The guards speak into the Comm system, telling those inside who is arriving. "You may go up." He says as he pulls open the door for the three.
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Evrain travels up to the council chamber, where I assume at least a part of the council is waiting for him to arrive. He opens by saying, "Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen of the Council of Inside. I would address you all personally, but I'm afraid that I am without knowledge as to who many of you are."
"I am here representing the Empire of Ascaerin. We understand that much of the technology, magical learning and creatures of the Nexus are unique compared to that of our own world, yes? I am here to open negotiations for trade."
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Grace, who has presumably been contacted and given time to arrive, raises an eyebrow. "As far as I am aware, there are no general structures or overarching laws that govern Nexus trade, beyond those that also govern individual liberty and property rights. We do not tax trade, and our council is not a true government that has a singular pool of resources, so nor can we offer trade as a group. You might negotiate certain agreements with organizations represented by the council, but I do not believe the council as a whole has any significant sway with trade."
"Therefore, as far as I see it, your citizens are free to trade here as they wish, and your government might make its own offers, though of course it will need to find interested parties with appropriate resources. Of course, while in Nexus, you will be expected to conform to Nexus laws, should that extend to your dealings in any way, but I doubt that needed stating."
"As we understand it, the Nexus is an extremely chaotic place, and the power of the government has shifted numerous times. We have many powerful and skilled wizards that could be of aid in keeping such radical shifts from occuring too frequently, and during large scale threats, which I also understand occur quite frequently, we would provide what aid we could. I'm sure a platoon of battlecasters could greatly bolster the defenses of your fair city."
"Beyond this, we have several things your city may need - stores of raw adamantium, just waiting to be processed. We may even be able to provide the council with enough equipment and manpower to take control of the city entirely."
"All we ask is that an embassy will be made in order to regulate trade and for diplomatic talks with each other. we may determine what else is necessary for trading to Ascaerin at a later date. But yes, we can certainly speak to whomeve wishes to begin trade with us."
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Grace shakes her head. "A legion of foreign wizards, it seems to me, would only ensure a swifter change of power. Even if they might otherwise seem effective, I have no doubt that they would be powerless against the shifting tides of Nexus. There is a power greater than armies twisted up in its workings, and it is not truly people that one would work against for stability.
"Nor, in fact, do I believe the Council would want to pursue such tactics. Nexus is not in need of strict control, and nor do we truly want to be a full governing body. That is not what we desire, or need."
"And let me make myself plain- there are no laws, rules, or regulations on traded beyond those of human decency. The council has no authority or power over trade, and as such, approaching us for our permission or sanction of your efforts is meaningless. If you desire trade, then go- trade. We have nothing to do with this, nor should we. Any time you spend here is only a waste of your time and ours if trade is all you seek."
Cessie is there as well and I assume Harnel the player already knows what she looks like, along with the the earring etc.
She immediately recognizes the name, Ascaerin, the empire Harnel came from. Frankly she thought it sounded barbaric with the slaves and the other customs it had, like how they treated half-dragons and the undead.
Though at the same time, while slavery was illegal in Hestopia, they had to accept that it wasn't illegal in other countries. That was how things worked, Hestopia ruled through economic means anyway, making slavery non profitable was a much better way then sending in armies in every country that still allowed slavery.
"Excuse me, I'm Cessie Mithar, the representative of watchtower as well as the empire of Hestopia. I was wondering, are you aware of the laws here in Inside? Outside the city there aren't any laws at all, but inside slavery is forbidden."
Vasquez remains quiet as she listens to it all, watching how people react and what they're saying. So far, the diplomat seemed to be from a High Magic realm, especially if they're willing to trade so many people. Upwards of fifty combat mages? That's a rather powerful group coming from a High Magic area. And that made her cautious.
All this talk of trade, of giving Inside things, but in return for what?
"You're wanting to establish trade, but what are you trading for?" Vasquez asks after a moment before looking at Cessie, seeing the recognition in her face and voice. "Do you know of them?"
