“If the Traveler is interested in divine items, our search may bring us to his attention. We have a contact that sometimes travels through Jasperdown, the hammer may be a good place to start, although perhaps we should ask why they want it.”
Tristan thinks back to the legends, stories, tales, and ballads he learned at the side of those who trained him to remember any relevant information on the hammer of Jasperdown and the dark dwarves. History: 10.
Dog sighs, and stands up. "Thank you, your grace[honestly not sure the formal address, but he'd use the right one]. Honestly, the quests seem either boring, or cruel. Dedicating a temple, poisoning wells or cleansing them. Hunting a fey elk. Foisting cursed items on the unwary. Restarting a traveling circus is the kind of thing I'd like to do in my twilight years, when Queen Gentoa is far more powerful than I am and needs no protection. So the quests don't seem promising. Gash, Martin, I think you know this. The Traveler may have some things to share, and I'm guessing a celestial sextant on the highest mountain in the world wouldn't be available without a fight. Llyr, Tristan, well, I don't know you, but perhaps you'd be up for some adventure. Kulloda, you're bored. How close can we get to Mt. Ulaa via teleportation? And do we at long last have a way to converse with the angels and demons to see if they do end up making a decision while we're away? I'd like to check in with Q'wai to see if he's he's heard anything recently. I'm packed and ready to go."
He looks at Gash with an unspoken glance, checking mentally to ensure he's not made a miscalculation, and then looks at Martin, and cocks a half grin. "I know you missed me talking."
Martin is just smiling and pretending to have lost interest.
“These are all good options… the only thing I would add is that I think a night’s sleep has given me perspective enough to understand why Finnegan is on par with an ancient dragon… he’s already found one of the divine artifacts. At least one. He’s cut a deal.”
Having only been listening on and off, the Eladrin furrowed his brow slightly, bringing the information he’d subconsciously registered from the current discussion to the forefront of his mind.
“Freeing a Djinni from the clutches of the Drow Queen.”— his index finger rose, lazily —“Stealing from the moon goddess, in her own realm.”— the middle finger followed suit, as he struggled to remember Selune’s name, before ultimately giving up — “I suspect this one,” — he motioned at Kulloda, as his ring finger joined the other two — “Will want to pursue his Master’s request: the head of a living King.”
“Excitement abounds.” The Elf shrugged, glancing around the room before his gaze lingered on the Regent, one eyebrow quirked — “You wouldn’t happen to have any suggestions there, would you?”
A smile lingering on his lips, Llyr’s eyes then met the would-be circus builder’s. “Tack on dedicating that Temple of yours.”— he spoke, extending his pinky finger. The Elf referred to the Goddess of Illusion’s circus, and found himself more than a little amused to hear that the only option Doggear suggested fit ever so perfectly in the very complaints he’d espoused, only seconds prior —“And we’d be a single one short.” A pause, as he looked through the options in his mind. “There’s always the Self-Sacrificing one.”The thumb completed the set. “I‘m told this realm was built on pursuing change exclusively at great personal cost, and figured you’d be tripping over yourselves for the chance to be recorded in History in such a way.”
His voice entirely serious, the Eladrin glanced around, gauging reactions.
“I suppose there’s always the retrieval of the Duergar hero’s hammer, and of the securing of the Eternal Cold Flame. Lacking in thrill for some, perhaps, but securing the blessings of the three Elemental Gods might prove interesting enough.”
Dog sighs, and stands up. "How close can we get to Mt. Ulaa via teleportation?"
A brief discussion about this results in the conclusion the party could teleport to Tamsa, follow the river towards the Cloudspire Mountains, which will take about 2 days using Martin's folding boat, and then have about a three day march to the base of Mt. Ulaa.
"And do we at long last have a way to converse with the angels and demons to see if they do end up making a decision while we're away?"
The Regent considers this for a moment. "Perhaps we will need to arrange the sending stones so that I can provide you with an update, if one occurs. There was no progress as of this morning."
Martin is just smiling and pretending to have lost interest.
