Toby hadn't really known what to expect when Alice had dragged him through a lengthy briefing about the Draconian association and their member species.

But one thing was certain. He was not prepared for a pair of short-snouted Velociraptors clad in black business suits, complete with a black tie and white shirt and all. He was not prepared at all. 

He was however glad that Alice had insisted that he wore similar clothes as they did. It set the no-nonsense tone appropriate for a business negotiation at least.

A rumbling voice that should rightfully belong to a much larger creature reverberated in the room when the bigger of the pair started the introduction with a formal bow. “Hello, I'm Dhagon, the appointed liaison for this negotiation. And the one next to me is my assistant Jorngar.”

“Welcome dear guests. I am Toby, and this is my second in command Alice.” Toby replied, mirroring their formal looking bow.

“Would you like a tour of the facilities before we commence our talks?” He began, hoping he could stall for some time to settle into his role as host to these, frankly speaking, very strange guests.

“It would be a pleasure,” Dhagon replied in that terrifying rumbling voice of his.

“If the gentlemen would please follow us, we will show our current progress in this great project of ours,” Toby said smoothly, slipping into the mask he used to wear when he played RPG's back before the end.

The Nexus was nothing but a game he repeated to himself to steel his resolve. And this was no different than any other battle, just less bloody.

Alice gave him an approving look as they started the tour. Apparently, she had noticed his freshly steeled resolve.

Most of the guild house was really dull of course. Nobody was really interested in the reception or boardrooms, so Toby opted to skip over most of that part. The idea was to show them their preparedness, not bore them into submission.

So instead he opted to take them directly from the lobby to the world entry preparations room.

“This is the prep room, we have set it up for easy access once the world becomes open to paying customers.” Toby started his spiel. If he was to win any favors, the next couple of rooms would have to be it.

“We have a full set of character creation consoles, allowing several customers to prepare their characters at once.” He said, sweeping his hand dramatically towards a series of booths along one wall.

They looked quite nice, with a stack of leather parchment in one corner, as well as a quill in the other. Over each quill, a golden feather floated. Ready to record the user's preferences for a character. It was all very ornate and impressive, really setting up the expectations for the world theme.

For larger groups with a common mission, we will also rent out briefing rooms and other accommodations elsewhere.” Toby added as if it was an afterthought.

“That is good foresight indeed.” Dhagon nodded. “I assume one of these doors lead directly to the portal room then?”.

“Yes, The one on the left here leads directly to the portal room,” Toby confirmed while opening the indicated door, Showcasing the large room with a circular portal at one end of it. It looked like a stone circle engraved with several series of strange glowing magical runes.

“There is enough room for around 20 people to pass through into the world at once from here,” he added.

“While some factions will undoubtedly desire the ability to send larger forces at once, we are planning on keeping the max number of players low at the start.”

“The size of the room has been chosen based on future needs, and to enable emergency intervention if the world is in danger of devolving into chaos.”

Toby was getting into it now, the needed words flowing freely. He was hitting the groove.

“We are putting weight on balance in this world, as it primarily has the task of rehabilitating traumatized minds from the recent assimilation of Earth.”

“There will also be room for other peoples rehabilitation needs later on once the primary wave has been dealt with.” He finished as they passed through the portal room and into the main control center for the operation.

“I understand that rehabilitation is going to be the primary function of this world for quite a long while then?” Dhagon inquired.

“Yes,” Toby confirmed. “We are going to be allowing only a few parties access during this period.”

“Clever,” Dhagon rumbled. “That makes access to humans a scarce resource for quite a while.”

Toby could practically feel waves of approval roll off the Draconian liaison at his answer, and Toby mentally upped his estimates for how much they could get out of the negotiations a bit.

Alice was definitely right, these were the whales they would need to fund the world gen operation. Maybe they could even get away with not having to add any more factions before humanity was properly settled in if this went the way they needed it to go.

Toby glossed over the control room a bit on their way to his office. There was simply nothing interesting going on there yet since they still lacked a world to show off. You could only say so much about an empty map table after all.

Instead, they made haste to Toby's office where they had carefully prepared the seating so that the guests would have a great view of the guild badge and Toby's trophy case.

Things were going exactly as they had planned so far, causing Toby to marvel at how well Alice knew how the Draconian's would react to things. Buttering them up had been incredibly easy so far.

“Could you be a dear and arrange some suitable refreshments,” Toby said turning towards Alice just as they had agreed on before This part they had planned out beforehand. It was an excuse to give some room for small talk and creating a more relaxed atmosphere. In theory at least. Toby wasn't quite so sure he could consider himself very relaxed at the moment.

Alice had impressed this on him several times during the briefing. Relaxed Draconian's were malleable Draconian's were the motto she had hammered into him. He could only hope they didn't notice his hammering heart.

The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

“You have a couple very unique trophies Toby,” Dhagon commented when Toby turned back to the guests. Toby winced inwardly. This was exactly what he had feared. Couldn't they have noticed the pretty badge and motto instead he lamented.

“It's not every day we get to meet a first. And 3 times first at that. We are honored.” He rumbled, apparently amused.

