___________Edena posted:
Liracia shakes her head:
She communicates in a whisper:
You must understand ... it must be an altruistic gift.
You are seeking a bargain ... a reasonable bargain ... I am not disputing your right to bargain ... but we can't.
We can't.
If we obtain the use of the Diadem through bargaining, it is useless to us.
We must have your faith.
We cannot bargain.
____________________
The God Emperor chuckles drily for a few seconds while studying her expression surreptituously [sence motive check?] if he doesn't sence that she's lying he sighs.
"You are asking that I surrender everything in exchange for a promise, but when I'm asking for a promise from you you decline. Understand the position I am in, a leader of an insignificant empire trying to protect the independence of his people from giants that could destroy us at a whim. I have to do everything in my power to build our nation to greatness, one misstep and we loose everything. All I wanted was a surety of our sovereignty.
Don't you realise that whatever agreements you make are bargains. You offer safety in exchange for faith- a bargain, an exchange of services. Even faith is never unconditional. Why do people worship Gods? Because the Gods offer them safety, fulfillment, salvation, power, or a million other services or because the Gods, by their very existance, offer hope. Bargains, if often informal and subcontious.
You have already made bargains. Surely there's no reason why you can not make another?"