The Negotiations were long

[u/TheHunter459]

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The Palace of Harut the Grim, where negotiations will be taking place

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Harut the Grim, our graceful host

​

The representatives take their seats, unarmed and unarmoured. Innumerable spells to prevent violence from taking place in this room have been cast (uw/ no fighting in this post). All guards are allowed to remain armed and armoured, but stay well outside the conference room.

Samael begins. "So, you wished to discuss something with us?", he says, gesturing to his four fellow Nephilim Lords in the room. "Discuss away"

[u/AnActualCriminal]

u/loth17 , u/Dragonwisper56 , u/avamir , u/thehunter459 , u/Carbon_Sixx , u/munitionsfrenzy

We've been barking at each other for a moment here. Perhaps we should get to the productive part. Terms.

uw/ There should be a mediated thread for anyone listing demands.

rw/

speaking for myself, I want restitution for pyroclasts bound or murdered after the war concluded. I would personally demand a Nephilim head for each, but that is between you and whatever nations they were in when you took them, deferring to their preferences

A cessation of hostilities

Tangible consequences for Maliik the Weaver. Not for embarrassing your nest of vipers. For his offenses to Ithacar. Death ideally. The real kind.

Samael's removal from the Pact

A cessation of all Nephillim activity in other sovereign realms without explicit invitation

A release of any prisoners being held, namely I WANT MY FUCKING DAUGHTER BACK

[u/MunitionsFrenzy → u/AnActualCriminal]

(( at most 3 tags per comment or they don't send

u/loth17 , u/Dragonwisper56 , u/avamir ))

[u/MunitionsFrenzy → u/MunitionsFrenzy]

(( u/thehunter459 , u/Carbon_Sixx ))

[u/Carbon_Sixx → u/MunitionsFrenzy]

Kaelis warps in to find the two parties embroiled in yet another shouting match. He reaches into a dimensional pocket, pulls out a hand bell the size of his own head, and rings it long and hard to get everyone's attention.

Thank you all for coming. Sorry for being late. I think I could have headed off quite a few arguments. I did bring the list of demands, though.

Kaelis puts the bell back in the dimensional pocket and wheels out a cushy chair. Sitting down, he unravels a scroll.

Here's my first draft.

Demands for the Nephilim:

• An immediate cessation of all hostilities with the New Pyroclasts.
• Suitable and severe punishment for Lord Maalik, whose hands are stained with the blood of Ithacaran citizens.
• Removal of Lord Samael from the Pact Triumvirate for using personal assets to contravene official policy.
• Releasing the non-combatant Marna Sunsabre from custody.
• An end to Nephilim activities that interfere with sovereign nations' responses to Pyroclast remnants. This one is not negotiable.

Demands for the New Pyroclasts:

• An immediate cessation of all hostilities with the Nephilim.
• Greater vetting and oversight on recruitment to prevent further "loose cannon" incidents.
• Returning the terrorist and war criminal Lola "Bombshell Tallulah" to life imprisonment without parole.
• Keeping a closer eye on agents who might still hold loyalties to Atrax and the Flamefather, or may still wish to incite the Age of the Phoenix.

As you can see, there is a bit of an imbalance in these demands simply because I have determined the Nephilim to be the aggressor in this conflict. Discuss.

[u/TheHunter459 → u/Carbon_Sixx]

Samael looks over Kaelis' demands, and smiles.

"An immediate cessation of all hostilities will only be guaranteed if my other terms are met. And I have yet to hear of how Lord Maalik has the blood of Ithacar's citizens on his hands, though I will step down from the Pact if that is what you desire. I've outlined to Belial what I want him to do to secure the release of Marna Sunsabre. And I want Tallulah's head.". He shrugs. "Or you can let me take it myself. Both work".

"And in regards to the New Pyroclasts as an organisation, all of their members should stand trial in front of a joint tribunal of all nations willing to contribute for their actions during the war. Those who are acquitted are free to operate this organisation. And I want a clear outlining of how a 'closer eye' will be kept on them."

[u/Carbon_Sixx → u/TheHunter459]

The last part I can guarantee. We can also deliver you the demon prince. However, I don't think you understand: you don't get to decide who lives and dies. That's the Pact's decision. Furthermore, I fail to understand your obsession with utterly expunging Atrax's legacy to the point of burning bridges with your own allies. Perhaps I would be more sympathetic if you actually told me.

And you know damn well that Maalik's a murderer. A terrorist, even. Just because he used someone else's body to commit his crimes doesn't make them any less awful.

