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The Fine Art of Delegation

Page history last edited by Master of the Hunting Mist 14 years, 3 months ago

Players: Crystal Seeker and Master of the Hunting Mist

 

 

          The city-state of Granite Falls is a modest town of over-sized fortifications. The ore-producing mines are open right into the cliffs that form part of a natural wall for the city, and are a protected source of industry for the city. The majority of citizens make their living from the mines, either directly or indirectly, and all have adopted the tough demeanor necessary for constant hard work. The meeting Mist had set up is in a modest building in sight of the south-west gate of the city, a local ore-guild hall and hostel he reserved for his personal use this day. Yoshi is noticably absent.

 

          Many laborer's eyes turn and stare as Crystal Seeker rides into town and fastens her horse at the hostel, her gleaming face and skin resembling the multiple hues of jade itself, and other valueable gemstones if seen in the right light. For many, it is a curiousity as to whether a elemental child has been hired by the Kingdom to aide in productivity and what bribes such creatures may demand for such aide, but the passerbys know when to leave well enough alone as her sundry religious marking reveal her as an official of importance. Crystal Seeker walks into the hostel sporting the old clothing from the days with Longinus as she's feeling nostalgic, tipping her fedora to the manager upon entering and gazing around for her caller.

 

         From the side room Hunting Mist looks up from the paperwork spread before him on the table, and spots Crystal Seeker when she appears within line of sight of the doorway.

         "Make yerself at home, we got a bit of work here.", Mist calls out, and starts gathering a bundle of papers he had already dissected for his personal study.

 

          Crystal Seeker approaches with a graceful gait and takes a seat next to Mist, waving the paperwork over so she can study what it is that has taken his interest. "What's this? You seem to have taken an interest in these lands that I would not have expected earlier. What tragedy do you hope to prevent before it sweeps you by, o mighty Lord of Creation?" she asks softly. "This is far distant from your normal holdings...and outstanding vendettas." she notes casually, reading him while remaining stone-faced, her emerald eyes emotionless as a bejeweled jade statuette.

 

         Mist pauses only for the briefest moment on the word 'vendetta', and smiles at Crystal's descriptor of his actions. The bundle are reports compiled from various sources in the region, and are a revealing study of the actions of a nation gone rogue centered in Crimson Hollow. "Ah'm here because ah see an opportunity that did not exist before. There's a place here that's turned into a bandit kingdom, practically, an' ah see a need to put it down. After some thought, ah realized ah might be able to just turn th'place around, an' make somethin' of it. Th'thing is, managing that trick will mean overcomin' resistance from anyone who benefits from things th'way they are now. That is mostly and most intensely coming from Amber Scorpion an' his group of Dragon Blooded."

 

          "Perhaps you'd care to elaborate further on how a few of the Dragons' Chosen could possibly stand in the way of your desires, oh mighty king?" Crystal Seeker hints, a glimmer of mirth sparkling in her faceted eyes even as she reads though Hunting Mist's paperwork. "I take it you wish to avoid a display of your power or else I wouldn't have been called, although the quality of this paperwork clearly hints that some organizational assistance may be of use to you at the personal level. If your story interests me, perhaps I will aide you as I was an aide to Longinus, rest his soul. I am not content merely with halls of stone."

 

         A querilous look comes over Mist's face as Crystal's wry assessment spills forth and washes over his consciousness. Mist finds himself on the sharp end of a subtle humour, and while not comfortable with it, finds it reassuring that Crystal Seeker has much in common with human folk who like to poke fun at things.

         "Well", Mist begins, "Ah've already announced to all 'n'sundry that a Solar is in th'area. Had me right proper duel with one Sand Runner, a water-aspected terrestrial, an' pounded him flat over th'fate of Black Ravine. But that's neither here nor there. Ah ain't gonna roll over them, simply because ah'm not sure ah can. Also, when ah thought about it, ah'm not sure ah want to. Most of th'folk who live in Cromson Hollow're folk way down on their luck. First th'guild conflation, then Chronopolis blowin' up made th'trade-town of Hollow into a center of really desperate folk without a means t'get by. Ah aim t'get them an' turn them around. But before ah do that, ah need t'get inta th'heads of those who're runnin' it right now, an' that's where you come in. You mentioned you're good at gettin' information?"

 

          "In a legitimate fashion, yes." Crystal Seeker answers cautiously. "And I learned much as Longinus's aide in such endeavors. But going against the Exalted is dangerous, and the Dragon-Blooded are not to underestimated in subtlety, even if for many it is out of fashion. Spying is very different from locating a missing person or tracking down a family bloodline...and I believe that's what you're insinuating." Crystal adds, glimpsing to makes sure they are still alone. "It would be very easy for them to spy on us now if they have you identified."

