The Twin Cages - A Diplomatic Solution?

User avatar
Red the Rogue
Posts: 42
Joined: Sun Feb 16, 2020 10:03 pm

Posted by Red the Rogue »


Soon after the meeting in the Outlands, Sharon drops off a written report for Mistress of the Heart Zahra along with a second copy. The sorceress suggested to share the information and the other copy with the Outlands Defense team, both to provide them with information and to gain insight from their testimonies.
Zahra,

We've succeeded in meeting with the Crimson Dawn representative named Measure Shanon Demeris. Although we've managed to cover both key issues, the bodies of the fallen and the prisoners we hold, there's still some worrying comments to be considered.

Concerning the dead, both of us have agreed to allow each side to come collect their dead without aggression. If we control the battlefield, then they can come to collect their fallen comrades. The same courtesy is extended towards us if they control the battlefield. If there is any aggression, however, the deal will be off. I fully trust Factor Tonat Shar will have good judgement concerning this matter.

On the topic of prisoners, the Crimson Dawn seek a return of Inquisitor Aidan and Mover Reina. Their initial offer has been an equal trade in prisoners despite the Faction Council's request for ransom money. When pressed on this, the Crimson Dawn offered 100,000 "golden coins" each for Inquisitor Aidan and Mover Reina based on the belief that both had been "badly mistreated". They remained adamant on this as well as kept their offer of exchanging prisoners, but it has been stressed by us that a counter-offer will most likely be done in response. They're valuable prisoners worth more than 100,000, but I do wonder if their "golden coins" hold the same weight as our jink. I urge that proof is given as to their well-being if the Faction Council wants to see more value in their prisoners. The Council will need to decide on this, however.

Beyond the two primary reasons for our meeting, we've inquired as to why the war between us occurred and some of the more disturbing happenings observed on the battlefield. The Crimson Dawn remains adamant that they see us as 'Agents of Chaos' and that they have "fixed" their side, wishing to spread the same to our side. When we inquired about the ritual sacrifices, the blood altars in the Outlands, summoning of demons, and pact magic, the representative claimed full ignorance to these occurances and that the Crimson Dawn does not do any of this. The Crimson Dawn opined that the "people of the Outlands" may be the ones responsible. This matches with what the prisoners have claimed previously. When we inquired about their blood oath, Shanon simply described it as the "most binding and sacred of oaths," that brings them together as family. Lastly, the representative dodged answering what race their higher-ups were and who they were exactly, only stating that they have seen "our forms" before. I would suggest questioning Mover Reina further about this while she is still held prisoner.

-Sharon & Leyana Raynsford
Sharon Raynsford - Experienced adventurer finding renewed purpose beyond her prime.
Lyanna Wayfarer - Traveler of worlds, cultural explorer, and experienced physician.
Tavia - Bardess, tale-teller, daring-doer.
User avatar
Taurus Daggerknight
Posts: 137
Joined: Tue Feb 04, 2020 6:07 am
Contact:

Posted by Taurus Daggerknight »


The day after Kaltia and Sartorix's foray into the other world, a trio of Mercykillers can be found waiting in the Gymnasium. Once they catch sight of the dragon blood and rakshasa, they approach and hand over a letter, bearing the faction's seal.

Sartorixfaeisthiliar,

Yours and Aide Tsaryov's proposal (and requests outlined in letter) have been presented and to and approved of by Factol Nilesia. To that end, we are preparing our teams, and have arranged for arms and armor from the Doomguard to be granted to our would be allies on the other side.

Inform your contact of our decision, and arrange for a rendezvous. Once this has been settled, coordinate with the Gatecrasher task force; we will need them (and yourself) to lead our our people in.

Justice Prevail,

Factor Dace Andor
I just want to kill monsters and get prizes for it. Is that REALLY so much to ask for?
User avatar
A Kobold
Posts: 20
Joined: Sun May 17, 2020 12:18 am

Posted by A Kobold »


Caex, invisible and shadowdancing well before he even steps into the portal, sneaks his way into the Red Sigil Bazaar. Staying as far from the Crimson Dawn patrols as he can, he finds his way to the Chirper's balcony overlooking the crater. He slips a sealed letter behind the remnants of a ruined keg, out of sight from casual view, before fleeing through the exit portal as stealthily as he came in.
Non-descript Letter wrote:J.S.

Mks approved letter request. Rendezvous point and date.

S.
Sarin
Posts: 81
Joined: Tue Jun 09, 2020 5:21 am

Posted by Sarin »


Sarin, in her normal cage garb, approaches the gymnasium. A Mistress of the Heart. She would see.

She enters, and asks for directions, having never been in the building. when she finds her, she simply says she wishes to join, and offer the services of an experienced Brachina too the team.
User avatar
mimifearthegn
Site Admin
Posts: 393
Joined: Mon Jan 13, 2014 3:18 am
Contact:

Posted by mimifearthegn »


((Next mission: escorting infiltration team to the other side. How does Wednesday afternoon @ 4pm US Central Time sound for people?

