The Four Lands - The Colony

[Leif]

Hennett, Gestalt Ranger/Druid

Hennett's THOUGHTS: The "Lords" having behaved so petulantly when they didn't get their way and stormed out of the room like spoiled children, Hennett is left feeling somewhat relieved by this development. Now there was nothing left here for him, nothing to keep him from his beloved forests and wild country. This thought caused joy to spring forth once again within his heart, and he was relieved that he would not be troubled further by the tedious woes of civilization that would surely beset the colony.

Hennett's WORDS: "No, Sirs, I wish not remain at the hotel, but I assure you that I will breathe no word of this to any. I really have an urgent need to return to my homeland at once. At least please allow me this? I am truly sorry that I have wasted your time and I am willing to make arrangements to repay you for the losses attributable to me."

OOC: If permitted, Hennett will exit the room, the building, and the campaign. He was never a good fit for this game anyway, JA. If I had known what sort of campaign you intended for this to be I would have made a very different character.

 

[Maidhc O Casain]

Pandak - In Flashback

Pandak gazes in shock at the backs of his departing fellows. Once they are exited, and in the wake of Ederin's foray into negotiatory waters, he speaks up.

"My lords, please pardon the hasty words of my colleagues. Each party here is unfamiliar with the other, and so trust is difficult. If I may speak freely, this trust became more difficult on our part when we were openly attacked in the city - our first time out of protective custody and escorted by one of your people - and then had to flee and hide because we would be blamed for the attack simply because of our race or religion. And our 'escort' was nowhere to be seen. Please try to understand how this looks from our position, and the implication we can find in this incident given the knowledge currently in our possession . . .

You, I assume, are risking much in the way of monies and prestige. Of course you don't wish the colony to fail - else why even begin this venture? However, money and prestige can be regained, and so it seems that your interest is the welfare of the colony and not the welfare of any individual colonist. We also do not wish the colony to fail - we risk our very lives on this venture, and are making ourselves responsible for the lives of everyone in the colony as well. We must look out for their individual welfare as well as for the welfare of the colony, and I take that responsibility seriously.

I am a diplomat - and sometimes not a good one - but not a businessman, so I may be missing something. But it appears to me that the conditions as laid out provide for the protection of the investors and their monies, but do little to ensure protection for the colonists - in fact if abused these conditions have the potential to make us virtual slaves.

None of us, I think, entered this venture solely for the purpose of personal gain - though the potential is there. For myself, my goal has always been the improvement of relations between Dwarves and Men, greater understanding of the forces that drive us and the acknowledgement that we may share this world. A colony where we are allowed to openly be ourselves - our race, our religion - and show that we can live in harmony seems a perfect opportunity.

It seems to me that rather than restrictions such as the ones you've proposed we could put our heads together and come up with some conditions that give incentive for all parties involved to continue the partnerships and work together. My belief is that as long as all parties benefit more from continued cooperation than they would from breaking the partnership rebellion is not a likely scenario."

 

[Neurotic]

Randal Lucius Stormweaver

OOC: As the old saying goes, when you are in the hole stop digging.


In the meantime in the other room:

"Master Randal yes it was stated that the time table may have to be accelerated...but nothing was concrete...

OOC: I'll look this up. I am quite sure I read in one post that we sail in three days...

"You say you do not deal with nobilty etc on a regular basis yet your actions in chamber have suggested you are too passionate..you will be charged in dealing with unknown peoples and perhaps kingdoms as representative of the colony...do you propose to react the same way in each unknown situation?

Of course not, far from it. It is simply that most people both human and not don't react so forcefuly on some perceived insult. Especialy not in negotiations. And in that action they state exactly opposite of what they say since they copied exactly my behaviour. Why would you think that we won't do our own testing as opportunity arises? I'd want to know how far can I go before discussing things, unforunately we didn't have time to prepare so testing had to happen during the talks. It seems I pushed too hard and I am willing to apologize for it. I made a mistake, it happens.

"
As to the rebellion their graces knew you would always try..they just did not know when...that is the nature of power politics Master Randal to know that your opponet will attempt something then move to counter it...
...

This is the thinking that CAUSES the rebellions. I personaly would accept the taxes and return the loans within my lifetime and would be content to know that my children would be free of it's burden. I believe most or all of us would. But limitations imposed as safety measures increase the pressure dramaticaly and so called counter moves cause resentment that lead to rebellion. It is natural that men strive for more and those already powerful covet more power. Unfortunately, it seems that those same men think they'll be more powerful if their subjects are weak.

You chose education as a means of creating eventual discontent with the 5 using the issue of foreign domination and taxes most likely something their graces were content to let happen as the colony must have an above average educated population if it is to survive and grow strong so far for it's center of support.

