Treaty of the Eastern Mill

The "Treaty of the Eastern Mill" (“Pact for Prosperity Derived from Flour, Salt, and Gold") is a tentative socio-political and socio-economic agreement between the magus-abundant Romuva-Suomenusko Alliance, the Moriya Shrine, the Tengu of Youkai Mountain, and the Yaoguai-controlled Qingcheng Empire, initially signed by the four Romuva-Suomenusko chieftains on October 7th, 2014 and ratified by the same individuals on December 18th, 2014. The treaty has yet to enter the realms of the other parties involved. The treaty outlines a willingness to recreate the Sampo, a device initially created by Teliavelis/Ilmarinen to provide prosperity for humans.

Not only would this device create prosperity for humans, however - according to the terms of this treaty, no being that participates in the matter shall be exempt from a share of the prosperity created by the Sampo. It also outlines and deals with the various issues  of important groups meeting for perhaps the first time (religious traditions, mutual respect, sovereignty, etc.).

It is wholly unknown until when the treaty will last until, since it has not been signed by the other three parties involved.

Speech by Egle Adakonis
We have called for all of the chieftains of the Romuva-Suomenusko Alliance to gather here today, upon the Grand Pavilion of the temple of Romuva, to conduct a necessary and proper agreement. By the direction of the Preikalas and Baltan Provinces, and in the names of the Bearer of the Brazen and Ferrous Garme Autras and the Yellow-Eyed Giant-Strong Wizard Dzintars Lielais, a plan to uphold and contribute to the world’s bounty has been so dutifully outlined and put into writing by none other than the Amber Wizard Jakamas Prekybininkas, alongside and so rightfully aided by the Forge-Warmth himself, and under the additional assistance of the Romuva-Suomenusko Alliance’s Directorate of Embassies.

It has come to our attention that a meeting of kindred and ancient powers has occurred in a locked land in the kingdom of Yamato, also known as Japan. Said locked land is duly dubbed Gensoukyou. In doing so, we have received word and verification from the Forge-Warmth that a primal deal has been struck between a goddess of that land and himself. This deal is roughly outlined henceforth as follows:

PREAMBLE
By the tongs and by the anvil, by the dwelling of the blacksmith, by the steel of purity, by the lush meadow of the hill, by the coursing river, by the bones of the Earth, by the Earth-Forge, and in the names of those who have laid down their lives to uphold balance, the Bearer of the Brazen and Ferrous Garme Autras is welcomed by The Highest of Native Gods Moriya no Kami, known so righteously as Suwako Moriya. Let these gods act alone, and they will only accomplish so much. They are curtailed by lack of faith or power, their previous followers have left them. But, an opportunity has been found for both of these individuals to work together as equals, towards a common goal. Truly, the power of two is great, and if combined with the kindness of followers and patrons, much can be achieved. It is with great privilege that these two beings have set forth to remake a work of metal-artistry on a heavenly scale – to reforge the Sampo, a mill grinding ever salt, flour, and gold. If completed, it will truly provide a link to two parts of the world whose overall contact has left something to be desired, even considering the mobility of other organizations of humans, Hiidet, Youkai, Jotnar, Yaoguai, and others. This task is no small feat, and if completed, will be attributed to all present, such that the great and marvelous deeds displayed by human, god, Hiisi, Youkai, or any other being shall not be without their glory. The vast and old Youkai Mountain within the land of Gensoukyou will be utilized to its fullest capabilities, and will provide the canvas for their operations.

Not one week ago, the conclusion of the dredging of the Baltic Sea for any remaining pieces of the Sampo has been met, delivering what Garme Autras has identified to comprise no less than five-eighths of the original device. It is indeed shameful and unfortunate that a large amount of the mill of many colors is still missing, but it is likely that the rest of it lies scattered among the world’s deep oceans. Hitherto, only small pieces of the device were known to rest in the hands of individuals across the world, but now it can be stated with confidence that the Romuva-Suomenusko Alliance has custody of the majority. On that note, it has been decreed by the Dievai that any person who possesses any part of the previous Sampo is required by Celestial Law to present it to them or the Alliance. This has been decreed for the following reason: the Sampo, in its absolute and final form forged by Eternal Wonder-Worker Seppo Ilmarinen, was a device capable of creating flour, salt, and gold, but its four previous forms were terribly destructive implements that were duly sequestered by him. It is unknown to most anyone but the Dievai and other celestial beings what each piece is capable of, but let it be for the best to take no chances – naught but a single, simple, palm-sized piece was found to be able to infinitely magnify greed in anyone who looked upon it.