“These are all good options… the only thing I would add is that I think a night’s sleep has given me perspective enough to understand why Finnegan is on par with an ancient dragon… he’s already found one of the divine artifacts. At least one. He’s cut a deal.”
The Regent almost does a double take at this statement. "A deal? Wait, elaborate. This seems important."
“I suspect this one,” — he motioned at Kulloda, as his ring finger joined the other two — “Will want to pursue his Master’s request: the head of a living King.”
The Regent blanches at the mention of killing a sitting king. "I would rather not start a war on the mortal plane just to avoid one on the celestial plane. Yes, I realize one would be much worse than the other but if we can avoid both, I would be most grateful."
"He has an artifact? Which one? I still have the plans we retrieved for him, don't I?"Dog says, reaching into the bag of holding. When he comes up empty, he grimaces. "That's what they took from Tock's office. The plans. He said something about a cage, to trap the divine, perhaps in time. He didn't explain. This could be bad. The dragon's not a great option -- she's got a pretty cruel cult that ruined the life of another friend of ours. The Traveler seems the best option to me, but we need to know more."
But he waits for Martin to explain more about the artifact. Otherwise, he tries to puzzle out another way to get to Mt. Ulaa faster than five days. An artifact or stone someone from the library has from thee mountain itself, perhaps, or something more we can learn about where the sextant actually is -- if it's just at the summit, then he'd ask the group what options for flying we have, after teleporting.
Kulloda shrugs at the apprehension around taking the head of a sitting king.
”Many heads in the world. One less attached to body doesn’t make much difference. But maybe try not to start war. Yeah. Take head and not start war. Please Tempus and piss him off at same time. Big win. So let’s go to your mountain and I will keep eye out for crap king who can lose head and everyone happy.”
"He has an artifact? Which one? I still have the plans we retrieved for him, don't I?"Dog says, reaching into the bag of holding. When he comes up empty, he grimaces. "That's what they took from Tock's office. The plans. He said something about a cage, to trap the divine, perhaps in time. He didn't explain. This could be bad. The dragon's not a great option -- she's got a pretty cruel cult that ruined the life of another friend of ours. The Traveler seems the best option to me, but we need to know more."
But he waits for Martin to explain more about the artifact. Otherwise, he tries to puzzle out another way to get to Mt. Ulaa faster than five days. An artifact or stone someone from the library has from thee mountain itself, perhaps, or something more we can learn about where the sextant actually is -- if it's just at the summit, then he'd ask the group what options for flying we have, after teleporting.
“I don’t think I would know what that is he’s got. But Viviora is the type to know things like that. The Divine Cage.”
Kulloda sits down in the nearest chair, holding his head in his hands. He clenches his jaw and squints his eyes for a moment or two, then closes them completely.
His breathing grows more rhythmic, and the entire weight of his head sinks into his hands. It's apparent to everyone that Kulloda has fallen asleep.
Tristan strokes the short beard covering his chin, lost in thought with his other hand worrying at the hilt of his rapier. He has learned much this morning, and none of it was good. All signs point to Finnegan having stolen plans for a divine cage, the exact purpose of which was unknown but bound to be no good. The dragon, while at first a more palatable option than Finnegan, was now found to have a cult following promoting destruction and despair, who would only become more powerful as clerics and warriors worshiping the new god of adversity. No, that would not do at all.
He looks at Dog and the others. “I am quickly losing interest in supporting either the dragon or the gnome. The sextant makes the most sense, a chance to contact the Traveler without giving the gods and devils one of the quests they want. We are setting our own terms instead of using theirs.”
He thinks back to remember what the old tales tell him about the sextant and Mt. Ulaa. History: 9.
He turns at a sudden snore from Kulloda “I cannot help shorten our travel, so we should teleport as close as we can and travel from there. Shall we wake him and begin?”
“You’re surprised a would-be God of the Hells isn’t — how do you say — good people? I don’t understand too much of your Pantheons, it’s true, but that strikes me as something to be expected, no?”The Eladrin quirked a brow at the happenings around him, his expression a little puzzled. “And this Traveller fellow is an option for your Heavens, if I recall. His Ascension means the Dragon’s, but only because the Devils backing the Gnome refuse to allow him. He — whoever he is — is not an alternative.”
