Earth Kingdom Ambassador

"Anything else?" Kano asked, sorting through his papers as he sat at his desk. His grandfather and the other ministers were gathered in the office off the Throne Hall. He'd taken to using it for the daily meetings for its' convenience, one of which was running close to conclusion that very moment.

"We're expecting the Earth Queen's ambassador quite soon." his grandfather, Hakano said.

"What do we know about him?" Kano asked.

"A political scholar at Ba Sing Se University until more recently." Hakano said, handing Kano a scroll his assistant provided. "I hear tell that he's the trustworthy sort, but you never can know for sure with these politicians. They'll do anything to elevate their stations."

"Oh, really?" Kano smiled, looking up at his grandfather, a life-long political player and current Prime Minister of the Northern Water Tribe. "I hadn't heard that."

His grandfather chuckled. A few moments later, an officer entered the office, knocking on the surface of the small wooden table just inside and to the left of the door.

"Yes, Lieutenant?" Kano asked, looking up.

"The Ambassador of the Earth Kingdom has arrived." the Lieutenant said.

"Very well." Kano nodded, looking back down at his papers. "Have him wait in the Throne Hall and tell him I'll be with him in a few moments."

With a nod, the Lieutenant left. Kano exchanged a quick look with his grandfather. This was going to be interesting at the very least.

"No, no." Kano said, shaking his head at Minister Jadak's proposal as he stood from his desk. "Tell Brok that I won't have him building those monstrous death machines. I don't shy away from battle, but I'm not about to start supporting projects designed to let us more effectively perpetrate mass murder. We have the tools we need to get the job done. Let's be happy with what we have."

"Still, tanks like these could significantly reduce our losses..." Minister Jadak said slowly.

"Yes, and significantly increase Fire Nation fatalities." Kano said. "I want this war concluded with a minimum of bloodshed, Minister. We have to live with these people after all is said and done. It'd be nice if they didn't consider us to be heartless, genocidal maniacs, wouldn't you agree?"

"Yes, well..." Minister Jadak said, pursing his lips. "I still say the tactical advantage is worth it..."

"And when you are chief, you may feel free to approve the project." Kano nodded curtly. "Until then... No."

Jadak looked like he wanted to argue further, but at a glance from Hakano, he dropped the subject and nodded, turning to leave with the other ministers. Kano's grandfather lingered. Kano looked at him with a raised eyebrow.

"Don't tell me you think I made the wrong decision..." he said slowly. The elder looked around at him with a grin.

"You know, I think I owe your mother a good bit of gold." Hakano said.

"Oh? Why's that?" Kano asked.

"Because I think you just lost me the bet about how good a chief you'd prove to be." Hakano chuckled. "She bet in your favor, you know?"

"And you bet against me?!" Kano said incredulously, his brow furrowing.

"Call it good sportsmanship." Hakano said. "I've always been a sucker for a good gambol, especially when the odds are stacked against me."

"What kind of odds?"

"She gave me seven-hundred to one." Hakano said, shaking his head. "Regardless, you've impressed me with all you've been doing, Noei. I figured it was high time I told you that. Especially since you kicked that idiot Jadak in the teeth."

And with that, he turned from the room, chuckling to himself.

Kano spent a few more moments in the office straightening out the paperwork and then headed out the door into the Throne Hall. There, standing in the middle of the room, was what he didn't have to stretch to guess was the new Earth Kingdom ambassador.

"Mr. Ambassador." he said, descending down the few steps lining the edge of the Petitioner's Arena, the lowest point in the Throne Hall where the ambassador now stood. "Welcome to the Northern Water Tribe. I trust your journey was comfortable?"

Talkato

After waiting a while Talkato started sweating furiously. He noticed, but couldn't stop. Talkato was just to nervous, he had to get a grip on things before everything fell apart. His heartbeat started racing but after a few minutes he assured himself that everything would be just fine, to make things better he started thinking about his wonderful home, Ba Sing Se. Talkato thought about it as a architectural wonderland, with a vibrant history. His heartbeat slowed down he stopped sweating and he admired the Throne Room was again, he was tempted to place his hands on the beautiful ice walls and he couldn't resist it. Talkato rubbed his hands on the ice, cold and refreshing he liked it. Talkato soon heard footsteps and quickly stepped back into place, it was the Chief of the Northern Water Tribe. Unsure of what to do for a brief second he bowed and said, "It's a honor to meet you sir, forgive me if I was out of place." Talkato was to stunned to answer the Chief's question, but he got it into place, "A very wonderful journey, I enjoyed the scenery most." Talkato figured out he would have to show respect to the Chief at all times, he wanted the Chief's trust no matter what. To start things off he said, "I'm Talkato, the Ambassador as you may know. I'm here to serve my duty to represent the Earth Kingdom." He got up on his feet and approached to shake hands, again not sure what to do. For a moment he was excited on what the day had planned for them.