Now, in light of the meeting of Moriya no Kami and Garme Autras, the tenets of this treaty will commence. We call forward Chieftain Sarvik of the Zaljan Province, Senatorial Ambassador Lorand Farago, and Hetman Kuz’ma Alyoshavich Loboda of the Latakas Province to read them, and see that they seem right and proper.

Pirmas – On Collaboration
First and foremost, it is required of all four provinces of the Romuva-Suomenusko Alliance to contribute to sending manpower through to Gensoukyou. Thereby, each chieftain must send no less than one-hundred-and-fifty skilled laborers. Nevertheless, it is the eventual goal to reach past this number, so the two most sovereign provinces are highly encouraged to send more. This statement applies most fiercely to the blacksmiths of the Preikalas Province – with the aforementioned potential of what is to be remade, a great abundance of skilled blacksmiths in addition to the massive metal-sway of the Bearer of the Brazen and Ferrous will be needed.

The same statement can be said for the followers of and native collaborators with the Moriya Shrine, many of whom are known to be rather skilled with engineering and metalworking. Keeping with the agreement between Moriya no Kami and Garme Autras, the contribution of Moriya must at least meet the minimum requirement of the labor forces of the Romuva-Suomenusko Alliance, that being again one-hundred-and-fifty laborers. The direct assistance of The Avatar of Mountains and Lakes Yasakatome no Mikoto must also be provided when needed, for she is now officially seen by both the Alliance and the Celestial Bureaucracy as working side by side with Moriya no Kami.

Finally, a formal request with the other Kami of the mountain must now be outlined: seeing that the Alliance wishes to forge a device that previously required fires stoked by the Winds of Heaven, the winds of Yasakatome no Mikoto will not be enough to fuel flames comparable to those of Heaven and Hell. With great respect, the Romuva-Suomenusko Alliance requests that the Lord of Youkai Mountain Tenma no Myoujin shall share in the glory of the New Sampo’s forging by not only assisting directly in a similar fashion to the previous Kami, but by directing her wind-bearing followers to pool their own efforts.

Antra – On Fair Trade and Economics
That all parties and factions involved, and this must be heard sincerely, will work together to establish a route of trade that travels as far as the Baltic Sea to the West and at least to Gensoukyou in the East. However, this will by no means interfere with existing lines of trade. Instead, all involved shall make it a point to work with outside groups to increase the overall flow of commerce. This hypothetical line of trade will allow a massive decrease in the risk factor implied by current monopolies in Europe and Asia over gold, salt, flour, amber, et cetera. Existing Romuva-Suomenusko and Moriya economic guilds shall conduct unhindered exchange of knowledge, goods, and skills with one another.

Let there be no one faction who proclaims for themselves an unequal share of the new Sampo’s wonder-working. What is produced must be divided by workers and sent along the route of trade, to be distributed to guilds. Hoarding, money laundering, embezzlements, or any other scandal among the guilds of folk shall be punished according to both the laws of their overseers and the severity of the scandal or crime. (More on the matter of law later)

Trečia – On Rituals and Mutual Respect
That the followers of the Moriya Shrine and the adherents to the temple of Romuva, or any other Romuva-Suomenusko place of worship, shall not impede one another in their traditional practices. These practices include, but are not limited to, seasonal feasts, sacramental offerings, ancestor veneration, shamanism, celebrations of solstice, and sigil-weaving. All individuals possess the right to worship local and foreign gods, spirits, or any other beings. However, local courtesy is to be learned and observed when members of either organization set foot onto the domain of the other. Tests of skill and sparring are encouraged as friendly forms of cultural exchange, but overall order will be kept between those present.

