Chapter 5.15 - A Kingdom in the Mist

Serin was pleased. He was starting to lose hope of any diplomatic discussion, but here was a member of a foreign country excited to make his acquaintance.

Serin bowed to Jeffrey, "It is an honor to meet you King Jeffrey. To be honest, until i had declared a formal announcement, i had never heard of the Kingdom of Thul.

Jeffrey started to laugh, "well that makes Sense. There are less than 100 of us."

Serin was stunned, "You went through the announcement and have less than 100 people? How?"

Jeffrey smiled, "Well it was my father's idea. He said when he met with the divines he was given the right to choose a perk. At the time we were wanting to break away from the Grand Woods Alliance. Our town was tired of sending all of our sons and daughters to be fighters or 'breeders'"

Jeffrey continued, "so he said he came across a manual, and after learning how it worked, had the town form its own guild. Then we set off towards a destination and when we founded the town we picked isolationist."

Jeffrey looked a little funny, "To be honest, where we live is a bit boring. We spend most of out time taming and raising animals, and growing crops for winter. We have the occasional issue with Darter Rats and a kobold or two, but the dangerous stuff tends to stay away. Its hard work, but overall we find it rewarding, and relatively peaceful."

Serin looked, "I would assume this causes a high number of Content to be formed?"

Jeffrey perked up, "My generation had a problem with that, of course. Which is why we started investing heavily in the instruction of our youth and formal training."

Serin smiled, "We here in Haven also agree that the education and care of youth is the highest national priority. Due to a security issue, we are not giving tours of our full city at this time, but in the future we we very much enjoy giving you a tour of our school, once we get to know eachother better."

Jeffrey winced and smiled. "Hopefully no one was injured in their attack."

It seemed Jeffrey knew. Serin smiled, "Although there were dozens of injuries and nearly a score of deaths, we have been able to briing everyone back and healthy, if a bit shaken from the experience."

Jeffrey was stunned, "You have the power to raise the dead? And you willingly spend it on people who aren't national heroes or treasures?"

Serin smiled, "We had 7 children die. Each of those is a national treasure. It is why we will never be able to formally ally ourselves with the Sarween, as they gave the order to do it."

Jeffrey winced, "We understand. Although we are small, it seems we are still in competition. So our trade caravans that used to head west would rarely be seen again. It's why we stopped trade with the Sarween. I can only imagine if they could find our homes, what would happen."

Serin looked a bit saddened, but then shook out of it. "King Jeffrey, Princess Iris, would you like to meet some of my council? Perhaps have a drink of honeywine?"

Jeffrey and Iris, looked both confused and excited.

Serin sent a message, 'Dana, any recommendations for who to have join us?'

Serin had a message returned, 'Princess Sutemos is in route.'

Serin was a little concerned. Although Sute being a planetouched was the closest in physical form, and her darker complexion and crimson eyes can be explained, the curled small horns on her head would be a dead giveaway she was not human.

Serin then saw as she approached. She was not wearing her normal garb, but was instead dressed a conservative loose dress of varying shades of earthen colors, and atop her head was an an oversized beret. In the crisp autumn air it was a more than acceptable outfit. Serin could see small pins were set into the beret to keep it from shifting.

Sutemos arrived, "Greetings. I am Princess Sutemos of the Skygge peoples. As one of their representative, and as counsel member of this nation, I give you my warmest greetings."

Serin was glad Dana sent Sutemos. Although Sutemos was only a princess in title, she was still a classically trained princess, able to weave her way though many diplomatic situations.

Jeffrey looked awestruck, "Such beauty! We have never seen anyone in all our travels that had such a complexion. From where do you hail?"

Sutemos smiled but glanced at Serin. "King Jeffrey. Just as your country picked 'Isolationist', we picked a different trait. Our town is able to accept refugees from wherever they are fleeing from. Sutemos is one of the last Skygge in existence. Well, at least for now. I have seen several time how she is eyed at our harvest festival." Serin elbowed his councilor playfully and she blushed.

Sutemos smiled, "It is true. The other Skygge here with me are the last. At least for now. But although we are small in number, we do bring with us a beautifully diverse culture, which i hoped you enjoyed in the food delivered. The habanero biscuits and ginger cinnamon tea are specialties of our people."

Jeffry smiled, "So far everything we have been given has been delicious."

Iris pipped in, "does everyone in your nation have such a complexion?"

Serin, laughed, "goodness no. The Lybringer and Skygge are just two of the peoples who have come to Haven. There are more. But I would hate to ruin their introductions. And you will meet them in time."

Jeffrey smiled, "Well we are more than welcoming to kind beautiful people."

Jeffrey then leaned in closer to Serin, "We have a few troubles of our own, but that is a discussion for another time." Jeffrey then looked, "we were wondering, this delicious honeywine. Is it an export of yours?"

Serin smiled, "We had planned to discuss trade contracts with our neighbors throughout the event."

Jeffrey smiled, "Well I would be more than willing to start discussion now."

Serin could see that this person very much wanted something from him. So Serin would oblige. He sent a message to Dana, 'Dana, please have Ephraim prepared to meet with our guests.'

Thankfully, out of all the Demis, Ephraim was able to hide his away very easily with a jacket and hat.

Serin looked at Jeffry, "We would gladly start trade negotiations now. For the moment I have sent for my Export official, who assists me with these matters. But as a show of good faith, I will have two barrels of honey wine delivered to your caravans."

Jeffrey smiled, "That is most gracious of you, Lord Serin. I will have to figure a gift in return."

Serin smiled, "I am sure we will come up with something."

