- ARCHIVE - Grand Principal Court of Pskov

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Alyosha Berezov approaches Kniaz Alexander:

"Kniaz Yuri of Suzdal wishes to announce his impending arrival, together with Methodius, Archbishop of Vladimir, and Nikolai Botian, a boyar of Vladimir."

 

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Mumbling and groggy, Aleksandr pulled his thin form out of bed and squinted at the servant that had awoken him.

Wha.... Yuri..... here?.... Already?

Dazed from a night of drinking, Aleksandr blinked several times to orient himself before selecting his clothes. He chose a green silk shirt and grey pants, over which he wore a forest green surcouat with the sigil of Pskov upon it. He donned his crown, a simple but beautiful circlet of silver, inlaid with gold and bronze. The dress gave him a decidedly martial air. Best for the Prince of Suzdal to see that the battles were not over yet.

Still blinking dizzily, the Grand Prince of Pskov made his way through the huge stone citadel, moving through the identical-looking hallways with practiced ease until he came to his great hall - a long room decorated with skins and banners befitting a Prince of Rus. A heir to Rurik. A long table dominated the room, able to seat some hundred men, and his ornate chair at the head. There he waited and watched for his closest ally to approach.

 

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Three men enter the audience chamber; the one on the left is short, and broad of shoulder, of military bearing, dressed in a slightly worn red kaftan; the man on the right is dressed in the informal robes of a bishop; the man in the middle, tall yet stooped, wearing the cap of Monomakh, is weary from the road, yet his noble bearing declares him to be Kniaz Yuri.

The three men approach Kniaz Aleksandr, passing around the left side of the table. Yuri bows politely from the waist, as does the short man next to him, who is introduced as Nikolai Botian.

"Cousin, despite your peremptory language, we have come to enjoy your hospitality. Not wishing to burden your realm, I came with a small escort and only Nika and Archbishop Methodius, primate of Vladimir." Kniaz Yuri smiles warmly, and asks, "May we sit?"

 

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Aleksandr, looking somewhat tired, smiles easily at Yuri and his compatriots and gestures them sit and three high-backed chairs set on the right side of the table, to his left. He folds his hands and steeples his fingers on the wooden table before speaking.

Uncle. It warms my heart to see you, along with this holy man and your advisor. I beg of you to forgive my... hurriedly written words, but I wished to speak with you most urgently.

There are many things that trouble our alliance here... The first and most important is the formation of this ungodly usurpation of authority by the Prince of Karelia and Princess of Moskva. Though apostates and traitors, I never thought them to be truly corrupt... They seek to claim all the land this alliance would protect in the name of the realm's true sovereigns and thus we cannot look on them with any stance but of wariness. Already I have heard whisperings that the Prince of Karelia, excaping God's vengeful wrath unlike his concubine, will seek to attack us as soon as it is able. I have also heard that our friend the Grand Prince of Tver has fallen ill and is thus incapacitated. What are your thoughts?

 

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Yuri nods sagely. "My niece is dead, and is accounting for her soul's actions before God. The German who rules Karelia vexes me, but far more disturbing is the retiring nature of our one-time ally, the Kniaz of Tver. Also, I have heard disturbing rumors that my son may be dead at the hand of the King of Poland. We have, it seems, much to discuss."

 

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Aleksandr's delicate face scrunches up in an unattractive frown as he listens to Yuri's words.

What would you have us do about the Tverian, uncle? There is nothing to be done until he either recovers or passes on control of his realm to a heir. Of course, if you are worried about our position, I can guarantee you that we are not totally without friends in our situation.

Aleksandr shoots Yuri a wide grin, remembering to speak to him more about this in the future.

As for your son... This is the first I have heard of this transgression. How did your son come to be in the hands of the King of Poland in the first place? I cannot believe that Wladyslaw would execute your blood because of this war. This is something you must explain to me.

 

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A polish messanger arrives and leaves a peace contract. Its a white peace, meaning no one has to pay anything. The messanger waits for the Grand Prince to sign it and then the messanger can take it back to the polish court.

 

[Longinus]

Now when war in Russia ended and Black Death vanishqued, party of Pommern merchants arrived in Pskov.

Wolfgang Albreht of Danzig, chief of the expedition, was granted an audience with the prince and his advisors. After introducing himself he started to talk about his mission.

"Your Grace,

I have been sent here by my overlord Joachim Zbigniew Friedrich von Klenau-Kaminski of the Greif, Regent and Protector of Pommern. My mission here is simple, Pommerania wish to establish CLOSE trade relations between our two states. I have a power to sign some trade agreements which will lead to trade incerase and prosperity between our lands. I am also a representative of Wendishe Handels Union and therefore I propose you to become a realm associated with our Union or even a member later on.

We percieve Pskov as a market of great possibilities as you hold many rich lands and important trade routes and although you do not posses Baltic port our close cooperation may only bring profit in future.

