"Quit beating around the bush. Ishmael is staying, and we need get back to business here. Now, it would be strategically unfortunate, if I arrive in Duskrock at the head of a delegation that had to drag you there kicking and screaming, but if it takes taking you hostage to get there, I won't hesitate. I'd rather we could reach a more profitable and comfortable agreement for both parties." the Marshal's eyes almost seemed to light up with fury, at the exchange. The more perceptive among you can tell that she seems to care a lot more about your answer than she at first let on.

Brandt waves a hand dismissively. "I don't care if he stays or not." He said, honestly just content to mess with the advisor. "But what's in it for us to make Garronia's interests our interests?"

Gyselle stifles a chuckle at seeing the marshal so flustered by these newcomers. She wonders why 80 soldiers need to be present at a peace discussion but at the same time wonders if she would be one of the people to make that journey. 

Arc, having been quiet thus far, narrows his eyes in silent contemplation as the party and marshal conversed. After a while, he lifted his eyes to lock back into the conversation at hand, hearing Brandt's clear trolling of the advisor, Arcius rolls his eyes slightly, but lets him play it out as he curiously awaits the Marshal's offer or terms.

"I think that's overestimating the value of us as your bargaining chip, Marshal." Tarian looked her square in the eye. "We are under the employ of Corphyrean Rail. Magistrate Corsyr has met us once. It's the information that is valuable. And information is only valuable if it can be trusted."

Tarian held out both hands, palms up, wrists together, as though waiting to be bound. "Not giving us leave to verify your surveys are accurate and threatening to return us as hostages under escort by eighty armed soldiers doesn't leave us much room to trust you or your information. Since you've already informed the Magistrate that you have us here, if we are not returned unharmed, he might not trust you or your information, either. A lack of good faith and trust puts your potential position at any bargaining table at risk." Tarian's ears strained to hear whether the guards were coming to place her in shackles.

"So know that we do understand your position, Marshal. Right now I think the most 'profitable and comfortable' option would be to continue negotiations through the telelith, and perhaps support Sparks's rail proposal to increase the ease of trade in Garronia." Tarian forced a smile. "Well, that last bit may just be me speaking for my employer."

The Marshal eased a little, seeing the willingness of cooperation in your words: "As long as we are on the same page, we can begin negotiating. I do no't want to hold you captive, as you quite rightly point out that it might compromise my negotiating position. Furthermore, my corps is under strength, so I would prefer not have to weaken it further just to keep you all under observation. I am prepared for you to survey the nearby lands, but whilst you do, some of your members will have to remain in the camp- call it my collateral. Before you bemoan this proposition, I have heard that three of you offered their services to help out in the sick bay. You can fulfil your moral obligations and help out, whilst also providing the rest of your expedition with the opportunity to go about their survey work in the meantime.

And Miss Tarian, don't sell yourselves short... Mr Cannith here is quite a catch, I am sure his father would do a lot to pressure the Council, if he were to find out that his son is being held hostage... no less with such an advanced warforged model. Just think of the implications if our mechanics and engineers were able to successfully reverse- engineer her? In all your interests, cooperate and avoid all that pain.

Now, since it is getting dark already, you will have no choice but to rest here for the night. Either stay with the good doctor and his nurse here, or camp out by yourselves. If I see anyone try and make their way to the soldier's tents though, I will have the offending individual whipped."

Corti and Brandt, you can't help but feel a chill at the Marshal's threats, backed up by a cold stare that convinces you that the Marshal would go through with the indicated actions without her pulse quickening even a bit.

As a comment passed the Marshall’s lips, Thia would have to stifle a snort. The last thing she needed to do was mess anything up for Brandt and Tarian’s negotiations. Of course there were a couple things that didn’t sit well with her, causing the medics eyes to narrow slightly. Her jaw would clench. 

Gyselle looks positively delighted at the prospect of having new people to talk to. 

"I can't think of any reason we'd have to visit your soldiers' tents, Marshal. I can't say the same for your soldiers, though. It would be a step toward mutual trust if, when morning comes, we could regret having stayed awake to keep watch all night."

Tarian bowed. "Thank you for your time and courtesy, Marshal Arceneaux." When she righted herself, Tarian asked, "Is there any other business or are we dismissed?" Tarian's head turned just slightly so she could better hear if her side had anything additional to say.

"Yeah, I can't see any of us paying them a visit. Your boys are safe. But if we're talking about non-aggression while we're here, if any of your guys get some funny ideas tonight, there might only be 79 soldiers coming to Duskrock."

Arcius stared blankly at the Marshal, mentally rolling his eyes at how little she knew of him, his father or even how impossible it would be for anyone outside his family to 'reverse-engineer' any warforged. Arcius almost felt like laughing, if such a feat was so easy as catching a single unit, the Marshal would have been seeing her own forces supplemented by the Warforged as well. His Uncle's secrets were hidden in his insanity and brilliance....a fact that turned the smug laughter in Arc's mind to a somber cold.

Arc directed the coldness in his mind to his gaze as he looked towards the Marshal, and sharply but slowly spoke, "Marshal....I do not doubt your abilities as a soldier, but if you wish to barter with merchants you had best know who you barter with....father and I, care not for each other. You holding me, in what ever fantasy you imagine that you do, gains you nothing more than my amusement." He then gives a polite, but sarcastic smile as he bows, "That said, I am grateful you find me so, catching~" Arc then turned on his heel and walked out, done more so with his own train of thought, then he was with the Marshall. 

