by Lars M.
The Wisdom consisted of four people, all seated behind a semi-circular marble table on a raised dais at the back of the room. To my surprise, they weren't all harpies - a single elderly dwarf with an unkempt mess of a beard occupied the right-most seat. The remaining three were harpies and getting on in their years. Their ceremonial robes added to the setting, all in white with a single red stripe adorning each robe. They looked down upon us, secure in their supremacy, but I caught a glance or two at Arack. They were clearly not accustomed to seeing kobolds.
The single female harpy smiled down on Tirane with a kindly look. She was the epitome of regal grace, straight-backed, her blonde-grey hair bound in twin elaborate braids and constrained by a silver hair net. "Ah, Tirane. How goes the hunt, child?"
"Fruitful, Wisdom Belline. We took down a young Mangler earlier today. Afterward, we located this group, who were looking for High Hold. After questioning them, we confirmed that the half-elf, Arcangelo, is a Chronicler from Grant's Crossing. He has been nothing but helpful and professional on the entire trip, and we would vouch for his behavior."
"Thank you, child. We will take your recommendation into consideration. Well done on the kill. Was anybody injured?"
"No, Wisdom."
"And you happened upon this trio right after the fight?" She addressed Tirane, but arched an eyebrow at Lyle, who fortunately had the presence of mind to nod in confirmation.
"Yes, Wisdom. They knew approximately where we live, but their map was flawed. We thought it better to accompany them, and aid them in avoiding any... mishaps."
"Commendable. You are excused, child."
Her gaze instantly dismissed Tirane and focused onto me - and I froze. The kindness in her voice was tempered by the sharp intelligence that lurked in her eyes. She spread her arms to the side. "Before the eyes of the Wisdom of High Hold and Serune, I welcome you to our home. State your business."
From the tone of everything thus far, ceremonial and elaborate was the name of the game. Bowing with my arms spread to either side, I intoned, "I bow before the Wisdom of High Hold on behalf of the Council of Grant's Crossing. I bring you their greetings and well-wishes." Rising, I looked at each of them in turn before proceeding. "The paths of Grant's Crossing and High Hold have rarely crossed, and we have had scant exchanges of pleasantries or information. Our town would like to remedy that fact."
The left-most harpy - a silvery-haired, stick-thin male with a cleft chin and classic features spoke up, "Our greetings go out to the Council. You are not mistaken. Our only correspondence has been with your resident Chronicler, by the name of Chertog, if I recall. What I do not-"
A stout, bald male with a long, trimmed beard who reminded me of Greek philosophers interrupted, "Town? Is that the new name for twenty hovels and a bunch of berry pickers barricading themselves inside their homes?"
"A little decorum, please, Wisdom Morvane. We do not insult guests." Wisdom Belline looked put-upon.
The baldie, Morvane, shot back, "We're still waiting to see if they are guests or beggars."
I bowed again. "The implied question is reasonable. Our village has experienced significant growth recently. We have cleared all dangers close to the village and are looking to expand further. We should like to resolve any past disagreements with High Hold and arrange for a peace treaty with you, to the mutual benefits of both towns."
Silence. Dead silence. Right up until Morvane threw himself back and roared with laughter. This went on for a while, to my increased uneasiness. I could see that even the other Wisdoms looked uncomfortable - but no-one stepped in. The stocky harpy finally wiped his eyes with his sleeve and leaned forward, eyes boring through me. "We do not negotiate with peasants. Come back when you are worthy. Pffft." He addressed the skinny harpy offhandedly, "Looking to expand further. Hah. What, with all the caravan guards that are suddenly going to decide they want to stay there?"
I ignored all his barbs, as well as the instruction to leave, and spoke up. "Yes, we do expect an influx of additional people who want to live there, since the trade routes are finally completely open. This is on top of the large number of kobolds that have decided to reside with us, following our alliance with Nerit."