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Magtok raises an eyebrow at Cessie. Slaves? When did anyone mention slaves? Those two ladies are clearly just...I dunno, paid underlings or escorts or something. Equally influential messengers who just happen to dress like whores. Or maybe this guy's just not very classy, and these are ordinary prostitutes. A pair of girls with really weird, stupid hair either way, but it's still silly to just assume they're slaves because they have terrible taste in hairstyle!
The mention of adamantium is certainly thought-provoking, though. Maggy immediately starts to let his mind wander, considering all the wacky uses he could find for the stuff. Maybe kidnap a wolverine and then see what happens if he replaces its skeleton and dresses it up in yellow and blue spandex. Or build a mecha suit thing out of it, and then stand outside Warwick's workshop playing really awful 80s pop music until the guy pays Magtok to go away. Or maybe bullets! Adamantium bullets could be fun! He heard somewhere that if you shoot someone in the head with one of those, all of their memory goes away!
...Or maybe it was all of their head going away if shot with the bullet. He forgot which one it was. But that's what experimenting in the MagCave is for, right? Weee, adamantium!
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It seems that all that was good has died
Oh, no. The world is a scary place
Now that you've woken up the demon in me."
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Last edited by Lord Magtok : 08-14-2011 at 08:32 PM.
Someone else is in the room, next to Delisle. The man is easily recognizable, in his rather distinctive old formal uniform.
He raises an eyebrow at Cessie, glancing at Vasquez as he speaks. "It's curious that you bring up slavery so suddenly. I second both of Ms. Vasquez's questions, and confirm that slavery has been illegal in this city for quite a long time. While I am a simple advisor here and thus unable to control it myself, I seriously doubt this will ever change."
Vyrn's expression is neutral and does not convey his own feelings about the subject at hand, nor those on his role here.
Inwardly, though, he's awfully suspicious of the Ascaerin diplomat, probably owing to his own paranoia. He's also rather pleased at getting to be part of something like this again, but at the same time irritated-he's not even a full Councilor, he's here simply to contribute to discussions and advise, given his experience as Emperor.
He's also curious as to how the others (particularly Gordon) will react to his presence.
Quietly, he also begins using his rarely-used empathic abilities to try to pick up on any strong emotions from Evrain. He's not trying to read his mind-he's only capable of picking up on feelings, and even then, he's not trying to read him very closely. He's only looking for any particularly strong emotions that pop up.
Like, perhaps, a feeling of surprise at Cessie's outburst.
All the Ascaerins in the room look surprised by Cessie, and Vryn will be able to feel that it is genuine. Evrain will quickly regain his composure, though.
"As I stated earlier, we wish for learning mostly. Magical and technological advancements, that sort of thing. As the lovely tiefling stated, however, there is no set form of trade, evidently, so anything we would be willing to accept could be traded to us. It would be determined on a case by case basis what we would be willing to sell or buy. As for the... restriction on slavery, I ask that if an embassy is formed, the laws of the Empire be applied while on it." It appears he has mistaken grace's race.
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"I am a eudai, actually." Grace corrects gently. "Honestly, even if we were to accept an embassy as valid, due to the tendency of citizens to ah- self govern- I'm not sure how well received a differing set of laws would be. They might be liable to ignore them and act on their own opinions."
Dipsnig's ears fall back and his eyes narrow. A slave-owning human empire gaining a foothold in the Nexus? Not on his watch, dammit.
I agree with Miss Grace in that estabilishing trade laws is unnecessary. People are, and always have been, free to trade whatever they wanted. Except for slaves. If Cessie Mithar is right in that you deal in slaves, I have nothing more to say to you. The goblin snorts.
