Wild Dog Chase

[Angliarique]

Wild Dog Chase ​

Log Entry​

His Majesty is a maniac. His actions ridiculous and words, childish. It’s such a pleasure to be able to escape the cesspool of egotistical aristocracy on this voyage to Remuria. Good thing the dog went missing! No one shall ever find out what transpired of it! I will have sailed every sea with a relaxed mind, before anyone knows anything… ​

OOC: The log above will form part of a basis for future events. For ic rp, I'll write something to reveal this log. For now, please ignore the log : )

600 nautical miles from Tiburtina​

The skies have darkened and the clouds foretell of the precarious situation that the chancellor, Lord Banker, would soon face.

WEEEEEEE! A chorus of whistling arrows, accompanied by a barrage of arrows engulfed by fire, from the chancellor’s escort ship, pierce through the stormy night sky gaining the attention of the chancellor who was at the loo. Peering from a glass window, he observes the grave image of a distress signal. Soon that ship appeared to have gone under the waves.

“Oh my!” exclaimed Lord Banker, whilst trying to hastily pull up his pants. Something he could not have done worse. In his mighty attempt at pants-wearing, he had forgotten to zip up, and as he hurriedly swung open the door making a run to the captain who was at the wheel. Lord Banker’s pants fell down, causing himself to trip over and concuss his head against a lamp.

An hour later, he had awoken in his sleeping quarters. “Where am I? Who are you?” he asked the ship’s crew who were looking at him with concern. “My Lord, we are 30 nautical miles away from Tiburtina, where we will soon dock at.” Said the captain, who stepped in to answer.

“Tibu- What?!”
“Tiburtina, my lord”
“Oh right! Sure… What??”
“Alas! You have forgotten, my lord”
“Tiburtina? Oh indeed! Remuria! Something about a dog I think?”
“You are correct, my lord”

Lord Banker slowly got up and off of his bed, that had been nailed to the ship. He struggled for awhile trying to make his way to the loo. When he finally sat down, he had a sudden surge of returning memory.
“Wait a minute… Where’s my escort sloop?” he muttered to himself whilst peering out the window.

“Captain! Where’s the other sloop?!” he shouted, so that the captain might hear him from the loo. Lord Banker hastily finished his business and quickly made his way to the captain, making sure not to trip himself this time around.
“Captain. Where’s the other ship?”
The captain replied in a deep tone, “It has returned to Port Lionheart. The Commonwealth does not want any armed ship to be in their waters. I’m sure you’ll remember that scandal of Pembroke apologising. I mean, how could she! We look a fool!”

Lord Banker smiled.

At long last, the chancellor’s sloop moored at Tiburtina International Port. A gangway was connected to the ship, and soon Lord Banker walked down to the port, with a greeting.

“Hello! Here! Greetings! Your excellency, Augusta @Remuria .” The chancellor shouted as he waved at the Commonwealth minister excitedly. ​

 

[Remuria]

ON THE WAY TO TIBURTINA

Well before Lord Banker's ship moored at the port, Her Excellency Augusta Cadia, the Commonwealth Foreign Affairs Minister arrived to the port's facilities, accompanied by her senior aide on Thaumantic matters, Leonardo Alba di Iragna. Both were in their late 30s and members of the "next generation" so to speak of younger politicians and subject matter experts coming to the top of Remuria's leadership.

Overall, the whole business around Angliarique had raised quite a few eyebrows throughout Remuria and was the subject of a discussion as the Remurians flew into Tiburtina for the meeting.

"What is a sloop?" Augusta queried, arching her eyebrow. "Do these people know we live in 2023, not in 1023?"

"1723 would be more accurate," Leonardo shrugged. "We have no idea what the fuss is about and why they did not just send us an e-mail. Or a fax. Or a telegram."

"Or a pigeon," Augusta sighed, competing the thought. "This might not even be the right hound, why the rush? Why the excitement?

Leonardo shrugged. "We shall just have to accomodate their... spontaneity. I believe there is more to this than meets the eye, however, this is Anglish business that is none of our own."

TIBURTINA

By the time Lord Banker's yacht moored by the docks, the Remurians were already there to greet. Augusta, Leonardo, some port officials along.

"Your Excellency, a pleasure to have you on Remurian soil," Augusta extended her hand for a brief shake. "I hope the journey here has been pleasant."

She then motioned towards some cars nearby. "I suggest we get the urgent part of the agenda fulfilled post haste, as I understand it ranks quite high in your list of priorities, given the whole... background to your visit."

Leonardo nodded in agreement with his chief. "The Veterinary Supervisor shall be honoured to receive Your Excellency and we hope that clarity shall shine quite quickly on the whole affair."

