038.9 Afina, Ithea, Muirfinn and the Mercane

[Corwin]

[23:11] <Kotono> On return, Muirfinn meets up with Afina and Ithea in the courtyard as they return back...OOC: Go ahead, Muirfinn, you're the one who wnated to chat it up.
[23:12] <Muirfinn> "Ah, hello Afina, Ithea. I was hoping that you would be free to talk about the matter with the Mercane."
[23:13] <Ithea> "I'm free. What's the matter about?" Ithea asks, not having heard much about it.
[23:14] <Afina> "Lets go to the war room to discuss it?" Afina suggests, "Filbrez must be out gathering stock, so we won't be able to ask him for details on what the Mercane are proposing, but whatever you have will have to do, Muirfinn."
[23:14] * Muirfinn nods. "Let's go then, I'll explain in more detail there."
[23:15] <Kotono> The trip to the war room is without incident...OOC: Go ahead.
[23:24] <Muirfinn> "Alright. We were headed to Tannin's home plane, I believe, alnog the Infinite Stair when we encountered a demon and his undead pets. While I was able to dispose of his grinning zombie, Tannin lost a hand in the fight. I did not expect the giant demon to come roaring down the stairs from cover, swinging a sword the size of a door and lashing out with an enslaved spirit. I held him off while
[23:24] <Muirfinn> Tannin and Chok got some breathing room, and was assisted by a few dozen lillends. He managed to defeat my spells quite handily, and dispelled summonafter summon. No barriers held against him, and he pierced my armor just as easily in my elemental form. Eventually, he had slain most of the brave lillends. Vivantha one of the last survivors from her group, I believe. We tumbled together off the
[23:24] <Muirfinn> side of the stair, rather than risk soul-draining death that I was not sure I would have avoided. We wound up on the demiplane of Union, which should not have been possible. It is a private place of the Mercane, from what they told me, and a place where great wealth is housed. I had to make a few concessions with them in order to be restored. Which brings me to my point." Muirfinn sighs.
[23:27] <Afina> "Mmhmm," Afina hums, "Go on? What sort of concessions? Will they affect your ability to fight for the Crusade?"
[23:27] <Muirfinn> "The mercane offered us access to the use of their bank, and help with money-making opportunities that could greatly benefit the Aurora. In return, they wanted to expand here on the Aurora. More shops, larger space. Also," Muirfinn winces, "they have heard of Afina's ability to craft magical arms and armor, and wanted access to your abilities. At cost."
[23:29] <Ithea> "Okay, that explains Afina. And me?" Ithea asks, wondering if the Mercane asked anything about her.
[23:29] <Afina> "Hee," Afina starts to giggle, but it soon becomes an open laugh, "Haha! They want us to work for them? This is a bad joke, Muirfinn. I hope you explained that you're in no position to make deals on behalf of Aurora."
[23:29] <Muirfinn> "Nothing about you, fortunately."
[23:31] <Ithea> "Ah," Ithea says with a shrug. "Afina does have a bit of a point though. Not to be rude, but yeah, they're not really concessions you're making so far...? Why would they expect Afina to give something like that at cost?"
[23:32] <Ithea> "Are they planning to give up their neutrality and join the crusade?" she asks almost jokingly.
[23:36] <Muirfinn> "Afina...I was blind, incredibly weak, had no idea where I was, and they were withholding healing. They had me over a barrel, as the phrase goes. I accepted the agreement, though I did expain that I was not in charge, and that they needed to speak with you before anything could be finalized." Muirfinn says. "I had no idea at the time if my words wre binding, and if they are indeed not, please
[23:36] <Muirfinn> inform them of this. I advised that they send representatives so that they could speak with you on this."
[23:38] <Muirfinn> "Also...they might expect us to have over a million gold in assets."
[23:38] <Afina> "Oh, yes," Afina chortles, "If those representatives come with that deal we'll laugh them right out the gate. I'll have a word with Filbrez when he comes back for his take on this, but we've got enough to keep us busy without becoming a mill for the Mercane." Standing up now, "Speaking of that giant demon, I'll need to find someone to banish the puddle it left back to the Abyss so it doesn't...
[23:38] <Afina> huh? Well I'm sure we do, but what does that have to do with them?"
[23:40] <Muirfinn> "According to them,...something about interest? I think? I don't understand the concept of banking very well. The gist of it is that the mercane I spoke with seemed convinced that he could make us all extremely wealthy."
[23:40] <Muirfinn> "Ah, and he said that they have many contacts there, ways of meeting those who could help us perhaps. I spoke with a celestial while I was there. Nice fellow."
[23:41] <Afina> "I'm sure he has a bridge to sell us at the bottom of Carceri, too," Afina shakes her head. "Right, is that everything?"
[23:42] * Muirfinn nods. "If he's telling the truth, though, it could be good for all of us. I'm not interested in the least in seeing you become some sort of walking magical item emporium, but hearing them out wouldn't harm anything, would it?"
[23:44] <Afina> "So long as I'm not doing anything more important when they come round. As it stands, though, I find the proposal insulting. Now, I'm going to find someone who can plane shift some smoking demon ooze," she says, fluttering off to get to work.
[23:46] * Muirfinn nods, standing. "I have to get these cursed wounds healed as well. I appreciate you at least considering the proposal. Again, the details are fluid. I made sure of that."