A new way of doing things (UKUG-Mil'Nor diplo)

[Greywall]

Written letter sent to the Mil'Nor.

To whom it may concern, 

We would like to open formal relations and possible trade opportunities with your nation, we are sending ambassador Trent Scofield to conduct the initial meeting, he will arrive via commercial vessel at your primary port. If you refuse, we shall harbor no ill will, we hope to hear from you soon.

-Angela McDuffin 
Minister of Foreign Affairs of the United Kingdom of Ulster-Gaelia

Scofield looked over the rolling cold seas near Touli in a bit of a bitter mood, the deal with the Free Cities fell through, while not his fault it was his first major dealing as a Gaelic ambassador. No one was angry with him, but the finnicky the FCA wasn't entirely in the good graces of the realm. He needed a win, maybe he could get it with the Mil'Nor. Zedonia had bordered the Mil'Nor home for some time but little interaction was had, likely because the Southern border is rather uninhabited, but King McDonald wanted to connect with as many nations as possible especially in Touli. His vessel, a simple if not outdated cargo ship, was approaching the Southern touli coast. Whatever trade was done was likely done between independent companies within the UKUG via open market trade. As the ship entered port he would disembark, if the Mil'Nor refused to meet with him he would simply board and take the ship to Sepedia and stay a few nights before heading back to the main islands. He was already hyping himself up for a particular pub in Sepedia, feeling the meeting wouldn't happen because of his poor mood following the FCA trade deal falling through. 

He drew a long breath of the cold air and exhaled to relax, "Let's see if this happens." 

[Kira]

To the Honorable Angela McDuffin

Minister of Foreign Affairs of the United Kingdom of Ulster-Gaelia



We will gladly receive your Ambassador in the city of New Raltera, the capital of our people. Arrangements will be made to allow the Ambassador the fitting accommodations for his arrival, and he shall be met by Ambassador Mengele upon arrival.



In the name of the Allfather, We look forward to the visit and the promise of building good relations between one another.

Nils sighed to himself as he looked over the letter, the High Chief tired with the little things brought before him. If this is what she had meant, he had no idea…but his people had been alone for long enough. It was time to open the country, and stop having it be closed after all. The Mil'Norin went about starting writing up the appropriate orders needed to get things ready for the diplomats arrival. Catering, decorations, a complete clean up of the route planned to the Clan Council building. More pointless work just to have a conversation, Nils thought to himself.

---

When the Diplomat's vessel finally arrived, it would be met on approach by one of the Mil'Norin's Man of War's, The Ruby Crown by the name written on the ship's side. Onboard one could see the scampering of the crew on board, Mil'Nor's scampering about to either wave at the new vessel or pushing those others aside as they got to work keeping the boat steady as it escorted the cargo ship into port. Docking would go easily enough, allowing Scofield to exit onto the dockside proper. Four individuals approached the diplomat while the rest of the dockside and boat crew went about securing the ship. Two would clearly be guard, their dressed up attire denoting their special status, while the other two were an odd coupling. One could only be a Mil'Noran, but his size broke far away from the usual heights seen about the people, standing at six feet tall and dressed more like a strange knight of old then of some sort of common politician. The other was more diminutive, standing at only a few inches below her accompaniment.



The guards paused just before getting close to Scofield, the woman extending a hand in an offer to shake.

"In the name of the Allfather, let me welcome you to our home, Ambassador"

[Greywall]

Scofield smiled warmly and accepted the hand before him shaking it, "Thank you for meeting, I didn't catch your name." 

[Kira]

The woman gave a smile, opening her mouth soon after to only be cut off by her companion, who'd clapped a hand down onto the diplomats shoulder. "I am Clan Chief Dravos Fulgrun of Clan, but you may call me Dravos, lad! This here is Kathrine, the High Chief's personal aide. She does her job justice, trust me. Not like some other folk round these parts." There was a sense of genuine hospitality by the nobleman, but a poisonous sting was felt at the end. 

Kathrine chose this moment to speak up, having given a firm if short handshake due to the actions of Dravos. "Your rivalries are not to interrupt with our friends visit today, Chief Fulgrun. Let us show Ambassador Scofield how things really are in our home." She'd give the other the slightest of slaps on his tail with her own, before moving her hand to guide the Ambassador back on the path of her choosing.

[Greywall]

Scofield clearly caught the remarks made between the two and the exchange made, he shrugged it off not here really to intervene in the internal politics of Mil'Nor. "At any rate, i'm here to discuss potential trade rights between the United Kingdom and the Clans. Very interested in getting productive dialogue." He kept looking back and forth between Dravos and Katherine trying to read who he would actually deal with. 