This will be a crossover event with the Gatecrasher team.))
User avatar
Asigai
Posts: 42
Joined: Sun Feb 23, 2020 9:28 pm

Posted by Asigai »


((Oh, Katani can actually for once make it!))
User avatar
mimifearthegn
Site Admin
Posts: 393
Joined: Mon Jan 13, 2014 3:18 am
Contact:

Posted by mimifearthegn »


Zahra lets the Diplomat team know that another message was left at the drop point. All it says is:
Chirper's Tunnel, Old Bazaar
But given that the other side was already told to expect reinforcements soon, it is no doubt the rendezvous location.
User avatar
mimifearthegn
Site Admin
Posts: 393
Joined: Mon Jan 13, 2014 3:18 am
Contact:

Posted by mimifearthegn »


Red the Rogue wrote: Thu Jun 25, 2020 5:32 pm On the topic of prisoners, the Crimson Dawn seek a return of Inquisitor Aidan and Mover Reina. Their initial offer has been an equal trade in prisoners despite the Faction Council's request for ransom money. When pressed on this, the Crimson Dawn offered 100,000 "golden coins" each for Inquisitor Aidan and Mover Reina based on the belief that both had been "badly mistreated". They remained adamant on this as well as kept their offer of exchanging prisoners, but it has been stressed by us that a counter-offer will most likely be done in response. They're valuable prisoners worth more than 100,000, but I do wonder if their "golden coins" hold the same weight as our jink. I urge that proof is given as to their well-being if the Faction Council wants to see more value in their prisoners. The Council will need to decide on this, however.
Word comes that the Faction Council that they will accept no less than 1 million jink per prisoner, and all they can offer is the assurance that they are still alive. . .for the moment. It is up to the diplomat team whether they wish to deliver this message, of course.
TheoremOfNeutrality
Posts: 23
Joined: Sun May 10, 2020 10:07 pm

Posted by TheoremOfNeutrality »


Mistress of the Heart Zahra,

The Mercykiller forces were delivered without a hitch. The Crimson Dawn made no note of our presence.

The Resistance, such as it is, has offered numerous pieces of intelligence in return for our efforts. They offered us knowledge of the state of their Sigil's current affairs, as well as two other possible agents we may pursue, one the Grandmaster of The Order of Knights Athar, and the other Superintendent Lance Marshby.

The Resistance paints Sigil as nearing a state of instability. The losses that we have inflicted upon them have caused issues that they have intended to make disappear with propaganda, but people still seem to know. Internal political problems, coupled with these external threats is pushing their capacity to control the populace to its limits. We are reaching a point where the iron is hot, and the Factions need to consider striking.

The first of two potential contacts we were offered was Perrin Solarkin, serving the Knights Athar as Grandmaster. We have misread the purpose of the Athar, as it seems they still hold to their stringent anti-religious views. However, these Athar seem more extreme - being against all forms of non-mortal interference, likely due to their Sigil's seeming isolation. With the Cult of the Sign's apparent resurrection of the God of Doors, they have grown more disloyal. It also seems that the Athar are ignorant to the clearly fiendish nature of the Crimson Dawn's rites. I feel we have ample room and evidence with which to convince Grandmaster Solarkin of the fiendish nature of the 'Seer', and our own hostility to the God of Doors. However - my mouth is the absolute worse choice to deliver these words. Contact is best-done by one with no connections to any race of the Great Ring, or a faith.

The second is Superintended Lance Marshby of their twisted version of the Society of Sensation. He was said to have a strong connection to the pulse and thoughts of the people, due to being the man seemingly in charge of manipulating those things. He is, by all accounts, a pig - a seeker of pleasure whose desires are inhibited by the strict conservatism of the Crimson Dawn's government. I feel less certain about this contact - we may place ourselves in an awkward diplomatic position if we make contact, as we will need him vastly more than he needs us. While his seeking of pleasure is inhibited by the Crimson Dawn, his ability to do so from a place of power and influence is assured by the status quo. We should pursue this contact only when we can do so from a position of strength.

Awaiting further instructions.
-Sartorixfaeisthiliar
User avatar
Asigai
Posts: 42
Joined: Sun Feb 23, 2020 9:28 pm

Posted by Asigai »


Katani makes her own additions to the report.
Basically what Sar said,

But figured I'd make a tad of additions to what has been noted. First is, the resistance was like very poorly equipped. Like really poorly. I'm not exaggerating when I say that sticks and stones may have been an improvement. They did now get equipment for around one hundred people. But I'm not sure how long it'll take for them to get actually ready for any fight, don't get me wrong, they've got the spirit, but they'd be going against a dangerous foe. So we might be best suited not to rush them to do anything super dangerous.

I provided from my own collection around fourty to fifty books about Factions, sects and ourside of multiverse for them to get acquinted with. So there might be less cultural shocks later on. And who knows! Maybe later we'll get interesting things back. Besides that I provided them with around four hundred potions over half of which were healing of some manner, and some more supplementary things like invisibility potions. Potent medical supplies and tools for opening locks. And I may have slipped around eighty bottles of different flavors of wines. Since it sounds like they've got a reason to celebrate!

As for the more important matters at hand. Both of these are likely to be way more dangerous to approach than previous. Stronger ties to the Crimson Dawn than active resistance and oppressed to it. On one hand the Crimson Dawns far smaller religions pool, on the other man of complacency and comfort. But I do think we should approach the Knights first also. As much as I'd like to rally the people, something like that would lead to a bloodbath of untrained civilians. Where as 'knights' imply good combat training which is something they'll surely need. I'm religious myself, and I also happen to look like a certain inquisitor, so... but I'm willing to approach them definitely.

Of course there's another side to consider: Lets assume what'll happen if we don't go to Maserby first. The moment the resistance makes "terror attacks", he might instead rally the people against our cause, making it that much more difficult to change afterwards... so I actually change my opinion mid-letter, because I can't be arsed to re-write all of that again! We should go at Lance Maserby first. Get better control of what's told to people. In contrast, the knights likely won't do much to respond to those, as long as we don't flaunt the religions around.

Regardless which way we go. I think we should try to have the resistance work with same schedule the defense, or I guess attack group, so there's a lot more disorganization on their side to respond to several attacks. Minimize risks on both sides ideally.

- Katani La Calliwell
Locked