ArcticFox
Dreamer
"Despite what you may think of me, wolf," Lianna spoke with a challenge in her eyes, "I don't kill children. Can you say for certain that you have never harmed a child in your full-moon craze?"
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Fantasy Steamhaven: Land of the Lost
- Thread starter Cartoonicat
- Start date
Cartoonicat
Future Crazy Cat Lady
The wolf-man made to speak, but no words came out. He gritted his teeth.
Next spoke the scarred human girl. "Would you guys shut up?" The female alpha hissed a warning at her, but in the girl's teenage defiance, she continued: "We all have blood on our hands, but we're never going to get anywhere if we keep pointing fingers." She looked at Lianna. "If we could have humans voted in by the wolves, I think that'd help solve the suspicion problem. Hunters don't strike me as the sly political type; I doubt most would be able to hide bad intentions long enough to win an election." Despite only having one seeing eye, her gaze was piercing. "What do you think?"
- Agree
- Disagree
- Suggest something else
- Other
Next spoke the scarred human girl. "Would you guys shut up?" The female alpha hissed a warning at her, but in the girl's teenage defiance, she continued: "We all have blood on our hands, but we're never going to get anywhere if we keep pointing fingers." She looked at Lianna. "If we could have humans voted in by the wolves, I think that'd help solve the suspicion problem. Hunters don't strike me as the sly political type; I doubt most would be able to hide bad intentions long enough to win an election." Despite only having one seeing eye, her gaze was piercing. "What do you think?"
- Agree
- Disagree
- Suggest something else
- Other
ArcticFox
Dreamer
"I agree." Lianna nodded. What she was saying made sense, and it didn't make much difference to Lianna whether the supernaturals would keep things civil or not. It was up to them, she didn't mind spending the rest of her life hunting them.
Cartoonicat
Future Crazy Cat Lady
"So the wolves have been appeased," said the rat witch when none of the dogs voiced any qualms, "but what of my coven and those neighboring?" She glanced towards the balcony. "What of the vampires? Dogs will roll over for the smallest of treats, but not us." Her words incited several growls and glares from the werewolves in the room, save for the female alpha and her children.
After bargaining with the werewolves, Lianna had some semblance of how this treaty meeting should work. However, offering stability to witches and vampires may be more trouble than wolves, for they did not take human forms for all but one night of the month; their survival depended on humankind and how much it was willing to compromise its own safety.
For the witches, who performed blood sacrifices to keep their fiendish patrons at bay, Lianna would...
- Offer criminals
- Offer the old and/or sick
- Offer animals
- Offer something else
- Offer nothing
After bargaining with the werewolves, Lianna had some semblance of how this treaty meeting should work. However, offering stability to witches and vampires may be more trouble than wolves, for they did not take human forms for all but one night of the month; their survival depended on humankind and how much it was willing to compromise its own safety.
For the witches, who performed blood sacrifices to keep their fiendish patrons at bay, Lianna would...
- Offer criminals
- Offer the old and/or sick
- Offer animals
- Offer something else
- Offer nothing
ArcticFox
Dreamer
After thinking for a brief moment, Lianna turned to the rat witch - she seemed to be the most vocal of the lot.
"You can perform your rites with animal sacrifices can you not?" She asked, "There are enough farmers and herders around Steamhaven. Buy their pigs or goats or cows and do whatever you want with them. But no stealing." She gave her a stern look, then added, "If you really need humans, which I doubt, but let's say that you absolutely do, then I'm sure no one would miss those already sentenced to death. Murderers, rapists, as far as I'm concerned you can take them over animals. I'm sure the police would agree," She raised her voice at that final part, if the werewolf commissioner was there, she guessed that this would make him step out.
"You can perform your rites with animal sacrifices can you not?" She asked, "There are enough farmers and herders around Steamhaven. Buy their pigs or goats or cows and do whatever you want with them. But no stealing." She gave her a stern look, then added, "If you really need humans, which I doubt, but let's say that you absolutely do, then I'm sure no one would miss those already sentenced to death. Murderers, rapists, as far as I'm concerned you can take them over animals. I'm sure the police would agree," She raised her voice at that final part, if the werewolf commissioner was there, she guessed that this would make him step out.