Mood: Curious Condition: Healthy

Link:

[i]

"Relax, Ambassador," Kano chuckled, shaking the man's hand. "We don't normally stand on excessive ceremony here. This isn't Ba Sing Se, as I'm more than sure you've noticed."

He chuckled a bit more as he turned and led the way up the stairs bordering the room and back into his office, gesturing for the ambassador to follow. He didn't like milling around the Throne Hall when there was one on one conversation at hand. It wasn't a comfortable place and Talkato looked the sort who would enjoy the antique Earth Kingdom furniture of the office more than the icy columns and crushing grandeur of the Hall.

Once they entered the office, Kano gestured for Talkato to take a seat at one of the luxurious chairs standing in front of the fireplace. He headed over to the bar in the corner and began preparing some tea. It wasn't anything special, but it was a fine blend. As he worked, he gave a sharp whistle. A moment later, a blast of fire shot up through the grate underneath the wood stacked in the hearth and set the stack ablaze. He turned back.

"I hope you enjoy your teas, Ambassador." he said, offering the man one of the cups full of perfectly brewed amber tea. "You won't have a single meeting with me that doesn't include it. Now, this is a Fire Nation blend, but I'm sure you can agree that just because we're at war with someone doesn't mean we should swear off what they've given to the world. Personally, I think that the best way to guarantee that bad feelings don't linger after a fight is to appreciate one's enemy during it..."

Talkato

"Ah yes, in Ba Sing Se our culture is rich. I must say though this city truly impresses me." Talkato said with a sophisticated voice. He was truly embarrassed that the great Chief noticed how shaky he was, but he rubbed it off. That was the least of his worries. Talkato quickly followed the Chief without hesitation, he admired that the Chief knew what he was doing, hopefully he would learn from the great Chief. Talkato stopped right in his tracks when he saw the office, he stared in awe for a few seconds. He then noticed that he was motionless and quickly sat in the comfortable chair that the Chief gestured for him to take a seat in. This wasn't a bad place, he might be homesick for a few days but he would quickly get over it. Talkato was quite grateful that the Chief himself was preparing him tea, but the more impressive part was the fire. Just a whistle and fire shot into the hearth warming the teas. "Thank you, but I must tell you that I have strong feelings about the Fire Nation. Although I obviously won't bring my personal feelings about them in meetings, I must tell you I have a strong hatred for them. They may make splendid teas but they once penetrated Ba Sing Se's great wall and ruined thousands of lives, how they did it you might ask? They acted to be people they were not, nobody noticed and we got taken over from the inside out. The White Lotus may have saved Ba Sing Se, but that attack will always leave a scar in Ba Sing Se's history. To sum everything up I believe that they are liars that have many secrets that have not been told. Look at Fire Lord Novai for example, he violated your treaty. I believe all Fire Nation will always be the same, and will never change. Please know that I will be fair and reasonable though in meetings." Talkato hoped that the Chief would understand his opinion, but he had no way to be sure. Talkato quietly drank the tea staring blankly into space.

Mood: Curious Condition: Healthy

Link:

[i]

Kano listened as the Ambassador spoke, his face neutral. Once he had concluded, Kano nodded slowly.

"Well, I am well aware of the history between the Fire Nation and the Earth Kingdom." he said slowly. "But understand that your people were not the only ones devastated by the Hundred Years' War. This very city was ransacked by the Fire Nation. Many of my people died. However, you are now a public figure here in the North. Your words carry weight. What you say to your superiors and, indeed, to those around you here will influence them all. And I will not stand for any unnecessary inflammation of this conflict. So I must ask you to never speak of your... distaste for the Fire Nation inside the walls of this city again. We are fighting to liberate the Fire Nation and eliminate the threat it poses to the Alliance nations, not to conquer it. And so long as I am chief, I will not allow nationalism to influence my fights."

He sighed, leaning back in his seat and crossing his legs as he sipped his tea. He placed it down on the table at his right hand when he was done and looked back up at Ambassador Talkato.

"Believe me, I understand your sentiments on this matter." he said finally. "However, if you take issue with my request, I will have no choice but to ask Earth Queen Meili to replace you with someone who is willing to look past their personal feelings and understand what is for the greater good. Hatred is all well and good until it starts causing bloodshed. I will not allow it to spread under my rule."

Kano listened to Talkato with raised brow and was just about to answer when another figured walked into the room uninvited. He watched her take her seat with a great deal of confusion. With a quick glance between the Ambassador and the new arrival, her focused his attention on her.

