Gwendolyn Black and Alaric Keen travel to the Regalian Empire’s most pathetically poor and far-flung region: The Zemlith. The Black Trade Fleet is sent along to “help the island expand its goods” however without a clear explanation on what this meant, the traders just dump lots of goods onto the island, many of which spoil, food and seeds for crops that don’t grow in Zemlith, and expensive goods the locals cannot afford. Tools are happily taken, but if anything, they do not actually improve production, just get rid of a backlog of repairs that the Zenithians needed to do. Communications with the local elders goes so-so. The Regalian garrison is fine, it just costs a lot to maintain as von Drachenburg’s pet project of Ceardian re-colonization was put on the backburner due to the cost associated. There are no “issues” so to say, the people in Zemlith are just dirt poor and the land barely has any resources worth exploring besides fishing common cod and eel. The locals are confused what the request for re-establishing relations with the Empire means, as the locals still consider themselves part of the Regalian Empire, and have a Regalian military garrison. Gwendolyn makes her way to the port region, in an attempt to localize a merchant guild headquarters. The locals, confused about what that is, point her to an old man with a fishing boat by the dockside. He makes it clear there has been no trade with anyone, and that Zemlith is immensely isolated from the rest of the world. When asked about what they could trade with Regalia, the Zenithian is confused, and laughs, stating that Zemlith has nothing to offer but the dead memories of centuries past and the barren soil that was trampled by a thousand years of Velheim voyages. Needless to say. He offers Gwendolyn a pet rock from the beach, as an “export”. Laenrell Avalleia travels to Finaëllamaar to meet with the local Princes. Regalian ships bearing Regalian banner are however denied entry into Finaëllamaar waters, having to take satisfaction with watching the teal spires from a distance. One of the princes is however willing to meet Laenrell on board her ship, outside of Finaëllamaar territorial waters, so as to not send a message to the Allorn Empire that they are permitting Regalian dignitaries on their soil. The representative indicates that their independence is likely owed to the Allorn Empire wishing to keep border friction to an absolute minimum, and that taking Finaëllamaar would result in osmosis towards the Regalian border. Furthermore, he also asserts that Finaëllamaar was settled after the collapse of the Allorn Empire formally, and as such, is not legally a part of the Allorn claim. Any inquiries into what they know about Ivaëlle result in a lot of varieties of “I do not know”, though it is fairly obvious that the prince is playing dumb. The Prince declines any further approachment with the Regalian state, and returns on his merry way, turning Laenrell back home. Valarosta Ino-Femun sends a military expedition to Dregux to try and capture Sendrassian military equipment left behind as well as any stragglers. Investigations in the Soul Rivers point out nothing, while they do capture a few Sendrassian military storages. On the way back however, Ino-Femun’s convoy is halted by Hadarian warships, and searched. The Allar confiscate all goods captured by Valarosta and her allies on Dregux, claiming that since they were found on Hadarian soil, they belong to Hadarian property rights. Any offers from Valarosta to send supplies and crop starters for non-Allar Hadarians is declined, and the Allar seem pretty intent on making sure Ino-Femun’s convey departs as quickly as possible, which they comply to so as to not cause an incident. Claire d’Agennes travels to Fendarfelle as a diplomat. She communicates with the governor (or at least one of them, one supposes). After apologizing for lack of earlier contact, she inquires about the colony’s needs and issues. The colonial governor indicates that the west frontier still suffers from periodic Bone Horror attacks, but that the Regalian garrisons are doing their job adequately. The promise of additional soldiers for Fendarfelle from the Foreign Ministry is welcomed, with the Governor saying that with this promise of additional garrisons, they will be able to push further west. Any investigation towards Dragons points out nothing. No Dragons have been seen. Abelhard Latimer takes sole control of the armies in Hadar, moving forward to occupy the islands of Zimzarvaal, Zzontaal, Iszztaal, Mozn Isle, Zolhazt, Ollzaamt, Ulzzaamt, Dregux, Mozzhafat, Nontzzaal and Mannaq. On the way however, they run into Ino-Femunn’s convoy, and are halted