Cartoonicat
Future Crazy Cat Lady
Most of the witches were quick to approve; a swarm of hushed whispers and nods broke out from the crowd. Beside Lianna, the female alpha narrowed her brows, yet as she stepped forward to speak a woman with short hair and an interesting getup interrupted her. "I'm hearing a lot of stuff I don't like," she glared at the other witches, who scorned her with scowls and conspicuous shushing. Some witches, however, looked confused. "To keep things fair, if we accept this deal, no witches will serve on any jury or have anything to do with the legal system itself. That means no becoming lawyers, no becoming policewomen, nothing. Those of us who do hold positions in those fields already will have to invest elsewhere."
Lianna heard the alpha hum thoughtfully, though she didn't comment.
The witches roared in protest at the woman's words. "You expect us to offer our patrons dirty criminals!" and "Give up my hard-earned life for humans? Absurd!" and "Get back in line, whelp!" The woman faltered, likely not having expected such a harsh reaction.
Lianna could take a diplomatic approach or threaten the crowd back into line before Barille broke another pillar from the balcony.
- Be diplomatic
- Be aggressive
- Propose a new solution
- Do nothing
- Other
Lianna heard the alpha hum thoughtfully, though she didn't comment.
The witches roared in protest at the woman's words. "You expect us to offer our patrons dirty criminals!" and "Give up my hard-earned life for humans? Absurd!" and "Get back in line, whelp!" The woman faltered, likely not having expected such a harsh reaction.
Lianna could take a diplomatic approach or threaten the crowd back into line before Barille broke another pillar from the balcony.
- Be diplomatic
- Be aggressive
- Propose a new solution
- Do nothing
- Other
ArcticFox
Dreamer
"Will you finally learn that every time you make a ruckus you are that closer to being buried alive here!" Lianna shouted, hoping to be heard over the commotion, "Witches will either be satisfied with criminals and animals that humans let you take, or we will continue with pyres. There is no third option!"
Cartoonicat
Future Crazy Cat Lady
"She's quite right, you know," said the coven leader from the balcony, once the witches settled enough to be heard over their quarreling. "As much as I'd like to take pity, there simply is no alternative to offer... well, aside from one, but that's all inner-faction politics that I really don't feel is my place to intrude." Her little dig summoned narrowed eyes from the witches below, yet none spoke out. Barille eventually lowered his mallet, as did the rest of the vampires ready to kill them all.
"Now, assuming your silence is that of acceptance, that leaves vam-"
One of the wolves from earlier spoke over the coven leader, hand poised for attention above the crowd. He wore a cloak unlike the rest and sounded oddly familiar, yet without seeing his face Lianna couldn't quite put a finger on his identity. "Wait!" He lowered his hand once the crowd looked towards him. "What of sacrifices that aren't human? Witches have not only preyed on humans, but vampires and werewolves, too. Especially werewolves in their human forms. Will they be punished for sacrificing supernatural non-criminals, too?"
As the voice of Humankind in this summit, albeit begrudgingly, Lianna had a choice to make - one that, depending on her decision, she may not be able to uphold on her end. Would the Hunters protect all innocents or simply those with untainted blood?
- Humans only
- All innocents
- Refuse to answer
- Talk them in circles
- Other
"Now, assuming your silence is that of acceptance, that leaves vam-"
One of the wolves from earlier spoke over the coven leader, hand poised for attention above the crowd. He wore a cloak unlike the rest and sounded oddly familiar, yet without seeing his face Lianna couldn't quite put a finger on his identity. "Wait!" He lowered his hand once the crowd looked towards him. "What of sacrifices that aren't human? Witches have not only preyed on humans, but vampires and werewolves, too. Especially werewolves in their human forms. Will they be punished for sacrificing supernatural non-criminals, too?"
As the voice of Humankind in this summit, albeit begrudgingly, Lianna had a choice to make - one that, depending on her decision, she may not be able to uphold on her end. Would the Hunters protect all innocents or simply those with untainted blood?
- Humans only
- All innocents
- Refuse to answer
- Talk them in circles
- Other
ArcticFox
Dreamer
"That would depend on you, wouldn't it?" Lianna spoke, shrugging, "You have ways to protect yourself. Why don't you form special squads within your respoctful packs and covens that would deal with those that breach the terms? If you really want human Hunters to help, I can think of a few that would be willing to offer their services for a fee. But we are not going to go out of our way to solve your disputes and when I say this I know that the other Hunters would agree."
Cartoonicat
Future Crazy Cat Lady
The cloaked figure briefly glanced Lianna's way. "Are we really here for an alliance?" He turned to the coven leader, "You're quick to kill us for disagreeing, yet you've done nothing but watch as a prejudiced Hunter speaks in your stead."
