How does one show a race of unimaginable power that is just now slowly awakening that you come in peace?
Perhaps there is more than a single answer to that question but your solution was to have tea.
Alone, you entered the pyramid and set down exactly five steps from the exist, you brought a kettle, some leaves, water sugar and two cups.
For five days you set there making and drinking tea, meditating on this and that, it was not often you managed to find a vacation in your official duties and you planned to milk it for al it was worth before the real stressful apart would begin.
While you waited in that darkened hallway the earth whispered to you of activity below you, the pyramid has begun slowly awakening, your presence promoting ancient protocols to work.
You waited, hoping you haven't made a mistake as you felt the pyramid awakening more and more, for five days you waited and the sixth a singular being came to greet you.
The bind that cam forth was large, towering over you completely, his form composed of some sort of strange silvery metal and made it no a facsimile of some sort of skeleton system.
Its movements were efficient, no energy wasted, no ticks and shuffling instinctive of living beings, with your sight you could see that it had no soul, that it had no desire within it and yet in its burning green eyes you saw intelligence… it was unnerving.
But you would persevere, gazing upon this creature that is not dead yet not alive. (+Dao fragment life (unsould)).
It uttered a single word in acold and mechanical voice "follow" before turning away and striding deeper into the pyramid.
Taking amount to gather your tea set you follow.
The creature leads you through the maze-like pathways of the pyramid, making your way without a guide would have been a difficult to almost impossible task but you're pretty sure he led you through the same corridors more then once to befuddle you even further.
Here and there you see some mechanical creature scattering away but never anything like your guide.
After what felt like hours -but realistically could only have been about thirty minutes or so- you arrived at your destination.
A large hall, filled with dozens of almost identical -but not quite- beings like your guide large red banners covered every inch of the walls and at the far end was a grand throne, towering over the entire assembly it was made from the same strange metal as the Necrons bodies were composed of.
On that throne set -silent as the grave- another Necron, his body taller and his eyes burning an even brighter green from the rest, he wore exaggerated robs of colored with some silvery hue and held a large metallic staff in his left hand. You were led to him, the gallery silent as your foot steps echoed throughout the silent hall.
When you reached the middle of the hall your guide left you, joining its brethren along the walls. Leaving you to stand there.
And stand… and stand, and stand. You felt the Necrons eyes bore into your back as you focused you gaze upon the one at the throne, you can't read him, his body is too under control and alien besides. His lack of soul makes it even more difficult. You had not realized how reliant you become on that sense, that now that you lack it you find yourself lost.
Well perhaps lost is an exaggeration, you can understand enough what they wish for you to do. You were brought before a king and they expect you to bow.
You were not opposed in principle to such an act, you have broken the control of pride long ago but acts have power, both real and ephemeral. Bowing would indicate that you are his lesser, that you are the weaker party. It would be seen as a sign of submission and that would color the negotiation.
Of course, not bowing would also color the negotiations ahead. They clearly think they are the stronger party, that they are your superiors and there's a good chance they're right but in diplomacy what's right often doesn't really matter.
What matters is what's perceived.
If you cannot be perceived as the dominant party and being perceived as the weaker one would cost too much, there remind only a single solution.
Slowly you lifted your legs off the ground, sitting on the air held aloft by Qi, you set down your tea set -also in the air- and with a simple burst of Qi instantly returned the tea to the optimum temperature.
Carefully you poured out two cups.
"Tea?" you asked, the Necron on the throne as you floated one of your cups toward him.
If you have only two options and both are unviable, flip the table and do the unexpected, the shock is almost always enough to bring things to your favor.
The Necron raised a single finger of his right hand and swiped it to the left.
'Crash'.
Both cups and your tea set were violently ripped form your control and flung at the wall, shattering on the body of one of the many silent sentinels in the room.
Pity, you quite liked that tea set.
Oh well, the information you got was worth it, you can see it. the warp might not touch the beings before you and their manipulation of realty is done by means unknown to you but their actions are yet mirrored in the warp and as the warp is both past, present and future at the same time if you watch carefully, you can see the Necron manipulation before they even attempt it.
And if you can see it, you can block it. which would be a major advantage if things came to blows.
"You intrigue me" the sudden voice cutting away the silence almost managed to startle you mostly from the surprise that the necron speaks your language.
"The energy you hold within you is something no Necron has ever seen, a manipulation of the warp so revolutionary it reeks of them, state a single reason why I shouldn't command my legions to raze your petty empire to the ground and cut you open to discover whatever secrets you form holds?"
The Necron voice was deep, mechanical and so utterly bord as it talked about the slaughter of millions, at least its conformation that Okertaku information isnt too exaggerated in the Necron case.
Still, this was not a good start, with his piece said the nercon return to silence as you completed on how to reply to the blatant threat. You have a sneaking suspicion that nothing but force would deter them form thanking what they wish and if its force they wish, it is force they will meet.
"You are welcome to try" you say calmly.
"Oh? You doubt the power of my legions? A single detachment of immortals would be more then enough to wipe you all from the face of the galaxy".
"Try then" you say simply. "But I dare say you would find as a far tougher pray then you imagine. Especially for your diminished legions".
The slightest tilt of his head, conformed what you suspected. The Necrons were weaker than they first appeared, the pyramid they called home damaged and empty.
They tired to hid it form you, leading you in loops and allowing you to catch hints of activity here and there to ensure that you didn't see that this place was emptier than it should have been and that they were frantically working on repairs.
Idlily, you wonder how many of their defenses were actually working before chasing the thought away, the external defense would have been on the first things they would have fixed.
