Kleiner Grenzverkehr: Stories from the North Germanian Triangle

[Großlausitz]

Zwiesel
Herzogtum des Rhönlands

The city of Zwiesel was the town of Franken closest to both the Grand Duchy of Sachsen-Weimar und Eisenach and Ivernia. Up to this day, historians have continued to debate whether the city or the mines came first. There were plenty of brown and black coal supplies on either side of the three borders. While today’s grand ducal government as well as the provincial administrations in Ivernia and Franken were keen on boosting tourism and technological development as future pillars of their economy, they could hardly deny mining’s quintessential role in securing the tri-national region’s wealth.

With Zwiesel being so far away from both the Rhönland’s capital – about 200 kilometres southwards – and Nuremberg – another 350 km eastwards – there was wriggling room for public officials and
business managers in terms of interpreting industry regulations and related national laws.

[MENTION=1187]Ivernia[/MENTION]
[MENTION=1636]Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach[/MENTION]

 

[Großlausitz]

The Golden Truffle
Zwiesel/Oberrhönland
The Golden Truffle or Zum Goldenen Trüffel was a restaurant officially run by the third generation of immigrants from the old state of Solaren, who had sought and made their fortune in the North-West Germanian triangle. Not only were they proud and acclaimed owners of this restaurant, but they also called one restaurant in Neustadt and one in Jena – Saxe-Weimar and Eisenach – their own.
On the first glance the Orsini family were very good at catering to the culinary needs of Ivernia’s, the Saxonia’s and Franconia’s middle class, who had just recently re-discovered the appeal of Solari cuisine. Upon more careful inspection, however, you would realise that the family enterprises were entangled in quite sinister affairs. The Orisini family patriarch quite literally pocketed several important regional dignitaries, political and economic leaders.

As there were enough reasons to suspect the corruption went up to the highest echelons of the Duchy of Oberrhönland’s political leadership, the slick and smartly clothed agent from Nuremberg was here. His birth and official name was Edmund Prior and as a senior field agent (Hauptkommissar) from the LKA (National Bureau of Investigation) it was his job to lead an investigation into the strange matters here. He had placed two field agents from his team at separate locations in the restaurant to keep tabs on everything. The other three were on guard duty outside.

The tall and pot-bellied man was hard to miss when he entered the restaurant followed by two bodyguards. In Edmund Prior’s opinion the Duchy’s deputy premier and economic affairs minister was everything a politician should not be: A peacock, too stupid to realise the former and holding his own opinion and career in a way too high regard. When Markus Lorick passed his table, the cute girl Prior used as a decoy and cover up briefly distracted the bodyguards and thus gave Prior an opportunity to address the deputy premier. “I know what you’re up to, Herr Minister. Enjoy your fancy life while you can. We will collect the necessary evidence,” Prior calmly whispered, which caused Lorick to respond by merely snorting. “Have you tried the 15 year old single malt from this Ivernian distillery? It’s brilliant. It’s mellow taste makes you consider a lot of things in life,” Edmund Prior raised his glass in an ironic fashion.

 

[Ivernia]

Aloysius trudged though the short grass, every step of his wellington squelching into the water-saturated soil. Water pooling about, then filling in his prints. His weight undoubtedly increased the volume of the squelch. What once required finesse and training was now the hobby sport of this portly elderly man with his rifle - he was hunting.

Hunting pheasants about his land like a proper Ivernish Gentleman. Iron grey sky, rain dripping on their coats and hats. With his two on hand servants, and his hunting dogs he had quite a sortie set up for the campaign. They traipsed along the woods owned by the very same Aloysius Irvine. ''The lands of House Irvine'' as he called it.

''My position on the house of nobles is imminent, you see. House Irvine's call's to Tara Castle won't be ignored. We are of course, the prominence of proper Ivernish along this border!''

