[Vinghis City. The Vinghi's throne room]

"So do you understand your orders, Ambassidor Essor?" the Vinghi asked from on top his firey throne.

"Yes, my lord," I replied as I knelt down facing him.

"After ten years of fighting, we defeated our enemies to the East. We have established the first empire of Vinghis, and I would like to keep it that way," he hissed, "we must observe these other countries, make sure that they wont invade us and take away everything we worked hard to create."

"And the Island of Terra is neutral to them?" I questioned.

"Supposedly. At least that's what our spies found out. Anything useful you find out will be reported back here, understood?"

"Yes, my lord," I bowed again, "What about trade agreements?"

"You know what's best for our country, that's why I selected you. If you come across something that could benefit us, I grant you the power to make that decision."

"Thank you, my lord."

"Now there is a transport ship at the docks. It'll take you, along with other representitives to the island. Also on board are some examples of our natural and manufactured goods. Show them to anyone interested in trade. Maybe buy a few friends," he smirked.

"Yes, sir."

"Now go," he waved his hand, ushering him away.

--------------------------------------------

[Vinghan Docks]

Essor boards a small ironclad ship, the newest design since the first edition models came out during the war. This one was sleeker and faster, mostly just a way to show off to other countries. He walks up the ramp and tells the captian theyre ready to cast off. Then he walks below deck to his cabin to get some sleep.

((This forum seemed so lonely, so I decided to pay a visit. And can you take that ship into the open sea post thingy?))

Major Horrocks dismounted from his camel- a rare beast, taken from Travaal in all likelihood- and surveyed the scene through a telescope. It was a hot, dry country; nothing would appear to be able to live out here, but the Rakarskian Inquisition had found some evidence of civilization down here, and it was the traditional job of the exploring officer to follow up on these claims. He had travelled in the desert before, and was as a result wearing a Rakarskian colonial uniform: loose trousers and shirt, and a shako with fabric flowing across the next and a hood to pull down to protect the eyes and face from the sun.

((Think a napoleonified foreign legionairre.))

[Vinghan Desert]

Captain Rashet and his soldiers were riding on horseback through the Vinghan desert finishing up his patrol of the Fire Nomads. He ordered a halt on a ridge overlooking the horizon. After telling his men to take a rest and hopped off his horse and walked out to the edge of the ridge and scanned the horizon. The orange sun was setting over the burning desert, yet he could still see for miles. Something moving about half a mile out caught his eye. He strained his eyes and pulled out his scope. He was expecting it to be a lone Fire Nomad (which was uncommon for them to be travelling around), but it turned out to be one man wearing a peculiar blue desert outfit and riding a camel through the desert.

That's odd, he thought.

The wanderer was also scanning his surroundings and Rashet ordered his men to get down. He didnt recognize this man, so he couldnt trust his intentions.

"Give me the messanger hawk," he ordered and one of his men crawled over with a hawk perched on his arm.

Rashet quickly scribbled down a message on a piece of paper he pulled out, rolled it up, and attatched it to the hawks leg. The hawk carrier threw it in the air and watched it fly off to the Capital, to the Vinghi himself.

"What else should we do, sir?" one of his soldiers asked.

"Stay down and observe," he replied and continued spying on the wanderer

Horrocks looked around the desert. Nothing seemed untoward, until something caught his eye. A flash of sunlight reflecting off glass. It would seem that he was being observed.

He swung off the camel, and spread his arms wide, well away from his scabbarded sabre and the carbine in the saddle holster. "Hullo!" he called.

((I presume that the scope is a conventional telescope rather than a magical implement. If not, forgive me.))

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