Looks around for his shotgun....Damn! Sold it for a banana tree!
That was truly horrifying...I almost wanted to sing along...
That was truly horrifying...I almost wanted to sing along...-
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<Stuyvesant joins Amric in a wailing contest, as often practiced by wizened old ladies dressed in black at Balkans funerals>
"Woe! Woe! Where did Tink and Evers go?!?"
.
..
...
Waiting patiently, albeit loudly, for the next update.
"Woe! Woe! Where did Tink and Evers go?!?"
.
..
...
Waiting patiently, albeit loudly, for the next update.
Never fear, they will be here!
Sorry about the lack of updates for a short period. I was in the midst of a short break from this while I worked on the library for July. The library is almost done (you can see the current state in my July Lobrary update thread. I am hoping to finish that today and get back to the Tink vs. Evers contest.
Questions for all:
1) Will Tink ever return from the guru?
2) Will he be chanting like a hari-krisna if/when he returns?
3) Will J'ill give up power?
Sorry about the lack of updates for a short period. I was in the midst of a short break from this while I worked on the library for July. The library is almost done (you can see the current state in my July Lobrary update thread. I am hoping to finish that today and get back to the Tink vs. Evers contest.
Questions for all:
1) Will Tink ever return from the guru?
2) Will he be chanting like a hari-krisna if/when he returns?
3) Will J'ill give up power?
Oh, good point...will J'ill give up power? Hm, perhaps not, she might have grown to enjoy giving out bananas to foreign dignitaries.
Originally posted by Stroph1
Questions for all:
1) Will Tink ever return from the guru?
2) Will he be chanting like a hari-krisna if/when he returns?
3) Will J'ill give up power?
Yes
God I hope not.
Not once she's tasted the sweet taste of power, I mean bananas.
Joe
1) He'd better! Or else... Or else... <goes off mumbling incoherently>
2) I would hope not. I doubt that would be a wise career move in a country with fanatic mullahs like Brunei. I think it would be a very SHORT career move...
3) Yikes! I guess that Tink can always call down Cybil for some good old-fashioned catfightin'. Hmm... Mudwrestling...
Chapter 7: Tink, 1479-1488, part 4
January 1, 1481 dawned hot and humid (surprise, surprise). J'ill was at work before the sun came up, waiting to meet the ambassadors who tended to crowd the office on this day each year.
At seven AM, not a single one was there.
At eight AM, not a single one was there.
At 8:15 AM a single man came running up the paths towards J'ill's office. J'ill had a huge smile on her face as she greeted the man.
"Welcome, good ambassador. What country do you represent on this grand and glorious morning?"
"Err, M'Lady, I represent Brunei."
J'ill was at a complete loss for words. She asked the man to give his report in full and spare no words.
""M'Lady, I come with the greatest of news. I come with the best of news. I come on a grand and glorious mission."
"Spit it out, man. I am not in a real good mood today!"
"Tink is on his way back. He should be here in about six weeks."
J'ill was flabbergasted. She sent the messenger away with a wave of her hand.
In quick succession, her nimble mind ran through the options.
Should she hand power back to Tink?
Should she keep power?
Should she arrest Tink?
Would Tink arrest her?
The next few weeks were tough on the young lady. She was very indecisive on what to do.
After weeks of agonizing, she decided to welcome Tink back with open arms. She sent off an honor guard to escort the man back to the capital.
She would give up power.
She would decline.
She would remain J'ill.
She would go to the West (where her estate was located).
On February 16, a crisp military procession entered the capital. The citizens lined the streets to welcome back their Tink. At the end of the street, on the steps of the palace, J'ill and the King waited to greet Tink.
However, just as his procession made its way to the King, a messenger was seen riding up the street rapidly. The man pulled up in front of the King and dismounted. He ran up to his monarch, Tink and J'ill standing off to his side.
"Your Majesty, I come with news! We have discovered new land. We have found the capital of the Manchu!"
King Sulaymân turned to his two advisors. He knew that this great discovery would not have occurred if J'ill had not upgraded the RBN.
"In honor of J'ill, I declare that the capital of Manchu will be known in Brunei history books as Jilin."
