I think we're coming at this from too limited an angle. We're here to Perform right? To Deceive and Beguile and Enchant in such a way that we can trick even the most conservative of elves into giving us a shot. And then pull the greatest bamboozle of all, and actually deliver LMAO
Laurelorn isn't a social battlefield we're acquainted with. In fact, we know almost nothing about it. While our "opponents" (potential allies) have lived here their whole lives and grown well accustomed to the ins-and-outs of this place.
So we need a smokescreen. We need to start putting out information that will fill up the rumor mills and gossip gardens of Laurelorn in a way that will boost our perceived value as well as suggest lines of inquiry that we may have explored and might have advanced our knowledge through.
This would need Cython's Approval of course, but here's one such plan-
Laurelorn has begun adopting Ulric as an acceptable Deity. Humanity has long venerated Ulric, and his greatest human champion Sigmar is who won Humanity the respect of the Dwarves. Those elves interested in the anthropology of Human Divinity could likely exchange letters with Cython, a Hysh Dragon of some age, and we could deliver such letters back and forth.
Cython long thought that Human Deities were simply alternate versions of Elven Deities, and that's likely the dominant assumption among all elves who do not study such things. Having found Ulric worthy of veneration though, it may be quite interesting for Laurelorn Elves to find out that humanity has many divinities who aren't Elven ones.
we show that we're a friend of a venerable Hysh Dragon through this, give no cards away, but give lots of information and scholarly buzz to whisper about. Even if Humans could never have found information that Elves could not, perhaps such venerable allies as Cython could have?
Another plan could be-
Remember that book we dictated for, the Epic of Asarnil? The one that sold like hotcakes in Ulthuan? Get us a contact that can print it, and the advertising campaign such a publisher would surely organize, and Presto Blammo we're involved in a best-selling novel which details the travels of an Elf who chose neither Athel Loren nor Ulthuan nor Naggaroth as he carves his way across Malus. We can even tease that we have since worked with Asarnil on adventures not included in the story, which is true.
we show that we're an acquaintance of Asarnil and Deathfang, and further cement the idea that we have connections across Malus that may have been the source of the cards and chips we have to play
An additional plan could be-
We have earned a journey to Naggarythe for both knowledge rendered and favor done without expectation of repayment in either, except the advancement of Naggarythe interests against all the enemies that plague both Elf and Man. We are the author of many, many, many scholarly articles shared throughout the Colleges and we even invented a brand new basic spell that has been adapted to all colleges. We can perhaps share such papers to those properly interested, but our work on WEB-MAT comes first of course.
Laurelorn has long been isolated from the world, and we don't know the degree to which the average Laurelorn citizen is able to see the world beyond their roots. By showing that we have not only compiled information deemed useful to the colleges, but information deemed useful to Ulthuani, we raise our perceived usefulness significantly as well as suggesting that we may have simply collated and compiled information no Laurelorn elf would have access to, given their isolation. Again, it's not that a human was able to figure out what an Elf could not, but that a human ended up taking the right notes at the right place at the right time.
In all these examples, we build mystique and interest in Lady Magister Weber without giving up any information which isn't already available to the Colleges. Then, we continually insist that our current area of interest is the Waystones, and thusly generate interest in what could be considered our next great escapade.
Seriously. Let's put on a bit of a show! If your opponents are too busy looking at smoke it becomes much easier to slide sincerity into their skulls. I mean. In the sense that we just earnestly want to work with them for the benefit of all involved. Not in the sense that there's a blade called Sincerity lololol
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as for the vote, I'd like to explore not only the city but some extremely obtuse angles such as those that would enable the plans I've laid out above. Any organized veneration of Loec, any bards or booksellers, publishers and publicists. It'll throw anyone watching us for a loop, and the trick is it's actually for a purpose not just a feint to throw them off! lol!
