*a posting is nailed to the message board*

[arabidopsis 1]

The note is written in exquisite handwriting, the loops and curls of the lettering make it look like this person has been writing letters for a while.. the ink is a black, with a silvery colour when the light hits it.. the person, or people who wrote this posting mean business.

Greetings Citizens of Branborough

This letter is a letter of business, and also alliances. We do not seek to invade, nor do we seek to interrupt your quaint lives. The order of the Hammerites, at the neighboring Ironrock Island which to propose an offer to the citizens of Branborough, and the Vale.

We are willing to offer support in building, planning and administration, in return for claiming a part of the peninsula south of Branborough. In addition to this, we are also offering a condition of refuge if your lands ever get invaded, and your people have nowhere to go.

In addition to this deal, we would also propose this peninsula town to be one of mixed cultures, and hopefully one in which the Order of the Hammerites may be able to benefit you're people in trade, ideas, and also diplomatic ties.

Our offer is fully open to negotiations, and we are willing to work with you to make a greater tomorrow.

May the Builder Bless You.

-Signed Locke Blackthorne

on behalf of the Hammerite Order

*A embossed hammer seal, declaring this is a legitimate Hammerite document, is put over the top of the signature*

[TheRoyalOnion(Aris) 101]

*Aris reads the note, frowns and then writes another smaller note under the first one in less fancy ink*

Dear Mr.Builder, I speak of no significant importance and my word dun carry any weight around 'ere but I can say fer meself. We've been building burrows fer 'undreds O' years and we dun need and 'elp or a change in te way we build 'em. As for ye taking part O' our hard earned lands. Ye disgusting 'umans 'ave no right 'ere! Go find somewhere else te spread yer plague of crime and war! Again I dun 'ave any weight around 'ere this is just my opinion. -Aris Snowbird

[Dalek348 1962]

Faldo sniffs the note vigorously, his keen nose looking for whiffs of tall folk and orc. He chokes at the vile smell of tall folk, the smell a mix of bad ale and clean feet. He ponders the message on the poster, for a while, and says to himself,

Hm, we 'ave plentiful wheat, an' fish what with the increase in fishermen in the village. Per'aps we can trade some o' that fer a spot of iron for our mugs. Buildin' ain't necessary, we hot 'obbs to do that. But per'aps we may 'ave some manual labour for ya eventually.

An' I ain't givin' away no land fer tall folk to ravage, it be peaceful, an' I know many rabbits an' foxes an' dogs live in that southern area, the lakes be brimmin' with lovely colourful fish, so I like ta keep it that way. I may visit yer island, though, I went there boatin' while it was just a construction hut. If we be in trouble, no doubt ye'll open yer doors fer good folk like us 'nyway.

After realising he was talking to himself all that time, Faldo feels like a madman, though not as mad as Tibb who wets his breeches many a time without a care in the world. Faldo boats over the next day to the island and recites exactly what he said to himself earlier.

[arabidopsis 1]

A new note is attached to the Hammerite letter... identical to the last..

Greetings Branborough, and The Vale Citizens,

In recent light of hearing you fear us ravaging your land, and also bringing unwanted 'tall folk', we have a counter proposal. We will offer you a sum of 30,000 minas (which is negotiable), and also our own offer of not moving further north than the lake. In addition, we will also be welcoming citizens from your villages to overlook our farms to make sure we are not ravaging your lands.

We are not here to interfere with your lives, nor are we to bring crime or war, we only wish to aid and create a partnership in which for generations to come will be seen a stepping stone for the best.

If war and crime are what you fear, we will add clauses onto an agreement to give you right to evict us from the lands if we ever bring war from our own doing to your lands.

If the citizens have any more questions, we will be willing to hold a town meeting to discuss any issues and discuss the options.

On success of these deals for both parties, we will be willing to host a grand party to celebrate the new ties between the citizens of the Vale and Barnborough and the Hammerite Order.

Thankyou

Signed Locke Blackthorne, on behalf of the Hammerite Order

[Dalek348 1962]

Faldo paddles back to the Hammerite HQ with a cunning counter of a counter offer.

We 'ave no need of minas in our culture, 'owever there are some things ye could get us. 'ere are our demands:

• 
  
  
• A golden shovel for every resident of Branborough.
  
• Faldo counts his fingers, Twenty pristine mugs for our Inn.
  
• A double chest full o' paddle boats.
  
• One diamond.
  
• Any magic music players ((discs)) ye have and are willin' ta give.
  
• A golden crown (fer me as BranMaster, ye see)
  
• Yer promise that ye refuse ta build 'nythin' nasty or war-like on our fair soil. Keep it peaceful. And yer promise never to harm any member o' the Vale.
  
• An' the right ta shovel any one o' ye fer no reason, and yer promise to never retaliate.
  

In return we will give:

• 
  
  
• A healthy batch of berry bread, Tookwater salmon, pork pies and wheat.
  
• The land o' the southern peninsula, stayin' well clear of the lake.
  
• A hair from the foot of old Doc Brandybuck, as a sign of good will.
  
• Ye'll always be welcome in Branborough, provided ye dun bring any nasty folk round.
  

[TheRoyalOnion(Aris) 101]

*Another short note with long letters is written under faldo's agreement*

Our Home, Our Home For A Fancy Shovel!

[Dalek348 1962]

*Another short note with long letters is written under faldo's agreement*

Our Home, Our Home For A Fancy Shovel!

Faldo joins the residents of the Vale around the noticeboard, everyone joining in with the silly chant,

Our Home, Our Home for a fancy shovel!

