A Return

[Anastasia]

"I'm in, especially if they're free to buy and sell," Waukeen says, "That sounds like a lovely plan you have going."

[Corwin]

"I thought you might like having an expanded customer base, even pretending to ignore it's the right thing to do," Seira tells her with a grin. "The plan is a bit more elaborate, of a sort I haven't run in a long while, and this is where it truly does need your expertise. I want to pressure the Inner Plane locals, the efreet chief among them, to cease from the slave trade. And I want to do it through sanctions, or an embargo if need be. They simply don't have the pull to maintain their rich and pleasant existence if you ensured your trading houses didn't deal with slavers and slave owners, or even if you put up exorbitant tariffs on deals with such people. Celestia's trading company will support us, I know without asking. They might not have the sheer volume of Arborea's individualistic trade, but they are a monolith. And with the introduction you provided me to the Mercane, I might be able to negotiate something with the Consortium. Then, to round up the key players, I'll see about pulling on Kascha's experiences and my own to deal with the lillends of the Infinite Staircase."

Barely able to contain her excitement, Seira says, "If we coordinate this, there would be no time to rally. No one could step in, not at zero notice, not with access to the special goods in play, which excludes the Hells. They might be upset, but the most basic of approaches, using a carrot and a stick, gives us good chances of success."

[Anastasia]

"Yes, but you can bet a good dozen blocs will be waiting to swoop in to the opportunity," Waukeen says, "A golden rule for you -  profit left behind attracts merchants like treasure attracts heroes." Leaning forward just a little bit, "Do you have a plan to keep the profit hungry at bay, Seira?"

[Corwin]

"In a sense," Seira agrees. "Perhaps I wasn't clear enough due to talking in general terms. People tolerate a great deal when the situation changes over time, but do something big and they might be up in arms. So we aim for a gradual change. Say I bring enough forces to kill a few slavers and threaten the efreet to shut up and take it, they'll actively work against me because they don't want to be next. But if I merely kill the most hated of the slavers and make no apparent attempts on the lives of others, well, that's the curse of Razalim at play. And if slave merchants no longer have your favor, or find all sorts of doors closed to them, they have a very simple choice, continue to deal in slaves and forego the specialty goods of the heavens and your favor, or regain both at the price of reorganizing their business. And even if the traders balk, what business is it of the slave owners themselves? They are not barred from purchasing those luxury goods, so long as they purchase them from traders that avoid dealing in sapients. Perhaps there will be some tariffs or special taxes, but not so much that they would be insulted. Rather, it might well raise the value of the goods in their eyes."

Seira gestures at the table, where her power draws several tiers of Fire natives, and indicates each in turn. "We treat them differently, preventing the lot from banding together under common grievances. We always keep an out for them, an easier way of doing things rather than breaking their reality and forcing them to act to protect their way of life. Once we've managed to get the majority to accept this new reality, however... perhaps, soon enough, they get another nudge forward? This time, through bribes and the power of positive reinforcement? Meanwhile, I will establish a city on Fire where escaped slaves are automatically freed. So long as I don't strike at any of the slave farms overtly, the way Aurora had and the way Akil bin Faheem's holdings will be, it should be tolerated as the better alternative to what the efreet know will happen otherwise, were I not constrained by this little game. Of course, our agents will be working in the shadows, enabling as many slaves as is feasible from escaping through a network of safe houses and hidden routes."

[Anastasia]

"I fear our main problem is the Sultan of the Efreet," Amaryl says, thoughtfully, as you outline your plan. "Waukeen, you mentioned that and I'm worried they may push back, hard. He can sidestep the entire plan by simply taking direct action, if he decides to."

"Hell as well, they have an interest in efreet," Waukeen remarks as she listens, "Also, killing bin Faheem is harder than you say, he's an old hand at this game and powerful. Alleged curse of Razalim or not, he's powerful, well connected and smart."

"But the plan's more than worth it, slavery is vile," Amaryl looks to you, "Let's do this, Seira. We can make the inner planes better that way."

[Corwin]

"I'm certain I can get bin Faheem," Seira states. "From what I know of his powerset, he seems stronger, and he does have allies from Hell to call on. But I can still take him out with planning and allies." She frowns. "In fact, I'm confident I could make any single part of this plan work. But I'm just as confident that it would be a bad idea to try and do it all on my own. If I spread myself so thin, word might get out and ruin my chances of a decent ambush. Not to mention that others might be better-suited for some portions of the plan, such as negotiations with the Mercane Consortium or the lillends of the Infinite Staircase. The Sultan, too, is a concern I think best left to another. Zaaman Rul has long opposed Akil bin Faheem, and I'm a known ally of his. With Zaaman Rul's agreement, I might try to present him as a target for the Sultan, diverting him from opposing the actual change we're trying to bring about."

She snorts, then. "In the end, I wonder how much of the plan will survive contact with the enemy. I bet we'll all need to think on our feet and improvise. But are you all in on this, Waukeen? And if so, would you like to take an active role in some of the social interactions? Sanzha might be a match for me at this stuff, but there is only one true master of negotiations."

[Anastasia]

"I'm in on this, but not all in," Waukeen replies, then with a smile, "I want to see you do this, Seira, without me doing much of it for you. It'll mean more gain for you that way, and I need to see my investment in you shine. Besides, if this goes all wrong, it leaves me in a position to offer my services for peace with more credibility."

[Corwin]

"I can't force others to gamble like I do," Seira responds, accepting her choice. "What can you provide me, aside from ensuring your trading houses and your faithful fall in line? Levers I could use with the Consortium? A better contact at the Endless Staircase? Helping the Sultan accept the new state of things if I succeed in all else?"

[Anastasia]

"Meetings are trivial to arrange," Waukeen agrees, "Dear, that's pocket change to make them. A few words and I can get you meetings to anyone who would foolishly ignore your request in the first place."

[Corwin]

"Leverage it is, then," Seira muses. "I'll work through Elegy with the Mercane, though it would help to know who might oppose this and what it is they wish for, to gain the upper hand in negotiations. It's better to come prepared with a decent plan from the start. And the same would be good for anywhere else I might approach, in case you feel that would serve my goals. Does that suit you?"

[Anastasia]

"Elegy can make the contacts you need there," Waukeen concurs. "I suggest you win big here - because if it goes wrong, it can go badly wrong. I want to see you profit, Seira."

[Corwin]

"That's the plan," Seira agrees. "What is your advice on Earth? Assuming supporting the Great Xorn works, that's all we need to do? And nothing official on Water or Air?"

[Anastasia]

"That depends on the dao, and they're playing their cards close right now," Waukeen remarks, drumming her fingers on the table, "Nothing official, the Padisha is mercurial at times but the Whirlwind Throne is reliably anti-slavery."

[Corwin]

"It would be a chance to show the marid as superior to their opponents on the other planes, and I doubt she'd let Chan outdo her," Seira muses. "Maybe I'll have Kascha inquire with them unofficially, to test the waters, while she secures fresh trading contracts for us."

[Anastasia]

"I like that," Amaryl says, "What else can we do? What about the para and quasis? Well, which ones even care at all."