The Siscia Affair

Minutes, cabinet meeting, Principality of Yarvin.
Date: 18.04. 1st year of the 14th Prince.
Present: HRH. Prince Makai II (hereafter refered to as HRH. Makai), Prime Minister Kaiae, (hereafter: PM. Kaiae), Foreign Minister Liona (hereafter: FM. Liona), Promagistrate of the Evonian Republic Aelus Favius, (hereafter: Favius) and rear admiral Domitia Marcia of the Far South East Squadron (hereafter RA. Marcia).
Subject of meeting: Republic protest and demand for apology and reparations in response to HRH. Makai's government's attempt to levy taxes on traders in transit to and from the city of Siscia.

14.07: The assembled delegates take their seats. HRH. Makai sits at the head of the table. On his right is PM. Kaiae. On his left is FM. Liona. Flavius sits on the opposite end of the table, with RM. Marcia on his right. Refreshments are served.

Favius: "I had hoped for a civilized meeting to sort out this misunderstanding. Yet I see you are already heaping insult into injury".

PM Kaiae: "In what manner, your excellency? Are the drinks not to your satisfaction. I can have the sla-"

RA. Marcia: Hits the table with some force.

RA. Marcia: "Slaves! In this day and age. Utter barbarity! I should level this entire city! I should-"

Favius: Puts hand on RA. Marcia's shoulder.

Favius: "Calm yourself my friend. I share your horror, but these are but simple people, and we are in their lands, sharing their table."

Favius: Now speaking to HRH. Makai. "It would do a great deal to placate the admiral and myself, if you would refrain from employing slaves in our presence."

HRH. Makai: "We do not -"

PM. Kaiae: Whispers something inaudible to HRH. Makai.

HRH. Makai: "We do not... oppose this proposal. If it will make our honoured guests more comfortable. Liona, see to it that some other means of service is arranged promtly".

FM. Liona: Rises from the table and leaves.

14.08:

Favius: "Thank you. That is most polite and reflects well on you. Hopefully a similar outcome could be reached in this issue between our two governments?"

PM. Kaiae: "I am certain that some satisfactory compromise might be reached. Now, His Majesty's government have discussed your proposals, and we have concluded upon our counterproposal, which I hope you will find satisfactory."

PM. Kaiae: Passes the written proposals to Favius.

Favius: Briefly flips through the pages.

Favius: "Perhaps you would be so kind as to summarise these proposals for me, in the interest of a swift response?"

PM. Kaiae: "I... certainly, your excellency. His majesty's government has concluded that our local representatives acted hastily and with too much force against the Siscia merchants. We are quite willing to offer your government an official apology for the conduct of these officials. On the issue of tolls we-"

RA. Marcia: Hits the table with considerable force.

RA. Marcia: "An apology! What of the officials themselves? I want them hung from the mainmast of my ship! Hand them over!"

Favius: "Calm yourself admiral! Please."

Favius: "The admiral is a very ardent lover of justice-

RA. Marcia: "Justice!"

Favius: "Quite. It is not common in the Republic for criminals to get away with merely an apology."

14.09:

HRH. Makai: "I will not hand over citizens to face your idea of justice!"

RA. Marcia: "See, these barbarians spit in the face of the Republic! If I cannot punish the individuals I shall punish them all collectively!"

Favius: "Admiral. I have not given my permission for you to use your sixteen frigates armed with seven hundred and sixty eight runeguns, which can bombard the capital from beyond the horizon! Nor have I given orders for the several hundred marines aboard those vessels to come ashore and lay waste to whatever would remain after a bombardment!"

RA. Marcia: Makes a noise of disgruntlement.

HRH. Makai and PM. Kaiae: The two exhange significant looks. HRM. Makai nods to PM. Kaiae.

PM. Kaiae: "Forgive my memory. The officials will of course be handed over to the Republic, so that they may stand trial in Axendria."

A silence of some lenght follows.

14.10:

Favius: "That would be acceptable. Please continue with your government's proposal, prime minister."

PM. Kaiae: "Yes, well... of course. On the issue of tolls we understand that the Republic objected to the levying of fees on merchants who are citizens of Siscia or of Evonia. His Royal Highness' government would be willing to grant these merchants an exemption of 99 years from all taxes, tolls or fees on goods and persons moving along the Aix river to and from Siscia to the sea. However, the government will continue to tax all other traders moving on the Aix river according to the laws of-"

RA. Marcia: Hits the table with excessive force.

RA. Marcia: "Not only does this tyrant's lackey insult the Republic. Now he also insults our valued Sister Republic. As well as threatening hard working merchants with illegal taxes, merely for the crime of sailing on a river? I cannot stand this! I will not stand for this. My ships will -"

Favius: "Admiral! Please give diplomacy a chance! I am certain this is merely a first proposal. Having heard your strong objections and fine arguments I am certain His Royal Highness and his Minister will reconsider."

