• Closed • Clearly as Crystal, Darker than Onyx

[Woe]

Clearly as Crystal, Darker than Onyx

Egilrun existed on the blade's edge of oblivion. Going back as far as the time when Slag's Deep had defined it's destiny, the wealth flowing from that once prison mine, gems gathered by miscreants and misfits, monsters and malcontents for the edification of the Warden, it'd been nothing more than a door stop for that facility. A filthy flow running upstream of the depths of Slag's Deep. There was a vitality to it, no doubt, and in time it came to be known as a important trade hub, and center of the Glass Trade.

Woe wasn't entirely sure how that change had occurred, only that Liza had something to do with it, and Chamadarst.

He wanted to know more, but despite Chamadarst's vaunted clarity in all things, his motives remained as opaque as the darkest onyx nel. He didn't know what Chamadarst might want in exchange for the information that Woe sought. Or if Chamadarst even wished to part with it. He only knew what he had to offer. And that was mainly the wealth that he could generate, and the labors of his own mind. And the fact that he had no shortage of time to enact his will.

Woe could be patient.

Even so, in his experience, nothing cut so close to the bones of the truth as a sense of urgency. He could only wallow away in the waters of rumination so long before he got lost in its morass. He needed to talk with Chamadarst, and make plans, and possibly even a deal.

Woe stacked four nels in front of himself, on his desk. A well-appointed chair sat opposite him, unoccupied. Each of the nels in front of him represented a different denomination. In each their turn, he made them glass. He wondered if Chamadarst frowned upon such trifling displays of ritual. But then, what was a handshake? Or the nod of a head? Or the signing of a document if not that? This was a gesture that Chamadarst would understand, that his Exalted wanted to make a deal.

The place set for his patron, Woe waited. "Egilrun has been protected, time after time. I want to make an acquisition now, for the temple I wish to have built here. A temple where all of the Immortals are given their due, especially the ones that are balked at or acknowledged only as if to placate. A place where deals can be made with these Immortals, both small and large. Bargains to be struck, and tasks to be carried out."

Woe didn't want to waste Chamadarst's time, so he made clear what he wanted from the outset. He wasn't about to let Chamadarst waste his breath in the asking.

[Pegasus]

It was between breaths that he was there.

It wasn't that he appeared, exactly, it was just that one moment he was not there and the next moment he always had been. Sitting, comfortable and relaxed in the chair and looking at Woe with a dispassionate gaze. "My Champion," he said by way of greeting. There was no pride in his voice, nor did a smile flicker on his face. But then, if Woe didn't know Chamadarst well by now, then he wouldn't ever know him. The Immortal of Commerce's glance flickered down to the glass coins ~ an acknowledgement of their existence and again, the only reaction he would get.

And as Woe spoke, his patron Immortal did what, arguably, he did best. He listened. Woe's plans were clear and well laid out - there was no extraneous fluff or chatter and Chamadarst considered it for a few trill.

"There is merit in your idea," he said. High praise from the Lord of Coin. However, there were issues to be laid out before Woe and thus, he asked his first question. "How can a place where one is given precedence or focus over another ever attain or maintain true neutrality of vision?" Neutrality was a necessity as far as Chamadarst was concerned but how Woe would ensure it would be up to him. The Immortal offered no suggestions and had no interest in ironing out the details. He merely spoke his requirements and left it there. It was on the second point that he had more interest, though, and there he did question further, more deeply.

"Bargain and deals. A place of commerce." That he approved was without doubt, although he did not show it. However, he had queries here. "What about deals between mortals?" He was sure that would be dealt with too, but it was prudent to consider it. "And how will this work in terms of profit for the house and incentive for the Immortals or mortals involved?"

Of course, there would be offerings to him from this, he had no doubt. But that was a matter for Woe to decide and, if it was appropriate in amount and scope, for him to accept. All in all, it made perfect sense to him as a venture, but he needed to know Woe's considerations on it and just how deep and considered his plans were.

Once there was an answer, he had something to discuss with his Champion. "I would propose it has a room with no door. A neutral ground where the Immortals can meet and invite in mortals, if it is appropriate. I would welcome your thoughts."

He sat back, steepling his fingers together as he watched Woe with apparent disinterest. Of course, the fact that he watched him at all spoke volumes, but those who had eyes to see, saw what they were able to comprehend.

Ever had it been thus.