With his servants delivering the typical positive reinforcement to Aloysius's rant and rabble, they made their way towards the ''wood.'' An artificial wood planted by Aloysius's father, with the tree's all lined up in straight lines for cutting ease. Meant for timber cutting - but Aloysius had other, more lucrative methods of income. Besides, pheasants enjoyed to roost in the place. Master Irvine called it ''the sleeping forest'' as it's straight line trees made it difficult for large animals to live in, making it a dark and quiet place. The 100 acre forest was the largest part of Master Irvine's land. They made it to a clear section and Aloysius readied his shotgun.

''Conner, release the hound!''

Conner set loose an auburn Setter, which bounded out of sight. Barking, then fluttering and Aloysius's shotgun was cocked and aimed to the sky. A dark shadow flew up and a quick bang and the shadow fell to the ground like a stone. The Setter came prancing back, pheasant between his teeth.

''Excellent Lodo, excellent boy.''

''You see? I call and my land answers. Who are the bureaucratic nosebleeds in their offices to tell me what to do with my land? Not one of such blood as mine!'' Aloysius guffawed, ''Conor, take the Setter's back and clean up the main course, Colm, head into Abbeystream and get the rest of the preparations for tonight. I've an important guest tonight - one who might just allow the Irvine lands to become the new focus of Germanian Triangle!''

 

[Großlausitz]

The Golden Truffle
Zwiesel/Oberrhönland
At last those pesky cops were gone, a slightly nervous Markus Lorrick thought to himself. Thanks to Alessandro Orsini’s clever team of lawyers Edmund Prior’s team had been told to leave the grounds owned by the Orsini family unless they have sound leads there’s criminal involvement. Of course the patriarch of the Orsinis was careful enough to uphold an honourable façade. The dirty work was done elsewhere by his henchmen. As far as the officers of the law and police were concerned, the Golden Truffle was merely a popular meeting place for honourable businessmen from the Tiburian ethnicity community. Sometimes Germanic business leaders would join the fray.

Regional Minister for Economic Affairs and Deputy Ministerpresident Markus Lorrick not only had an expensive private lifestyle – having to support a family as well as a range of demanding young lovers – and to see to his political career. Alessandro Orsini cleverly lured the ambitious politician into his fold by promising him access to new sources of income and to quench his carnal desires via the Orsini entertainment establishments. “What a poor fool, he is but another puppet joining my sock puppet theatre of the North Germanic Triangle. Little does he know that his every step in my brothels is watched and recorded by my employees,” Alessandro couldn’t help but smirk when these thoughts went through his mind, “Ambitious men are certainly very easy to catch and eventually manipulate.”

Quickly re-arranging his facial expression to the one of the benign grandfather Markus Lorrick considered him to be, he turned to the politician: “Markus, we have to be careful. This Aloysius Irvine’s plans of achieving may seem to be preposterous and vain on the first glance. Irvine’s fat appearance may make him look like a mellow, even gullible man. According to the reports at my disposal Irvine is clever and cunning when it comes to achieve his goals. We need to turn him even vainer to increase his vulnerability in this regards.” Just when Orsini had finished his sentence, the arrival of Aloysius Irvine was announced.

 

[Ivernia]

Colm the servant had parked the car further back and so Aloysius Irvine made the walk through the streets of Zweisel alone. Regardless of his feelings for Germanfolk, it is simply impossible for a man who grew up where he did, not even to mention a man of business, to not be completely fluent in German. As such Aloysius had no problem navigating the streets to find the name of the restaurant in question. Aloysius had his greatcoat buttoned tightly about his stomach to keep his warmth in as he stepped in front of a restaurant called ''The Golden Truffle.''

''Ah ha! To think my destiny must again be worked to fruition with Franconians. Alas what one must do for his House.'' Aloysuis regaled airily as he stepped into the building. He removed his greatcoat upon entering, and interjected a welcomer - ''I am a Master Irvine, come here today with appointment. I believe a mister Orsini himself is expectant of me.''

