From the Depths of the Arcology Quest

Turn 1: Momentum Results 1.1
There was a lot here to get done, and never enough time to do everything. You sigh running a hand through you hair before sitting down in a chair. Looking out the window of your new base of operations, things were still the same. You know it's not fair to assume things would change fast, it's only been a month, but it feels so dreadfully slow. You could read a whole history in the time it's taken you to build a building and set up a meeting. In a sense this dilation of time was to be expected, but still it's somewhat trying.

You get up from the chair after a few minutes when your diplomats walk in from another room, "Are you ready Jones?" one of them asks.

You nod, "Yeah." you grab your duster and head out, your brother waiting outside for your small group.

You make your way to the designated meeting spot in Alexander's territory. The walk there is relatively peaceful, the streets were busy enough with people trying to get from one point to the next, meet a friend, get a job, do something anything really. Still there was a sense of purpose among the people here, it was something you could respect.

It doesn't take to long to get there, and you find Alexander and three others sitting waiting for you in what you think is the foundation for a small park, right now though it's just an open area with a few benches and some dirt flooring.

Alexander is a relatively tall man, broad shoulders, short light brown hair, a hard face with green eyes. His hands are wrapped with Bandages and he wears a Duster similar to you, though it looks quite a bit cleaner than yours. He watches you approach as he lights a cigar, not many of those down here, cash crops like tobacco aren't worth growing in large amounts since food is so desperately needed.

It's clearly a show of force, a flaunting of wealth and station. He's saying, "Look at all I have to offer." but what's left to be thought is, "What do I have to offer in return."

You sit down across from him at the table they have set up in this area, Alexander puts out his cigar and sets it to the side, "You must be the Jones siblings I've been hearing about, welcome, I'm sorry we couldn't meet somewhere a bit more discrete, but I figured this would be as close to neutral grounds as I could accommodate."

He sits comfortably on his side, before turning to one of the men with him, and nodding as they head off, "A gift to start things off I think is appropriate." the man comes back with a box which he hands to Alexander who in turn hands it to you, you open it and inside is a rather high quality leather bound book. The pages however are blank.

He notes your reaction, "A journal, quite a nice one in fact, I figured you'd like to keep a record of events."

Do you accept Alexander's gift?
[]Yes
[]No

Regardless of that what would you like to negotiate, (Select as many as you like, but the more you pick the harder it will be to convince him or the more he may demand)
[] Trade Rights
[] A defensive pact
[] Mutual assistance (construction)
[] Mutual assistance (Research)
[] Something else? (Write in)
 
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[X] Plan Covered Skies
-[X]Yes
--[X] Keep the book in a disposable location and use only to note trades with Alexander's faction.
-[X]Trade Rights
-[X] Mutual assistance (Information)

Hmm, I'd say that I agree with accepting the book, but I don't trust it. The way he 'casually' recommended to "keep a record of events" as a journal is suspicious as heck. It could easily be some kind of technology to send him what is written in it or let one track down its location. I'd recommend not letting it go anywhere important, possibly using it as a record of trades with him exclusively stored in a disposable location.

As for the last bit, I think trade rights is the most important. Maybe some mutual information sharing as a write in, so rumors, enemy info, general news, etc. We don't have as much to offer in a defense pact, mutual assistance in construction, or mutual assistance in research. I'd prefer to limit his influence in our territories anyways. He will likely attempt to build up goodwill in the area and people loyal to him, such that he can take advantage when we're weakened to 'take the area under his protection' and 'magnanimously' take it over. At that point we'd be 'unfortunately' killed by his 'enemies' to turn the threat we pose to his authority into a rallying cry for our supporters to become his.
 
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Yeah I am spot on it being a trap, but given this is sci-fi we can't exclude it. This leaves the pathway open to future collaboration. I don't want to tip our hand by suggesting combined efforts against Ericsson yet.

[X] Plan Covered Skies
 
Vote closed
Scheduled vote count started by Warden_Draconis on Jan 18, 2022 at 12:39 PM, finished with 3 posts and 3 votes.


Ignore the second set of dice, my finger slipped and hit enter while typing the reason, D'Hautville only gets one die here since you're making rather reasonable demands.
Results:
11+14=25 vs 4+15=19
Jones Wins
Warden_Draconis threw 2 20-faced dice. Reason: Fast Talk Check: Jones Total: 20
9 9 11 11
Warden_Draconis threw 2 20-faced dice. Reason: Fast Talk Check: D' Total: 22
7 7 15 15
Warden_Draconis threw 1 20-faced dice. Reason: Fast Talk Check: D'Hautvile Total: 4
4 4
 
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