This honor brought a smile to Evers' daughter. The day she gave up power was remembered by her forever as a happy day. As a further honor, February 16 became known in history as J'ill Day.
January 1, 1481 dawned hot and humid (surprise, surprise). J'ill was at work before the sun came up, waiting to meet the ambassadors who tended to crowd the office on this day each year.
At seven AM, not a single one was there.
At eight AM, not a single one was there.
At 8:15 AM a single man came running up the paths towards J'ill's office. J'ill had a huge smile on her face as she greeted the man.
"Welcome, good ambassador. What country do you represent on this grand and glorious morning?"
"Err, M'Lady, I represent Brunei."
J'ill was at a complete loss for words. She asked the man to give his report in full and spare no words.
""M'Lady, I come with the greatest of news. I come with the best of news. I come on a grand and glorious mission."
"Spit it out, man. I am not in a real good mood today!"
"Tink is on his way back. He should be here in about six weeks."
J'ill was flabbergasted. She sent the messenger away with a wave of her hand.
In quick succession, her nimble mind ran through the options.
Should she hand power back to Tink?
Should she keep power?
Should she arrest Tink?
Would Tink arrest her?
The next few weeks were tough on the young lady. She was very indecisive on what to do.
After weeks of agonizing, she decided to welcome Tink back with open arms. She sent off an honor guard to escort the man back to the capital.
She would give up power.
She would decline.
She would remain J'ill.
She would go to the West (where her estate was located).
On February 16, a crisp military procession entered the capital. The citizens lined the streets to welcome back their Tink. At the end of the street, on the steps of the palace, J'ill and the King waited to greet Tink.
However, just as his procession made its way to the King, a messenger was seen riding up the street rapidly. The man pulled up in front of the King and dismounted. He ran up to his monarch, Tink and J'ill standing off to his side.
"Your Majesty, I come with news! We have discovered new land. We have found the capital of the Manchu!"
King Sulaymân turned to his two advisors. He knew that this great discovery would not have occurred if J'ill had not upgraded the RBN.
"In honor of J'ill, I declare that the capital of Manchu will be known in Brunei history books as Jilin."
This honor brought a smile to Evers' daughter. The day she gave up power was remembered by her forever as a happy day. As a further honor, February 16 became known in history as J'ill Day.
Chapter 7: Tink, 1479-1488, part 5
Tink was back. After a quick check at what J'ill had done during his rest, Tink started issuing orders.
The RBI had been inactive too long. They were to march at once.
The RBN arrived back in port after its extended training. Expecting a lengthy shore leave, the sailors were shocked when they arrived into a bustling port. Materials of war were being piled up in crates along the harbor.
After a short shore leave of less then 24 hours, the fleet pulled up anchor. They were off!
Selatan and Bandjarmasin were the two provinces in southern Borneo that remained wild. Tink intended to change that. He wanted cities where before there was jungle. He wanted it now.
After an uneventful fortnight, the fleet dropped anchor off the coast of Selatan. The RBI was in high sprits as they marched off the ships, singing the Battle Hymn of Brunei.
The natives of Selatan attacked as the first squads were forming off the boat. With a shriek and a cry, the native horsemen charged the confused troops of the RBI. Before the reforms of Colonel Amric, the RBI would have crumbled under the onslaught.
This was not the RBI before the reforms of Colonel Amric.
With a calm that would have made the old Colonel proud, his troops smartly formed squares. The squares were formed around the chests of supplies that had not even been opened yet. In the center of the squares, the quartermasters were rapidly opening chests and taking out the weapons of war.
At first, the RBI line caved inward. The soldiers began to doubt themselves. They began to fear the attacks. One soldier in the front lines was different. His name was S'tuyvesant. He was only 17 but fought with the knowledge of a seasoned warrior. When the native charge threatened to break his line, he gave a chant and led the counter thrust that pushed back the enemy.
Soon, the entire line rallied around young S'tuyvesant. The chant of "S'tuyvesant, S'tuyvesant" was taken up by each member of the RBI. The renewed line held and then began to push back the natives. Within moments, the natives broke and the RBI rushed in, victorious.
After the battle, the commanding general asked to see this boy who had saved the day, this hero of the people. Only then was it discovered that the boy, S'tuyvesant had taken a blade to the chest. He was in a litter in the first aide station. He was not expected to make it.
