Homestead Survival

<18 September 2024, MOLBRAK CAVERN, A>
[Molbrak Council]
Theo and Julia were very interested in the new addition to the table.

"Urban Molbrak," Julia said, smiling at the elderly dwarf, "I am Julia Sorrin, and this is Theo. It is a pleasure to meet you."

The dwarf looked at Julia for a long moment, then at Theo, before finally looking at Kreldar, who had remained standing behind Fred. "Underbrace, ye' brat, get out here."

Kreldar stepped forward. "Ubran."

"So this is who ye've thrown yer lot in with?" Ubran asked, looking at Theo and Julia once more. "They are.... Shockingly normal."

Kreldar let out a sharp laugh. "I know that ye' don't move off that ancient backside for normal. So all evidence to the contrary."

Ubran nodded a concession to that. "Very well. Runevein, Stonebreaker, and Hotstone. The three of ye'll negotiate. I'll oversee. Get to it."

The three dwarves nodded. Theo and Julia had several questions, but both of them decided to remain silent. Joshua cleared his throat and then spoke. "Well then, Arnha, where were we?"

Arnha Runevein nodded. "I was hoping to hear what you might consider as a baseline to our negotiations."

Joshua nodded and thought for a moment, then took a deep breath, seeming to center himself. "Before anything else, I would like to tell you something in the interests of being transparent with you all. Before the arrival of the system, I was President of the most powerful country on this planet, and before that, I was a special representative of trade to several countries. So while I also have a class that somewhat lends itself to this, I also have a lifetime of negotiation experience."

That got a slight chuckle from Fred, but no one else said anything. Arnha nodded. "Understood, your transparency has been noted and appreciated."

"Very well, now then," Joshua seemed to set himself as if preparing to face down a charging beast, "there are several points that I would like to adress, in order they are, Acknowldement of ownership and sovereignty, Access as a contractual right, Reciprocity and value exchange, usage boundries, shared stewardship, and finally security and enforcement."

The silence that followed, as well as the widened eyes of Councilwoman Hotstone, was only interrupted by Ubran laughing long and hard. "Ohhohoh, ye're a fiery one. I like it! Cary on then."

Joshua did so. "Very well. First and foremost, in addition to the System recognition that the Sorrin family has to their land claim, and ownership of the deep well, we would want documents to show that Clan Molbrak recognizes the Sorrin Family as a Sovereign entity and potentially a sovereign government and/or kingdom. These would precede an acknowledgement by Clan Molbrak that while they may have a contractual claim, sole ownership of the Deepwell, water from it, access to it, and any other rights associated with it lay solely with the Sorrin Family."

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Arnha turned to the others and spoke quietly for a moment before turning back to Joshua, "So long as we are able to get a reciprocal document where the Sorrin Family recognizes the Sovereignty of clan Molbrak, and a document outlining conflict resolution between our two sovereign bodies, then yes, we could agree to this."

Joshua saw both Theo and Julia nod, "Agreed. Next is access as a contractual right..."

This continued for several hours, and when they had established the baseline agreements that Joshua had insisted on, they broke for lunch. Theo and Julia elected to stay at the table, unsure of whether the table would vanish if they left. Ordus and Kreldar left to get food for them and for Joshua and Fred.

[Theo and Julia]
"So I won't lie, I kind of lost track there," Theo said, as they waited for food. "Mind giving us the short of it?"

"Not at all," Joshua said. "The points that I mentioned earlier, Acknowledgment of ownership and sovereignty, Access as a contractual right, Reciprocity and value exchange, usage boundaries, shared stewardship, and security and enforcement. They were all addressed, and the short of it is that we established some ground rules that will let us assign value to what they have to offer and what we have to offer. It also protects the Deepwell by letting them rent access basically rather than selling water by the gallon or something similar."

"Well, that is good. So what's the next step?" Julia asked.

"Well, we see how much water they want and what they're offering in exchange, keeping in mind that water is not as much of a finite resource as we were used to it being." Joshua looked thoughtful for a moment. "If what they are saying about the Deepwell is accurate, then it is a veritable infinite source of fresh water."

"I guess that removes the other options," Theo muttered to himself.

"What was that?" Julia asked.

"Oh, just remembering something I read." Theo said, "Whisky is for drinking...."

Joshua finished the saying, "...and water is for fighting. Yes, with a limitless supply, the need to fight over it becomes less prevalent, assuming that the person in control of it is willing to share."

Julia got a look on her face. "Interesting. Joshua, I have an idea, I need you to tell me if it is insane."

Joshua nodded, and Julia started talking as Ordus and Kreldar brought in food.

[Ubran Molbrak]
"That man," Ubran said between bites of a roast of some local meat, "is a monster."

"He did do this as a job before the System came to this world," Arnha said, then she saw the thoughtful look that Ubran had on his face. "Is there something you want to do Founder Ubran?"

"I am just marvelin' that in only a few hours we've managed to create somethin' that establishes a number of points that negotiations between clans would've months to deliberate." Ubran said, "As to what I want to do... I think that we should give'em what they want. I think that having them as allies would be more beneficial to us than any amount of water we can get. Especially if Joshua is willin' to help us resolve some of our other conflicts. Maybe even some policy review."

Councilwoman Hotstone snorted, "I get the feeling that anything we ask him to do is goin' to be at a price."

"As it should be!" Councilman Stonebreaker said with gusto, "Never do anythin' that ye're good at for free! If ye' asked a dwarf to haul rock, he'd demand a meal at the very least."

Councilwoman Hotstone nodded. "Fair enough. I just worry what he'll try and bleed us for."

Ubran nodded, "I'll stay out of the way unless I have to step in, but I think we should let Joshua lead, and try to follow. Maybe even include his services as part of the deal. But I want to make it clear that we're not takin' the man from the Sorrin family. That could be the quickest way to spoil any relations we have. Not to mention Kreldar Underbrace."

The other dwarves looked down at that. Ubran shook his head, "Nevertheless, do what ye' can and we will see where this goes."

The dwarves finished their meal and then rose to return to the table.