Private Barracks/Imperial Condos Jungle in a Bell Jar

[Duchess Dusk Rainblade]

The Misanthropy Greenhouse of Deadly Delights, as it had whimsically been named, was said to have originated with Bloodstone, the first Blighted of the Director's Men. It had grown over the years and under the watchful eye of various experts into the Vulpinsula's premier collection of toxic, poisonous, and generally hazardous plants and flowers. Everything from nettles to nightshade, wakes robin to wolfsbane, and every letter beside had found its way into the collection, carried from across the known world into a beautiful botanical garden of death. Of course, visitation was strictly limited, as much for the risk of liability for injury or death on Ministry property as for the dangers of the collection passing into less scrupulous paws.

Dusk was seated at a small table in the middle of the gardens, framed against a dazzling display of desert roses that Paphnutia had brought as tribute when she'd joined Misanthropy. They had started with a single plant and, with time and patience, were well on their way to breeding an even more toxic strain of the plant. The gardeners assured her that within a decade, a single bulb would be able to kill a beast dead. She waited for the strange foreign dignitary to be shown in, toying with the tea set between them. She always enjoyed serving tea in this room; she liked to keep her guests guessing as to what else might be in the mixture. It helped to give her the upper paw in negotiations. I'll have to host Talinn in here someday, she mused.

 

[Tal'Rakan]

After spending another part of his day being guided by the Fennec Fox priest known to him as Nutty. Tal'Rakan was unspeakably glad to be left where he was. A strange building made of glass and stone, inside of which the temperature and moisture were more akin to his home. Why was it here? He had no idea but the plants around him were... obviously deadly. Just as everything in the jungles. His humble origin from a meager serf who grew the smokeleaf made him decently aware of the dangers plants brought.

But he welcomed this deadly surroundings with eagerness, in part because it was just like his home, in another... because certain beast wasn't making his head hurt anymore.

He walked pasted the garden, admiring and even recognizing some plants as those his home was adorned with. Some small Chaca trees adorned with Cempasúchil flowers in particular ringed close to his heart.

But he wasn't here to enjoy the sights. There was a High priestess (as he gathered) to be met. He knew nothing but her name and status, but after surviving Nutty he was sure it couldn't get worse.

When he spotted her, at the small table with a cup of tea, he wasn't sure at first what to think. A red vixen, greying already but still sharp, as he observed, didn't feel like a holy person at all.

Still, to make sure there is no incident in his mission, he extended his arms to let his coat of feathers look like wings and he lowered his head, holding the pose of a piking bird.

"In the name of Phoenixes, I Tal'Rakan, first claw of their will, khreet you o venerated speaker and scholar of... the Solar Fox. Please, take the word of this mortal, who in his duty shall speak for them." He finally got up and looked into her eyes while sitting down in front of her.

"Hikh Priestess of Dusk." He started. "As in my introduction, I was sent pry the Divine Phoenixes, rulers of my homeland and kind, in order to reestaprlish the contacts we used to have in the past." He gracefully omitted the unpleasant parts of said past.

 

[Duchess Dusk Rainblade]

Dusk listened attentively, remaining seated, as the colorfully dressed lynx introduced himself and his role. She remained seated; she gathered, by his introduction, that she had the greater title of the two, and was receiving him as an ambassador rather than an equal. She nodded in polite acknowledgement as he sat, showing him that respect. She'd learned the rituals of social interaction at a young age, and had only late in life been inducted into rites of a far different kind.