"What it is that you want, what have you came here for?" changing the subject was a silent admission that you won that particular bout but that was no excuse to get sloppy.
"I cam here seeking coordination against a common foe" you say.
"A common foe you say" the Necron pausing for a moment as if in thought "what possible enemy do you posses that would be able to threaten me?"
"The four"
"The four?"
That… that was a question. Did they not know of the four? you suppose they have slept from a long time, perhaps they came form a time before the four ever existed -as much as such is hard to wrap your head around.
"The four great gods of chaos, they are the prominent force within the warp" you explain and it seemed that your words provided an epiphany as the Necron seemed to realize who it is your talking about.
"The four parasites? I did wonder why their essence and influence was so prevalent within the warp, to think things changed so much but I don't see what it has to do with me."
"In but a few short decades they will invade this world" you reply.
"Divination?" for the first time the Necron voice seem to hold anything else other then boredom in its tone "it matters not, in but a few short years we will be gone, returning to our journey".
They are leaving? How? no that doesn't matter, you assumed they would stay and be in the path of the invasion which would give you an in to cooperate and trade but if they are leaving you just lost most of your leverage.
"But you're interesting enough and I don't want to stay on this dust ball anymore then I have too, so let's talk".
Throughout long and difficult negotiations Shiaktu has managed to bring the Necrons to the table, the starting balance is -1 for a deal to be struck this balance must be brought to 0 or higher.
If a deal isn't struck (I.E the balance remains at -1) expect battle, if the balance is at 0 the Necrons may renege on their deal in whole or in part (depends on what you buy from them), bringing the balance to +1 means there is no chance of the above form happening.
I am of course open to suggestions on what you might offer (or buy) but currently:
What you can offer
[] Raw Materials (+1) (can be taken up to 5 times)- the pyramid is damaged and the Nercons stores of materials is running low, they could dispatch units to gather the needed materials on their own but such would divert them from other purists and delay their journey so they are willing to pay for you to deliver the needed materials in bulk. -1000 EFEP for every time its chosen.
[] pills, runes and artifacts (+1)- the Nercon are willing to buy a sample of your cultivator creation, mostly out of interest then any actual use. Consume a small portion of your pill capacity and some of the runic institution time.
[] the demonic (+1)- the Necrons are interested in cultivation and are willing to buy "examples" of the process from you, those examples are likely to be dissected so you can only justify giving them the demonic cultivators you still have prisoner (and those you'll capture),the only real downside is that you wont be able to use them yourself. -demonic cultivators for the turn.
[] The Eternal flame (+2)- the eternal flame is a unique and powerful treasure, it abilty to let all see the future through it is something deeply wanted by the Necrons and they are willing to pay heftily for it. lose the eternal flame.
[] the clear eye (+1) (may be taken up to 3 times)- long have the Necrons slumbered and the galxey is drastically changed form their time, share what you know and offer your divination help to bring them up to speed on the basic state of the galaxy. -1 AP (taken form next turn).
What they offer.
[] Weapons (-1) (can be taken unlimited times)- the basic Necron weaponry is devastatingly effective and they offer you enough to equip a thousand Keku, in particular they offer Gauss Flayer's a weapon that disintegrate whatever it hits. Equipping your troops with such weapons would increase their offensive potential massively.
[] command nod (-3)- for a hefty the necrons can be convinced to leave behind a single command nod and a small assortment of troops to help with the coming invasion. Gain: 1 immortal unit and 2 Necron warrior units.
-[] more warriors (-1) (can be taken up to 5 times)- For extra payments the Necorns can be convinced to part with more of their basic forces. Gain 2 more units of Necron warriors.
-[] more immortals (-2) can be taken up to 2 times)- the same is true for their immortals. Gain 1 more unit of immortals.
-[] the grand immortal (-3)- for a big payment, the necron would even leave one of their more experienced immortals to commend the forces. Gain a champion immortal to commend the Necron forces. he is roughly equal to champion space marines.
-[] doomsday (-3)- or they could be convinced to part with a single doomsday ark, those powerful engines of war each capable of shattering armies. +1 doomsday ark.
[] an artifact (-2) may be taken up to 2 times) - the Necrons treasury are filled with powerful and almost unique artifacts and they are willing to trade some of them to you. an artifact (which one would be decided later and probably by write in, ask if you want o know if you can get something specific).
[] warp stabilizer (-5)- thanks to masterful diplomacy you managed to convince the necron to part with one if their limited warp stabilizers, this pylon when activated would stabilize the warp around the plant and harden the vial between realties, this would make it harder to open gateways and reduce the overall number of tears opened during the invasion. +pylon of warp stabilization.
[] Expertise (-1/-3/-5/-7)- the necrons are masters of the physical world and they are willing to teach you the smallest of secrets in return for your aid. Gain 1/2/3/4 tech levels.
Alternatives
[] Betrayal (sudden)- surrounded you may be but the lord of this construct is right in front of you, and he underestimates you. move before they can react and let the black flames consume him. Without him the pyramid defense would be weakened and you'll have an easier time conquering it. Of course, after you'll kill the lord you'll still need to survive the ensuring brawl and make your out of the pyramid so you army could act which would be dangerous but you think its possible for you. Start a battle.
[] Betrayal (hidden words)- you'll make a deal; you'll gain their weapons and then you'll turn around and use them to get the rest of the spoils. Make a deal normally and then start a battle for the pyramid where you now posses the items you traded for, of course don't trade for troops if you plan this as they would fight against you.
I'm going to put a 6 hours moratorium in place to let discussion happen as this is important.
