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Smooth Song
623c32
>You obviously have actionable power, which they expect you to use to free the toilers. So stop lying.
It is difficult to stop what I have not begun. As to your actual point however, my actionable power in this situation is purely in my station. The rebels want me to approach the other preceptors and ‘make their case’, since they correctly predict their demands coming from my mouth will be heard better than their own. As to why they picked me, I expect it’s because I’m the only one they recognize. I believe I am the only diamond who has gone to the mines to talk to the miners in the last decade. Thus, I was most likely to be sympathetic to them.
>The Mongers....have tozol mercenaries now? How many?
I have confirmed at least three. The ones who took away the toiler and the one Haddik, the most influential monger I have hijacked, met with before. I suspect there’s more however.
>How come they are not the world's rulers by now?
Tozols are a servile race by nature and to my knowledge they are not allowed this far into the boondocks. My knowledge is obviously flawed on this point, however.
>What could the Mongers possibly pay them, that they could not by force take?
>Can the mercenaries be outbid? Cutting off the supply to their usual clients, combined with offering a new contract in the stead of a fight, can make for a compelling offer. With the mercenaries against them, rather than aligned? The suddenly disempowered can make for easy negotiations...
That is one of the things I hope to find out through the mercenary I’ve hijacked. However, I believe I have a book on them somewhere that I once skimmed. It might take some time to find however. Maybe it would be a good use of Four, if I can provide a strong excuse for her to search for it. I wouldn’t want to tip my hand to anyone that I know things I shouldn’t, and the presence of tozols is one of those facts.
>I noticed you haven't said if hearing was part of the package. If not, here's hoping you can read lips
Sounds are not transmitted. I have practiced reading lips but it is unreliable, allowing me to glean one word out of every three or four. That’s under perfect circumstances of course. You’d be surprised how often people talk when not face to face.
>Also, can we make these inscriptions on any piece of wood? Would it be possible to fashion amulets with these eyes for everyone who goes to your sermons and then "bless" them every time you have one and get information from it?
Technically I can carve eyes into any material. Wood, stone, even paper if it’s thick enough. The medium effects how it ‘sees’, however. I find wood a decent middle ground, though it tends to wash out details.
I’ve considered the amulet idea before but the problem is that enhanced I may be, there is only so much information I can sort through, and useful information is rare. Going through what the eyes see in detail requires just as much time as it would have if I was watching in person, and skimming makes it easy to miss things. Finding Chast’s attacks was simple as I knew exactly when to look already. I deemed the strangeness of the action not worth the potential rewards.
>Shame those mercenaries will now get to hear of Silver's suspicions of him, assuming Asher spills it all. One wonders whether they'd listen.
Doubtful. Anyone who knows our relationship would discount it. Anyone who doesn’t, such as the mercenaries, have no real reason to care. I suppose they could pass the information on to the mongers, but they have clearly abandoned political maneuvering at this point.
>Maybe ensuring an alliance between the rebel miners and the Mongers could earn you some leniency if they take over. That is, if you want to stay Silverlock.
I have confidence in my ability to manipulate people given time and opportunity, but convincing the miners to not hate mongers would be nigh impossible. They were quite… depraved in spurring on the miner’s labor.
>Play your part. One would almost think the way they acted - they'd expect you to. Although perhaps that means you shouldn't. You could argue you did not want to escalate things fast. That you were suspicious of their real motives and wanted to investigate further.
>Speaking of which, if they are negotiating with others perhaps we can use that to our advantage. Gather evidence of other negotiations and be the first person to let them know, we can then say they weren't doing their job in bringing this information to their superiors, this will make you seem more trustworthy and possible contenders less so.
Silver will be judicious and subtle in her reactions. I could steer her reaction to the miners perhaps, but she would take the matter largely out of my hands. Which could be a benefit, as it would let me focus on the Mongers with less distraction. Alternatively, I could break with what would be expected of me and go to Steel. He would try to meet the miners directly with a force of sticklers. And mobilizing them might scare the mongers, though scaring them into what I’m not sure. Would they call off the coup and delay, or try to delay it. Either way mobilizing the sticklers we have on hand and perhaps calling back the ones who are away would put us in a much stronger postion.
As for gathering evidence I can see the wisdom is that. However, it’s paramount I have a story to go with that evidence that doesn’t implicate me in anything unsavory.
Regardless, I should check my current roster of hijacked people, to ensure I don’t miss anything.
>IIllariopalin Silver
Talking with the Ambassador again. I doubt Riksen will realize only his drink is alcoholic. Silver can be a good actor and Macie is skilled at her sleight of hand.
I catch the words ‘Trade’, ‘Politics’, and ‘Pleased’.
>Braddiosium Steel
Talking at a toiler. Surprising, but unlikely to be important. I am able to get a view of the papers on his desk, luckily. It’s a letter claiming a bounty for Moon Fon? I’m surprised such a slight artisan could have anyone after her in the outside world. I suppose she was hiding here and was caught by the sticklers she is accused of murdering.
>Haddik the Greatest
My package only reached just now? It’s been hours. Then again, I shouldn’t be surprised if they’ve made it difficult for sticklers affiliated with diamonds to make it through their den.
>The Valkin Mercenary
This is my first look at their forces and I am troubled. At a guess I wouldn’t put their numbers at more than fifty, assuming this is the sole cavern they are occupying. But their technology looks to be rather… advanced. Still if they believe they can overcome our garrison of sticklers with just these numbers, they may be underestimating us.
I should keep focus on one of them while I work on other things. Which one would be most useful though?
>What do you want, Xerin? What are your short and long term goals?
I want revenge. To string up every diamond and stickler to the rafters and make them watch as I tear down their works. To collapse this mountain to rubble with everyone in it and use it to mark my father’s grave. To finally pay them back a tenth of what they have done to me.
But that was the dream of a child. I’ve grown past it. Now I simply desire to no longer have to answer to any of them. To put on this simpering personality and pretend to get along with them. I will lead them instead. I plan to become the next Prophet and change this society to one in my image, one where I can thrive instead of be stifled.
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