Mercantile Mania - RPLOG
Participants
Date
13/11/480
Log
The council chamber stands open, doors and windows trying to invite whatever breeze they can in the hot, clear day. Beings from all over Sweetwater mingle here in the hall of the People's Court, while the actual council sits on a small, raised dais at the head of the room, the Good King himself presiding. The stately hippo is currently conversing with his advisor and master of ceremonies, Mione.
Flora has made it to the chamber early, already seated in her usual spot, a little ways away from the King. While the Lords and Ladies Longtail might've been seated right next to the reigning monarch in times past, she's taken up a much more modest seat at the edge.
She seems to be waiting for -something- to happen, so far, her tails swaying lightly behind her as she watches, and waits...
Cary decided to join the court session. The saurian was curious about the creator merchant and wanted to hear a little more about him than just the daily banter on the streets. He sat down as close as he could to the high council, observing its members ever so quietly.
Mione and the King finish their discussion and the rabbit steps forward and waves for quiet in the hall. People being people, wherever they are, it takes a few moments for the various beings assembled to settle themselves.
Today's council is well attended by both commoners and nobles alike. Most of the seating reserved for the heads of houses are filled, even if Flora is the only one in actual attendance, rather than sending a representative.
"Good people of Firmament," Mione calls out as things finally quiet down, "Lords and Ladies," he turns and nods to the nobility and bows his head to the king, "Your Majesty! The People's Council is now in session! The matter at hand is the proposal of the Creator Merchant known to us as Mister Harkonson to provide us with new Creator Technologies, at a price, and to repair and renew some of our current tools." The dapper rodent waves a hand at a little, round-faced, ruddy Creator who has been waiting quietly in the wings. "Here to represent Mister Harkonson is Mister Peabody."
Flora is still waiting, one tail swaying lightly as she keeps an eye on the Creator in the council-chambers, even if her gaze occasionally moves over the room, almost as if trying to see if she recognizes anyone.
Still, not a word said, wether due to unease at being in the council-chamber, or simply due to a lack of things to comment on.
The saurian does recognize Flora, nodding towards her should their eyes meet.
Crossing his arms, Cary doesn't say a word, mostly out of respect. Mostly. If anything, he has the right to remain skeptical about any deals with creator 'merchants'. Besides, what could they possibly want out of our little Firmament that they couldn't get anywhere else?
The little man nods to Mione, who steps back to stand beside the rest of the council. He does not look like much, a bit on the heavy side, and his close-cropped hairline is obviously receding, but he strides confidantly out onto the floor, a fist sized ball servitor hovering along side him.
"Ladies and Gentlemen of the Council," he says in a clear, strong voice, surprisingly unaided by his servitor, "I am excited to be here with you today. I am Sherman Peabody, here on behalf of Johnathan Harkonson and the Contact Light." He looks around at the gathered and curious beings. "I did not really expect an audience today, so I will be brief," he orates, "It has come to our attention that much of the technology you possess is old and in need of maintenance. Mister Harkonson is more than willing to supply you with necessary parts and skilled repairs for what I think you will agree is a very reasonable price. Sacred Doctors, mining automatons, water processing, and many other important tools that are no doubt failing and beyond your ability to keep up will become once more available."
Flora is quick to raise her hand, though, in a particular un-Flora-like fashion, she waits her turn to speak. "Flora was under the impression that there was an embargo on knowledge, yes? While Flora can certainly see the use in the repair of sacred-doctors, Flora doesn't see the significance of repairing creator mining-equipment, without the knowledge on how to use it. Could Mister Creator Peabody elaborate?"
Cary shrugs, raising an eyebrow and muttering as Flora spoke on her turn. "The Longtail is right. Truth be told, the automatons have caused more harm than anything. Our miners have grown to fear them more than anything."
A murmur goes through the gathered beings at Flora's question. "Correct," Peabody says, looking up past the council to Flora's seat, "We are forbidden from providing any training. But we offer the maintenance as a preventative measure. Should something like the mining equipment shared between Shralesta and Sweetwater fail catastrophically, the fallout would be. . . significant. We could, of course, offer to decomission any technology that you find out of your depth as well."
There is a loud snort from the first row of spectators, and a large bull in priestly robes waves a hand. "We don't need anything you have to offer," he calls loudly, "It is all just ways for you to keep your hooks in us. We have managed without you for hundreds of years. Why should we need you now?"
"Right. Many pieces of creator technology are powered by by Creator's Wrath, correct?" Flora offers, ignoring the bull for a moment. "Based on the likely age of the machine in question, and the fact that it was successfully used about... Three ago, how big would Mister Creator Peabody consider the the odds of it failing in such a manner, and how big would the damage be, should it do so?" Flora offers. She mightn't understand the working of the device, but with some educated guesses, she can at least make some reasonable assumptions.
Finally, her glance moves towards the bull, coughing lightly. "As Flora recalls from a meeting earlier this day, Mister Angus would hear out the creators first, yes? These matters do not sound like 'toys' to Flora, after all."
"Fail catastrophically.. Hmm. Sure, that's going to make me sleep better at night." The saurian mumbles, shaking his head again. Slightly agitated, Cary added, "If anything I'd say decomission the darn things already before they cause any further harm and focus on repairing the Sacred Doctors. That's probably just the one thing our people uses nowadays anyway."
"Ahem.. and by using I don't mean placing it on a pedestal and worshipping it like a deity of sorts." Cary whispered.
