388YE Autumn Beoraidh ambassador briefing

Overview

This briefing was prepared for Melkior of Balthazar's Vineyard, Ambassador to Beoraidh, and presented at the Autumn Equinox 388YE. It will be made available to any citizen who requests it following the summit. It is intended to be read in conjunction with the All I can do wind of fortune. As an ambassadorial briefing, it takes for granted a degree of understanding of political matters that might prove opaque to casual readers.

In the absence of an embassy, the civil service did its best to provide a briefing for the Autumn Equinox, but going forward they will be unable to continue doing so - not unless the Senate is prepared to make some additional funds available to find premises and supplies for a skeleton staff to support the Ambassador's office.

Messages Received

• Beoraidh thanks the Ambassador for various updates
• They decline to provide any details of Sarcophan diplomats in the city-state

Ambassador Kaltrin acknowledges several messages from the Ambassador including the intent of Imperial magicians to perform Rivers of Life in Mareave this season, the reassurance that the appraisal into ways the Empire can support the proposed colosseum is forthcoming, and the Empires commitment to continuing to fight the Grendel in southern Mareave. They also appreciate the advance warning that a proxy will be handling diplomacy during the Autumn Equinox.

Rubhart regretfully declines the request to put the Ambassador in touch with the Sarcophan diplomats currently working in Beoraidh. Instead, he suggests that any requests relating to the Delves in Beoraidh should either go through him, or be directed to the Tower of Crows. Without being rude, the Sarcophan in Beoraidh are keen to focus their efforts on the job they are there for rather than also having to negotiate with the Empire.

There are likely other things that could be done to provide further Prosperity to both Beoraidh and the Empire, but at the moment Rubhart is happy with the way things are going. After all, there are open lines of communication that are ideal for each ambassador to bring opportunities to the attention of their opposite numbers.

The Beoraidh Ambassador also gently corrects a misapprehension. The Grendel are not "old oppressors". The city-state is independent now and has no interest in rejoining the wider Grendel nation, but they are not enemies. Ehsan himself was once a part of the Salt-Lords council, and had the rest of them not abandoned him and his city in their time of need, the situation in Mareave would likely have been very different. But they did abandon Beoraidh, and now that they have had a taste of what it means to be independent, there is as little enthusiasm to go back as there is to bow their heads to the Empire.

Basilica

• There is satisfaction that the General Assembly supports the construction of a basilica in Beoraidh

Ambassador Kaltrin is pleased that the General Assembly wishes to go ahead with the construction of a grand basilica. The more prestigious the commission, the more it speaks of both Imperial approval of Beoraidh and enhances the prestige of the city and the Lord of Sand himself. There is no problem with the various opportunities offered to help get the basilica built, at least in Beoraidh.

It will no doubt come as no surprise, but the civil service believe that the offer made by the Aghnayadh Apothecaries to purchase the land where the basilica would be built is funded at least in part by Sarcophan interests. They have not identified exactly who but there is speculation the Kruidenkenner of the Delves, given their previous interests in supporting the remit of the Imperial Apothecaries Guild, may be involved.

Espionage

• The Regario Dossier could be expanded to include Beoraidh
• The civil service caution that spying on Beoraidh itself is more challenging than spying on visitors
• An appraisal could establish other ways to gather information in the city-state

Beoraidh has made it clear that they have no objection to the Empire undertaking espionage in Beoraidh as long as it is targeted at outsiders rather than at the city-state itself. Like any Grendel salt-lord, former or otherwise, Ehsan and his fellows are old hands at the spy game, and the civil service cautions that ignoring this request might prove risky. This is particularly true given that Ambassador Melkior has explicitly told their counterpart that the Empire is interested in espionage in Beoraidh.

It's also apparent that Ambassador Rubhart has no interest in doing the spying for the Empire. Without coming out and saying it, it seems to be the opinion of Ehsan and his allies that the Empire is already being richly rewarded for their investment in the docks at Beoraidh with the trade opportunities they offer.

Expanding the Regario Dossier is probably the easiest way forward in the matter, but obviously it provides insight into events in Beoraidh annually and to the League holder of that Bourse seat. The civil service note that there is an obvious alternative; the Senate could also use an appraisal to look at ways to exploit the unique opportunities offered by Beoraidh. As a "free port" it might be possible to establish a more extensive presence there to not only monitor the comings and goings of both foreign and barbarian vessels, but to glean information about events in their home ports. The Empire has no reliable assets on the Broken Shore, for example, and the neutrality of Beoraidh might provide opportunities to keep an eye on political developments among the Grendel - at least as long as they continue to trade in the city.

