The Game of Kings

[Galley]

After a while, the kobold enters the galley. However, it is markedly different. It now wears even finer clothes that seem to glimmer slightly, and seems more regal somehow. After pausing at the enterance---perhaps for show, perhaps to look around---it makes its way over to Doral.

In a low whisper, "We shall use the 'security' angle. The release of Gaardasci will improve Port Verge's security, and thus improve the stability of the region. This in turn will benefit profits. Only if the negotiations do not seem to work, shall we go with the 'your partner does not trust you enough' angle."
 

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Doral nods in agreement with Vhir and whispers, "It's your show now. If they ask, I am your man-servant and guard Doral Higgens. I am from a small, poor village of human refugees on the border of Darguun and Mournland. You've helped me with my common, but otherwise I am embarrassed by my lack of language skills and try not to speak to civilized men such as they. I will stand behind you and slightly to your left."
 

The kobold nods, and then make his way sedately over to the dwarves. Using his keen eye, he locates the one he thinks to be in charge and approaches him directly. With a slight bow---one made to a superior, but not *that* superior---the kobold begins.

"Master Dwarf, representative of Kundalark interests. I am Master Vhir, negotiator-at-large, currently in the service of the Princes of the Blacksurf Principality. I wish to discuss a matter that has repurcusions for the economic well-being of Port Verge and its surrounds, a matter I believe is of interest to you and your interests. May I begin?"

OOC: Sense Motive to try to determine who wields the power (hunch). Then Diplomacy check. As it is my understanding you do not want to me spell out all the discussion details IC, they are fairly well summed up in my preceding post: The release of Gaardasci will improve Port Verge's security, and thus improve the stability of the region. This in turn will benefit profits. The "Reward" is stablilizing the region for better trade possibilities, the "Risk" is by not assisting, the trade region will be poor. Vhir is wearing his glammerweave outfit for a +1 Dipolomacy modifier.
 

"Parlinor, what's that dwarf over there flavoring his coffee with? I've only seen people use cream and sugar, though Bim used to also like a bit of nutmeg in his." Carver asks.
 

DM
[sblock]
As the kobold distracts the dwarves, Doral casts Detect Thoughts. He'll concentrate on the dwarven leader through the entire conversation unless another dwarf seems to be in charge.
[/sblock]

Doral moves with the kobold, but stays behind him and to his left, arms to his sides, and head bowed in the manner of a servant. He stands, listens, and focuses.
 

Glasia enters the room and nods her hellos, sitting away from the others and eating in silence. She very deliberabtly avoids Dragen. Listening closely from across the room, she tries to catch the conversation the kobold is initiating with the dwarves. Casting a minor spell, she toys with her plate and silverware with an invisible hand, spinning the tableware in place idly once she finishes. Cloudchaser sits on her shoulder happily, letting out a squalk and shifting from side to side as he watches the spoon and knife with fascination.
 

Morika looks at the dwarves' fare with envy. Nothing was wrong with fruit, but a meal was never complete unless there was meat. She had debated going over there and helping herself, that is until Vhir decided to go play "Master of the World." Breakfast might just be entertaining after all!
 

Bront said:
"Parlinor, what's that dwarf over there flavoring his coffee with? I've only seen people use cream and sugar, though Bim used to also like a bit of nutmeg in his." Carver asks.
Click to expand...
"I don't know, Carver. Like you, I'm usually only seeing people flavor their coffee with cream and sugar, but perhaps the dwarves have found some new interesting way of spicing up coffee..." Then he grabs some bread and water and starts eating while keeping an eye out for Dragen. Even though he promised Glasia not to do anything about her unpleasant encounter with him, he still feels rather protective about the young wizard.
 

The most richly-dressed dwarf chews a mouthful of bread for a long moment, narrowing his eyes at the small reptilian addressing him. He swallows; his gaze shifts up towards Vhir's partner, and then he nods to the dwarf seated across from him. "We may speak outside," the head Kundarak official states in a deep voice. The two dwarves stand and proceed out the door and onto the windy open deck, the lesser-ranking one glancing at the three sailors working near the bow.

[sblock=Doral]Focusing his mind-reading spell on the two dwarves reveals that the leader has some degree of cleverness, but his unknown companion's intellect is the superior of the two--though the beguiler notes that neither possesses an intelligence to rival his own. Despite this, the leader's mind subconciously shuts out his attempts to read its surface thoughts. The other dwarf is not so willful.

The Blacksurf pirates? the dwarf wonders as they step outside. What brings them to hire kobolds? He don't look like a Blacksurf. Those clothes aren't from the Principalities...[/sblock]

Satisfied with the crew's distance, the well-dressed leader speaks again, standing tall and making sure the puny negotiator is aware of the difference in their heights and bulks. "I am Kinndareck. I represent the Banking Guild's Department of Expansion; my assistant from the Warding Guild is named Baranak. What buisness does the Blacksurf Principalty have with us?"

[sblock=OOC: On in-character discussion]If I gave the impression that I'd rather skim over conversations, that's not my intention. Dark and I are trying to avoid presumptions in dialogue; i.e. asking an NPC a question and assuming a satisfactory answer will be given, and putting a follow-up question in the same post. It's rather like posting assuming that a character will hit his enemy in combat, and writing that "So-and-so bashes the goblin's forehead with his mace, spraying blood across the dry ground," rather than "So-and-so strikes at the goblin with his mace, swinging for the head."[/sblock]
 

Ringmereth said:
Satisfied with the crew's distance, the well-dressed leader speaks again, standing tall and making sure the puny negotiator is aware of the difference in their heights and bulks. "I am Kinndareck. I represent the Banking Guild's Department of Expansion; my assistant from the Warding Guild is named Baranak. What buisness does the Blacksurf Principalty have with us?"
Click to expand...

"The Principality has hired me as an intermediary---I am an independent negotiator of some skill, and neutral in these proceedings. As I stated, it is a matter of the area's security. Blacksurf and the Direshark Principalities have not been on the best terms, but the Direshark's most recent actions threaten to draw out this so far slight skirmishes into a potentially distasterous full conflict. A conflict, I may add, that would distrupt the potential for stable trade in the region, and thus upset your interests in expanding in this region."

The kobold places folds his hands on his walking staff and looks directly at the dwarf. "To be direct, which I assume you can appreciate, we ask for your assistance in suggesting to the Prince of Port Verge to release Gaardasci of the Blacksurf. In turn, I have under a certain understanding that such an act will facilitate a positive change in relationship between the two Principalities. However, it is my understanding that a lack of Master Gaardasci's freedom would result in serious distruption in trade in the region---something no one wants. While I am here to discuss the Prince's terms with Port Verge's representatives, an assistance on your part would benefit many parties---including those of House Kundalark."

With that, the kobold keeps is intense gaze on the Dwarf.

OOC: Bluff checks and building up to a Diplomacy check as necissary.
 

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