Union! Game Thread

Change of plan, I can’t say that it’s better

 Milo will leave I mumbling under his breath.  Waiting about 10 minutes in a close alley out of sight around the corner of the entrance to the council chambers.  Milo will cast disguise self to turn himself into a male dwarf in the same outfit as the guards at the front door.  Red hair that goes down into a tribraided beard. Then using his minor illusion to make it sound like glass breaking.

Rushing back around the corner to the front where the two guards were stationed.  Red in the face and huffing and puffing.  “Some Halfling just broke into the council chambers!  I’ve been chasing for a while.  I gotta go in and find him or it’s my ass!  You two stay here in case I flush ‘em out!”  With that he barges into the council doors and hopefully closes it behind him.

deception: 21 (advantage)

The guards looks at the dwarf, and, teeming with anger, the first one growls: “That ******* halfling! I knew he was trouble- Alright, we’ll wait here in case you get him!” With that, he held open the door to the council.

Brandt turns around to face the young Cannith. "Good day Mister Cannith. Can I trouble you for a bit of conversation?"

Arc gives a curious look to Brandt, and shrugs, "It'd depend on what context and purpose such a conversation held. It also think it's polite to introduce yourself before a conversation." He sticks out a hand, somewhat cautiously, but for the most part curious, "Arcius Soranik Raddeus Cannith the second, a pleasure, though I ask that you simply call me Arc."

Milo continues as a quick walk in his guard/dwarf form.  Looking for the council chambers where the meeting is taking place.  Once close and out of sight he will drop the illusion.

Thia would scrunch her nose and frown when she notices that Brandt did not acknowledge Corti or her handshake. Not wanting to be rude herself, especially around the noble, Thia would bow her head in a greeting of acknowledgement when the Cannith introduces himself. Instead of saying anything to interrupt their conversation, Thia would move to stand beside Corti. She’d link her arm with Corti’s outstretched arm, as to not leave her hanging. Thia would flash an encouraging smile up at Corti.

(I suppose I could add a bit of a description of Thia for Arc since she has yet to introduce herself. Since the boys did.)

Edit: Thia sports a long dark green hooded jacket with a messenger bag slung over her shoulder hugging her hip. She looks like your average human female somewhere in her twenties standing 5’2” tall with long auburn hair and blue eyes. Although petite in stature and easily flagged as a student, she’s quite athletic. With her hood down, if you look close enough, you could spot slightly pointed ears. As she walks and her jacket sways open, you could see an axe, a hammer, and some tinkering tools also hanging from her belt. 

(Didn't even see that)

Brandt gives Arc and Corti a handshake, the latter after he notices Thia making a frown. "Sorry about that, I'm Brandt. I'm here on behalf of Mister Derbert Sparks."

Corti returns Thia’s smile wholeheartedly and pats her arm. "No problem, Brandt, it's a pleasure to meet you," she nods at Brandt. “Well, I suspect they’ll be wanting their privacy for that,” she says, turning away from Arc and the other man, “Your meeting went alright then?”

(I’ll hop on the appearance train as well, I guess, as I don’t think I’ve done it yet)

Corti is short for a warforged, only about 5’4” with a lithe build meant for scouting. She wears loose fitting clothing under a long skirt and a maroon head scarf, the closest she can get to discretion when it comes to her appearance. Just visible under her head scarf is a spiral-like sigil. A leather strap holds her lute against her back and attached to her belt are a series of small pouches and bags. 

As Milo shuffled along the marble corridors of the council, he could already hear the raised voices of several ministers coming from the central committee chambers at the centre of the complex. Hurrying past the offices, he strained to listen to what was being discussed, but to eight-foot oak doors muffled the sound too much. Still, he imagined himself being able to make out the voice of an agitated Sparks, speaking, or rather shouting at various ministers, and them giving responses in various tones and dialects.

(Not dropped disguise yet)

Milo walks into the council room pushing past the heavy door.  Closing it and walking to Spark’s side he snaps his fingers to drop form.  Appearing as Milo once more with his confident smirk. “Sorry I’m late, the two guards wouldn’t let me in and started demanding bribes to gain entrance.

 “Hello I am Milo Spudsder, you may have heard of a dazzling speech made to stop the riots the other day.... You’re welcome.  Businessman, Philanthropist, and as you can see problem solver extraordinaire!  It’s a pleasure to speak before you today“ As he gives a deep bow bringing one hand across his chest and the other straight out to his side.

Whispering to Sparks “what do you need?”

Thia would smile with a nod to Brandt seeing he found his manners. Excited, Thia would then respond to Corti, "It did! I am now a member of the Veiled Valour." With her free hand, she'd pull out the insignia that was presented to her earlier that day. She'd hold it up to her sleeve of the arm linked with Corti's.

Sparks looked at Milo, scandalised. This halfling yokel had just abandoned all protocol and had burst into the discussion, and with such pompousness and false confidence. His face reddened with anger. Many of the surrounding ministers, diplomats, and proconsuls reacted with similar shock at the distasteful appearance of this upstart. Two of the dwarves at the left end of the semi-circular bench had similarly angry reactions, seeing as it was one of their faction that Milo had interrupted. On the opposite side, he saw a drow emissary among a group of delegates in Khalash garb, looking amused by the halfling. In front of Sparks and Milo where several heads of Duskrock's most prosperous and prestigious merchant families, as well as the  First Sealord and the Magistrate of Duskrock himself. He in particular looked at Sparks and Milo with an icy glare.

