Ties that Bind - Silverymoon - Chapter 1 "Diplomats?"

[gabrion]

The High Mage actually begins to chuckle at the first two responses, revealing a lighter side of his attitude. He is thankful that Jonas is still willing to help, but he turns to all of them to give an explanation.

"Haha...Oh my...I can see that you two won't be hoodwinked into anything. Once again, I can't deny that such skepticism is warranted. I've no real choice in the matter, so I'll just tell you what I need and well see what you think from there.

King Harbromm of Citadel Adbar departed from a council meeting two months past in an angry mood, presumably cutting ties with the League of Silver Marches. Since that time he has refused any trade with Silverymoon and even some of the other northern cities. The problem we now face is one the confederation brought upon itself, for once Citadel Adbar joined us and became our primary source of equipment and building materials, we ended many preexisting trade agreements-trade agreements that we have not be successful in recovering since Citadel Adbar left us.

To make matters worse, Citadel Adbar was supplying many of the troops who made patrols in the eastern part of the Silver Marches and these troops have now vacated the area, leaving the duty to poorly supplied men and women of Silverymoon, Sundabar, and Citadel Felbar. Travel has become dangerous and merchants hardly dare to move goods across the land at this point as many of our old foes have sensed our weakness and decided to rear their heads. Orcs, Giants, Drow, and bandits are just a few of the problems we face.

To summarize, the confederation became too dependent on Citadel Adbar and the withdrawal of their support has left us in a hard situation. I, along with some others, believe that the best immediate solution is to bring Citadel Adbar back into the confederation. If you agree, I would send you to Citadel Adbar to convince Harbromm that his interests are best suited by returning to the confederation. Harbromm is willing to accept a delegation from Silverymoon, but being the stubborn and controlling dwarf he is, he demands that such a delegation travel from Silverymoon to Citadel Adbar in a traditional manner. Such a trip will be more than dangerous in these times, which is why I've gathered you here. If you are willing, I would send the three of you to the Citadel to undertake this task."

Upon finishing his monlogue, Taern Hornblade looks at each of you very intently, clearly not only awaiting a response, but also trying to judge your reaction to his request.

 

[Rystil Arden]

"I don't see why you have to force him to rejoin your confederation if he doesn't want to, although admittedly, he is being silly to restrict trade--that hurts his people as well as everyone else, as trade to nearer locations that need your goods is cheap and profittable. I would be willing to go ask him to lower restrictions on trade with you again, but I don't agree that he should be forced to join a group in which his people wish no part...that is, unless they'd rather be in the alliance. Is it just the leader, or do the dwarves want to stay out too?"

 

[gabrion]

Turning toward Cassandra he replies,

"I don't expect you to force him into the agreement. I'm asking you to go there and try to convince him. It's a simple fact that all of the north was worse off before the League of Silver Marches was formed and now that Harbromm has left, everyone in the north has been hurt by it-including his own people. I don't know how his people feel about this, though I would guess that loyalty to Harbromm will override reason, but you can judge for yourself when you get there if you accept the job."

OOC Rystil:[sblock]What region is your knowledge local for?[/sblock]

 

[Rystil Arden]

"Well...when I make my move to convince someone of something, it bears striking resemblance to forcing...so..."

"As to walking there: that's just silly. Why would he have a problem with Teleporting? I suppose if you must maintain decorum, you should send look-alikes along walking while the real delegates teleport in."

 

[Shayuri]

Jonas laughs in spite of himself and says to Cassandra, "At the risk of offending, for someone so distrusting of wizards, you certainly do -think- like a wizard sometimes! Expending all that energy and effort to teleport and use lookalikes when simply walking would be far more efficient...and pleasant, I might add." He subsides to a chuckle and waves a hand airily.

"Sunlight shining through the green of a forest canopy. The gentle rippling of a mountain stream. The silver gleam of moonshine off the glaives of an advancing orc vanguard..." He sighs and leans his head to one side.

"Anyway, one good rule of the honey-tonged diplomat is this. Give where it doesn't hurt. A brisk walk to Adbar won't kill us...and it will win us goodwill we can use later in negotiations. So! What say you two?"

 

[Rystil Arden]

"Well, if the roads are unsafe, then we aren't giving where it doesn't hurt...Is there any reason to senselessly risk our lives? If I decide to come along and there is an attack, then there's no reason not to quickly teleport away rather than fight...Unless someone on one of the two ends is trying to trick us into fighting something that they know is there on the road and they aren't telling..."

 

[Shayuri]

"And I thought I was paranoid," Jonas quips. He looks at the shadowy wizard.

"What of you? What concerns do you have about all this?"

 

[Rystil Arden]

"And I thought I was paranoid,"

"All things have a reason, and what other reason could there be for such a ridiculous request?"

 

[Shayuri]

Jonas shrugs. "I'm inclined to believe our potential employer. Dwarves are notorious for their love of tradition...and more telling is this. This dwarf doesn't WANT to negotiate. He's intentionally setting up barriers, to try to make sure no one will want to follow them. Then, if we cheat, he has an excuse not to listen to us. Convenient, no? But encouraging perhaps. It may be that he's so intent on keeping us away because he knows if we DO get to him, there will be compelling reasons for him to do as we ask."

 

[Rystil Arden]

"Tradition for the sake of tradition is preposterous. That is how a culture grows stagnant and dies, when people become unable to question something foolish just because it is called 'tradition' and someone did it before. It is also entirely arbitrary to call something as silly and trivial as walking a tradition. At that point, you can call it a tradition to sleep and then say that an elf has ruined your traditions by virtue of not sleeping and can't be the ambassador."

"Besides, I'm not as willing to dismiss the possibility of foul play on the part of people of authority--I have discovered that authority figures resent people like us, people who are talented but outside of their circle of control...They will throw us to our deaths with no remorse if it is to their advantage and consider it an added bonus if it eliminates the free radical in the process...Care to take a bet as to whether you will be assaulted on the road if you agree to this foolishness?"