That shut them up. Even the rude one. The dwarf was the first one to speak up. "You've managed to enter an alliance with the kobolds of Nerit? Those blood-thirsty, xenophobic fanatics?" Arack huffed under her breath at the comment, but held her peace. With barely concealed glee, the dwarf continued, "Wisdom Tirone, is that not what you have tried to arrange for years? Never mind, I already know. Now, I say-"
Wisdom Tirone - the thin one - retorted, "You know why we have failed Wisdom Pallarson. I have not seen you adding anything to help, either. In fact-"
"Enough." The single, low-pitched word from Wisdom Belline cut through their jibes. "We do not squabble like children. Especially in front of guests." She stressed the word. Turning her attention upon me, she continued, "We welcome the emissary from Grant's Crossing and congratulate you on your new-found success and allies. It is commendable of you to work on improving the situation of your home. High Hold will consider all reasonable suggestions in a timely manner."
Finally, some reason. "We appreciate the consideration. I have been granted the authority to discuss terms of an alliance and would enjoy laying out the possibilities."
She nodded. "You are welcome to present a written proposal before the Wisdom, and we will consider it in due time.”
I smiled. ”I will make sure to write a compelling argument. Are there any specific rules or guidances you would have us take into consideration?”
She gave the question some thought. ”Not as such. We in High Hold do not differentiate treatment based on race, religion, or gender, but we do respect knowledge above all. With that in mind, we will make sure to discuss your proposal when we have worked our way through other pressing matters.”
Oh. Did that mean… ”Pardon me, Wisdom Belline. Of necessity, my time here is somewhat limited. Might I ask how long it would take for you to consider my proposal?”
She waved a hand dismissively. ”With what we currently have before us? Maybe two to three months.”
Damn. My heart sank. This felt like familiar territory. ”Is there anything we could do to expedite the process?”
She smiled benevolently at me. ”Our history in High Hold has been one of constant struggles and hardships. Due to this, we prize dedication to the city almost as much as knowledge. "
Stopping myself from groaning out loud, I bowed in deference and asked, ”What would you have me do for the city?”
The stately harpy spread her wings and continued what was clearly a dismissal. "If you earn the rank of Probationary Citizen, we will grant you access to our Ruling Chambers on official purposes. There, you would be allowed to present your proposal in person. You can address the guard for further instructions. The Wisdom of High Hold look forward to following your progress and hope to greet you as an equal in the near future."
Quest updated:
Winning Hearts and Minds, Part II
With the worst local threats eliminated, the Council of Grant's Crossing looks to expand their hold on the nearby area. You have secured a pact with Nerit, ensuring stability in the east. In order to aid Grant’s Crossing, establish a non-agression pact with the local harpy nest to the west.
Updated: In order to bypass the wait and present your proposal to the Wisdom of High Hold, you need to obtain a reputation of Revered with High Hold.
Reward:
Unknown - depends on the degree of success.
+500 Universal Reputation
Damn. Okay, I hadn't expected it to be easy, but just once, it would have been nice to have somebody actually listen before I had to jump through hoops for them. Still, it was very much in character with normal games – of course, you wouldn’t be allowed access to anything important before you’d earned the proper rank. Thus, the grinding doth ensue.
As we turned to leave, the dwarf spo
ke up. "If you do not mind, Wisdom Belline, I will introduce them to the possibilities. We were done with the minutes of the day, right?" Without waiting for an answer, he jumped down from his chair, grabbed an ornate walking stick and walked around to lead us out. The female harpy seemed like she wanted to say something, but relented.
As we left the chambers, I shot a glance at the dwarf. His short-cropped hair and well-tended beard were red with white flecks, and he looked like the stereotypical dwarf, only thinner. The usual tree trunk-like arms and legs weren't quite as pronounced as I would have expected on a dwarf. The ink spots on his hands led me to believe that his pursuits were more of a scholarly nature.
