Union! Game Thread

Tiberius was suddenly a lot more guarded: “We are finding new applications for the warforged, now that the Corphyrean Civil War is over.”

Before Milo can ask another question, he hears Tarian shouting from the front. “We’re here!”

With that, Arc, Tiberius, Milo and Tarian leave the carriage and step into the Golden Gear tavern. Inside, the tavern is mostly empty, apart from a young human student and a warforged delighting her with a lutesong.

Thia would have taken comfort in the melody Corti was plucking. She’d have leaned back in her seat, also tilting her head up to the ceiling. Thia would close her eyes allowing herself to get swept up in the music, maybe even guilty of slipping off into a little nap. She wouldn’t be paying attention to any patrons entering the establishment at this time. 

Arc, spotting Corti would politely walk over leading the group along. Once close enough, Arc would let their presence be know, "Pardon me, Mrs. Corti?"

Milo bursts through underneath the arm of Arc going over to Corti “There you are, you’ve awoken!”  Splendid I’ve been waiting for a duet with you my dear.  Also some business that we could attend to together.  But I’ll let Mr. Cannith speak his piece.”  After abruptly interrupting he will bow out of the way with a smirk over towards the Canniths. 

Thia thought she heard a pardon beside her for Corti, but then it was followed up by a loud boisterous greeting which sounded much like Milo. It startles her awake, and she flails a little bit until she opens her eyes and sits up properly in her seat. She’d look around and sure enough, Milo was right there. And he was with company. Cannith company?! Thia would pop up out of her seat, smooth out her clothes and clear her throat before getting into a formal bow to the oldest of the two Canniths, following up with a second head bow towards the younger Cannith, who looked a bit familiar... the Cannith she seen with Corti earlier? Since Thia wasn’t addressed, she’d stand formally in silence. Truthfully though, she was just trying to get her bearings from being abruptly woken.

Corti heard the door open and snaps her head up, finishing of the last notes, “Milo! Arc! Tarian! It’s good to see you all, I’m very sorry I missed you last night.” She smiles at them, and then notices the elderly stranger who is with them, smiling at him and giving him a small wave, “Hello, sir, I’m Corti.” Turning back to the others, she says, “Well, I’m all ears! Thia and I have something to discuss with you afterwards as well. And Milo, a duet sounds lovely.”

Giving a small smile and nod to both Corti and Thia, Arc turns his head to motion his Uncle forwards a little, "Uncle, this is Corti. The warforged unit I spoke of." Looks at Corti, "Corti, this here is my Uncle, Tiberius Aurelius Cannith."

Corti extends her hand towards Tiberius, "It's a pleasure, Mr. Cannith."

Tiberius is astounded, and, after a little while, grabs Corti’s hand: “Amazing! I had heard stories of autonomous units, but this is beyond my wildest imagination.” Turning to Arc, he continued: “The unit is not only capable of creative endeavours, such as playing the lute, but it seems to have a clear understanding of humans based on contextual clues. Furthermore it has a clear sense of identity. We simply must study this new development.” He added, in a low whisper “... most of all, we need to understand it’s driving principles, if we want to get the unit back under our control...”

Arc gives a polite smile to his uncle, not voicing his own opinions on the matter. This was the part that Tiberius and his fathered shared, their desire to control....it was a desire Arc found himself lacking in. "Uncle, if I might not dissuade forcing yourself to make such attempts. After all, she might be willing to cooperate, to an extent, if you simply explained your intentions." Gives an apologetic looks to Corti, as if trying to say, sorry about all this.

Milo perks up “My dear Tiberius, when Arc started thinking for himself did you simply beat him into submission?”  He shares a glance with Tiberius and Arc, stepping up to hold onto Corti’s shoulder (standing on the table if he has to) “What we have here is true intelligence, emotions, desire, well anything that makes you and I a people.  She is no mere thing anymore and you shouldn’t think you can control her as such.  It’s a wonderful thing that your technology has brought new life into this world, but as every good parent does, it’s time to let the child flourish on their own.”  Looking back at Corti “To experience life itself in all its beauties and deceits, glories and failures.”

Corti doesn't stop smiling through Tiberius and Arc's words, but her smile grows visibly tighter and she takes a small step back. She starts a little as Milo grabs her shoulder, and once he finishes she gives him a grateful look. "Milo, I couldn't have said it better myself. Arc is right, Mr. Cannith. If you let me know what you need from me then I can let you know if I can help. And I'm happy to answer any questions you might have."

