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Myrosype smiles almost sibilantly. "Indeed, my dear Khellek. The brains of this operation as you are, I should not be surprised you are wise enough to question my offer even as you consider it. Of course no one would come to harm, this is Druma! Obviously, I would use this information to give myself a last shot at taking a district, or perhaps three or five. I do not know how much success I will have, I doubt it will give me a majority of Alabastrine as intended, if anything, but I must try. And the exchange of hard-earned currency during such an event, known falsely and so dirtily elsewhere as a bribe, is certainly a way of bidding here."
"You may have noted that over the course of these three days, millions of Crowns have been put on the line in hopes of carving out but a single district. As such, my offer to you is little more than a pittance in comparison, although is more suited to your current station. And would it not be delicious to see me try to bribe you for information, only to succeed and have my plans crash around my ears because what I asked for was immaterial? Despite my vast wealth, I have little to lose now, and I must take that chance. You would be wise to take this free gold."
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"If you say so, little one, but I would not tarry about with the word 'we,'" Myrosype smirks at Hakotep. "It could not be more obvious that some of your company can look past your grudge against my employer and see reason in my argument. Just take what your friend Beronûsh has to - oh, wait, I keep forgetting you can't read the thoughts of those around you, like the open books you are."
She then turns to Beronûsh, looming rather imposingly. "There is a reason my offer is tempting. That is because it is logical, and your pettier emotions will not seek to reconcile. No, no one will find out. And frankly, I find your level of trust in me shocking! To you, I might be a low-down, dishonest supplier to your most hated enemy, but note that in the past few days and before I have initiated myself into Druman society (despite your surprisingly successful attempts to oust me from Alabastrine), and as such I will follow their rules. Even with such a small deal as this, if anyone was to find out I had reneged on my part of the bargain-" She draws a finger across her throat and smirks once again. "-Well, suffice to say my reputation as a reliable negotiator far outweighs whatever benefit I could gain by betraying you."
"Come now, appeal to reason, time is running out. Do we not have a deal, or can you be sensible and discuss it amongst yourselves favorably?"
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"I confess to finding your offer intriguing, however I am also concerned that by agreeing to it, we would be putting all our hard work at risk."
He shakes his head. "If you were to up bids against those that we have sought to influence... well... that would be unfortunate. I have invested the last few weeks of my life in this expedition, the amount of gold you would have to offer to compensate me for that would be ...considerable."
He grins slightly. "If you could read our minds as you allude to, you would already have picked the information you want from our heads. So I conclude you cannot. Thus your attempt to purchase the information."
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"Not all your hard work, no, if any," Myrosype leers. When Khellek comes to his conclusion regarding her abilities, she grins even wider and bursts into laughter. "You are as smart as they come, Khellek! I will cop to not being truly clairvoyant, but enough so to pull off some interesting capers. I noted what your comrade was thinking at the time, and this whole conversation I have been trying to get you to mentally voice the names and methods you used. Alas, it was not to be. My offer, however, still stands, but even Khellek does not seem wise enough to take advantage of it. I give you this one last chance to reconsider."
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"I am not impressed. I was so curious how well you were in your abilities. Now I wonder if our presence was needed at all.
A well, you have to exuse me, I have better things to do.
Turning round Electra takes two steps, then turns around once more."You know, I hope your superiors will be so forgiving and keep the second smile... for another day!"
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Myrosype grins still, despite her defeat in this argument, and, seemingly, the bid. "Whatever makes you feel better, Pathfinders. If you are unwilling to take advantage of such an offer, I suppose we have no other words to exchange at present." She then turns and gestures to the two guards who brought the Pathfinders to her office. "Take them back to the party, out of my sight."
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Hakotep ignores Myrosype and heads back to the party, where he immediately moves up to Cyran and tries to convince him to increase his bidding. "Greetings again! I hope by now we have proven our worth as members of the Society and potential allies of yours. In fact, if you have the resources to take the Luminous Wharf I can foresee many profitable ventures in your future not just from us but from many different parties. If you must focus your bidding on just one district, be sure to get this one. At least that's my advice..."