“So I confess, I don’t understand what’s happening here. Finding this being could potentially offer some benefits, I suppose, but you have nothing to offer him. And even if you did, somehow, he remains entirely irrelevant to the matter at hand. To the Deal you struck.”— Llyr shrugged, but placed great emphasis on the word Deal, as all Fey would— “The way you save this realm of yours… the way you avoid the Divine War that will otherwise, inevitably be waged at your quaint little doorstep,” — the Envoy stared down each of the members of the party one by one, his gaze lingering on the regent —“is by getting those seated at the table to to get along. Anyone that doesn’t have a vote — great and powerful though they may be — simply does not matter.”
”Tales of bondage,”— the Bladesinger referred, of course, to the Cage — “and Fallen Gods are certainly interesting. Potentially related, even. But why do they fall to you? Is there a reason you're electing to take on added work when you’ve made it clear you’re woefully unprepared to tackle what’s on your plate already?”
Kulloda opens one eye and glares down at the pigeon pecking at his boot covered ankle. He watches it for a moment before kicking that foot out hard at the bird.
Then he stretches his shoulders, his arms rising high in the air, doing his best to stifle a yawn but failing completely.
"Time to go to mountain yet?" Kulloda asks. "Bring horse or leave horse?"
He then realizes the Eladrin is still speaking and he listens for a moment before the yawn comes back.
"I don't know much about the Traveler," the Regent says. "But it seems that pursuing a meeting with them is throwing a wrench into the works of the faction of gods pushing things forward as fast as possible, because the Traveler is obviously antithetical to their goals. I don't know their agenda but, as the neutral party, slowing things down enough for everyone involved to get a handle on what they want does seem like a reasonable idea. So you have my support. Get to the top of Mt. Ulaa. I shall talk to the librarians about what to do next for you so that you are ready for whatever you need to do next."
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
DM shield:
12
Quick notes before moving on:
The plans for the "alternating radiant-inferal temporal cage" are indeed missing from Tristan's office. A playful note thanking everyone for keeping it safe confirms it was the black-furred tabaxi.
Searching the shops for a Wind Walk scroll proved fruitless.
It will be a five-day trip to the base of Mt. Ulaa unless you want to risk another day of shopping in a different major city (Like Delphendria) or send someone to Mt. Ulaa on a gamble with Teleport.
While looking for scrolls, the party did find Wings of Flying for 468 gp
After kicking the pigeon, yawning a few more times and doing his best to keep track of what is being said in the audience chamber, Kulloda finally yawns again and stands up.
"So find this Traveler and make him come here is same as taking big shite on all the gods' plan, especially little gnome?" Kulloda says slowly, puzzling through everything. "Maybe has answers about what going on, maybe doesn't but still a good joke. Kulloda up for that. Better start than god quests. Remind them they not in charge."
He rubs the corners of his eyes for a moment before continuing.
"Do that, go catch tabaxi thief, kill gnome, whatever. All confuse gods. Then better bargain when finish their quests."
Finally he looks over at Llyr.
"You ask lot of questions. Is that why here? Fey kick you out?"
Gash paces behind everyone thinking about the options laid forth. When hearing about Kulloda musing about taking the head of a sitting king immediately his ears twitch. He summons Friend, his owl familiar.
"Friend. Go to Schett, maybe Everlily too. Find out if Taur has a sitting king for me. If Finnegan has an artifact and a deal in place, we may need to counter attack quickly. And Taur has it coming. Go now."
Gash looks back to the party, "I prepared today for travel, We still have the helm, yes? I can still take us as close to the mountain as possible... we may want to just get closer, or risk it and head straight there with teleport."