- Argue with the wolf
- Attack the wolf
- Question the coven leader
- Scan for signs of trouble
- Do nothing
- Other
- Argue with the wolf
- Attack the wolf
- Question the coven leader
- Scan for signs of trouble
- Do nothing
- Other
ArcticFox
Dreamer
"I am not speaking in anyones stead but my own." Lianna said, turning to face the cloaked figure, "And gods know that I don't want this alliance any more than you. But I don't want things to stay the same either. What I want is all of you to pack up and leave this town to humans, but I know that there's small chance of that. So, let's either try to work something out, or let's schedule a date to settle things once and for all."
Cartoonicat
Future Crazy Cat Lady
The cloaked figure frowned. "I actually do want an alliance, which makes this whole meeting extremely disappointing," he said.
- Call him a liar
- Ask his motivation
- Ask his name
- Ignore him
- Other
- Call him a liar
- Ask his motivation
- Ask his name
- Ignore him
- Other
ArcticFox
Dreamer
"Well, work with me then, commissioner," Lianna said, trying to sound confident of her guess.
Cartoonicat
Future Crazy Cat Lady
The figure's lips parted in surprise, then fell into a smile. "If the commissioner were here, things would get done," he said, "unfortunately, his tail is stuck between his legs when it comes to politics."
So it wasn't the Commissioner, unless the figure was lying.
The witch from before, with short cropped hair and a hat that hid most of it, stepped towards them. She thrust out a hand. "Danielle," she said. "I'm new to this whole witch thing, but peace sounds really nice. I'd like to cooperate, too." She ignored the breathy warnings behind her, insisting she get back in line.
- Shake her hand
- Introduce yourself
- Ask the wolf's name
- Denounce the alliance
- Other
So it wasn't the Commissioner, unless the figure was lying.
The witch from before, with short cropped hair and a hat that hid most of it, stepped towards them. She thrust out a hand. "Danielle," she said. "I'm new to this whole witch thing, but peace sounds really nice. I'd like to cooperate, too." She ignored the breathy warnings behind her, insisting she get back in line.
- Shake her hand
- Introduce yourself
- Ask the wolf's name
- Denounce the alliance
- Other
ArcticFox
Dreamer
"Great, let's all be friends." Lianna said, accepting the shake. You came here to be civil, not to die, she had to remind herself, but it was getting more difficult to force on a smile and bite back the insults with each moment. After shaking the witch's head she turned to the cloaked figure again, "Who are you then?"
Cartoonicat
Future Crazy Cat Lady
The figure faltered, then sighed. "I suppose an alliance isn't possible without knowing my identity," he reached for the hood of his cloak and pulled it back. Lianna had originally assumed him to be the Commissioner, yet where longer blonde hair would be grew short black strands in its stead. Piercing yellow eyes indicated his status and an ear device confirmed his identity: Blaine from the Gala. He smiled sheepishly.
At the reveal of yet another werewolf alpha siding with Lianna, the witches and vampires murmured curiously among themselves. The wolves, however, did not react; they likely already knew. Oddly enough, he didn't have the air of alpha about him.
- Attack Blake
- Yell at Blake
- Ask a question
- Do nothing
- Other
At the reveal of yet another werewolf alpha siding with Lianna, the witches and vampires murmured curiously among themselves. The wolves, however, did not react; they likely already knew. Oddly enough, he didn't have the air of alpha about him.
- Attack Blake
- Yell at Blake
- Ask a question
- Do nothing
- Other
ArcticFox
Dreamer
"Hello Blaine." Lianna greeted, though there was just a hint of pleasantry in her tone, "I liked you more when surrounded by humans."
Cartoonicat
Future Crazy Cat Lady
Cautious humor flickered in his eyes. "This isn't the best company, I'll admit," he said.
"You're an alpha, now?" The rat witch stepped forward. "Where is the Prowler?"
"Retired," Blaine said simply. His brow lifted curiously. "You depend on my pack, don't you? Now you have a proper reason to participate in this alliance."
Her eyebrows narrowed. "What does that mean?"
"That means the Goldhounds are no longer mercenaries for hire," he said. "If you want your sacrifices, you're going to have to adhere to the rules set by the Summit or find someone else to protect you." Blaine looked to the rest of the witches behind her, all form various covens. They looked startled. "That goes for everyone," his eyes landed on the balcony vampires.
