Council of Leaders (June)
The Council of Leaders
Yuri begins the meeting by considering what needs to be discussed and Aiden Shalon raises the issue of tax income and that there is a need to raise funds as the state remains low on funds. The contributions each member is making needs reviewing. Yuri says that would be a nightmare and is best not done right now.
The Anuireans
Yuri asks about the Anuirean murderers and if there has been any news of them, but it seems there is none at all. Mara suggests that spies are sent to the area and across the border to try to find out more about them. Yuri then says Mara should take responsibility for making that happen.
Yuri then mentions that the Coeranys ambassador would like to speak to the Council again this month. He has not said why, he insists on speaking to the whole Council. Yuri does not like him, finding him too formal and annoying.
The Council then discusses the pirate situation and how it can be dealt with. Mara suggests a bait ship and try to set a trap for the pirates. Hari suggests this is fantasy it just will not work and the chances are mentioning such a plan in public means the pirates almost certainly will find out about it. Vlad agrees.
What about the Navy?
Charrek asks if there is a navy and Yuri laughs at the idea. Aiden says they cannot afford a navy and Denerick says ships are expensive. He should know, he owns three. They cost a lot to run and while they can sometimes bring in a valuable cargo, they can be a drain on resources between those times.
Aiden mentions that the Chosen of Nesirie run the Ship-Building Guild in Tulear and could build a ship cheaply for the Council, although they currently have a large ship under construction that will not be finished for four months. It will likely be a year before a new ship can be constructed. He cannot offer it for free though and it will need equipping, crewing and incur running costs that the Council cannot really afford right now.
Charrek asks about the Coeranian Navy and Denerick says as their capital is a port up the river, all their ships are small, river based ships and not designed for the high seas. He suggests the Coeranians invite pirate attacks by maintaining shipping without having the proper means to protect their ships.
Ambassador
Yuri suggests there is not much we can offer the Coeranians then, but he asks that members actively try not to upset him, with a glance at Charrek. He has one of his aids bring Ambassador Maggio Glain to address them.
Glain enters and seems to be in a more conciliatory mood, offering his apologies for being so forthright at the previous meeting, just as they had been struck so badly by an earthquake. He hopes that they recover from this calamity soon.
Yuri asks him straight what he expects for them to do about pirates when they have no army and no navy. Glain says all he wants from the Council is a commitment that they will take the concerns his has raised seriously and use their influence to try to stop the pirate attacks. Members of the Council Pledge that they will do so. Ambassador Glain is satisfied, thanks them and then leaves.
Pirate Investigation
Yuri expresses his confusion at the shifting attitude of the Ambassador. He seemed to have a completely different attitude this time. Mara Mantel suggests that she an investigation into the pirates is needed and Yuri says she needs to lead that investigation.
Mara points out that she will need co-operation from everyone including Denerick Stormsinger, which he pledges unreservedly. She needs more information about the attacking ships and she will liaise with the Ambassador.
It will also require some expenditure on her behalf and Yuri reluctantly agrees to cover up to 200gp worth of expenses from the state Treasury, ignoring a concerned look from Aiden.
Raising an Army
Yuri then says it is about time that there was a standing army to tackle problems like the Anuireans, pirates and help out when there are natural disasters. They are more effective that using local militia. It will cost money to recruit new soldiers, build barracks and train them up, but it will be worth it. They can be stationed in Lyssan to go where they are needed.
Mara suggests a scheme to have each Leader send some existing militia but Yuri does not fully understand her proposal and says he wants these to be new soldiers not militia.
The rest of the Council then begin to raise concerns about the scheme. Charrek points out frankly that these troops will be raised by Yuri from citizens in the capital, stationed in the capital and under his command. He could use them to take over.
Yuri denies that is what he wants to do and suggests that an outside commander could be found, such as one of the captains of the Red Eagles. That person would only be loyal to coin.
Yuri points out that no one on the Council is a great military leader. Denerick says he could lead a navy but not an army. Aidan says members of the Church of Nesirie are known for their integrity. That is why he was chosen as Treasurer. He is sure someone from his Church could be trusted to lead the army without bias. Yuri rolls his eyes at that.
