Details of a Betrayal [18 Lage 4385]

[sythyry]

Mirrored from Sythyry.

Zascalle hugged Ochirion to her chest, and snarled at me defiantly.

Zascalle: “You are here with terrible weapons at the ready! Would you kill the boy you worked so hard to heal, Sythyry?”

Me: “Great staring gods!” They were staring at us, too; that’s easy to see from Ketheria sometimes. “You are using your own child as a meat shield.”

Zascalle: “You have befouled and corrupted every other defense I had!”

La Hish: “Oddly, I do not feel befouled or even corrupted. I feel relieved that a certain minor problem of the last few months will be resolved.”

Me: “Zascalle. First of all, I want my money back.” Anyone with half a magic sense could tell I was carrying enough enchanted weaponry to run a whole duel-war, and then another. Direct threats were, thankfully, unnecessary.

Zascalle threw her purse at my feet. It landed with a dull amberish clunk; it was heavier than I was, and mostly with coins.

Me: “A good start. Next, the greater part of the theft — my missing bank accounts. Start with the one that pays the bills for Castle Wrong, where some thirty or forty of your friends — they are your friends, are they not? — still reside, and hope to reside for a long time more.”

Zascalle: “I can’t do it from here. I need to get to Trunk’s Amber.”

Me: “You shall write down letters, instructions, account numbers. Saza’s accountant and the banks of Oorah Thrassen will confirm that you have done it properly. Also, you shall give me all of your private notes and accountings — do not look so innocent, Zascalle, your degree of innocence has already been established. I know you have kept records of your deeds.”

It would have been extremely reassuring to use a truthspell on her, to know that the tiny, neatly-printed slips of paper she took out of the heel of her boots were complete and correct rather than yet another ruse within a ruse. I could have done it … but I was rather too squeamish. I was fairly sure I would have to kill or maim her in front of her children, but I wasn’t willing to read her mind. I hope this will be counted a virtue.

Me: “A good start. Care to explain all the details?”

She did not much care to explain, but she did. She had been trickling money out of my accounts for a long while, and then pouring, and then gushing, and then, for the last few days, when she panicked and knew that she must flee with her children from Vae, deluging. It was getting scattered around eighteen banks and suchlike up and down the main trunk. Inter-branch banking is a fairly new matter, with very confusing laws and customs governing it differently everywhere. So, Exempleia has strict laws of privacy of customers, which are well-motivated and utterly sensible. Egeia has strict laws preventing fraud, also well-motivated and sensible, but when money comes from Exempleia, Egeian banks cannot apply those laws very well, so they don’t try. Zascalle tracked down a number of such anomalies, and took advantage of them.

Five of the accounts are easier for me than the others: I am officially the one who owns them, pursuant to the laws of those city-states, though Zascalle has full rights to use them. Now that I actually know about them, I am going to toss one of them at Castle Wrong and another at Strayway, for short-term expenses, and use two of the others to pay off the bribes I owe the wizards of Oorah Thrassen.

The other fifteen parts will take a while to untangle. Untangling will be much easier with Zascalle alive and cooperative. My fortune, or at least my convenience, is held hostage for her life. to

I will say, I was sufficiently annoyed to consider killing her anyhow. But that seemed ungracious, as she had been (approximately) cooperative at that point.

Comments

[stormydragon.livejournal.com]

Did she say what caused her to start? Was it simply because she could and the she wasn't sufficiently upright to resist the temptation?

The other thing is that you're probably lucky she panicked. If she had just taken the accounts and left the cashbox alone, she would have had a far larger headstart before you noticed her absense and would have likely gotten away.

It's almost like the melodrama villain who is done in because they tried to grab one jewel too much from the treasure room.

[sythyry.livejournal.com]

Oh, she needed the cash to start her trip -- to pay for the skyboat passage, the spellbreaking, and all that.

I suppose she could have kept trickling money out of my accounts and I would never have noticed, though. It may be a tradition among my accountants for all I know -- I must figure out how to get some reliable auditing.