''Oh Master Ivine of course, right this way Mister Orsini is expecting you, he is already seated with a guest.''

''Ah ha, the guest of Orsini. Looks like he is not one to waste my time.'' Aloysius remarked as he made his way behind the welcomer. As the staff moved lithe-like past the tables and chairs and happy talking dining people Aloysius almost bumbled through, while attempting his best not to affect the other patrons of the Golden Truffle, the great Ivernish oaf was not unlike a bull in moments of tight and graceful action. Thankfully he finally managed his way to Orsini's table without to much permanent turbulence, and gathered and composed himself quickly as he approached the two men sitting already.

''A Mister Allesandro Orsini I believe, an honour to finally meet you in the body. A good day to you.'' He reached out a large hand for the esteemed Solari-Franconian. ''You have a guest apparent?'' Aloysius shook hands with the elder and well dressed gentleman at the table.

''Indeed, welcome to the Golden Truffle Mr. Irvine! A pleasure of course to finally meet you also. My guest a mister Lorrick. A close personal friend.''

''Well met mister Irvine'' Chimed in Allesandro's associate. As Aloysuis maneuvered a chair under him the two men then shook hands also.

Menus were handed about the three gentlemen. The three men commited to small talk, they danced around the main business prospect as Orsini said ''to get orders made, then talk complete and without interrupt'' The men men ordered 'usuals.' Aloysius however had no such record of patronage, ordered some food on half remembered taste of Solari cuisine in his past, and mostly on Orsini's kind recommendation. For one so highly held in the world of deals and back doors Aloysius was quite taken back at such an affable man. Perhaps affability and amicability quicker draw secrets, none the less Aloysius could see his guard slipping down as the three men chattered.

''Now now, we have ordered, lets talk about why you came here Aloysius. What is it that takes a gentlemen from Abbeystream and brings him to the Golden Truffle?''

Irvine was almost startled, for almost a second he had forgotten that these were not three old friends. No, but only for a second. A business man till the end. A rush he felt though, as he laid his great machinations to the two others.

''Zwiesel, a beautiful town. A wealthy town. Born from the Germanic Triangle as we all know. From mines, from ores. Men come here for hard labour and men like you and I, we find true profit. We all know the current limits on the mining schemes, but what if I was to tell you there was more. More, untapped, virgin lands with ores perhaps rival the deepest mines of the Ivernia-Franconian-Saxen borders. These lands are my possession. The posses ion of the great House Irvine. But to utilise them? To use them as the owners, as is my right? I cannot. Not for overbearing Ivernish laws. Overbearing city folk in Alderburgh, perhaps even in your own Franconian cities, that do not understand the way of life here. Their laws, their environmental regulations cripple the Ivernish share of the great triangle's ore bounty. We cannot mine, or dig, for the environment is held to a higher standard to the owners of the land! How it got through the Ivernish House of Nobles I will never know.''

The waiter's came and handed the starter courses to the three gentlemen and left as quickly as they came. A wine list appeared on the table also, however Aloysius was not finished.

''Ahem, I was saying, The reason I have come here is that you Mister Orsini, and I have no doubt you too Mister Lorrick, are men of great power and influence. I believe that the two of you, with me, may be able to convince the local councils to accept certain bye-laws. Bye-laws that allow for more freedom of the usage of the land that is rightfully a man's property. I believe that not only my own land, but also choice plots I have entered stages close to purchasing are just such lands. Environmentally protected, so worth very little relatively. However perhaps if you were to either pull one of your threads here or there, we might bring about allowances.

Or even perhaps simply the means of doing the work, ahem, off the books anyways disregarding the red tape. I bring my ideas to you. Of course, the benefits shall be reaped by all three of us. I am not a man to forget those who help me.''

Irvine had finished. He was playing with his fork as he spoke the second time and now he had to take a sample of this starter. Solari food smelled so delicious and tempting, he could not wait to take a bite.