A It saddens me that the age of the dishonorable gun has arrive but nothing we can really do about it. It was going to happened eventually once Fireblood stuff started appearing.
Dude, it took 200 years for people of the local parts to get to musket all the way from thrown fire-bombs in SPAMKINGDOM+ in aboot year 960 :V
You tell him to begin production of Deathreeds for use of Methiantese military.
Then messenger is brought in, and he bows before you with big smile on his face.
"Emperor! I'm glad to see you still on the throne. I have returned from Gan Minsong, even if it wasn't my, well, ours, destination."
He then weaves a tale about how he and his colleagues were ambushed by bandits in southern Helliste. They lost half their numbers, then during a stay at the inn they get in drunken brawl. Four of them left, they finally visited the Helliste court. There, the trade advisor of Helliste King gave them direction to meet with some merchants, but as those lived in the colony of Autgard by Bloodpeak Mountains, they decided to take a ship.
But after a storm rendered their ship sailless, they were attacked by Albionese pirates. Two of the merchants died, and the survivors were picked up by Helliste ship, which was heading to Autgard and then Gan Minsong. In Autgard, the other remaining envoy caught a fever and perished.
Saddened but not heart-broken, the remaining messenger - the one standing before you - decided that this voyage already got so bad and so off-course, that he might as well try his luck getting to Gan Minsong. So he re-embarked on the ship, and visited the distant land in far east. He speaks of giant sea-trees that tried to smash their ship and the cold winds of eastern seas that envelop Gan Minsong islands.
"I must note that the tales of grown buildings and glassy roofs are exaggerations. All I saw was timberwork and clay roof tiles. Their clothes are fabulous, however, of material delicate yet insulating that I never saw anywhere around these parts. Not even threadworm silk and ketton cloth combined could produce something that good, and dyes they produce are brilliant hues of gold, red and blue. Their cuisine is truly alien, however; they indulge on weeds, mice, bats, octopi, oysters and birds and poisonous reptiles and lizards, but know little of meat of land animals, cows and horses do not exist in their lands, nor they produce much crops besides some grains and leafy vegetables."
He then continues his tale of Gan Minsong; apparently, the Helliste haven't been squandering the time and already established a small office in one of Gan Minsongian port cities. It is currently dedicated rest-stop for ship crews as well as place where Gan Minsong script and language is being learned and worked upon by Helliste scholars. Further, the Gan Minsong society seems to be extremely religious, bordering on fanatical; while they tolerate heathens, for a Gan to revere anything else but The Golden King (some sort of ancient King-slash-deity) is considered a crime; the punishment is execution of the heretic and exile of their family from their hometwon into forest-covered countryside or into the snow-covered mountain peaks in Gan Minsong heartlands.
After half a year stay in Gan Minsong, the envoy felt homesick and decided to catch a ship back to Helliste. This time the ride was smooth, and once he got back to Autgard, he found the merchants he was sent to meet in first place. Unfortunately, they turned Methiantese offers down; it seems that Gan Minsong has little interest in glassware, and Helliste merchants seem to calculate the price of eastern goods at much higher price than some paltry gemstones and silver bullion.
His mission a failure, the man however felt obliged to find a way to return home. He traveled along the coast, then joined a trade caravan heading for Cydwyl. He arrived there last Winter, and then journeyed back to Methiant, crossing the border few days before new year's eve.
"And so I am, your Majesty, back home, having failed my mission! Have mercy!"
A) "Mercy? You do not deserve mercy! You potentially crippled our chances at securing wealth of Gan Minsong for Methiantese peoples! To dungeon with you!"
B) "It is clear to me that you had quite a journey. Unnecessary, however. Seems we will have to do without Gan Minsongian wares after all!"
C) "You should've come earlier! If I knew how it was in the north, less time would be wasted waiting and we would've sent another dispatch. In fact, we will send more diplomats to Helliste! I want those fabrics you speak of!"