All eyes seemed to be on Sparks, and how he would react. Turning to Milo, he whispered: "Are you mad?! There's protocol to follow, these people are diplomats, they require tact..." The whispering was pointless, since the room was so quiet that one would have heard a pin drop. One of the Khalash emissaries, a human woman with dark skin and a shaven head decorated with alchemical and arcane symbols, draped in silks, spoke up: "We are here today to decide upon a possible future for this continent. If this man thinks himself so eloquent, let us all hear what he has to say. At best, he might provide a new perspective, at worst a source of amusement." Her statement elicited a wicked smile on her drow companion's face, but other than that, the seventeen other people in the room looked silently at Milo.

Milo nods to the woman that spoke up for him.  “Tact.... Protocol.  Two things that I have apparently abandoned today.  The kind of tact that can be heard three blocks down the road from the schoolyard bickering held inside this chamber. I’m sure the guards out there “were following protocol”.  But there is no protocol for what we are witness to today.  Innovation, a new age is coming to The continent and fate decided that it’s born from Duskrock.  The new age that brings booming trade opportunities, bolstered infrastructure, bounties of travel.  What rare and exotic delicacies you cherish delivered to your doorstep, fresh from the far away land in which it dwells.  

I know you all can see the passion Mr. Sparks has for this project.  For he and I know that this project will elevate every class, creed, and citizen to new prosperity in this city, then the world.  Sow the seed with us and reap the benefits of a fortune unbefore seen by living men.  I grew up on a small potato farm and I know the struggle of the poor in this city.  Bring them out of the gutter and you all will benefit tenfold.

This is not a discussion of protocol.  There is no protocol of what we discuss today.  This is a brand new world either doomed by your words or born with your support.  I implore you, as a voice for every poor child, struggling working class father, hustling businessman.... Invest in this future.  Place your names in the history books as the ushers of the golden age of our society.  

Milo has been pacing back and forth in the council chamber making sure to make eye contact with each member, raising his fist when needed for emphasis.  He walks back next to Sparks and gives a wink.  Waiting for a response.

At Milo’s words, the dwarvish delegates turned red with anger, and many of the Khalash delegates seemed bemused. Many of the Brelish representatives gave him angry glares too.

“Whoever you are, it is quite right that this project would greatly benefit Duskrock. As it stands though, Thrane would be reduced to little more than a periphery, and the Khalash Trade Republics, being islands, would not at all be tied into the project. In favt, this whole railroad business is nothing but an obvious attempt at colonisation of Cyre and Garronia by Breland. This is made all the more galling since their plans to exclude us from participating and profiting in this project, the Khalashtar Trade Republics are indirectly painted as having started the war.”

The drow emissary sat back down, letting the ensuing silence give further emphasis to his words. It wasn’t long however, before a dwarven delegate of Thrane took the stand. 

“Let interpretation be what it be, but ‘s the truth that Breland profits from this project far more than any nation of Corphyra. Did we not stand shoulder to shoulder with our Brelish brothers? Did we not bleed with them? Did we not both avow to wipe out the blot of slavery from this continent of ours? Then why should we now, finally free and standing here as equals, accept Brelish hegemony? 

Aye, a way t’ connect the continent that would boost trade and would bring people together is nice in theory, but how can it achieve this on a fair basis? The shortest route excludes the North completely. But the longer the route, the more diminished the actual benefits of the project. If we want to build a symbolic monument to peace and cooperation, there’s cheaper ways to do so.”

The speech garnered some applause, and in the ensuing silence, the eyes turned to Milo, Sparks, and the Brelish delegation.

Corti examines the insignia with stark awe and fascination. “Congratulations, Thia, that’s incredible!” Corti’s expression is one of pride and excitement for Thia, “I expect you’ll be able to do a lot of good with them,”

Milo looks at the Thrane representative.  “This is no mere monument.  A statue of symbolic peace.  This is the future, a catalyst of events to elevate our people and yours.  I have been to the North, delivering medicine to both side of the conflict.  I watched the people suffering on both sides, I don’t intend on stopping aid to Kalashtar.  What of designated Cargo stops that splinter off the railway as a stream does a river.  Those stops and roads specifically for those who don’t have direct access to the railway immediately.  It still streamlines commerce and travel for our friends to the North and the Islands until a time it is feasible to expand the railway to them.  They could receive tax cuts on their imports and exports to make up the cost and as a gesture of good faith.

The concern of who holds dominion and control is simple.  The railway be considered international territory whose rules and laws are governed by a council body with representatives from each nation.  Simply because the tracks reside within the walls of the territory doesn’t mean the travelers and goods are subject solely to their laws; until departure from the train (DM: are we calling it a train?).”

Turning back towards the Thrane representative.  “Or would you propose a nice simulacrum instead?”

"Thank you!" Thia would blush a little with the praise, but smile along. "I hope so." After showing off the insignia, she'd put it away safely. "How are you doing? How was your day Corti?"

Arc, glancing as Corti and the human female leave, focuses on Brandt with a more business look, stoic and calculating, "I see, and what do you and your patron desire of me, or more likely, my family?"

"Quite well, thank you! I've been here for most of it," with her free hand, Corti gestures at the yard and the workers, "I thought I'd stop by, see how they were doing, but I ended up sticking around to help out!" she looks out on the yard, smiles, and then looks back, a little sheepishly, at Thia, "It's so nice to be able to help them with this."

Thia would smile along with Corti’s excitement. She’d keep pace with Corti and allow her to walk her along the yard. Thia would survey the area to make herself familiar with the layout and workers’ faces who come here. “It’s great to hear you had a good day. Even better to hear that you could help them! I hope I’m not keeping you from anything...” Thia has a feeling the mood in the yard was more uplifted, the workers had a good moral compared to the other day. 

After a moment of silence, Thia remembers the Cannith that she just saw with Corti. She’d take a look back to see if he was still where they left him, with Brandt. “It’s not every day I hear or see a Cannith coming to visit the forge...” she looks back at Corti with curiosity and some concern for her new warforged friend.