[Woe]

Woe wasn't all that surprised or shocked to find Chamadarst there when he requested a meeting. His mannerisms and conduct was as expected, neutral and to the point, factual and clear. That much Woe expected. And his concerns were equally as predictable. Woe knew there were quirks and kinks in his plan that he still needed sorting out. And he'd long since abandoned the idea of holding the 'Rogue' Immortals in higher esteem for his Custom's House. Chamadarst's points were well taken.

"I agree," Woe said, of the rogue immortals being given precedence. "Without regard for individual personality, any domain can be turned to harm or destruction. So we might as well include every Immortal among the rogue's gallery in Idalos." Woe stated his point, more clearly this time. He hoped his meaning was clear anyway. "If harm in the wake of a journey can be bartered away, for a service, or treasure, or any form of deal, then then that is good."

"Mortals would make deals on behalf of themselves, and in the interest of the entities they hold to, whether they be Immortal, Induk, Ancestor, or Dragon. It's compulsory that they attempt to make the best deals they can. If they can't, then the Entity will send a better Emmisary next time."

"I have to admit I'm not well versed in the needs of Immortals. Do they require devotion, or acknowledgement? I've always been led to think so, but then given my history it's no wonder I've been led into that belief."

Woe looked around, and tried to envision a room with no doors, just for the Immortals to speak in a neutral area for themselves. It would of course be the grandest and most tastefully appointed room of the entire Custom's House that he planned to have built. "A room ensonced in onyx-black glass. So that none can peer inside." Woe said to Chamadarst's suggestion. "The Glassblower's Guild can furnish the glass needed, on demand. The Badlands have receded from what I know, but there must be deposits of Black Sand left for such a project."

Of course, there would be benefit in a Custom's House for the place to make a profit. Naturally money must flow into the everyday operation of the establishment, as well as taxed income for the government. "We'd require a tithe of every deal made in this hall. Afterall, the opportunity to rub elbows in a place where the Immortals are listening in is a golden opportunity, well worth the price of admittance."

"I haven't set a ratio of each deal and contract struck. Bean counting has rarely been my strength in such matters." Woe shook his head, "But I have good people to take up such tasks, people who know mathematics, logistics, and can apply themselves to it."

[Basilisk]

[

Chamadarst listened attentively to his Champions answers, and nodded slightly when Woe commented that most, if not all Immortals, could be counted among the Pantheon's rogue's gallery. "A wise thought, though I would caution against voicing it in mixed company. My kind have several rather zealous followers and children that may well take violent offense to the insinuation that their Immortal could be held on the same level as one they consider an enemy, to say nothing of the Immortals themselves." he said, his voice calm. He knew better than most how temperamental his own kind could get, having brokered the Pact that ended the active fighting of The Immortals War. It had been a daunting and difficult treaty to make, even for him.

He simply nodded when Woe explained that Mortals would have to handle their own affairs, and for a moment a slight smile showed on his face when Woe admitted to not having had a trustworthy education on the needs of Immortals. "In this case, I'll admit our needs are difficult to quantify. Many of my kind would claim prayer or ceremony as a need, yet The Great Wolf actively rejects such things and receives nothing from them. Others would claim that it is recognition that we are divine that sates our needs, yet the likes of The Maiden Of Gifts, The Mother Of Lions, or again, The Great Wolf, all reject such trappings." he said, his tone calm. "In truth, it seems our need is simply loyalty or gratitude in whatever form." he said, his tone thoughtful. "In this case, it's sheer neutrality will be advantageous to many of my kind and their Champions. If you intend to make it a place where violent altercations can't happen, even the most diametrically or ideologically opposed Immortals and their followers could use it as a meeting place without risk of harm or undue advantage to either side." he said, his voice calm. "Mortals that wish to speak to Immortals, however, would likely be best advised to know about the Immortal they wish to contact and how best to appeal to them before making the attempt."

Chamadarst listened quietly to the rest, then nodded. "The tithes should cover operational expenses, and you might be able to broker a deal with the government here that may alleviate the burden of taxes. After all, they stand to benefit if people from the world over come to this place to broker deals." he said, his voice calm, but pleased. "There is one other matter to consider, however. If this is to be a place of true neutrality, as it should be, how would you plan to accommodate a visit from an Induk or a Dragon? The latter are, after all, considerably sized and the former tend to bring part of their natures with them." he said, watching his Champion now to see what his response would be, though there didn't seem to be any particular expectation from him.