[Kira]

Dravos for his part seemed more distracted with own brand of hospitality, leaving the other to lead her part. The irritant wouldn't be that hidden, at least to someone within "the game" so to speak. Kathrine for her part led the conversation and group on.
"Make no mistake, Ambassador. We are aware of how our ways of doing things may seem a bit...olden, but the Clans are working to become a valuable friend to the nations of old. As I am to understand from viewing your vessel alone, your methods of transportation do offer you a means to your ends."
She'd gesture towards the carriage along the "road" of the docks. The docks themselves were no great thing, stone construction throughout the port facilities, but beyond that roads resulted in mostly cobble, with one particular road seeming to be better kept then the others.
"I do hope we manage to make your stay here as comfortable as we can. If you have any concerns, Ambassador, You just let me know"

[Greywall]

"I certainly will, thank you." Scofield pondered now on the success of his mission, a lingering fear of his failures in the FCA came creeping into his mind but he quickly dashed it. He would board the carriage taking notice of the roads, 'heavens above they are behind, even for a Touli state' he judged within himself. He would ride the carriage to the destination it intended to take him and he would look out occasionally to see this new country.

[Kira]

The view would get a bit better as they traveled along the road. Warehouses and the slums that one would find close by would turn to proper if cramped rows of residential buildings. The architecture was relatively simple thus far, with a heavier focus on heat retaining builds due to how cold things could get during the winter months.

The populace seemed happy enough amoung those the carriage passed, with most seeming to minding their own business. A few children could be seen playing on the streets, their laughs rising above the hustle and bustle of the city.

Rested within the carriage herself, Kathrine allowed the ambassador a moment to himself, speaking up once again a little after they resumed travel.
"Seeing as we have a moment,Ambassador, Mil'Nor is happy to offer what we can in return for aid, but I will need to know what you are looking for in return. As you can see our means of transportation are outdated at best, and it can be difficult at best for us to travel once the heavy snows set in"

She eyed the diplomat patiently, her companion seeming to not be listening as the chief gazed out the window, seemingly lost in thought, a tinge of a frown dressing the corner of his face.

[Greywall]

Scofield was brought back into the carriage when spoken to, "To be very blunt, the United Kingdom is seeking raw goods, silver and long-term positive relations with the clans. My instructions are to offer the construction of a narrow-gauge railroad and to contract one of three rail companies to oversee its construction and delivery of locomotives and cars. The snow would be a slight problem, but I have confidence in the locomotives performing where your current travel restrictions cannot."

[Kira]

Kathrine gave a nod to the man's words, her mouth opening to speak once more before the movement of the other carriage occupant caught her off guard. The older one seemed to have heard something that caught his attention quite vividly, a look of sheer glee on his weathered face as Dravos took his own turn to speak.

'AH! You are one of those that commands the might beasts of iron! I have heard many a tale about those powerful yet strange metal carriages.Tell me, what do you use to move such a thing? Surely it is through some mystic art, yes?'

The other let out a cough before speaking, a hand rising to grab hold of the Chiefs shoulder in the way a parent might try to calm a child.
"To put that in different words, how shall we fuel them? Last I was aware, the powers of the old world used...Staol, yes? We have no known deposits of such a resource, only coal to warm our homes and hearths. If we can use that to fuel them until other arrangements are made, then we'll be happy to see about offering proper accommodations in return."

The woman crossed a leg, leaning forward ever so slightly, a sort of fire in her eyes as if she was working on something else within the background of her mind. Dravos once again resumed that cold indifference towards the girl, his own eyes resting on the diplomat, giving him a proper once over as the aide resumed.
"We can offer the use and authority over one of our southern ports to help aid in the rollout of the rail lines. If possible, I'd like to see what we can do about ensuring local production of parts for the line. While we may not have made great strides in technology compared to the old world, we have a great deal to offer in terms of raw goods, and I'd like to see if we can have your company take advantage of that to aid in operations down here"

[Greywall]

"Why not use Coal? The steam locomotives we use are dual fed, Staol would power them better and require fewer units of fuel, but coal will work as well. You could also use wood, but they would be rather underpowered and consume a lot of it." Scofield pulled out a leather portfolio. "There's three companies who would bid to build the railroad, but the local creation of materials would be acceptable. I think the only thing we have to really make are the locomotives themselves as they would be built in specialized facilities back in Ulster-Gaelia. The companies would also have to aid in maintaining them and the railway."

He would hand the portfolio to Katherine, having judged her to be the more mature representative.



Wallace Railway

UKUG's largest railroad provider. Has rail lines in Alba, Cricon and some of the smaller islands. Uses Royal Blue as engine identification, proposed narrow gauge locomotive models.

WR-NG1 'Handel' locomotive. 
Specializes in short range hauling, shunting and heavy freight.




