"Aoife, how long would it take to turn Mr. Flippity Floppity back into Mr. Snarly Tooth?", Mancini inquires.

He turns to the ogre wife.  "So, are you willing to sign a loyalty pledge to the guild if we turn your friend back?"
This message was last updated by the player at 23:46, Thu 14 Sept 2017.

In reply to Ardenas Barehand (msg # 482):

"The bucket of water will do that just fine. I can turn him back pretty quickly. If I want to..."

"I'm not sure signing a piece of parchment will have the effect you want, Mancini.  I'm no expert, but I suspect ogres go more for things like blood oaths."

In reply to Ardenas Barehand (msg # 485):

"Or perhaps magical Geas or things with magical curses attached...to turn them into fishes perhaps?"

Mancini smirked.  "I like your thinking, Aoife.  Are you able to do something like a Geas, and if so, how long would you need to prepare to be effective?"

Mancini turned to Ardenas.  "Blood oaths are also suitable.  As long as it isn't my blood.  If one of you guys want to do so, I will not stand in your way."

Finally, he turned to the ogre wife.  "As a matter of course, how do you ogres make promises among your kind?  Do you swear by one of your ogre gods, do you make some sort of sacrifice, or something?"

In reply to Mancini (msg # 487):

"Unfortunately I cannot. But I am sure that our Employer could hire someone who could."

In reply to Aoife (msg # 488):

You know Spielgud has the Oath spell, but is not inclined to travel. A scroll might be got, but ogres are magic resistant...

Ardenas eyes the flopping Fergush-fish.  "Margala, we need to know -- how do your people swear loyalty or service?  And how is such swearing enforced?"

In reply to Ardenas Barehand (msg # 490):

Margala, hoisting her mate cum fish into the cauldron turns to Ardenas, a look of concern on her face.
"Blood oaths made cutting palm, oathbreaker lose thumb."
This message was last edited by the player at 14:50, Mon 18 Sept 2017.

Ardenas looks at Mancini.  "Sounds about right.  And how many ogres have you seen missing a thumb?  I don't recall any.

"The one swearing on behalf of Mr. DuClair should probably be someone who'll be around here regularly, just as a reminder.  DuClair himself, or one of his permanent servants, might be best."

"Who would qualify under those conditions?", Mancini replied to Ardenas.  "I want this to be so air-tight, no ogre could stomp his or her way out of it. On my end, I will coordinate with the Guild to ensure enforcement on the human end."

In reply to Mancini (msg # 493):

"I thought you were an agent for this DuClair, or at least wanted rights to this venture or something like that. If the ogres pledge to you, they would have to put you in charge, just as a clan leader with a band becomes underchief if the chief needs the band of warriors."

"The barbarian does have a point.  You wouldn't need to be here all the time, just frequently enough that the ogres don't forget who they're sworn to.  And that would make you the contractor between DuClair and the Fergush and Margala gang.  You'd negotiate on their behalf with DuClair, and" Ardenas lowers his voice, "naturally take a little off the top.  And if things don't work out with DuClair, you'll have your own private gang of thugs.  Any one of these guys is worth five ordinary street toughs."

In reply to Ardenas Barehand (msg # 495):

"Or at least a few coins as Tuna in the local market if they misbehave..."

Mancini's face lit up with a mischevious smirk at Ardenas's and Aoife's suggestions.  "Hmm... very good then."

He turned to the ogre wife.  "Is there some sort of sacred dagger or something to use during the ceremony?"

In reply to Mancini (msg # 497):

"Just knife?"

"As it seems that I didn't carry a knife on me for such occasions, does anyone here have one that's relatively clean?", Mancini said, dreading having to partake in such an act.  But, profit was profit....

O corze I do

"May I borrow it?"

Zure ... Oly hands a cheap large knife to him ...it is clean and sharp as he can make it.

Mancini takes the knife from Oly.  He nods to Aoife.  "Aoife, as soon as the others have sworn loyalty to me, DuClair, and the Guild, return our friend into his normal form.  Until then, make sure to keep our friend nice and moist.  The worst thing possible is the smell of dead fish."

Mancini turns to the ogre wife and the other ogres.  "So who's up first?"

In reply to Mancini (msg # 503):

Margala immediately extends her hand, and gives a withering look to the others, who promptly trip over eachother to put their hands out.

Meanwhile, Fergush the fish is flopping very faintly...

In reply to Ogre wife (msg # 504):

Aoife looks at Fergus fish in the container of water Margala brought, where he should be more comfortable...

"Let me know when the oaths are complete. I will get him out before returning him to normal form...:

Ardenas watches with interest as the ogres swear loyalty to Mancini.

In reply to Ardenas Barehand (msg # 506):

Winslow passesvrhe blade to Mancini, after all of them are cut, and looks at him expectantly.