The general of the RBI, a seasoned warrior named T'kovi came before the lad. He saw in the eyes of the boy the eager hope of all youths. He also saw the shadow of death. Kneeling down before the lad, the general heard the boy say in a voice barely above a whisper,
"Did we take them, sir?”
"Aye, we took them. The battle is ours."
S'tuyvesant smiled and was gone.
From that time forward, March 19 was known as S'tuyvesant Day. It was a day of celebration and reflection.
Tink was back. After a quick check at what J'ill had done during his rest, Tink started issuing orders.
The RBI had been inactive too long. They were to march at once.
The RBN arrived back in port after its extended training. Expecting a lengthy shore leave, the sailors were shocked when they arrived into a bustling port. Materials of war were being piled up in crates along the harbor.
After a short shore leave of less then 24 hours, the fleet pulled up anchor. They were off!
Selatan and Bandjarmasin were the two provinces in southern Borneo that remained wild. Tink intended to change that. He wanted cities where before there was jungle. He wanted it now.
After an uneventful fortnight, the fleet dropped anchor off the coast of Selatan. The RBI was in high sprits as they marched off the ships, singing the Battle Hymn of Brunei.
The natives of Selatan attacked as the first squads were forming off the boat. With a shriek and a cry, the native horsemen charged the confused troops of the RBI. Before the reforms of Colonel Amric, the RBI would have crumbled under the onslaught.
This was not the RBI before the reforms of Colonel Amric.
With a calm that would have made the old Colonel proud, his troops smartly formed squares. The squares were formed around the chests of supplies that had not even been opened yet. In the center of the squares, the quartermasters were rapidly opening chests and taking out the weapons of war.
At first, the RBI line caved inward. The soldiers began to doubt themselves. They began to fear the attacks. One soldier in the front lines was different. His name was S'tuyvesant. He was only 17 but fought with the knowledge of a seasoned warrior. When the native charge threatened to break his line, he gave a chant and led the counter thrust that pushed back the enemy.
Soon, the entire line rallied around young S'tuyvesant. The chant of "S'tuyvesant, S'tuyvesant" was taken up by each member of the RBI. The renewed line held and then began to push back the natives. Within moments, the natives broke and the RBI rushed in, victorious.
After the battle, the commanding general asked to see this boy who had saved the day, this hero of the people. Only then was it discovered that the boy, S'tuyvesant had taken a blade to the chest. He was in a litter in the first aide station. He was not expected to make it.
The general of the RBI, a seasoned warrior named T'kovi came before the lad. He saw in the eyes of the boy the eager hope of all youths. He also saw the shadow of death. Kneeling down before the lad, the general heard the boy say in a voice barely above a whisper,
"Did we take them, sir?”
"Aye, we took them. The battle is ours."
S'tuyvesant smiled and was gone.
From that time forward, March 19 was known as S'tuyvesant Day. It was a day of celebration and reflection.
Ah, my boys did me proud! Poor lad...but he helped save the day! Excellent post as I have come to expect Stroph1!
We-ell....
So I'm dead now, eh?
<ponders this fact>
I have to say, this turn of events leaves me a little speechless. And not just because I'm, well, deceased.
One moment I'm discussing my wedding with my fiancée on the phone, the next moment it turns out I died bravely* on the field of battle. I don't know how I'm going to break this news to her. At least I guess we won't have to worry about picking a jazz band anymore.
Anyway, glad I could sacrifice my (virtual) life for the (virtual) good of (virtual) Brunei! Banana trees forever!
*And thus greatly out of character. You would recognize me on the battlefield by the dustcloud my long departed feet had kicked up beating a hasty retreat.
So I'm dead now, eh?
<ponders this fact>
I have to say, this turn of events leaves me a little speechless. And not just because I'm, well, deceased.
One moment I'm discussing my wedding with my fiancée on the phone, the next moment it turns out I died bravely* on the field of battle. I don't know how I'm going to break this news to her. At least I guess we won't have to worry about picking a jazz band anymore.
Anyway, glad I could sacrifice my (virtual) life for the (virtual) good of (virtual) Brunei! Banana trees forever!
