audio | username: raven master

[pulvisetumbra]

( Moaning, laughter, lewd innuendo — the fixtures of the House of Dew's channels. Until, a steeled voice cuts way: )

Tamaiu, if you please. Impress on your ladies the virtue of silence for the next hour.

( All too suddenly, betraying how often the mistress of the house listens in, the cacophony of sound dispels. He continues: )

Good afternoon. You’ve made rather a mess of things, haven’t you?

I made my first fortune in Sa-Hareth. Inevitably, through sales of salt. Now, this was before, when death was still a reliable constant, and trade margin weren’t unhelpfully eroded by the competition’s ability to deploy dead contingents that require no rest, no feeding, and minimal attendance while they operate the production line. I assure you, immortality is infertile ground for business.

( A moment, for amateurs to appreciate this economic downturn. )

At this time, I volunteer no name. You do not require it. Allocate me one as you please. I am a merchant, by trade. I am accustomed to a degree of discretion. But I have no guarantee that you would offer me the same courtesy in the event of your capture, and the ambitions of this enterprise frankly surpass you. It is of utmost importance that I survive.

It is of secondary relevance that you do the same. But my collaborators and I have allocated a not insubstantial volume of coin, sweat, blood and personal sacrifice to progress your escape and survival. The hope, the gain, and the only purpose of this operation is to remove you from Akhuras and direct you to pastures new. Any alternative allows for Unhalad, his siblings and their masters to utilise you in a war that has devastated our world.

( Another pause, measured. He is accustomed to the protocols of rhetoric. )

To be clear. You are not so naïve to assume our first efforts didn’t study the merits of your murder. We tested this on a batch. Regrettably, our enemies proved sufficiently apt to resurrect their captives and use them after.

We will therefore proceed with extraction. Some of the standing eastern portals still offer the possibility of transfer to other worlds. Although… most have not been tested in generations, and we may need to deepen our voyage east, if and when the beacons cannot accommodate us. The safety of portal transportation to your persons is candidly immaterial to us and remains your concern.

( Be that as it may. Another moment's hesitance: )

My part in this endeavour is to secure information on the portals and their location, along with facilitating transit, on occasion. You will contribute with coin, with labour, with discipline. Begin by assisting Haltham and Karsa as much as possible.

Now. If you attracted Unhalad’s attention, it is not unfair to assume you were all previously situated in a position of power. You are used to being heard, perhaps also heeded. Some of you may have commanded every room you stepped in.

Except for this one. I am master here. You are merchandise. I have no interest in hearing objections of stupidity, vulgarity or sentiment. Any other questions, proposals or comments may be submitted in an orderly manner.

( And perfectly civil once more: ) Tamaiu, if you please again. My thanks and regards to your ladies.

Comments

the [handmaiden of unsheathed swords] got fond of his username, apologies to the owner. (audio)

[darkeststars]

[ He's been listening along silently for a good while. He sounds very, very calm. ]

Know us all so well, do you?

audio

[pulvisetumbra]

Well enough.

[darkeststars]

Then you know what I do to those who call sentients 'merchandise'.

[pulvisetumbra]

Break your bonds, then. Exit our association. I keep no man a slave and have no interest in petty internal quarrel.

You and many others in this group, who I had hoped would prove more sensible, would do well to remember: I have, at this time, invested much more than you. More work, more money, more personal risk. To date, you live freely as the result of my efforts.

I will not be called to task.

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[darkeststars]

[ Fun facts: Sith Lords have, on occasion, been known to strangle complete strangers to death over holocall.

This isn't home, and he doesn't make a habit of it. Maybe this won't work the way he's expecting. But he has hatred enough and then some to focus every last bit of it toward the arrogant moneyed pig on the other end of the line. No physical harm right now: the man hasn't proven entirely useless yet. But perhaps, maybe, with any luck, things will begin breaking. Glass, teacups, vases. Decorative plant leaves withering into shriveled black. Sorry if he's shattered any inkwells over your paperwork, merchant -- oh wait, no he's not. ]

2/2

[darkeststars]

You are not safe from me, old man.

You need us more than we need you. As of now I intend to lend my aid to your operation, when and where it so suits me.

But you will keep a civil tongue in your head if you would like it to stay attached to your body.

[pulvisetumbra]

( Regrettably, no audible reaction. Not a chance in the Merchant's voice. )

I've kept a civil tongue, despite verbal abuse, mutiny and accusations. I've been the one liaising.

But I will not be threatened. You are accommodated currently at my largesse. If you are so contrary to the nature of my services or diplomacy, leave by sunset. I see no reason to extend you the courtesy of my hospitality, on my coin.

You are free. And you are dismissed. Good day.

[darkeststars]

Your gracious willingness to provide the bare minimum of aid to your betters in hopes of ejecting us for your own benefit is certainly noted.

A Sith goes where he pleases, but is good to those who are good to him in turn. Have a care for how you speak, and I will consider not killing you before we leave.

Good day, merchant.

[ Maybe the House of Dew's security will try to turn him away after this, who knows. Too bad for those guards and for the amount of attention it will certainly bring if they do. ]

[pulvisetumbra]

( The House of Dew's bodyguards will, in fact, try to turn poor Archeval away! But, if he puts up too much physical resistance, they might quietly let him slink around, and not report his ongoing presence to the Merchant — at this time. )

[darkeststars]

[ He doesn't push it too much -- he'll find his meals elsewhere and maybe start looking for a different place to sleep; he has no actual desire to cause such a ruckus that Unhalad's attention and a horde of the local undead descend on a building full of mostly-innocent people. But he's definitely still seen going in and out of the building more than the Merchant would like. ]