[DIPLOMACY] Revolutionizing Transportation.

[u/thesixwalkingfarts]

"Is Nibenay not positively lovely Dralsi?" Mita questions as the duo strides down the hallway. She scratches her nose, an artful hoop dangling from her left nostril. "Just absolutely stunning, and everyone is so colorful, and the weather is so nice," Mita says as they pass a woman in her finery, a draping silk stola trimmed in red. The Queen of Ashes donned similar attire, appearing as a woman of Nibenay rather than a goddess of the Dunmer people. "The very air is perfume."

Mita bursts into the council room of the White Gold Tower, maps in hand, her head held high. Jewelry clattered as she walked. A tattoo snaked down a single bare arm. After a humid morning in the city, mostly filled with Mita at the smoky inn where a demonstrative Dunmer man prodded her arm, Mita is ready for this meeting. She spreads the maps out on the table in haste.

"I'm sorry, I won't be able to engage in pleasantries, I have to be ready to depart for Firsthold tomorrow morning." Mita smiles, her enigma captivating the room as she points. "This, my friends, will revolutionize transportation, streamline trade, we will carve Tamriel in half," Mita begins her presentation, "A trans-Tamrielic canal. Goods from Vvardenfell can be in Cyrodiil within the week whereas it takes months to traverse the waters now. Hammerfell? mere days. Auridon? Two weeks. There is nothing but benefits here, gentlemen," Mita straightens.

"We'll start at the conclusion of the Strid River near Anvil and we'll cut through to right below Lake Rumare. Then from the Corbele we'll dig through the Shadowgate, draining the rivers around that and rerouting them to the Thir River, which, in turn connects to the Inner Sea, expediting the journey from both Skyrim and Vvardenfell, respectively. And then, from the Thir, we'll go ahead and move out to the Padomaic Ocean. Effectively cutting the continent in half." Mita smiles, her presentation over. "Undoubtedly, it will be costly, but the benefits are obvious and the investment will come back over tenfold now that Tamriel is at a state of... Peace."

"We can even bring the canal down by Bravil," Mita gestures the the route in a lighter red, "But that would be something best left to the Nibenese to decide. There are so many opportunities that this would bring about, esteemed councilors."

Mita halts her blabbering, beautiful wine colored eyes lined in kohl training on the men that sit around the table. She takes a deep breath, wondering what Dralsi made of it, as Mita hadn't told her exactly what would transpire until this very moment.

---

tl;dr : a canal through Tamriel. Costs could probably be slashed by dredging out existing rivers. Red is the Cyrodiilic branch, Green, in theory, would be the Resdaynian branch, and the purple and orange would be alternate routes.

[u/Ave_Augustus]

Ironically enough, Flavian had not ever been to the Imperial City. He had never truly left the Gold Coast. As a boy he went to Chorrol and Kvatch, but that was the extent of his travels. And the city was magnificent. The people all recognized the lord when they saw him. A Crimson Cloak and Golden Amulet distinguished him as a Lord, and many made way for him instead of hindering him.

Covole Soros, personal Steward for Count Flavian, had traveled with Flavian, and had already been to the Imperial City, and guided Flavian through the city.

Upon arriving at the White-Gold Tower, Flavian soon got over his amazement and was escorted inside the tower and to the Imperial Council's Chamber. Where it appeared Flavian was first to arrive. Covole and Flavian quickly entered the chamber, when the guard closed the door, leaving the two alone.

He and Covole were taken back by the extent of the chamber, and for a while looked around and poked at multiple eccentricities in the room before settling down and discussing recent events in Anvil to bide time. Suddenly a duo of Dunmer women, both dressed in finery, while the one staying back was dressed in a expertly made Nibenese dress.

The most apparent of the duo put for multiple maps to Covole and Flavian, pointing and showing them the extent of a potential infrastructural feat only described as magnificent.

"That was a lot to take in. With every word I could add a million septims in costs for the project m'lord." Said Covole as he turned to Flavian. Covole was probably much more blunt in dealings like this than Flavian would've liked, but his keen sense for economic dealings was without equal.

"Fair point Covole. Yet I am very intrigued. I am Count Flavian and this is Covole Soros, my steward. Now tell me, I just invested hundreds of thousands of Septims into a new harbor for my city. How do you think I could contribute to this project? I am not the most affluent of rulers at the moment, what could I do for this to succeed?" Pronounced Count Flavian.

[u/thesixwalkingfarts → u/Ave_Augustus]

"And what was I but ten years ago, Count Flavian? But a bastard in a shunned, derelict house of Morrowind. Now, I am a saint to the people, if not a God. Most definitely a Queen of some sort." She proposes, fabric tickling her face as she scans the men around her.