*And thus greatly out of character. You would recognize me on the battlefield by the dustcloud my long departed feet had kicked up beating a hasty retreat.
Glad you had at least one life to give for your country! Anyway, it is a long tale so there may be a call for a descendent of the young man to serve his nation in the past!
I am working on the next update -- my updates have been covering less and less time in the tale -- this will be my third update for the year 1481 alone!
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Chapter 7: Tink, 1479-1488, part 6
From that time forward, March 19 was known as S'tuyvesant Day. It was a day of celebration and reflection...
There was no rest for the weary. Because of the sacrifice of S'tuyvesant, the RBI had been successful in the Battle of S'tuyvesant. But a victory in a battle does not mean the war is over. Selatan was won, but there was still a native army in Bandjarmasin. The RBI had a job to finish.
For S'tuyvesant!
For the RBI!
For Brunei!
The RBI left the scene. There was no singing. No laughing. These were men angry and determined. It would not be a good idea to oppose these men in the next battle.
On April 23, 1481, the RBI entered Bandjarmasin. There were set upon by natives who had survived the Battle of S'tuyvesant and by other natives who opposed the imposition of law and order and civilization to this backwards land.
The enemy fell on the RBI as the RBI entered a valley. The natives charged from both sides in a great trap.
The RBI turned on them.
The swords men gave a great cry "S'tuyvesant, S'tuyvesant." The native line could not hold. They fell back in disarray and melted into the jungle.
The RBI then established a fortified camp in Bandjarmasin. They waited for the natives to return.
The natives returned on May 4.
This time, the line of natives broke on the first charge and instead of capturing the RBI, the RBI spent the afternoon destroying the remnants. Out of 6,000 natives who charged that morning, the setting sun found only 1200 left. These ran from the RBI.
The RBI pursued them into the jungle. 17 days later, they corned the remnants in a valley deep in the jungle. It was not even a battle. Nobody survived that day.
The victory of the RBI was complete.
Back in the capital, the news of the two territories being claimed for Brunei brought a joyous celebration. Families volunteered to lead the way in establishing the first 5 and 10 in the provinces.
On June 7, the brothers of S'tuyvesant were present when the new 5 and 10 opened. It was a success!
On June 24, the RBI returned to the capital. The mother of S'tuyvesant met the returning heroes and gave a hug to the commander who presented her with the sword of S'tuyvesant.
On July 3, the ambassador from Port-u-gail came before Tink. His head was held low and in near tears he reported to Tink the news that Port-u-gail had been forced to sign a peace treaty in their war with England. Port-u-gail had been forced to pay indemnities and turn over their commanding general for War Crimes. Port-u-gail had been beaten!
Tink decided to follow up on the success of the S'tuyvesant 5 and 10 be establishing a new store in Bandjarmasin. This time there was no outpouring of enthusiasm. The store failed!
On august 29, the ambassador from Port-u-gail came with even more terrible news. Allfonso V had died in his sleep. The throne in Port-u-gail had been claimed by an unknown. He took the name João II. What would the future for Port-u-gail be?
The death of Alfonso brought a sense of his own mortality to King Sulaymân. He had been in power so long that he had seen people younger then him die of old age. How long would he continue to lead Brunei to greatness?
From that time forward, March 19 was known as S'tuyvesant Day. It was a day of celebration and reflection...
There was no rest for the weary. Because of the sacrifice of S'tuyvesant, the RBI had been successful in the Battle of S'tuyvesant. But a victory in a battle does not mean the war is over. Selatan was won, but there was still a native army in Bandjarmasin. The RBI had a job to finish.
For S'tuyvesant!
For the RBI!
For Brunei!
The RBI left the scene. There was no singing. No laughing. These were men angry and determined. It would not be a good idea to oppose these men in the next battle.
On April 23, 1481, the RBI entered Bandjarmasin. There were set upon by natives who had survived the Battle of S'tuyvesant and by other natives who opposed the imposition of law and order and civilization to this backwards land.
The enemy fell on the RBI as the RBI entered a valley. The natives charged from both sides in a great trap.
The RBI turned on them.
The swords men gave a great cry "S'tuyvesant, S'tuyvesant." The native line could not hold. They fell back in disarray and melted into the jungle.
