Dargan Etters aka Navior's page

Dargan pauses and looks back at Douena. "There are bears all over Varisia. Just how tiny do you mean?" Once Douena explains, his eyes widen in surprise. "Oh." He looks almost annoyed. "Very funny. Good day."

He motions to his two guards and they sweep out the door.

Dargan nods knowingly. "I understand. I do not wish to cause rifts amongst yourselves. Besides, while I might be able to arrange for a suitably small bear to be transported from the north, it would take far too long."

He stands up and bows to the group. "You understand, I had to try. I wish you the best of luck on your journey. Perhaps at some future time, on some other expedition, we can work together as allies."

"Explaining to us why your respective organizations don't see eye to eye could go a long way to influencing our decision. Not mine, mind you, but I would harbor no ill will against my friends if they choose to go with the Aspis Consortium."

"It's the same thing as with so many others," Dargan says with a nod. "Competition. No one likes competition. The goals of both organizations are very similar: essentially to uncover the past. However, greed is never far from men's hearts. Members of each organization want the glory all for themselves. The same is true here. My superiors wish to see the Aspis Consortium gain glory over the Pathfinders. No doubt, the leaders of the Pathfinders want glory over the Aspis Consortium. And, have no doubt, there will likely be other groups who wish the glory over both organizations."

He pauses for a moment, then continues. "So, I see it is not going to be easy to convince you to come work for the Aspis Consortium, and as I said before, I admire your ethics and principles. So tell me, what will it take to change your minds?"

Dargan raises an eyebrow. "An interesting suggestion," he says. "I take it you're not too well-versed about the relationship between the Pathfinders and the Aspis Consortium, as what you say makes sense in principle. One better expedition may indeed succeed where two lesser ones would fail. However, you're assuming that a joint Pathfinder-Aspis Consortium expedition would result in a better expedition. If such a thing were true, I'd be the first to leap upon the idea. Alas, the two organizations don't see eye to eye. Such an arrangement would be doomed from the start as each organization tried to sabotage the other to gain all the glory for itself. Personally, I am an archaeologist first and foremost. What matters to me is accomplishing the goal of uncovering the past. However, there are people who have less pure goals, who see this only as a means of becoming rich. I'm ashamed to admit that there are just as many like this in my organization as there is in yours. In order to make the best chance of success, I must make one lesser expedition into a better expedition all on its own. And for that, I come to you now to offer you the opportunity to help."

He pauses a moment to glance at everyone in the room, taking in facial expressions and responses. "I am very impressed by your stated ideal not to betray obligations you've already accepted. This is very admirable. However, I must tell you that I am authorized to offer you fifty percent above whatever the Pathfinders have offered you." He leans back. "And of course, that's only an initial offer. I'm an easy-going man and I have the ears and support of my superiors in the Consortium. I'm sure that, with a little discussion, we can reach an agreement which will make everyone happy."

Dargan shrugs. "Fair enough. I'm certainly well acquainted with the fact that travelling in the wild can make one appreciate the simpler things in life. I suppose this place does have a certain charm to it. Indeed, the more I look at it, the more I see it's hidden comforts. May I be seated so that we can discuss my proposition?"