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"My husband Harnel happens to have been born in Ascaerin and he have informed me about their customs. I simply thought it would be important to point our differences traditions before we go any further so there won't be any misunderstandings. People here have a strong tradition against slavery and will with no doubt take to vigilantism to stop such a trade. Watchtower itself operates purely in a vigilantist fashion due the fact there are no true laws outside Inside, everything needs to be self governed. Therefore I'm sorry to say that I suspect that your laws won't be respected by the local inhabitants, it might be better to limit your trade to other things. Slavery is going to be very hard to invoke her and will most likely end in violence." Cessie explains.
Vyrn maintains his neutral expression throughout all this, including Gordon's question as to why he's here. "I can confirm Mrs. Mithar's statements regarding slavery. Even if the city's laws against it were repealed, which is extremely unlikely in and of itself, vigilante activity would almost certainly cripple the slave trade."
He does not answer Gordon, as he already stated why he's here, and Gordon's referring to him in the third person means he's not asking him anyway. Or, at least that's what Vyrn will use to justify it if someone calls him on it.
Besides, who would take his word for it?
That said, someone should probably tell the advisor to stop trying to piss off the AMENite councilor.
"Very well then," Evrain says, "In that case, Each of you represents one of the powers here in the Nexus, correct? In that case you would still be the people I wish to speak to regarding trade into and out of the city. Due to the... nature of your cities laws, we will build our embassy to the west of the city. if anybody wishes, come see us and we can determine what we wish to do."
Unless someone steps in to stop him, Evrain will move back towards the door, intending to leave the building. once out in the street, he'll cast a spell which will open the portal to Ascaerin once more.
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Grace gives a sigh as the ambassador leaves the room, and then glances around at the others. "While we're all here perhaps we should discuss the aftermath of the recent far realm 'invasion,' for lack of a better word. In particular, the death of our fellow council member needs to be addressed, partly in terms of whether or not she should be replaced, and whether we should make a concerted effort to revive her in an official capacity."
Cessie won't stop the ambassador either. "Yes, I learned about that as soon as I returned. I'm... saddened to hear about Zee's death, I meet her a number of times and it's hard to imagine she's gone. From what I have heard though she isn't really dead. Though I can be mistaken, I have missed a lot after all. Don't worry about filling me in though, I can do that myself. For now I just hope that she will be okay. If she won't however, do we really need a replacement?"
"Zee was here not because of her battlefield capabilities. She didn't have a corporation, company of warriors, or even a chapel to her name, and even if she had, it wouldn't have been the reason why she was chosen to sit in this hall of self-important good-for-nothings, either. She was here because the people adored her. The patrons of Trog's loved the way she would take your order, and then give you your drink ten seconds before you'd asked for it. The citizens in Red Zone cherished her every charitable act made to ease the burden of their existence.
She was Zombie Raptor Jesus crossed with Robot Mother Theresa, but without the lust for brains. She called me a villain, and assured me at every opportunity she would do everything she could to stop me, if a situation where I'd be endangering others would ever arise. It never did, barring one incident outside the Nexus, because I just couldn't stomach the idea of looking into her knowing eyes if I ever committed such wanton slaughter again. I can say without exaggeration that I would very much like to find the cause of her death. Should it prove mortal, I would happily lock it in a dark room, tie it to a chair, beat it within an inch of its life before kicking it back out into the streets to simply live with the guilt of knowing that it had extinguished one of the few bright, gleaming candles in our otherwise dark, depressing void of a world.
That's not even remotely relevant to the present discussion, though. While I'm all for every effort in our capacity to bring her back, within reason of course, I'm afraid I don't think her seat should, or even could be filled by another."
He nods politely towards the deposed Emperor. While theoretically he could see the guy getting a seat on the Council, even possibly maybe approve of such a thing, he'd rather floss with barbed wire than see the prince get Zee's old spot.
"With all due respect to your ambitions and capabilities of course, Mister Vyrn."
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"I can see inside you, the sickness is rising,
It seems that all that was good has died
Oh, no. The world is a scary place
Now that you've woken up the demon in me."
"You are sometimes too kind Magtok. Zee is my friend, and when I find out what force was behind this injury to her, they will see what AMEN can do. Besides, on a less personal note, encouraging people not to see councilers as targets would be quite advisable."