"I'm sorry, who are you?" he said. This was highly irregular. One did not simply invite one's self into a meeting between a world leader and a foreign dignitary. "And why, exactly are you here?"

He looked around at Talkato for answers. They seemed somewhat familiar with one another from the outset and he figured she must have been part of his entourage from the Earth Kingdom. It was a guess, true, but one which seemed to fit given that she obviously felt she was supposed to be there...

"Well, Commander Star," Kano said, intertwining his fingers. "I don't know you. And I wasn't expecting any military advisers from the Earth Kingdom or any other nation for that matter. I'm not in the habit of discussing the affairs of state with random officers of whom I know nothing."

He gave a sharp, quick whistle which shifted through a few tones and a pair of guards appeared in the doorway instantly. They stood ready in the door for his order. He turned his attention back to the commander, an eyebrow raised.

"I'm sure you're a fine officer. The Ambassador, at least, seems to know you. But I do not conduct myself on the basis of hear-say trust. If you're here to act as an adviser on behalf of the Earth Kingdom, then you will act out of the Earth Kingdom Embassy as an aide to the Ambassador. For the moment, Admiral Koda is our go-between on all matters involving Alliance joint military efforts. If you have something you need to discuss, you may direct your inquiries to her. Otherwise... I must ask you to excuse yourself, Commander."

(OOC: Sorry. I don't see any way that Kano wouldn't essentially kick her out.)

Star listened as the young Chief requested Commander Star's exit.

She laughed for a small moment, "I do admire you, Wolf-King. However, you are a young and short-lived Chief, which allows my impression of you to be naive, supported by your words. It appears you have failed to look further into reasoning of my arrival and you have underestimated my position. I hold the revered rank of Force Commander of the Earth Kingdom. I am no simpleton. For fourty-years I have lived, mastering the art of waterbending. I hold 4-stars upon my insignia, putting my power on par with the great Tiger General, whom you must have heard of. And to call me a random officer...that is simply downing me."

"You must realize I command the entire Warband of the E.K, positioning me in a peak military rank. I hold the highest position, and I am authorized to take part in this meeting by my Queen."

Kano drew a deep sigh.

"Lieutenant." he said, looking around at one of the guards.

"Yes, Chief?" said the one on the left, stepping forward.

"Retrieve the Prime Minister immediately." Kano said simply. The Lieutenant nodded and turned, marching off without delay. Another guard stepped in to replace him immediately. Kano turned his attention back to Commander Star.

"Commander," he said, leaning back in his seat. "I don't know where you think you are, but this is not the court of the Earth Queen. Your authority and station mean very little to me, not because I don't understand them but because they don't exist here. This is the Northern Water Tribe. Your... position does not transcend our border, alliance or no. I do not know you. I do not trust you. And until Meili sends me some proof of your responsibilities here, I don't care what you claim to be so. So far, you have overstepped your station simply entering this room without my permission. I don't know how they do it in the Earth Kingdom's palace, but an officer of a foreign military does not walk into the presence of the Chief of the North uninvited. Your disrespect for our protocol is enough for me to have no care for your business here..."

Kano sighed.

"Ambassador. I appreciate that you are attempting to keep the peace, but this woman comes into my city, invites herself into my presence, and proceeds to insult me." he said in a level albeit weary voice. "In the North, we call very rude, indeed. I need to know that those who are going to serve in our waters are going to respect our traditions and the way we do things here. Anyone who is not willing to do that has no business in the North. I'm sure you can appreciate that if this is a taste of what is to come... I am not interested. I have time for neither the headache nor the complications."

The guards at the door made way and an elderly man carry with a cane entered. He was closely followed by a rather gorgeous young woman.

"What's all this?" Kano's grandfather said slowly, looking around. He didn't seem at all perturbed by the situation and Kano knew he was already fully apprised. The old man was the consummate diplomat. Nakkoa, the young woman who had followed him in, moved silently around behind Kano's desk, keeping a close eye on Star.

Star sighed and looked down. She looked back up and at Kanoei.

"Please excuse my rudeness, Chief, I did not mean to insult you. We have business to attend to, all of us, so we should start."

She was saying this in order to start the discussion, as it was far more important than personal affairs. She also was curious as to why he repeatedly said that she had invited herself, it's not as if she chose to just show up at the Tribe and walk in.

"So if you could forgive my faults and let us all deal with important business."

She wasn't a child, she knew that they needed to discuss. Though she didn't believe that she had insulted him, she knew he didn't take being thought of as naive lightly.