Brandt honestly hadn't expected Cannith to turn the tables on Arcineux like that. But since he had, he decides that the team should go with it. "Nice talk. Glad we could clear everything up." Brandt heads off after Arc, not saying anything, but very clearly expecting the others to follow him.

After Arc spoke, that’s when Thia rolled her eyes. She’d cast a glance to Tarian. Even Thia knew what the Marshal hoped for out of the Cannith’s ransom wasn’t the full truth, but did he just throw that one advantages out of the window. For what? Flirting with this madwoman? Her eyes would fall back on the Marshal with a scoff.

Thia would stand firm in that tent until Corti would leave. She wouldn’t say anything. Simply just stare, occasionally glancing to her whisper pet.

When Corti would leave, Thia would follow when she’d expect Tarian to leave with her. 

Corti had registered the meaning of their - and especially her - presence in the Marshal's camp, but her nerve only begins to waiver when the Marshal voices her threats. She doesn't meet the Marshal's gaze for the rest of the conversation, and when Brandt leaves, she turns to follow, rubbing her arms and glancing back once. 

Arc, you can tell that you catch the Marshal by surprise, though only for a split- second, before her demeanor sets again. The Marshal gives you a curious smile, but says nothing as Arc, Brandt and Corti make their way out of the tent. Fixing Tarian and Thia, she asks: "Do you not want to take your equipment with you? I am sure our quartermasters might be able to make good use of them." Then, looking at Gyselle, she adds: "Specialist, I entrust you with the care of our guests here. Should you require anything, Othmar knows where to find me. Dismissed." With that, she got up, ready to hand your equipment over and get back to her other business.

Gyselle gives the marshal a sharp salute. Turns on her heel and begins skipping out of the tent following the group.

Once outside the tent, “You’re welcome to stay in either the medical tent or the tent for Othmar and me.” Gyselle gestures towards where their personal tent would be (though I imagine it would be a near the medical tent) 

Tarian took inventory of what was returned as she collected the equipment. She nodded. "Thank you, Marshal."

Tarian left the tent with Thia. Once the tent flaps were down, Tarian spoke quietly to Thia, "The equipment will have to be inspected to make sure it hasn't been tampered with. I've already touched it, so I'll inspect for poisons first. I don't know too much about magical alterations, though. In any case, I don't think it would be wise to say much until the inspection is complete."

Once outside of the commander's tent, you all help with the surveying equipment and the telelith. Those of you not carrying something have already started unloading the cart and distributing the gear. Gyselle is lending a hand, before leading you all to one of the rectangular tents, about a stone's throw from the sick bay. Like the other tents here, it is constructed to be able to provide shelter against the elements for eight soldiers with full combat gear, or ten with lighter packs. With only Othmar and Gyselle in this tent, there's space enough for you all, and you quickly and wordlessly stow away your gear. Tarian, you hold onto the equipment you've been given by the Marshal, and only once everything else is stowed away, lay it out onto the canvas floor.

Gyselle is present, and you notice the strange atmosphere, with everyone tensely and silently stowing away their equipment. Once you're done, what do you want to discuss and do?

Tarian picked up a piece of Thia's cartography equipment and carefully turned it over. Piece by piece she went through every last item the Marshal had confiscated and returned. She looked for residues, powders, oils, or anything potentially out of place. Any piece she was satisfied with being safe she set aside.

"Sorry, but I don't trust your commander," she said to Othmar and Gyselle. "Or her arcanist, for that matter. They could have done any number of things to our equipment while it was in their possession. Poisons... magic... anything. I understand that if she wanted us dead then dead we'd be, but poisons and magic can be used for other things than just killing." Tarian looked to Arc and Thia. "Would you trust any of your equipment now?"

Thia would watch over Tarian as she’d grab the items. The artificer half expected to help, but when Tarian would enlighten her to her thoughts once the flap closed behind them, she’d take a moment before nodding. Thia’s eyes would meet Tarian’s as if searching for what she wanted to say. Mind you, she’s probably got it figured out. The medic would chew on her lip before letting out a sigh. It was Tarian. “She’s hiding something. I can’t tell whether she knows about the ailment, but my gut tells me the soldiers to Duskrock have something to do with it...” Thia would speak just as quietly just for Tarian’s ears as they went. Although the threat felt low right now... “If we play our cards wrong, I would fear for Corti, and Arc.“ 

Should Thia have the opportunity, she would spend the time reviewing the items as Tarian requested, checking to see if there was any magic tampering. The medic would also take the extra time to inventory all the items, specifically the medical supplies. She would want to make sure none of them were tampered with or missing supplies. During the time she would be reviewing the medical supplies on her own, she’d flag Gyselle over. “Would you like to assist me?” Thia would offer the fellow medic a kit to review should she come over. “I specifically requested and went a little over board on my request for kits...” She was filling the air with some small talk while she remembered her demand at the council table. “We used a couple at the last village, but there should still be fresh supplies that we can spare for this camp...” Thia’s eyes would eventually waver and her eyes would meet Gyselle’s. “I must ask... do they know about the ailment?” She’d speak quietly and softly just to her, wondering if the Marshal and those in command knew of the poison. Obviously they knew their soldiers were sick. But poisoned? Thia genuinely was wondering what kind of challenge Gyselle and Othmar have been facing all this time. She wanted to understand. She felt for the caregivers and their efforts made here and respected them for it. The artificer really did wonder how much, or what, their ‘leaders’ were doing for them.

(I didn’t refresh before I posted...)