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Hakotep searches about for Cyran, who is leaning slightly over the edge of the ring in which the gladiators do battle, not seeming very interested. "Not enough magic here to catch my fancy, what say you? Worry not, I intend to up my bid on the Wharf. Just give me another event or so to talk it over with my contacts..." It appears as if the Pharaoh's argument was not enough to grab Cyran's attention, which is likely in some faraway plane with less emphasis on time. The great wizard, as Passad's servants have alluded to, seems to have forgotten much about the Material Plane given how little time he spends upon it.
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Electra will first approach Cyran and speaks up. "I just wanted to congratulate to your success with the wharf. I think it was a wise decision and it will bring greater glory and riches to your coffers.
She will also try to talk the Elf wizard into supporting the scarab sages, pointing out that they are lead by a cabal of wizards who have much to offer to him but would also more than delighted to have an expert in planar affairs like him as a friend.
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Electra chats briefly with Cyran about his choices. "I doubt I would have brought myself to do it without encouragement from you Pathfinders. It was certainly the correct thing to do, and to better ensure it stays mine, I will increase my bid. I may have rebuffed the same request from your friend earlier, the halfling. Could you apologize to him, from me? Social functions are not my specialty, I fear, I may need to work on that..."
When the junior wizard brings up an alliance with the Scarab Sages, Cyran seems happy enough with the opportunity. "I was not aware any of the Jeweled Sages worked with your Society. I would gladly take this chance to aid them, I can contribute considerable resources to some cause or other, and my divinations reveal they, as well as you lesser agents, may have a great role to play..."
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Cyran listens to Khellek intently, understanding what he says to be true. "I see. Control of the Wharf, would, in fact, better facilitate proper trade, even that done beyond this plane. It could even prove a better meeting place than the Working End, should my clients wish to see. Granted, beyond Druma and the richer districts of my native Kyonin, I don't see why they'd want to. The many other places of the world seem to live in such comparative squalor." The elf sighs heavily. "Another thing to fix...Securing the Wharf will make that easier. Thanks you for your aid in that decision, Khellek."
A few minutes later, Magga approaches Cyran with some inane claim about the price of water on the Elemental Planes, and how control of the Wharf could make him even more wealthy. Cyran writes this off as lingering exposure to the energy of Axis, congratulates and thanks her for helping keep Myrosype out of the city, and excuses himself.
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"Attention! If I may have quiet?" Hegio's voice bounces off of the walls and ceiling of the underground chamber, as the dwarf strides into the center of the gladiatorial arena. The last set of fighters quickly comport themselves and hastily walk out of the ring. "The annual bid for Alabastrine, the 'City of Heathens,' has come to an end. Allow me to pronounce the victors:"
"The winner of the Courts of Abstinence...Temel Passad!"
A small storm of clapping erupts from the area around Passad, as his business partners cheer and rush over to congratulate him. It is quickly quelled, however, as the announcement continues.
"The winner of the Prophet's Burg...Irith Nomazmo!"
Irith buries her face in her hands in joy, her well-wishers whooping and congratulating her, her naysayers scowling.
"The winner of the Scriptum...Vayde Petronax!"
Vayde nods in recognition and grins, more to himself than anyone else. He nods respectfully in the direction of the Pathfinders.
"The winner of the Working End...Myrosype!"
Cyran blinks, surprised, if only for a second. He then appears more resigned and understanding of what has happened. Myrosype smiles at those cheering her on and throws a wink at the agents.
"The winner of the Luminous Wharf...Cyran Androtus!"
Cyran grins slightly upon not being completely shut out. His personal retinue of sycophants wishes him well, voicing their surprise at his acquisition of the district, as opposed to the one he preferred.
All parties involved seem happy enough with what they carved out, as none of them believed it likely they would gain anything. Each of them sincerely thanks the Pathfinders for their aid, presenting them with unique gifts and favors.
"Thank you, friends. Hosting you was a minuscule price to pay for what you have afforded me," Temel Passad says, shaking each agent in turn with a gloved hand, as is the custom of the Kalistocrat. "I can accommodate you in my manor for a day more, and anytime you would like to embrace the Prophecies, I will help you join."
