username: lady of the willow tree | audio

[aprescoup]

( She is heat and storm and hissing anger: ) You fools. And me, fool, listening to the master, helping! ‘Who could have known, Karsa, who could have known?’ I could have known, you could have known, any woman with sense could have known! Men? Men know nothing. You steal from a merchant, what does he do, eh? What does he do?

( A pause, as if she nearly expects an answer — before continuing, impatiently: )

He makes more coin. Do you know whose gold you took? Whose gems you took? Who made a large deposit at La Rea just when you all broke in? Do you know? Do you know who? Torsten. Congraaaatuuulaaaaations. The high merchant. The Torsten who won the auctions, the Torsten who inked a grand salt supply contract he needs that money to pay for. The Torsten who is bringing the great-bellied best, that ship Imperious in a few days. To make up for it.

( But she’s quieting, at least. ) And on it, he brings something powerful. We hear… the master hears. A commission. Because when merchants lose money, pah! They turn into smugglers. They say Unhalad’s brothers hired Torsten to bring in... help for him. Everyone heard about the bodies on the pillars two weeks ago. Unhalad’s own people picked out and killed, no, they can’t have that. No one… no one in the east sent help to Sa-Hareth when the dead took us over, but the dead, eh? The dead help each other. Funny, no? The world. And funny, you. What are you doing? Wasting time, with tales since grandmother was too young to even open her legs. ‘Arne the Red,’ who cares? How can a man survive three days and three nights in the tundra cold? He doesn’t. But you waste time on that, instead of —

( Bitterness and bile and she pieces herself together again. )

There is one matter of gladness. Unhalad’s allies sent him... some sustenance, as well as his weapon. More like you. Hopefully better than you, ah? Not fools? A handful of captives. Every man and woman and child deserves freedom. We will cut them loose. And tell Haltham, if you see him, there is work beyond sniffing the salt.

( Determined, then: ) Now. My people, we infiltrate. And we brave the instrument. But we are few. Eight? And... maybe exercise will do you well, ah? Keeps you from other foul business? Help free your fellows from the Imperious. We go together to the ship, but we each do our part. And we succeed.

I have more of the quartz for speaking, when you free them. Ten pieces? I will send them. Like I sent you quartz to... visit La Rea. And you made gain. So now I ask my cut: some 7,000 coins would provide us enough supply to make a few men friends, to procure some sailor garb… while, alternatively, 13,000 pieces would get us... a more substantial distraction. Who is coming? And how much gold can you give?


( ooc: This is a precursor to the ship rescue test drive & game event that our resident Sith Lord player proposed. Full event details will go up on 27 April! )

Comments

[somebadnews]

You seem to have the experience. [ And maybe they can make sure they're not still chained together when they free them. ]

How much time do we have?

[aprescoup]

I do not know. The ports are having trouble with the weather. Maybe hours, maybe a night. It will depend, when she comes in, no?

[somebadnews]

[ He wasn't going to say anything else. As usual, all he has to do is listen to gather all the details he needs, but about the third time she berates someone for robbing a bank, he can't hold his tongue. ]

You know, I seem to recall nothing but support for what we did. [ He did. Let's be real, they wouldn't have gotten anywhere without him. At this point, he's not even sure how many of them realize how much they got. -- But the message was loud and clear. ]

You remember. And you must have known the risk, so it's a little late to change your mind.

THAT SURE WAS THE WRONG ICON (weeping)

[aprescoup]

Support? From me? The quartz. Yes. I gave it to you. I gave it on orders. Do I agree? No. Do I agree that you stole from Torsten? Nooooooooooo. No, no, no. Do I agree that we now have this... instrument to face? You guess.

Little boy, there is action. There is consequence. And we face it together, because I gave you quartz, yes? But there is blame, and more is with you. And you know, little boy, I may work with you, but I do not have to make it enjoyable.

it's fine you're only 99% perfect

[somebadnews]

[ And he was being polite. Working as a team. Everything he hates, he's done for you people. ]

Next time, you'll have to be more specific. [ Said with such restraint. Like he was really expecting praise for his trouble. ] I'm sure the captives you free will be the ones concerned about the consequences.

Thank you for the help, all the same.

[aprescoup]

No need to thank me. I have a job, I do the job. You did not ask me to do the job.

[somebadnews]

Well, that's true. [ He actually knows the feeling. ] You must get something out of it. We could make a case, if they're not paying enough.

[aprescoup]

Yes, I want nothing more than a little child to talk my wages. What are you? Easy-minded like Haltham?

[somebadnews]

[ Not a child. Here he was about to offer a tip, but he's got no patience for this. ]

Forget I said anything. I can tell you're happy the way things are.

[aprescoup]

Happy. Unhappy. What does it matter? To you. Specifically.

You think we are what, friends? There are cockroaches bigger than you under my bed. I fight them each morning, before I fight the fish in my breakfast bowl. What can you do for me? And why? Hmmmm?

[somebadnews]

I'm not looking for friends. I have a vested interest in the captives on that ship, and any that arrive after them.

I'd like to keep that information coming. So if there's something I can do for you, try to think hard, I'm all ears.

[aprescoup]

Right now, money.

[somebadnews]

[ He knows they've already made arrangements, but he won't argue the point. ]

Easy enough.

[aprescoup]

And keep care. I do not want more trouble. Keep yourselves in hand.

[somebadnews]

Oh, I wouldn't worry about me. All you have to do is ask.

[aprescoup]

Is it hard, for hearing, down there? I asked. You did not hear? I speak lower for your tiny ears.

[somebadnews]

[ Days when it's hard not to murder all your allies. Picturing it helps. ]

You're really afraid of this Torsten guy, aren't you?

[aprescoup]

I am afraid that people in high positions are taking notice. I am afraid we are not discreet. I am afraid you were greedy, and now we die for it.

Torsten is one man. But he represents an entire guild. We don't want merchant guilds involved. Nooooooot us. We want to be good, and small, and out of the way. Like little boy. We all want to be little boys, deep down.

[somebadnews]

[ What a pain in the ass. ]

Greedy. [ Seriously? ] They've noticed long before now. If not then, they will after this. All the more reason to get moving.

[aprescoup]

What do you think we try to do? Build you a temple?

[somebadnews]

I didn't mean to insult the accommodations.

[ Like he cares. ]

So long as everyone's on the same page. We deal with this, and then you can tell us what else we owe you.