Undersigil Cartel

[*Tomekk]

In a couple of days after meeting the apparently Lich Merkhant and briefly confronting one of his servants Hildmor calls for his stealthiest against once again...((Available times, days. To meh and Tomekk)

((Anyone still interested in this, say, this weekend?))

[*Darkrob]

Standard negotiation demands that they approach the table with threat of violence, aggressive stance and cruel demeanorÂ… to do otherwise is to immediately show the enemy that they are weak and not worthy listening to.

Starting an open war is not in their best interests. They know this and will try to avoid it. To bring that much focus from the surface, as any war would, would only bring them harm.

They might not agree to the letter of our return offerÂ… but I imagine it will be close.

*Charles adjusts his gold cufflinks before sipping his Cognac*

Should it come to War, HildmorÂ… You know I will not be here. I will not sully my boots in the sewers that are these streets. I am here to aid the Cartel in profiting off of our business arraignmentsÂ… not as cannon fodderÂ…

Please do your best to avoid it.

[*Darkrob]

In response to the current... situation... in UnderSigil, Charles presents the following opinion.

"I've read their demands... my take?

Number one... your presence in our village shall never rise above your current quantity.

Very well... shouldn't be too hard... but the same must apply to them as well. They wish to keep our numbers stable in an attempt to maintain their superiority of numbers? Then they shall uphold the same standard...

Number two... you no longer claim to be the rulers of our village.

Nor can they. They must also drop their claim over the Village... but should the surface Factions finally turn their attentions to the Village... I imagine the tune will change once they realize we are the only true group who can stem the tide.

Number three... we'll receive portion of all your dealings in our lands. A price for our generosity. One tenth of your business income.

No. We will not pay service if no service is rendered. The "tarriffs" we collect from members goes towards protection of the village and trade routes. They merely try to extort... and rather poorly at that.

Number four... we'll have one of our own join your Syndicate as representative of our loyal order.

I'm not opposed to this... They have territory and that is the main requirement of sitting members is it not?

Number five... we have a final say in what you try to do to our village."

A final say? As in the final yes and no? Well... that kind of makes the last four points moot doesn't it? If they can veto any decision... they can veto any of the previous agreements at any time.

[*Cotillion]

"Simply because there is a Temple... does not mean it must be devoted to Tharizdun, dears."

As Rhethys steps into the meeting room clad in her usual radiant white, she pauses to allow her words to sink in, even as a massive hezrou follows her into the chamber. "The villagers hold no love for this god, only fear of its clergy. Replace the masked blowhards with the adherents of Vecna, Cyric, Loki, Tezcatlipoca, Lolth... okay, maybe not her, we'd have to live with Drow then... Takhsis, Loviatar, Malcanthet, even those new fools who devote themselves to Shami-Amourae... the villagers' lives will not change. This is still Sigil, and no god has the power to act here but through his mortal minions."

A slow grin spreads across her face. "Do we have the strength to vanquish them now? If so, let them all burn, and replace them with a more suitably... grateful... neighbor. If not... agree to their demands. For now. And all the while, we marshall a force against them, until... well, Hildmor, I don't believe I need to explain what happens next."

[*Reptiller]

*Hildmor looks around the meeting room, to other Syndicate members as well as his inner circle.*

"Y'all saw their three 'leaders'. They're not widely known, so they may just as well be new to this place. You see, Cultists of Tharizdun never tried to overtake or even show any kind of force before this day. They were...pretty docile, keeping to their little temple. Quite possibly they're the reason for that uprising. I am yet to spot anyone dressed as a Doomsdreamer, afterall."

[*Darkrob]

Which, at this moment, does what for us? These Vermin worshippers are expecting an answer from the Syndicate and pretty quickly at that. We have no time to properly investigate or undermine these unknown persons.

We need to stay focused at the issue at hand... the demands and our response... or rather the Syndicates response.

As an Associate of the Cartel... you already have my opinion.

[*Reptiller]

"I am just pointing out what we're dealing with, Charles. I want everyone to be informed of such details before they give their anwsers." - Hildmor frowned slightly.

[*Darkrob]

I understand, HildmorÂ… but at the moment such information, musings and speculation is irrelevant. Who pulls their strings is something left for a time when we can reflect upon at a later date. For now, howeverÂ… we need to give them a reply.

Upon further thoughtÂ… this is my suggestion.

Number one... your presence in our village shall never rise above your current quantity.

This should be acceptableÂ… in regards to permanent residents. It would be foolish for us to limit the number of visitors coming to use the businesses and casinos that might take root here. We are in the business of making money and money demands commerce and commerce demands visitors. Limiting Permanent residentsÂ… that's doable. In the mean time I would also suggest increasing outside support forces exponentially. If the cultists should decide to move on us then we would need to mount a counter attack promptlyÂ… to show them the errors of their ways.

Number two... you no longer claim to be the rulers of our village.

I still stand by my recommendation that this must work both ways. If The syndicate cannot hold sway over the Village then nor shall they.

Number three... we'll receive portion of all your dealings in our lands. A price for our generosity. One tenth of your business income.

Number four... we'll have one of our own join your Syndicate as representative of our loyal order.

These two demands cannot work together. The Syndicate collects a share of revenue from each member to support the dealings of the SyndicateÂ… they do not pay out to exclusive members. They would either have to take the ten percent and give up the seat or take the seat and pay their share like the other Syndicate members. If we give them both, the Syndicate falls as each member would demand the same.

If they give up the seat, in exchange for the coin, it puts us in a favorable position. We seal the village, if even on the other side of portals and city entries, and place an economic embargo on the villageÂ… allowing only Syndicate members access to the markets beyond the caverns. We remove political treaty protection to all non syndicate members and feed the Harmonium information on their activitiesÂ… permitting their arrest and incarceration. They may have numbers within these wallsÂ… but the Syndicate has power far beyond them.

Number five... we have a final say in what you try to do to our village.

This should never be permitted. It would give them the power to overrule any action taken within the village. We would work solely for them. This demand is unrealistic and akin to servitude.

[*Reptiller]

*Hildmor nods slightly* "Yes, as for their leaders, we should know whom to strike at should our attempts to negociate fail. I'd say I approve of all of your suggestions but again, it comes down to the leaders of the attacks. As far as I can tell they're not natives of the town. We just don't have dirt on these three. However, I still approve of this solution as long as it's only temporal, sooner or later we'll need to get rid of them even if they accept the terms propose." *He looks around them room* "Anyone else has something to say?"

[*Darkrob]

Then we place an addinum at the bottom of the contract that it is to be renegotiated after a three month time. This will afford the Syndicate ample time to investigate these three individuals yet not give them too much time to dig in even further.

It will also prevent too much loss of profit due to "uncomfortable" surroundings.

At the very least it will permit us to continue for the time being with minimal disruption of business.