 

[Angliarique]

Lord Banker shook the minister’s hand, “Wonderful weather, isn’t it? A nice port your nation has.” He then stared briefly to the side appearing to be in deep thought.

Soon he turned back to the minister, “It has become a priority indeed of my government to locate the dog. We were even willing to come as far as Remuria for the furry companion. We are doing everything in our power. We have our hope up. And we must! For if not, I might disappear. Forgive me for my droll humour.”

Seeing the minister motioning towards some cars, “AH. Right. Let’s talk about the rest inside.”

The officials got into the car, “Well to be frank, where exactly is the dog? From what I understand, the publication mentioned uhhh… that the erm… dog was found around here at the port correct?” The chancellor looked at the minister with concern.

“Anyhow, when I get to look at the dog more closely, I’d probably be erm… able to verify it.”

“Oh Yes! I almost forgot. I’ll have you understand, Miss Cadia, that my government is most sorry for the recent misunderstanding caused on behalf of my emperor, his majesty is a… erm… how do I put this? Ah yes, he is unwell. We aren’t attempting in any way to challenge the Commonwealth’s sovereignty and definitely not trying to incur your nation’s wrath. On the whole, we are most sorry.” The chancellor said all this with a serious tone.

He then turned to a lighter tone clearing up the awkwardness, “Right! Shall we get moving? I’ve got a dog to chase.”
@Remuria ​

 

[Remuria]

Leonardo just kept taking in the guest's words and behaviour as it happened. Everything about this was just outright bizarre.

"We are pleased that the misunderstanding has been resolved amiably," Augusta said as they boarded the cars and headed out towards a different area of thr port where the veterinary inspection and quarantine were located.

The foundling dog was placed there because it was both found to be in an international area of the port and did not have a Remurian chip or tattoo. It was, therefore, presumed lost or abandoned and a notice was posted. Such notices are posted daily, as stowaway or runaway animals on ships are a regular occurrence. In most cases, this is just a simple formality, as no one ever claims the animal. In which case it goes through quarantine, veterinary control and, if found fit for release into Remuria, after about half a year of pointless waiting the animal is transmitted to a shelter for adoption within Remuria.

In very rare cases the animals are claimed, in which case the owners usually send the relevant documents and then, once cleared through quarantine, the animal is returned to the owners or their representatives on Remurian soil.

This whole context with Banker's visit was completely unexpected, unnecessary and inefficient. And Remurians in general didn't like inefficiency.

"We are also happy to host Your Excellency in Remuria, however short the stay may be. Usually it is customary for the process to happen in a more procedurally driven and documeny backed way, rather than a personal visit," Augusta said pensively. After all, what if Banker was just about to claim someone else's dog and the owner would turn up in a week to see their own mutt shipped off to an unwell King somewhere on the edge of the world. But this was already throught through, with a customary sum for moral tort accrued on behalf of the Commonwealth, and for further on litigation any claimant could pursue in Angliarique. Good luck, not a Commonwealth problem anymore.

"What did you mean by... you might disappear?" Leonardo arched an eyebrow as he asked bluntly and straightforwardly.

Augusta looked away to stare at the scenic port infrastructure as they drove along. Some questions are better not asked by those in power, but rather by their advisors. If things turned sour, the Minister could always issue proper admonishing to her advisor.

 

[Angliarique]

Already the chancellor was quite annoyed and bothered by the brutal fact that he had violated the first law of Angliarique Foreign Affairs, that is to “Never Give In.” The chancellor’s open diplomatic ‘submission’ to the Remurian Minister -the open apology- was no doubt to be reported to the emperor. From there Lord Banker could face corporal punishment. It was a terrifying thought for him to have betrayed the pride of the nation for some at best mediocre diplomatic gesture. He was seething throughout the journey, but stayed silent.

The chancellor had to swallow his pride and perform his duties. He was on Remurian soil, far from any Angliarique military personnel. He could not possibly gesture badly towards the minister and her aides. Thus, he is an official awaiting punishment back home, looking for a missing dog that could already be dead, and worst more? Bringing nothing home? And HE would be dead. He kept his thoughts to himself, never uttering a single word.

It had occurred to the chancellor that the Remurian officials were hasty in their efforts to ascertain the dog’s identity. “Perhaps it is a cultural thing,” he thought. Nonetheless, he felt anxious about the whole ordeal, for what if -as he thought still- that the dog was not the emperor’s, he cannot return back empty handed, was he brave enough to deceive His Majesty?

These thoughts flashed through his sweating mind and soon to his fear, the convoy was approaching the quarantine centre. “Would the dog be here?” His mind raced. The convoy then came to a halt.

The officials hurriedly stepped out of their cars and walked into the centre, where the Veterinary Supervisor greeted them.
@Remuria