audio | username: raven master

[pulvisetumbra]

( You might remember this voice: )

Good afternoon. To our newcomers, I introduce myself as the Merchant. You have heard of me. I have heard of you. To our elderly additions, I note you have prevailed against the odds to persist among us. A triumph.

( Dry laughter. ) Further pleasantries at a later, more forgiving time. For now, it will not surprise you that certain gestures have been entertained. Crude, direct and mercenary.

Absent a contact point, Unhalad’s lieutenants have left word with several port masters, who have conveyed his message. He believes you have been well positioned to access Anurr’s forces and woodland allies. He asks for any remnants of the mirror his brethren sent aboard the vessel Imperious and for assistance to cleanse the woods of Anurr’s supporters. In exchange, he offers free passage from Sa-Hareth once the storms clear and a letter of recommendation that will ease voyage across the eastern provinces commanded by his brothers. He threatens the full force of his allies, if you do not comply.

( A moment’s peace, to let that sink. ) I expect our forest visitors have kept Lord Anurr better informed of your whereabouts and affiliation. He has addressed my liaisons to request your assistance to shut in the salt mines and the source of Unhalad’s local force replenishments. He too offers to facilitate your departure from Sa-Hareth, once he gains the terminals, financial provisions and free return to the citadel, should you wish it done. He threatens nothing, but notes that you are alone, and have been alone for some time, and where has it brought you? ( Laughter, outright) To me.

( Second verse, same at the first. Silence is a strength. ) Quite. Given the limitations of these creatures, you will forgive me for excluding any physical evidence of these interactions.

If you want counsel: you have sustained neutrality for the better part of two months. Your position to do nothing has been self-serving, but clear. Do not stray course at the last hour. If you intend to proceed otherwise… alert me. I shall endeavour to broker the relevant agreement, so that you may at least benefit from your gumption.

You will otherwise be pleased to know I expect to receive the pertinent passport papers and two potential routes for your strategic departure within days. Until then, good day.


( ooc: feel free to use the Merchant’s or other character posts to debate the course of action! The Merchant will be scarce. If most/any characters plan to side with Unhalad, Anurr, either warlord or even both of them, designate a character to let the Merchant know. Address messages to the him this time! )

Comments

[bearshermark]

[Perhaps he should start taking less offense when someone refers to him as a child]

..And you?

[weifinder]

Admirable, really. What led you down this path?

[corvis]

...What about me? [ wrong way wrong way ]

[bearshermark]

You sound as though you aren't among them.

[soulsrob]

[Cheerfully:] That's true! If everyone agrees to doing something else, I'll of course go along with it.

It doesn't particularly matter to me either way what everyone decides. Someone will have to be responsible for the consequences of whatever we do. I'm curious to see what everyone decides and if they'll let emotion rule like you seem keen to do.

[corvis]

I've done my share of bad things, manipulated and deceived to get what I want. However, this is a little different. This is a matter of convenience, not necessity.

I don't like doing things that are unnecessary. [ and
almost everythingg is unnecessary unless it comes to Oz, so... ]

None of us know these enemies well enough to pull this off, anyway. We don't know each other well enough, either. Your way is the more valiant, as well as the safer choice.

[pulvisetumbra]

I too have a people. And they suffer.

[bearshermark]

I know what I can live with.

[bearshermark]

Safer- yes, that's the idea. But I guess I thought everyone was as adverse to the idea of the undeath as I've been. Perhaps I've been mistaken.

[weifinder]

Just here, or are those you consider part of your people a more broad group?

[pulvisetumbra]

I am not of Sa-Hareth. It is true, I made my first fortune here. But I do not originate hereabout.

I come of the east.

[jeoha]

It would be better, perhaps, not to suggest drugging members of your own contingent in a place where they can hear you. [ His voice is very dry. ]

[weifinder]

Ah, that makes sense... what's this region you're from called?

[jeoha]

I have some small experience dealing with nobles who believe themselves to be the rightful rulers of a kingdom, and what kind of deals and bargains they will make for power, and I will tell you this:

I doubt very much that Unhalad would ever give a good word for us to his brethren, whatever we do for him. And in a world where messages travel faster than we can, any 'element of surprise' we offer will be lost by the time we reach the next citadel.

Our very existence as a seperate entity like we are is a threat to him and to his brethren, no matter how much we heel. So even if we were to entirely ignore the effects our actions would cause, we are unlikely to see any benefit from him that isn't inherently poisoned.

Men who raise the dead to do their bidding do not care about the living. They care about their power and how to keep it, and once we are gone from his lands, we are no benefit to Unhalad at all, and speaking on our behalf does even less for him.

[pulvisetumbra]

More discreet, certainly.

[pulvisetumbra]

Ellethia, by its ruined name.

[soulsrob]

Can you live with the weight of a hundred deaths on your hands? [her tone isn't even accusing or cruel; it's almost innocently curious]

[weifinder]

I'm sorry. It's terrible, having your home ruined.

When was this? Who was responsible?

[bearshermark]

[Quiets for several moments]

...Unfortunately.

[soulsrob]

You don't think he would look at it as getting something powerful on his side, what with all the quaint little abilities some in our group can do?

I, too, know something of powerful nobles who believe themselves better--they always believe themselves better. They believe others will fall in line beneath them, for that's where the powerful think the others belong. They don't believe that a dog that bears its teeth will truly bite them if they offer it scraps.

Unhalad is offering us scraps.

But frankly. [She sighs here, as if Much Put Upon] It's all a bit tedious to argue since any thing could go right or wrong and change the outcomes. Perhaps it's better to kill them both and let the civilians deal with the fallout themselves.

But even I know the power vacuum that creates could be devastating too and with no infrastructure to stop someone else from just invading in the chaos. [Siiigh. Having to care about the civilians in the aftermath is a pain]

[jeoha]

Mm.

I think this is a conversation best continued where vested interests can't pry. If you would care to take a small walk?

[soulsrob]

Have you already?

It's easy to say words in any order you like, but not be able to actually handle them.

[soulsrob]

Sounds dangerous. [She teases, then laughs.] But I don't mind. I can meet you where you like.

[bearshermark]

I'm alive, aren't I?

But a hundred undeaths- no, I'm sure I can't bear that.

[soulsrob]

Pleased to meet you, Regulus! May I call you Reggie? [TOO LATE. nickname got]

My name is Winnie, and I've been here since the beginning. That is, I was with the first group to awaken here.

I believe Mr. Lee is going to be gathering us all soon to speak off of the crystals, but frankly I have nothing to hide and nothing to fear. Even if Master Raven is to overhear, he's as pragmatic as it comes. I don't fear his overhearing like most do. I trust him to do what needs to be done.

I'm afraid my plans mostly stop there though. I've laid the base idea--the details can be handled by someone else. The less this becomes 'my' plan, the less blame might fall to me if things go wrong! [her tone is joking and she laughs, but like...really though.]