The thing about Golgari is that they're totally covered in stone. It's easy to forget it sotis, since the rock moves and shifts along with their movents, as if it were a part of them. Scratch that, it is a part of them, just not sothing they were born with. I've been able to get a little detail out of the few mbers of the species I've spent my ti with, and picked up a few other morsels of insight through observation. Essentially, they're born without that rocky outer coating and when they get old enough, fully grown, I assu, they choose a mineral or so type of ore and then bond it onto their skin, forming a second skin.
Although the process seems to bring the stone to so sort of life, making it an actual part of their bodies, you have to rember that these are people with actual rock on the outside of their bodies. It makes reading certain social cues difficult. Males and females aren't quite as distinctive in their body shape, for example. I suppose the rocks sort of round out the edges, making it a little harder to tell them apart. For another thing, changes in expression are hard to read, since their faces tend to be quite immobile. A smile is easy enough, but sothing like a frown can be tricky since the stone doesn't wrinkle like a human's skin would. Anything around the eyes can be difficult also, the muscle movents are usually small and get almost completely washed out by the second skin.
I an, this is speaking as a forr human turned insect. I'm sure they have no issue telling all this stuff apart and if I ntioned it they'd look at like I was nuts. I also can't dismiss the possibility that after spending a significant amount of ti around monsters and other ants that my ability to discern humanoid social cues is beginning to degrade in a massive way. I an, I can tell what an ant is feeling by the movent of their antennae, which is pretty cool. It's trade-offs.
Anyway, the reason my mind turns to Golgari expressions is because I can easily tell that the Plamine lady is SUPER cheesed off. No doubt about it. The glare is there, the eyes are almost hot enough to burn a hole in my carapace, the brows are drawn, I can tell and that jaw is clenched like an iron vice. Holy moly lady, you're going to crack a molar, ease up a little!
I'm not sure what's got her so mad. If they're willing to let out of this death tournant of death, in which I might die, then I'm happy to trade a little knowledge. It's not as if they've ever unlocked gravity magic in the history of their species, so they aren't likely to get it anyti soon. For whatever reason they've never been able to create pets with it either and I seriously doubt just knowing its possible will cause the system to slip it into the nu for them.
[You seek to bargain with the Cult of the Worm?] Even her ntal voice sounds as if it were pushed through gritted teeth. How does she even do that?
[Sure. Why not? I have sothing you want, you have sothing I want, why not do a trade? What I want, just in case you weren't aware, is to leave this place alive and go back to where you, you know, abducted , a sapient reincarnated person, against my will.]
If anything her glare grows even hotter. Jeez. If this is getting her so mad then imagine if I was talking to Gravus! That moron might have just popped from sheer indignant rage.
[Considering that you are our captive, it would seem that you have a significantly weakened bargaining position, wouldn't you say?]
So far this ntal connection has been private, but with her last words I feel her reaching out to Gravus to bring him into the conversation. Not to be outdone I spin Granin into the loop as well.
[Captive. Prisoner. Slave. All great words to describe my situation. The situation you put in. Because, you know, that's apparently sothing that you're comfortable with. As for leverage, I'm not exactly sure what you think you've got. If I don't give up my knowledge willingly, how are you planning on getting it out of ?]
[Oh, there are ways, insect!] Gravus kicks in as I knew he would. [I will rip it from your mind if I have to!]
Even Plamine winces a little at the barbarity of that suggestion.
[You want to get in a tug of war with , Gravus? I notice you brought six other Shapers in here with you, very brave.] I snap my mandibles with a sharp CLACK! [And if you tried it, maybe I'd turn you into a little ball of hardened mush and eat you. Did you think of that?] For emphasis I nudge the remains of the Creeper and let it roll a little before it cos to a rest.
Granin eyes warily but I don't need any reminding that I'm playing a dangerous ga. The risk that they'll simply overwhelm my ntal defences and knock out is very real. I'm gambling that they can't get any real information out of if I'm not conscious.
Just, let go you stupid rock people! I want out of here and back to my family! Why'd you idiots bring here in the first place if all you want is dead?!
…
That's actually a good question. Maybe I should ask that. After Gravus stops choking on his own spit after I threatened him, of course.
[Not only do you think you're in a position to bargain with us, you now think you can threaten us?] She asks coolly. It appears she's managed to get her temper under control.
[Look, all I want is to leave. I don't want to be here, I'm not a big fan of having to fight for my life every few days and frankly, the hospitality has been very lacking. You want a bit of knowledge out of ? Sure. Have at it. Just let go. I vanish into the Dungeon and you'll never hear from again. You seriously don't seem like you want here anyway. Let's make a deal and we all get what we want. Juicy new magic for you and out sight.]
Granin clears his throat before he joins in.
[Anthony has raised a valid point, Plamine. Many have made note that Anthony has been deprived of resources and the questionable matchups have raised more than a few brows. It was hardly necessary for Gravus to open his blowhole and confirm the leading triad's bias, but he went and did it anyway so now every Shaper in this facility is aware of it.]
[Do you have a point, Granin?] Plamine turns to face him. I get the feeling she is ntally standing on Gravus' foot otherwise there's no way he'd have kept his mouth shut.
[My point is quite simple,] Granin replies, smooth as silk, [I have gathered the required quorum to move a motion of no confidence in your triad's leadership. Should you push , or Anthony, to give up his secrets against his free will, or engage in any further blatant manipulation of this event, then I'll be forced to push that motion ahead.]
A tense silence descends in each of our respective minds, which I promptly break.
[What's this motion of no confidence? Is it bad?] I say openly, knowing that Plamine and Gravus can hear .
Granin's lip twitches in amusent and he responds openly as well.
[Very bad. For all of us. Rember that the Cult of the Worm is supposed to be a secret society. Not every Shaper is a mber, not even close. If the motion is passed then a high ranking Shaper would be sent to investigate and diate. It would be rather difficult to keep what has been happening here under wraps at that point. The leading triad would be outed as Cultists, as would I and my triad, and we'd be put to death.]
Ouch.
This move seems to have caught Plamine by surprise, her eyes narrow as Granin explains his ploy and her hands clench and unclench.
[Give us so ti to consider.] She says coldly before turning on her heels and leaving the way she ca in, followed by Gravus and flunkies.
Great! Now I've got more ti to try and eat this stupid Biomass. I refuse to let it go to waste this ti!
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