[Jack_Spade]

<<Your argument is fallacious. Just because I can't help everyone I'm supposed to help no-one? This has nothing to do with above or below but with right or wrong.
Slavery is evil - there is no two ways to see it. If I have a chance to lessen that evil I take it.
Besides if there is no pain to my request, we'd reward the Flowers for persevering with their policies.>>
Isaint replied.

[adamu]

When the hippy girl opened her mouth to speak, she closed it again almost immediately, perhaps having sensed that she did not have the full attention of Isaint and Robyn.

For his part, Al was furtively skimming the messages scrolling across the screen of his commlink, holding the device out of the girl's sight under the table like an errant schoolboy. He was amused by yet another round in the age-old battle between correct male thinking and incorrect female thinking.

But he was also conscious of the awkward silence, and he was nothing if not mannerly. Offering the slave-trader an apologetic grin, he leaned forward and whispered, "Tax issues. Ya jist never know when they'll come up." He gave a what-can-you-do shrug, then said, "Hey, yer some kinda healer-type, right? I got somethin' wrong with my finger here...there, see that?...no, no, be careul, don't pull it..." and a long, rolling thunder of flatulence erupted into the room.

[Aria]

[Sunday July 5th, 2076; Somewhere near Nightside Market, Below, London]

Cara drew herself up to her rather inconsiderable height, looking both amused and more than a little insulted

“Slavery?  I assure you that House Laésal does not practice slavery!  I concede that there are those who would argue that some of the herbs and poultices that we supply to the denizens of Below have addictive properties but we do not force them on anyone!  There are other Houses with different scruples no doubt but surely you cannot expect me to influence them?

I do not know the full story of your interactions with the Maiden but I know you ran afoul of her and she paid the price for her misjudgement and pride.  Although it was within her gift it was irresponsible of her to pronounce a Bane on you, a sanction that should only be employed in the direst of circumstance, and I apologise on behalf of my House. 

You know that it has been lifted otherwise you would not be walking Below.  Know that she has been removed from her position, and I am told that in her shame she took her own life.  It was a sad day for us, it has given the die hards of our House the excuse they needed to further marginalise the non-elves.  That is partly why my alliance with the Iron Company is so important, to redress the imbalances that threaten the stability of my House and Below.

As to your second point, Tamsyn told me what happened at the Gardens…I’m not sure it was a location I would have chosen for a meeting but my love is braver than I!  There are many shadows in Below, literal and metaphysical…my house is not a violent one in general and we are not ideally suited for hunting such creatures, but the Iron Company do combat them when they reveal themselves and I am sure Tamsyn could influence a more proactive approach.

Is this enough for you or do you need to wring further concessions from me and my House?  I assume as Agents of the Old One he is recompensing you for your efforts in this matter but is there ought I can offer to sweeten the deal?”


***

#68

[Jack_Spade]

"I am talking about using magic to compel a young girl to leave her family and to join the Flowers. The Maiden said she recognized a kindred spirit and wanted to make a ward of house Laésal of her - against her will. Hence why I am talking about slavery, abduction and addiction. This is the practice I can not tolerate and that ultimately led to this... situation. And according to what your herbalists said to Al, this wasn't the first time either.

There are enough people who willingly become a slave to substance use and abuse - no need to force anyone else into that lifestyle.

And no, these are my only requests. I'm not interested in gestures of dominance or subjugation."

Isaint turned to Al:
"Seriously? I met some foul things in my live, but that... even the plants over there are looking sick now."

[adamu]

Al laughed heartily. "Jist a little aromatherapy ta keep folks' minds on they work," he answered. "Too much passin' notes in class. Needed ta do somethin' ta cut the damned funny-weed smell in here, anyways. Al ain't inta all this reefer madness, baby."