There is one other matter of concern; Rubhart casually hints that the Sarcophan and the Grendel are already spying on each other in Beoraidh, and presumably they are also going to spy on Imperial fleets visiting the city. There's no obvious way to stop this, and it is likely both nations already undertake espionage in the Empire that provides more reliable information. It is something the Ambassador should consider however - especially given that completion of the dock investment is likely to see many more fleets visiting the city-state. Again, an appraisal could be used here. The civil service state that a suitably worded appraisal that stresses both information gathering and remaining alert to rival spies in the city, could form a single appraisal.

Curses

• Ambassador Rubhart asks for written assurance that the Empire will not curse Beoraidh without first giving the city-state a chance to refuse
• Rivers of Life is not an issue, and indeed the people of Beoraidh welcome its use

Following some advice from members of a prominent Beoraidh magicians' guild - which the civil service believe is almost certainly the Black Sand Circle of Mannun Amahuz - Rubhart presents a request from Beoraidh to the Empire. They are free to cast Rivers of Life as often as they wish, because its effects are simply a net good (says Rubhart). But the city-state would like a formal commitment from the Ambassador that Imperial magicians will not place any other large-scale curses on Mareave without first discussing them with the city-state. Simply informing them that they wish to do so is not enough because it gives Beoraidh no opportunity to object to the curse before it impacts them and their people.

If the Empire does raise a magical effect on Mareave that harms Beoraidh, without the express approval of the city-state, they will seek proportionate reparations for the harm it causes them. Rubhart uses Rivers Run Red, Winter's Ghosts, and Naeve's Twisting Blight as examples of rituals that would damage diplomatic relations with the city state. Obviously this goes both ways; Beoraidh will not raise large scale curses of its own over Mareave without first seeking permission from the Empire.

Rubhart leaves it to the Ambassador as to whether this agreement should be presented to the Senate for ratification. For the moment, Beoraidh is happy to accept the written assurances of the Ambassador on this matter.

Magical Bounty

• Ambassador Kaltrin can provide half-a-dozen magical plants from the farms of Sinfoyard for three Thrones

One of the reasons that Beoraidh is unconcerned about Rivers of Life is that recent castings have apparently provided an opportunity in Sinfoyard that the city-state has cheerfully embraced. The arid region has struggled to establish much in the way of agriculture for decades, but with Beoraidh becoming independent and losing access to the farms of southern Mareave the need to do so has become paramount. The recent Spring magic has helped with this, but the main benefit it has provided is that farms and herb gardens in Sinfoyard have inexplicably begun to produce magical plants. The farmers there are enthusiastically harvesting them and selling them to discerning buyers in the city proper, both Beoradhi and visitors from outside the city.

If Ambassador Melkior wishes, Ambassador Kaltrin can secure a small bundle of these plants on their behalf but it will not be cheap. Rarity value alone means that Rubhart will need to put their hand deep into their pocket. For three Thrones, they will provide half a dozen of the magical plants to the Ambassador at the Winter Solstice. They can only offer this opportunity in the short term - if the Ambassador wants to try again in future they'll need to negotiate the price again.

(OOC Note: If the Ambassador or their proxy has the money in their inventory, they can email plot@profounddecisions.co.uk after the event. The plants will be added to their inventory before the Winter Solstice).

Beoraidh Further Reading

• Beoraidh - a brief overview of the city state
• Ambassador to Beoraidh

Winds

• All I can do - 388YE Autumn wind of fortune about Beoraidh diplomacy
• Myth makers - 388YE Summer wind of fortune relating to diplomacy with Beoraidh
• A knock at the door - 388YE Spring wind of fortune dealing with Beoraidh
• Each age a lens - 387YE Winter wind of fortune
• All the night-tide - 387YE Autumn wind of fortune
• I wish you would - 387YE Summer wind of fortune
• Treaty - 386YE Spring treaty between the Senate and Beoraidh

• Sea-wood fed with copper - 386YE Spring wind of war outlining the initial approach to the Empire by then Salt-Lord Eshan
• Mission - 383YE Spring wind of war detailing the Imperial raid on Beoraidh to liberate slaves

Click Expand to see a summary of various pages related to the city-state of Beoraidh.