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Post by Krakenbox on Jul 17, 2021 17:17:07 GMT -8
The automaton clanged, scimitar coming down in a theatrical matter of cutting off their exit. However, just before the adrenaline started to kick in, the rest of the knives came down as the machine moved like a centipede. Machina's eye squinted, voice oscillating to a confused elder,
"I thought the concern was around my Good Neighbour providing for me? You're not going to offer anything? Really?"
There was a loud screech of metal as a second centipede thudded in a shower of ash, wriggling as it righted itself and marched around in excited confusion. Like insects startled from the sudden lift of their wooden nest—exposed and offended.
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Post by Gavin Graves on Jul 18, 2021 0:42:27 GMT -8
While Machina repositioned itself to block Riley's start toward the exit Gavin took the moment to slip a claw clipping into his mouth. Dipping his feet into a deeper portion of the ashen floor he obscured the honing edges of his clawed feet. Standing tall he tried to keep his now backward bending legs from being glaringly obvious. He opted not to enhance his senses this time around. It would be too obvious.
Gavin was preparing for the worst, not threatening. It was a thin distinction, he knew. The Lost had not aggressed, but this was the risk of opening his mouth as The Broker had warned and the creature had just moved to contain them. His instincts were riding high. Gavin had to contain those. Buy time and maybe keep the others from panicking. He knew it was possible he was acting to keep himself from spinning wildly.
"Didn't I?" Gavin loudly offered with a quizzical note trying to draw gazes away from the blocked passage.
"We arrived here as couriers for our Monarchs, right. With that task finished and observing the situation within your domain, I offered our services to carry your missive to our Monarchs, yeah," he led with the facts.
Taking on a variation in tone to clearly demark the message contents, "I recall your message to our Monarchs: "Tell Andromeda I have not forgotten. My resignation as her steward will be coming to an end ... very soon.""
"I know I can be a bit of a bird-brain. Did I miss a part of your message? Did you want it written down?" Gavin hoped to draw a moment of incredulous analysis questioning his intelligence.
"I'm kidding sir. It's a joke," Gavin grinned.
"Of course we have an offering. We were thinking you might like an improved roadway connecting your domain and that of our Freehold to help facilitate future business and strengthen our relationship. Already started a little pruning in good faith. I'm good at that too. Better than my comedy, I think." That was something Gavin could do to diffuse the situation. He could be in for a lot of work with that offering. Maybe he'd get some help.
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Post by Wayland on Jul 19, 2021 12:01:36 GMT -8
The summer mantle surrounding the Ogre speaks more than the woman herself, bands of heat distortion rising off her skin like a road baked in the sun. She bites her tongue, swallowing a wrathful retort to the prospect of giving this creature it's heir. 'We're not giving you children!' She wants to snarl, wants to draw her axe and threaten, wants to shove her body like a wall between her party and danger, wants to leap at that coffin and drive an iron spear right through it. She doesn't. She has self control. And she knows she stands no chance against such a powerful enemy. But the desire is there.
(And oh what beautiful, terrible things could she forge from the carcass of such a beast? Swords forged from it's limbs, talismans from it's chains, armor from it's coffin, it's eye for a focus. She hears the strike of hammer on anvil in her chest, echoing, yearning.)
A useless prospect, if this encounter turns violent she will not survive. The best she can hope for is to buy time for as much of the party to escape as possible. If any of them can manage it. The Ogre holds her position, taking a slightly wider stance, trying to track the movement of each blade and entity that surrounds them, and hoping desperately that the other three can get them out of this without costing anything else.
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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 22, 2021 19:35:52 GMT -8
Riley stopped in their tracks. They hadn't considered the exit to be rude, and they thought the request for an heir was enough to ask as a price? They hadn't considered that information required payment.
Hobs are greedy. Figured the Moth.
They glance at Gavin; he had asked for the info and wanted this. The Moth would step in to aid if they were needed, but now their voice felt more in the way than helpful.
They glance at Gabin giving him a nod before turning their attention back to the King.
"Milord, There is one, a great Vulture, within your market. Who would we speak to lay claim to him and his name here? His head has a price in our freehold for his crimes."
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Post by Krakenbox on Jul 25, 2021 19:15:52 GMT -8
The scimitars thumped in a rhythmic fashion as the centipede crawled around the group.
"You're speaking mutually beneficial. You asked for business and I give it: a message. The road you have permission, but what I really want is the heir. I have given you a king's ransom of information, at the challenge to your competitor. Insider knowledge, good chum!"
The safe inched again, vibrating.
"Pinky swears are nice. But this is a royal matter of succession, yes? I'll take the knuckle that would wear the symbol of betrothal. That only seems fair, mister Graves?"