The room had become eerily quiet. Lianna had heard of the Goldhounds yet never knowingly interacted with any of its pack members. What she knew, she gathered from Wanted posters and police reports shared with the hub or just gossip floating around between Hunters: The Goldhounds hired out as mercenaries mostly, but also dabbled in simple hunting for those willing to pay - or so rumors said. The Prowler, alpha of the Goldhounds, had been around for nearly a century now yet had refused to retire, despite his waning health. Something must have made the stubborn old dog change his mind.
Something or someone.
- Propose an Alliance with the Goldhounds
- Refuse an Alliance with the Goldhounds
- Ask a question
- Stay silent
- Other
"You're an alpha, now?" The rat witch stepped forward. "Where is the Prowler?"
"Retired," Blaine said simply. His brow lifted curiously. "You depend on my pack, don't you? Now you have a proper reason to participate in this alliance."
Her eyebrows narrowed. "What does that mean?"
"That means the Goldhounds are no longer mercenaries for hire," he said. "If you want your sacrifices, you're going to have to adhere to the rules set by the Summit or find someone else to protect you." Blaine looked to the rest of the witches behind her, all form various covens. They looked startled. "That goes for everyone," his eyes landed on the balcony vampires.
The room had become eerily quiet. Lianna had heard of the Goldhounds yet never knowingly interacted with any of its pack members. What she knew, she gathered from Wanted posters and police reports shared with the hub or just gossip floating around between Hunters: The Goldhounds hired out as mercenaries mostly, but also dabbled in simple hunting for those willing to pay - or so rumors said. The Prowler, alpha of the Goldhounds, had been around for nearly a century now yet had refused to retire, despite his waning health. Something must have made the stubborn old dog change his mind.
Something or someone.
- Propose an Alliance with the Goldhounds
- Refuse an Alliance with the Goldhounds
- Ask a question
- Stay silent
- Other
ArcticFox
Dreamer
"You seem like a fairly reasonable man, Blaine." Lianna spoke, regarding him. Perhaps an alliance with the Goldhounds would be a useful thing to have. Out of all the supernaturals, she was the least repulsed by werewolves. After all, they were human most of the time. "If everything doesn't go to hell here, would you be willing to tell the same story with me to the rest of the Hunters? With your pack on one side and the Hunters on the other, we could assure that the terms of the Summit are being upheld. Well, provided that we actually agree on anything."
Cartoonicat
Future Crazy Cat Lady
Blaine smiled and nodded. "I'd be happy to," he said, "provided-"
"And you wolves are okay with this!?" The rat witch turned on the crowd. "This, this... whelp of a dog coming in and changing the way things have been done for thousands of years? For centuries?" Some responded with concerned frowns and crossed arms, but others who hadn't already moved to Lianna's side watched with disinterest. The rat witch scowled. "You alphas have your own packs, but once this whelp sets an example of how boot-licking dogs can be, the humans will insist you conform!"
The wolf-man from earlier snorted. "As if they don't harass us already."
Lianna could try to silence the witch before the wolves realized they'd be put at a significant disadvantage to have such a massive pack against them, or she could let the scenario play out without intervening.
- Interrupt the witch
- Attack the witch
- Threaten the crowd
- Schmooze the crowd
- Do nothing
- Other
"And you wolves are okay with this!?" The rat witch turned on the crowd. "This, this... whelp of a dog coming in and changing the way things have been done for thousands of years? For centuries?" Some responded with concerned frowns and crossed arms, but others who hadn't already moved to Lianna's side watched with disinterest. The rat witch scowled. "You alphas have your own packs, but once this whelp sets an example of how boot-licking dogs can be, the humans will insist you conform!"
The wolf-man from earlier snorted. "As if they don't harass us already."
Lianna could try to silence the witch before the wolves realized they'd be put at a significant disadvantage to have such a massive pack against them, or she could let the scenario play out without intervening.
- Interrupt the witch
- Attack the witch
- Threaten the crowd
- Schmooze the crowd
- Do nothing
- Other
ArcticFox
Dreamer
Seeing the bickering erupt again, Lianna could just roll her eyes. She was tired of this uncertainty. She was not the one for debate and a part of her hoped that the witch would attack her again so that she would have the pleasure of putting down at least one of them. But she sucked it up and tried to calm the situation down.