"I thank you, Tal'Rakan," she addressed the lynx, making certain to replicate his pronunciation as best she could, "for the honor of your respectful introduction. I welcome you as a fellow student of the Mysteries, as one touched by the Ninety-Nine Without Name or Number, and as a denizen of the Nine Manses." She still didn't fully understand all of what she said; Nutty, bless her heart, had tried to explain it to her numerous times, but their manner of explanation tended to rest upon many unspoken assumptions of prior knowledge. Still, Dusk liked to think that she understood the gist of it, if only because the alternative was far more unsettling. "And," she added, giving a small gesture with her paw, "as high priestess of the Solar Fox, who brilliance can only be seen indirectly, I welcome one attuned to the Phoenixes, whose immortality blesses the land beneath their wings." Strange, she'd only ever heard Nutty mention one phoenix. Maybe even Nutty didn't know all the Mysteries.

She gestured to the earthen tea set, remarking, "I offer you an aspect of wood, water, and fire, as befits the Eighth Manse, as a symbol of engaging with you in kind." She took the tea pot in paw and, striking the fire beneath it, began the elaborate ceremony that Paphnutia had taught her. Water was brought to a boil once, then poured out over the earthen cups, falling into the wooden tray upon which the set rested. The second boil was made with tea, and this was poured out again over the cups. The final boil was allowed to simmer a bit longer and slower, and this was finally poured into the cups, albeit through a metal strainer to catch the majority of the leaves. "The five elements are honored," she declared, "fire, water, earth, wood, and metal, and the unseen sixth element, air, is invoked to bind them all. Let our words, unseen, bind us anew."

She offered him the tea cup, waiting until it was accepted to inquire more conversationally, "So, how are things in the Land of the Phoenix these days? It's been so long since we've heard any news."

 

[Tal'Rakan]

Tal'Rakan took the cup from the hands of the priestess and took a long sip as he listened attentively... and struggled again with comprehension of what was being said.

But he had more important things to do. The first task was done successfully. "I thank you for your offerinkh veneraprle priestess." He bowed his head before continuing. "And to answer you, reprirth after a period of violent turprulence has occurred. Hence why we once more seek outwards. The infection that wroukhht our community was amputated pry the likes of me." He boasted a small amount and took a sip from his cup. While Rakan may have been just a warrior, but he would not let his role be belittle. More importantly, he spoke in simple truths, ones that painted a picture he wished to show.

"I also prrinkh khifts to show my khoodwill. Ones that may not pre opulent as your station requires prut ones that hopefully will pre enjoyaprle to your palette." He stated before providing Dusk with a small casket with few high quality cigars, chocolate-covered fruits with golden sprinkles, two feathers, one deeply light blue and another fiercely red, both having their rachis made of blue steel for ease of writing and style, as well as blends of fine tea and a small vial made from horn with opium. Those were but a samples of the wealth he had brought, yet ones representative of the best his land had to offer in trade.

"Please enjoy those while I continue." He gestured at the open casket while fixing the feathers upon his crown. "The Phoenixes, prefore reprirthinkh into their new forms, assured the unity once more and with their new forms cominkh, once more standard of livinkh, safety and wealth are prioritized. Reprirth in proth spirit and forms not only came to the Phoenixes prut also to our nation. Hence why I am here to," He paused for a moment, considering his next words carefully. "revert. Revert to prefore animosites occured pretween our kinds. Seekinkh to form a prridtche akhain instead of clawinkh at one another."

 

[Duchess Dusk Rainblade]

Dusk's eyes lit up at the sight of the bounty given. Her mouth salivated, even as her intellect warred with itself. Technically speaking, this offering was for the Empress, not for the Minister of Misanthropy. Of course, as Minister of Misanthropy, Dusk had a duty to keep the Empress safe, and any one of these items could be poisoned. That chilled her appetite slightly, while also introducing a different, more intrusive thought: she was in a garden filled with the most deadly poisons know to the world. How easy it would be to sprinkle a little powder on something. Of course, that would mean war with the assassins, but...

The long-neglected voice of her conscience piped in. What if the Empress gave the sweets to the princes? That was enough to bring her up short. No matter what her personal feelings toward Amélie, the princes had to be protected above all else. That was a much deeper vow than any she'd spoken out loud. No, these items would each be carefully tested for toxins in the Misanthropy lab, and then presented to the Empress directly.

