[Game Thread] Lord Windos’ PokeRole Adventure 2: The Wild Lands

[Lord Windos]

Spoiler

(.........)

(Current mood over having messed up)


IMMEDIATE and OVERLOADED Fight-Response triggered upon being yanked off into a side alley!!1!1 Bernhard's mind literally short-circuited, he's ready to defend himself right away with everything we've got.

.....He calms down a tad bit however upon recognizing his 'attacker' as a fellow Scimitar. Correction: As Scimitar from the Water Faction. And no, them being angry and pissed at us doesn't impress Bern, he remains quite stoic and neutral. We're giving them a MASSIVE side-eye though. (￢_￢)





Not too happy with Myra either, Bern gestures her with the gauntleted hand to stay still and let things be. "*firm voice* ...E N O U G H. Restrain yourself, don't you dare to intervene UNLESS I do tell you so, Myra. I will handle this. *pauses, in calmer voice* You and your unique skills have served me well, very well so, you have my genuine gratitude indeed. Good girl. However, do tone your Drought down please, it draws way too much unwanted attention onto us." He casts a spell to have her fur repel water and dampness from the rain via Invocation over her (and himself) to help her keep dry. "There you go. Quiet now, please."

Back to our fellow Mage who receives a second round of side-eyes, feeling mildly insulted by their words. "To answer your question, I am INDEED thinking. ...Overthinking things perhaps. ...AGAIN. It happened again..." *facepalming and letting out a sigh* "...Forgive me. It's been...a rough morning on my end among other things, and I'm tired. Multiple things are happening all at once, at multiple places, and perhaps I'm plain overworked. Or solely exhausted. ...Or both."

There's a long break until Bernhard speaks up again. Towards a fellow Magic-User and appearantly having messed up, he feels he is allowed to be honest and somewhat (emphasis on 'somewhat'  and 'slightly') open up. "For business, that's what I'm here for. You see... Can you accuse a man of my position and rank of wanting to further hone their skills, to go for more, to strive to become even better at what you're great and masterful at already? My newest alchemistic masterpiece... Perhaps, no, quite likely so I am venturing into territory I shouldn't venture in. Reputation and all. However... Hmm... Harvested parts of specific Pokemon are hard to come by if you want to avoid the dirty work of hunting the living specimen down. Yet their alchemistic value is beyond and superb. However... *thinks* ...Doesn't it make things have more emotional value if it has been you yourself that gathered the ingredients instead of opting for shady business? Perhaps so, me thinks. I do admit that I, well, miiiight have wanted to avoid to get my own hands dirty just this time. And let me tell you, Alchemy can get VERY dirty if want to become good at it."

*extends the gaunteted hand* "Though I do bet we can find a common ground? Causing trouble and headaches, among Magi and Non-Magi, has not been my intention. I do admit I have lost sight of what's the MORE important aspect. Say, if I do drop things here and now and let people be, indulge in their blackest of black business with me turning a blind eye on it, will that leave you satisfied? What IS it that does leave you satisfied? You have my apology, and thanks for likely having brought me back onto the RIGHTFUL path."


----------------------
Course of Action:
Okay, my plans and priorities have slightly changed. Abandon my plan to find the Black Market for now. Can I instead spend this Moderate Encounter to speak with and get to know a fellow Scimitar, for connections? Unless they want me to make haste and leave the docks and never look back, in that case I have a Plan B for this Encounter.

The Water Scimitar is equally unimpressed with you and Myra, not even deigning to pay her any attention while in the middle of a Disgruntled Mage Off (A common Scimitar 'past time' ) . Considering what you know of their Faction, they probably have a half a dozen ways of drowning and/or cursing the living daylights out the fiery beauty, which would be all the more potent given the 'Fiery' part.

Your normally content vixen withers under your ire, tucking her head down and relaxing her tails as she concedes to your Will. She much rather give that Magi a bit of a torching for their rudeness, but what you Say, Goes.

Your abductee lets off a scoff at your discipling but says nothing, crossing their arms when you apologize.

Diplomacy Roll: INS + Contest + Empathy - 3 (Irritated) + 1 Success (Important/Master looking Magi)
(1)(6)(2) 2 Successes

"....*Huffs* Fine. Don't understand why you're not using your Disciples and lesser to aid you, but I suppose it is for a good reason if whatever business you're on has you like....this to ignore propriety and act in haste."