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Gash- Lvl14 Goblin Wizard - The High Court of the Aasimar Queen
“No.” — the Eladrin responded, matter-of-factly — “It isn’t the same. We don’t know what the Traveller has to offer, if anything. The only thing finding him would assuredly accomplish, in fact, is make the Dragon’s life easier, having done the job of finding him for her and her Gods, free of charge. That sound like a middle finger to you?”The Bladesinger ran his fingers through his hair.
“Killing the Gnome would, similarly, not do much. It wouldn’t garner the needed votes or force an election. They could just as easily revive the gremlin, or even choose a different candidate to back. The impasse would remain, and you’d have incurred the wrath of the Gnome’s backers, while allowing the Dragon’s support the ability to renege on the deals they offered, claiming we didn’t stick to the agreement. We were offered jobs. Do them and we get paid, don’t and we probably won’t. That simple, really.”Llyr lazily stared the Half-Orc down.
“I don’t like doing work I don’t have to do. Especially when I’m doing it for free. Asking questions now helps cut down on the hassle later.”
“The fastest way through this is as follows: Back a God, do the quests, get paid, earn a favour or two from Immortal beings, and avoid a Divine temper tantrum. If you want to figure out what the Gnome and the Hellish gods are planning, or even foil those plans outright, then that’s added work and dangerous business, but the Gnome is the one involved, and so the one to ask. Whether you do so nicely, or pick him up by the ankles, flip him upside down and shake, is dealer’s choice.”
The Elf then turned to face the rest of them. “If you’re having trouble figuring out who to back and why, then you’re likely overcomplicating things. Just think of it like this: Who do you like the least? Pick the other one.” He shrugged.
“Or, if you’re more… materialistically inclined, then that’s simple enough to answer as well. Back the Dragon, and we get potentially the largest Hoard in mortal existence, back the gremlin, and we get what, a tower that’s a little older than I am, at best? The way I see it, neither has anything to offer you couldn’t otherwise get by cutting them open. Rending Gnomish flesh is simply easier than Draconic. Fewer scales to worry about.” Llyr mimed a cutting motion.
“And we agree on one thing, tusk boy. The Infernals are up to something, it feels like, and making it go horribly wrong for them would make me feel all nice and warm inside. So why not get the Dragon down there, tell the Hells to eat shit with the added benefit of plausible deniability, and live out our days in luxury and wealth? If that’s still not enough to sway you one way or another, then I could, I don’t know, flip a coin or something? It’s as good a way to settle things as any, I suppose.”The Envoy fished out a silver and twirled it in his fingers.
"You know as you spoke you've reminded me of something." Gash speaks up, "We will not avoid a divine temper tantrum no matter what we do. We help the dragon... divine temper tantrum. We help the gnome, divine temper tantrum. We do nothing, we simply let them figure it out, I'm sure we will be dealt a divine temper tantrum from both sides..."
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Gash- Lvl14 Goblin Wizard - The High Court of the Aasimar Queen
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“If the Traveler is interested in divine items, our search may bring us to his attention. We have a contact that sometimes travels through Jasperdown, the hammer may be a good place to start, although perhaps we should ask why they want it.”
Tristan thinks back to the legends, stories, tales, and ballads he learned at the side of those who trained him to remember any relevant information on the hammer of Jasperdown and the dark dwarves. History: 10.
Dog sighs, and stands up. "Thank you, your grace [honestly not sure the formal address, but he'd use the right one]. Honestly, the quests seem either boring, or cruel. Dedicating a temple, poisoning wells or cleansing them. Hunting a fey elk. Foisting cursed items on the unwary. Restarting a traveling circus is the kind of thing I'd like to do in my twilight years, when Queen Gentoa is far more powerful than I am and needs no protection. So the quests don't seem promising. Gash, Martin, I think you know this. The Traveler may have some things to share, and I'm guessing a celestial sextant on the highest mountain in the world wouldn't be available without a fight. Llyr, Tristan, well, I don't know you, but perhaps you'd be up for some adventure. Kulloda, you're bored. How close can we get to Mt. Ulaa via teleportation? And do we at long last have a way to converse with the angels and demons to see if they do end up making a decision while we're away? I'd like to check in with Q'wai to see if he's he's heard anything recently. I'm packed and ready to go."