[Woe]

"We won't publicly or officially refer to this gallery as a Rogue's gallery, it was just a working title until I've an idea what to call the entire structure. Perhaps the 'Court of Ecumenical Delineation' or something less of a mouthful." Woe wasn't hard set on any one title or label. Labels being ephemeral and even less relevant when applied to a individual who could change. As the Immortals now could.

That brought Woe to a topic that he'd wondered about, and searched the depths of his curiosity about, but had yet to make up his mind. "What of Valtharn?"

"She is an Immortal now, and if rumor be told true, one of considerably harmful domains. Domains that might be valuable to stay the hand of, if one could broker deals with her." Woe took out a book, and placed it on the desk. In a moment he was flipping through the panels that Perdita had drawn, to honor each of the Immortals. However, he thought she might've left out Valtharn, perhaps not knowing of her ascension or perhaps Woe was just missing the part where she was drawn. "We should allow a panel to be made of Valtharn, should she wish to factor into our establishment. But only when she's ready to approach us, perhaps..."

That gave Woe some pause, in thinking. "Perhaps we could do the same of any Immortal or entity, if one sees a need to include their chosen deity, they can very well come forth and commission the crafting of the panel. Or should I go with my original plan of giving panels to the Immortals alone? Does that not introduce a certain imbalance of favor, of neutrality?"

Woe wasn't certain, but perhaps having the panels established from the onset wasn't the greatest idea in the first place.

At the mention of the differences in the Immortals, in terms of what they required, what they needed, it seemed to puzzle together for Woe a fact that the Immortals were very much gratified by the simple manifestation of their domains, whatever they might be. Their personalities had been set from the beginning, and only since the forging had they a path to deviate from that program. "Fine." Woe said, of the Immortals and their needs. "What they wish to take or gain from any deal to be made ought to be up to them, and held between them and the supplicant."

"And yes." he continued, "Neutrality must be maintained. Although I"m unsure of my ability to enforce Neutrality over a property I lay claim over would be sufficient to sway dragons, Induks, or Immortals. So far it's only succeeded against Mortalkind. I have no experience with any others. I would relinquish ownership of it to you, were you amenable to such a deal, if you coudn't simply enforce neutrality permanently over this small area."

Then they came to the topic of larger beings, such as Induks, Dragons, and other things. Woe had a thought about it, but wasn't entirely sure if it was wise. Still, he figured Chamadarst would know whether it was prudent, and so sought to be clear in his intentions. "I want to purchase Slag's Deep from the Scalvoris Government. As a private parcel of land, and that is where we would host the greater beings, and the Immortals. In the Foyer of that once great prison."

"As it stands, however, all attempts to thoroughly explore the Deep have gone fruitless, and unfulfilled. I tried to lead an expedition nearly an arc ago, but it never got off the ground." He shook his head, "But surely it's been emptied, and devoid of any further dangers by now? If we could sanctify it with the spirit of Neutrality, and safeguard it..."

[Basilisk]

Chamadarst nodded when Woe mentioned he wouldn't actually be calling the Immortals a Rogue's Gallery, then frowned slightly when Woe mentioned Valtharn. "That one will be a problem. For many Mortals, the attitudes, good or bad, of my kind are at least partially justified by antiquity. To them, we are ancient, impossible to truly know or understand, and to many, embodiments of our Domains more than we are individual people." he said, offering no opinion on these beliefs in either tone, voice, or body language. "Mortalborn aren't often considered the same way, even the oldest of them. I wouldn't be surprised if many don't regard Valtharn as a "true" Immortal, but rather more of a Mortalborn with an overwrought ego. Her having a traceable personal history would make her seem even less of an Immortal to most." he said, his frown deepening.

"In truth, I doubt that Valtharn would care whether or not she is afforded a space in this temple. My dealings with her have been few, but they made her nature clear. Her followers, however, may be more volatile and prone to take insult." he said, before shaking his head. "Regardless, if you wish to be truly neutral and open to followers of all Immortals, she will need to be represented. But be aware that doing so may bring opposition similar to that of including the likes of Chrien or some of the dead Immortals." he said, his tone calm. "As to whether or not including only Immortals creates a bias in the temples neutrality, that is harder to say. For many, the trappings of religion have long been the exclusive property of the Immortals, rather than Spirits. Indeed, there are those that only worship one that consider any veneration of the other to be blackest heresy. And none yet know what form Dragon veneration will take." he said. "That is a conundrum I leave for you to solve, however, as it is a Mortal concern that will likely require a Mortal solution. Immortals, Dragons, and Spirits are not like to start worshipping each other, after all."