I chose education as means of bettering the society and helping colony. Not as means of sawing discontent. It would lead to violence and my life is focused on avoiding or minimizing it whenever possible. I didn't become known as warlord, but as historian and diplomat. And I believe you know all this. So, either you are now goading me or your master has wrongly analyzed facts. As I assume you information is thorough, I choose not to defend myself from such accusations.

I ask you, no, I beseech you to try and smooth things out.



Diplomacy roll with Lord Archer (1d20+28=32)

OOC: this definitely isn't my day At least it isn't natural one...

 

[J. Alexander]

Flahsback for Pandak
Listening to the dward the young lord comments "Your thoughts are most well resaoned Master Pandak very well reasoned. I will advance them towards the other members within the hour after they have had some time to drink and cool down...in their anger they may forget the longterm objective and this will perhaps help them move on....I do no pretend to be an economist but I do not think they would allow conditions to stand that were proving determential to the colony...should the condition become that much of a burden I would imagine that given evidence of such and another course of action they would agree in time to a change....as most of the time they are very reasonable if apporached correctly...And hou are right about the attacks they came at a most unfortunate time..His grace is most upset and is in the process of settling the matter..but can do nothing about the church at this point due to the use of magic..it is all all highly charged and political especially with a new hound in place trying to make a name for himself. And you have hit upon the desire of their graces a colony where religion is not so dominate and other areas of magical thought can be researched.....their fear is great that the D'shai are preparing a arcane war with the monies they are amassing......As I have said I will do what i can.....

Randal
"O I will indeed master Randal..my future in now firmly linked with the colony..so my own greed will make me become and advocate of sorts for you"


OCC:Sure Leif, if that is what you wish.....were almost thru the woods here and off to the colony but always another game..feel free to stage Hennet exit if you wish...

OCC: there is always going to be a heavy politcial aspect to this game and a lot of interactions and meetings with various peoples tribes and creatures....but once thru this cycle your energies are going to be focused on actually getting to the colony...laying out he city building and exploring so if you can just grit your teeth a little and hopefully by next week we will be off on the ships...where i plan to have a savage mermaid queen take you hostage and use you in wicked ways ....

OCC:YES I know it is a frustarting right now some of it was indeed to create some strain bewteen the council and the party for future adventures etc and in several respects invisible castle just hated you guys as there was a series of very very bad reaction rolls two in fact being natural ones....

 

[Scotley]

Alvar shakes his head in frustration. Seeing he will get no answer to his attempts to negotiate and clairfy the points made he rises and listens to Randal, Ederin and Pandak. "My friends have made well reasoned statements. I make no excuses for the others. You hired not only diplomats, but men of the wild and men of passion. I expect nothing less than we have seen of them here today from them. I am a man of the sword. From that I have learned that sometimes it is necessary to parry, sometimes to attack, and sometimes to give ground to get what you want. You have chosen a sharp thrust to the heart in response to insult today as I have done many times myself. But as I have grown older and wiser I have learned that such rash strokes do not always solve my problems. You still have time to turn your sword. I hope you will reconsider. As for me, I have commited to this enterprise and I have no need of additional time to consider, but I will rejoin the others while they debate. I hope you'll use the time to reconsider your own actions."

OOC: Diplomacy (1d20+14=19)

 

[Scotley]

Alvar

Joining the others, Alvar takes a tumbler of burbon. "Bad business indeed. I hope we've not lost too much here. I have already commited too much to this enterprise to be able to back out now."

 

[Nightbreeze]

In the flashback:

I think that the bad impression that my friends left shall not be looked at too critically. As the actors before entering on stage behave not in their exact roles, and are more relaxed and familiar on each other, so they thought that they were speaking with, if not friends, allies. Thus they allowed them to be more free with their thoughts and words. I am most certain that in foreign territory, in front of complete strangers, they will be far more wise and careful.

He then turns to the others and waves the papers This here says that the natives of that continent are not as weak as we thought them to be. Three zones settled by the D'shai have been completely wiped out, to the last man. It is a thought-provoking news and may be a source of both threats and opportunities. We may have a strong ally or another enemy. We may also have to put diplomatic relationship before economic interests, in view of long term benefices.

ooc:lick-lick-lick

 

[Scotley]

Alvar

"Interesting news indeed. I wonder how the Empire will react? Will they send greater military forces or put more effort into seeing our own Colony fail?"

 

[J. Alexander]

"We know that the D'shai have not penetrated any further than 200 miles along the 500 miles of coast they have claimed..something must be preventing them that our strike teams have yet to uncover" viscount archer adds

 

[Scotley]

Alvar

"Very interesting. It seems there are challenges yet to be imagined on the interior of the continent. Tell me honestly Lord Archer, have you no agent in the Empire placed highly enough to get reports on what they've been facing? We really should try to infiltrate their lines of communication somehow."