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Post by Wayland on Jul 8, 2021 20:51:07 GMT -8
The Ogre is dubious. There's no other hoops they need to jump through? Nothing they need to do to be sure that this is the Goblin King, and to be sure that the Goblin King is now accepting payment for their previous contract? Well, suppose it must all be there in the paperwork Riley handed over. And the Darkling seems confident. Wayland shrugs out of the heavy hiking-style backpack she's been wearing, swinging it around in front of her body. The chest has been weighing her down, in a large compartment near the bottom.
She frees it from the pack, and hoists the chest into her arms. Turning it a moment so that the opening faces the presumed Goblin King, she unfastens the latch and opens the lid. The King can reach in for his payment, or one of the others can present it to him.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 10, 2021 21:15:14 GMT -8
“So that we are clear about our terms - As the King of this Market, acceptance of our Freehold’s Monarch’s offerings will open the doors of this market to their courtiers so that they may conduct business.”
He stated the necessary terms that Bastille had laid out so that they weren’t handing away their precious cargo without a promise. Archie was in too much debt to have this spiral out of control. He would rather ask the stupid question now than suffer more later.
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Post by Krakenbox on Jul 11, 2021 9:10:15 GMT -8
The blade-centipede's hands snaked into the box. They withdrew a white mask, a plain vial of clear liquid, an iron bowl that filled with a steaming red liquid as it was lifted, and finally what appeared to be the husk of an infant. The hand flinched with the corpse, brushing it carefully before cradling it in two hands. It was swaddled in a scroll that unfurled on its own accord. The document that the King had reviewed evaporated, while the arcane lettering on the scroll burned into the paper. A choir of ancient pact—thunder, brass, screams, laughter, and howling wind resonated in the hall of Pandemonium. The eye in the chamber squinted, blinking several times before rolling back to the group. The automaton held the scroll to the chains, burning a pattern that sealed his signature, before a hook lowered to clamp the scroll and whistle back into oblivion. The satisfied chuckle was that of grinding gears and clicking metal. "Welcome, then."
The Broker nodded to Archie, speaking quietly, "Bartering with myself and the Keeper's servant meant that you cleaved through bureaucracy that would have exploited your need. This is a rare opportunity to ask questions about the state of his Market, but with risk. If you rather not and are all done here, I would not dawdle."
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Post by Deleted on Jul 11, 2021 10:15:34 GMT -8
The deal was done, the Lanterns light already making his skin crawl, and knowing he had been taken to task by his own favored Goblin the Broker made a compelling argument to keep things moving. In this moment he silently deferred to the rest of the group as he eyed each of them, letting them know the stage was theirs to ask - and if needed he would be able to perhaps wordsmith a little for them but he would much rather get out, task completed.
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Post by Gavin Graves on Jul 11, 2021 12:30:56 GMT -8
Gavin's cheeks were still cooling from the innocent misstep touching the arcane creature. He had hoped the others were more aware of the tenuous balance that is being maintained between the Goblin King and the minions of Faerie at the market. They had either been hiding where Gavin told them to or being put through the wringer by the Huntsman at the time, so it wasn't altogether too surprising they'd not picked up on the situation. It would be up to him to raise the issue, but that didn't mean he couldn't have help.
He had been paying attention both earlier when the Huntsman first appeared and now with the Goblin King, analyzing the scenario and calculating his approach. Without the restraint his bestial instincts would have led to him blurting something out to little or ill effect. He always had to keep himself in check.
It was his thought to leverage the presence of the Huntsman and its master and their combined and ongoing effects on the Market's business to get information from the Goblin King on their now mutual problem. He has to be losing a lot of business.
"Thank you for the welcome, exalted one. There was another matter that concerns interests of yours, if we may be so bold," tagging we in there he'd hoped his companions might feel welcome to tag in should he flounder.
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Post by Krakenbox on Jul 11, 2021 13:28:14 GMT -8
The risks to engaging the Goblin King in information exchange is that he can inflict more Goblin Debt. The automaton Gavin is confident he can put a few dents in, but God knows how many the King had at his disposal. Would he be able to create a convoluted reason to leave them there in the ashen pit?