The eye rolled to Riley, blinking a few times. "The vulture. Ah, yes, him. A good asset but bought out fair and square by that Darkling of Leviathan. Dead now, though. He volunteered, but there isn't a contract binding him to indentured servitude. A loyal pet! I suppose he is scared of being out of prison. You like the look of his crimes? You Changelings and your justice...I smelled no Oathbreaking, so you must be mistaken, dear. Loyal and true, a very good boy. I would be sad to part ways, and then who would eat all my criminals? Are you offering something?"
"I need to fill the void. Your friend is now my friend instead. Don't worry, you won't miss the warm feeling."
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Post by Deleted on Jul 25, 2021 19:45:34 GMT -8
The Chatelaine was not sure how the prices would differ, but more offers on the table made dealing with matters at hand more bearable...He was unsure of Gavins push, and cautious of Riley's request but he would support them as best he could.
"And your majesty...Is this price the same you would ask of any of us? Say if I were to offer to front the cost for the pair?"
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Post by Krakenbox on Jul 25, 2021 21:50:23 GMT -8
King Machina glanced at Archie Hartman.
"No, no. For your own experience I would measure that I would quite like to be friends with your brother. I can smell the Second Son on you from here! Families adopted by the world of Faerie have such interesting fates indeed. I got so bored in this box, mister Hartman... Ah, yes and I will also want you," the eye gleams cheerfully, "Mr. Connected, to open up a Hedge Gate at my behest. Friends aren't of value to you, not really. You don't have any right now other than your motley oaths. I will take your feelings of camaraderie with Mx. Sorsa if you're seeking the thrill of a different dynamic."
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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 27, 2021 8:32:43 GMT -8
The moth chewed on the inside of their lip at the offer presented by the Goblin. It was a steep price to pull Grendel from this place. A price that vulture would laugh at if he had been asked the same. He had left Riley and the others to die of course. Leaving him here would be no worse.
Then again turning him over to the freehold was another option.
The thought lingered before Archie made his own inquiry. The Goblin king drove a hard bargain, and asked much, even more from Archie. The Brightone could feel their stomach drop as Machina suggested it could take ARchies friendship for Riley. They met eyes with Archie.
What were Archies thinking about such an offer? Was there Temptation, was it a cost he was willing to pay?
The Moth cleared their throat looking back to the king to ask their own question.
“You ask a steep price for a man I - we, barely know. I assume I may select the friendship offered in exchange? It would only seem fair to know the weight of one against another.“
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Post by Krakenbox on Jul 27, 2021 11:08:43 GMT -8
"The Wyrd will sort the weight of your decision. If it isn't a true bond it is useless to me when I have a willing servant in my ranks to fill that cost. You want him. So he has worth."
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Post by Krakenbox on Jul 27, 2021 15:00:21 GMT -8
"If Herr Graves finds it acceptable, perhaps it is better to take from him the power of his labours for a time rather than permanently mutilating. As suggested with the Trod," The Broker offered.
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Post by Gavin Graves on Jul 27, 2021 15:10:12 GMT -8
"Seems you aren't really crediting me my due value for that road here. I'm a guide. An easily navigable trod is really going to cut into my future business and create many more opportunities for you and The Broker here than it would for me."
"Plus, I'm going to need this to build that road." Swallowing the other bit he'd floated under his tongue, he wiggles the requested finger allowing the remainder of his claws to sharpen under contract.
The King's show of force opened it to the table. "Don't get me wrong, your information is useful, but mostly to you. Heated competition to deliver you your desire really serves your purposes. Without us here also having this information, you were stuck with the Title's schedule and its eventual rampant consumption of what's yours. We both know it." Confident in his read of the situation he steps forward a pace toward the safe, his legs became an eerie display bending in reverse like a bird. It was a gesture to claim social room in the situation and reveal that an ask for a claw is definitively too much. He made sure his step cleft through a loose gear that had dropped and remained in the ashes some time prior. The metal casually parting at the pressure.
"You got to put a clock on both parties. That's a substantial burden on the value of that information. It's cramped."
"Take your thumb off the scale and give me a reasonable price," Gavin smiles with a look his companions might expect from one of the other ruthless vendors they'd find at the market.
When the cat interjected, Gavin nodded as if weighing it and then agreed, "Yeah, that'd work."
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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 31, 2021 11:56:26 GMT -8
The bright one weighed the price offered in balance. They had other hopes in the market, and their debt was high already to the Broker. Freeing Grendel was tempting; Riley wasn't sure what they would do once they had access to the behemoth vulture. But the opportunity has shown as a brilliant coin.
