Ironsides Family/Bowie/Chapter Nine

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Demon of Dwilight, Chapter Nine: The Imperialist

Knight of Muspelheim

Escaping his execution at the hands of the Zuma in Nightmarch, the Demon of Dwilight found asylum in the Morek Empire. In order to remain in the Empire he had to agree to a set of terms from the Grandmaster outlined in the following letter. This is made public so that Bowie can be held accountable for his actions and not transgress the Grandmaster's trust. Almost immediately Bowie was forbidden from entering the Duchy of Aegir by Duchess Alison and a few regions in the Duchy of Donghaiwei.

While the Empire around him split and reunited, and the continent poured into an even greater war, Bowie spent the Spring of 13 YD to the Fall of 14 YD conducting civil work. During these dull days, Muris Vecchio Ratto, the Dean of Arts in the Dwilight University, shared with him some interesting documents about the Waywatchers army in the Occidens. Additionally, Bowie finally completed his historical series, The Conquest of Northnastrond!.

Freedom of Ducal Mobility

After the conquest of the secessionist city of Aegir in the Fall of 14 YD, thus the end of Entai, the new Duke Garad Jhaelen Irsei lifted Bowie's ban from entering the Duchy of Aegir. This occurring a season after Marchioness Varchilde Esotericus, on behalf of the Astromancer Church, expressed her opinion that Bowie was not possessed by a demon (though he is) and giving Duke Francois de Leon no more reason to bar Bowie from the Duchy of Donghaiwei. He now celebrates full mobility in the Morek Empire!

Trade Mission to D'Hara

As High Commissioner of the Dwilight Trade Company Bowie answered a trade call from D'Hara. He began his trip south in the Autumn of 14 YD. His first stop after exiting the borders of the Empire was to his former region Ashrak. After Ashrak, Bowie traveled to the Rogue city of Unterstrom. There he met with one of the Underground Lords, Shule, who was in command of the black market. By then it was winter and there was no food available. He then continued the next distance of his journey crossing Unterstrom Vorstadt, Tamirak, Shyussei and through the frozen forest of Nyuushi. Finally he entered the Desert of Silhouettes and prepared for another long ride. Nearing the end of the winter Bowie reached Sallowtown. He was not as welcome as an incarnate god and Prince should be, but he threatened the Sallowsians to be more obedient to him the next time he arrived. Meanwhile, he heard that the Zuma Ambassador, Garret Artemesia, was staying in Port Raviel, allegedly to ensure Bowie does not transgress his boundaries. Bowie visited the memorial statue of Duke Hexic Jeckyl while he crossed through Qubel Lighthouse, reminiscing of the times they lived and fought. Unbeknownst to the Demon of Dwilight, a tracker sent by Sir Gustav Kuriga, a religious opponent of Bowie, was following him on his trade mission with the intentions of setting a trap. Fortunately, he lost track of Bowie when he crossed the Qubel Channel. Bowie then made it to Port Nebel and accomplished his trade mission. He then began the long return home by boat.

"Trade Liaison of Corsanctum"

Returning to the Empire from his contract in D'Hara, Bowie learned that the city of Mimer was starving and decided to take an active role in supplying it. As the High Commissioner of the Dwilight Trade Company it is his imperative to respond to these sorts of needs. Working through the Dwilight Trade Company, the Libidizedd Trading Company, and with the Dukes of the Morek Empire he hopes to satisfy the plight of the city.

Black Market Scandal in Zhongyuan!

Finding limited supplies and short of funds, Bowie sought an easy way to fill his order to Mimer and Paisly by attempting to purchase food on the black market. He was captured in Zhongyuan and kept in prison for seven days. After his release, as punishment for this crime he renounced his trading class and made a public apology to Countess Taeyeon Hwang. Exiting prison in the Summer of 14 YD, Bowie recompiled his historical series "The Conquest of Northnastrond!" into a new and larger series "The Great Continental War!" He also published his article on the "Siege of Valkyrja."

Mentor of Morek and Donghaiwei Recluse

Since he renounced trading, in the Autumn of 15 YD Bowie took it upon himself to become a Mentor. In his announcement to the realm on this new career he offered instruction on the usual lessons and "much more". Subsequently, for reasons unknown the Demon of Dwilight secluded himself in an apartment in Donghaiwei for two seasons. He was last seen walking down an avenue during the Fall and was completely shut-in for all of Winter. Reporters now say they've seen him out of his confinement for brief moments nearing the beginning of Spring but for what reasons and what he plans to do next still escape public knowledge. Rumours say he suffers from a fear of "jerms" and that bouts such as his seclusion are symptoms of his condition.