He looks at Gash with an unspoken glance, checking mentally to ensure he's not made a miscalculation, and then looks at Martin, and cocks a half grin. "I know you missed me talking."
Martin is just smiling and pretending to have lost interest.
“These are all good options… the only thing I would add is that I think a night’s sleep has given me perspective enough to understand why Finnegan is on par with an ancient dragon… he’s already found one of the divine artifacts. At least one. He’s cut a deal.”
Paladin - warforged - orange
Having only been listening on and off, the Eladrin furrowed his brow slightly, bringing the information he’d subconsciously registered from the current discussion to the forefront of his mind.
“Freeing a Djinni from the clutches of the Drow Queen.” — his index finger rose, lazily — “Stealing from the moon goddess, in her own realm.” — the middle finger followed suit, as he struggled to remember Selune’s name, before ultimately giving up — “I suspect this one,” — he motioned at Kulloda, as his ring finger joined the other two — “Will want to pursue his Master’s request: the head of a living King.”
“Excitement abounds.” The Elf shrugged, glancing around the room before his gaze lingered on the Regent, one eyebrow quirked — “You wouldn’t happen to have any suggestions there, would you?”
A smile lingering on his lips, Llyr’s eyes then met the would-be circus builder’s. “Tack on dedicating that Temple of yours.” — he spoke, extending his pinky finger. The Elf referred to the Goddess of Illusion’s circus, and found himself more than a little amused to hear that the only option Doggear suggested fit ever so perfectly in the very complaints he’d espoused, only seconds prior —“And we’d be a single one short.” A pause, as he looked through the options in his mind. “There’s always the Self-Sacrificing one.” The thumb completed the set. “I‘m told this realm was built on pursuing change exclusively at great personal cost, and figured you’d be tripping over yourselves for the chance to be recorded in History in such a way.”
His voice entirely serious, the Eladrin glanced around, gauging reactions.
“I suppose there’s always the retrieval of the Duergar hero’s hammer, and of the securing of the Eternal Cold Flame. Lacking in thrill for some, perhaps, but securing the blessings of the three Elemental Gods might prove interesting enough.”
A brief discussion about this results in the conclusion the party could teleport to Tamsa, follow the river towards the Cloudspire Mountains, which will take about 2 days using Martin's folding boat, and then have about a three day march to the base of Mt. Ulaa.
The Regent considers this for a moment. "Perhaps we will need to arrange the sending stones so that I can provide you with an update, if one occurs. There was no progress as of this morning."
The Regent almost does a double take at this statement. "A deal? Wait, elaborate. This seems important."
The Regent blanches at the mention of killing a sitting king. "I would rather not start a war on the mortal plane just to avoid one on the celestial plane. Yes, I realize one would be much worse than the other but if we can avoid both, I would be most grateful."
"He has an artifact? Which one? I still have the plans we retrieved for him, don't I?" Dog says, reaching into the bag of holding. When he comes up empty, he grimaces. "That's what they took from Tock's office. The plans. He said something about a cage, to trap the divine, perhaps in time. He didn't explain. This could be bad. The dragon's not a great option -- she's got a pretty cruel cult that ruined the life of another friend of ours. The Traveler seems the best option to me, but we need to know more."
But he waits for Martin to explain more about the artifact. Otherwise, he tries to puzzle out another way to get to Mt. Ulaa faster than five days. An artifact or stone someone from the library has from thee mountain itself, perhaps, or something more we can learn about where the sextant actually is -- if it's just at the summit, then he'd ask the group what options for flying we have, after teleporting.
Kulloda shrugs at the apprehension around taking the head of a sitting king.
”Many heads in the world. One less attached to body doesn’t make much difference. But maybe try not to start war. Yeah. Take head and not start war. Please Tempus and piss him off at same time. Big win. So let’s go to your mountain and I will keep eye out for crap king who can lose head and everyone happy.”
“I don’t think I would know what that is he’s got. But Viviora is the type to know things like that. The Divine Cage.”