by the same Hadarian military forces that move quickly in place, proclaiming that “Regalian Forces are being expelled from Hadar, freedom of movement and access of military conduct have been revoked by order of the Qar-Digmaan who issued the Expel the Foreigners order”. Attempts to give the Hadarians humanitarian aid, supplies and finances are rudely declined, with the Allar stating that the Regalian military has “done enough damage with ineptitude”, and that if they want to pay back for the damage they did, they can do so through the diplomatic channels, not by imposing their military on the land like an occupation force. Any further audiences with Qar Digmaan on the part of Latimer are equally declined. Klaus von Falkenreich travels to Caermonth, offering support from the state. The Caermothi Ailor are some of the people disillusioned about the state of the Empire’s defenses, saying they have decided to mobilize their own soldiers, but they do need supplies. The Caemothi thus ask for a large shipment of weapons, armor, siege equipment, cut stone and masons to improve the coastal defenses to the south, with a sizable bill attached. Attempts to scout the Sendrassian coastline on part of Klaus with the Ceroscope end in failure. Klaus is unable to really see anything through the thick jungle canopy, some of the trees almost as tall as the Regalian Cathedral that hide the undergrowth where the Sendrassians reside. He can however verify that the Sendrassians have seemingly scuttled their entire fleet on the coastline. All he can see is miles upon miles of stranded and beached vessels, with the woodwork ripped from the hulls and the ropes and sails cut off. Eloi Playero engages in anti-Allorn propaganda in Daenshore with incendiary statements against the Altalar slave owners. With a whipped up populace, this results in numerous illegal attacks on Altalar plantations where rich Altalar families own the land with Ailor servants, with a number of Altalar families being murdered and justifixed in front of their estates, causing a wave of horror among Altalar plantation owners in particularly Girobalda, Vultaro, Lorenthaus, San Selin and Bragacao, local Altalar afraid of Daendroque attacks on their business and families. Eloi, Lucio, Xabi, and Antonio Player then continue to use Mac Conall funds to host pro-war rallies, whipping the local populace up to strike first at the Allorn Empire, which results in several impromptu militia groups raiding across the border, skirmishing into the Allorn Empire and raiding several border posts, which are answered by Altalar raids back into Daenshore where they pillage and torch the Basqlierra forest camps. There are no funds left to try and establish an in with criminal organizations in Hallonq. Orders containing one funding token can only be used for one action. House Mac Conall visits Eriu-Innis again, sending supplies to help expand the trade port and send in merchants. Mac Conall comes to officialize the trade restrictions being listed, with an essential exception being made for Eriu-Innis to circumvent the Navigation Acts of Regalia. The King is happy. The Eriunin are happy. Mac Conall is happy. Everybody else is not. With the loss of military occupational control over the Emerald mines, the Regalian Empire loses a small yet still not unremarkable income they got from cashing in on the Emeralds, pushing the budget further in deficit. The Altalar are happy too. They can finally visit the island unimpeded. A bunch of Allorn Merchants show up at the port. Followed by a bunch of Allorn trade ships that circle the island. Followed by a bunch of Allorn warships that “escort their trade ships”, and even before leaving, Cillian Mac Conall can hear the distinct noise of Modern-Altalar on every street corner as a bunch of Altalar with blue capes and moon sigils on them walk around town. After returning to Regalia, the Diplomatic Ministry is buried by piled upon piles of angry letters and official protests from Regalian states, from states ranging wide Nordskag, Ithania, Lusits, Daenshore, Hallonq, Caemonth, Hadar, Arlora, Torse, Silbrae, and nearly all coastal trade nations of the old Ceardian Kingdoms, lodging fiery protests with the government that a small nation like Eriu-Innis is given preference and precedence by removing their duties to the Navigation Acts which affects all Regalian nations one way or another, proclaiming that this nation has done nothing financially or militarily to warrant such trade freedoms within the Empire, and demanding that the decree is either rescinded, or that the same level of Navigation Act immunity is extended to the other free-trading nations within the Empire.