Brandt responds to Krathgar. "I may have information that one of your rivals disapproves of you and how you were able to win a lucrative business deal and that he might want something to happen to your business."

Thia’s brows would raise when she would hear Tiberius whisper about bringing a unit back under their control. She would tense a little, but she’d relax as soon as the other three piped up to defend Corti. Obviously, Thia doesn’t need to chime in for a fourth confirmation about Corti keeping her free will, but she would if needed. Instead she’d just nod in agreement.

Hearing a range of people disagree, Tiberius gets visibly flustered, and angry: “You are wrong, the mere presence of life is no difficult thing- after all you don’t try to educate a slice of bread if it’s begun to develop mould! This is an error, a flaw in my design. The units were never meant to question, they are built to obey! Anything else is madness!”

Any attempts by Arc to calm him down is shrugged off, as Tiberius quickly works himself into a rage:

“All these units know is combat, they aren’t called warforged by accident! Would you trust a human who spent their entire life in slaughter and mayhem, who never knew anything else?”

By now, an arcane mark above Tiberius eye is pulsating , and seems to grow, after a few moments reaching all the way to the temples.

Krathgar gives a snort: “The Mandrake? Mendraxes is a lout, who who hates me for usin’ some family contacts in the steel industry for my raw materials. So what? People buy from me, cos my product’s the best in the whole city! If that’s all you got, yer news is older than yer boots”

Pulling up some snort, he spits sideways, as if to underline the point.

"Fair enough. I'll see you in a week." And Brandt heads out of Krathgars store and begins making his way back to the Velvet Glove.

Arc, recognizing the mark and what it means grasps his uncle by the shoulder, and firmly, but arcanicaly with his own mark, and with his words pressures him to relax, "Uncle. Your mark. You know you're hurting yourself if you keep using it like that. Calm down and breath." A combination of worry for his uncle's health, a genuine disagreement with his claims, and the small fear of what he might try should he activate the mark's power.

Persuasion: 12

Noticing the state of Tiberius, Milo gives a shifter glance towards Tarian.  If he wasn’t standing on top of the table already he is now.  Milo posturing himself completely between Corti and Tiberius.  “I see, you’ve lost these gifts long ago.  We are not talking about merely mold growing.  We are talking about the ability to laugh, love, indulge, and cry as one feels.  That is life, the struggle and joy; it’s a gift.  Be glad you have given it and dare not think to take it away from someone. I suspect you’ve dedicated your life to your work and that shows in this magnificent creation”. As he motions to Corti.  Looking at Arc “I also suspect your childhood was void of these things and your uncle’s love is as cold as these machines.  I urge you to talk sense to your uncle.”  Now bringing his glare back to Tiberius “Because he will find he is not in his estate anymore, in fact he will find that this room and city block is filled with people who have greatly benefited from Corti and my presence.  If he wishes to raise his fist and lose control he will find he has to go not just one warforged and a devishly handsome is Halfling, but wave after wave of hardened worker that I’m sure would be eager.... oh so eager to get his hands on a Cannith.  So tell me, who is the murderer going to be. You don’t control life or the decisions of others. Your Business is done here, thanks for the carriage. “. 

Turning back to Corti “How about that duet?”

Corti looks down at the floor during Tiberius’ tirade, and stops smiling completely. “Just a minute, Milo,” she says nodding her thanks to him, but stepping out from behind him, “Mr. Cannith. You are correct when you say that all my people have ever known is war, but I want you to remember that it was your family who forced us into it. Like it or not, you created sentient beings, so my free will is not due to some ‘flaw’ in my design, but simply the fact that I was given a chance at a better life. Tanw- my mentor understood what you seemingly cannot: My people deserve a normal life. Especially now that the fighting has ended, and honestly? The Canniths owe it to us to help.” Corti takes a deep breath and looks at Arc. “Arc, I meant what I said. I’m more than willing to help you with your project, and to answer any questions about me that you or your uncle might have, but keep in mind that I’m doing it for the good of all the warforged. Let me know if your uncle wants to talk, and can do it without comparing me to mold.” Corti gives Arc a nod and Tiberius a colder look, then turns back to Milo and pulls her lute from her back. “Alright, Milo, let’s do this.”