Paladin - warforged - orange
"Maybe Viviora could help?"
Kulloda sits down in the nearest chair, holding his head in his hands. He clenches his jaw and squints his eyes for a moment or two, then closes them completely.
His breathing grows more rhythmic, and the entire weight of his head sinks into his hands. It's apparent to everyone that Kulloda has fallen asleep.
Tristan strokes the short beard covering his chin, lost in thought with his other hand worrying at the hilt of his rapier. He has learned much this morning, and none of it was good. All signs point to Finnegan having stolen plans for a divine cage, the exact purpose of which was unknown but bound to be no good. The dragon, while at first a more palatable option than Finnegan, was now found to have a cult following promoting destruction and despair, who would only become more powerful as clerics and warriors worshiping the new god of adversity. No, that would not do at all.
He looks at Dog and the others. “I am quickly losing interest in supporting either the dragon or the gnome. The sextant makes the most sense, a chance to contact the Traveler without giving the gods and devils one of the quests they want. We are setting our own terms instead of using theirs.”
He thinks back to remember what the old tales tell him about the sextant and Mt. Ulaa. History: 9.
He turns at a sudden snore from Kulloda “I cannot help shorten our travel, so we should teleport as close as we can and travel from there. Shall we wake him and begin?”
Martin nods. Then holds a finger to his lips.
A pigeon appears from nothingness at Martin’s feet, and sashays over to Kulloda, before it begins to peck at his ankles.
Paladin - warforged - orange
“You’re surprised a would-be God of the Hells isn’t — how do you say — good people? I don’t understand too much of your Pantheons, it’s true, but that strikes me as something to be expected, no?” The Eladrin quirked a brow at the happenings around him, his expression a little puzzled. “And this Traveller fellow is an option for your Heavens, if I recall. His Ascension means the Dragon’s, but only because the Devils backing the Gnome refuse to allow him. He — whoever he is — is not an alternative.”
“So I confess, I don’t understand what’s happening here. Finding this being could potentially offer some benefits, I suppose, but you have nothing to offer him. And even if you did, somehow, he remains entirely irrelevant to the matter at hand. To the Deal you struck.” — Llyr shrugged, but placed great emphasis on the word Deal, as all Fey would— “The way you save this realm of yours… the way you avoid the Divine War that will otherwise, inevitably be waged at your quaint little doorstep,” — the Envoy stared down each of the members of the party one by one, his gaze lingering on the regent — “is by getting those seated at the table to to get along. Anyone that doesn’t have a vote — great and powerful though they may be — simply does not matter.”
”Tales of bondage,” — the Bladesinger referred, of course, to the Cage — “and Fallen Gods are certainly interesting. Potentially related, even. But why do they fall to you? Is there a reason you're electing to take on added work when you’ve made it clear you’re woefully unprepared to tackle what’s on your plate already?”
Kulloda opens one eye and glares down at the pigeon pecking at his boot covered ankle. He watches it for a moment before kicking that foot out hard at the bird.
Then he stretches his shoulders, his arms rising high in the air, doing his best to stifle a yawn but failing completely.
"Time to go to mountain yet?" Kulloda asks. "Bring horse or leave horse?"
He then realizes the Eladrin is still speaking and he listens for a moment before the yawn comes back.
"I don't know much about the Traveler," the Regent says. "But it seems that pursuing a meeting with them is throwing a wrench into the works of the faction of gods pushing things forward as fast as possible, because the Traveler is obviously antithetical to their goals. I don't know their agenda but, as the neutral party, slowing things down enough for everyone involved to get a handle on what they want does seem like a reasonable idea. So you have my support. Get to the top of Mt. Ulaa. I shall talk to the librarians about what to do next for you so that you are ready for whatever you need to do next."
DM shield:
12
Quick notes before moving on:
After kicking the pigeon, yawning a few more times and doing his best to keep track of what is being said in the audience chamber, Kulloda finally yawns again and stands up.