 

         Grinning, Mist pours himself some watered-down wine from a pitcher on the table. He takes a sip, looking over to Crystal all the while. Eventually he puts the clay mug down and nods.

         Mist speaks with an even tone, quiet and not traveling farther than the room,"Y'hafeta remember, yer not th'only graduate from th'College here. Ah can take care of myself, as far as that goes, but these reports're another matter entirely. Ah honestly cannot put these together fast enough t'make decent use out of'em. Ah know folk all across th'East, but ah can hardly find out what they know! That's why ah asked you here. Ah already have someone else here t'help, but he's got his hands full with other work. You can either stay here an' manage th'information networks an' get word to me, or you can travel with me to where-ever ah may be goin' next, an' get in touch with mah folk there. You prolly already know some of them already, they're Long's former students, most of them, an' they're itchin' t'do somethin' about what-all blew up th'College. Ah'm aimin' t'make use of them, an' not let them down."

 

          Crystal Seeker nods approvingly at Hunting Mist's statement, her golden topaz hair alight around her brow as it peeks out from under the fedora. "You have the power to reach your goal if pointed in the right direction, o King, but much darkness awaits and I fear I will not be able to follow. Until that time I will aide you as is most convenient to your causes, whether by your side or consulting with your associates. It's the least I can do for the memory of he which we both choose to honor." she says sadly with a distant expression, looking deep into the swirling mix within Hunter Mist's mug, as if carressing the clay with her eyes, rather than meeting his own gaze.

 

         Seeker's memorial to a fallen friend puts Mist's mood into something a bit more towards somber. His finger taps the clay mug he holds twice before he responds, "Aya, yah, darkness is somethin' ah don' fear, Seeker. Ah'll light it up mahself if need be, Sol's granted me that much. A'ight. We'll be headin' over t'Black Ravine fer th'victory celebration in a day's time or so. Sand Runner is in mah captivity, an' you can either be there fer th'interrogation, or y'can try t'pull info from th'network an' see what they've been up to. There're others who're involved- Running Silver Ice is lookin' into Amber hisself. Myself, mah endgame is t'have Crimson Hollow converted inta ranchin' territory, with all employed an' trained t'help out. One of th'things ah'm doin' is makin' sure that all th'neighbourin' nations're on board with this. One of them, Redsky, is gonna be a real tough nut t'crack. Strong ties t'the Realm, th'Immaculates have a real hold on'em. Ah'm thinkin' ah'll let someone else negotiate with'em. Maybe th'Boulder.", Mist pauses on this thought, imagining The Boulder challenging all courtesy and etiquette with his mighty prowess, "Mebbe not. Anyways, they're not hurtin' as bad as 'Ravine was. Ravine's gotta turn itself aroun' as well a bit. They've been hit, lost some folk, an' as you'll find out, aren't th'forgivin' sort. Ah'll...be lookin' t'get that changed. It's one thing t'bein' grim when necessary, an' facin' hardship stoically, another t'be grim aout all things, an' callin' fer blood long after any harm has been done."

 

          "It seems you do indeed walk a delicate web with what you wish to create and envision." Crystal acknowledges distractedly as if finding an interesting tidbit of trivia all of a sudden in Mist's notes. "I had better review ...and I would suggest we don't reveal my involvement to your opposition until it is necessary and that I be clearly noted as merely a servant. I am far more vulnerable than yourself should I be seen as an easy means of influencing your own actions. But we will see, as such a tangled web as it appears we will try to weave is rarely built within a single chain of causality, but a vast web of interrelationships. Sometimes it comes down to instinct." she smirks her ruby lips "Some people are said to take on the traits of their familiars." she leaves the implications purposely ambiguous as she continues her work.

 

         Mist nods, and smiles broadly at Seeker's acceptance of the tasks before her. "Ah'm glad you unnerstand th'complexity of th'job here. Yeah, ah can make sure yer operatin' independent of me, as long as you can reach me with th'important stuff when it's timely. An', fer th'record, Yoshi objects to yer crack on folk'n'their familiars. Says ah could stand t'be more on th'ball if I were t'take on his traits. Damn lizard."

         Mist gather most of the reports together, places them into a leather portfolio, and sets it down next to Crystal Seeker. "Th'jobs yours, then. We leave fer Black Ravine in th'mornin'. Ah'm gonna speak with Heseiah, an' make sure he canhandle things here. Ah'll see you later, Seeker.", Mist finishes, flaps the duster to settle it onto his frame, and strolls out, leaving Seeker with her work.

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