[CONFLICT] The Old Nord Way...

[u/cthulhuh00p]

Zizi arrives in Ivarstead, just days after her diplomat was murdered. She calls from atop a hill, "Torygg! Come face me! You shall duel me in the way of your people. No weapons, no magic, no Thu'um. This is to be a fair fight. If you win, my soldiers will leave the Rift. If I win, the Rift shall become a legal part of the Republic."

As she finishes speaking, her guards back away, and she waits patiently for Torygg to come face here.

[u/thesixwalkingfarts]

Mita wonders if he refers to her or Zizi.

"Oh, the cheek! The influence of the Ruby Fool is strong, I can see. I was here to see what you'd come up with. Certainly, I thought, you'd have something..."

"As for the assembly, which is headed by my friend, Endrys, a man who is famous for his mercy in regards to my antics-- do you really think the Assembly will exist after you acquire more territory? How long before you claim I'm Nibenese and take my home? You sat and spoke of peace at a table and then you invade a country."

"Your army could double and it wouldn't be able to an entire world against you. I beg of you to save yourself the burden of regret, to save yourself the fatigue of redemption; go home Zizi. Go home and I will submit myself to higher forces, House Hlaalu will pay to rebuild Riften once you surrender it, and we avoid war. I give you this one chance."

/u/cthulhuh00p

[u/cthulhuh00p → u/thesixwalkingfarts]

"If the Rift becomes an independent territory, free of all political control of power hungry nations, and you agree to submit yourself for justice, I will withdraw my troops. Nibenay will continue economic aid to the hold, obviously, but we will extend no formal political power over it. But I am quite sure that the warmongering Torygg will not allow such a peace."

/u/thewildryanoceros

[u/thesixwalkingfarts → u/cthulhuh00p]

"Warmongering?" Mita scoffs, her grip beginning to tighten around her spear, "You started this. You decided to use airships to rain fire upon Windhelm..."

"And you," she perched an accusing finger to Endrys, "I cannot make my mind up about you. I could've just had my head lopped off that day and we'd save ourselves trouble."

Her eyes narrow at the unwell man, "Mora said you smiled when they left too. This is on you as much as it is on the Republic."

"Making Riften an independent nation?" Mita laughs, "How would it support itself? Anyone can see that is a bad idea, if anything, it'll just become a puppet state, despite the fact you say otherwise. I. Don't. Believe. You. Riften returns to Skyrim, and the Nibenese Republic will be required to demilitarize and a restriction will be placed on your standing army in order for me to agree. I do love life, dearest Zizi. Very much so. If I'm to die, it won't be because some pompous carpet thought she could fool me."

/u/thewildryanoceros

/u/JocundXarxes

[u/cthulhuh00p → u/thesixwalkingfarts]

"You purport to be reasonable, yet you scoff at the very idea of negotiations. If you refused to be reasonable, then this standoff shall continue. We will not leave until the safety of the Rift is secured."

[u/thesixwalkingfarts → u/cthulhuh00p]

"What can you offer the people of the Rift that Skyrim cannot?" Mita perches an eyebrow. "I was once the leader of an independent, small state just like the Rift-- underdeveloped, with few resources, no infrastructure, and teeming with corruption. It served my people no good to split from Resdayn proper, besides the fact it showed Endrys I could do it."

"You do a great disservice to these people. It is truly sad that you cannot see what is before you and look into the recent past and find fault with it."

[u/cthulhuh00p → u/thesixwalkingfarts]

"Skyrim has done nothing but impose harsh taxes and harsher laws upon the people of the Rift. They have never helped the people of the Rift. As an independent nation, the Rift would be free from both of these, and Skyrim could still provide economic support, while Nibenay does the same. This option is best for the people of the Rift. Hell, if the Rift is released as an independent nation, I will ensure that my army is reduced by three quarters, as a symbol of good faith."

/u/thewildryanoceros

[I understand that your character is a shithead, but I want to let y'all know out of character that I'm seriously not trying to take control. Zizi's heart is set on freeing people from injustice. Which sometimes requires a flex of the military muscles, like in Stormhold. But once this engagement is over, I'm planning on splitting Nibenay up into three or four separate nations.]

[u/thewildryanoceros → u/cthulhuh00p]

"I care not for the size of your army. Riften is a part of Skyrim. And if you knew anything about the governance of our land, you would know it is he Jarl, not the High King, that imposes taxes. For instance, the hold of Haafingar is entirely tax free. Economic matters lie with the Jarls, as the control direct governance."

[u/cthulhuh00p → u/thewildryanoceros]

[The Jarl taxes, and the High King also demands taxes from the Jarls. That's how feudalism works.]

[u/thewildryanoceros → u/cthulhuh00p]

[Except that I haven't made any of my jarls pay taxes, except during wartime.]