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Gunpowder Gods: a Quest of Young Gods and New Lands

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"What is the most important thing to know about what we face?" Maybe?

There are a few different ways to phrase questions such that he'll have to use knowledge he's not giving us to construct a useful answer, this may not be the best one.
 
[X] One question in exchange for safe passage, but I cannot guaranty non-interference. I do not know the scope of your affairs, and so cannot promise to avoid that which I cannot see.

[X] What do you know of what we face?
 
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Voyager: VI
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    • [X] One question in exchange for safe passage, but I cannot guaranty non-interference. I do not know the scope of your affairs, and so cannot promise to avoid that which I cannot see.

    [X] What do you know of what we face?
    Click to expand...
    Click to shrink...

    You gauge the situation. If your instincts are correct, Mirk's not as comfortable in this position as he'd like to show himself. He should be willing to give up on some of his demands if you stand your ground.

    'For one question, I can grant you safe passage,' you say, meeting his gaze. 'As for non-interference? I cannot guarantee it. I do not know the scope of your affairs, and so cannot promise to avoid that which I cannot see.'

    It is as much an opening to share those affairs with you as it is to give up on the demand. Mirk's expression is unreadable as he considers the offer. Finally, the secret-god nods.

    'So be it. Just the same, I will not guarantee your safety if you choose to look where you should not. Follow me at your own peril. Now, ask your question. Time is wasting.'

    'What do you know of what we face?'

    The question hangs in the air. Mirk's lips twist into an even tighter line. For a while, the only sound is the breaking of the waves against the muddy earth and the rustle of vines on the wind. The trees around you have long, drooping branches and rigid high roots which almost lift them out of the watery earth. It is curious that they should grow so well in salt water - Neassa will surely offer forth some explanation.

    Mirk blows air from his nostrils. 'An indistinct question. A careless one. I could mislead you with an answer just as vague, if I so chose,' the god of secret says with a bitter air. He sighs. 'The truth of things is this. What we face are beings so far above either of us that you would do well to flee back for the Old World as fast as your sails could carry. It is just as evident that you will not do so. They are as ancient as the world, the peers of our long-since ascended forefathers. There was great conflict in those times, it seems, and these creatures came across the sea in its aftermath. Perhaps they made this land where before there was nothing. Whether they were the victors or the vanquished, who can say? They have endured, and in enduring, grown stronger and more terrible than any divine of old. Odd that their absence from the world has ended after so many millenia, would you not say?'

    'How do you know this?'

    Mirk displays a brittle smile. 'It is knowledge that came into the keeping of another god of the Old World.'

    'An old god? Or one of the young?'

    'I have given you more than you asked for. Keep your greed in check, goddess.'

    You nod, in truth grateful to hear so much. 'You must know more of them,' you say. 'These titans.'

    'What would you have me speak of? How to defeat them? The secret of their stretched-thin existence? I think not. I have told you enough. Perhaps in exchange for another favor... though I pray you will choose your questions with more care in the future.'

    ***​

    [] Very well. You will give him something else for another question, or several.
    -[] (1) The promise of non-interference. It will be difficult to not interfere when you know nothing of his plans, but you will simply have to be careful.
    -[] (1-3) Resources and gold. He will require supplies and coin for his people. You could offer some from your stocks - it should not be too difficult to extract more from these lands or the banks of the WTC. Choose if you wish to offer a token gift for 1 answer, a small gift for 2 answers, or a large gift for 3 answers.
    -[] (3+) Ships and armaments. He seems to have misplaced his flotilla. You could grant him one or more of your ships and a store of arms for survival in this hostile land. Choose how many ships with armaments you wish to offer. Each ship is worth 3 answers to Mirk, and you currently command 8 in addition to the Dreamer.
    -[] (?) A pact of non-aggression. You could offer him a pact of non-aggression. Perhaps he will think it worth some further answers.
    -[] (?) A pact of alliance. You could offer him a pact of alliance in times of war. Perhaps he will think it worth some further answers.
    -[] (1) A favor owed. Or you could simply offer to be indebted to him - a small favor, which he could call upon at some later date.
    [] You're done here. No more questions.

    Possible questions...
    [] How did you know about the attack?
    [] How is it these titans remained undiscovered until now?
    [] How have the titans lived so long?
    [] Which god gave you this knowledge?
    [] Why did you not warn the fleet?
    [] What are you doing here?
    [] Who were you meeting here?
    [] Where is the rest of your fleet?
    [] What are your plans in the New World?
    [] How did you know to come here?
    [] How can the titans be defeated?
    [] How can the titans be avoided?
    [] Do you need a hug?
    [] Write-in.
     
  • Threadmarks
    • [X] Very well. You will give him something else for another question, or several.
    -[X] (?) A pact of alliance. You could offer him a pact of alliance in times of war. Perhaps he will think it worth some further answers.

    [X] What are you doing here?
    [X] What are your plans in the New World?
     
    [X] Very well. You will give him something else for another question, or several.
    -[X] (?) A pact of alliance. You could offer him a pact of alliance in times of war. Perhaps he will think it worth some further answers.

    [X] What are you doing here?
    [X] What are your plans in the New World?
     
    I wouldn't make an ally of this guy. He's probably already made enemies of every other God who left with us, and seems like someone who'll drag us into fights if we ally with him.
     
    [X] How have the titans lived so long?

    This is the million dollar question. The secret of their immortality is the secret of their strength and of their weakness, it is what sets them apart from the gods of our continent. This is what we came for.

    [X] Very well.
    -[X] (1) Resources and gold.

    We lost some of our provisions as we fled, but we can yet spare enough to keep the People of Secrets from starving, especially as we plan to reprovision and settle nearby anyways. That this does not leave us further obligated to Mirk is a boon. While he has shown not to take advantage at every turn, I am yet hesitant to give him the means to manipulate our actions by pact or favor.

    Even if his answer is 'I dont know' or he dodges the question, the knowledge that he would both offer to answer and demand payment for a question he cannot or will not answer would be information worth the cost.
     
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    [x] Very well. You will give him something else for another question, or several.
    -[x] (?) A pact of non-aggression. You could offer him a pact of non-aggression. Perhaps he will think it worth some further answers.
    -[x] (1) A favor owed. Or you could simply offer to be indebted to him - a small favor, which he could call upon at some later date.

    [x] How have the titans lived so long?
    [x] How can the titans be defeated?
    [] How can the titans be avoided?

    The secret of their immortality does not translate into something we could use outright. I am willing to pay him more to get a more detailed answer.
    Hard to choose between defeat and mere avoidance, though. We'll be doing a lot of the latter and none of the former for the first few years.
     
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