"I apologize for Morvane. I'd say he isn't usually like that, except he is. Hah. This is him on a good day, really. Now, to business. You don't have a place to stay yet; Tirane will take care of that. However, there is one thing I need to discuss with you." He slowed down and peered around to confirm that we were alone in the corridor. "Have you had a chance to take in the city?"
"Only on our way here, and from the panorama from outside this place." What was he fishing for?
"Mmhm. And what do you think about what you've seen?"
Should I mention how snobbish the harpies had looked? Better not. "Erm... it's a bustling town? Filled with activity and a lot of people. I look forward to investigating the place."
"Lots of people, right. Lots of different races, too. Have you noted how the species interact?"
Well – if he asked. "How can I put this? There seem to be some differences between the people living below and those on the peak."
"Hah." He barked a laugh. "That's putting it mildly. Non-harpies are treated like dirt. 'Dirt-born', 'mud-dwellers', 'filth...' they have many names for us."
I looked around me. Was this a joke? He was a Wisdom, and yet he spouted stuff like this as though it was normal.
Wisdom Pallarson continued, "What she spouted back there, 'equal opportunities for everybody'? Hogwash. Complete and utter balderdash. You'll find maybe ten non-harpies who live in the peak - and those are either people who suck up to the harpies, or those they cannot afford to antagonize, like me."
I couldn't keep from blurting, "Why are you telling me this?"
His piercing gaze bored into me as he responded with passion, "Because I want things to change. I want to see the city opened to all sorts, with the chance for everybody to succeed. If you help me win this cause, I can guarantee that your alliance will become a fact as we lead this city forward."
The quest pop-up was no surprise.
You have been offered a quest:
Who Is the Most Equal?
Wisdom Pallarson has confirmed that the racial divide in High Hold keeps the 'lesser races' from succeeding on equal terms with the harpies. Join him in his quest to work for a new and better tomorrow.
Rewards for accepting:
Reputation with Wisdom Pallarson: +1000
New quest lines.
Result for refusing:
Unknown
Accept/Decline?
This... was not what I had expected. I fished for a reasonable response and ended up with stalling. "I will have to discuss this with my companions."
He nodded. "I understand. You'll excuse me for needing a response right away, however. I'll be waiting at the other end of the corridor." True to his word, he drifted back to stand near the corner, where he could keep an eye on us and the Ruling Chamber at the same time.
Turning towards the others, we immediately engaged in a low-pitched conversation. Arack was her usual self. "Wow. I totally didn't see that coming. I like the idea, though. Should we take down those jerks?"
Lyle looked more conflicted. "I don't like it. Yes, at a glance it looks like harpies treat everybody else like second-class citizens, but overthrowing the leadership? That's not going to go over peacefully. Still, if it would really result in a better place for everybody - I just don't know!" He wrung his hands.
"I agree - it's a tough call." I grimaced. "It's also a weird situation. Arack, how much about this conversation seems right to you? I mean, why have it right here, where there's a chance we can be overheard."
Her claws tapped the side of her helm. "Oh. Yeah, that's totally amateurish. Also, why the Pits wouldn't he, like, have some nobody bring us the proposal or leave a letter or something?"
I nodded. My suspicion was growing, and I came to a conclusion. "We haven't had a chance to get to know the city either. Why spring this on us before we've spent time here and seen how bad it is. I know what this is," I spoke up, loud enough to be heard at the far end of the corridor. "It's a test."
The dwarf guffawed and shouted. "You hear that, Morvane? The kid saw right through the ruse. That's two of those fire concoctions you owe me now." His shout was met with a muffled curse and a slamming sound. Grinning from ear to ear, the dwarf walked back to us. "Sorry about that. I keep telling them that they need to do something about that stupid test."
The pop-up explained everything.
You have refused the quest:
Who Is the Most Equal?
You saw through the trap the Council placed to see if you were harboring ill intentions towards the city.
