jungle in painstakingly detailed rendering that uses
different perspectives to artfully indicate the
passing of time. gradually a large swarm of insects
darkens the sky, and they begin to burrow and fester
under the dragons scales, and eventually it shows
jungle life feeding on dragon bones. The village
depicted is an ancient one laying in the center of a
lake in the large crater of an extinct volcano. the
architecture is hard to determine, but it is clear
that Panchayyah headdresses are on display" Mir can be
trouble, but neither of us can take over the land the
other was meant to have."
Lord-Governor Huacoatl
Prophecies have never been popular amongst the
Kaeirean Houses, though the Senate has long understand
the power of propaganda and the role of mysticism and
religion. Certainly, the native Green Cult plays a
similiar role in Kaeir to the Panchayyah prophecy, so
it is understandable.
Dheskerallai, I understand the fact that the
Milakanuri necromancy has drained the life from the
Avaeran riverlands. Whereas the Panchayyah have been
far more in tune with nature and the natural order of
life. The Milakanuri corruption was one reason why the
Millati prophet, the Conveyor, Faymiyun al Shawari,
preached against the foulness of Milakanuri magic and
Milakanuri society. The truth of his message was so
horrifying to the Milakanuri necromancer-king that he
attempted to kill Faymiyun, and forced him to flee for
his life into the desert.
Perhaps it is worth you talking to these
serpent-sorcerers i have heard whispered of in
Rimrivertown, the Bhaktim. Undoubtedly if the stories
about them are true, they would be more than a match
for any Mirrish dragon. And if your prophecy is from
your Snake Lord, then they would support such efforts
against Milakanur.
Grand Chief Dheskerallai
" The drought shows the filthy Milakanur are viewed
with hostility by the land. maybe the Panchayyah
Caiman priests and shaman could work together in
northern Avaera next season with your green church,
and further drought to help the will of the land. it
would prepare them for the embrace of the 100 arm
serpent.maybe in time we take out a small northern
tribe to set up another shipyard with diverted waters,
and have that be another place like rim river city.
Later we hit them for all sides on land and water. the
northern river cities are not as defended, and would
disrupt internal trade passages."
"Outside people should not speak of the Bhaktim, it
is very bad luck, It is best to leave them to their
path, but I could send my son Pizotin to quest for
them. He believes truly in the old ways, and hates the
Milakanur, If he does not find his way, I would be
free of his always telling me of unrealistic
expectations of keeping the all old ways exactly. -it
would be victory or victory."
(for the hardcore all 15 pages of the council meeting
and conversation are available in all the popular
formats)
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