Eternity RPC Board
Balfonheim, Adwest (2 Zechyr 1600)
"Must they always be a bane on my existence? Bah!"
Charles Windamier, the thirteenth of his name, complained loudly outside the expansive home office of the Adwestene Foreign Ministry. As the chilly spring breeze caught up to him, he brought to his drying lips a fat cigar and took a puff. His exhale was longer, as his gaunt and seemingly sleep-deprived eyes gazed absentmindedly at the topiary gardens surrounding the area. The ashes from his imported stick of tobacco fell to the pavement, barely missing his unbuttoned dinner jacket. The top Adwestene diplomat had just left early from a reception hosted by the Tieguoese embassy in the Outer City, much to his vexation. His early departure had already been planned well-ahead, although not for the same reason he initially imagined; instead of heading to his residence in the Inner City to retire for tonight, he found himself back at work to address developments across the sea.
"They have been so for Callaghan and Belfar. For Ashford and Neil as well, your grace."
A nonchalant pitch echoed from behind the corpulent figure of the Foreign Minister after his outrage. Fifteen minutes before the clock struck nine in the evening, Windamier's deputy joined him outside. Grashielle Blancbaston, unlike her direct superior, was a career diplomat in Adwestene service. With years as both a consular officer and as head of mission from Brigidna and then to Kvaenna, as well as extensive experience in the academe as a university-level lecturer, she was as good as any to serve as second-in-command in the ministry.
Windamier spoke again. "And of Halnish?"
"I am afraid I do not know." came Blancbaston's response.
Lancelot Halnish, the Count of Reinick and the Lord Protector of Adwest since 1597, had failed to deliver a definitive course of action to Windamier regarding the Kolhari situation, as early as the first month of this year. The high noble turned top diplomat found further dissatisfaction with this state of affairs, as his was a political appointment in the first place. He had neither the background nor the willingness to drive Adwestene foreign policy as vigorously as his predecessors appeared to do so, and would have been content acting as a national spokesperson instead of policy crafter. Right then and there, he found himself to be in that exact scenario.
The ensuing pause was picked up by the Deputy Foreign Minister, as she said, "I have received reports that our embassy in Goudadam is being rattled with protests, no doubt for the aegis of protection we provide to Kolhar. Goldecian leaders have also continued their call for Kolhar to give in to protesters' demands."
A loud cough, then a cigar thrown to the pavement a moment later. "They dare risk the ire of Her Majesty with their refusal to cease."
"Goldecia is emboldened due to the failure of the Mestarka peace conference and the knowledge that we had a hand in the murder of Arz Briannan several years back. They and their allies feel that we do not possess the will to strike at all, especially now that they have an array of our neighbors lined up against us ready to go to war. This has always been the approach of our enemies. And they feel that this reality mirrors that of the past."
The Foreign Minister held the glance of his deputy for a second, taking in her analysis. That was and is the prevailing thinking in the Royal Court, although there had been no open display for regret at the course of action pursued during the close of Kolhar's civil war - to do so served no purpose after all. Although that course did not prove to be the dying breath of hawks calling for the commencement of military conflict against Adwest's adversaries, it did lay down the path for succeeding Adwestene decisions.
"Have the ambassador of Goldecia summoned here tomorrow at the afternoon, Mrs. Blancbaston. You will meet with them, see if you can mollify them. In the evening, I will depart for Kolhar to meet with our friends."
The months-long turmoil in Quvak was growing increasingly concerning.. The return of the spotlight to the Kolhari flashpoint, due to Goldecian escalation, now warranted more than a direct guarantee of protection for South Kolhar's government Even the strong statement Windamier released in Marth proved futile, dashing the Foreign Ministry's tiny hopes for at least a partial resolution. That statement, after all, was a break from previous policy of nearly total silence since the partition of Kolhar.
"Must they always be a bane on my existence? Bah!"
Charles Windamier, the thirteenth of his name, complained loudly outside the expansive home office of the Adwestene Foreign Ministry. As the chilly spring breeze caught up to him, he brought to his drying lips a fat cigar and took a puff. His exhale was longer, as his gaunt and seemingly sleep-deprived eyes gazed absentmindedly at the topiary gardens surrounding the area. The ashes from his imported stick of tobacco fell to the pavement, barely missing his unbuttoned dinner jacket. The top Adwestene diplomat had just left early from a reception hosted by the Tieguoese embassy in the Outer City, much to his vexation. His early departure had already been planned well-ahead, although not for the same reason he initially imagined; instead of heading to his residence in the Inner City to retire for tonight, he found himself back at work to address developments across the sea.
"They have been so for Callaghan and Belfar. For Ashford and Neil as well, your grace."
A nonchalant pitch echoed from behind the corpulent figure of the Foreign Minister after his outrage. Fifteen minutes before the clock struck nine in the evening, Windamier's deputy joined him outside. Grashielle Blancbaston, unlike her direct superior, was a career diplomat in Adwestene service. With years as both a consular officer and as head of mission from Brigidna and then to Kvaenna, as well as extensive experience in the academe as a university-level lecturer, she was as good as any to serve as second-in-command in the ministry.
Windamier spoke again. "And of Halnish?"
"I am afraid I do not know." came Blancbaston's response.
Lancelot Halnish, the Count of Reinick and the Lord Protector of Adwest since 1597, had failed to deliver a definitive course of action to Windamier regarding the Kolhari situation, as early as the first month of this year. The high noble turned top diplomat found further dissatisfaction with this state of affairs, as his was a political appointment in the first place. He had neither the background nor the willingness to drive Adwestene foreign policy as vigorously as his predecessors appeared to do so, and would have been content acting as a national spokesperson instead of policy crafter. Right then and there, he found himself to be in that exact scenario.
The ensuing pause was picked up by the Deputy Foreign Minister, as she said, "I have received reports that our embassy in Goudadam is being rattled with protests, no doubt for the aegis of protection we provide to Kolhar. Goldecian leaders have also continued their call for Kolhar to give in to protesters' demands."
A loud cough, then a cigar thrown to the pavement a moment later. "They dare risk the ire of Her Majesty with their refusal to cease."
"Goldecia is emboldened due to the failure of the Mestarka peace conference and the knowledge that we had a hand in the murder of Arz Briannan several years back. They and their allies feel that we do not possess the will to strike at all, especially now that they have an array of our neighbors lined up against us ready to go to war. This has always been the approach of our enemies. And they feel that this reality mirrors that of the past."
The Foreign Minister held the glance of his deputy for a second, taking in her analysis. That was and is the prevailing thinking in the Royal Court, although there had been no open display for regret at the course of action pursued during the close of Kolhar's civil war - to do so served no purpose after all. Although that course did not prove to be the dying breath of hawks calling for the commencement of military conflict against Adwest's adversaries, it did lay down the path for succeeding Adwestene decisions.
"Have the ambassador of Goldecia summoned here tomorrow at the afternoon, Mrs. Blancbaston. You will meet with them, see if you can mollify them. In the evening, I will depart for Kolhar to meet with our friends."
The months-long turmoil in Quvak was growing increasingly concerning.. The return of the spotlight to the Kolhari flashpoint, due to Goldecian escalation, now warranted more than a direct guarantee of protection for South Kolhar's government Even the strong statement Windamier released in Marth proved futile, dashing the Foreign Ministry's tiny hopes for at least a partial resolution. That statement, after all, was a break from previous policy of nearly total silence since the partition of Kolhar.