[Mercy Merchant]

Robyn holds her tongue and her internal keyboard.  In her opinion, ISaint is fixated on putting blame on an entire House for the actions of a few and nothing she says is likely to change his opinion.  She nods and smiles at Cara, but lets ISaint do the team talking.  After all, The Old One has set these two and Jackhammer on the mission, not her.

[adamu]

Working hard to ignore the unshaven little cretin's juvenile display - but nose nonetheless wrinkling involuntarily - the dwarf girl bowed slightly to Isaint and added a respectful nod to Robyn as well. Speaking to the two adults at the table, she said, "Then we are in agreement. All that remains are the details. How soon can you arrange this concert? We will help as we can, but we are closely watched, and our participation in the preparations will perforce be limited."

[obidancer]

Being back at Robyn's was a blessing. If he was physically well, his mind was hurt. Not only Deckard was feeling responsible for Isis and Jackhammer's states as he had left them behind to help the others, but what he witnessed in the gardens had been eating at his own sanity. He knew he needed to recuperate and get his mind to refocus on the task at hand.

It was a hard time though - he had seen her - his wife. A brief vision, during the fight. He had been able to block it out, knowing too well the Shadow spirits were trying to wreck havoc on everyone's brain. But now that the fight was over it seemed the moment was burnt in his memory. He had seek for so long to get in touch with his wife's spirit, this even brought hi to study the art of Channeling. He had traveled to Metaplanes to gain clues to how and where he could find her soul. Nothing had led to Below. Yet here he was. With his knowledge of the Paranormal, he was ready to dismiss the sight of his wife for an illusion from the Shadow Spirits, but what she said is really what was tormenting him now... 

When Isaint didn't included him for the next meeting, he took no offense, on the contrary. It would give him the time he needed... to bring his mind somewhere else, focus on his art, on what he was good at, and most importantly on what he knew would certainly be a great asset for the whole team. More danger laid ahead of them...

Sorry for the disappearance again. Deckard will use the time to finish the temporary Lodge he had plenty of time to start the day before, and bind spirits to open up options for later. Rolls coming soon

[Jack_Spade]

"We will probably need at least a week to set things up and to send invitations.
If I understand you correctly, we are now up for a masquerade ball instead of a pure concert. Which does work for me as well. We need to send out invitations after we get the o.k. from whoever in your house can authorize the use of Lyonesse for an outing.

We still need to find the holy man/woman to officiate the wedding, I'm still open for suggestions.

Also, we will set up a contract for you and your soon to be spouse, detailing the bits about stopping abductions and fighting shadows. I expect you both to incorporate that into your vows for each other - you can pretty it up with words like justice and peace and the common good. Once you are in power I hope you'll remember them.

Finally I've got still some shopping to do so we can do that whole three by three thing."

Isaint composed a mental message while he waited for an answer:
<<Alright team, your fearless leader has once again been taken in by a woman. I just agreed to hold the wedding on a foreign and possibly hostile metaplane themed after Arthurian legend. I really won't hold it against you if you prefer not to go there. If necessary, I'm ready to bear that decision alone but welcome any one of you who wants to stand by my side.
On the plus side this concession might cause change in Below for the better. So it hopefully will be worth it.
Another plus: We won't have to content with another lecture about hats from the holies. So there is that at least.>>

[adamu]

Al read Isaint's text on his commlink, then simply looked at the ork and rolled his eyes, his facial expression making clear what he thought of the won't-blame-you-if-you-chicken-out-but-anyway-I'm-going-alone drama.

He'd given up on his co-workers once.

He never would again.

[Jack_Spade]

Isaint winked at Al and squeezed the small guy's shoulder in a friendly painful manner saying "I didn't expect anything less of you".