When Woe asked if he could enforce Neutrality over an area and have it hold over Dragons or Spirits, Chamadarst made a deferring motion with his hand. "I cannot say if any neutrality I can enforce would be effective on Dragons or Spirits. I have never had occasion to attempt such a thing. We can both, however, at least make an attempt, and I can ward against Immortal belligerence, at the least." he said before listening to the plan to buy Slag's Deep from the Scalvonite government. "Given the history between Slag's Deep and the government here, you'll have to be very specific with the proposal. There is merit to the idea, however. If the purchase is secured, I can infuse with my Domain readily enough." he said, his tone calm.

[Woe]

Woe thought on the mix of opinions, speculation, and revelations that Chamadarst was giving him. Sometimes glass could be opaque, and sometimes it could be clear. In this form, he found his Immortal Patron a little vague, opaque, and obtuse in his explanation of the extent of his power. He alluded to the fact that he could keep other Immortals in line, which was alarming and impressive enough, but then cast doubt on the ability to do the same with Spirits and Dragons. Nevertheless, they would have to ensure that there was some form of protection or neutrality that ruled over the area, if ever a Dragon was to visit.

By then, Woe had all but made his decision to base the Ecumenical Temple on the foundations of Slag's Deep. It would be a major undertaking, and require a lot of work and hands. But that was all good for commerce, and business. The mortalborn was sure he could turn it all to his advantage, and to that of his patron. "I've decided that I will use Slag's Deep as the foundation for the structure... which I've yet to name." Woe struggled with that, first with the idea of a Glass harbour, then with the idea of a Glass Counting House, which didn't exactly roll of the tongue the same way the Glass Tree or Glass Temple did... Then it came to him, in a moment of rumination. "I will call it the Glass Vault."

"And I've all but decided that I will purchase Slag's Deep from Scalvoris' government, with whatever conditions or stipulations as I can extract from the Albarech."

Here, Woe looked to Chamadarst, finally having decided his course and having only one thing left to ask his Immortal Patron, "The only question remains, what will it cost to procure your aid in enforcing neutrality over the Vault?"

[Woe]

Rewards Requested

Notes/Warnings: Abandoned? Not sure.

Thread: Clearly as Crystal, Darker than Onyx
City/Area: Egilrun

Renown: Dunno
Do you want this to be considered for Mark Progression? Maybe Sombran
Peer Reviewers: Please give feedback as to whether you feel this is appropriate for Mark Progression.
Once feedback is received, player should then post in the PSF.
If any PC in this thread is in a faction, please list them: Soul-Forged, ORder of the adunih
Faction Points: Dunno
Wealth Points: No
Collaboration: Sort
Local Language Thread? No

!	Message from: Basilisk
	Done!

[Basilisk]

Chamadarst nodded as Woe made his final points, then thought for a moment about what his price for his aid would be. "My price shall be an apprentice. Not one for myself, but rather that you shall take on an apprentice and teach them. You have served me well, Woe Morandi, and I would see such exemplary conduct be continued into the next generation of my Blessed." he said, standing up. With that established, I believe our conversation here is finished. Contact me when you have your Glass Vault built, whether or not it's a neutral location from the Scalvoris government. I will set up it's neutrality at that time." he said, his tone direct. "This venture of yours could prove quite impactful, should you be able to manage it successfully." he said, a slight smile on his face as he left.

Woe

Apologies for the delay.

• Renown: 5
• XP: 15
• Socialization (T2) XP: 2
• Knowledges:
  • Socialization T2: Negotiating with an Immortal
  • Business Management: Proposing a business plan
  • Politics: Determining who you need to make deals with
  • Politics: Determining what order to do things in
  • Business Management: Knowing what a new venture needs
  • Socialization T2: Making plans for troublesome Immortals
  • Engineering: Knowing to allocate space for Dragons
  • Business Management: Finalizing a deal
• Loot:
  • Chamadarst's Deal: Chamadarst wants you to take on an apprentice. Whether that be a PC or an NPC is up to you.