***

Ephraim arrived, looking ridiculous. It seems that the formal wear of his country was something called a Turban, which was an extremely long piece of fabric wrapped over and over until his head had a large wrapped fabric on it. Serin just thought, although it hid is ears it looked extremely uncomfortable. Added with long robes and dainty gloves to hide his hands. Ephraim sat down with Sutemos, Serin, Jeffrey, and Iris.

Ephraim smiled, "I am Representative Ephraim, and besides meeting to the needs of my people i also serve in the role of Export control officer, meaning i ensure that no illegal trading is participated in between our merchants and yours."

He then saw as Serin smiled, "However with our Sovereign here, most of our requirements are waived and I will act more in an advisement capacity. Most likely our generous lord has already given you expensive gifts prior to my arrival, so we will just pretend those didn't happen."

Ephraim winked and everyone laughed.

Jeffrey continued, "Food is what we are always in need of. Due to the unique nature of our cliffside homes, we are unable to grow many foods. What few plants we can grow in our wet home we do, but we have exhaustively searched the Kingdom Point store for plants. In return we can trade you in the beasts of our land."

Serin perked up. "What do you mean 'beasts of the land?'"

Jeffrey smiled, "Ours is a nation of tamers. The majority of the land is owned and given to the natural cycle. We tame creatures when we can, consume those we can't, and generally work to ensure there is a rich ecosystem. It is how we ensure we have a low number of Content."

Iris commented, "And leads to such high mortality."

Serin squinted. He knew in frontier towns death was always a worry. Just as in safe cities Contentment was the worry. "Let me ask Ephraim,"

At the same time Serin asked Ephraim allowed, Serin sent out a Message to every representative. "Is anyone aware of a plant that grows in rocky wet cold climates and is high in nutrients?"

Serin and Ephraim got several responses, which Ephraim heard and answered to Serin aloud. "Yes. I know of the several."

Serin then smiled, Jeffrey looked ecstatic. "We only know of the Fiddlehead Fern. What other things do you know of that grow in a rocky, wet, cold environment?"

Serin smiled, "You and I both know the moment I tell you then you may be able to find them in the KP store and get the seeds yourself."

Jeffrey smiled, "You got me. We were not trying to sneak past you, but simply get the best deal possible."

Serin smiled, "What would each of these plants be worth to you?"

Jeffrey smiled, "We can offer Aluminum."

Serin smiled, "we have our own source."

Jeffrey's smile grew more strained, "How about furs and milk?"

Serin's smile grew more powerful, as he was gaining the upperhand. Serin held all the cards. "We have furs and milk, as well as eggs and wool."

Jeffrey looked a bit embarrassed, "What about Coal and Sulphur. We noticed the rifles everywhere."

Serin watched as the value of his tradeable materials continued, "We also have dedicated sources of power for our weapons."

Serin wasn't dumb. Serin was offering seeds and information that would be transformative for Jeffrey. It was something that would last for generations and renew. Serin would not settle for anything that would be worth anything less.

Iris was getting impatient. "Father, this is exactly what you were hoping for. Just trade a damn totem and be done with it. For Divines sake you are being difficult."

Jeffrey blushed. "My daughter has a point, albeit i was about to get there. For your seeds I will offer a totem."

Serin looked confused, "what is a totem?"

Jeffrey smiled, "It is something only those of our nation have learned to make. Maybe the skill is a gift from the divine." Jeffrey produced a carved wooden pole, adorned on it were wolves with horns, "Serin have you seen the wolves of the north that are able to produce lightning magic?"

Serin did not want to admit to fighting these beasts, as he had only done so in the dungeons. So he looked, "I know of these wolves."

Jeffrey smiled, "This totem can be used to summon one once a day. It is for tamers to practice taming, so it is wild. This totem is built to summon a single horned wolf."

Serin looked in amazement. He wanted this magic. The horned wolves he encountered were the stronger variety found in the dungeon. This sort of magic would give him the ability to summon weaker varieties for younglings and lower power citizens to practice on.

"I think we can come to an arrangement. How many people can produce these totems?"

Jeffrey, "other than myself? Just my daughter. It is our country's bloodline ability, being a kingdom."

Serin continued, "what is required to make a totem?"

Jeffrey smiled, "well, we must encounter the creature in the wild, and tame it or defeat it."

Serin remembered his hunting preserve. He would have to fortify it. "King Jeffrey, how many creatures can you two make totems for?"

Jeffrey then felt he could brag, "16. Although Iris is behind, we have conquered all of the beasts in our region, to include a manticore from the highest peaks of the mountain we live on."

Serin then smiled, "That is quite impressive. We have access to a few unique creatures here. I can only assume as tamers, you would find this of interest."

Jeffrey perked up. "Yes. That would interest the apex tamers of our small kingdom."

Serin then smiled, "How about this. As a show of good faith, I will trade you seven varieties of seeds for seven totems of your choice. Then we can make further discussions on trading adding a creature's knowledge to your hunter's collection in return for a totem of that creature?"

Jeffrey was confused, "If the creature can be found in your region, why would you want a totem to summon it?"

Serin smiled, "that's a discussion for another time. But for now, does that seem equitable?"

Serin could feel the desire coming from the numerous hidden changelings that were part of the guard. They knew this would mean a drastic improvement to their personal growth.

Iris spoke up, "Dad if you don't take the deal, I will personally and cut you out. We need this."

Serin was confused by the statement but didn't ask. Jeffrey just nodded, "you have a deal Serin."

That day Serin gained the ability to summon the horned wolf, as well as six additional totems of creatures he had never heard of or seen: Giant Moles, Darter Rats, Giant Moths, Rock worms, Pincer plants, and a strange magical creature called Racoose, which had the appearance of a scavenger mammal, but with large feathered wings.

Serin thought to himself, Jeffrey might have given us the 7 weakest totems he had, but its 7 more creatures to summon for training the younglings and upgrading the changelings.

***