audio | username: raven master

[pulvisetumbra]

( It would appear even the Merchant sounds... ruffled, on this fine occasion. Will wonders never cease? ) Good afternoo — ...good day.

I understand you have been visited by an improbability of recent afflictions. Expectedly, Unhalad failed to present the full scope of his ultimatum alongside his proposal. ( A pause. ) I understand he has been rewarded for his oversight.

( Ding-dong, the undead is... twice dead. ) We have been informed Anurr and his people have... taken steps to close the mines. The locals are ill pleased for it, however. Sa-Hareth has survived countless transitions before. It may do so again. For your service in this endeavour, Anurr has communicated he will allow your return to. ( Another pause. ) His Sa-Hareth, freely. Do with this token as you will.

In the meantime, two of my associates have volunteered the regions they patron for your next destination. We are sufficiently funded — and I shall thank a transfer of your earnings shortly — to access either, and they are both possessed of once-functional portals. I speak of Taravast, a scholarly citadel that's fallen into... some degree of chaos as its keeper approaches his last hour. His heirs are... not invulnerable to a degree of persuasion. And then we have Yassair, where a young prince strives to reassert itself before an unsupportive staff to battle the plagues.

Taravast, Yassair. Karsa and Haltham have volunteered to join you, if you will have them. I understand a... woodland friend of yours also wishes to join. Consider. Then send word of your preference, and start to gather your possessions while I broker your passport papers. Anurr has graciously broken the storms, and the markets are once more filling. Enjoy the fairs and procure some last trinkets, although...

I advise you travel light. I shall have no more than one wombat in my care, and no further exotics.

( ooc: come one, come all and cast YOUR MERRY VOTE on the upcoming destination, if you haven't, already! It will be assumed everyone's votes reach the Merchant somehow. Feel free to have IC debates or tie any loose strings in this post, or do your own! If you're short of things to play with for the next few days but want a light setting — the Sa-Hareth markets should be thriving, and characters can bask in local trade, or meddle with merchants and sailors. God help this party. )

Comments

un: dappled pearl of the parted seas [voice]

[beitangmoran]

Are we going to keep playing merry pretend and call him by that name, then? Fair enough, if that is what he wishes, I suppose.

[pulvisetumbra]

I am certain I know or want to know nothing of what you mean.

[beitangmoran]

Of course. You certainly keep interesting people in your employ, Lord Merchant.

[pulvisetumbra]

I collaborate, my lord. I collaborate with you, and I collaborate with others.

un: deft hand of little deaths [Voice]

[scrapgege]

[Xie Lian hears 'a young prince strives to reassert itself before an unsupportive staff to battle the plagues' and gives an involuntary shiver. And then...]

Haltham wants to come? Why?

.... Well, I guess he can do what he wants. And we should probably buy some more food.

[pulvisetumbra]

It is his nature to do as he wishes, yes.

[scrapgege]

It's not like we can really stop him if he wants to come, can we? And I'm sure I don't want to be the person to tell Karsa she can't do something.

I'm glad the wombat is okay, though!

[pulvisetumbra]

I am not unable to sway him.

un: lady love of a thousand poets (voice)

[thehoneybadger]

Oh, word?

So our options are Game of Thrones palace intrigue and plagues. Last I checked, I'm up to date on my shots, so I can do Plagueville, USA, but there's something about palace intrigue that I just love so much.

Never boring with you as our main man.

[pulvisetumbra]

I thank your unwavering support.

I trust you are therefore prepared to relocate?

[thehoneybadger]

Wouldn't you know it, but I'm a little tired of the White Walkers deciding that mi casa es their casa.

[pulvisetumbra]

I doubt you are unsurprised I hardly understand you.

Be that as it may. Keep your head low. Despite appearances, Sa-Hareth is no friendlier for Unhalad's... evacuation.

[handmaiden of unsheathed swords] voice posted:

[darkeststars]

Politics, to even more tedious politics? [ deep sigh ] We do what we must, I suppose. I'll at least take it over a third corpse army. I can only hope for the rest of this mess to come off my battle robes.

[ he, by contrast, sounds a lot less hostile than the Merchant might be used to -- their dubious benefactor can hardly be blamed for this one. And sounds as though the man has finally, finally managed to get things in motion, which Arche can only celebrate. ]

Now that you've one less faction actively shipping in more future corpses, may this place find some sort of equilibrium. [ in terms of the power situation, we're leaving a mess behind us, of course, but outsiders can only do so much. ]

[pulvisetumbra]

I wish to be entirely transparent: I am not pleased with our alternatives to date. But your... developments have made urgent departure necessary.

[darkeststars]

Hn. Even if not ideal, forward motion is forward motion.

[ now that immediate revenge is no longer a concern, he's even more eager to get the hell out of dodge. ]

[pulvisetumbra]

Indeed. Every shove forward is a step ahead.

un: yiling patriarch

[weifinder]

Hahaha, ah, is there, let me think. Why would you want to take on extras? You're pushing the decision off on us, but it's their papers you'd be handling, and their collaboration that you set us up with, excepting the, ah, woodland friend?

( What woodland friend what did people get up to )

[pulvisetumbra]

Because we collaborate, my friend. And I see greater disadvantage in your grudge-bearing later, if I deny you choices now.

[weifinder]

( He sighs; )

If only people were so inclined to be consistent in our feelings based on factual occurrence, and not rewriting them based on situation. I personally think we're trouble enough as we are, dragging along anyone with their own ties beyond what we're accepting with you heralding our herding across the Eastern realms is asking for even more complications.

un: ut malum pluvia | audio

[somebadnews]

[ He listens to the words, but he's not really focusing on the important bits of information. There's some parts that the Merchant left out before that he'd really like cleared up.

This is a dangerous game to be playing with him. ]

Are we calling this oversight, or did it all go according to plan?

[pulvisetumbra]

Good day.

And whose plan are we referring to?

[somebadnews]

[ Nope. No greeting. He doesn't feel like being polite today. ]

Let's start with yours. How off were your predictions?

[plentystrong]

Persuasion, huh? I can be persuasive.

[pulvisetumbra]

...without bloodshed?

[plentystrong]

Oh yeah. Believe it or not.