![]() ![]() Mr Stones speaks tersely, and doesn't bother with formalities or politeness. It also resents its fellow Curators of the High Wilderness that it once lived amongst. It seems to mistrust the Echo Bazaar and considers arriving in the Neath a grave mistake. Stones has respect for the Great Chain of Being and uses it as an excuse to look down on humans. In spite of these qualities, it may reward charity when it is the recipient. For lesser valuables it may bargain, but its greed does not discern. Mr Stones is a greedy Curator: it desires everything that interests it, and it reacts poorly when denied. It respects cunning, perseverance, brutality, and mercilessness, and those who display such traits may receive offers of employment. It is prone to threats, intimidation, and violence when enraged, and it can be extremely persistent and focused, especially when gems are involved. Stones has a menacing and ill-tempered personality. "Dispose? Ignominy! Outrage! Flee, thou false little worm, before I tread thee underfoot!" "Stones is curt, impolite, wary, and very, very rich." It may dress anonymously in generic robes, but its fondness for adornments usually gives it away. Stones also has a darker-colored robe covered in minuscule and glittering diamonds. Its talons are very sharp and are unsurprisingly decorated with gems. Unlike the other Masters, Stones does not wear gloves to conceal its claws. It is covered from head to toe in adornments, including teeth made from gold and diamond, fangs covered in jewels, numerous bracelets under its robes, and ornaments affixed to its hood. Mr Stones is the most outlandishly dressed of the Masters. "Anyone else strutting about with this many exposed jewels, as ready to be plucked as ripened fruit, would be plucked very barren indeed in London. In the Fourth City, Mr Stones was known as the Khan of Gifts and the Khan of Shackles, implying it was a slaver during that time period. This matter probably involved the massive marble palaces being constructed there for the dead. Mr Stones was known as Mr Marble until a recent issue with the Tomb-Colonies. It also has domain over walls and certain boundaries, since it controls the sale of building materials. ![]() Mr Stones is not solely focused on the gem trade it has domain over "value itself." This may be one of the reasons for its fixation on gems and why its products carry high price tags. "Nowadays, nobody mentions the Khan of Gifts. Precious minerals are just one way to manipulate it, to accumulate it." "Most people think Mr Stones only cares about gems. The quarries also experience lacre flooding from the Bazaar, resulting in mass casualties. ![]() The mines are usually located far from London, but when they tunnel too close they may cause earthquakes and other disturbances. Stones has quarries in the Neath staffed with Clay Men, who act as patrols and spot smugglers. In its workshop, Stones experiments on sunlight-diamonds and compels them to "blaze" with their trapped radiance. A diamond, or apparently any jewel, can trap sunlight within itself, a quality that fascinates Stones. Stones is especially interested in any gems from the Surface and has imposed a high tax on them. Despite its laws, Stones does permit a few diamonds to be sold to those of "good character", such as patrons of the Bazaar Side-Streets. Thanks to Stones, diamonds in London are considered rare, and trades involving diamonds, even official ones, may happen without its knowledge. Trading or hoarding diamonds without permission is illegal, and any citizen, visitor, or rival jeweler who breaks Stones' rules is harshly punished. Mr Stones is fascinated with diamonds, and has laid claim to all the diamonds in London. "Magnificence! A piece of eternity! Especially brilliant. "Why are diamonds so hard to find down here? Does Mr Stones really keep them for itself?" It only intercedes personally when dealing with matters of business, or when valuables catch its interest. Stones is an elusive Master who prefers to have its employees do its bidding. Mr Stones controls trade in all kinds of stones and minerals, including jewels, quarrystone, salt, blasting powder, corrosive mineral compounds, brick, metal, moon-pearls, and glim. ![]()
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