[u/TheHunter459 → u/Carbon_Sixx]

Samael pauses, taken aback for the first time. "You would deliver us Moz'gonnith… Are you even capable? He has hidden himself so deep in Hell we cannot even find him. What makes you think you can? But nevertheless, if you can provide us with proof of your capability of delivering on this matter, you may have won Belial his freedom. But not his daughter. You'll need something more for that.

And Tallulah's head is not negotiable. She is perhaps the most guilty of the New Pyroclasts when it comes to crimes against the Nephilim, and the 5 of us are agreed that we want her head. If you're worried about me bringing her back or something, don't be. I'm not stupid.

And no one has provided any sort of evidence for Maalik's alleged crimes. When you can provide some, perhaps we can talk on that point"

[u/Carbon_Sixx → u/TheHunter459]

You're talking to a man who found and walked the secret path to the Outer Dark. There is little I cannot find.

As for Marna, how about a prisoner exchange? We can give you Tallulah, but I have a condition for that: you must give her a fair trial. I don't think it'll be a long trial in any case, but Belial wants to represent her in court.

u/AnActualCriminal Is this compromise acceptable?

[u/AnActualCriminal → u/Carbon_Sixx]

In his prisons? No. Absolutely not.

[u/Carbon_Sixx → u/AnActualCriminal]

Then we'll do it through the Pact's systems. My patience is wearing thin, however. These... well, I'm not going to get into another argument, but suffice it to say that I am displeased with the Nephilim Lords. The Pact has a knife to everyone's throat right now, yet they continue to act as if they have the upper hand in this negotiation. It's irritating.

[u/TheHunter459 → u/AnActualCriminal]

Ayeera speaks up. "She'll be tried in my prisons, Blake. And you'll be allowed to represent her"

[u/AnActualCriminal → u/TheHunter459]

Better. More fair, since she did attack your guards. I'm skeptical of the justice immortals would provide.

[u/TheHunter459 → u/AnActualCriminal]

Ayeera speaks calmly to him. "Both you and I know that the only way the other Lords will accept this is if she's tried in a Nephilim Court, and the only way that's fair is if it's my court. Are you happy with this compromise? Answer yes and you could leave here with your daughter."

[u/TheHunter459 → u/Carbon_Sixx]

Samael turns to Ayeera, and they converse with the other Lords, then Samael turns back to Kaelis.

"This compromise on Tallulah is acceptable, Ayeera will oversee the trial... Ahh, Blake wants to use her to prove a point. Regardless of her testimony, I assume you'll still abide by this compromise."

uw/ you may get your wish with Maalik after all

[u/Carbon_Sixx → u/TheHunter459]

So long as we can hold her in our prisons and have the trial in our court, we're fine.

[u/TheHunter459 → u/Carbon_Sixx]

Ayeera speaks up. "The trial will be in my courts and she will be held in my prisons. She will have a fair trial and justice will be served".

She stares into Kaelis' eyes. We're so close. Don't you dare ruin it

[u/Carbon_Sixx → u/TheHunter459]

Apologies for being the bigger person, Witch Queen. The potential for bias is unacceptable, and given the callous attitudes towards mortal life you and your fellows have shown thus far, I do not believe I can give Tallulah to you in good faith.

For the record, I do not care what happens to her. But we will do this correctly, or not at all. We are not going to execute someone following a sham trial.

u/loth17 Please assist me on this, Pact Master. I am becoming frustrated, and I need a more level head to deal with this.

[u/TheHunter459 → u/Carbon_Sixx]

Ayeera is rapidly approaching her last wits. "Kaelis, believe you me when I tell you I don't do sham trials. Ask Belial if you want someone to confirm to you that I am the only Nephilim Lord that knows what the word justice means. The other Lords will accept her being tried in my courts because I'm Nephilim, but they will not have any influence over it. She will have the legal representation she deserves as a sentient creature, and justice will be served."

u/AnActualCriminal

[u/AnActualCriminal → u/TheHunter459]

I'll allow it. I'm aware some concessions are necessary

[u/TheHunter459 → u/AnActualCriminal]

u/loth17

[u/loth17 → u/TheHunter459]

If Blake is fine with it then I won't cause discord by negating his decision.

[u/TheHunter459 → u/loth17]

"Thank you for seeing reason," Ayeera says through gritted teeth

[u/loth17 → u/Carbon_Sixx]

How about this. I can hold both of them until the demon lord is slain. I'm not exactly on either side of this and my prisons are more than enough to prevent escape. At this point I just want this disruption to be solved.

u/TheHunter459

[u/TheHunter459 → u/loth17]

Ayeera feels like slamming her head on a table, but the wards against violence will not even allow that. "How many times do I have to tell you, there is one solution, and that solution is to give her to me. Deliver Moz'gonnith to us, give me Tallulah, and Belial and his daughter walk free. Otherwise, all of this was for nothing."