She didn't say why she started, perhaps because her motivation there was not as cogent as her motivation for taking everything.

[dracosphynx.livejournal.com]

It sounds like you need to come up with a pocket universe spell suitable for graciously imprisoning people in until you can retrieve them.

[shurhaian.livejournal.com]

It doesn't seem like it should be that hard to imprison a non-mage for a short while. Cr Ru Su Lo [Co][Hr] - not a simple spell, but likely well under Sythyry's maximum in the relevant arts. The verbs and Locador make the pocket universe and put the target in it, and I'm not sure if Ruloc would help move it so that its point of attachment is always handy for the caster, or if accessing it from a distance would require mightier Locador; CrSu and the optional nouns for furnishing it and, perhaps, giving it a larder. I should think Sythyry is able to cast such a spell that would shut someone up tight for a few days.

On a simpler level, Nowhere Prison (Cr[Su]Lo 15) is stated as having the victim not lack for the essentials of life - but even the sustained version lasts only minutes. Bumping the duration a few orders - minutes to hours to days - hmmm, I'd guess another 15 there(one step is listed as typically 5-10 complexity) while keeping Sustenoc. To ensure the victim doesn't starve, though, might require pairing it with a suitable CrSuHr cantrip to make some nonperishable biscuits or the like - bland but nourishing fare - and an additional 10-15 complexity. Still, it seems likely that the resulting spell would still be around cplx 50 or less - serious sorcery, but nothing zie hasn't already surpassed.

Imprisoning a Locador mage would of course be more difficult.

[dracosphynx.livejournal.com]

Well, I think the keyword here is *graciously* imprisoning them. Particularly since the kids may or may not have to be tucked along with them for the moment. More sort of 'nowhere protective custody' than a 'nowhere prison', perhaps.

I would, of course, suggest imprisoning her in her own mind, but SBCL gets disturbed when I suggest a vast array of highly useful Mentador spells for some reason.

[shurhaian.livejournal.com]

Pocket dimensions are pretty gentle prisons. The Co and Hr are what I suggested adding to make the place reasonably comfortable, by way of furniture and food. If what is made is very specific, always the same whenever the spell is cast, it might not even need to be quite as complex for that part(compare the simple Cr Il spells - the cantrips make a specific image, the cplx 10 equivalent lets the caster choose the image). The Ruloc might even allow you to shove some other stuff in there with them - existing reading material, for instance - and such a prison could hold several people as easily as one, so long as none of them are magically deft enough to breach it. (The kids aren't. Zascalle isn't. Thiane has been described as a fair hand at sorcery, but not capable of enough Magiador to sever arcane connections herself - if she is, in general, not much of a deep-mage, she probably wouldn't be able to either, especially considering the power Sythyry would have in such a cast.)

[stormydragon.livejournal.com]

Being locked in solitary confinment for extended periods is basically a form of torture though.

[terrycloth.livejournal.com]

I'm pretty sure torture as a punishment is socially acceptable in Veshrame.

[greenreaper.livejournal.com]

I imagine a longer-term version would be entitled Nowhere Land. :-)

[sythyry.livejournal.com]

The whine!

[shurhaian.livejournal.com]

I have to wonder if this might backfire on Zascalle, where Ochirion is concerned. Perhaps not now, perhaps not for years - but when things were tense, you were entirely decent and reasonable and did not want to do her, much less her children, unnecessary harm(even if in her case it was partly expediency and partly not wanting to upset her children unduly).

She, on the other hand, pulled him close, so that if you were to do something unpleasant to her, you might have to go through him first. Given that the most effective magic (for complexity) is that which affects a single target, and that you are mighty in Corpador(which has all manner of inventive ways to afflict a target without being nearly so flashy and prone to collateral damage as Pyrador), this grandiose gesture was not only cruel to her child, but also stupid. If she'd really been concerned for his welfare, she'd have pushed him toward Thiane, who due to her cooperation seemed a little more likely to survive any impending retribution. She wasn't; she was concerned for hers, above her child's.