Gordon takes a breath and tries to calm down. He doesn't like when his friends get badly hurt.
"As for looking for a replacement, since Zee should be with us again some time in the future, finding a replacement would be a bit hasty to my mind."
"Now, Magtok, let's not get hasty. I never suggested that." Vyrn's tone indicates surprise, and it sounds quite genuine. The fact is that it's not, however.
He's a politician. He lies. He's good at faking these things.
"Onto the subject at hand. I did not know Zee very well personally, and perhaps thanks to this perspective I suspect that someone drew the wrong conclusion. Her presence in that state had caused damage to the city already, and someone less informed of the situation-such as someone newer to the Nexus, perhaps-might not be aware of who she was. For instance, if I, with no prior knowledge of who or what she was or what side she was really on, had to make a decision, I might have done it myself. An independent, unaware party making the decision themselves fits with the high incidence of vigilante activity. I suggest that the Council should refrain from any rash decisions on the matter." Huh. It seems Vyrn is actually being something of a voice of reason, though his detachment from the matter might just anger Magtok and Gordon further.
He pointedly avoids the subject of replacing her on the Council.
Vasquez's heart sinks a bit at the change in topic, but she doesn't give away that she's the one responsible in any way, having perfected a poker face. She does however, look rather saddened by the topic. "Zee...when it had been The Empire, and not Remnant, I will admit that that there had been issues with her, including one instance when she was fully prepared to lead an uprising against Vyrn." She says. "However, that was one of the reasons I asked her here. She was a wonderful, charismatic face, and everyone loved her, including a great deal of my men and women."
Vasquez shakes her head. "We shouldn't replace her. Whatever we need to bring her back, I'll try to provide. Perhaps one of her children or her husband will know."
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Yes, I don't think replacing Zee will work. She was unique. Dipsnig shakes his head. As for who killed her... well, when the whole city is being attacked by terrohorrors from beyond reality, blowing up the head of the biggest one seems like a sensible thing to do.
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Grace seems a bit surprised by Vyrn's hypothesis, but says nothing to it, just letting it pass by before she picks up the conversation again. "It sounds like we have a decent consensus. For the moment, lets try and bring her back, and if anyone decides that it might be good to fill her seat or at least elect a different council member in the intervening time, they can bring it up when no success has been had at her revival.
"Given that Aurora has pretty much fallen through, I have a great deal of time on my hands, and what resources I do still possess should be adequate in at least investigating Zee's current state and how she might possibly be revived. If no one objects, I'll try and take over this task. If I need more specific assistance, I'll come to the rest of you for aid, though of course I won't refuse if you have the time and interest to actively assist."
Dipsnig drums his fingers on his chair. Once we've reached a conclusion about Zee, I have news about our favourite narcissistic clown, Phil. You might remember him as the guy who dropped a robot from orbit in the middle of the city.
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"To be fair Vas, being fully prepared to lead an uprising against Vyrn isn't exactly anything special. I can name more than a few people who'd have gladly done the same, if not more, had they her odd knack for respawning after death.
With that out of the way though, it sounds like we do, Dips. So what's the deal on everybody's favorite rebel without a clue?"
Magtok clasps his hands together, hoping against hope that the news is going to be "Riv and Phil murdered the hell out of each other, let's burn the bodies, and mix the ashes together in an underground cube tomb of solid concrete, and then give all their abandoned robot toys and weapons to Maggy for study and safe-keeping".
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"I can see inside you, the sickness is rising,
It seems that all that was good has died
Oh, no. The world is a scary place
Now that you've woken up the demon in me."
His name is Dipsnig, not Dips, goddammit. The goblin idly strokes Viima, who is lying at his feet. He's going to have her mess with Magtok again for shortening his name.
A bot of his came to do business with us. I can't go into details, of course, but Phil is engaged in another round of an escalated arms race with the former AMENite, Riv. Or was, since he's apparently dead.
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