Meeting at Moraby [ooc welcome] - Printable Version +- Hydaelyn Role-Players (https://ffxiv-roleplayers.com/mybb18) +-- Forum: Role-Play (https://ffxiv-roleplayers.com/mybb18/forumdisplay.php?fid=27) +--- Forum: Town Square (IC) (https://ffxiv-roleplayers.com/mybb18/forumdisplay.php?fid=21) +--- Thread: Meeting at Moraby [ooc welcome] (/showthread.php?tid=5390)

Meeting at Moraby [ooc welcome] - Naunet - 11-07-2013 ((Though plot-wise unrelated, for time line's sake, this occurs either during or shortly after Pudding is Best With Friends. The following is c/ped from RP done in-game.)) *** Atop one of the walls bordering the massive drydocks of Moraby Bay, overlooking the hollowed out skeleton of a ship in waiting, the narrow form of an armor-bound Wildwood leaned slightly into the short stone wall behind her, glancing down the long tower to the docking pier, before returning her attention back up. "So. This is quite the meeting place. I would almost think this is more attention worthy than a simple tavern," she drawls to the men occupying the same tower stand. Standing in the opposite corner, broad shoulders turned to face out across an impressive vista of ocean and cliffside, a voice rumbled out from a greyed skull, “I just liked the views.” “We don't always have to hide,” spoke a third, whose height and extra limb, not to mention animated, furred ears, spoke to his heritage. “There's a great deal of business coming through Moraby. Legitimate business.” “Correction, sir. We do not have anything to hide. Or at least, I do not.” The Wildwood, one Illira Carceri of the Commerce Regulation Agency, narrowed her eyes at the miqo’te. D'hein chuckled, stretching where he stood. "You're just making my point stronger than I did. Have an original thought sometime." The hefty hyur, Ildur Vaernian, turned around to gaze into the distance. He sighed, perhaps annoyed at the current weather, or at his companions’ bickering. Illira shrugged, "It is... nice to smell the sea air I suppose. For a change. As rancid as it is." “Not that different from Limsa,” Ildur commented. “Oh, you misunderstand. It’s the same there. I just try to avoid it, not embrace it.” She sighed, "Its fine. Was Sah'ot not supposed to join us, though?" “It's got a spirit of industry about her that a businessman like me appreciates. Someone like Illira prefers perfum, flowers, pillows. Am I right?” The jab fell readily from the miqo’te’s lips. Illira cast an annoyed look to D’hein’s way, "Are you not mistaken? I could have sworn I smelled a new floral scent wafting from you this evening." D'hein puffed up proudly, "Well, yes. Such beauty is a gem of a lively economy. But I'm not the one calling the ocean rancid, am I?" From a covered landing, a fourth approached the group with surprising silence despite her armored gear, stopping at the top of the stairs and crossing her arms to look between the three. Bright, yellow eyes practically glowed against dark skin. Ildur turned around, noting the new arrival. "...we have some matters to discuss, don't we?" Illira snorted, "No. But you are also a domestic Ti..." She trailed of as Ildur spoke, "Yes." She straightened, "Of course." D'hein briefly narrowed his eyes at Illira, but smiled at her. The expression dropped from his face as he looked over to the new miqo’te, "Ah, hello, insomniac. Sleeping well?" Sah'ot Kith spared D'hein a brief, narrow-eyed look before nodding at Ildur. "I wouldn't be here if we didn't." D'hein grinned at how Sah'ot ignored him, then looked back to Ildur, "If we're discussing business, why's she here? Girdania's a quaint mess of tree houses and shrubs: fun to dabble in. But you wouldn't want to give her a false sense of importance." “Have you looked at a map recently, D'hein?” The hyur questioned dubiously. “The Black Shroud is of primordial strategic importance, sitting right between Ala Mhigo and Ul'dah. Not to mention the Calamity has caused quite a financial catastrophe, as much as the Padjai like to think the Elementals are the ones keeping them afloat.” Sah'ot smirked at that. "Untapped wealth, if you want." “There's some truth to that,” D’hein acknowledged. “It's a bit of a joke, though, to have an industry controlled by the whims of natural forces. Any given businessman will not only close up shop, but give himself over to execution if the wind blows the wrong way! Literally. I'd sooner do business with Ishgard.” “Are they really natural, though?” Ildur mused. “That is something I've been asking myself.” Illira shook her head, "Its economic instability means that it’s a desperate area, with desperate peoples. If the Padjai are, for instance, not as 'self' reliant as they believe, they will start to move in on the outer towns.” “The elementals are just like any primal,” Sah’ot replied, with a slight hiss to her voice. “But I get that you pencil pushers would rather hole up in the comforts of Ul'dah.” D'hein turned a challenging smile to the other miqo’te, "Yes, because the bodies don't pile up there. No, what I'd rather see is those malformed hyur abominations out of power. But that's the businessman in me talking." Pulling her lips back in a brief flash of fang, she then looked deliberately to Ildur. "Business, then." “Hmm,” Illira wondered. “Sounds more personal than anything else. But. They should be controlled, harnessed. So that they're troubles are to are advantage." D'hein bit out a quick statement at Illira, "It's hard to make a profit when bartering with a Padjal. I dislike them." To this, Illira smirked confidently his way. Ildur spoke then, “The Gridanians have quite a large debt with Ul'dah. I'm sure we can use that to our advantage.” “That's because the Padjal don't barter,” and those