14.11:

HRH Makai: "The Aix is on of our country's main rivers. It is more than fourty miles from Siscia to the sea along it. All of which runs through my lands. You cannot truly expect us to surrender our right to tax vessels sailing the Aix! We have already been more than generous with the Republic in this matter."

PM. Kaiae: "What His Royal Highness means to say is -".

RA. Marcia: Rises from the table and puts hand on her sabre.

Favius: "Admiral, sit down! I have not yet given the order for you to take swift military action using the maximum force at your disposal. Nor have I given the order for the Royal family to be captured and subsequently publicly executed, in accordance with the Republic's modus operandi when dealing with monarchies in war. I have not given an order to capture and interrogate the advisors of the prince, along with their family and friends either!"

RA. Marcia: "We are very far from the Republic promagistrate. Just this morning it was noticed that our sending stones are defective too... Out of contact and in hostile lands I must do all I can to defend not only the Republic's interests, and that of their friends. But also the honoured promagistrate I serve. These insulting proposals from the rex might well constitute an attempt at violence against the Republic; and against you and me personally. I am bound by law to respond to such violence with all the force at my disposal."

Favius: "Please your Highness, Prime Minister! My admiral is an ardent lover of freedom -"

RA. Marcia: "Freedom!"

Favius: "Quite. An ardent lover of freedom. As such she might be moved to do something rash if the freedom of our citizens or their friends are threatened. Surely we can find some solution to this issue before the situation escalates? There is only so much I can do to restrain her from taking extreme action!"

14.12:

FM Liona: The foreign minister enters the room at this point in the conversation. She carries a tray with drinks and cookies.

FM Liona: "I see discussions have been lively in my absence. Might I have a moment to speak with His Royal Highness and my Prime Minister in private, honoured guests?"

Favius: "Why of course. We will wait here."

RA. Marcia: Makes a noise of disgruntled agreement.

The meeting is suspended for around twelve minutes, as HRH. Makai, PM Kaiae and FM Liona withdraw to an adjecant chamber to converse. Flavius and RA. Marcia remain in the Royal Audience Chamber.
14.24: The delegates from the Yarvin and Republic governments reconvene. All parties present in the first part of the meeting remain present, with no additional persons joining.

HRH. Makai: "After some discussion we have redrafted our proposal for a solution to our disagreements with the Republic. My Prime Minister will now present these proposals."

PM. Kaiae: "His Royal Highness' government propose the following: Firstly: His Highness' Government will offer a full public apology for the actions of its local officials against traders on the Aix. A senior member of the Government will travel to Axendria to deliver this apology in person to the Senate, as well as read it in the Axendrian Forum. We will see to it that the local officials who illegally obstructed vessels and seized cargo bound for Siscia be arrested and extradited to the Evonian Republic, to stand trial at a date and place of the Republic's choosing. Secondly: That the waterway known as the Aix be declared a free and open to trade, transit and transport without tolls, taxes, fees, or controls or checks of any kind or sort. This freedom of navigation along the Aix will be valid along its entire length, and will be guaranteed by the Evonian Republic and His Highness' Government. Third and finally: That the Republic be granted reparations for the wrongful treatment its citizens, and the citizens of their friends and allies recived from officials of High Royal Highness' government. As his His Royal Highness' government does not possess sufficient ready funds to fully repair the immense damage which was inflicted upon the citizens of the Republic; we propose that the Republic and the city of Siscia be granted a joint monopoly over all iron and timber exports from Yarvin. It is hoped that these proposals may restore good relations between His Highness' Government and that of the Republic."

14.25:

Flavius: "These are fair proposals Prime Minister. I would be happy to bring them to Senate to have them formally accepted by the Republic. However... the Senate can be very fickle sometimes. Especially if a proposal from a foreign power does not have a strong advocate, or if a local commander, say a military one, spoke in opposition..."

RA. Marcia: "I still find many flaws in these proposals! The barbarians think we will be satisfied with iron and timber when citizens have bleed?"

HRH. Makai: "I thank you for your willingness to bring my government's proposals before your senate magistrate Flavius. Perhaps I might convince you to speak in their favour yourself during dinner? The admiral is invited too of course. I hope to persuade her to change her stance. You have had a very long journey, and it would not be princely of me to send you on your way without some farewell gifts. The government cannot furnish these gifts upon you of course. But my own private funds and properties are quite extensive. I think I might be able to furnish you with gifts befitting your status."

Flavius and RA. Marcia: Both get to their feet.

14.26:

Flavius: "That would be very generous of you your highness."

RA. Marcia: Hits the table rather gently.

RA. Marcia: "Indeed! Perhaps I have been somewhat hasty in my judgement of this backwater."

PM. Kaiae: "That pleases me, and his highness too, no doubt. We will see each other again for dinner. Meeting adjourned."

Time of meeting's end: 14.26.