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Arkae Zellar SUCIA ISLES - VILLAGE OF THE AWAKENED

The story so far involves science-mages stumbling across the secrets of life creation several decades ago, creating a bunch of life including some of what could arguably be full-fledged people as a servant race, and at some point leaving a bunch of those servant people (Serviles) alone on one of their old islands.

And then the forces of assorted (along with one unfortunate apprentice) stumbled across these abanded serviles who are... considerably more animated than the meek placid personality-less servants that were on display at the college of the science-mages.

And that's where we're at. There's three sub-factions of the overly-independent serviles here - the group has stumbled first across the village of the Awakened, and if you need a refresher on their deal or the outlooks of the other two groups it might be best to ask them directly.

... Members of the Concord also have an in with Nabb, who they've found out is a spy sent from one of the other groups. Otherwise, they and everyone else have the person to talk to as the leader of the awakened, Ellhrah.

Have at it.
Arkae Zellar Also the Apprentice is around, if you want to drag him off on anything. Otherwise he's doing odd jobs in the background, trying to grind rep to make up for some unfortunate comments he's made.
Sumiko Mikoto had a feel for the Awakened's deal, but right now she was more curious about the deal with Nabb and his people.  Of course, thanks to Metal, they got the proof they needed to leverage over the man, but now it was time to collect on their discretion.  

This means that when Mikoto can get his attention, she signals that she wants to talk to him.  Falling in step, she murmurs to him, "Somewhere quiet, unless you want to get found out," it wasn't a threat so much as a 'hey let's not talk about secret things in the middle of everyone.

When they finally can get somewhere quiet, and some attempts to make sure they weren't being spied on, she turned to Nabb.  "It seems your people are attempting to do more than just simply declare war on your former masters.  I do hope this hate only extends to them, and not general xenophobia towards anyone, not you."
Arcadia Nabb... heh. Appropriately named for a spy, wonder if it was intentional.

Nabb does have some company as Arcadia is hovering nearby, likely keeping an eye on their contact to the other tribe while other Concords get themselves ready. You know. Doing the escort thing. Or is it bodyguard right now? Maybe a bit of both. It is one of her duties either way, even if it isn't as interesting as the glorious high speed battles she thrives on.
Arkae Zellar "... That... depends," says Nabb. He clearly has to think about it.

He also is clearly nervous about getting found out.

"We've only recently found out that there's... more than the Shapers out there. For the first decades of our, um, being aware of things? We thought there were the Shapers, and there were us, and there was nothing else."

"... Besides all the various experiments they abandoned here on the island with us, making our lives hell, of course, I mean. Heh. You have to laugh, really..." He doesn't look like he's laughing.

"Can I turn the question around? Why *should* we not hate everyone? What's there to like?"
Metal Sonic      "Xenophobia? That is a funny way to describe disdain for those who don't recognize greatness. It's a shared feeling, one only a fellow creation can feel. It doesn't matter how far they wage their war though, just so long as they realize that so long as they tow the line when it comes to the Concord, they will be compensated."

     Metal Sonic, perhaps predictably, decides to stick with talking to Nabb, being the one to find them out after all. They throw out a sentence that seems to give the impression that they're just saying the first thing to come to mind, though it's anything but. It's perfectly crafted in an attempt to be 'relatable' and 'sympathetic'.
Sumiko "Speaking as someone who's in a similar situation than you, I don't find it very funny either.  It was one thing when they told us you were not sapient, nor could ever be...now that you are..." she lets that linger there for a moment.  

"Let's walk over your situation carefully.  Right now you are a small organization, essentially trying to wage war on the ascendant power on your world.  You do not even have full control over your home.  If you tried to wage war on the Shapers, even if you could threaten them...you'd have to deal with multiversals coming in and trying to stop it.  At best you could expect someone to try and whine at you until you get sick of them and form an uneasy peace...the worst is that they come in swinging."

"Not the meaning of what I was getting at in this case, Metal.  However, he does make a point.  If you work with us, help us uncover the secret of this island, and let it come into Concord hands..." he pauses for just a moment, "Then you have yourself a multiversal ally of the best in the business."

"Essentially, show us that you won't stab us in the back, are a good investment, and we'll compensate you.  Perhaps even aid in your fight against the Shapers.  In the end, that is up to the individual member of the Concord.  If you are strong-willed enough to make your own existence, then you show the stuff necessary to be a worthy investment."
Arcadia "So the raptors I encounter in the jungle is one of those 'discarded' experiments I take it?" That's all Arcadia really has to add at the moment. Her companions have the actual conversation well in hand it seems.
Arkae Zellar "The raptors - pretty much everything here seems to be a discarded experiment of some sort," says Nabb. "You're far from seeing the worst of it."