The RBI then established a fortified camp in Bandjarmasin. They waited for the natives to return.
The natives returned on May 4.
This time, the line of natives broke on the first charge and instead of capturing the RBI, the RBI spent the afternoon destroying the remnants. Out of 6,000 natives who charged that morning, the setting sun found only 1200 left. These ran from the RBI.
The RBI pursued them into the jungle. 17 days later, they corned the remnants in a valley deep in the jungle. It was not even a battle. Nobody survived that day.
The victory of the RBI was complete.
Back in the capital, the news of the two territories being claimed for Brunei brought a joyous celebration. Families volunteered to lead the way in establishing the first 5 and 10 in the provinces.
On June 7, the brothers of S'tuyvesant were present when the new 5 and 10 opened. It was a success!
On June 24, the RBI returned to the capital. The mother of S'tuyvesant met the returning heroes and gave a hug to the commander who presented her with the sword of S'tuyvesant.
On July 3, the ambassador from Port-u-gail came before Tink. His head was held low and in near tears he reported to Tink the news that Port-u-gail had been forced to sign a peace treaty in their war with England. Port-u-gail had been forced to pay indemnities and turn over their commanding general for War Crimes. Port-u-gail had been beaten!
Tink decided to follow up on the success of the S'tuyvesant 5 and 10 be establishing a new store in Bandjarmasin. This time there was no outpouring of enthusiasm. The store failed!
On august 29, the ambassador from Port-u-gail came with even more terrible news. Allfonso V had died in his sleep. The throne in Port-u-gail had been claimed by an unknown. He took the name João II. What would the future for Port-u-gail be?
The death of Alfonso brought a sense of his own mortality to King Sulaymân. He had been in power so long that he had seen people younger then him die of old age. How long would he continue to lead Brunei to greatness?
Yay! I've become the resident Red Shirt of Brunei!
"It's worse than that, he's dead, J'im!"
Well done on pacifying (i.e. massacring) those natives! That'll teach them to mess with a Stuyvesant! Yeah! Who's picking on me NOW, eh? I've got FRIENDS, dontcha know it! I'll come round to your place and I'll beat the crap outta ya, handsomely assisted by my six thousand or so boys!
<ahem>
Got a little carried away there.
Looking forward to more updates!
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Chapter 7: Tink, 1479-1488, part 7
King Sulaymân was not a young man by any count of things. He had been in power since 1432. On October 12, 1481 the King celebrated his 80th birthday. Eighty was a ripe old age even in Tink's time. In the 15th Century it was almost unheard of. Few were alive that could even remember another ruler. Young people had begun to assume that their King would still be king when they were old men.
King Sulaymân knew otherwise. He was feeling the approach of his own mortality more with each passing year. He had begun to withdraw from more and more of the day-to-day details of ruling a nation. He had only one thing left that really interested him -- securing the role of his family in the future of Brunei and the future of the region. In December of 1481, the old King called in Tink for another important job.
"My dearest advisor and friend. You and I are the only ones who remember life when I was young. You are ageless it seems, but I am not.
"I fear that our friendship with Arakan is on the decline. I do not want this region to fall into war. Please humor this old man. Cement my friendship to Arakan by marrying off my great-great niece. She is of the age of 13 and more then ready to be married off. Please do this for me, old friend."
Tink could not say "no" to such a plea. He himself traveled to Arakan to negotiate the details. With a nice offer of both monetary gain and the friendship of Brunei he was able to secure a marriage of the young lady, T'puli, to Dawliya, the 41-year-old heir to the throne of Arakan. The ceremony binding the two families occurred on December 3.
Tink was still heady with this success when he received word that his proposed union between Brunei and the growing power that was Pegu had been rejected. Brunei was not to join the Pegu royal family and the chance to bind these two growing nations was lost.
Tink was able to secure one last marriage for his old friend that December. He was able to marry off a distant relative of the King to the royal family of Ayutthaya. As part of the wedding gift, the old King financed a new town in the colonies for the young couple to rule. The new town was to be called Sulaytown and was in Selatan, not far from the 5 and 10 established on the sacred ground where S'tuyvesant had made his sacrifice.
January 1, 1482 came, clear and warm. The ambassador from Arakan was waiting for Tink when he arrived. The man's eyes were red. Tink had a quick vision of some disaster happening to T'puli.