"Master Viper", Bowie's Return to Arms

In the Spring of 15 YD Duke Francois de Leon and Bowie conceived and formed a new sport around dueling called the Convocation of the Sword. In it, teams of duelists fight for points and ultimate victory. Bowie became the patron of Team Viper, named after his former army in Aquilegia and reviving its strict principles. In order to participate in the tournaments of the Convocation and to train his swordsmanship skill Bowie returned to the warrior class. He gave up warfare after his defeat in the Aquilegion Civil War but now finds a new cause to champion; his beloved hobby: dueling! Afterwards, in the Autumn of 16 YD, he published his Brief Chronology of the Astrum-Caerwyn war in order to have some substantial contribution to that section of his historical project, "The Great Continental War!" Later, in the Winter of 16 YD, to inaugurate the elevation of the region of Caiyun to a formal duchy, the Dean of History wrote an article titled "The Duchy of the First Temple." Upon his fiftieth birthday celebration nearing the end of the Winter, Lord Bowie completed his second novel "The Seven Scrolls of Destiny," and submitted it to the Keepers of Lore and the Illiterati Journal of the Arts Department in the Dwilight University. Attendance at the party was low, only Count Kyp Duron was able to make it, but many of Bowie's friends sent him gifts and birthday wishes. Gifts include a crimson Huanghai Silk robe from Count Darius Malo, an aged bottle of wine from the High Inquisitor and Count Menelaus Raghnall, and along with two barrels of wine an antique Virovene map of northeastern Dwilight from Grandmaster Bustoarsenzio Peristaltico.

The Tournament of Donghaiwei in the Winter of 16 YD

Bowie participated in Master Lion Francois's tournament at the very end of Winter. While there he enjoyed his time at the tavern and trained diligently. He was defeated in the first round by the Liberonian Sir Walner Of Stargard.

Count of Ashrak

Ashrak was lost to Bowie in 9 YD after the Plague reduced Aquilegia's nobility significantly. The region went into roguery for many years until the Morek Empire conquered it in the Spring of 16 YD. The next season, in the Summer of 17 YD, Bowie was reinstated by Duke Francois. He eagerly resumes his cultural and academic promoting and improvement of the region. By the end of the Summer, the Par of Summer to be precise, Bowie introduced Dwilight to the Ashrak Calendar and simultaneously opened up the Ashrak Museum. Its first exhibition was dedicated to his own life and displayed the small collection he gradually acquired in his travels. Later in the Par of Summer Bowie displayed his "Behold it or Don't!" collection in the Ashrak Museum.

Save the Barcans

Near the end of the Summer of 17 YD, a territorial dispute led the Zuma to declare war on the Barcans. Following that, a forged letter caused the Zuma to declare war on the Terrans as well. As Bowie is outright anti-Zuma he encouraged the position of combating the Zuma in open warfare. The Barcans and the Terrans desired peace and security, however, but in order to do so the Zuma demand the Barcans give them four unique items. On principle, Bowie decided to launch the "Save the Barcans" campaign to assist in the collection of the unique items.

The Sallowtown Claims Challenge, otherwise known as "Duck Season."

In the Autumn of 17 YD D'Hara conquered the stronghold of Sallowtown and appointed Prime Minister Kalince Fanath as its Duke. Since they did not bother to ask Bowie's permission as he holds the mandate of Prince of Sallowtown Bowie took this as a personal insult. In response, he publicly challenged the Prime Minister to a duel to settle his claim to the title. If the Prime Minister won Bowie would pass the mandate to him, if he lost Bowie would retain his claim to Sallowtown. The Prime Minister would not recognize Bowie's claim to the stronghold and refused the duel on the grounds that it was "illogical." In reply, Bowie attempted to insult the noble and provoke him into dueling. During the letter exchange Bowie began to travel toward Sallowtown to address this issue in person but was ambushed by rogues and imprisoned for a week. By the time he was released it was already Winter and the Demon decided to relax for the season. In the meantime, he once again publicly insulted the Prime Minister by disregarding his title and instead addressing him as "Duckface." If the Prime Minister does not settle the issue the way Bowie demands when the Spring comes Bowie will once again embark toward D'Hara to cause trouble. The Duckface was warned.

