>>5332881>>5332844>>5332810>>5332800>>5332799A question has been nagging at you for some time now, and this seems like as good a time as any to ask:
“Thief, I know you acquired your disfigurement for crimes against our race… Theft from your fellow Reptilians. But… Why?”
The Thief cringes.
“You say you are unworthy,” you say, speaking in hushed tones and falling back a little. “Why?”
“I was a Reptilian Infiltrator,” he explains. “On the surface, part of a cadre operating in the Eastern Lands, beyond the forests of the elves and the Goblin Wastes. There, the humans live densely, even moreso than in the North or South. Their societies are more entrenched, organized, orderly. There is… Bureaucracy. It is not enough to overthrow a king or a dynasty—you must undermine society as a whole, from the bottom up. Upset the very notion of authority, throw it all into chaos—remove the mandate of the Gods, as they say.”
You motion to the others to make camp. It seems this will be a long story and, by this point, you can see fatigue starting to take hold in some of the less physically-fit members of your retinue---such as the Novice, to your amusement.
“Continue,’ you instruct, when you and the Thief are once more alone—well, as alone as anyone gets in these temporary camps.
“I and my fellow Infiltrators were tasked with entering into local trades-guilds and professional associations, and turning them gradually against the central authorities. To this end, we also sought to enrich them. They grew fat with food, and replete with silks, and spices, and rarities from all over that quarter of the surface and beyond! Enough wealth to, forgive me Superior One, put even your new holdings to shame.”
You hold back a hiss of displeasure at that. It is humbling, and upsetting, to be reminded of the dim and sad perspective from which you and yours have come to view material wealth. This entire treasury which you tote fills the packs of your warriors and advisors… But it CAN be transported on your backs. Even with platinum coins and legendary weapons, the vast holdings of trade goods available to even moderately-sized surface kingdoms puts you to shame… And thus, any of your race.
“I saw this wealth pour through me, wash OVER me…. But none fell to me. To ANY of us! It all was simply funneled from one rich, fat ape to another, gathering sweat and grease… When even a small amount of it could change my life, all our lives! And so… I made a proposal.”
“To siphon some of this wealth for yourself,” you surmise. “Why was it disallowed?”
