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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Cerebral Paladin" data-source="post: 3004602" data-attributes="member: 3448">The current Lord of the Exchequer provided Mahler with a convenient introduction to the Count of Gateways.  "Your excellence," the elderly treasurer said, "you should meet Mahler Fife.  He will be taking my place, when I finish my duties for Amelia.  You understand that I've only agreed to help ensure a smooth transition.  Soon, Mahler will deal with all of the trade matters you have hitherto discussed with me.  He's a fine young man, and very able."Lord Grushak Nosepuller, Count of Gateways, looked appraisingly at Mahler.  "He seems like he'll do well enough, as long as he's not just a gutless accountant.  But then, that's what I thought of you when we first met, and you showed spine enough." He gave the old Exchequer a warm smile and did not notice if the smile he got in return was a tad stiff.  "So, tell me lad-- what would you like to know about?""How have things been in Gateways?  Anything unusual to report?""Nothing terribly unusual.  We did meet a pack of skaven on the way to the capital; can't imagine what they were doing around here.  We destroyed them, of course.  My guards could use the practice, and I didn't mind the exercise!  Other than that... back home, things go as well as usual.  We do very well in the trade.""And things are peaceful among the merchant houses?"A snort.  "As peaceful as usual.  Yes, I'd say things are pretty well settled.  The houses are currently getting along, and we haven't had any recent problems with threats from outside.""Which house would you say has the most power currently?""Most power?  That's an interesting question...  Most people would ask which is the richest.  I'd say that the most powerful would be Goldglimmer-- there one of the dwarven houses, you know.  But the richest would be Blowingsnoz.""With a name like that, they can only be a gnomish house."The Count smiled.  "A good head on his shoulder, this one.  Any other things I can help with?""Oh, just a small matter.  Did Lord Davion Aufaugauthala'rim accompany you to Canberry City?" Lord Davion had the dubious distinction of being the only Noldar living openly in the Archduchy.  A renegade from his people, Lord Davion lived within the City of Gateways, where he served as the General of the Count's Field Army.  Mahler had previously spoken with his friends about getting Lord Davion's opinion on some of the Noldar machinations."Sure as lightfungus glows."The old Exchequer added, "That's one of his excellence's charming Underdark colloquialisms.  He means yes.""I got that, thank you.  Any thoughts on where I might meet up with him?  I should like to have a word or to with him as well.""He's out at a tavern, drinking the water that passes for liquor up here, if you'll pardon my saying so.  I think he favors the Griffin's Golden Hind."After a few more minutes of conversation, Mahler excused himself and headed out into the City, to pay a visit at the Griffin's Golden Hind.The Griffin's Golden Hind was a posh wine bar in an enormously wealthy section of the capital city.  As Mahler walked towards the door, a large black insect outside held out one of its forelegs.  "Sir!  No weapons longer than a handspan are permitted inside."Mahler smiled.  "Longer than whose handspan?"The insect startled for a moment.  "I... I do not know.  Wait here." It quickly returned with a small book of rules.  "It says no longer than the handspan of the patron in question."Mahler considered pushing the point, but then simply surrendered his rapier and passed into the tavern.  He quickly reached Lord Davion's table."Lord Davion?  May I join you for a drink.""Certainly.  I am afraid I do not know your name.""I am Mahler.  I know of you from the City of Gateways; I am from Gateways myself.""Ah, are you?  Welcome then.  While Gateways is my home by choice, not birth, I am always happy to meet a fellow from my city.""And it's an honor to meet one such as yourself, Lord Davion."  The Noldar simply nodded, taking that praise as merely his due.  "I am a counselor to the Archduke, and hoped you would be able to provide us with some insight into the plans of the Noldar.  If you would not object, I would be curious on your perspective on the conflict between Regions 6 and 9 of the Zorplona-Aragoni.  Do you think that it could rise to open warfare?""There is much distrust there.  Under ordinary times, House Moriquendarim would not tolerate any possibility of it rising to open conflict-- the House itself would intervene to settle any disputes.  But the House cannot do so now, and probably will be unable to for a score of years or so." Lord Davion took a drink of wine.  "You must understand, there's a succession struggle within the City of the Sickle Moon.  