"No one will be in any worse of a position than they now if we actually go through with this alliance. In fact, everyone's position would improve. The wolves would be protected when they are changing, the witches would be free to do their rituals, the humans would be left alone at last and... the vampires, well; we haven't heard what they want yet. We won't like in harmony, but we could live in mutual understanding at least."
"No one will be in any worse of a position than they now if we actually go through with this alliance. In fact, everyone's position would improve. The wolves would be protected when they are changing, the witches would be free to do their rituals, the humans would be left alone at last and... the vampires, well; we haven't heard what they want yet. We won't like in harmony, but we could live in mutual understanding at least."
Cartoonicat
Future Crazy Cat Lady
The coven leader spoke above the crowd. "Yes, why don't we hear from the vampires? It may help you decide," she said. The rat witch did not relax, but she did quiet. Gloved hands rest gently on the balcony railing, one over the other. "As a vampire, I have been around for a very, very long time and I can say with certainty that, should humans still consider themselves superior; should they continue to see us as the Other; should they continue to see themselves as above the law, then no peace can ever prevail."
"What's going on?" asked one of the Child Stealer's children, only to be shushed by their mother.
"Therefore," continued the coven leader, "I request that all humans who have ever raised a blade to a supernatural be put under trial by a jury of all four factions to determine their innocence... or guilt. Humankind should no longer remain the sole beneficiary of justice."
- Accept
- Refuse
- Attack
- Stay silent
- Create a scene
- Scan for a way out
- Other
"What's going on?" asked one of the Child Stealer's children, only to be shushed by their mother.
"Therefore," continued the coven leader, "I request that all humans who have ever raised a blade to a supernatural be put under trial by a jury of all four factions to determine their innocence... or guilt. Humankind should no longer remain the sole beneficiary of justice."
- Accept
- Refuse
- Attack
- Stay silent
- Create a scene
- Scan for a way out
- Other
ArcticFox
Dreamer
"Hah!" Lianna scoffed at those words. So typical of a vampire to ruin everything, "Sure, we'll comply. As soon as every vampire who has ever taken blood from a human without their consent subjects to a trial in front of a solely human jury." She said, looking up at the woman with defiance. If she could handle witches and werewolves, she certainly could not handle bartering with vampires.
"I can already tell you what your sentence would be you filthy blood drinkers. You think that you are above every one of us down here, but if I count correctly, there's more people below than above and I'm sure that the werewolves and witches are as sick of you as we humans are. My terms for you are the following: you either leave Steamhaven without a prospect of return. Or die."
"I can already tell you what your sentence would be you filthy blood drinkers. You think that you are above every one of us down here, but if I count correctly, there's more people below than above and I'm sure that the werewolves and witches are as sick of you as we humans are. My terms for you are the following: you either leave Steamhaven without a prospect of return. Or die."
Cartoonicat
Future Crazy Cat Lady
The coven leader tutted with disappointment, but her words and Lianna's had stirred the crowd. "Miss Atwood, your suggestion blatantly unbalances a system already predisposed to favoring humans. If, as you say, the werewolves and witches are 'as sick of us' as your humans are, then there is no reason we shan't have a diverse jury. Perhaps my heir's faith in you was misplaced."
Murmurs rose and those around Lianna - the rat witch, the new witch, and the two alphas respectively - turned in her direction. "You know the Blood Prince?" asked the Child Stealer's human daughter, eyes wide. It was more of an observation than a question, yet the girl stared in wonder.
Lianna knew Landon, yes, but she hadn't heard from him in quite some time.
- Agree to the coven's terms
- Refuse the coven's terms
- Talk about Landon
- Attack
- Stay silent
- Other
Murmurs rose and those around Lianna - the rat witch, the new witch, and the two alphas respectively - turned in her direction. "You know the Blood Prince?" asked the Child Stealer's human daughter, eyes wide. It was more of an observation than a question, yet the girl stared in wonder.
Lianna knew Landon, yes, but she hadn't heard from him in quite some time.
- Agree to the coven's terms
- Refuse the coven's terms
- Talk about Landon
- Attack
- Stay silent
- Other
ArcticFox
Dreamer
"Landon is the only one of you I'd speak with further," Lianna said. "He's the only relatively decent vampire I've known, so tell me, where did he run off to? I bet he's as tired of your bullshit as I am." Her patience was wearing thin and her trigger finger getting itchy and Lianna knew that she would not be able to handle this for much longer.