"Look at it this way, you've already invested hundreds of thousands, what's a bit more?" Mita suggests, a light-hearted chuckle following. "I am not a woman that wastes. If I thought you unable or inept, you would not be here," though they are in the court of Nibennium and under the discretion of Consul Pistus, it is quite obvious that the woman commands the council, what with her gentle, amicable voice and softened face. Someone who was once so harsh had become utterly delightful.

She turns to Silvanus, "Ah, Consul! I have fought alongside your son on many occasions. A lovely man and a dear friend. It is a pleasure to meet you." Mita still dons the ring that Tristes gave her all those years ago. Five years seemed like an eternity and a not-so-distant yesterday all at once.

She nods as she listens to the man, older than she and wiser, undoubtedly well learned and spoken. "That changes things." Mita notes, her demeanor returning to a cooler, methodical strain as she thinks, "I do believe we ought to amend the map then. Besides, that directs the canal further north, closer to Cheydinhal and the Gold Road, as you mentioned." She does not mention that Cheydinhal contains a significant Dunmer population that she could target for evangelical matters. "And I'd hate to think of the possibility that a Dunmeri or Nibenese batteau merchant trying to traverse the Nibenay upstream. I'm no sailor, but I do believe that would require finesse."

"Perhaps to further ease the cost, we may open up our borders to trade, the lot of us," Mita suggests, "I do believe I could allow tax break on certain goods and I can ease the excise tax on luxury items and the Hlaalu flat tax for Nibenay and Cyrodiil as a gesture of solidarity, or, at the very least, friendship."

/u/GOOD_GUY_GREG_2810

[u/GOOD_GUY_GREG_2810 → u/thesixwalkingfarts]

"I for one would welcome such a decision, free trade would more than benefit us all"

[u/Ave_Augustus → u/thesixwalkingfarts]

"M'lord, a word?" Said Covole, as he stood from his seat. Flavian followed him away from the table, as if to talk in secret. "This is an insult to you my Count. They know nothing of the expenses this would cost us, and have yet to even say anything of how it would affect the Gold Coast. This trade they offer is idiocy, it would take months for this to affect us. I advise we leave this meeting. Their demeanor and attitude reek of bravado and pride. We have no business dealing with this."

This shocked Flavian. Covole was not a man of distaste usually. Certainly he could get annoyed or sarcastic, but never angry in such a way as seen here. Flavian also worried what it would mean to dismiss himself from such a meeting, in front of his liege, Consul Silvanus, and countless other Nobles. It would be an embarrassment to his house. Therefore he made a harsh decision, if a necessary one for a productive dealing to continue. "Covole, I ask you please excuse yourself from this meeting. Please meet me back at our inn, and I will debrief you from there. Now go, leave me my friend." The disbelief on Covole's face soon shifted to anger as he left the Chamber and Flavian resumed his seat.

"My apologies for my Steward. However, I do have a question for you. I am ready to help aid the project, but what exactly would be required? Workers? Septims? Land? I will do whatever you need for this to succeed, especially after such a profitable incentive you have just offered."

[u/thesixwalkingfarts → u/Ave_Augustus]

"I have a keen ear," Mita raises an eyebrow, as if to test the resolve of this Flavian, "And I respect his brashness. I like the fiery ones. The Gold Coast would, ideally, be the entrance to the canal. I thought that was obvious," she looks to the others.

"As for what I require of you? Respect, above all." Mita drums her fingers on the table before stretching her arms above her head, a bare abdomen elongates as she extends, she releases a contented exhale. "Septims after that, Land after that, Workers would be nice, but they will come irregardless. You did not ask what I would like, though."

Mita beams, "I'd like us all, above all else, to unite under a similar mindset. To be friends. Politically and personally," her eyes twinkle with charisma. "Perhaps you can join me at my villa sometime? We can speak more... Closely"

[u/Ave_Augustus → u/thesixwalkingfarts]

Flavian sighed. Of course all of this was good. However he felt as if he had lost respect due to the actions of Covole. This would demand action later, but now business needed to be done. He trusted the woman in her intentions. As weird as that could be under the circumstances, he even trusted her in her request of trust. All in all, Flavian was content with the meeting, even if one of his councillors had not been.

"We shall see about the Villa trip." He said jokingly with a slight smile. "However to your request of friendship, I happily extend my hand. Have no doubt you will have the full support of my realm for this project's completion."

[u/thesixwalkingfarts → u/Ave_Augustus]

"Thank you, it is most appreciated." Mita clasps her hands together, "How lovely!"

[u/Ave_Augustus → u/thesixwalkingfarts]

"Well, if this meeting is concluded, I must depart and deal with distasteful behavior by my subordinate. If you need me, I shall be ruling the Gold Coast, do send a raven if you need anything for the project, or if you have another diplomatic transaction to discuss. Goodbye my friends." Said Flavian as he made his way to the door. Indeed, back home things had changed, with this project, the expansion of Anvil's Port, the Legion's arrival, and a hopeful new trade route in Hammerfell, Flavian needed to return home.