"Thank you, kind sir," she stated, putting one paw on the lid, "for these gifts. These will go to the Empress, our Solar Fox herself, as demonstration of the alignment of your land and ours. I can assure you that she will be most pleased with this gesture of goodwill, and I expect her to return this bounty with an appropriate demonstration of her affection to be carried back to your lands in turn." The foreign affairs desk would no doubt have a file on this country, including its imports, exports, and desired commodities, enough to assemble a gift of suitable value.

"If I may ask," she inquired, "why did the Phoenixes send a warrior to do a diplomat's work? It certainly seems to be an odd use of your talents."

 

[Tal'Rakan]

Rakan was glad for the question. Because he knew exactly what to answer. "I am the hikhest rankinkh individual who does know your lankhuatche. And someone who is fully trusted pry priests and Phoenixes alike veneraprle one." He nodded and smiled as he couldn't stop himself from boasting a small bit. "Also, I personally akhree with the sentiment of openinkh our communications akhain... Unlike many priests of hikhher rank. Yet of course, Phoenixes have the ultimate word in everythinkh, even a hikhest priest can pre wronkh..." He chuckled as he brazenly took a whiff at the tea offered. Not a bad blend, but it lacked the... spice. Maybe they just didn't have a proper tea here after their trade ended.

After taking a sip, he looked at the High Priestess again. He noticed her interest in the gift and was in a way relieved she chose to pass it to the Solar Fox. That meant there was a beacon of order in this land of chaos.

"And while I may not seem up to the task," He spoke again, now much more calmly and respectfully, "Phoenixes deemed me the most adequate. And in their will, there must pre a reason a mere mortal like me cannot comprehend." He finished with a bow. After all, beast in front of him was also someone sacred.

"Do you have any more questions you wish for me to ask prefore we prekhin?" Rakan asked politely, taking another big sip of the tea given to him.

 

[Duchess Dusk Rainblade]

Dusk had to reevaluate this beast for a moment. She'd assumed, at first, that he was much like her husband - a beast whose martial prowess had seen him put in a position of power that was ill-suited to his actual skills. Clearly she'd misread this cat entirely. He was far more visionary than the usual military traditionalism she saw on a daily basis, and certainly better suited to social exchange than most soldiers she knew.

Dusk took a sip of her own tea, musing on the simple notes of it. Paphnutia had insisted that the blend was the appropriate one for this particular meeting, but she did so miss the spicier tea that the little fennec normally served in their office. Occasionally she'd wandered down to Occult Division just for a nice cup of the fiery tea between meetings, even if it meant sitting through Paphnutia's incomprehensible rambles. "I suppose we should begin," she allowed, setting her cup down. "I suppose that your Phoenixes have laid out objectives for your diplomatic visit, and a proposal of terms?"

 

[Tal'Rakan]

Tal'Rakan internally was relieved. So far he managed well, but one wrong question would make it impossible to keep this conversation civil.

"Prut of course. I come here with a clear mission. Restart our diplomatic relations... and make them more formal." He recited, making sure to remember each part of his plan. Safety, prosperity and recognition. Those were his true goals, he just didn't want to show that his position was far weaker than he made it. "What lead to aprupt end was the lack of control over the trade and treaties. Caused pry lack of permanent representatives on proth sides to resolve issues and ensure correct execution."

He pulled out a small scroll from his plumed coat, it was secured with five separate seals he only dared to break now while continuing his speech. "Such... emprassies in eyes of the Phoenixes would allow for the trade to flow akhain, enrichinkh proth. We ask for no alliance, just formal relations and trade." He passed the scroll to the Priestess. He wasn't sure what was there but was told to deliver it directly to the high ranking individual he would speak with.