She remained curious as to why it was taken so offensively for her to show up at a meeting, perhaps Kanoei never received word that a military representative was to show up at the meeting with the Ambassador?

"I've been informed of the events that transpired." Hakano said, nodding. "Commander Star. I know you by reputation. However, you must understand that in the North, one does not enter a room inhabited by the Chief unless the chief himself gives expressed permission to do so. And it was my understanding that Chief Kanoei wanted to come to a more... personal understanding of Ambassador Talkato. An assessment, I'm afraid to say, you rather abruptly interrupted."

"Well said." Kano nodded slowly, keeping his eyes trained on the Ambassador and Commander Star.

"I know my grandson, Commander." Hakano continued. "He does not take to presumption with much fondness. Your orders from the Earth Queen notwithstanding, we were not notified of your arrival or membership in Ambassador Talkato's entourage. No doubt he finds your casual entrance more than a little frustrating, as I would in his place. If you will forgive my offering such, my Chief."

He bowed slightly to Kano. That still made him more than a bit uncomfortable. But Kano nodded nonetheless.

"Now, then." Hakano said, gesturing toward Nakkoa. "May I present Captain Nakkoa of the Water Tribe Fleet. She is daughter to Admiral Koda and at the moment, she is the chief officer representative of the Admiral's command here in the palace. I have asked her to join us in these little discussions. With your allowance, of course, Chief Kanoei."

Again, Kano nodded. He was somewhat happy to have some other representatives of the tribe in the room. Nakkoa moved around the table and took the seat next to Kano, opposite Commander Star. Hakano, meanwhile, seated himself in a chair brought in by one of the guards from a side door. It placed him facing the hearth, sitting at the opposite end of the corridor formed by the other four in their seats.

"To business." Hakano said once all were situated. "Ambassador... I trust you are aware of the terms of the Treaty of the Western Air Temple?"

(OOC: Nakkoa will be gone for the about a week or two and she gave me permission to use her character as an NPC while she's gone for the purposes of this thread. The Alliance treaty can be found here: TREATY)

"Hm." Hakano said, nodding slowly.

"Apologies." Kano said, holding up a hand to stop his grandfather from continuing. "Given the situation, I forgot the introductions. This is Prime Minister Hakano, Head of the Aowaka Clan and my grandfather. As he said. This is Nakkoa." he gestured to her sitting next to him. "Cousin to myself."

"Ah, yes." Hakano nodded slowly once more. "I do have the troubling habit of forgetting my manners in that way. You will have to forgive me, Ambassador. It has been a great long time since I met anyone who was not aware of who I am and what position I hold. But yes. The treaty defines three terms specifically, all pertaining specifically and exclusively to battle. On land, the Earth Kingdom has command. In the skies, the Air Nomands command. And finally, on the seas, the Water Tribes do.

"In this case, the most pressing of these three is the last. Commander Star. I understand you are the commanding officer of the General Army of the Earth Kingdom. Are we to expect General Yu as well?"

Kano thumb twitched at the sound of the name, but otherwise he hid his emotions toward Yu masterfully. He waited for Star's answer nonetheless, though, with interest.

Star was happy that to conflict between her and Kanoei had come to an stop. After being introduced to the Chief's family members, who were also powers of the Tribe, she was spoke to by Hakano.

"Unfortunately, the Tiger General Yu, will not be present. While I do lead the general army, she leads the Kyoshi Legion - a far more elite group. She is busy with the training and business of the Kyoshi.".

"Hakano, as the most elder of us all. Perhaps you should give us an introduction of yourself first." she smiled at him as if trying to be respectful to him and his age.

"I think Chief Kanoei's introduction was more than adequate." Hakano said with a faint smile. "I'm not one for expounding upon my own titles. Suffice it to say, I act as leader in the North whenever the chief cannot."

"Commander Star." Kano said, leaning back in his seat. "What exactly is your function here? I assume as a military representative, you are interested in something to do with the status of the Alliance's available military might? There have no notable engagements between Alliance and Fire Nation forces since the Battle of the Western Air Temple a month ago. The Alliance council has yet to convene on the issue of our next engagement. We're still consolidating our forces into a viable chain of command..."

"I'm sure this has something to do with that very effort, Chief Kanoei." Hakano said. "The Commander's ground forces will, after all, rely upon the efforts of the Alliance Joint Navy for transport into the Fire Isles when the time comes..."

"You are correct." She nodded to Kanoei, and then to Hakano, "I am simply here to function as the military equivalent to the political Talkato. He will provide input for any Earth Kingdom political actions, I will do the same for any EK military.".

"However, as stated by Hakano, the current meeting is to get a more personal understanding of each other.".

She waited for somebody to start explaining about themself.