“Why Thank you!” Toby replied flabbergasted. He had really not expected such a reaction to what in his mind was not a particularly spectacular display. At this rate, he would be losing his cool.

“I guess I have been lucky though.” Toby countered humbled. “I am the only human in the Nexus after all,” It truly wasn't his own achievements that got him the first prize. He was simply the sole participant.

“You are indeed,” Dhagon reaffirmed before adding “But not every first end up exploiting it so well. We are impressed.”

Toby thought furiously on what to say, He would hear no end to it if he messed up and lost them the psychological edge now. It was going far too well earlier. “I have to admit I have my assistant and partner Alice to thank for much of that. She is a force of nature.”

“The Chutullean usually are,” Dhagon rumbled happily. “I've had the pleasure to meet her no more than a day ago. You've done well to garner her support human.”

“We suspect that Chutulleans are the oldest species still active in the Nexus,” He continued.

“Nothing short of a very novel and interesting person could make their ancient hearts beat fast again. It's a marvel to behold.”

“I can but hope to live up to half her expectations I'm afraid,” Toby replied in as humble a tone as he could. He really did not quite know what Alice really expected of him, but he guessed she would let him know one way or another when she wanted something. She was awfully good at getting what she wanted after all.

Just as they were sitting down, Alice entered with a tray filled with various earth foods, and a large pitcher of clean water. Toby noted that she had chosen a selection of rather meat-heavy dishes, like meat skewers of various kinds as well as fried chicken and fish. They were carnivores, after all, so he guessed it made much sense to cater directly to that. Being an omnivore species with a taste for meat was coming in handy indeed.

“Ah, Such an exciting selection” Jorngar exclaimed excitedly, surprising Toby by unexpectedly breaking his silence. The man had only said a few words throughout the entire tour, giving Toby ample room for worry about how he was doing.

Dhagon seemed to give his assistant a reproachful stare before turning back towards Toby and Alice. “Please excuse my assistant. He seems to have trouble containing his excitement at merely encountering new cuisine.”

“It pleases me that my world has the capability of exciting your kind so.” Toby smoothed over, spotting the huge opening for them to exploit.

“We are prepared to help fund your quest.” Dhagon continued. Seeming to want to rush on a bit to avoid his assistant from making any more mistakes. “But we have conditions of course.”

Toby could smell the credits in the air already. They were ripe for the final strike now.

“We are prepared for that” Toby replied with a marginally contained gleeful smile. He and Alice were well prepared indeed. This was the clincher after all. The next seconds could make or break the results of the deal.

“I suppose you have been briefed on what type of concessions my kind are willing to pay a premium for then?” Dhagon asked giving Alice a thoughtful stare. He was obviously scared of what she might have told him.

“Indeed,” Toby confirmed. “I have even taken the liberty of adding a couple of alternatives as well, ones that I hope you will find... particularly pleasing.”

Toby pushed a pair of folders with the contents of the deal he had prepared and was willing to sell them.

The Draconian pairs raptor-like eyes widened as they read through the folders. Their expression switching between greedy desire and astonished delight.

Nobody else in the history of the Nexus had ever offered what he just did. He knew because he had gotten Alice to check after all. There were no other worlds with myths just like those of earth. Nor as rich either it seemed.

When Alice had briefed them on their personality traits, he knew he had the perfect thing to offer them after all.

There would be no Draconian banker who would be able to resist the desire to become an honest to the Gods, Flying, fire-breathing, treasure-hoarding monstrosity from earthen fantasy games. Namely the ever so mythical dragon. The only question remaining now was how much they could get them to pay for the chance.

A chime rang behind Toby, and as he turned around in dread a white silvery trophy of a fire-breathing dragon draped in a gold trimmed blue ribbon materialized. Making Toby wince at the Systems untimely intrusion.

“Toby my friend.” Dhagon began.

“The title is truly well earned. Never in my many thousands of Nexus years have I ever been so soundly taken over by the desire for something. Name your price, and my brethren will probably pillage the Nexus for the fund's to get a chance at buying a spot on any worlds you make from now on”.

Toby almost sagged in relief. Only pure willpower still keeping him aloft for now.

“Please let me be the first to enter the world when it is done” Dhagon continued. “Now let's go have some fun while our assistants finalize the deal.”

“I'd love to hear more about the marvelous fantasies that your world has created.”

With a hearty laugh, Dhagon continued “Who knows, Maybe I can send some more victims your way to our mutual benefit.”

User:

Achievement get: bronze badge Draconian: meeting a Draconian.

Achievement get: Silver badge Draconian: Befriending a Draconian.

Achievement get: Flawless victory in negotiations, platinum level.

Title earned: Dragonslayer

Your ability to make irresistible deals, and sell them to even the most famous of all money grubbers in the nexus, at entirely your own terms and price, has earned you the title of “Dragonslayer”.

Proving for all of eternity that there is more than one way to slay a Dragon.

Guild:

Quest added to Guild Quest board:

Dragon Age The Draconians have already paid for your services, and now you must deliver Pending Reward: an increased reputation for being an honest business. Find 4 sites for epic dragon lairs and have them settled in.