Reward for refusing:
You have received 150 experience points. Experience towards next level 2795/5000
Your reputation with High Hold has increased by +300(+20%)=360. New reputation: 1600 (Liked)
Citizenship quest lines unlocked
I gaped at their audacity. "Do you play that trick on everybody?"
He grinned. "We do. All new arrivals who intend to stay. You'd be surprised how often it works, too - how many people would like for High Hold to fail, or to change the leadership, with them right at the top."
"Huh. But… you didn't actually clear me. I mean, I could be plotting against you at this very moment!"
His laughter rang out in the corridor. "Good on you, kid. I wish you all the best in your future plotting." He started walking towards the exit again and motioned for us to follow. "Before you try to take over the city, however, I would ask you to spend a while getting familiar with it. As somebody who has earned his place here, I can tell you with all sincerity: harpies do not discriminate. Sure, there's a bunch of snobby bastards among them, and most of them would rather be caught dead than spend too much time dirt-side. But if you work for it, you will get the exact same rewards as our feathered neighbors. That speech about dedication that Wisdom Belline made back there? She meant every word."
We walked back out into the sunlight, and he gestured with his arm, indicating the city below. "A couple of practicalities before I let you loose. We don't get many official emissaries. As such, you've been granted leave to stay at Meline's Perch - it's one of the better taverns here. Now, I'd like to hear what you're thinking. Are you insulted that we're not jumping at the bit to become friends with your village, or do you intend to stay and prove yourself?"
There was only one right answer here. "Of course, I'm staying. If nothing else, I need to prove how wrong you are about Grant's Crossing. It's not the tiny, dying village you think it is." I decided not to go into details with how long this had been the case.
He nodded, looking pleased. "Sure, sure. In that case, you'll need to know your options. There are several ways to become a citizen, and they're all equally viable. You'll just have to tell us which route you would like to go, or you can decide to just wait until we’ve worked our way through the stacks of paperwork.” He groaned. ”So much paperwork. Now, if you're the thrill-seeking type, you can join the Birds of Prey. The name is a bit misleading, though. It's not just harpies. They're the squads that keep the woods around us free of monsters, dangerous animals, and nosy neighbors. You'll need to prove your worth in training first, but afterward, you'll be able to go on patrols. There's an elaborate point system set in place to show your progress, and once you're done, you become a citizen. If that's the route you want to take, apply at the Eagle Nest."
"If you
're the type who likes research or spells, you can join our Academy. There is a constant request for new recipes to be worked out, spells to be discovered or refined, and various sorts of tasks that citizens or other institutions request. Their system is similar. There's a brief training period to be accepted, but then you can access the tasks and are judged based on your progress."
"Last and obviously not least, I head the craftsmen - and women - of the city. Who created our artificial lake? We did. Who has turned Mount D'hail into a work of art? We have. We handle all requests, large and small, both those regarding defense for the city and the more mundane ones. If you want to become part of those of us who toil to improve the city in a hands-on fashion, just say the word. Of course, we don't accept just anybody..." he grinned at me. "You don't need to decide right now, however. Go and rest, and you can apply later at the Burrows... or one of the others, I guess. If you want to." He winked and departed, leaving me to stare at the latest quest pop-up.
You have been offered a quest:
Choose Your Poison
You have been granted the possibility to obtain a Probationary Citizenship to High Hold by earning your keep as either a warrior, scholar, or craftsman. Apply at the place you select.
Reward:
200 experience points.
Accept/Decline?
I thanked him, relieved by the knowledge that I wouldn't have to decide right away. "I have one question, though. How about my companions?"
His brow furrowed. "I... am not sure I understand your question."
"Will they be able to choose a path for themselves, too? And would they be able to present the proposal from Grant's Crossing if they succeed?"
"Obviously. Equal opportunities means just that. Any of you three would be welcome to present the proposal." He shrugged. "Oh, and your kobold friend might stumble into some issues, especially if she chooses the warrior path. A good handful of our warriors have had violent altercations with kobolds over the times and they may hold grudges."