"The Ashrak Imperialist"

In the meantime of the Winter of 17 YD, while Bowie waits out the season before traveling to D'Hara, he finally got around to building a printing press on the Ashrak Campus and founding his very own academic journal titled, "The Ashrak Imperialist!" Here, the Demon of Dwilight intends to discuss and critique a variety of topics in his editorials and more regional issues concerning the Morek Empire. It has long been a dream of his to contain his thoughts in a seasonal periodical. The journal is not peer reviewed although it will accept contributions.

Nearing the end of Winter Bowie submitted his article "Tyranny!" to the Political Studies Department of the Dwilight University.

Coffermaster

In the Winter of 18 YD, Bowie was elected Coffermaster of the Morek Empire. He had been handling a trade contract between the Empire and D'Hara and was reviewing new opportunities to export the Empire's surplus food at the time he decided to run for the office. He felt that being the High Commissioner of the Dwilight Trace Company alone would not grant him access to the markets of Dwilight. In his inaugural speech to the Bankers of Dwilight he proposed a plan to map out all of the markets and their reaches across Dwilight. This project he dubbed the Bankers Map of Dwilight.

In the Spring of 18 YD, while visiting Unterstrom to conclude that season's trade contract with D'Hara, Lord Bowie received a black letter informing him of his son Winter's heroic death. Bowie mourned deeply but felt proud of his magnificent son. To escape his mourning, and because he was hung over from heavy drinking, Bowie finally published the first article on his new series chronicling "The Second Occidental War".

Later, during the Autumn of 19 YD, while venturing through D'Hara on a trading mission to the Occidens, Bowie met the bastard son of his old friend and dueling rival Sir Mathias Ridder. During their conversation the topic of dueling came up, Sir Mathias' father and Bowie were once opponents in the Dwilight Dueling Circuit, and the pair decided to continue speaking through metal. Bowie was seriously wounded during the bout in Port Raviel which inadvertently caused him to lose his Coffermaster position. Concerned for the unfairness of the scandal, Bowie raised questions in the Empire. Being assured it was not of mal intent, Bowie could only assist the new Coffermaster, Former Grandmaster Bustoarsenzio Peristaltico, until the upcoming election restored him to his office. He was re-elected back into the seat in the Winter of 19 YD.

Margrave of Nifelheim

Nearing the end of the Long Winter of 19 YD, about a week after the Imperial armies conquered the Dalian capital of Nifelheim, Lord Bowie was appointed Margrave of the city (and intended to be Duke of the new Province). His appointment was met with protest by the hardline theocrats and caused another Empire wide debate on the issue of theocratism versus imperialism. Meanwhile, Bowie finished his article on Queen Charlotte's War and updated his work on the Second Occidental War for the Department of History. Ultimately, by the Autumn of 19 YD, the Ducal Laws were changed to only slightly reflect all the progressive work Lord Bowie and his Imperialist policies attempted. Restrictions for non-Astromancers still remain, but now a very special exception can be made for non-Astromancer Duke's so long as they are extraordinary in circumstance and character, and approved by the entire Inner Council of the Empire, and so long as sixty percent of the Imperial Dukes are Astromancers. Although this was a few degrees below what Lord Bowie was trying to achieve, for the moment it is the best he could ever get.

Unveiling the Dalian Arch

In the Autumn of 20 YD, in the city of Nifelheim, Lord Bowie completed the construction of an honorific arch dedicated to the war between the Morek Empire, the Libero Empire and Summerdale. It also memorialized the defeat of Dalian imperialism. With a small ceremony in the city and a short speech, Lord Bowie revealed the arch.

Early in the Winter of 20 YD, Bowie announced the end of his seasonal journal, The Ashrak Imperialist. Citing noble apathy and lack of interest from his audience, he offered the Morek Empire a "final word." This was also to be the last season he served as the Coffermaster of the Morek Empire, resigning from the position to lead the colony effort in Flowrestown. It was around this time, right at the end of Bowie's service as Coffermaster, that High Inquisitor Menelaus Raghnall and the Inner Council of the Morek Empire approved and installed the Agrarian Laws first designed and proposed by Lord Bowie many seasons earlier. In the meantime, Lord Bowie entertained a most interesting guest at Castle Ironsides in Nifelheim, Lord Deorwulf Barras Count of Nidhogg's Mark.

Resignation from Margraveship

In late Winter of 21 YD, Lord Bowie resigned from his long sought for position as Margrave of Nifelheim in order to lead a new realm planned past the Frontier of the Morek Empire. A snag caught the imminent colony by surprise and delayed its foundation. In an earlier election within the colonial halls of the Fellish Assembly, Bowie was chosen to be the first Lord Imperator of the Republic of Swordfell. Within those halls be began to weave the tapestry that would become his new home.

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