WR-NG2 'Perry' locomotive
Specializes in short-mid range runs, hauls heavy freight well but is rough for passenger trains.



WR-NG3 'Lynn' locomotive
Specializes in mid-long range transportation, very good passenger train.

Great Western Railway

Wallace Railway's rival and the second largest rail company in the UKUG. GWR specializes in durable and long-lasting locomotives, they operate in Zedonia and Faroe. 

GWR-TNG 'Faye'

Well rounded narrow gauge locomotive, can shunt and haul short range freight and passenger trains.

GWR-TNG 'Ollie'

Good freight hauler can haul mid-long freight trains with ease. Heavy torque makes it unpleasant for passenger trains.




GWR-TNG 'Etsy'

Good long range passenger train, can haul some freight but not alot.

Ethel-Carmichael 

The third and smallest UKUG railroad provider, operates mainly on the smaller islands around Ulster-Gaelia. Hand builds their locomotives at a slower pace but have very excellent locomotives. 

EC-Duncan locomotive

Very versatile and well-rounded locomotive, can shunt, haul freight and passenger trains.

EC-Duke locomotive

High quality mid-long range locomotive, can haul passenger and freight with ease. Proven to be extremely reliable. 

[Kira]

The woman looked through the portfolio, taking a careful look until halfway through, doting a quick glance to the third option before tidying the papers up. She would offer Scofield the portfolio as she did, using the motion to speak



“Great Western has the contact, should we find all of our terms and agreements mutually beneficial. Aid will be given by the state’s coffers along with tax exemptions for the first five years for both construction and then starting once operation is ensured by local governments.”



A hand came to the aide’s hand for a moment, Kathrine messaging her temple before returning to the diplomat. She smiled lightly before speaking once more.



“As it stands, we have a large offer of silver and other raw materials as seen needed. Once we arrive, we can go over our ledgers after the pomp is sorted.” A light groan followed behind her words, a strange look over to the Chief given before she spoke again.

“If I might be as frank as I respectfully can, Ambassador. For your own sake I hope you will forgive some of the attitudes of some of our people. I do not know if you are aware but among some of us, they still hold a grudge against the old for the Great Journey we undertook.”



“Some may not like what this interaction and others will represent. It is only in the means of understanding our full cooperation that I give this warning. Chief Dravos himself insisted on his attendance, after all”



The man gave a grunt of acknowledgement to the girl’s words before returning to his spot of looking out the carriage. The scene around them had slowly changed once again, from the camped residential areas through a busy market. While the trip through would be brief, from here one could see a multitude of colors, shapes and sizes throughout the square.



Artisans selling wares, both of everyday use such as pots, tools and other such things but as well as a healthy amount of seeming religious or spiritual material. Trinkets and odds and ends with small specks of gold, silver and gemstones found from here to there. Nothing truly spectacular at the end of the day, but for a nation as undeveloped as this, the sheer output of these materials was staggering in compare to their living standard

[Greywall]

"We can work the totals, how much rail line do you want built?"

[Kira]

"We were looking to see about connecting the rail lines of Zedonia and Mil'Nor to start with, at the very least. That should allow the easier transport of both materials down to aid in infrastructure buildup and easier shipments of our agreed upon payment. There is a map within one of the state rooms at the capital we can go over, along with the ledgers and other materials we'll need to get such a line operational. Last I remember we had estimated a total of roughly four hundred miles needed to be covered, but I'm sure your people will have better numbers for us."

The market soon behind them, they'd pass through the gates of the government zone. A single stone structure stood out here, it's design evoking a sight familiar of the old castles of the old world, with several wooden yet richly decorated buildings nearby. Despite the flavor, they too spoke of a bygone age, of the days when colonialism was truly the defining trait of the era. The carriage would soon come to a halt, allowing each member of the small congregation to exit before allowing them to start on the way towards the stone structure. The colorful banners that dressed it's exterior held the symbol of Clan Tolvaj, which struck a striking resemblance to the flag of the nation proper as well.

[Greywall]

Scofield nodded, if there was any town large enough to start the line, it was Fuar. 'What a place to flush money into' Fuar had long been known as a fishing port and trade town for Southern Zedonia but largely followed its Gaelic name 'Cold'. Near year round it was cool and didn't attract much migration, but this rail line would easily change that with needed jobs and likely start another push for foreign immigrants to move into the Gaelic colony.

As Scofield exited the carriage and his eyes traced the familiar structure of the castle his mind thought of his home back in Alba, Pairc Na the city would just now be burning their wicker man ending the fall celebration. Children would be going door to door in costumes asking for candies and making memories with their friends, adults would be feasting and drinking barrels of ale. He faintly smelled the roasted turkey legs before being pulled back to reality. 'I need a holiday' he thought to himself.