Irith bows to everyone, giving Hakotep a radiant smile. "I was not sure if I could glean a single district from this bid, but you taught me that sometimes, one only needs what they have or can get." She then hands the Pharaoh a wooden mask with a sunken face and upturned nose. "Take this back to your Society, and may it and my blessing forever find you wealthy."
"Well, that was certainly a bid to remember," Vayde chuckles in a ghastly manner. "Perhaps we should invite you Pathfinders every year, and as I have said, this is likely but the start of a glorious career for each of you. Carry this on your journeys-" a white cotton headband with an imperial dragon coiled around the forehead is passed to the nearest Pathfinder by the nearest of the old man's aides, "-To remind you that you have a greater role to play, and not to be afraid of what lies ahead."
Cyran walks up to the team, with a rather forlorn smile. "I was sure Myrosype would take at least one district, but I did not want to deaden your hopes. I did not know she would choose the End, but I am sure it will be of the most use to her, as she picked it. These-" Cyran hands each Pathfinder a slender wand, little more than a trimmed oak branch, "-Enable you to summon creatures from the Great Beyond, and further your fight against that woman. Also, I was led to believe your journey here was rather long and grueling. I can take you back to your Lodge at no cost, as another token of goodwill."
Myrosype is last to step up, saying no more than "I told you I would glean a district. You did well, but this is only the beginning. And the next time, you will not be safe in Druma."
After this, the Pathfinders return to Passad's manor as promised for one more evening of revelry, lavish food, and any other expense they might wish to incur. In the morning, they are packed, and Cyran is at the gate, ready to take them back to the Lodge. The process takes less than a minute, and everyone finds themselves in the grand hall where their mission began. Cyran grins and waves once more, and disappears as quickly as he came. Trade Prince Aaqir al'Hakam and VC Brackett, who is sitting in two chairs, blink several times at the sight of the incredibly powerful wizard. "I assume that means you did well."
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"Alabastrine is mostly denied to Myrosype. Somehow she managed to secure the Working End district. I'm surprised, as I thought we had that sealed up. The other four districts however are held by other bidders, and they all appear grateful for the advice the team offered them in the bidding process."
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"I noticed as much," Brackett speculates wryly, pointing at the place where Cyran had been standing. "Two weeks in, we had the suspicion you might not have been able to shut her out fully. The way we figured, if you got the other bidders to champion all the districts, her initially minimal bids on each would be rendered irrelevant. Thusly, even in seeming defeat, she could push as much of her immense wealth as was necessary to secure a single district over what another bidder thought was a nigh-unbeatable offer."
Aaqir al'Hakam takes Brackett's pause to step in. "Given that, you have done well, Pathfinders, as well as possible or could be expected. I must commend you on keeping the Luminous Wharf out of Myrosype's clutches. Unlikely as it may seem, the Wharf is probably going to be Alabastrine's most profitable district, due to Druma's increased trade with Isger. And without a majority of the city, she will have to dedicate much time and resources to the ever-changing political intricacies of the Kalistocracy."
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Hakotep stands proud and tall with his hands on his hips and his chest bare once again, now out of his ridiculous special-event clothing. "Indeed, there is little she can do with only Working End under her control. The least important and value district, in my opinion. And we have made many important contacts and allies for the Society in the region!"
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Back at the Lodge, the Pathfinders are all commended. "As expressed, you have all done a wonderful job," VC Brackett smiles. "It is likely Myrosype believes she will get the most use out of the Working End, as she chose the district above all others, in the end, but this mission is still a success. I believe a celebration is in order, even if it cannot compare to those of Druma!"
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"I would happily share a glass of wine with your Magga. I am giving a rather prestigious lecture in a couple of weeks on the rise of the Kalistrocracy. I'll be using my recently acquired first hand knowledge of the workings of the government to spice it up with some interesting anecdotes...of course. But lectures are always best when prepared, and having a friendly audience to listen and provide guidance as to areas that could be expounded on would prove more than a little helpful."
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Brackett scowls at the fact that there were bandits on the Drumish border, but grins when he hears they were defeated (although he may not know about the one whose death could have been avoided). "I am glad you all managed to complete such a difficult task as a good team, I can only wish you are grouped together again on future missions."