#483

[Mercy Merchant]

Robyn looks at the other two.  "I do not know if I can get Jackhammer ready in a week.  I am a surgeon, not a psychiatrist, and do not have a good feel for how badly he is damaged.  I will also point out that we left the overworld in a bit of a hurry and under a cloud.  There may be consequences of that waiting for us up there, so do we want to take the chance?"  She goes quiet for a moment and shivers uncontrollably, reliving some of the horrors perpetrated on her body and mind.  There is a physician here that put my mind back together from where it had gone as a defense against going completely insane during the time I was being tortured and.........and basically being dismantled over and over again.  She managed to salvage my sanity and she can do the same for Jackhammer and Iris.  I had hesitated to mention her before, because.....well, because you both seem a bit down on the people here.  And mostly because I know there are certain stigma against people who have been judged insane and did not want you to see that in me."

[adamu]

"Criminy, woman, crazy's a resume-topper in this damned perfession. Own it! An' as fer the good citizens o' Below, like I been patiently tryin' ta tell ya, jist cuz as a group they's predominantly evil an' degenerate, it ain't impossible there's one or two individuals what's perfectly civilized an' trustworthy down here. If ya know someone'll take good care o' Jackhammer an' Iris, then I say we lay a heap-load o' cash on 'em an' say thank ye in advance."

He reached down and scratched his crotch, then continued, "Trouble is, rasta-geezer said our giant ork friend's supposed to be in on this little hootenanny as the third dude. Or it won't count or somethin'. Any way around that?"

[Jack_Spade]

"Some of these days we have to talk about that kind of disassociation you have with the people you are defending and who at the same time were responsible for torturing you.

Good point on the overworld. I wanted to check with my contacts anyway to see how things stand in that regard. A costume change and a different exit should probably be enough, but you never know.

And no complaints from me if you know a capable soul-plumber.

About Jackhammer: I'd say this is a clear case of getting a doctor's note that you can't take part in sports because a nightmare ate your sanity. Robyn should probably get the o.k. from her mentor on that and ask if we may replace the big fellow with an other volunteer.
I guess, as long as it's three people from our group this should be no problem - after all the guy knew about that number three thing of Lyonesse."
Isaint replied.

#484

[obidancer]

Isaint composed a mental message while he waited for an answer:
<<Alright team, your fearless leader has once again been taken in by a woman. I just agreed to hold the wedding on a foreign and possibly hostile metaplane themed after Arthurian legend. I really won't hold it against you if you prefer not to go there. If necessary, I'm ready to bear that decision alone but welcome any one of you who wants to stand by my side.
On the plus side this concession might cause change in Below for the better. So it hopefully will be worth it.
Another plus: We won't have to content with another lecture about hats from the holies. So there is that at least.>>

Sitting in a meditative stance in the center of his makeshift Magical Lodge in the middle of Robyn's leaving room, Deckard had set his commlink on Voice transcript, to be left aware of any incoming news from the trio meeting one of the principle. He started to listen to Isaint's message undisturbed but when the mention of Metaplane arised, one of his eye opened wide, followed shortly by the second one as excitement grew inside him, and did totally ruin his meditation.

He rushed up to grab on his commlink, lookibg to get more details on the 'trip'. As an Initiate in the Mystical Art, Deckard had learn to enlight his soul and travel to Metaplanes. A hard process very few Magiciens could actually attempt. But it was a demanding task and the 'Dweller', guardian of the Planes, was always difficult to deal with. The only way for everyone to be able to travel to a Metaplane, would be through an Astral Gateway, created by a powerful Great SPirit fromn the Lyonesse Plane. Or an Astral Rift that would be hidden somewhere Below. In both cases, a blessing for any Mage of his caliber to ever have a chance to experience this.
<< Are you saying the Flowers know of the location of an Astral Rift? and they would be willing to let us all us it? You know what we'll find behind can be extremely foreign for any of us. Holy shit, that's pretty awesome. Lyonesse's plane...  Who'se coming? I'm not sure you guys MUST bring Jack, but if needs be and is allowed, I can replace him. It's not like I need to come back to the surface for a while anyway...

... don't answer... you guys are planning to get back to the surface first, ain't you...?