The scroll was written in golden-laced, blue and red ink. It contained an elaborate message that boiled down to exactly what Tal'Rakan said... with added invitation for the reader to The Nest of the Phoenixes. The scroll was signed by the two, in their native language. Clearly it wasn't the Phoenixes that wrote this but they did sign under it.

 

[Duchess Dusk Rainblade]

Dusk read over the scroll, carefully noting the quite simple and reasonable terms laid out. She delicately rolled it back up, setting it carefully next to the box of offerings. "The terms are indeed quite straightforward," she noted. "Regrettably, I am but one minister among several in service to the Empress, and there are terms I cannot promise by myself. The offer shall go up to her Imperial Majesty for review before a full council of ministers, so that, if terms are accepted, the full might of the Imperium shall coordinate to fulfill its terms."

She hesitated before adding slowly, "I'm afraid I must ask, purely because questions shall be raised by the Minister of War - a beast whose role is not dissimilar from your own. There is one other regional power that matches our own - Alkamar, as it is commonly called. Are such diplomatic overtures being extended to them as well?"

 

[Tal'Rakan]

This was a very good question indeed! Alkamar? Rakan sat thoughfully which fortunately for him could be read as contemplation rather than revelation. For he was hearing about this Alkamar for the first time and he knew what his next target should be. For now he focused however to deal with this one to the end.

Breaking his thoughtful pose, he run his claws through the thick fur on the side of his muzzle. Minster of War... His equivalent. Another beast he had to visit and well... learn about.

"As for now, there was no... call for that. Priests are wary to open the country while Phoenixes spoke only aprout your nation sacred one." He spoke in half-truths. In the end there is no knowledge about others that would allow for any considerations of those matters.

He looked around for a moment before adding with humble authority, "And unless you seek exclusivity... I do not think it should pre a prother in the future." A risky move, but one potentially making the deal offered more pressing.

 

[Duchess Dusk Rainblade]

Dusk managed to control her expression as the lynx made a subtle hint at his nation possibly tending toward neutrality, playing the two nations for their own benefit. It was a gamble, but a prescient one. "I see," she stated, considering. Her claws tapped lightly against the teacup in her paws. "And if the Empress insists upon a trade alliance that is exclusive to us, excluding Alkamar specifically, plus an agreement of nonsupport for Alkamar in any military conflict, all in exchange for certain heightened benefits, would that be an offer you would carry back to your Phoenixes, or are you empowered to negotiate terms yourself?"

 

[Tal'Rakan]

Rakan maintained his composure. That deal was... in a way problematic. It was indeed all he was tasked with and more... but it also in a way put his nation, objectively weaker one in terms of military due to lack of those "cannons" at a risk of becoming mere trading vassal. This deal had a merit, but he needed to thread it carefully.

"I was sent here with a mission. As lonkh as my results are in alikhnment with Phoenixes will, the details are left upon my claws. Your offer seem as if you were lookinkh for allies in a war to come..." He spoke softly. His strategy was to make this priestess believe there was a lot behind his word. All warfare was based upon deception in the end.

Taking a final sip of his tea, Rakan gazed at the priestess, a bit rude gesture in his eyes to stare at a holy person but... one that spoke of assertiveness. "I would need more details, prut I am not sayinkh no. A suitaprle offer could mean we will seek ventures with anyone prut them."

 

[Duchess Dusk Rainblade]

Dusk nodded, recognizing the sound strategy in his words. "I will be frank, Ambassador," she stated, cupping her teacup in her paws in an attempt to keep at least some warmth in the cup. "A war between the Imperium and Alkamar is a matter of when, not if. This is known on both sides of Valles Mensa. If you should go to Alkamar with an offer, they will insist upon the same terms in reverse - that you eschew all trade with the Imperium. We certainly have no issue with you maintaining trade relations with other nations, but, especially if we are to enter into such an alliance where certain Imperial technologies may be on offer, we would not want to see those same technologies then traded to Alkamar to be used against us. I'm sure you understand as a military beast."