The changes to the Market is a mass influx of Hobs—who were mostly congregated outside the fortress. Though there was always some "shady shit" going on in the lower levels, as Bastille put it, the Beast could ascertain that the Keeper's presence meant that It had to have come to some sort of negotiated accord with the Goblin King. A Keeper negotiating with a Hob would be temporary, and counting the seconds where the relationship would shift to control. However, in the meantime, It was likely supplying labour and information It was willing to part with. The Goblin King would want something from It, surely, and that relationship continued as long as there was a promise it would eventually be produced.
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Post by Gavin Graves on Jul 14, 2021 14:02:03 GMT -8
"Right. So with nervous energy flowing from body of people around and within your market, it's such a damper on business from my usual visits. Given the current dignitaries you have as extended guests I am not surprised though." Gavin raises an eyebrow, checking that his coy reference to the Titled Fae and its minion was clear.
When the creature simply stared and evaluated the nervous beast in response, Gavin continued. "Of course, since you are clearly very shrewd to have accrued this business empire of yours, you will have an arrangement with them that benefits you in some fashion on the face of it. It is only natural."
"You also know how they tend to be in the longer run, how they crave control, regardless of right and sovereign claim. I would hazard to say there's going to be a time fairly soon you're going to want them off your couch, so to speak. Before grand shaping occurs to the larger parts of your vision."
"Has it already started, I wonder? They do seem to control the mood," he nods to emphasize his rhetorical idea.
Gavin waves off the thought, "You have a plan. You are prudent after all."
"There is an opportunity here though," he smiles.
"We stand in a position ready to be hired as couriers for a message you might like to convey to our collective Monarchs. We have proven our discretion. You'll note we chose not to press our Spring advantage against the Twilight Rogue and upset your situation without due consideration and respect."
Gavin turned to his fellow courtiers and the Broker, to see if they might be ready to support his position.
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Post by Krakenbox on Jul 14, 2021 15:07:51 GMT -8
"Herr Graves is right in that respect. You stand at the moment a war profiteer with your refugees, but maintaining relations with the Freeholds of LA and Las Vegas will be frayed while the servants of The Last Unicorn live among your fortress. This is not a criticism of your ability for enforcing order, but a subject of decorum with the fickle Lost," he sniffed, dropping his hands from behind his back as the menacing automaton loomed.
King Machina's laugh trembled through the safe.
"Tell Andromeda I have not forgotten. My resignation as her steward will be coming to an end..." the eye squinted, twinkling with mirth,
"Very soon."
The Broker gave Gavin a warning glance, seeing that the King was tipping in the favour of the True Fae, "What has The Last Unicorn offered you that the Freehold can provide in Its glorious stead? These walls would not suit Its tastes, and you would find your home repurposed, yes?"
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Post by Wayland on Jul 14, 2021 20:56:50 GMT -8
"Whatever it is that's aligned Their interest with yours, it's temporary." Wayland says. Speaking for the first time in what seems like hours. Using the surprise of it to her advantage as she looks up at the safe that is the Machina. But not directly into it's eye. "They're always looking for a way to burn you."
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Riley Sorsa
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Presence (3) Captivating | SL(1) Stylish Mantle (2)Spring | Status(1) Entertainment
Posts: 913
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Post by Riley Sorsa on Jul 15, 2021 9:38:20 GMT -8
Leapfrogging off of Wayland, Riley chipped in.
"In truth, we have more to earn from one another in harmony than with the Gentry. In the end, what we create and hold dear are nothing more than a plaything to them. Its in all of our interests to see each other lifted"
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Post by Deleted on Jul 15, 2021 20:54:43 GMT -8
“A partnership versus a more uneven and less diverse relationship is always fruitful for everyone.”He saw his opportunity to contribute, but mustered nothing more than a mumble as his head turned to check behind them. The favor of their host showing, the huntsman. Was it a trap? It was hard to sound convincing when fear pounded through your heart. SK- Archie — Today at 9:49 PM
RRH
Listen to the Chicken
Man + Per + Spec + WP - 2
@dicecord-CoD roll 9
Dicecord-CoD
BOT
— Today at 9:49 PM
@sk- Archie rolled 9 dice and got 0 successes. 7 4 6 2 5 5 6 7 2
@sk- Archie, I hope that wasn't an important roll ...
