[Mercy Merchant]

"Am I to guess at who you are referring to or are you willing to accept that I might look at the wrong person?  I can grant you superficial knowledge in a short while but it may take time to grant knowledge that is more complete.  Of course, the bargained debt for payment is greater for the detailed knowledge.  Which do you prefer, mortal.  And I would still have your name before I agree to anything."

[VegasRigged]

I almost want to leave, deals with spirits are almost inherently shady, but I'm here now and I want to know more about those I'm dealing with, without the use of invasive mind probes.

"The second is the one who interests me most. Her name is Sylvia, and I hope that what you discover about her supports our feelings for one another. Thank you for your help."

[Mercy Merchant]

The spirit that calls itself Arat almost seems to laugh.  You feel a slight tightening of the tether leading back to your body, as if the way is impeded somehow.  "Oh, mortal, our meeting is not yet concluded.  I still do not have your name and I would consider it an affront if you continue to refuse providing it.  And you have talked of three services and payment for each, but now only want one?  And you do this on my plane?  Come now, let us pretend that you have no insulted me and give me your name and the other two names you need to have researched.  Then tell me how detailed a search you need.  Then I will talk to you of the payments for the services."

"Unless, of course, you would like to remain on this plane as a servant here.?"

[VegasRigged]

Bastard.

"I am called Marisa, and I meant no offense. I would see what you learn of the one women, and what price you place upon the knowledge, before relaying the other two names."

I don't add any direct threat, but I carefully shed a layer of my kindness, letting an observant spirit know that the manipulation of my tether is not appropriate.

[Mercy Merchant]

"Do not be too disappointed, mortal.  You have come to the astral to seek services but seem less prepared than you should be.  So now we are both flexing our respective power and challenging each other.  But at this vortex, this power node, you are alone and there are other spirits here I can call upon.  But I am not without some grace and can be magnanimous, because I respect the bravery it takes to come here.  I can seek what you want to know of this woman and will not hold anything back.  You must be sure that you want to know what I find.  The price for this service is small.  I would give you a key to open a gate that will allow us to communicate more freely but will also allow me to send one of my own minions to your plane to seek out information I need for my own purposes.  Is the price agreeable?"

[VegasRigged]

"It sounds reasonable, but I will need to know more about this minion and how it will operate on the material plane. I'll need to take certain precautions if I'm allowing a possession to take place, for example."

Releasing a spirit on the material plane is a request I cannot take lightly, but this creature has a point, I am fairly outnumbered here. Next time I will have to bring a weapon focus. Or a bound spirit, though that will almost certainly be seen as offensive.

[Mercy Merchant]

The spirit waves a hand dismissively.  "There is so little that you need to worry about, mortal.  The minion is to simply gather information for me and no possession will be required.  And if you are spying on your close associates, what should it matter to you what I do on the material plane?  Make the bargain and go, or just go.  It matters not to me, but it may impede your future chances to receive assistance from other spirits."

[VegasRigged]

It's clear how this interaction will conclude.

Ooc: I'd like to roll knowledge of spirits and the planes. 5 an 3 hits respectively.

[Mercy Merchant]

The spirit holding you here would seem to be of the air domain, but a powerful one...........probably F8 and perhaps even stronger.  Your knowledge tells you the air spirits are interested in knowledge of the material plane and the mortals that live there and that they are usually willing to bargain for services, but will try to do so from a position of strength.  Your planar knowledge is a bit weaker, but you have heard of nodes such as this that can attract spirits much as a flame attracts moths.  It devours the weaker ones and can even destroy a strong one that comes too close.  There is a rumor that the node can provide extra power to a spell if one knows how to use it, but that trying too much might suck the user into the maw of the node.

The spirit facing you seems to be able to avoid the dangers of the node...............so far.

[VegasRigged]

"I agree. So long as you minion does no harm I will give it free reign. I thank you, when can I expect a report?"

[Mercy Merchant]

"that depends on your desire, mortal.  Do want surface information or detailed information?"

[VegasRigged]

"I wish to know if our meeting was luck, or if she was payed to get close to me. Does she have any employers within the Wuxong corperation and of course, I don't want her to know these inquiries are being made."

[Mercy Merchant]

This time the spirit does seem to laugh.  "Mortal, you seem to have an inflated idea of what we can do, but I will provide you the information you need to the best of my ability.  Look for me in two days time."  The grip on your tether relaxes and you are no longer constrained.

[VegasRigged]

With a nod I slip back into my physical form. I lean against the glass wall that separates the living room from the deck and breath in the frozen air of Seattle. Things are beginning, things I have started and things beyond my control. I am going to change this city, and I have no doubt that it will change me.

I stand carefully and head inside for that shower, it's time to call this a day and rest. Goodness knows I need it.

[Mercy Merchant]

Sunday  10 June 2075  0400    Marisa's Hotel  Seattle


Sylvia is already squeaky clean and welcomes you into the shower.  "I thought you were never going to come in.  Let me help you with the soap.  I have to admit that you sure know what a good time is.  I see great things in your future.  I would ask you to join my team, but I think that you have other ideas.  But just in case, I could use your skills and ruthlessness.  Would you be interested at all?  The pay is pretty good and you would get a chance to do a lot of travelling."

While talking, she is washing you down and is clearly interested in trying to entice you into something sexual.