The eldest lord passed, which doesn't mean the same thing among my people as it does among yours, but he passed sixteen months ago without a clear successor.  Now, the uncle of the Controller of Region 9 and the father of the Controller of Region 6 both make claims on the lordship.  Both controllers are now young; the Controller of Region 9 replaced her uncle, to allow his bid, the Controller of Region 6 was appointed by his father to set up his bid years earlier.  They are left to something of their own devices, but they dare not waste resources that their elders could use to press their claims for mastery within the House.  The Controller of Region 9 is an innovator, a geneticist uninterested in slavery.  The Controller of Region 6 is a traditionalist, who views giving up slavery as unthinkable...  I find it hard to come up with anything that you would view as unthinkable in the same way as he views giving up slavery.   It is perhaps akin to your Lord Alistair giving his throne to a dog-- a literal dog.  And so, he views her as a traitor to the ways of his House-- much as many would view me-- while she views him as a relic of an older time.""We have heard some rumors that he may be mustering an attack on the Forest of Singing Leaves.  He has definitely sought to kill Lord Alistair in an effort to weaken the Forest's allies."Lord Davion shook his head slightly.  "He would never be permitted to attempt to overthrow the Forest of Singing Leaves if the House were in full control.  Why, you might ask, given the hatred his people have for the Eldar?  Because it wastes resources that could be used ultimately in the struggle against the Elder Wood.  All of the more senior members of all the Houses know that the ultimate struggle will be between the Empire of Krashmere, and its Noldar, and the Elder Wood that holds most of the remaining Eldar and their strongest children.  Anything that dissipates Noldar power elsewhere would be recognized as foolishness.  But the House is not in full control, and were he to win a great victory against the Eldar, it could shift the succession in his father's favor.""We know he has some allies among the Noldar.""He's relying on his cousins.  Were he to marry a Noldar, he could also rely on her power, but he has been singularly unable to find a match; most of the young are less fanatic than he.  And so he is left depending on two of his female cousins for support.  And they idolize him.  Their upbringing... displeased me.  I thought about intervening, but it would not be my place.  They are not of my House... and I left my House behind when I chose to marry a mortal and become a renegade.  I have no regrets-- any sacrifice would be worth it for my wife.  But I cannot interfere with them now.""With the end of slaving in Region 9, and Region 6 curtailing its slaving among the refugees because of the Archduchy's involvement... the supply of slaves must be tighter.  Surely there are others who wish to fill the void?""Slaves are much scarcer, and prices are rising in response.  Goldorim is particularly hurting for slaves; each step has become much more expensive, from the initial capture to their hands.""Do you think that Region 6 wishes to profit from this?""Wishes to, certainly, but it has little ability to.  He doesn't have that many slavers, and it takes hundreds of years to train a good slaver.  They must not damage the merchandise, must delouse and deworm them.  All over the world, the opportunities for slaving have become more difficult.  There is little slaving on Zest'Qua since the fall of Caldefor.  Regions 7 and 8 have little opportunity, with only the orcs and the barbarians to hunt among.  There was little ever on Khamista, besides picking over the ruins of Pardun.  And in Region 6, Hanal and Masque's expansion cuts down on their opportunities.  The days when the Noldar could make themselves rich from slaving are waning, and the Controller of Region 9 is wise to be shifting her focus.  For the Regions that continue to focus on the slave trade, not more than two centuries are left for the Zorplona-Aragoni.""I thank you for your information; Lord Alistair will appreciate it greatly.  We are fortunate that you have chosen to make your home with us."Lord Davion nodded and continued with his drink.  After a moment, he stared intently at Mahler.  "I have found the past half-century among your people more rewarding than the millenia before that among my own people, and, as I said, I do not regret my choice.  And yet... I do not understand how you could stand the sorrow.  I'm watching my wife fade... and we've only had a brief 40 years.  I have half-human children, and they age before my eyes."Nothing Mahler said could comfort Lord Davion.</blockquote>

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