My master would like once again to show his admiration for your noble deeds and high diplomacy skills and assure of his friendship, thus he sends you gift of fine Pommern salt."

Two small barrels of premium Pommern salt are presented to the prince.

"May your meals be even tastier becouse of it."

 

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"Nephew, during the time that I alone defended Orthodoxy and all the Russias against Muscovite treachery, I sent my heir, Mikhail, to the King of Poland for his own protection, knowing that my niece would never attack Wladyslaw. Now the rumors flow that he is dead; some say at his own hand, others at the hand of the Polish king." Yuri wipes tears from his eyes. "All agree that he is dead..."

 

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Aleksandr's delicate brow furrows as he takes a sip of mulled wine, cradling the goblet in his hand.

Of course, I will not stand by as your heirs are murdered by these Poles, but I'm sure you realize the delicate position we stand in at this moment. Therefore I urge you to take up diplomatic parleys with the King of the Poles and attempt to find out exactly what has happened. Know that you have my full support in this endeavor.

However, I also wish to see our realms and all of Rus prepared for the next onslaught from the apostate ruler of Karelia. Thus, I have been extending diplomatic relations to many of our neighbors, in the hope that they will support the righteous... This, uncle, is my most pressing concern. While the forces of the Papists and the Mohammadites fight in Anatolia, we must keep vigil in Rus. In addition, I have been invited to assosciate with the members of the Wendische Handels Union as a trade partner. Your realm, rich in wood and furs, perhaps could closer assosciate with the important marketplaces of Pskov and Novgorod, and by extension, those of Riga, Dorpat, and Stettin.

 

[Longinus]

Wolfgang was satisfied. Negotiations with Pskov was fast and very pleasent. Their merchant knew what is good bussines and language of new markets applied to them easily. Pskov was slowly recovering from the war and bourghers admired their prince for new gains in land and high diplomacy skills. Now he was about to sign a profitable deal with Wendische Handels Union which totally dominated Baltic and the region after the agreement with Hansa.

"Your Grace,

Know that your decision made me happy and on behalf of merchants of WHU I must tell that we are stisfied with Pskov as a country assosiated with our Handels Union.

Now we just have to conclude formal signatures."

He signs the document, along with represantatives of Pskovian Guilds and Prince.

"Now, Pskov is a country assosiated with Wendishe Handels Union. This opens the door for merchants of both sides. Maybe in future if you find this deal satisfing you will wish to enter our Union, know that you will be most welcome there."

He smiles and bowes before the Grand Prince.

 

[driftwood]

After many weeks of discussion, John at last announced his interpretation of the synod's deliberations.

"Anathema upon the rulers of Muscovy and diminished Novgorod, the so-called Prince of Russia! Anathema upon their subjects who willingly live under such abominable apostasy! And though my predecessor vacilated on the matter of a crusade, let no prince with the true love of Christ in his heart shirk from bringing an end to this despicable heresy, be it by the quill or the sword!"

He exhaled deeply, his shoulders slumping, as if he had poured not only bile but his soul into the declaration.

"Before this synod retires, I will also call for the nomination of a new Metropolitan of Kiev and all the Lands of the Rus, to take up his see in Moscow as soon as possible."

 

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The Pskovian messenger returns to the Metropolitan's side, bearing a letter from the Archbishop of the Crimea and Volga.

Holy brother, the Metropolitan of Kiev.

I appologize for the amount of time that it took to respond to your letter, but I was away from my see for a great time, tending to the faithful of the North who are near the apostate church. Your letter is filled with much wisdom, although I should warn you that it is dangerous to play games with the mongols, especially when they hold the Holy City in their hands. I have met with some success in the conversion of the horsewarriors to the true faith, although many still follow the heretical teaching of Mohammed, or worship their ancestral demons. Still, every soul we save is a victory.

In the matter of the conversion of Bars, I agree that he is a man of no firm religious conviction, and if he could be turned, then he would be a powerful ally. However, he spends much of his time at Constantinople, and in battle, and thus it is difficult for me to reach him. When you consider that he has a Catholic Cardinal in his court, matters become more complex, and when you consider that he shields the Caliph of Islam, matters are positively confounding. With this in mind, I suggest that if an effort is to be made to reach the Great Khan, then the Patriarch himself should make it. My duties in my see keep me very busy, especially since it seems that it may extend from the Adriatic to the White Sea. If I were to follow Bars around, I would be abandoning millions of faithful.

Your humble servant,
Ivan Dmitri, Archbishop and Exarch of the Crimea and the Volga.

 

[Longinus]

A messenger arrives from Pommerania, he bows before the pirnce and hands him a letter.

