The full wheel

[Nephrite]

Moore nods. "I can imagine." He says. "Have the efreet been bothering you and yours much of late? I wonder if there's been a reconstruction of sorts with the new influence from Baator."

[Anastasia]

"Less than usual," Zaaman Rul notes, "Most seem to be kept in check or focused on internal politics. The change in Sultan has caused a great deal of maneuvering."

[Nephrite]

Moore nods. "Actually, this is a good opportunity, I have something I'd like to ask as part of this - but it can wait until after the negotiations."

[Anastasia]

You ascend up - to the top of the tower, a throne of fire here. Here Zaaman Rul rests and merely waves his hand, "Then speak what you desire."

[Nephrite]

"We're a new power." Moore says, "At the very least, I'd like to offer diplomatic ties as well as trade routes to Hope's Landing for you."

[Anastasia]

A long breath out, "You remind me of her more with every word," he says at last, "Always with good hopes and an eye towards coin."

"In our case," Jetina speaks up, "The coins are secondary to the true purposes of it. What is trade but another arena which to protect and save souls in? Are they not the true currency of Creation, rather than shiny trinkets of rare metal?"

[Nephrite]

Moore nods. "Anyone who has a trading post in Hope's Landing donates the coin to themselves. I'm... big on self-improvement." He says with a bright smile.

[Anastasia]

"I've heard that before," Zaaman Rul says at last, "It's not the first time or the last time I've ran into Celestia's trading services."

[Nephrite]

He laughs at that. "Yes, I suppose that's how it works for us. But, regardless, I'm happy to invite anyone you'd like to see if they think it'd be a lucrative opportunity for you. Let's see... besides that, is there anything we can offer you, specifically, that you'd be interested in?"

[Anastasia]

"Yes, any information on Imix or the efreet," Is Zaaman Rul's answer, "Or any of the lesser forces in Fire."

[Nephrite]

Moore nods. "I have our spymaster keeping tabs on them, so If I hear anything new I'll be sure to let you know."

[Anastasia]

"Then we can come to some agreement," Zaaman Rul says as...

Just to be OOC clear, are there any particulars of this you need mentioned for clarity?

[Nephrite]

No, I trust he's not going to try and fleece us over this.

He will ask about the Bones in the aftermath to see if he may have some insight as to where they might be, if any at all.

[Anastasia]

It's a few hours of mundane discussions and all the nitty gritty that no one likes to deal with, but that is essential to society's smooth operation.

After a break Zaaman Rul stands, hands behind his back as he looks out over his realm. You can see castles, fortresses and towers being built on the horizon, often with walled towns clustered around them. Like little islands in a sea of fire as he speaks aloud, "After the Battle of Father and Son and the Abolition War's conclusion, I've had new volunteers come to Fire. Even some who require special means to endure the realm - a vow of fealty in exchange for my protection on them so that they can endure the heat in this realm, for in that vow they have done me a great service and a service to all of Fire."

"Oh, a gift," Jetina goes to stand next to him, a smile as she looks out and then faces him. "I only have a scant handful who follow me, I've only had the occasion to give one once. What do you give them? I find the stronger they are, the stronger the blessing that feels right and safe to give them."

This causes the Archomental to turn to Jetina as well, "The weakest, those who would support us but are not great warriors, I gift with protection from only the flames of this realm. Those who are stronger and more able I grant resistance to all fires, and the greatest I can grant the blood of fire elementals or a phoenix, both of which ward absolutely against heat."

"I'd love to give me followers more and better gifts," Jetina admits, "But...I can't do it for nothing. There has to be an exchange."

A gesture out as Zaaman Rul steps closer to her, "My mother spoke of secrets, of things that can only be known to us, we who rule in Creation. It is the will of the Three who oversee all that it is that way. Direct gifts are earned, for in those they advance us and what we rule over. There must be an exchange. A fire must be fed fuel to burn."

Kaja stays back as they talk, next to you as he sips a cup of sizzling cider, little embers of fire dancing across the surface of it. He smiles ever so slightly as he watches.

"I hate that." Jetina admits, "I hate that mercy and healing require spells to happen. Why must be suffer? Why must evil be allowed an equal share at the table of Creation? Why must it be an equivalent exchange?" She looks down and away, back to Zaaman Rul's realm. "Even this was paid for by the aid and mercy of your allies, to bolster you higher. Without their aid, you may well have been quenched in this war."

To this Zaaman Rul bristles, his shoulders burning like a log tossed anew in a crackling fireplace. "I will not fail again."  A tight voice, one that speaks of an inferno just beneath every word.

"I'm sorry." Jetina breathes that out, a hand reaching out to gently touch his arm. "I didn't mean to impinge your honor." A short silence between the two of them, shared before, "Oh. Moore," Jetina speaks, "Weren't you going to ask about those bones?"

[Nephrite]

Moore glances at Kaja and smiles as well and lets them talk, nodding along, and then nodding to Jetina.

"Yes. We've been asked to acquire the Quartz Bones of Qualinoth. It's... a long story." He says with a bit of a sigh. "I was wondering if you might've had any recent news of them... more recent than the last 1,000 years."