Which is a rather polite way of saying 'You're stupid for letting things get to this point and showing your ass, but I'm cutting you slack anyway.'  Not nice, but that is how it tends to be between different Factions and with grumpy/jumpy Magi in general. 

Also, now that it is relevant: each Faction operates fundamentally differently from one another. To keep things brief and relevant, here's an EX:

Water Scimitars tend towards a bunch of underlings and a few key Discples/Inheritors underneath one Master, with the Discples themselves also having some underlings if they are competent enough for them/have enough clout to get them. Very corporate and at times accultic, but such a way of doing things does promote a more 'free flowing, River starting' sort of society that has a great sense of unity and responsibility with each other.

Earth Scimitars, on the other hand, tend towards Master - Apprentice relationships that are One on One or up to Three. Think of it as a rather Knightly way of teaching Magic, which has a knock on effect of Earth Scimitars being a very Traditionalistic and 'classic' / noble society/culture. Very structured, but that firmness gives strength to their ways and people. Since Acrowls was originally a E.S. before taking his mantle as Supreme Magus you got this sort of teaching style and culture - though it didn't stop you from becoming Air in the end.

Air Scimitars tend to have fluid student-teacher relationships with whomever they're teaching or simply overlooking- it's not uncommon for them to randomly decide to just rope some Magi in their breezy ways if they take a fancy/shine/whim to one, much to the potential irritation to others sense that could include other Faction Magi. Because of this they're among the least populated and most disconnected of the Factions, but in exchange they're the most willing to be creative, free-form, and innovative in the Pursuit of Magic and the Arcane, willing to tap resources and just do stuff the other Factions wouldn't dare to do.

As for the rest of your Speech ...


Diplomacy Roll 2!. only - 1 this time as you've officially identified yourself as a High Ranked Magic, apologized, and offered a 'decent' explanation

(5)(6)(6)(6)(6) + 1 ......Well, Zephy isn't with you, but her Social Spirit sure is! Critical Diplomacy!

Your fellow Magi seems taken aback by the philosophical yarn you've spun, their guardedness vanishing as you manage to draw their attention in like sweets does with Zephy. Couple that with how you're proving your status as a Master Magi/Scimitar the more and more you speak and act, and by the end you have the Water Scimitar bowing deeply to you, almost to the point of falling over!

"My deepest apologies, Master of Air! It is just that I heard reports of some unknown Magi causing a scene in the area, and I felt the need to try and get things back under control. Keeping our house and home in good order is key, and so is making sure to nip any trouble in the bud quickly. You understand, correct? Not that you're trouble at all, of course, no no no!"

Once you extend your hand they look at it and you, their hesistation clear, but in the end they gingerly take it with their own seastone/steel Gauntlet - one of the ultimate signs of trust and cooperation between Scimitars.

"I....believe that is a most excellent idea. While I am now sure you could have handled your business here well enough in the end without causing mo - provoking rash behavior from the less shrewd and stern of us here, leaving now would settle things down greatly. Especially seeing as it would seem like I'm the one sending you on your way - the people here and my own Faction trust in my ability to handle matters, as they are right to.

"*Pondering Tone* Dare I say...I believe this could benefit us both in the end - my reputation will float up even further from 'solving' this 'problem' , while I would be more than willing to aid in your endeavors in with all the discretion at my disposal. Once this blows over, of course - give it a couple of days and your....trip should be forgotten about and we can get to work.

The Water Scimitar gives you their number, and motions to the exit of the ally.

"Now that this misunderstanding has been sorted out, would you allow me to escort you out from the area? As I said, it would go towards a great deal of calming the 'grey' community and my cohorts down, and it would do me a great Favor in 'dealing' with you so firmly and descively . *Apologetic Shrug* A bit humiliating, I apologize, but you know how it is - and I'll be sure to properly make it up to you for this slight, so I Swear."

In other words, will you let yourself be used to elevate this Water Scimitar's own standing (and reap the windfall thereof) at your own expense in exchange for greatly increased Favor with them and the Water Scimitar Faction, or do you have any alternative ideas at resolving things?