"M'Liege. I come with sad news. The reigning King of Arakan, Kalima Shâh, had been slain by an assassin from Korea. Dawliya and T'puli have been crowned King and Queen of Arakan."
It seemed that the growing friendship between Brunei and Arakan had come to the attention of the scum to the North. Even at this time in his life, the King could not escape the scum that was Korea.
Tink worked hard to secure the frontier from the ravages of Korea. He entered into a strategic marriage between Brunei and Atjeh when he married off the brother of the heir to the Brunei throne to the sister of the heir to the Atjeh throne. Tink tried to follow up this link by entering into a formal alliance with Atjeh. The people of Atjeh were at first agreeable to this, but when the head of the sister of the heir was delivered to the King of Atjeh in a box, the alliance broke apart before it was formed. It seemed Atjeh was unwilling to step into the storm between Korea and Brunei.
On April 27, news arrived about Sulaytown. It seemed that a fleet flying the pirate flag had appeared off the coast of Sulaytown. Two days later, there was no more colony.
King Sulaymân fell into a deep depression. Tink was at a loss how to rouse him from his funk. In December, he arranged with a painter from Port-u-gail to paint a portrait of the King. However, the first time the artist sat with his subject, the King dismissed him from his services. There was to be no painting this year!
January 1, 1483 came and went. The King was in seclusion. Tink was desperate. He arranged a marriage between a distant relative of the King and a member of the royal family from Nipon. The beautiful princess in Nipon, Dip'ku, came to the capital and tried to bring laughter back.
The King was not to be roused from his depression. Dip'ku began to despair. In desperation, she came to Tink and asked him to allow her to leave the dreary capital of Brunei. The heart of Tink broke to see this poet in despair, and he arranged to send off the young couple to Bandjarmasin to found a new artists colony. The colony was a success and for years after this, the colony of Bandjarmasin was a center of poets and songwriters in all of Asia.
King Sulaymân continued to decline. He no longer even showed up to rule over his nation. His people did not see him at all in 1483.
1483 passed in a blur. The nation was drifting. The mood of Brunei reflected the mood of King Sulaymân.
1484 began in a cold, dreary rain. Two ambassadors arrived but were sent away without presenting their credentials.
Late that year, the King began to fail. He was bedridden in October. Sulaymân was a tough old man and he rallied somewhat.
In November, the King caught a fever and the nation feared the worse.
In December, the King, now no more then a shell of his former self, called for Tink.
"My favorite advisor. I fear I am not long for this world. I want you here with me, at the end."
Tink could not say a thing. His eyes were heavy.
"Do not be sad, advisor. I have lived a long life. I have seen Brunei begin the long road to greatness. I have seen happy times. I have seen sad times. When I go, I ask only that you remember me always to future generations. Let them know that King Sulaymân always did his best."
These were the last words ever spoken by the great King. He fell into a deep sleep. On the last day of 1484, he passed from the world of the living.
OOC: Not a funny episode. I felt kind of sad writing of the death of old King Sulaymân. He had been the ruler for a LONG time!
King Sulaymân was not a young man by any count of things. He had been in power since 1432. On October 12, 1481 the King celebrated his 80th birthday. Eighty was a ripe old age even in Tink's time. In the 15th Century it was almost unheard of. Few were alive that could even remember another ruler. Young people had begun to assume that their King would still be king when they were old men.
King Sulaymân knew otherwise. He was feeling the approach of his own mortality more with each passing year. He had begun to withdraw from more and more of the day-to-day details of ruling a nation. He had only one thing left that really interested him -- securing the role of his family in the future of Brunei and the future of the region. In December of 1481, the old King called in Tink for another important job.
"My dearest advisor and friend. You and I are the only ones who remember life when I was young. You are ageless it seems, but I am not.
"I fear that our friendship with Arakan is on the decline. I do not want this region to fall into war. Please humor this old man. Cement my friendship to Arakan by marrying off my great-great niece. She is of the age of 13 and more then ready to be married off. Please do this for me, old friend."
