“Gildemeister Dominio, what do you petition?”

The Gildemeister from Glimmer stepped forth in the petitioner’s chamber. The Sultan of Tarango did like his lavishness. It’d helped him pretend that he was an actual power instead of a simple Free Trade zone for Glimmer. It was somewhat humiliating for Dominio, the Gildemeister on behalf of Glimmer, to have to come to court to see Sultan Tankur, but if you really stripped down his position he was really just a messenger and an agent of the consortiums and monopolies from his homeland.

If one must grovel, one must grovel. He was not paid to be high and mighty. In fact, the Sultan’s pretentiousness was the vulnerability he was paid to exploit. And if one must stroke an ego from time to time, one must stroke, stroke, and stroke even more.

And Dominio did stroke. With great passion and delight.

“Your great resplendence,” stroked Dominio, “I have come with the forms that were required by the Magnificent Court in Tara. These forms stipulate the movement of Glimmerite ships of the Limoen Bank & Trading Company, the Fisher’s Conventional company, Gildson’s and Sons, and so on. I shall need His High Splendour’s approval on these documents, as was requested by the provisioner. In addition, the permits for other companies’ affairs in Tarangan cities of Duri, Hutangula, and so on.”

The issue being, that though the Sultan was a fool for indulging in such empty pomp and circumstance, he was no idiot.

“The Esteemed and Respected Sultan of the Dominion of Tarango apologizes profusely…” here it comes, “But your documents have been denied.” Said Sultan Tankur.

The Sultan had been dragging his feet on these affairs since the year he came to power: 868. He had been hand-picked by Burghermeister Konig. Poorly picked, though. For the last 10 years, he had made Dominio’s life difficult.

But not for long. Now, Dominio was prepared.

“If I may please the Princely Opulence, I wish to petition for a private reappraisal.” Dominio said in the most circuitous way possible. His language was almost as puffed up as the Sultan himself.

“You may petition. Have you brought the Princely Endowment?” A gift, is what he meant. And if a gift was what the Sultan wanted, he would get a gift.

“I have. Verily, I have imported a cask of wine from Coronado, the finest vintage procurable, for the acceptance of the most Generous Sovereign of Sovereigns.” The gift was the wine, and the gift was in the wine.

“I shall accept this gift. However, a fey idea strikes me. I shall need a companion to indulge in it with me! I shall invite you, Gildemeister, for it is a private audience you wanted.”

It was right at this point that the longest possible train of swears and curses slogged through Dominio’s head. The gift… the gift of wine… How was he to get out of drinking it?! One does not simply deny the direct request of a Sultan, even one as unimportant as Tankur.

“Your Glorious Radiance… this is most charitable, yes, I must say, but,” a pause to think, “This is most unusual, your most virtuous elegance!” Yes, this might just work! “This wine is so fine, I must beg that-“

Sultan Tankur cut him off “Dominio, I must insist. Share in this wine with me, for that I may call you friend!”

Could he have known? Perhaps Tankur was cleverer than he thought. Dominio sweated slightly, “Your luxurious, most charitable Grandness, I don’t believe I can refuse!” Another slur of swears ran through Dominio’s head. He’d die having to stroke Tankur’s ego?!

He wasn’t paid to die!

Suddenly, the Prince stepped forth. Yes, the Prince, the inept one that Dominio was to prop up. He was malleable and pushable, and would make Dominio’s life an ease. “Father, I must ask that we share in this wine! I wish to taste it, and share in it with my father!”

Dominio watched as luck played a cruel trick on him. He watched as Sultan Tankur agreed to drink from the Cask from Coronado, and share it with his son. He was sent out of the palace, to return later. As he walked out of the threshold, yes, but he could not but feel the horror and confusion seeping into his skull. How could he have been so foolish?! He poisoned the Sultan, but poisoned the replacement too!

[M]: lolwoops

Glimmer has a lot of sway in Tarango. Glimmerite Companies even moreso. Our ships move and wander...