"My fiend in the East, Noble Grand Prince Alexander IV,

Your letter filled me with joy and I am happy to hear that our merchants cooperate and this agreement brings profit and wealth to our realms already. I want to know more about your proposition. That is why I send you my trustworthy servant - Janusz Markocki-Limanowicz. I hope that you will accept him as my permanet abassador in your court and will speak with him in private about any further agreements. I give him my full support to negotate with you.

I wish you good health and fortune.

by his own hand in Dresden,"

A messanger bows again and asks. "Your Grace, Will you grant me a private audience now?"

 

[Stormbringer]

A letter arrives from Moskva

"Metropolitan Kievsky,
I am not the one who made the dessision to split the church, I am merely the ruler of Russia, but not its spiritual leader. Your letter should be adressed to Issyidor, and St.Sergius, but I will talk to them and discuss this matter. I do not wish to be seperate from the rest of the orthodox world, but the last Patriarch, was definatly influenced by the muslims, and openly took their side. As we have a new Patriarch now, I see no further reason to seperate, so most likley our church will be the same once again. I hope that you write to Issyidor or St.Sergius soon, as they are the only once who can answer such a question

With respect,
Mikhail Olel'kovitch, Kniaz Novgorodsky"

 

[Longinus]

Wolfgang Albreht of Danzig is more then satisfied. His mission in Pskov was over. He had grat time here as he experienced Pskovian hospitality and care.

After short celebrations the party with high spirits is once again ready for journey.

Wolfgang shoutes:

"NEXT STOP - LAND OF RUSSIA - MOSCOW"

 

[driftwood]

Piotr, my son,

Your thoughts mirror my own. I cannot imagine what conditions the schismatics would propose which would not amount to a continuation of apostasy; yet, it seems foolish to reject out of a hand a potentially peaceful solution. I hope that your own efforts continue apace.

John, Ecumenical Patriarch

 

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The Concord of Pskov

Article One - The Duchy of Pommern and Grand Principality of Pskov agree to provide each other with mutual defense in case of attack by a foreign power. If military assistance cannot be rendered for some reason, a payment of 10,000 ducats (1 eco) will be rendered unto the attacked party.

Article Two - The Duchy of Pommern and the Grand Principality of Pskov agree as to Pskov's trade supremacy and independance through all the lands of Rus. However, Wendishe Handels Union's merchants possess same rights in land of Rus as Pskovian ones. Grand Principality of Pskov as assosiate with WHU swears to acquire same benefits for WHU as for Pskov in any future enterprises.

Article Three - The Duchy of Pommern and the Grand Principality of Pskov agree to cooperate in the extension and strengthening of the Wendishe Handels Union throughout the Baltic.

Article Four - Only Duchy of Pommern is bound to response to this agreement, none other realm that is allied with Pommerania is bound to help Grand Principality of Pskov if such time come. The same rule apply to Grand Principality of Pskov's allies.

This signed and ratified by the Duke of Pommern and the Grand Prince of Pskov and his Vyeche, in the Year of Our Lord Fourteen-Hundred and Twenty-Six, in the sight of God and with his blessing.

Signatures

Aleksandr IV, Grand Prince of Pskov, Prince of Novgorod and of Olonets, heir to Rurik and protector of the west.

Joachim Zbigniew Friedrich of the Greif, heir of the ducal throne of Pommerania, Regent and Protector of the Country. Founder of the Wendishe Handels Union, Founder of the Greif-Schlussel Allianz.

 

[Stormbringer]

A letter arrives from Moskva

"Alexander,
I understand that you are signing an agreement with the WHU. I hope that it is not going to damage our relations, as I am about to sign an agreement with the Hansa merchants. I send you this letter as I would like to ask you for permition for my merchants to move through your land in Olonets. We are preparing to start a project on expanding our trade in the North, and we need this permition. Please remmember, that even thou you have no reason to do as I ask, I would very much not like to start another war over this trade agreements. i am sure we can come to an agreement without fighting.

Mikhail Olel'kovitch, Kniaz of Novgorod"

 

[Stormbringer]

"Alexander
I must remind you that the title of Kniaz Novgorodsky is still mine as I still rule the country of Novgorod, even if the ruler before me have lost the city. I will not sign any documents as "Kniaz OF Novgorod" anymore, but that is all I am going to do. Also, I am sure it is just a mistake by your scribe, the council at Novgorod is called Veche. Now back to the trade buisness. I do not know what agreement Hansa and WHU merchants signed, and trully, I don't care. It is up to me, who I want to trade with, and who I don't want to trade with. Both sides have made me an offer, and Hansa offer seems much better to me. If they are violating a treaty they signed it is by no means my problem. As for joining WHU...I do not have a port in the Baltic, and I do not border any memmber of the WHu who has a port on that sea, so joining WHu would not do me any good at all. I am still asking for permition to create a trade rout through Olonets.
Awaiting your responce in Moskva
Mikhail Olel'kovitch, Kniaz Novgorodsky."