Teuton and Helvetian Talks

[Hunter]

Greetings, King Markus I,

I am Guchu Nobleblade, Heir Apparent to the Nobleblade Throne of the Kingdom of Teutonar and Knight Retainer of The Order of The Dead.
I am pleased that you welcomed our caravan with gold and spices, and agreed to talks.
I hope you don’t mind, but I would like to cut to the heart of the matter. I am no family of yours, and I think neither of us wishes to change that today.

The Kingdom of Teutonar seeks 11,500,000 kilograms of food this year, and an additional 25,000,000 kilograms of food next year. Is this a quantity of food the Kingdom would be willing to export at this time? Additionally, is the Kingdom currently willing to export Silver? We have found an unexpected shortfall, and would like to supplement it with 55,000 kilograms of Silver annually, indefinitely. If the Helvetian Realm has additional Silver, we would be willing to pay more than the standard market rate to have an indefinitely secured contract to overcome this lack of bounty in our home.

[Rezim]

King Markus I of House Skeldsson

You are correct, Prince Guchu, we are not family, and today is not the day we pretend otherwise.

You have asked two things of Helvetia: food in measured quantities, and silver without end. These are not equal requests, and thus will not receive equal answers.

The food…the food in the quantity you request is within Helvetia’s capacity, and I will not hoard grain if I can afford to see it be given to a hungry realm. On this point, there is no difficulty of decision; we can deliver the requested amount for this year and can review what we can give next year; if we can give the twenty-five million kilograms requested, we will sell at the same price as grain that is agreed to, today. Once agreed, grain can begin transport, with haste.

The silver is another matter. Silver is not grain, silver does not return with the seasons. Silver is not grown, it diminishes, and to commit it indefinitely, even at favourable prices, is not trade. It is abdication of stewardship. Helvetia does not bind the future of her grandchildren to solve the shortages of another realm’s present - no king worthy of his name or title would.

That said, I do not dismiss your request or needs outright. Helvetia is willing to discuss a limited-term supply of silver, capped in quantity with fixed periods for review, and contingent upon our own yields and reserves. Five years, perhaps ten at most - but never indefinitely. Any arrangement beyond that would be renegotiated openly and publicly.

If Teutonar’s shortfall is structural rather than temporary, then the solution lies in reform and trade, not in draining another realm’s veins because its coffers appear deep.

You have come plainly, and I will answer plainly. Food - yes. Silver - with limits and oversight. If those terms are acceptable, we may continue. If they are not, then we part today without offense and without illusion.

[Hunter]

Guchu Nobleblade

Heir Apparent to the Nobleblade Throne of the Kingdom of Teutonar

Knight Retainer of The Order of The Dead

You make no offense with your response, King Markus. I am willing to accept a 5-year supply of silver. It will buy my Realm time to further trade with other Nordic or non-Nordic Realms, secure our own, or reduce our dependence on the material good which we lack.
As for food, that is excellent news. I thank you for allowing us to purchase it.

I will discuss the prices with your Retainers or whomever you deem appropriate shortly I hope? I would love to get this deal accomplished and then return to my other duties.

As your Kingship is certainly aware, there is the matter of the Illumination to attend to.
Would you object to us rallying an Army to Ivalen? Or must we use our vessels to return their Crown to a right Sovereign? My apologies for the bluntness, but these cultists offend even Odin himself. We cannot coexist with them.

[Rezim]

King Markus I of House Skeldsson

Then it is agreed, Prince Guchu. We will send you grain this year and yes, subject to the yield, next year as well. Additionally, we will send Teutonar silver for a five year period. My stewards will meet with yours this day, and the matter will be concluded without delay. You will have what you came for.

Now on the matter of Ivalen. Those who adhered to the Illumination were expelled from my realm - not harmed or hunted down - simply told to move along. After seeing the doctrine of the Illumination bring harm to innocence, I will not allow it to take root among my people. The Illumination is not welcome here, and it will not be sheltered in Helvetia as long as I and my kin rule. A King who blesses violence against his subjects has ceased to rule no such action can be justified.

I ask you, Prince Guchu - does Teutonar act to remove such zealotry with justice, or does it intend to meet zealotry with zealotry? How you answer will determine my answer.

[Hunter]

Guchu Nobleblade

Heir Apparent to the Nobleblade Throne of the Kingdom of Teutonar

Knight Retainer of The Order of The Dead

We will depose their Monarchy and put a believer in the Nordic Pantheon in the Throne. We will support a return to the Faith which even many in Teutonar share.
The matter of persecution or tolerance will be left to the Ivalens to determine. They were the ones repressed by the Cult. It is best to allow them to enact Vengeance or Mercy.
We will not kill all of the Illumination Cultists like dogs, or brand them as some were in Teutonar, for we do not have that right.
Whose who resist our Army will fall, but we will not plunder, steal, rape, or act as Zealots. We are not even intent on sharing our beliefs which differ from yours slightly, for you are not Teuton.
I would be pleased if you came around, but we will not blasphemy against your interpretation of the Faith without express permission in your lands.

I hope this answer is sufficiently candid?

[Rezim]

King Markus I of House Skeldsson

Prince Guchu, do not mistake my restraint for disbelief. I believe in the Allfather and his wisdom, Tyr and his laws, Forseti and his judgements. A war against Ivalen must be just, and simply placing a follower of Odin does not make the throne just. The gods do not rule the realms of Midgard, men do. And men who rule without law invite the gods’ judgements upon themselves.