"... Alright. I can't speak for all of us - my contact with the rest of the Takers is not constant, I'm leaving coded messages out far away from the village when I can find an excuse to go out, and sometimes there's coded instructions waiting for me... it can be a couple days, maybe weeks, before I'd be able to relay all this back and forth in anything resembling a conversation."

"But I'm hearing what you're saying, and I'll relay it, and..."

He takes a breath. "If you're serious about helping us... allying...is that going to be exclusive help?"
Arcadia "I hope so!" Arcadia is way too eager to hear there are bigger dangers on the island. "Those raptors were way too easy to lose."

Then the slow nature of the messages comes up. Ugh. Slow things. She looks at Mikoto, and then at fellow speedster Metal. "Maybe we should do something about that delay..."
Metal Sonic      Given Nabb's nature as a spy, it's only natural their contact with who they work for is limited. That's not surprising. Neither is it when he asks if their support is going to be exclusive to them.

     Metal does a theatrical bow, his head and eyes still fixed on the servile as they do so.

     "I swear on the Eggman Empire, so long as you operate within our graces you needn't worry. Not that these other sects have given much reason for support."
Sumiko "Likewise I can not speak for every individual member of the Concord.  However, if you can prove to the organization that your people can be an asset, then I can push for you."

"If you join the Concord, then it's exclusive, yes.  Other members of the Concord might oppose you, especially if your methods become too extreme for their tastes, but that's more the exception than the norm.  Just as you want to be invested in, you will want to invest in us as well."

She shoots a look towards Arcadia, "Let them do it their way.  Slower, yes, but less likely to expose our contact here.  His safety is very important to our goals," She says, indicating that she now has an invested interest in Nabb.  

She looks rather impressed at Metal, "Well, you already have the support of the Eggman Empire.  That can be quite valuable in its own right.  So if it isn't enough insurance, then I do not know what is."
Arcadia Arcadia huffs faintly, tail doing that flick cat's tails do when they know someone else is right but don't want to admit it. "I suppose... But if anything really important that can't wait days or weeks comes up, you only need to ask."
Arkae Zellar "... Okay, I understand you can't speak for all of your people, just like I can't speak for mine."

"If you three as individuals can at least pledge to not support the other groups here, and try to convince the others you're allied with to do the same, then I'll accept that."

To Mikoto: "I can't promise what degree of... extremeness, or not. There's talk of accepting no less than a complete reversal of roles from some of ours, while others will be satisfied with just claiming this island... and a few others nearby, maybe. Others... who knows."

To Arcadia and Metal Sonic: "If you'd like something more immediate to help with... something I can guarantee compensation and gratitude for... that, at least, I can provide."

(A quest, in other words.)
Arcadia Arcadia clasps her handpaws together, ears perking up. "Now you're talking my language." Pause. "I mean, we could already understand you. Now you are talking about a subject of relevant interests." It feels weird having to explain the saying, but these guys have been isolated, the figurative speech might not click otherwise.
Sumiko "I can give you that at least," Mikoto says towards Nabb about not supporting the others.

"It's a diverse group, just like us.  I will have to talk more with your people and see how you all stand.  Hopefully, people can be logical and think more towards their own future, than burning it down because of their past.  One thing at a time, though."

She looks towards Arcadia and Metal as they are offered a quest.  It seems a good idea to start getting a reputation with the takers.
Metal Sonic      "What needs doing?"

     Metal's eyes light up a bit brighter at the offer. Now's his chance. If they weren't already aware or convinced of his superiority now, they will soon be.
Arkae Zellar "Towards the southeast corner of the island, there's an abandoned Shaper workshop. You can't miss it."

"That is, you can't miss it because the abandoned experiments there have been slowly poisoning the land around it for the last several decades. Ha ha." Nabb isn't actually laughing.

"Go clear that place out of whatever nastiness has moved in there recently, and disable the security there while you're at it. I'll guarantee that'll give you a good first impression with our people."
Arcadia Oooo, that sounds like it also could be a place to find more secrets.

"Yes, that's exactly the sort of quest I'd be hoping for. Dungeoning and monster exterminating." Arcadia is all up for this.
Sumiko "Hm...sounds like a plan then," Mikoto says, looking towards her partners in this as it were.  Likely it was dangerous, but at the same time, it would give them both a chance to prove their intentions AND mess with Shaper secrets.

All for the cost of killing some dangerous things.  It sounds like a win-win.