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Post by Krakenbox on Jul 16, 2021 9:32:20 GMT -8
Machina's safe inched, the weight sending trenches into the ash as the chains vibrated, eye twinkling with hope and excitement.
"Services rendered are not acknowledged if the Good Neighbours seize my holdings as sovereign. No."
Inch.
Inch.
"The Last Unicorn will be dismissed if one were to provide me with an heir!" the child crooned.
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Post by Gavin Graves on Jul 16, 2021 17:36:26 GMT -8
That was the necessary detail. It wasn't a lot. It hadn't extolled on leverage points to remove the True Fae and its minions or given any semblance of the enemy's motivations. It merely asked us for exactly what had been their offer. It spoke to the depth of the arrangement. If the King got what it wanted this whole place would fall to the sway of the Keeper. If the Keeper failed to deliver, the market would fall to the Keeper on a slower time scale. This was a nightmare scenario: Catch Twenty-Two. The alternative to a Keeper dominated market was a world where one of the Lost acted like one of them. Maybe we drive out the Keeper? Or set it up so the King believes the Keeper has no intention of making good. This would be a play for the Monarchs to make.
A darker thought crossed his mind. What if one of us had previously done exactly that? A previous heir bound up in in pledges. Resignation as her Steward coming to an end. Andromeda.
The freedom it was promised, the joy behind it, it didn't strike Gavin as a good sign. It had an 'I intend to perform a torturous murder' note to it. A flash of memory, a single extended note of sound, a soul-peeling scream and a warmth on his hands. Had he blurred his own experiences with what he was seeing in an eye and hearing in a voice?
If presented with its disturbing demand, would it even be in a position to make good on the promised dismissal. Gavin scanned his memory for a hint of the esoteric that might guide a choice. Even if it made good on its offer, a fresh Goblin King, would that not simply be easy prey for a well positioned Title to roll over?
He was thinking quickly on his feet. He was trying to decide whether or not to try to bind the Goblin Kings promise. It was loose after all. It didn't say who had to present the child. Only if "one" did. That meant if anyone brought it an heir and it was bound, it would have to dismiss The Last Unicorn. He was poised ready to call on the Wyrd to seal up the promise, but only if he thought it could be meaningful.
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Post by Krakenbox on Jul 16, 2021 17:47:14 GMT -8
The Goblin King is very excited at the idea of having an heir. There's legends around children being turned into Hobs—either to suffer death in the Thorns or adapt—but their minds unable to hold an identity that was never fully developed. Keepers who take children are largely accepted to be doomed to this fate, and Gavin hasn't run into that sort of anomaly yet to know what an outlier would look like.
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Riley Sorsa
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Presence (3) Captivating | SL(1) Stylish Mantle (2)Spring | Status(1) Entertainment
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Post by Riley Sorsa on Jul 17, 2021 9:06:24 GMT -8
Riley raises an eyebrow at the mention of an heir. Of course, they didn't fully understand what that meant, but one thing Riley knew was it didn't sound great.
An Heir? What would that entail? It seemed better than having to try and have trade with an enemy occupied the market. It would be a matter of time before the Goblin King's promise of safety would be circumvented by the Gentry if they continued to infest the roots of the market.
The bright one glances to their companions. This was important information, but their mission statement had been clear. They weren't here to negotiate on behalf of the Sovereigns. They were the messengers.
The unnerving inching forward spoke volumes of the King's excitement and desire for this possibility. They can make a promise...yet.
"An heir is a kingdom's future incarnate," Riley says respectfully.
"The request is heard, and we will bring it and your message to...Andromeda to our Sovereigns, with the expediency and discretion that they warrant."
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