Ketvirta – On Salaries and Rights of Workers
During the forging of the new Sampo, all persons who can be classified as laborers of any kind are protected from treatment considered unjust by Moriya, Romuva-Suomenusko, and Tengu law. If discrepancies are found between the jurisdictions outlined by these laws in certain situations, the legislative powers of each party will come forward and draft a compromise. Salaries shall be distributed according to the wage requirements of each organization, and workers shall be paid only by the management of the party they work under.

Penktasis – On Sovereignty
That the Romuva-Suomenusko Alliance makes absolutely no current claims upon the political holdings of the Moriya Shrine or the Tengu, nor does it claim territory or supreme jurisdiction in Gensoukyou or Japan. Furthermore, the sovereignty of the latter two organizations over the Youkai Mountain is acknowledged, and no attempt will be made to change that fact. However, it reserves the right to impose its prime jurisdiction over shamans, wizards, and other seekers of knowledge from an area covering Southern Lapland in the North to Romania in the South. The Alliance possesses sovereignty over said areas in terms of its holdings, towns, temples, et cetera.

Šeštoji – On Unstated and Yet Unknown Factors
It is known that the tenets of this treaty may be subject to addition upon practical application. There have yet to be formal political talks with ambassadors and envoys of the Moriya Shrine, and further treaties, decrees, or proclamations may indeed be wrought in the future. The exact distribution of trade amongst guilds has not yet been construed, and will require further talks. Finally, it is wholly unknown if this effort will be enough to produce a device of similar quality to the Sampo, with its lid of many colors. Ilmarinen, great Teliavelis, possesses vast forge-wisdom – so vast, that even his three children cannot contrive it all. Perhaps with great faith and great effort, the aforementioned task can be completed, but even if the device is not reforged into its former glorious state, something will indeed be forged by the combined powers of all present.

APPENDIX
In addition to the tenets of the treaty outlined above, let it be known to all that the Qingcheng Empire, the Earth’s most estimable formal organization of Yaoguai, has recently finished the development and testing procedures of a device to easily transport numbers of individuals across Gensoukyou’s border without the need for ponderous travel through the vast Heavens. As stated before, the Romuva-Suomenusko Alliance recognizes the individual sovereignties of the world’s organizations proper, and the Qingcheng Empire is by no means exempt from this. We wish for the utmost of mutual respect, kindness, and generosity to be sprung from our interactions with the Empire, and therefore ask to have the privilege to make use of this form of transport. The Romuva-Suomenusko Alliance is not a branch of the Celestial Bureaucracy’s authority, but we have been ordained by them to exist since the 1533 Decree of the Three Worlds. In accordance with this Decree and the 1962 Nine Directions Accord, Qingcheng law will be followed by all members of the Alliance in their territories. None of their current operations shall be halted, slowed, or interfered with. Any solemn ceremony observed by Qingcheng Yaoguai, considering time constraints, will be attended by all Romuva-Suomenusko members present. Neither shall the virtue of the Numinous Celestial Empire be put before those of the Sublime Empire of Qingcheng. (Nine Directions Accord, 20) Again, we hope that the mutual goals of our organizations will be fulfilled, and that the denizens of the Earth shall prosper.

No clear figure can be given pertaining to the number of Romuva-Suomenusko attendants that will request entry to Gensoukyou, but it will surely be in excess of six-hundred, barring ambassadors, two or more chieftains, contractors, and other students or members. Absolutely no attempt shall be made to tamper with or sample the means of transport, but if possible, we request that our mechanics and engineers be granted the privilege of studying its operation. This is duly for the purpose of the bettering of knowledge – one of the great tenets of the Kemeru University and the Alliance as a whole. It can certainly be said that numerous Hiidet (Yaoguai, Youkai, Jotnar, or any other name, as it were) and humans have been at odds with each other in Europe and Siberia in the past, but we know that open hostility towards either type of being is not in the doctrines of either of our conglomerations. May the establishment of our great route of trade, then, promote free thought, revelry, and kinship.