Mara’s Militia Plan
They turn to how to raise these troops and Mara again mentions her plan for each Leader to send 20 of their militia to the capital to become members of the army. That way the army will not be loyal to any one region. Each member could then be compensated to recruit new militia in their areas. Yuri thinks that is a good idea and the scheme is accepted by the Council.
Aidan again raises the costs involved. Yuri suggests that, instead of paying each member 200gp to replace their militia men, they could pay 200gp less from this quarter’s payment to the Council.
Finances
Aidan says that will not help the state of the national finances. Getting less income this quarter will affect his ability to pay bills every month. He then lectures them on the finer details of managing the cash flow of the Treasury, despite members saying they understand.
He points out there are times when he has to pay bills before the tax revenue comes in and he struggles at times. He then mentions the 5,000gp that Charrek brought has not yet reached the Treasury, which Charrek is shocked about. Yuri says he is keeping the money safe in the capital, to prevent it being stolen or ran off with. He can give 2,000gp to Aidan if it will ease his cash flow problems and the Treasurer agrees.
The Earthquake
The discussion then turns to the earthquake as Yuri proposes that 1,000gp of the 5,000gp he has should go to Lyssan to help rebuild after the earthquake and 500gp go to Rourke. The rest can be used to fund the creation of the army.
Charrek wonders if the Coeranians are behind the earthquake, but few others think that is the case. It would take a wizard to do something like that. Could it be the Three Brother Mages?
Mara then pipes up that she has been approached by a group of Dwarves from Burak-Azhik, the Dwarven kingdom that borders the Chimaeron in the north. They want to talk to the Council about the earthquake and are in Lyssan if they want to talk to them now. She does not know exactly what they want to say but she thinks one of them may be a member of the royal family.
Dwarven Embassy
Yuri wonders why they approached her instead of Charrek but does not press the point and suggests that the Council take a break for lunch and then meet with these Dwarves after lunch.
When they return, two Dwarves enter the Council Chamber. One of them looks like some sort of priest, the other a warrior. The warrior introduces himself as Dueran. He is quite formal and first of all asks for more information about the earthquake.
Burak-Azhik was badly affected by the earthquake as their underground city is in the mountains. The Dwarves believe that the earthquake only affected the mountains, which seems to be confirmed from members of the Council, as the towns away from the mountains were largely unaffected.
Dueran then says the Dwarves believe that a dark force was behind the earthquake. Orogs who dwell underground have long been a problem to their kingdom. Recently the orogs have begun to show signs of increasing intelligence and strategy behind their attacks and it is feared that they are being led by some other force, the identity of which is unknown.
When he mentions how dangerous orogs are, Mara points out that she has been able to make an arrangement with the group who came down out of the mountains following the earthquake. Dueran says may be orogs who live above ground are less aggressive, but he counsels against her trusting them.
An Audience with the Chimaera
Dueran then says this is the realm of wizards and there are no wizards in Burak-Azhik. He wants to make contact with a powerful wizard to discover that is really going on here and draw up a plan of action. One of the most powerful wizards in this area is their mistress, the Chimaera. He would like them to arrange for him to speak to her.
Yuri and most other Council Members laugh at this, which Dueran is not pleased about. “Did I say something funny?” Yuri explains that the Chimaera does not receive guests. She gives commands to the Council but they have no way to communicate with her. Visitors usually end up dead.
What about the Three Brother Mages
Dueran is taken back by this and asks if there are any other wizards in the area. The Three Brother Mages are mentioned, which he is aware of but again does not know how to contact them. Does any of the Council know?
Yuri explains as tactfully as he can that the Three Brother Mages are in competition with their mistress the Chimaera and are effectively enemies of the state. Even if anyone at the Council did know how to contact them, announcing such in public would reveal them as traitors.
Dueran suggests that this is important and he needs information. He will hire a house in Lyssan and if anyone wants to come to visit him quietly he would appreciate it and rewards them. He then leaves.
Final Considerations
Yuri suggests that is enough for today. He reminds every one of their commitments, including Mara dealing with the pirate investigation, liaising with the Coeranian ambassador and arranging a spy mission to find out about the Anuireans.
Everyone also needs to send 20 militia for the army, except Lyssan and Cariene which will send 30. He asks that Leaders not send him their most useless troops.