A book and many things to do

[Iron Dragoon]

Alyssa nods and slips the book into her desk, "Please bring him in."

[Anastasia]

The mercane brought in is tall. He moves with stiffness but quickly, posture upright and wearing a silver doublet paired with hose and boots. A red jeweled dagger is at his side, along with a large, golden signet ring. Around his neck is a golden chain, a pendant featuring a green gemstone the size of a man's fist, cut int he shape of a rectangle.

"Miss Songsteel?" he asks, staying standing.

[Iron Dragoon]

Alyssa stands, "Yes, a pleasure to meet you and, hopefully, work with you. Please take a seat. Would you like some drink or food?"

[Anastasia]

"Tea with honey," Is the answer, sitting and with perfect, upright posture. His hands are neatly folded in his lap.

Emily comes in and joins you, taking a seat as well, "Oh, that sounds nice, but I'd like cold apple juice, please."

[Iron Dragoon]

Alyssa uses a bit of magic for a sending to have them brought, "So we haven't been introduced. Might I ask who you are?"

[Anastasia]

Tea and juice are brought. After a drink, introductions. "I'm Tangulus," the mercane introduces himself, "An independent and self owned company of one. I specialize in diplomatic relations, especially where there is hostility and no relations at all." Slowly he sets down his teacup with a faint click of porcelain on porcelain. His voice is rather precise, each words clearly enunciated without any accent. "If you hire me, you will soon have no further problems."

[Iron Dragoon]

Alyssa nods, "I am Alyssa Songsteel, Regent of the Arcane Order and, soon, Queen of this demi-plane. You come highly recommended by one I trust implicitly, and the recommendation was with nearly no thought. I place great weight in that and speaks highly of your company and reputation.

Your specialty is a perfect match for the issue, but what do you know of our possible transaction?"

[Anastasia]

"I've been informed of the current situation," Tangulus replies and pauses for another drink. "Inform me of your exact goals, please, so that there are no misunderstandings possible."

[Iron Dragoon]

"There are slabs of stone in this valley. They are enchanted, but we don't know how exactly. I want to either replicate them or move them. Both will take time, both to study the magic and and to either move or replicate. I would prefer this to be done peacefully, but the ha-nagas make that unlikely. I can make some educated guesses about the ha-nagas, if you'd like, but it boils down to not wanting to waste my people's lives if I don't have to."

[Anastasia]

"Go on," The mercane invites, "What are your educated guesses?"

[Iron Dragoon]

"Their ancestors were drawn to the magic of the slabs and valley. They eventually figured out that the magic masked them from being seen, magically, and built their lair there because of it. Eventually they puzzled some of the knowledge of the slabs out and began getting more powerful magic, eventually becoming ha-nagas. I think they'll revere the area and slabs to some degree."

[Anastasia]

"I'll bear that in mind. Now we must discuss my compensation for this task. My fee is 30,000 gold coins, standard Brightwater or Consortium mintages. I request 5,000 up front and the rest to be paid on the completion of this mission. Any expenses incurred in this will be added to my final payment as compensation." Tangulus says.

[Iron Dragoon]

Alyssa considers, "Before we agree on a price, make me confident that you know nagas and what your expectation of an agreement with them will be. A promise of unlimited riches to these nagas is something I don't need you to offer. I want an idea of what you expect."

[Anastasia]

"I expect hard negotiations and possibility hostilities, depending on the nagas in question. Covens are usually more confident than a single naga, so I doubt they'll attack our of fear or territory right away," Tangulus says, "More likely I can parley with them and turn that into a proper negotiation. As for exactly what they'll want, riches usually will do, or magical lore, though I must caution an unknown coven of this power could have unusual or higher aims."

[Iron Dragoon]

Alyssa leans back a bit, "I'll grant that you don't have a lot to build from, but that's far more vague than I wanted. I'll agree to your fee with a caveat: if you can negotiate a reasonable fee from then, then you will provide me as much combat I tell on them as you can. Location of the lair, numbers, layout of the lair, and if you can assess magic, what they have protecting them."