5423 Steely Eyes (Seasonal Diplomacy)

[Senior Tactician]

Late Spring is upon us!  The flowers are blooming, the children are playing, it is time to engage your neighbors in friendly banter and prosperous trade!  Food and gold available it large quantities!  Buying and selling fooooooood!  Build those armies BIG for the protection of your families!  Its time to start building those large castles as well!  I have not seen a legendary castle yet!  Let us help with that!  Castles are built on the stomachs of those who lay the brick and stone.

[Senior Tactician]

HA -> DA  We have an unusual proposition, but one that could be profitable for you.  And, it might be beneficial in other ways, depending on your over strategy.  If you are planning to recruit companions from the wild, and not recruit men from your towns, we halflings would like permission to recruit men from your towns.

We halflings do not like to fight, and are not too proud to admit we're not that good at it.  So for our protection only, we require large armies of men to protect us.  To trade our town in your region to you, in return for a different town with recruitable population, we will pay 5000 gold or food per 3000 recruitable population.  In other words, you get 5000 gold or food for every brigade we recruit out of your PCs.  This could be substantial, perhaps over 30,000 gold or more for a single town trade.

Assuming, of course, you don't need the men yourself, and will rely on companions, of which we Halflings have precious few.  If you're not using the men yourself, it might actually be to your benefit to have your PCs recruited down, thereby concentrating your census in your most well defended places, and spreading out the census of the remaining outlying towns and villages.

In a glass half-full kind of situation, our own towns are all on the water and less accessible for such recruiting efforts.  We can make due with our own towns if necessary, but feel its worth the investment to outsource the recruiting effort.

[Airetar]

HA -> DA  We have an unusual proposition, but one that could be profitable for you.  And, it might be beneficial in other ways, depending on your over strategy.  If you are planning to recruit companions from the wild, and not recruit men from your towns, we halflings would like permission to recruit men from your towns.

We halflings do not like to fight, and are not too proud to admit we're not that good at it.  So for our protection only, we require large armies of men to protect us.  To trade our town in your region to you, in return for a different town with recruitable population, we will pay 5000 gold or food per 3000 recruitable population.  In other words, you get 5000 gold or food for every brigade we recruit out of your PCs.  This could be substantial, perhaps over 30,000 gold or more for a single town trade.

Assuming, of course, you don't need the men yourself, and will rely on companions, of which we Halflings have precious few.  If you're not using the men yourself, it might actually be to your benefit to have your PCs recruited down, thereby concentrating your census in your most well defended places, and spreading out the census of the remaining outlying towns and villages.

In a glass half-full kind of situation, our own towns are all on the water and less accessible for such recruiting efforts.  We can make due with our own towns if necessary, but feel its worth the investment to outsource the recruiting effort.

Hmmm, that was an interesting way to learn about undiscovered mood enhancers.  Before going further, I have enjoyed our banter. 

Because we here in Darkover do not yet possess the ingredients that must prosper in The Diamond Coast, we are plain spoken and serious people, in The Imperium. 

So, first, of course there is no recruiting from our pop centers, which obviously would have to be your pop centers.  You can keep the one you have in our region, as agreed, and recruit from it as you like.  We add, we did notice your army last turn - just so we are on the same page. 

As you prelude in your remarks, we are now into the mid-game.  Shall we have an agreement through the next season?  Some here look fondly on The Diamond Coast.  For a native little people, you have some attractive beaches and sparkly hills, they say.  Is that true?

[Senior Tactician]

HA -> DA  We have an unusual proposition, but one that could be profitable for you.  And, it might be beneficial in other ways, depending on your over strategy.  If you are planning to recruit companions from the wild, and not recruit men from your towns, we halflings would like permission to recruit men from your towns.

We halflings do not like to fight, and are not too proud to admit we're not that good at it.  So for our protection only, we require large armies of men to protect us.  To trade our town in your region to you, in return for a different town with recruitable population, we will pay 5000 gold or food per 3000 recruitable population.  In other words, you get 5000 gold or food for every brigade we recruit out of your PCs.  This could be substantial, perhaps over 30,000 gold or more for a single town trade.

Assuming, of course, you don't need the men yourself, and will rely on companions, of which we Halflings have precious few.  If you're not using the men yourself, it might actually be to your benefit to have your PCs recruited down, thereby concentrating your census in your most well defended places, and spreading out the census of the remaining outlying towns and villages.

In a glass half-full kind of situation, our own towns are all on the water and less accessible for such recruiting efforts.  We can make due with our own towns if necessary, but feel its worth the investment to outsource the recruiting effort.

Hmmm, that was an interesting way to learn about undiscovered mood enhancers.  Before going further, I have enjoyed our banter. 

Because we here in Darkover do not yet possess the ingredients that must prosper in The Diamond Coast, we are plain spoken and serious people, in The Imperium. 

