Cercuciel stays dedicated as well.
The two remaining Pathfinders seem to find their seating once more.
Dinosaur Rodeo. Round 4. Bold may act.
Cercuciel (+2 circumstance to check)
Hancock (+2 circumstance to check)
Flory (lasted 1 round)
Hisaki (declined)
Cercuciel continues to stay dedicated.
Both Cercuciel and Hancock manage to stay on the bucking dinosaurs. Their seats are slightly less secure, though.
Dinosaur Rodeo. Final Round. Bold may act.
Cercuciel
Hancock
Flory (lasted 1 round)
Hisaki (declined)
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Hancock lasts until the his anklyosaur is broken. The dinosaur finally stops bucking, and the dwarf dismounts having lasted the longest.
The iruxi handlers bring Hancock a leather belt embossed with saurian iconography as a reward for lasting the longest.
The give Cercuciel a pouch with ten gold coins for lasting the second longest.
You return to your designated quarters in the city where Calisro encourages you to get some rest and warns you against the danger of staying up too late.
The next day, Calisro and Eras, along with the rest of the Vidrian delegation, lead you to the Chamber of Stars, the meeting space of Ekkeshikaar’s ruling council, where the possibility of a trade agreement will be discussed.
The heart of a sprawling and partially-submerged government building made of glass and stone, this large circular chamber is one of the few parts of the building that extends up above the waterline, giving an only slightly-obscured view of the sky above through the midnight-blue-tinted glass dome that covers the room’s ceiling.
A group of seven iruxi dressed in long blue-black robes trimmed with gold sit at raised pulpits along one side of the room. A long table has been set aside for a handful of representatives from the Vidrian delegation, and additional seating holds crowds of native iruxi, some eager to see the trade deal pass, others to see it halted, and the rest simply excited to watch events unfold. Already, a queue of Ekkeshikaar’s citizens is forming behind a stone lectern set aside for citizens to speak their minds and ask questions on the proceedings.
Calisro hands you four vials, containing a total of two doses of moderate cognitive mutagen and two doses of moderate silvertongue mutagen, explaining that they may come in handy, and that you should use them amongst yourelves as you see fit.
Argument 1: Breach of Contract
Opposing iruxi make the argument that because the original contract with the people of Vidrian (formerly Sargava) was broken, that Ekkeshikaar would be foolish to open into another agreement, or at the very least, should not do so until appropriate fees have been paid for the time during which they were in breach of contract—well over a thousand years’ worth!
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Hisaki stands.
“Who wishes to fight must first count the cost”
Short and vague, it's unclear which side he is supportive of. Perhaps they will read strength in the curtness of his comment - perhaps foolishness. Not that Hisaki has ever cared about looking foolish - so long as his cause is righteous.
Cercuciel remains silent, confident that his allies had this well in hand.
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Hancock starts citing precedences where contracts are no longer valid because of <insert legal term here>, where the contracted party no longer exists.
The only problem is that Hancock is difficult to understand under the best of circomstances, but legal jargon makes it nearly impossible. Fortunately, Bruce is able to translate the common English parts, and Hancock is able to write out his arguments for Flory to present.
Hisaki and Hancock manage to make some decent points. The documents that you retrieved yesterday help to underscore certain points. The council mulls over what you have argued for several minutes before continuing the forum.
Doubts are raised about how long Vidrian will remain free. The iruxi voice concerns that those who ruled there previously may return and try to subjugate them again. They wonder if Vidrian can maintain its independence, or if this trade agreement will lead to Ekkeshikaar being dragged into a war it neither wants nor needs.
Kesstraka makes several counterpoints in favor of the trade agreement .
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Cercuciel clears his throat as he stands. "Honorary Irixi, war is difficult. War is daunting. But, much of war is won or lost by resources and allies. To approve this agreement would net you those two things. And that is only in regard to Vidrian. That does not also include the allies of Vidrian. When one attempts to isolate themselves, they often only succeed in making themselves an easy target for those with ill intent."
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"The supreme art of war is to subdue the enemy without fighting"
Hisaki, vague and esoteric, presumes to let the implied lessons of his carefully chosen words speak for him. Could it be that whatever fears the council has a adeptly answered by short adages within the extensive literary cannon of "war" alluded to by his brief mention?
The Pathfinders' arguments spur another several minutes of conferring between the council members.
The iruxi point out that much of what they used to receive from the people of Vidrian years ago is of little value to the iruxi now. They point out that Ekkeshikaar wants for little and has thrived without any assistance from up north. They ask what exactly Vidrian has to offer them that they would want.
Bruce speaks up at this pint.
"Have you no imagination? I've been places where they sell sand. Sand! You just need to find out what they have that is useful to you!"
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"The skillful soldier does not raise a second levy, neither are his supply-wagons loaded more than twice"
Perhaps alluding to being self-sufficient, somehow Hisaki engages the conservative mentality and co-opts it into adopting a more liberal foreign policy by speaking directly to it's worst fears. Or perhaps it's war-splaining bluster? He let's the Ekkeshikaar elder's render their own opinions...
"You never know, they might have something useful," Cercuciel adds unconvincingly with a shrug.
The winds turn away from the Pathfinders for a bit. The opposition arguments are more persuasive for the moment, and the council confers for several long minutes.
Opponents of the trade deal argue that Ekkeshikaar is dependent upon Droon, a much larger empire to the South, for many resources. They worry that this trade deal might upset Droon and worsen relations with them, resulting in worse overall economic conditions for Ekkeshikaar.
Bruce blinks a few times.
"Are you saying you should not trade with anyone other than Droon for fear that they might retaliate? That seems like an unfair and foolish arrangement to me. Good trade fosters good relationships for everyone."
"The deal opens up resource opportunity for Ekkshikaar. Maybe now you are dependent on Droon. But, this is an opportunity to become less dependent on Droon. Droon may try to bully you, but if you have other options, it dulls their teeth."
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The council seems to be growing bored with Flory's arguments. Cercuciel and Hisaki manage to gain a few nods. However, Kesstraka stands once more and addresses the council again in favor of your agenda. This turns the direction of the debate, and the council confers.
It continues on like this for several hours. Eventually, the negotiations come to a close. The Council of Stars takes a vote on the presented trade agreement. The majority vote in favor and the agreement is ratified.
Calisro and Eras congratulate you on your hard work and give you permission to rest and relax around Ekkeshikaar until the delegation is ready to return.