High Factotum Janris Danrok"Your Lordship/Ladyship, I must report systematic and flagrant attacks on the dynasty's coffers perpetrated by your companion Mistress Heydari. The Emperor as my witness, the worst rumours of her thieving ways proved to be a significant understatement of the reality!"
YOU"What crimes has she committed against the treasury?"
High Factotum Janris Danrok"She is extorting bribes and oblations. Gifts. Favours. For herself, in particular. She is exploiting rumours of a connection between, ahem, herself and Your Lordship/Ladyship to unscrupulously gather bribes from all and sundry, hinting at how displeased Your Lordship/Ladyship will be to hear if anyone is being uncooperative. I myself have found myself the victim of her attacks with particular frequency, due to my position."
YOU"What crimes has she committed against the treasury?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"How much has her chicanery cost us?"
High Factotum Janris DanrokSurprised by the question, Danrok vacillates before saying, "On a protectorate-wide scale, the astronomical sum she has extorted from us seems negligible and not worthy of notice... Nevertheless, I cannot help but be outraged by her blatant exploitation of your goodwill!"
YOU"What crimes has she committed against the treasury?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"How much has her chicanery cost us?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Bring the embezzler to me."
Jae"You wished to see me, shereen?" She bestows a dazzling smile upon you, and a look of pure contempt on Danrok.
YOU"I have been informed that you have been soliciting bribes."
Jae"Bribes? What ashmag besmirched their worm-eaten lips with such a scurrilous lie? Actually, don't tell me — I don't even want to hear their blackened name. I have never demanded bribes from any of your vassals. But I have willingly accepted the gifts they have offered. Is that a crime?"
High Factotum Janris Danrok"Mistress Heydari is quibbling over semantics! She may not demand anything directly, but she drops heavy hints..."
Jae"Perhaps this isn't about hints but the habits of a rotten, venal soul accustomed to doling out bribes left and right and thereby draining the dynasty's treasury? I'd be curious to know, Danrok, how much of the von Valancius fortune you have squandered by handing out bribes to people who did not ask for them."
YOU"I have been informed that you have been soliciting bribes."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Why do you need such gifts? Do you not receive enough through working with me?"
Jae"I am a businesswoman, shereen. I extract profit from everything — it's in my nature. When a desert lion catches the scent of blood, he will eat even if his belly is full. For who knows when the next feast will come. And besides... what girl doesn't like receiving gifts?" Jae lowers her abashed gaze to the floor.
YOU"I have been informed that you have been soliciting bribes."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Why do you need such gifts? Do you not receive enough through working with me?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"The High Factotum is worried that you are exploiting your privileged position."
Jae"The High Factotum should try to worry less — it's not good for the slanderous little heart that pumps blood around his ungrateful carcass. But I am surprised he was not worried before, when he showered me with generous gifts the moment I arrived on board. Of course, I will not accuse him of trying to buy my favour..."
FactotumThe Factotum's face changes colour to match his jacket, whose collar suddenly appears to be digging into his flabby throat.
Jae"...however, the source of these blessings dried up as soon as he learned of our connection, shereen. I considered it profoundly wrong that our affection should have had such an unhappy effect on my material well-being. Therefore, I took it upon myself to remind the High Factotum of his previous largesse."
YOU"I have been informed that you have been soliciting bribes."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Why do you need such gifts? Do you not receive enough through working with me?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"The High Factotum is worried that you are exploiting your privileged position."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Danrok the bumbling suitor. You dangle after my companion and now you are trying to settle the score? Get out of my sight."
High Factotum Janris DanrokThe High Factotum lets out an incoherent burble, sweeps into a deep bow, and hastily beats a retreat.
JaeWith a vicious smile, Jae remarks in his wake, "Who would ever trust the word of a man who douses himself in perfume to cover up his body odour? Everyone knows that that is a sure sign of a soul prone to deceit!"
end of branch
YOU"Janris, henceforth you will furnish Jae with whatever she desires. Is that clear?"
High Factotum Janris DanrokThe High Factotum lets out an incoherent burble, sweeps into a deep bow, and hastily beats a retreat.continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Jae, I command you to stop riding roughshod over my Factotum and my treasury."
Jae"These unjust reproaches are like a hailstorm upon my soul. All right, shereen. I will not trouble your treasurer again. Although I find it very strange that you trust a man who hides his real smell under lashings of perfume. Everyone knows that that is a sure sign of the heart's proclivity for deception." Jae leaves, vindictively treading on the Factotum's foot as she goes, no doubt already plotting a new affront to Danrok's ears.
High Factotum Janris Danrok"Thank you, Your Lordship/Ladyship. Your servants will be pleased to know that they have your protection against the inveiglements of that... grasping viper."
end of branch
YOU"Danrok the bumbling suitor. You dangle after my companion and now you are trying to settle the score? Get out of my sight."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Janris, henceforth you will furnish Jae with whatever she desires. Is that clear?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Jae, I command you to stop riding roughshod over my Factotum and my treasury."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"The High Factotum is worried that you are exploiting your privileged position."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Danrok the bumbling suitor. You dangle after my companion and now you are trying to settle the score? Get out of my sight."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Janris, henceforth you will furnish Jae with whatever she desires. Is that clear?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Jae, I command you to stop riding roughshod over my Factotum and my treasury."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Why do you need such gifts? Do you not receive enough through working with me?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"The High Factotum is worried that you are exploiting your privileged position."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Danrok the bumbling suitor. You dangle after my companion and now you are trying to settle the score? Get out of my sight."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Janris, henceforth you will furnish Jae with whatever she desires. Is that clear?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Jae, I command you to stop riding roughshod over my Factotum and my treasury."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I have no interest in hearing about this."
High Factotum Janris DanrokWith an air of pure anguish, Danrok bows his head. "As you wish, Your Lordship/Ladyship. But when that woman sells your ship out from under you, I will say I warned you."
end of branch
YOU"Bring the embezzler to me."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I have no interest in hearing about this."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"How much has her chicanery cost us?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Bring the embezzler to me."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I have no interest in hearing about this."continues where this line first appears above