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

[darkeststars]

So determined to try his best to intimidate even now. I do so enjoy when someone whose gut I'd love to stick a saber through rolls over to show me his soft underbelly. [ Should the Dark Lord be a little more worried about the actual undead army this guy's buddies might sic on us? Yes, probably. Is he? Naaaah. ]

[beitangmoran]

He is embattled in his own stronghold, by his own population. He is the one with the most to lose even if we do nothing. If he wants us to do something for him, requesting would go a much longer way than blackmail with forces that are indeed numerous, but also subject to treachery from inside the citadel, and, I am sorry to say that for him, relatively easy to kill.

It would not be endearing for the local population given that those are their kin, but most who have regained some consciousness ask for their own death.

I personally see no problem in keeping our original stance of letting them battle it out. There will be a battle no matter what, but still no reason why it should concern us particularly.

[darkeststars]

The carrotin-and-stick approach, I suppose. A shame for him, to be so woefully short-sighted about it. [ he still sounds deeply amused ]

Staying our course would certainly have many merits, I agree. Regardless of how we choose to do it, making as clean a getaway from this hellhole as we can manage would certainly be the ideal end result.

[beitangmoran]

I like that we do seem to have a few pragmatic people in this group. W might, unfortunately, be in the minority.

[darkeststars]

[ there's a bit of a groan in his voice ] I am starting to think half our number have never even heard the word. One would almost think Unhalad derives some special sort of power out of summoning up hopeless idealists and pacifists.

[ though perhaps he does, at that -- the idea certainly wouldn't be unheard of back home among the Sith. ]