Leaving her largely unmolested as incentive to keep cooperating was likely a good decision. But as an alternate, I think she could have also used a reminder that fine Corpador magic is not so indiscriminate as a three-handed sword.

Mharreff unhelpfully suggests Eyes of the Drill of Pain. For the squeamish(either because of the Mentador or because of the pain, I'm not certain), he offers alternate suggestions of Become a Wudgeon, Hideous Diminution, Needle in the Heart, or an Itchy variant of Deadly Berry. Or something akin to Ravages of the Disintegrating Flesh, which is getting into serious enough offensive magic that it has a bit more of a chance to be on serious enchantments already - harmful, but precise enough to A) not catch a child in its effect and B) likely leave the target still alive afterwards(at least more likely than some other spells of that magnitude).

Oh, and he also suggests billing her for the cley for any such spells that aren't cast from enchantments, just to make a point. Tack it onto whatever accounting there turns out to be of how much she's cost you.

Speaking of which - perhaps your half-sibling could recommend suitable auditors? A yearly audit - especially when it's not from the same auditor twice in a row - might go a long way to discourage this sort of chicanery in any future accountants. Kantele might also have some notion of who would be suitable. So, for that matter, might your bankers in Vheshrame. Long-term solutions, but thinking to the future is rarely a bad thing - I'd guess this is especially so for Zi Ri?

[stormydragon.livejournal.com]

The problem is that you have to rely on the person being auditted to produce the information that needs to be auditted. What she really needs is better control system. No one person should have been able to move that large an amount of money without Sythyry noticing them doing so.

[terrycloth.livejournal.com]

If they produce the wrong information, the auditor will catch it, in theory. That's the point, after all. Money that went into your accounts came from somewhere, money that left went somewhere, and those are independantly verifiable.

[dracosphynx.livejournal.com]

Well, I suspect at this point Saza, La High, and Nangbang are probably all thinking about double checking on their own finances. Just in case.

[sythyry.livejournal.com]

Long-term solutions, but thinking to the future is rarely a bad thing - I'd guess this is especially so for Zi Ri?

We ought to think of it, and sometimes we do. I personally seem to think of the moment at least as easily -- e.g. the last several times I slithered into bed with somebody.

[shurhaian.livejournal.com]

Oh, the present is worth paying attention to as well! Taking always the long view is a good way to not enjoy life at all.

The benefit of having an auditor or several to check the accountant's work is that it is a way of taking the long view which, aside from the initial arrangements, doesn't normally take too much time away from your enjoyment of the present(unless the auditor and the accountant disagree on a point, which usually means trouble).

In such a case, it might be better to have the auditor quietly report to you, rather than challenging the accountant directly. Ideally they should never meet - when the auditor needs to request files or whatever, they should work through an intermediary; a messenger, but someone more reliable than, say, an Orren street urchin.

[yotogi.livejournal.com]

Unhelpfully? Oh come now, he even made you a prioritised list of alternatives! Clearly, he is the helpful. Also I approve of his choices.

[shurhaian.livejournal.com]

"Unhelpful" in that "even if Sythyry can cast the spell[zie can] and has it[much more dubious], zie is not likely to want to brandish Mentador around anyone". I personally think Drill of Pain is a very effective choice, with the benefit of doing no lasting or physical harm - even in worst case, the pain fades by the next morning, and isn't so extreme as to leave long-lasting debilitation beyond that - what's unhelpful is that it doesn't consider the sensibilities of Sythyry and those around zir.

Oh, yes. He also suggests that Become a Wudgeon is best accompanied by giving thetarget to a Sleeth to play with for a time. Best to be very careful in your instructions if you want said subject back in one piece - and pick a Sleeth who doesn't eat sentients to begin with.

