Legend of Ransera

Posted: **Mon Aug 22, 2022 12:21 am**

Valentin Valentin possessed one of the most fascinating auras Anton had ever observed. There were the familiar strains of duty and ambition of course, almost every man in every position of power whether high or low possessed those in some measure or another, but something else underlaid it. A hint of what he could only describe as deviousness, spiked with a measure of pettiness to taste. This was a vindictive, spiteful, and incredibly self conscious man who thought far more was owed to him than he had ever received.

Anton decided that he could work with that.

"This, Herr Valentin, is why I was directed to speak with you," he said after the man had concluded his thoughts upon how to actually transport the weaponry to Anton's lands in Karnor. And this time it wasn't even a lie. Few men had the appropriate combination of ambition, guile, and connections required to pursue this course of action while also being held in such a relatively minor station that they required bold moves to make a name for themselves. Almost anyone else in the OIR would've gently dissuaded him from this insane course of action, and quietly flagged his account for any unusual transactions.

"One question reaches out to me above all others however," he asked, pressing past the clear avarice in the man's thoughts. For the moment, their interests were aligned. "Why would a Kalzasern factor assist in the arming of what will, for all practical purposes, be a Zaichaeri militia?" The fact that Anton was technically paying dues and taxes to the OIR and his pocket of land would be a pocket of Imperial influence in the region was an incredibly arcane point - and one that even if it was understood might not prove mollifying to anyone regardless. It would appear, no matter what the documents read, that a regiment of volunteers had sprung up in the farthest reach of the city-state's influence with weapons that might actually keep them an independent force after the conclusion of the war.

Posted: **Thu Sep 01, 2022 11:12 pm**

"Herr Michaelis, I am no politician-" True in every sense, but a superficial truth; no scion of a house of any standing within Gel'Grandal had any illusions about how extensively the bureaucrats and functionaries of the Imperium practiced their politics. "But I foresee an advantage here simply because they are Kalzasaern. The people of Zaichaer, especially in the outlying provinces, must have protection from bandits and the northern marauders. Kalzasi will be loathe to see aid supplied by the Imperium, to be sure- but only because of the perception that is the Imperium providing that protection. By involving a Kalzasaern factor and minor house, they create the image of a truly apolitical grant of aid. I am confident that the shipping concern can be convinced of that."

Various powers within the capital would, doubtless, be displeased by what could otherwise have been a public relations coup, but Valentin perceived no desire among the court for a real conflict with the kingdom of wayward Kathar at this time. No, better to create the foothold with as little fanfare as possible than to alarm Kalzasi while trying to win the adulation of the citizens of the Imperium.

Not that it was Valentin's choice to make.

"Of course, the alternative would simply be to deceive the factor. I have no doubt that they would offer you reduced shipping rates for, say, medical supplies and harvest aid. This might also be arranged."

It didn't really matter how Anton chose to proceed. Valentin could find the advantage in every approach; that was the very mark of an excellent bureaucrat. Victory, failure, deadlock... there was an opportunity in each and every one. And the magnitude of the opportunity Anton presented was, at present, practically enough to make Valentin salivate.

"It is on you, how you wish to proceed."

Posted: **Mon Sep 05, 2022 7:10 pm**

Shockingly, there was neither deception nor deceit in Valentin's aura as he spoke. He truly did believe everything he was telling Anton, and not in the technical sense of thinking that things would work out for him, personally, no matter what. It seemed that this particular Kalzasern factor was amenable to humanitarian efforts, even ones that were not necessarily in the best interests of the so-called Jewel of the Northlands. Now, granted, the man's aura also oozed with a certain strain of self satisfaction that followed a man arranging a truly no lose situation for himself, and Anton in no way held any illusions that the OIR agent across from him did not plan to become fantastically wealthy as a result of these dealings.

But ultimately, he decided that was fine by him. If they needed to grease the wheels to keep his people safe, then they would. Perhaps under different circumstances Anton would've fretted about this precedent that this set, but at the end of the day he simply did not consider the Imperium to be his country or its problems one that he felt any need to solve or ameliorate. His stay in Gel'Grandal had not been very long yet, but what he had seen already had thrown him into a mixture of shock, admiration, and revulsion. No matter the love of his family here, or the clear joy his mother clearly felt at returning to what she viewed as her home, this could never be a place he felt pride in.

Which meant that he felt nothing contributing to the staggering corruption that pervaded every echelon of the Imperial administration. Every inefficiency, every needless conflict and protocol and stamp, every delay and dithering, these were not impediments as far as Anton were concerned. These were the only things that had kept Zaichaer - and probably all of Karnor - free. To say nothing of the Imperium having proved unable to conquer Sangen, let alone Atinaw. For all of its might, it seemed weighed down by structural problems, and with a single nod of his head, Anton agreed to compound them.

"We'll do it by the book, have the factor fully informed. Raising funds for such an expense will take some time, and currently food and medical supplies take priority, followed by finished products that can no longer be supplied natively with the loss of the Grungeworks. Which should give us just enough time to finish drafting up the contracts, no? Thank you again, Herr Valentin. We all do our duties, and we shall be paid our dues."

Posted: **Mon Sep 12, 2022 10:04 pm**

Anton Michaelis left only a single folder behind, but Valentin felt like so much more had been dropped in his lap.

What was this an opportunity for? To show cunning, for one. Not to the Court, to the self-absorbed noble idiots who assumed they ruled the Imperium, but to the functionaries who actually ordered the affairs of empire. Valentin knew that his resume within the OIR was solid as tempered steel, but mere fiscal expertise would never bring him any real promotion. No, he needed a real, standout victory.

How to achieve it? Young Anton was clearly capable, but was he capable of securing a province out of Zaichaer? And if he did, how would Valentin show that this advanced the interests of the Imperium? Place Imperial influence nearby? Quarter a regiment? Simply arrange a victory of public relations? Ultimately, the extent of that influence would depend on Anton... and Anton's family. It was unfortunate, but it seemed that it might be time to make peace with Anton's annoying, invulnerable backers and his obnoxiously canny aunt.

A tricky proposition; Valentin had always been much, much better at making enemies than making friends.

Would the intervention of the Kalzasearn factor matter? Perhaps, perhaps not. He'd sold it to Anton as potentially a boon, and he wasn't lying. And maybe it was even an avenue to go beyond playing a little political game off in some corner of Zaichaeri territory. Yes, there was a little risk, but the potential upsides were there.

"Paid our dues indeed." Valentin muttered to the empty room, "And then the challenge will be seeing... how long we keep them."

With that last statement to nobody, the OIR assessor swept up the paperwork and spun his chair around. When it creaked back to face the table and the empty room beyond, it was, itself, bare.

(This was exactly the kind of pointlessly petulant dramatic that made all of Valentin's co-workers hate him so. That and the periodic reports about their incompetent work.)

Posted: **Tue Sep 13, 2022 3:44 am**

Review

Anton

Lore: 12
Points: 10, may be used for Semblance
Injuries/Ailments: None
Loot: None

Valentin

Lore: 12
Points: 10, may be used for Traversion
Injuries/Ailments: None
Loot: None

Notes: I always love Valentin's teleport tricks, they get me every time

Legend of Ransera

FW: Account Escalation [Valentin]

Re: FW: Account Escalation [Valentin]

Re: FW: Account Escalation [Valentin]

Re: FW: Account Escalation [Valentin]

Re: FW: Account Escalation [Valentin]

Re: FW: Account Escalation [Valentin]