yellow eyes flashed. “As they say, "You make no deals with the elements, only supplication." Or control.” “Then you would prefer to take them out, and let the opportunity of regional instability slip through our hands?” Illira sounded unconvinced. D'hein squinted at Illira, his expression indeterminate, "What do you mean?" For the moment, Ildur kept quiet. Illira, however, raised her brows slightly, leaning back against the wall once more, "If the area is in disarray, and the Padjai are not getting what they need, which from the reports that I have seen from the area concerning Padjai attacks on caravans is the truth, then they will start to do more than simply raid a couple of merchants. Why not nudge and harness their own desperation by funneling their energy towards targets that are... more useful to us and the continued destabilization of the area... to prepare for our own causes' needs." D'hein turned to Sah'ot and said, "Padjal attacks... I haven't heard about this before now! What's going on in that crazy forest of yours?" Sah'ot laughed at that, short and rough. "The Padjal and the elementals are practically one and the same, if you think about it. So yes, I guess you could consider them Padjal attacks... or Padjal-sanctioned attacks. Don't you know - if it's the will of the elementals, they'll let a starving child die." “So I've heard,” D’hein acknowledged somberly. “Limsa and Ul'dah are twisted in their own ways. Gridania has its own gruesome turn.” “Merchants have been attacked by the wild life in the Black Shroud. A few of them were under our regulation. Then one of our accountants was attacked.” Ildur placed his hands behind his back. "Gridania will not do anything about it. The 'woodwrath' is just a death sentence in their book, and so don't feel compelled to make amends for the lives and resources lost." “But if we go in and try to help those the elementals damn, the Twin Adders will call us foe!” D’hein bemoaned. “How can we act if the Grand Companies are under the thumb of elementals?” “There may be little to do officially, but,” Sah’ot paused, considering, “Ala Mhigo may be a friend here. They've refugees trying to take root in the Shroud.” “Run-offs from Ul'dah,” D’hein scoffed. “I'm sure they're just as unwelcome there.” Illira nodded her head, "I'm sure they could be encouraged." The Keeper amongst them continued, “The Coerlclaw would side with them, I'm certain of it. But... Gridania doesn't exactly look kindly on them either.” “For good reason. Complaining about the status quo is one thing. But living in the woods as poachers, killing innocent people just for violating your territory is an extreme we don't want to go anywhere near.” D'hein added with a smrik, "Your presence notwithstanding." Sah'ot smirked back unabashedly. Ildur spoke then, interrupting whatever staring match the two had been about to launch into, “Rousing the poachers and the refugees in the present state of affairs would only result in unnecessary hostilities with no hope for their success. No, we have to study this woodwrath and find ways to undermine it.” “It's like Illira said,” D’hein shrugged. “The elementals are primals. They need to be purged just like those worshipped by the beast tribes.” Sah'ot only blinked at Ildur. "Study the woodwrath. I hope you have a lot of ready volunteers." “I have just hired a couple of Gridanians, in fact, that are bound by contract to escort whichever scholar we send to that end,” the hyur countered with satisfaction. “Did you have one in mind?” Illira questioned. “Or do we need to recruit someone to move into that area?” Sah'ot frowned. "Depends on whether or not you want your scholar to be a victim." At that, Illira only shrugged. “Why would we want that?” Ildur gave D'hein a look, seeking for support. "Would we want such a thing to happen?" “We do not wish for victims,” Illira clarified, “but there is an inherent danger in the mission at hand.” “Which is why there are bodyguards,” D’hein seemed satisfied with that state of affairs already. With a brooding expression, Sah’ot spoke, “Someone familiar with the Shroud already would be less likely to fall victim.” Taking a step away from his spot against the wall, then another to the side and back again, Ildur said, “While having our own researcher would be quite convenient, I'm afraid we don't have one yet. Until then, I'd seek other organizations and Free Companies that could have some interest in doing some preliminary research for us. At least until we get our own people there.” To this Sah'ot folded her arms and nodded. “Well then,” D’hein chuffed, “I guess it would be up to the poacher over here to find out who's active in that area and if they can help.” “This "poacher" knows how to do her job,” Sah’ot shot back. “Anything else?” “Nothing else from my side of the pie.” Ildur looked at Illira and then at D'hein, expecting them to say something. D'hein glanced over at Illira, "I've got an action item to discuss with you, but it doesn't need to involve everyone here." Illira frowned slightly, "And what would such an... action item be about? Nothing untoward, I hope?" “All professional, unfortunately. Typical goings on in Ul'dah.” Unconvinced, Illira replied, “Most things involving Ul'dah are... less than desirable.” Sah'ot's tail flicked behind her. "I'll leave you all to your... sleep, then. Expect word from the Shroud soon." Not one to mince words, she turned and began to walk away. D'hein did not spare her any farewells. Ildur, however, raised one hand. "That will be all, then. Have a good evening." Illira watched Sah'ot walk down the ramp, before pushing herself off of the slight wall she had been leaning against, walking towards D'hein and Ildur.