An Alate goes Abroad

[u/harfordplanning]

As Ayetho has grown, smaller Demani kingdoms have been forced to abate from their old heartlands, and their Alates fly out to more far flung afield locations with the passing of time.

Now, with Ayetho having grown to such an extent as it has, Alates have begun to show up in *your* territory too! A truly difficult conundrum.

Lacking a sense of political territory, only that of enforced boundaries, the Alates attempt to settle in any temperate mountains with limited population sizes, particularly the ones closer to Ayetho, where they originate from.

Some, however, cannot find such a remote space, and may seek what authority exists in the land to petition them directly for a space, if with their mastery of the common tongue being lacking.

With that in mind, the time has come for decisions to be made.

Do you allow the Demani to settle in the mountains undisturbed, fearful of the rumors of their strength and of their immense size, risking a large population potentially forming?

Do you permit the less fortunate Alates to negotiate a settlement, despite it being unknown if they will uphold their end of whatever deal is made, being a seemingly insular race?

Or do you refuse these visitors and attempt to drive them out? Undisturbed by their towering heights and ability to fly.

## Note

Demani, once settled, may form either a Cluster or a Nest. If more than two Alates show up, a Cluster will be forming, which would only reach a population of a few hundred at most. If only two arrive, a Nest will be forming, which can surpass a thousand Demani in just a few short years.

Demani are protective of their Clusters and Nests, and will defend a certain area around it based on its population.

[u/OceansCarraway]

The mountains of southern and western Aelbaion are not the most habitable places in the country, but people live there. And if people live there, then the Demani certainly can live there. Carved steps and ancient carvings indicate that someone did, and they possibly can live there again.

Or that they are living there right now.

The weather isn't pleasant. A peasant shepherd of some kind probably saw the Demani arriving and got the word back before they realized that any humans were there. That is all it takes, and soon enough, groups are gathering to watch the Alate...including groups of persons wearing the livery of the count. Then there are persons on horse, and they wear the livery of the duke, and all of a sudden there's a pegasus off in the distance, staying out of engagement range. It seems that thirty years of being prepared for the neighbors to declare war on them has made the locals ready for war-and the sudden appearance of the Demani is reason enough to show up with weapons prepared.

The Duke shows up alarmingly fast, along with his retainer of knights, and all the peasants he could gather along with him on the way. And Ladysakes. That's a LOT of armed peasants. They look nervous, but determined. Perhaps they have a Paladin somewhere. Who knows.

A small delegation from the Duke comes forward, ready to present terms. The Demani can enter a feudal contract under the Duke, or they will be told politely, but firmly, to leave. Supplies will be provided for the trip, but the borders of the Duchy-and by extension-are being enforced. Thirty years of nails biting peace have found a small outlet. Hopefully it will not explode.

[u/harfordplanning → u/OceansCarraway]

It is a grueling journey for any member of the entourage that cannot fly.

The Alates which had come settled down in the most natural spot possible in their eyes, a most rugged region of the mountains in the westernmost of Aelbaion. The cliffs sheer and the foot journey being closer to climbing than a march at times, if all of them can even make the uncertain journey in such terrain.

Atop the crag, the Duke would find a small collection of Alates making themselves busy for preparation of a Cluster. By the time of arrival, a modest core having already developed in which the Demani may spend the night.

The Demani present are not of the towering variety of rumor and myth, found mostly within Ayetho itself, but are instead more diminutive, short by human standards even, though not to be underestimated in combat to be sure. They are Eyn.

Being new to the area, the Eyn only gripe about the ridiculousness of the Duke wishing to charge them for land he does not even cultivate, nor ever would. However, these are not Demani which can simply throw their weight about like the larger Alates, and if nothing more, do agree to review the contract, presuming the terms are read aloud to them. Aelish is not their native language, after all.

[u/OceansCarraway → u/harfordplanning]

Below the crag, a force of quite a lot of people are making themselves ready to lay siege to the area if they must. Peasants are digging ditches, finding firing positions, pitching decoy tents, and all manner of ongoing camp shenanigans. Above, a pegasus or two circles on reconnaissance. The natives of this area are decently practiced in climbing, with the nobility having trained to climb in their armor. It is less tiring for them to do this than it seems. The Aelish are used to living here, and it shows.

Regardless, the two can see eye to eye-at least heightwise. The Aelish do not cultivate this land, but it is the source of a lot of water, especially in the spring. They need it for the farms downriver, and for their own consumption. Some of it feeds water-meadows, some wells. Touching this land would not only interfere with the Lady's blessing, it would tick her off and she would enact revenge for it.

What the Duke wants is for the Demani to either enter into a feudal contract or get out. This contract would have the lord (him)-provide them protection from threats natural and personal, in exchange for a standard set of services: the payment of taxes, fighting for him if the ban is called (which it probably wouldn't be, and they would have specific circumstances). They would maintain religious liberty, as long as they did not proselytize, and could trade with others if it did not harm the Duke or his subjects. It wasn't a bad deal, but it had a certain local flavor to it. All of this was be read aloud as much as needed, with definitions explained. The Aelish weren't mean-spirited.

[u/harfordplanning → u/OceansCarraway]

Although the exact customs are foreign to the Eyn, and the benefits seem closer to paying a gang not to smack your business, the basic rules don't strongly differ from what Demani are accustomed to.

Demani pay a tribute, akin to a tax, to their primary Nest, and are likewise typically open to beneficial trade, even if amongst their own usually. In all, none of the requirements are of issue to the Eyn.

The exact details of the arrangement may be negotiated as seen fit, with the Demani truly more concerned with who is and isn't allowed near the Cluster from here on, contract or not, as well as how much of the mountainside they may commandeer for their settlement, given they tend to prefer less populated regions, as well as the exact nature of the taxes, given that Demani do not conduct agriculture similarly to the Aelish.

[u/OceansCarraway → u/harfordplanning]

Every state is just a bigger gang that's gotten caught up in it's own rules and mythologies...according to some philosophers, anyway. Right now, the Duke wants the newcomers to act like a gang, too. They need to pick a symbol, get a name, do their agriculture according to his terms, and exert limited control over the otherwise generous amount of mountain. They would be able to pay tax in kind-everyone does that-but they would only have so much control over who can come near or enter. The random peasant can be turned back, but the freeman would be given right to see if their lands are being impinged on, and the soldiers of the Duke and his subordinate Counts must be allowed passage without question.

[u/harfordplanning → u/OceansCarraway]

fsome

The Duke gets something in the way of guarantees out of that, or close enough, probably.

The Eyn gladly accept the right to turn away peasantry, and are willing to delegate with the freemen in regards to boundaries so that they may not a reason to instep toward the mountains.

For the knights, counts, and other officials, however, the amount of access is desired to still be restricted. Whether it be they may visit but not explore, the Cluster is to maintain an official roadway of some sort for such guests, or even outright need to hold permit to enter, a less wanderful option for any visitors is desired.

The smaller details, such as symbol, name, and terms of production, are almost undisputed, like they are utterly unimportant as compared to respecting the Cluster's privacy.

[u/OceansCarraway → u/harfordplanning]

The Duke notices that they are guarantees. When they hit paper, the guarantees will need to become hard rules. The contract forming for the Demani roughly resembles an independent city state under the protection of a nearby lord. Small details can be ironed out, half of them probably are. The Duke is even willing to bend somewhat on privacy: the counts and their men must announce themselves beforehand, as well as some of his men-but he reserves the right for himself and his retainer to enter at any time, for any or no reason at all. This is the difference between just a gang and what will become a state. A gang wants it's loot, but a state wants control. They will have control, or they will have no new neighbors.