Ku-Wahi'Kahu/Sycorath Dynasty

[Zurajai]

Keaka Tama'Moani o'te'Koru-Ringa dragged himself from the muck and brine of the thick, brown water; once shiny scales now dirtied and dulled. Held tightly in his fist was a half meter long machete of sharpened coral and bone, chipped and damaged through great use whilst the look on his face was one of great displeasure. Behind him, climbing from the silt filled water in a similar fashion, came several warriors alike in armament and equally similar in emotional state.

"This place tries my patience, Keaka. What point is there to climb through such mud."

"Patience, friend, for our path is almost at an end. If the fishermen spoke true, this river leads to a city of elves. As the Hina'Rangi spoke, we must find those on the sea. And I believe such people will not be so hard to find . . . "

Before them, visible through the undergrowth, towered the black spires of the Sycorath Capital. With that the group moved forward through the mud, closing the distance rapidly as the first sign of civilization finally was before them.

[Blarflesnarflo]

Reports of merfolk approaching the capital reached Cemeret Varitus before the merfolk themselves reached the city. As Sycorath was currently engaged in the performance of the champion ritual, Varitus took it upon himself to meet them. Telling his servants of the necessary preparations, Varitus took a personal retinue of Rathi High Guard with him to meet the foreigners.

He found them as they reached the outskirts of Qualessetia. Dressed in his most royal attire, he addressed them with a cold, unnerving smile.

"Welcome, travelers! I trust our waters were suitably... warm enough, yes? I do believe you are the first of... your people, to visit the Black Diamond of the Lavoris. I am called Cemeret Varitus, a trusted advisor of our Lord Sycorath. Shall I show you the pleasures of our fair city?"

[Zurajai]

Weapons remained lowered even as they were met by a well dressed elf, standing as if waiting for them. The surprise was palpable as they stared him down as they stood in a general gaggle. By now, having escaped the slosh, they had cleaned themselves as much as they could so that their scales glistening their usual blue-grey.

"Your welcome is well accepted, Cemeret Varitus. Your offer is most gracious but we come on the direction of Hina'Rangi o'te'Wahi-Kahu. If your fair city might show itself to us on the way, this would be most interesting."

[Blarflesnarflo]

Varitus retained his cold, unnerving smile as he gestured towards the city.

"Follow me then, I hope I can impart the beauty of this place adequately enough for your... Kahu, was it?"

He led them throughout the city, showing them major government buildings, the houses of wealthy families, and the like. Eventually, he stopped in front of another black-marble structure.

"And this..." he finished, "is my humble abode. If you would do me the courtesy of joining me inside, we can discuss whatever business you came here for... and what were your names again? I'm afraid it's so hard to remember them."

[Zurajai]

"I did not give mine," admitted Keaka as he took one last look behind him at the city of black marble before entering the offered door, "I am called Keaka Tama'Moani o'te'Koru-Ringa. Keaka shall be adequate."

With that he entered leaving his guards outside who remained in a relatively tight grouping speaking with each other in hushed tones as the looked about. The city was very unlike the Stygian Edifice yet similar in many regards; the coloration, for one, was nearly dead on.

"My masters, the Wairua o'Mawar, have sent me to speak with anyone I could find on the coast. This new world is harsh and the great Mawar has decreed it that we should find friends; especially those with things to trade."

[Blarflesnarflo]

"Welcome to House Cemeret," Varitus greeted Keaka.

"We have much time to talk of trade and peace. But first, we eat!"

Varitus gestured to the back of the dining hall. There, handled by two servants, was an enormous plate of fish. The heads of the fish had been severed, and they had been gutted, with the guts drizzled over the bodies.

"This is a delicacy in these lands. Come sit, friend, and eat!"

[Zurajai]

"Then your people have proper taste," stated Keaka matter-of-factly, baring his sharp, glinting teeth in a smile.

With that he took the Adviser's offer, taking a seat at the table to enjoy the bountiful meal provided. His ravenous hunger was immediately pushed to the wayside as he dug in, glistening eyes darting up to look at Varitus as the merfolk tore the fish apart with his nimble fingers before thrusting the gibblets into his waiting, razor-lined maw.

"Your House treats those from without well, and so too do I expect your people to treat friends; the Ku'Ano are the same."

[Blarflesnarflo]

"Only the best, of course!" Varitus replied. His cold eyes remained fixed on his guest as they ate. Now was the time to extract what information he could glean from this merfolk.