But the loss of friendship. Deciding who to lose would be hard, would not knowing to make it easier? The thought caused their stomach to turn.
Archie, Linden, Claire? Agrippa, Firebringer, Ivory, Wayland? Who it could be was uncertain; was it worth the cost?
No.
What ever renown it was worth, whatever satisfaction it could bring. It could not be worth those bonds. Living, growing, they were the prize of escape, and what are they without those you hold dear.
"His value than is more significant than he is to me. I cannot match your price."
Riley says with a bow of their head.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 3, 2021 16:36:40 GMT -8
“A pet with a task which makes your job all the easier, in exchange for a sense of closeness? Your Majesty, business and pleasure are two different things so I would be hard pressed to believe that is a fair deal, friendship for a tool. However what I can offer is service - since we would wresting you of a service volunteered may I offer you something volunteered may I offer my own services volunteered. Ensuring schedules are maintained, that decorum is in place, and offering my own takes. You can see I have a staff capable of helping me expedite the process.”
He was of course motioning to the steward. “And I am sure you understand that much like your current pet this would be a cog in the machine and nothing more.”Archie wasn’t trying to angle himself into a position where he was replacing the Goblin King or could be shifted into such a role. He, however, had no desire to see another Lost languish in the depths of the market treated so poorly. “3 mortal days, per mortal month, for a year and a day - my services to support but never usurp or otherwise take your seat.”A time frame locked him in as he played off the potential that the bird had not locked in a time frame of volunteer work thus giving the Goblin King certainty of a time frame. SK- Archie — Today at 5:33 PM
RRH
Lets make a deal Gobbo King
Man + Per + Spec + 1 + WP -2
@dicecord-CoD 10
@dicecord-CoD roll 10
Dicecord-CoD
BOT
— Today at 5:34 PM
@sk- Archie rolled 10 dice and got 3 successes. 7 10(6) 5 9 8 4 3 5 6 5
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Post by Krakenbox on Aug 3, 2021 19:37:35 GMT -8
"Agreed," Machina intoned to the Beast, in regards to taking his labours at some juncture.
As Riley dismisses Grendel's worth and Archie angles for a price similar to Gavin's, the Broker's hand squeezed Archie's shoulder, slipping forward as he gestures back the way they came.
"Perhaps with this offer is cemented in any fashion, the guest in question should offer something permanent," gold eyes flashed as he glanced over his shoulder at the four, "so the parting not leave your halls so empty without his memory. This Lost of Las Vegas is eager to take this one's place in a lesser capacity, guaranteed, and presents a different skillset of a gentleman over a vulture. One which I would argue presents more opportunity for growth beyond simple violence to your enemies. The vulture is disgraced courtesan without a monarch, while Herr Hartman is an active member of the Verdant Queen's court and a shared interest of commerce. The same halls where your message is hailed to land."
A shadow flickered across the face, the cheshire grin and feline slits the only thing visible. "Perhaps I speak with him on your majesty's behalf?"
The eye squinted.
"Granted."
There was a long pause of several minutes, Gavin waiting for exhaustion that never came. Chains jingled as the cat jumped from precarious limb from on high, eventually landing in a plume of ash and addressing the group as humanoid once more. His eyes were blown, clearly having fun with the game.
"Grendel is scared that re-entry to Las Vegas would mean his death without vassalage. He is asking if Herr Graves can broker a meeting with the Knight of the Dying Light at the border. Discreetly."
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Post by Gavin Graves on Aug 3, 2021 20:41:38 GMT -8
The Beast nestled in closer to the group as the meeting appeared to be winding down and business settled. He edged closer to the exit with the conversation, testing the concept of leaving the ashen throne room. He let his sandals slip looser so some of the ashes would scoop into the cupping. A sample to be collected once out of sight.
At the Broker's prompt he gave the possibility some attention. Though he was aware of the Ogre's involvement, Gavin was unsure of the politics involved in the situation since he was west in Los Angeles when The Revenant Crisis was triggered and it had been resolved prior to his return. From what Kai had been saying, Summer was put in a bad way as a result. It was a part of why he was in the Market in the first place. He glanced over at Wayland.
"I think that would be doable within the right pledge for the meeting. Can't go dragging a Knight in without a reasonable assurance to point at," It was a non-committal course of action with a promise required before anything real might happen.
"I'm not really all that political though, but I recognize someone might be a bit irked if I go around helping disgraced problem causers without reasonable consideration. I've got a good thing going with Summer and I'd like to keep it that way. I know you lost some good people--Apollo?. Wayland, I'd like your opinion on the matter." He was not sure the others had considered her or their feelings. "Would fealty to a Freehold Knight stay their wrath for a trial period?"
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