Elementary anarch with Baleruk (Moore)

[Anastasia]

"Minerals are valuable," Morniel says, "Gold, silver, gems and such are in part because they are scarce. Long ago, I was stationed on a Prime Material world. A Waukeenite there discovered a spell to permanently transmute common substances into precious ones. He was a good man and was overjoyed so he went to the poor and turned all their meager possessions into objects of great value."

Here Morniel sighs, shaking his head. "The first few were fortunate, but soon the overwhelming influx of valuable materials reduced their value. Soon they were in freefall, while prices inflated because the value of gold had collapsed. He turned entire walls on peasant farms into pure gold. There was more gold than food in the area...and soon gold was worthless and a meal was far more valuable. The situation deteriorated so greatly that the poor fool was smote by a proxy of Waukeen."

"Look at Mineral. Everything here is greatly valuable to us. But if we took all of Mineral's wealth, would it remain wealth at all?"

[Nephrite]

Moore nods. "Yes, I think that's a good way to look at it. They don't see it as wealth, there is no monetary value to anything here for them. I think they just see it as part of their plane -- so it's personal to them. They see it as part of themselves, so when someone wants to try and use it for material wealth, then.. well, they basically see it as an insult, almost. That may not be it exactly, but... I think there's some truth to it."

[Anastasia]

"I was aiming more that it destroys the value of it and thus their own value," Morniel smiles as he walks along, "But yours may have the truth as well."

[Nephrite]

"I don't disagree with you from a purely economic standpoint." Moore says with a smile. "If we took everything here and sold it, I think we'd have to fight Waukeen herself!" Moore adds with a laugh.

[Anastasia]

"I wish only not to be beaten with coins," Morniel laughs softly as well, "Or be crushed by a giant one."

[Nephrite]

Moore nods with a grin. "I'm sure we'll hear if Waukeen takes any offense to our efforts on Aurora afterwards."

[Anastasia]

Laughter follows as the two of you head along. It's not far to Crystalle's palace, mineral elementals at attention as you approach. Yet the gates do not open. Instead, a figure of shining white metal appears, a silvery-white man over 20 feet tall. He looms over you and yet has no defined features, only a smoothness of body and face. "Platinum I am. Greets you does Crystalle. Forward is the way."

[Nephrite]

Moore takes a moment to fully bow. "Platinum, it is a pleasure to meet you. This is Morniel, the senior diplomat for Aurora. If it would please Lord Crystalle, we would meet with him -- but if you speak for Crystalle as Gold, Silver and Opal do, then we would be pleased to speak with you as well." He doesn't want to impose on the hospitality, although it does sound like they can go in if they'd like to.

[Anastasia]

"Meeting is now the. Befall will treasure you." The figure says, "Archomental pleased."

[Nephrite]

Moore bows again. "Thank you. I am here for two reasons -- one, to find out if there is anything further Aurora can do for Lord Crystalle or for Mineral in general, and two, to ask for something. As you may know, General Afina Devilsbane is the primary crafter for us. I believe there may be something Mineral that we might give her as a gift that would allow her to push herself beyond the norm for crafting arms and armor. If Lord Crystalle knows of any such item, we would be in your debt to know more about it. We would not wish to simply take it from here, but if we can trade in favors or other matters for it we would be happy to." Moore says, though he glances at Morniel to make sure he didn't overstep any boundaries.

[Anastasia]

Morniel smoothly adds after, "We don't seek Mineral's treasures, but the tools one could use to forge the treasures."

"Needing do not tools for natives." Platinum replies right away, its smooth head coming closer as it bows, curling into a perfect 90 degree angle. Its head is just above the both of you, featureless face gazing down.

"Of course, of course," Morniel smiles, a little chuckle, "For you and the natives, all you need is your hands. But not everyone's so blessed, and if natives have ever allowed others to work here, they would use tools."

Diplo checks, both of you. +5 bonus since you're on good terms with them.

[Nephrite]

Taking 10 for 50.

[Anastasia]

> roll 1d20+77 Morniel
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 83 > [d20=6]

Morniel being hyperfocused on diplomacy helps him a lot.

"Ringing hammer tongs," Platinum says, words coming despite no mouth. "Ravine lost in air. Talking now archomental."

"Thank you," Morniel says, "In that case, we'll wait for that to conclude."

Platinum stays silent for several minutes, until it kneels down. Its chest spreads open smoothly, metal opening to reveal a cavity within. A small creature hops out, a dwarf. He has a black beard that glistens like gemstones, unlike any hair you've ever seen before. His head is bald otherwise, gleaming with gemstone like facets. He wears mail, tunic and hose, all a metallic platinum shade. He cracks his neck as he lands, "Greeting now...no, no, no. Now I'm greeting? No. Balls fucking. Fucking balls. Bleh, bleh, bleh. We all join with Platinum sometimes, great for learning Mineral and not so good for speaking. Think this needs a civilized language. You two speak dwarven?""

[Nephrite]

Moore smiles and nods to the dwarf, switching over to Dwarven. "Hello and greetings from Aurora, sir."

[Anastasia]

"Damn fine, damn fine," The dwarf rolls his neck and stomps on over, "The boss said you were good folk. Not many of them show up here, just greedy idiots who bleed all over the place."