/Inferno: Nix: Someone call security . A suspicious person is trying to break into our office .

Semmi glanced up, greeting him with a grimace . "Got a key? Seems to be locked . "

Nix shook his head . "Nope . "

Nix approached the door and grabbed the k.n.o.b .

[Guild Leader Nix recognized . Please set entry permissions . ]

1) Guild Leader only .

2) All Inferno Officers .

3) All Inferno Members .

"All Inferno Members . " The door opened with a soft metallic click .

The office was quite large, located on the corner of the building two full walls had floor to ceiling windows . The other walls were covered with light wood paneling and the floors looked like a Spanish-style ceramic tile . There were four separate wood desks and a long conference table . An entire wall was dedicated to creating a library-style bookshelf . Nix smiled at Semmi . "I guess the first guild gets the best stuff . "

"I've been reading about the office and our awards . " Semmi brought up one of the desk huds . "As a registered guild, we are members of the Oasis governing body, based on our guild size, we have three votes that we can use for all open dockets . "

Nix sat down behind the desk Semmi had used . "Three isn't many . "

"The Dar clan that you met earlier, only has one . Our arrival here has changed the balance of things . " Semmi grabbed a chair from another desk and slid it next to Nix .

"Maybe that has something to do with why it is so difficult to register guilds . " Nix had a good understanding of power struggles . Those who have it, want to keep it .

Semmi handed him a small token . "I picked this up for you since you were too busy making friends . "

Basic Language Token

Description: Grants the ability to read Dha.s.si .

[Do you wish to activate the Basic Language Token?]

Advertis.e.m.e.nt"Yes . " Nix frowned at Semmi . What's that going to cost me?"

"Clothes of course!" Semmi's negotiations were cut short by the desk hud buzzing loudly .

Nix covered his ears, it was ridiculously loud . He pushed a flas.h.i.+ng icon and a moment later a woman's face showed on his hud . He recognized her immediately as the Dha.s.si referred to as Tura .

"Greetings Guild Leader Nix . I am Tura Raine Xai . "

/Inferno: Semmi: Tura is her rank, not her name . She's the Clan leader of the Xai family .

Nix nodded . "Greetings Tura Raine . "

"I know you just arrived in Parliament and aren't use to our ways . Would you consider selling your Parliamentary votes to Clan Xai?"

Nix smiled pleasantly . "No . "

Semmi stared at him while the silence stretched uncomfortably long . She had expected him to be a bit more diplomatic .

"Surely you want to understand the culture before taking part in governing? We will offer you a standard World Seed if you a.s.sign us your vote for the next 2 years . " The Xai Clan Leader seemed to have a face that never smiled .

"No . My apologies Tura Raine, other problems demand my attention . See you soon . " Nix deactivated the desk hud .

Semmi was trying not to laugh . "See you soon?"

Nix shrugged, "I don't speak the political language . "

"Wasn't bad actually . Seems like our votes are really needed . " Semmi moved to the adjacent desk and opened up the hud .

"Find out what's going on governing-wise . Must be something important to offer up a world seed . " Nix leaned back in his chair and stared at the ring on his thumb .

[Ice Sparrow]

Nix activated the Ice Queen's favor . A moment later a small sparrow appeared on his desk . It was ice blue with thousands of tiny ice feathers that reflected light . It stared at him without moving .

Semmi's sudden intake of air told Nix that she had noticed the bird . "Where did you get that? So pretty! Can I have it?"

"No, it's bound to me . "

[Please choose user mode . ]

1) Command .

2) Control .

"Control . " Nix felt his world flip-flop and grow infinitely larger . He glanced around the Guild Office, the colors had grown more vibrant and sharp . He took a short hop on the desk and then stopped . He could see himself sitting in the chair with his eyes closed .

"Nix?" Semmi leaned closer, she lay a hand on his shoulder . "You okay boss?"

"Yes . This is a control item . Open the window so I can fly out . " Nix stared at himself sitting in the chair . "Do I always talk out of the side of my mouth like that?"

"Holy c.r.a.p . . . You're controlling the bird? Vision and hearing?"

"Yes, open the window . Good thing I practiced flying at Air'Voilla . " Nix hopped onto Semmi's extended hand .

She brought the bird closer and nuzzled it with her face . "d.a.m.n it . . . so cute Nix . "

"Your lips are fricken big . " Nix pecked her cheek as a warning .