So, first, of course there is no recruiting from our pop centers, which obviously would have to be your pop centers.  You can keep the one you have in our region, as agreed, and recruit from it as you like.  We add, we did notice your army last turn - just so we are on the same page. 

As you prelude in your remarks, we are now into the mid-game.  Shall we have an agreement through the next season?  Some here look fondly on The Diamond Coast.  For a native little people, you have some attractive beaches and sparkly hills, they say.  Is that true?

If three - turn "deals" are allowed, then by all means, we agree not to perform any negative actions in Darkover in return for the same promise from the mighty Dark Elves.

As for the Army, it is not nearly large enough to protect us yet, as we indeed have many enviable locations.  However, our town in your region is recruited out, and we will be leaving Darkover this turn, until at some point in the future when you perhaps reconsider allowing us some recruiting.

As a show of good faith and neighborly intentions, you may now go ahead and claim our town in your region for your own, as we have used it for our recruiting efforts to its full extent.  And a hearty thanks for allowing us to maintain control of this town for the early going.

We halflings are here to serve.…  food!   If you need any please do not hesitate to ask, and please, Enjoy!

[Airetar]

HA -> DA  We have an unusual proposition, but one that could be profitable for you.  And, it might be beneficial in other ways, depending on your over strategy.  If you are planning to recruit companions from the wild, and not recruit men from your towns, we halflings would like permission to recruit men from your towns.

We halflings do not like to fight, and are not too proud to admit we're not that good at it.  So for our protection only, we require large armies of men to protect us.  To trade our town in your region to you, in return for a different town with recruitable population, we will pay 5000 gold or food per 3000 recruitable population.  In other words, you get 5000 gold or food for every brigade we recruit out of your PCs.  This could be substantial, perhaps over 30,000 gold or more for a single town trade.

Assuming, of course, you don't need the men yourself, and will rely on companions, of which we Halflings have precious few.  If you're not using the men yourself, it might actually be to your benefit to have your PCs recruited down, thereby concentrating your census in your most well defended places, and spreading out the census of the remaining outlying towns and villages.

In a glass half-full kind of situation, our own towns are all on the water and less accessible for such recruiting efforts.  We can make due with our own towns if necessary, but feel its worth the investment to outsource the recruiting effort.

Hmmm, that was an interesting way to learn about undiscovered mood enhancers.  Before going further, I have enjoyed our banter. 

Because we here in Darkover do not yet possess the ingredients that must prosper in The Diamond Coast, we are plain spoken and serious people, in The Imperium. 

So, first, of course there is no recruiting from our pop centers, which obviously would have to be your pop centers.  You can keep the one you have in our region, as agreed, and recruit from it as you like.  We add, we did notice your army last turn - just so we are on the same page. 

As you prelude in your remarks, we are now into the mid-game.  Shall we have an agreement through the next season?  Some here look fondly on The Diamond Coast.  For a native little people, you have some attractive beaches and sparkly hills, they say.  Is that true?

If three - turn "deals" are allowed, then by all means, we agree not to perform any negative actions in Darkover in return for the same promise from the mighty Dark Elves.

As for the Army, it is not nearly large enough to protect us yet, as we indeed have many enviable locations.  However, our town in your region is recruited out, and we will be leaving Darkover this turn, until at some point in the future when you perhaps reconsider allowing us some recruiting.

As a show of good faith and neighborly intentions, you may now go ahead and claim our town in your region for your own, as we have used it for our recruiting efforts to its full extent.  And a hearty thanks for allowing us to maintain control of this town for the early going.

We halflings are here to serve.…  food!   If you need any please do not hesitate to ask, and please, Enjoy!

Well said, King of Halflings.  But should we be assured the Halflings will look elsewhere, rather than Darkover?  I understand the long game, but how can I know my right flank is secured in order to look elsewhere?

[Senior Tactician]

HA - DA   Despite having participated in numerous contests lately, we are still a little bit fuzzy on what kinds of deals are legal and which are not.  Perhaps you would like to propose the deal?  And I am certain that we shall surely enjoy agreeing to it!

[VballMichael]

HA - DA   Despite having participated in numerous contests lately, we are still a little bit fuzzy on what kinds of deals are legal and which are not.  Perhaps you would like to propose the deal?  And I am certain that we shall surely enjoy agreeing to it!

From the initial posting:
....but no allies, no gifts, no agreements that last beyond the next season (so 3 turn max).

Thus, you can secure your borders until the next season, but there should be no guarantees (explicit or implied) that last beyond that.

[Airetar]

Dearest Small People Minister,

I propose until at least the next season, there should be trade and celebration and goodwill.

[Senior Tactician]

Dearest Small People Minister,

I propose until at least the next season, there should be trade and celebration and goodwill.

Agreed!!

[Airetar]

Dearest Small People Minister,

I propose until at least the next season, there should be trade and celebration and goodwill.

Agreed!!

Kool. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3GwjfUFyY6M