Satrap Umizan, leader of the Brathian Island Conglorate, turns out to be a festively plump chap, covered in jewellery and floating fabrics that sparkle with unearthly light. He's an impressive sight, that's for sure, but all the expensive accoutrents don't quite manage to distract from the fact he's the only chubby brathian I've ever seen. Is it a point of pride or sothing? Only he can afford to get fat? A symbol of his status?
I want to ask. I really want to ask. I know I shouldn't, obviously, but the guy is right there in front of . It's not like I can't look at him.
[The Satrap bids you welco to his city. He hopes you find your stay to be commodious and well priced.]
[We're paying for this? You invited us!]
[It's a traditional greeting. Now he is speaking of our trade agreent. He hopes there will be a great deal of mutual profit for years to co, allowing both our peoples to prosper.]
[I can agree with him on that.]
At this point, the beaming Satrap claps his hands together and a host of servers erge from behind pillars and seemingly from out of trapdoors. They co out of nowhere! Each of them bears so sort of dish or drink which they begin to dispense amongst the gathered dignitaries and officials. Beside , Enid gratefully accepts sothing that kind of looks like so sort of fish on a cracker? But the cracker is wet? The brathian themselves seem fine to move in and out of our bubble, perfectly able to breathe within the water or the air.
It's a bit cramped for , so I have to keep my legs tucked close to my body, but overall, I'm enjoying myself. It's interesting getting to et new people.
To one side, Beyn is grandly gesturing, really starting to warm up his vocals in discussion with a bemused-looking brathian lady. Before he can really get going, I sidle over and prod him with an antenna, much to his conversation partner's shock.
[Relax a little,] I admonish him. [What are you going to tell them, 'The Great One is an amazing, divine creature?'. It's going to be a hard sell when I'm standing right here, my legs folded so I don't get my antennae wet.]
[YOURahem your grace is abundant to all who perceive you, Great One.]
[I think she's genuinely afraid of you,] I say, taking a look at the hapless court official or big shot trader, more likely. She does look quite unnerved. I resist the urge to reach out with a mind bridge and reassure her we aren't all as weird as the one-ard priest. I'm under instructions not to initiate connections with people.
It makes sense, when you think about it. A mind-bridge may be a wonderful tool of universal communication, but it's also a ans of launching violent and disturbing ntal warfare. Monsters as evolved as I am are typically more than a match for an individual, even a powerful one, or so I'm told. Anyone connecting to runs the risk of battering their mind in a one-sided beatdown.
I understand the caution, but it makes the whole thing a bit boring, since most of the people I know are engaged in conversation with new people.
That's when the Satrap swaggers over to , a bevy of unhappy-looking mages in his wake.
How does he swagger while swimming? I honestly can't tell you. He just does.
There's so gesturing, so muttered protestations, so careless waving away of concerns, until finally a tentative link is ford with .
[Hey there, how are things? Any chance I can get so food? I'm starving.]
The giant ant monster telling the mage they were hungry apparently wasn't the relaxing opening I thought it was.
[Uh food will be provided. I I am Olivis, the Dungeon Seer who serves the Satrap.]
[Nice to et you. A Dungeon Seer, eh? We only got so of you types recently. Crazy what you can learn. Anyways, the Satrap is here. I suppose he wants a chat?]
[That's right although we have warned him against it. He is a unique and powerful man who we do not like to risk. I urge you to act with restraint when your mind is connected to his.]
I generously wave an antenna.
[Of course. You guys have shown us hospitality and friendship, so we'll do the sa. Relax a little bit. Although, I'm serious about so food, everything is bite sized, for . Any chance I can get sothing a little more substantial?]
Perhaps impatient with the delay, a new and powerful mind jumps onto the bridge.
[Co on, Olivis, you're taking forever! Hello there, big ant!]
[Anthony.]
[Of course. Anthony! Welco to my city. I have to say, I'm excited to et you, very excited!]
[Oh. Because of the rumours about my incredibly shiny carapace?]
[It is magnificent,] he says, eyes gleaming with avarice. [I could sell it for an absolute fortune. I'm not even sure what it's made of. Are you sure you don't have a spare?]
[I don't.]
And I'm not going to tell him what it's made of, either. A new, hitherto unheard of type of diamond? I don't want to know just how valuable I'd be, and finding out when surrounded by the greediest rchants on Pangera sounds like a bad idea.
[I'm impressed you ca down, by the way,] the Satrap tells warmly. [Most monsters who reach your level of intelligence and power tend to be risk averse. You don't age, can't die of disease or infection. So long as a monster continues to live, the path to infinite power remains open. Yet here you are, at the bottom of the Lake with a trillion litres of water bearing down on you.]
I don't think I'm being particularly brave. I've always believed the Colony needs to extend a leg in friendship if we want to get anyone to cooperate with us. There's also another reason I don't think I'm threatened here.
[I'm worth way more to you alive than I am dead,] I admit to the leader of the brathian. [If I die, millions of ants are going to find their way down here and you may even win that fight, but war is expensive. Very expensive. I get the impression you brathians don't fight all that much if you can avoid it.]
The Satrap grins broadly and claps on my foreleg.
[It's been known to happen,] he says, [but as you say, rarely. And you're exactly right! The entire reason I reached my current lofty status is because I have a nose for money, and you, my large insectile friend, absolutely reek!]
[I get what you're saying, but that's a bit rude. We have an extrely delicate sense of sll, it's how we communicate.]
[I an no offence, of course. This deal has trendous potential. Trendous! We are going to front significant capital to make this tour a success. Soon enough, the wealth is going to flow like a river. Not a asly river either, one with gusto!]
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