I, too, would prefer to see the removal of the King, for in my eyes he has forfeited his right to rule. Dismantle the Illumination so that it may never return to set ablaze innocence or symbol alike, but not by abandoning law to vengeance. That is not justice. If Teutonar intends to move alone, it must do so alone. I wish you well in the war to come and that you either return home unharmed, or valiantly join the hall of heroes in Valhalla, but I cannot give access through my lands.

[Hunter]

Guchu Nobleblade

Heir Apparent to the Nobleblade Throne of the Kingdom of Teutonar

Knight Retainer of The Order of The Dead

Very well. We do not plan on placing an unjust Prince or Duke upon the throne, but we will do so by sea. If you change your opinion on the matter, we will welcome you to join forces with us.
I wish you felt otherwise, due to the sheer barbarity shown by the unbelievers in the Monarchy of Ivalen at present, including burning the Lord of Vulpastr at the stake for the mere supposed sin of believing in Odin, and the stripping of lands for Noblemen, but I will press you no further.
May my team and I speak with your advisors or financiers to figure out how much we will pay for our foodstuffs for the next few years?

[Rezim]

Torsten Halvorsen
High Steward of the Crown

Prince Guchu, I am Torsten of House Halvorsen, the High Steward to the Crown and advisor to King Markus I. Per your request, I am to assist with finalizing the foodstuffs arrangement between our realms. The price, milord, is dependent on what your Kingdom will require. Are we looking purely at the shipment of grains and basic food goods, or is fish and meat to be considered? If we are to consider grains, produce, fruits and the like - our price would be set at ₰0.05/kg. If we are including meats and cheeses into the deliveries, the price would shift to ₰0.12/kg.

[Hunter]

Guchu Nobleblade

Heir Apparent to the Nobleblade Throne of the Kingdom of Teutonar

Knight Retainer of The Order of The Dead

Please include the fruit, meat, fish, and dairy products. We care for our people, and would not wish for them to subsist on grain, and basic goods.
They should live well, even during times of bad harvest.
By my calculations… Pardon if I’m wrong, 11,500,000 kilograms would be ₰1,380,000? And 25,000,000 kilograms next year would be… A longer pause. ₰3,000,000? That would be perfectly acceptable to me and my envoys, I suppose.
This ₰0.12/kg figure is all inclusive? Or would including all varieties of foodstuffs actually be ₰0.17/kg?

[Rezim]

Torsten Halvorsen
High Steward of the Crown

Milord, the price of ₰0.12/kg is all inclusive. It is to account for the loss of pricing on higher priced goods but still allowing for our realm to come out balanced in coin for what we are delivering abroad.

[Hunter]

Guchu Nobleblade

Heir Apparent to the Nobleblade Throne of the Kingdom of Teutonar

Knight Retainer of The Order of The Dead

I think we have a deal then, High Steward.
Payment to be distributed with every monthly shipment for the next 12 for this 11,500,000 kilograms of food and then the following 12 months for the 25,000,000 kilograms?
It has been a pleasure making an arrangement to the benefit of both parties.
Shall we shake on it? Have a meal before my party and I depart?
Have a meal beside the fire? It makes no difference, truly. We’re cultural cousins.

[Rezim]

Torsten Halvorsen
High Steward of the Crown

I will formalize this agreement with your party, then. You are welcome to the King’s court for dinner and a rest in his keep before your return to Daritai.

[Hunter]

Guchu Nobleblade

Heir Apparent to the Nobleblade Throne of the Kingdom of Teutonar

Knight Retainer of The Order of The Dead

High Steward, is the following permissible? Any suggestions for revisions? Or shall we sign by ink and by blood?

The Treaty of Helvetian and Teuton Food Trade for The Glorious Years of 490 and 491

I. The Kingdom of Helvetia will export 11,500,000 kilograms of food (to include grains, basic goods, fruit, meat, fish, and dairy products) to the Kingdom of Teutonar in the year 490. This will be divided amongst 12 monthly deliveries to the border town of Krudirfug.
II. The Kingdom of Teutonar will reimburse the Kingdom of Helvetia with ₰1,380,000 in the year 490. This will be divided amongst 12 monthly deliveries to the capitol town of Helveth.
III. The Kingdom of Helvetia will export 25,000,000 kilograms of food (to include grains, basic goods, fruit, meat, fish, and dairy products) to the Kingdom of Teutonar in the year 491. This will be divided amongst 12 monthly deliveries to the border town of Krudirfug.
IV. The Kingdom of Teutonar will reimburse the Kingdom of Helvetia with ₰3,000,000 in the year 491. This will be divided amongst 12 monthly deliveries to the capitol town of Helveth.
V. The Kingdom of Helvetia pledges to ensure that all food deliveries are of food that has yet to spoil, and will not spoil for at-least two weeks upon the date of delivery.
VI. The Kingdom of Teutonar pledges to pay The Kingdom of Helvetia in a timely manner, in Pfennings, to not excessively scrutinize Helvetian merchants, and to primarily inspect the goods and persons entering Teutonar for signs of smuggling.
VII. The Crown of Teutonar and the Crown of Helvetia agree to resolve petty disputes via diplomacy between the High Steward of the Crown and the Heir Apparent to the Nobleblade Throne of the Kingdom of Teutonar if possible, before cancelling the deal, enacting a solution to the dispute through force, or coercing private parties that are subjects of either Realm unilaterally.

[Rezim]

Torsten Halvorsen
High Steward of the Crown

It should be stipulated that Helvetia will only export 25 million kilograms if we can afford to do so next year, which means that Teutonar will then provide the ₰3 million in exchange for this trade.