"Now, tell me of your voyage. It must have been long, yes? Or did our... friends, the Tarbu Confederacy, allow you safe passage?"

[Zurajai]

"Confederacy?" questioned Keaka as he lifted a severed fishhead above his mouth to drop it inside, chewing it with a crunch of fish bones before swallowing it with relative ease, "Never heard of them. The children of Mawar abide by no laws above or below the waves except for His own."

"But I have questions for you as well," he continued, setting down the remains of his chosen delicacy to focus on the knife-ear, "What interest do you have in trade? My masters were clear, this is what they seek."

[Blarflesnarflo]

"This is... intriguing," Varitus replied. "I would have thought you might have encountered their ships. This seems especially relevant considering that trade between our great nations would pass through Tarbu waters.

"Now, from what you've said, your people have yet to encounter them. Neither have mine, in any formal capacity. Then, put yourself in the minds of the Tarbu. Out of nowhere, you see boats of not one but two foreign nations brazenly crossing your sovereign waters. What would you do?"

Varitus was interrupted by another figure entering the room. The Syc was shirtless, with dark markings scarring his pale chest and arms. The newcomer had the same general stature and features of Varitus, but in his eyes was a hungry look, an animalistic instinct that relished violence that was not present in Varitus' eyes.

"Hello, brother," Varitus welcomed, if uneasily. Varitus' brother stared intensely at Keaka.

"I see you're having fish for dinner, Varitus."

"Indeed I am, Idrixi," Varitus responded. "Is there some business you have with me?"

"I've just come to say farewell," Idrixi said with a slight grin. "Obscuris called me in today. He has big plans, oh yes, very big. I suspect I won't be seeing you for quite a while."

"Well, fare well then," Varitus responded curtly. Idrixi continued to stare at Keaka for an uncomfortable moment, before giving the merfolk a slight nod and exiting the room.

"My apologies, Keaka," Varitus said as he turned back to the merfolk. "My brother can be quite... off-putting. But let's return to business. We are in favor with a trade deal with your people, but as I said before, the Tarbu can pose a problem. Shall we have military vessels accompany our merchant fleets as protection? This could be seen as an act of aggression from their perspective. Leave our ships unguarded? They could easily take what they want, leaving us worse for wear. We share the same goal, but you can see my misgivings, yes?"

[Zurajai]

"My masters have given me direction to find those who live by the sea to make trade with them," responded Keaka after the wild eyed knife-ear had left, "So I have no doubt that another of my purpose will find them with similar goals.

As I said, the seas belong to Mawar. None above or below can dictate the will of the waves as well as he; if we wish to trade over them than Mawar need but make the wind gust and the waves calm. Men cannot stop a god and if we are lucky, they will not want to. Trade between our people will bring us both prosperity."

[Blarflesnarflo]

"I am glad to see you so confident," began Varitus, "but we Syc are a bit less trusting. Perhaps we will send out a single ship to patrol? We will christen a new one, call it The Grand Alliance, just as a precaution, yes? And as to the trade deal itself, what would you be interested in? We have many fine wares, from strong leathers to vibrant dyes, and stone worthy of construction. Of course, we will have to have all the terms in writing as a matter of governance, I'm sure you understand."

[Zurajai]

"I suggest open trade routes between us with the option to negotiate deals regarding more valuable materials. Our merchants will be free to sail freely to bring their wares to your great city and ours; this will bring profit to both of the black cities, I think."

[Blarflesnarflo]

Varitus considered the merfolk for a moment. He seemed to be dodging the question of the Tarbu - did he think the humans to be inconsequential, or was he less than honest about his nation's contact with them? In either case, it seemed that his confidence in the safety of the trade route was founded in something substantial.

"Excellent!" Varitus smiled, "This is a wonderful framework for our no doubt lucrative partnership. I shall write the general guidelines, and perhaps we can hash out additional details later, but I do think we can take the time to celebrate our newfound friendship. You and your men may stay in the city as long as you'd like."

[Zurajai]

Keaka returned to the Sycorath on matters of trade with one of the merchant ships, baring good news and the offer of good trade on his massive outrigger canoe. At the first chance he got upon docking at the port he sent to the port authority a request for trade involving the purchase of one ton of produce by the Ku'Ano in return for iron or gold, in an amount of two tons of iron or gold.

[Blarflesnarflo]

Sycorath dignitaries were pleased with the offer from Keaka, as iron was scarce in the region. The offer of one ton of produce for two tons of iron was accepted, and the trade ships were loaded immediately.

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