Tink could not say "no" to such a plea. He himself traveled to Arakan to negotiate the details. With a nice offer of both monetary gain and the friendship of Brunei he was able to secure a marriage of the young lady, T'puli, to Dawliya, the 41-year-old heir to the throne of Arakan. The ceremony binding the two families occurred on December 3.
Tink was still heady with this success when he received word that his proposed union between Brunei and the growing power that was Pegu had been rejected. Brunei was not to join the Pegu royal family and the chance to bind these two growing nations was lost.
Tink was able to secure one last marriage for his old friend that December. He was able to marry off a distant relative of the King to the royal family of Ayutthaya. As part of the wedding gift, the old King financed a new town in the colonies for the young couple to rule. The new town was to be called Sulaytown and was in Selatan, not far from the 5 and 10 established on the sacred ground where S'tuyvesant had made his sacrifice.
January 1, 1482 came, clear and warm. The ambassador from Arakan was waiting for Tink when he arrived. The man's eyes were red. Tink had a quick vision of some disaster happening to T'puli.
"M'Liege. I come with sad news. The reigning King of Arakan, Kalima Shâh, had been slain by an assassin from Korea. Dawliya and T'puli have been crowned King and Queen of Arakan."
It seemed that the growing friendship between Brunei and Arakan had come to the attention of the scum to the North. Even at this time in his life, the King could not escape the scum that was Korea.
Tink worked hard to secure the frontier from the ravages of Korea. He entered into a strategic marriage between Brunei and Atjeh when he married off the brother of the heir to the Brunei throne to the sister of the heir to the Atjeh throne. Tink tried to follow up this link by entering into a formal alliance with Atjeh. The people of Atjeh were at first agreeable to this, but when the head of the sister of the heir was delivered to the King of Atjeh in a box, the alliance broke apart before it was formed. It seemed Atjeh was unwilling to step into the storm between Korea and Brunei.
On April 27, news arrived about Sulaytown. It seemed that a fleet flying the pirate flag had appeared off the coast of Sulaytown. Two days later, there was no more colony.
King Sulaymân fell into a deep depression. Tink was at a loss how to rouse him from his funk. In December, he arranged with a painter from Port-u-gail to paint a portrait of the King. However, the first time the artist sat with his subject, the King dismissed him from his services. There was to be no painting this year!
January 1, 1483 came and went. The King was in seclusion. Tink was desperate. He arranged a marriage between a distant relative of the King and a member of the royal family from Nipon. The beautiful princess in Nipon, Dip'ku, came to the capital and tried to bring laughter back.
The King was not to be roused from his depression. Dip'ku began to despair. In desperation, she came to Tink and asked him to allow her to leave the dreary capital of Brunei. The heart of Tink broke to see this poet in despair, and he arranged to send off the young couple to Bandjarmasin to found a new artists colony. The colony was a success and for years after this, the colony of Bandjarmasin was a center of poets and songwriters in all of Asia.
King Sulaymân continued to decline. He no longer even showed up to rule over his nation. His people did not see him at all in 1483.
1483 passed in a blur. The nation was drifting. The mood of Brunei reflected the mood of King Sulaymân.
1484 began in a cold, dreary rain. Two ambassadors arrived but were sent away without presenting their credentials.
Late that year, the King began to fail. He was bedridden in October. Sulaymân was a tough old man and he rallied somewhat.
In November, the King caught a fever and the nation feared the worse.
In December, the King, now no more then a shell of his former self, called for Tink.
"My favorite advisor. I fear I am not long for this world. I want you here with me, at the end."
Tink could not say a thing. His eyes were heavy.
"Do not be sad, advisor. I have lived a long life. I have seen Brunei begin the long road to greatness. I have seen happy times. I have seen sad times. When I go, I ask only that you remember me always to future generations. Let them know that King Sulaymân always did his best."
These were the last words ever spoken by the great King. He fell into a deep sleep. On the last day of 1484, he passed from the world of the living.
OOC: Not a funny episode. I felt kind of sad writing of the death of old King Sulaymân. He had been the ruler for a LONG time!
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It might not have been a funny episode, but it was still a good one. I thought your portrayal of the old king slowly losing his health and finally passing away peacefully was very well done. It was, dare I say it, touching.
Just don't do it too often, or you'll reduce me to a blubbering wreck! And that would clash with the heroic image you have created of me.