[rowyn]

You could kill her a few times anyway. She doesn't have to stay dead.

Perhaps turn her into a small coffee-flavored snack treat and carry her from bank to bank? You can turn her back before visiting each.

It seems like you're going to have a hard time getting the money back even with Zascalle there, since they're not going to believe she's doing the transfer of her own free will (given that she's not.)

Also, I do not believe for a SECOND that she can't arrange to get the money back from Ketheria. Unless each of these banks was at a port of call for the Strayway on your way to Eigrach, she arranged to put the money THERE without ever going in person. I find it exceedingly hard to believe she can't do the same to get it back. Little lying monster.

[sythyry.livejournal.com]

Oh, Trunk's Amber is based somewhere or other in Ketheria, and I'm sure they're somewhere in Vheshrame. While I don't consider Zascalle the most reliable or helpful person I know, anymore, I do believe she can't arrange transfers while standing in a gazebo at the end of a pier sticking off into space.

I plan to encourage her cooperation in a certain unpleasant way. I hope it suffices.

[bloofox.livejournal.com]

Dear Fantastically Blue Zi Ri,

I am somewhat puzzled by your priorities. My perspective on the matter may be somewhat skewed by my recent discovery of a natural talent for and gaining a career in the arts of mental exploration, domination, rehabilitation, and, in one case, reconstruction, however a simple guarantee of truth seems far preferable to any amount of killing or maiming.

I must disagree with the delightful dragonsphynx's recommendation of imprisoning her in her own mind, as such would be needlessly traumatic and function only as vengeance. As Zascalle has shown herself to have at least a modicum of cunning and financial acumen, I would instead recommend a few simple alterations: could you not read through her mind to find your money, then make a few modifications to restore her obviously damaged senses of loyalty and honour? This should traumatise her children the least, save Zascalle from the necessity of any vengeance, return all your money, and retain an accountant who has demonstrated her obvious skill.

Yours in admiration.

[sythyry.livejournal.com]

I'd rather not get the reputation as a mind-mage, actually. My current bad reputation is quite enough.

[ionotter.livejournal.com]

Who would know?

And even if they do, who would dare to speak of it? For example...

"My dear lady, you have shown truly remarkable acumen in managing my finances. I daresay not even the Emperor's auditors themselves would be able to track it all down. Which is why I am going to hire you on as my chief accountant. Your wage is to be tripled. You will also be granted a retirement account, for which I will be making a 15% matching for all funds deposited. Also, you and your children shall enjoy a healthy insurance policy that will cover any and all routine medical expenses, as well as any critical expenses that should arise as a complication of your employment. If you wish, for a slight deduction in pay, I shall also arrange for an educational stipend for your children's future.

As a side bonus, any legitimate methods you find to increase my wealth with a minimum of risk, will be rewarded with a 10% cut of any profits. Any illegitimate or risky methods you find will only be rewarded with a 2% cut, unless you can convince me sufficiently of the lack of risk, whereby your cut will be increased to 15%.

In return, you shall bow your head to me and I will lay sufficient enchantments upon your head to ensure your reasonable loyalty to myself and my household. Those enchantments may, at your discretion, may be of such nature that you simply do not remember your foul betrayal and have no desire to ever commit such ever again? Or that you will retain full knowledge of your crimes, and that any further betrayal will result in the subsequent detonation of your head.

Again, your choice as to which it will be."

See? Now who would object to such terms?

[rowyn]

I'm not sure that Mentador is really all that good for shaping people's minds to the desired configuration. For example, you might get exactly the result your spell asked for. Then in a week or a year or a decade, you would discover that the result your spell asked for had a zillion hideous unintended consequences which have undermined the result you had actually wanted entirely. Requiring more application of Mentador to fix. Which will be similarly helpful. A bit like asking Vae to solve a problem, really.

[bloofox.livejournal.com]

I sincerely hope that I will not discover at an inopportune time that this is also true about the equivalent to mentador where I live.