[arabidopsis 1]

A rich document, embossed with the Hammerite wax seal, and with fancy paper arrives at the Elder Halflings offices

Greeting Elders of The Vale and Branborough,

The offer you have proposed, we have agreed to accept. This offer that you proposed was,;

• A Golden Shovel for every Branborough Resident
• Twenty pristine mugs
• Double Chest of Paddle Boats
• A single diamond
• A magic music player
• Golden crown for the Branmaster
• Non-aggressive Military Buildings
• Non-aggression Pact
• Right to police troublemakers

In return, if we stick to these deals, you will give us;

• A bumper harvest of your delightful cultures food
• Land of the Southern Peninsula - staying clear of the Lake
• Hair from the foot of Old Doc Brandybuck as Sign of Good Will
• Access to your town as long as we keep nasty folk to our own borders.

As part of this deal to keep other folk you do not like from your people, we will construct a wall around our settlement, and give passports to those who we deem can pass to your town. Additionally, we will also offer a few posts for Constable positions to show our commitment for working together, allowing you to decide who may or may not enter your lands.

Lastly, a Festival will be held, and a statue will be created to commemorate this agreement between our people.

Signed on Behalf of the Hammerite Order,

Diplomat Locke Blackthorne

[Lock 'eed Ironheart 120]

((Sorry to go ooc but I'm at lunch and just got home to read about this. I'll be posting a IC response later tonight. By no means is there going to be Walls or mega builds on the mainland. It's a rural area for farms and docks. I want to ensure you that I will keep this in style to a real castle type lands.))

[LaCabra (Soda) 1519]

Bili giggles, surprised at Faldo's offering. He covers his mouth, his face a bright shade of pink.

"Ye sure are a trickster, Elde' Faldo! Because there's no possible way any o' these blokes coul' ge' one o' Doc's foo' 'airs... 'e dun' 'ave any, an' I 'aven' seen 'im in years! Hee-hee!"

[Lock 'eed Ironheart 120]

*Lock makes his way to his study whilst thinking to himself "we need to put a lift in this tower". Once in his study Lock reads over the latest news and comes about the land acquisition.

So it would seem we have the land for our farmers and fishermen, they will be most pleased to begin building their homes and farms on mainland. Even better the captain of the navy will get his dry dock so as to build the two ships and smaller ones for the fishermen.

*Lock continues to read over the listed price for the lands. A smile comes over his face.

Items and tools, word of honor. Well then a group of like minded people that have no need for coin or richs but instead the items in which to enjoy life.

*Lock takes a fresh piece of paper out and begins to write a letter to be given to Faldo.

Dear Sir Faldo

I have been informed of the recent exchange of words and letters over the strip of land in your southeren region and would like to take this moment to thank you and give you my personal promise that we have no ill intentions to damage the lands. I for one do enjoy the beauty of the lands and in such is one of the main reasons for us settling on our current location.

I've gone over some of the things our diplomat has spoken of and would like to reiterate on a few things just to be clear. As for walls and large builds may go the only large builds will be that of rural area. A windmill for wheat, a few farm areas and livestock ranges, a dry dock for the docks and future ship building. A lighthouse is going to be the tallest structure.....I will make sure the northeren range is covered as to not shine on your lands while you sleep.

We will not be clear cutting any forests for this we always replant what we take and make sure to keep the land the way it was. I too take the lands into consideration and will make sure places of interest be kept retained. As for my people I assure you that they are of most highest regard, If you do happen upon a hammerite that treats your people ill do inform me I will handle the taffer with the outmost importance. But once again that will never arise for I take personal responsibility over all my people and their actions.

As for the listed items let me see if I have this right.

•A Golden Shovel for every Branborough Resident (22 right?)

•Twenty pristine mugs (22 buckets)

•Double Chest of Paddle Boats (one large chest of boats)

•A single diamond (one diamond)

•A magic music disc (I personally found one -13- and have yet to find another but I'm willing to let it go for my people)

•Golden crown for the Branmaster (gold helmet/crafted by the finest smiths)

•Non-aggressive Military Buildings (Only thing I can see military wise would be the larger ships moored. The mainland is to be used for farming and docks for loading and unloading materials)

•Non-aggression Pact (We have no intentions to ever take lands from anyone by force. We will defend and assist those that ask and are deemed worthy of our aide, but we'll never draw blood for personal gain)

•Right to police troublemakers (Not sure as to what this means, you are to police our lands or the right to jail and punish anyone in your lands that are of Hammerite origin? Because if a hammer does break a rule or act ill around your people you have every right to smite and jail the taffer.)

So All the items I can have made a delivered to you at your convenience. I'll have our diplomat Locke write up the forms to be signed by you and myself as to the pact and land transfer. If there is anything else you'd like to speak about feel free to send me a letter back.

Kind regards

Lock'eed Ironheart

[Dalek348 1962]

Faldo has a bit of a too long; didn't read moment, his little brain doesn't quite have the capacity to concentrate while reading lots of book words. One point does catch his eye, and he scrawls over it to reiterate his point,

Wha' we said fer the las' point was tha' if any o' yer people or any strangers be causin' trouble then we 'ave the right to give 'em a good shovellin' without livin' in fear o' retaliation.

[Lock 'eed Ironheart 120]

Right, you have nothing to fear for we wouldn't dare oppose the ones that gave us land. We will not retaliate if you put a hammerite in their place for being uncouth. I will inform my people to treat the halflings as brethren and to assist them when ever they call for help, may it be building or smiting of bandits.