"So find this Traveler and make him come here is same as taking big shite on all the gods' plan, especially little gnome?" Kulloda says slowly, puzzling through everything. "Maybe has answers about what going on, maybe doesn't but still a good joke. Kulloda up for that. Better start than god quests. Remind them they not in charge."
He rubs the corners of his eyes for a moment before continuing.
"Do that, go catch tabaxi thief, kill gnome, whatever. All confuse gods. Then better bargain when finish their quests."
Finally he looks over at Llyr.
"You ask lot of questions. Is that why here? Fey kick you out?"
Gash paces behind everyone thinking about the options laid forth. When hearing about Kulloda musing about taking the head of a sitting king immediately his ears twitch. He summons Friend, his owl familiar.
"Friend. Go to Schett, maybe Everlily too. Find out if Taur has a sitting king for me. If Finnegan has an artifact and a deal in place, we may need to counter attack quickly. And Taur has it coming. Go now."
Gash looks back to the party, "I prepared today for travel, We still have the helm, yes? I can still take us as close to the mountain as possible... we may want to just get closer, or risk it and head straight there with teleport."
Gash - Lvl14 Goblin Wizard - The High Court of the Aasimar Queen
“No.” — the Eladrin responded, matter-of-factly — “It isn’t the same. We don’t know what the Traveller has to offer, if anything. The only thing finding him would assuredly accomplish, in fact, is make the Dragon’s life easier, having done the job of finding him for her and her Gods, free of charge. That sound like a middle finger to you?” The Bladesinger ran his fingers through his hair.
“Killing the Gnome would, similarly, not do much. It wouldn’t garner the needed votes or force an election. They could just as easily revive the gremlin, or even choose a different candidate to back. The impasse would remain, and you’d have incurred the wrath of the Gnome’s backers, while allowing the Dragon’s support the ability to renege on the deals they offered, claiming we didn’t stick to the agreement. We were offered jobs. Do them and we get paid, don’t and we probably won’t. That simple, really.” Llyr lazily stared the Half-Orc down.
“I don’t like doing work I don’t have to do. Especially when I’m doing it for free. Asking questions now helps cut down on the hassle later.”
“The fastest way through this is as follows: Back a God, do the quests, get paid, earn a favour or two from Immortal beings, and avoid a Divine temper tantrum. If you want to figure out what the Gnome and the Hellish gods are planning, or even foil those plans outright, then that’s added work and dangerous business, but the Gnome is the one involved, and so the one to ask. Whether you do so nicely, or pick him up by the ankles, flip him upside down and shake, is dealer’s choice.”
The Elf then turned to face the rest of them. “If you’re having trouble figuring out who to back and why, then you’re likely overcomplicating things. Just think of it like this: Who do you like the least? Pick the other one.” He shrugged.
“Or, if you’re more… materialistically inclined, then that’s simple enough to answer as well. Back the Dragon, and we get potentially the largest Hoard in mortal existence, back the gremlin, and we get what, a tower that’s a little older than I am, at best? The way I see it, neither has anything to offer you couldn’t otherwise get by cutting them open. Rending Gnomish flesh is simply easier than Draconic. Fewer scales to worry about.” Llyr mimed a cutting motion.
“And we agree on one thing, tusk boy. The Infernals are up to something, it feels like, and making it go horribly wrong for them would make me feel all nice and warm inside. So why not get the Dragon down there, tell the Hells to eat shit with the added benefit of plausible deniability, and live out our days in luxury and wealth? If that’s still not enough to sway you one way or another, then I could, I don’t know, flip a coin or something? It’s as good a way to settle things as any, I suppose.” The Envoy fished out a silver and twirled it in his fingers.
"You know as you spoke you've reminded me of something." Gash speaks up, "We will not avoid a divine temper tantrum no matter what we do. We help the dragon... divine temper tantrum. We help the gnome, divine temper tantrum. We do nothing, we simply let them figure it out, I'm sure we will be dealt a divine temper tantrum from both sides..."
Gash - Lvl14 Goblin Wizard - The High Court of the Aasimar Queen