123: Deepwell Negotiations 4
<18 September 2024, MOLBRAK CAVERN, A>
[Theo and Julia]
The next morning, Theo and Julia awoke once again to Ordus knocking on the doorframe. "Theo, Julia. We have been notified to make our way to the council chambers once again."
They quickly got up, dressed, ate, met everyone in the lobby, and made their way to the chambers once more. As they approached, they saw the same well-dressed dwarf. As soon as Harbek activated his Skill, Joshua spoke.
>Local Message: Universal Translation Active
"Be aware, sir, that nothing has changed. We still insist upon the use of Lady Sorrin's Skill. And any deals that will be struck will have a higher price." Joshua laid this all out quickly for the dwarf.
The well-dressed dwarf nodded. "I understand, and appreciate ye' reminding me. The Council will see ye' soon, but would have a word with Kreldar Underbrace before that."
Kreldar looked at Theo and Julia, both of whom shrugged. Kreldar nodded, "Alright, lead the way then."
They all entered and were taken to a small waiting area while Kreldar and the well-dressed dwarf went through a beautifully made door.
[Molbrak Council]
Kreldar walked into a somewhat familiar chamber where a somewhat familiar group sat, the only person who was different than the last time he was here was the woman seated in the middle of the long table, whom he recognized as Harbek's mother. The well-dressed dwarf took a seat facing Kreldar on a lower tier than the table.
"Kreldar Underbrace, what do ye' have to say for yourself?" One of the dwarves was seated three seats to the left of Chairwoman Runevein.
"I'm not sure what ye're gettin' at, councilman Stonebreaker," Kreldar said, genuinely confused.
Another council person, this time seated to the right of Chairwoman Runevein, spoke. "You ushered the humans away before our herald could retort to their demands."
"Yes, I did. Ye' should thank me for that councilwoman Rockbend." Kreldar said, explaining why he hated this room.
"Thankin' ye'!" The man said, almost leaping to his feet. "Why in the stones would we do that?"
"If there is one thing I've learned 'bout lord an' lady Sorrin it's that they don't really play games," Kreldar said. "And those they deal with have not played games with them either. If we try an' play games with them, I wouldn't put it past them to cut ties with us. The Summer Goblins on the mesa have already struck an accord with them, an' they called one of the grandchildren of Patriarch Karzun to act as a babysitter. Playin' games is a bad idea."
That caused a moment of silence as they all seemed to absorb what Kreldar had said. Finally, Chairwoman Runevein nodded. "I understand, Kreldar. I think that the others on this Council understand as well. Kurdin, show them in."
With a grumble, Kreldar took a seat. As Theo, Julia, Joshua, and Fred were shown into the chambers. The Chairwoman spoke. "Firstly, welcome. Now then, I hear that there is a skill that ye' wish to use, Lady Sorrin. Please begin and ask for anything that you need."
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Julia smiled and began to perform the summoning ritual under the guidance of the Skill. An hour later, with a thrum of power, a table of black stone appeared in the room, with twelve simple chairs. Theo, Julia, and Joshua took three of the seats. As they sat down, text appeared over their heads and tokens appeared in front of them.
Theo's token was that of a shield in front of a feminine figure. Julia's token was of a fireplace with a wand mounted over it. Joshua's token was of a man guiding a small, feminine figure. Each of these tokens had a small base that bore a color scheme that Theo thought was shifting in the light. Over their head floated similar text for each of them.
Theo Sorrin, Sorrin Family, Founding Member: Sorrin
Julia Sorrin, Sorrin Family, Founding Member: Sorrin
Joshua Armstron, Sorrin Family, No Active Title
They waited for the dwarves to choose who would sit.
Automatically, the woman who had been sitting in the middle of the long table took a seat.
Arnha Runevein, Clan Molbrak, Delvemistress
The others quickly sorted themselves out, and Arnha was joined by eight of the remaining twelve dwarves. The others took seats behind them. Fred took up a position behind Joshua, standing ramrod straight, his eyes sweeping back and forth as he watched the proceedings.
"Now then," Arnha said, "we're here to discuss a deepwell that was discovered on the lands of the Sorrin family. Ideally, we'd like to come to an agreement about how we might get access to that water, as well as how we might bring it to us."
Theo smiled, "Julia and I are amicable to this, but we did bring Joshua for a reason, so we would like to simply observe what takes place, and answer any questions that may need answering. I will say that, Kreldar and Harbek both have been fantastic to us, so we want to help where we can."
Julia agreed, "They are very good friends, but we are not here to give things away for free."
"With that, I think that is where I take over," Joshua said with a smile at Arnha. "For simplicity, please call me Joshua. I do not have any special title that matters anymore. I will be negotiating on behalf of the Sorrin family."
Arnha opened her mouth to speak, but was cut off by one of the other dwarves at the table. "Joshua, I am Councilman Coldforger, ye' seem a reasonable man, so why don't we be done with this and ye'll allow the Council to take control of the Deepwell. Such an august body as ours would surely be in a better position to understand the needs of a group as large as our clan as compared to the needs of a single family."
The table was silent for a moment before Joshua spoke. "I appreciate the offer, but I will be refusing. Now then, Chairwoman Runevein, why don't we begin with..."
Joshua was cut off by another of the dwarves, one who had been growing redder and redder in the face, who seemed to burst. "Yer lowly family does not matter! Turn over control of the Deepwell to us or we'll simply wipe ye' from the mesa and claim it ourselves!"
Theo let out a long sigh that held notes of threat that sent shivers down the backs of several people present. "Again with trying to take our land."
Arnha looked at Theo, and something in her knew that they had made a mistake. Theo locked eyes with the Chairwoman, "Arnha, you have seemed reasonable, and we would love to make a deal, but the next person to suggest killing those I care for, or threatening to take our land, will be responsible for the permanent loss of access to the Deepwell."
Before anyone could speak, the doors opened and three dwarves came in, two wearing full plate, and exuding the same energy that Fred did, and the third was an ancient man who walked with a cane. The dwarves scrambled to their feet. The old dwarf made his way to the table, and as he approached, he spoke, "Everyone but Runevein, Stonebreaker, and Hotstone. Out."
Without any argument, all the dwarves left except for the three that had been named, the old man, and the two dwarves in the plate. The old man smiled. "Now then, where were you, Runevein?"
He sat, and everyone read the text that appeared over his head.
Ubran Molbrak, Clan Molbrak, Founding Member: Molbrak