"I'm counting that as a kiss . " Semmi opened the window and sat Nix on the sill . "

"Whatever . . . Don't do weird things to me while I'm gone . "

"No promises . " Semmi's laugh followed him as he flew off .

Rhy had given him advice on flying, always have a lot of s.p.a.ce . Nix flapped his wings hard, steadily climbing until the Parliament building was only the size of a man's hand .

Nix learned very quickly that flying in a sparrow's body was much easier than putting wings on a human . Everything about the small bird was made for flying . He practiced the maneuvers he had attempted in Air'Voilla, this time he was able to complete them seamlessly as he spent the next half hour flying .

"Can you hear me Nix?" Semmi's voice sounded far away .

"Yes . Difficult to hear since I have two sets of ears . "

"Okay just checking . Let me know when you are heading back, I'll put your clothes back on . "

"Funny . . . "

Rhy had told him that there was a magic barrier that kept her from straying too far away . It wouldn't let her leave the airs.p.a.ce above the Courtyards .

Nix decided to test that by flying straight west . He kept an eye on the ground, expecting to hit resistance . After a few minutes, he realized that he was already over the forest . "A workaround . . . I like it . "

"KInda got a creepy look on your face right now boss . " Semmi's voice sounded curious . "What's going on?"

"I'll tell you when I g . . . " A flash of black and Nix found himself back in the guild office, he jumped up out of his chair . "Holy c.r.a.p . "

"Where's the cute birdy Nix?"

Nix examined his thumb ring . The Ice Sparrow couldn't be summoned again for 72 hours . He had definitely been eaten . "Let's talk about this in Glory . "

*********************

Inferno exited the Parliament building a few hours later . Bael was no longer standing in front of the portcullis, apparently, it was a first-time deal only .

/Inferno: Nix: Okay, everyone please listen up . You may now come and go through this exit at your leisure . Common sense says to travel in pairs, but if you want to go solo, no one is going to stop you .

/Inferno: Semmi: There are a few things that I will put out later today . Primarily this has to do with the Guild Office, the homestead token and the Pioneer award .

/Inferno: Nix: I want everyone to be aware that our arrival has the potential to tip the current balance of power . Be careful what you say and who you trust .

/Inferno: Jun Li: We'll talk tomorrow about the next stage of Mermaid City . No need to drag our heels .

[Semmi has invited you to a hidden channel . Guild Officers . ]

/Guild Officers: Nix: Thanks Semmi, some of the topics I don't want the rest of the guild to be aware of .

/Guild Officers: Semmi: You were able to fly through the barrier with the Ice Sparrow?

/Guild Officers: Nix: Yes . Granted I was still stuck in the guild office, but I'd like to scout around some . No one mentions this .

/Guild Officers: Jun Li: Are we going to sell our votes? A world seed is very tempting .

/Guild Officers: Nix: How many Colonial guilds are currently in Oasis?

/Guild Officers: Semmi: 25 now, there probably would have been a dozen more, but the forums are filled with disgruntled guild posts .

/Guild Officers: Nix: How many of those guilds have mid-tier guilds that remained in Colonial .

/Guild Officers: Jun Li: All of them I believe . Resolute is the only Upper Tier that I know of that doesn't have a mid-tier .

/Guild Officers: Ronnie: Got something sneaky planned?

/Guild Officers: Nix: Contact the mid-tier leaders of those 25 guilds . I want to see them all tomorrow morning .

/Guild Officers: Semmi: Seriously? How will I get them to come?

/Guild Officers: Nix: Tell them we can register all of their Upper Tier guilds in Oasis .

/Guild Officers: Pon: The f*ck would we do that for?

/Guild Officers: Nix: I'll give them an offer . In exchange for handing over their votes and paying the registration fee, I'll register their guilds .

/Guild Officers: Semmi: d.a.m.n Nix . Can you do that?

/Guild Officers: Nix: Yes . I've seen the Parliamentary guild registration contract . All I need is the guild leader's name, the name of the guild and the fee .

/Guild Officers: Semmi: You got this idea from Tura Raine?

/Guild Officers: Nix: I'll write it into the Guild Registration contract . Permanently giving us their votes .

/Guild Officers: Sharl: Will they do that?

/Guild Officers: Semmi: I think they might . Right now they are struggling to survive in a world where everything and everyone is stronger than them .

/Guild Officers: Nix: Contact Sulane too, since Resolute is our ally they can keep their votes .