The response comes with a wide smile, this time.

"Indeed a most sensible policy, that one. We do also prefer to write the documents with our own hand, for trickery related reasons. But as the language situation requires, you may scribe the documents."

"I would certainly be interested in the results of any such experiments," agrees Mr Cards, "Although I would anticipate that any technique able to repair a brain used upon a brain modified by the art would either restore that brain to its altered state, or to its pre-altered state. You would certainly not be the first Devil to find potential in the subject... though if said investigations have yielded any significant findings outside the field of botany, Hell has not seen fit to publish those successes."

"I will note that is technically not a requirement that the subject of a transformation be trained in the art, but the results of attempting otherwise can be quite undesirable, even for apparently physical transformations. I once escorted a trusted military officer to a master of the Shapeling Arts as part of an investigation into the possibility of mass enhancements. The master indicated this would be unwise, but was persuaded to enhance that officer as per his request. The enhancement was apparently a success, making the man visibly stronger... but he deserted within an hour of when the enhancement was performed, fleeing into the hinterlands to become a common bandit, apparently . A unusual side-effect, to be sure, but not an unprecedented one."

"As for the throne, it conveys something not unlike diplomatic recognition. I am considered by the Starved Men themselves to speak for London... though admittedly, this last was mostly related to my rather prominent role in fending off the final attack upon my city." They chuckle softly at this, adding, "No secret, that, but a story for another time. London has faced perils past aplenty, and no few of them with my assistance; we'd be here twice as long if I stopped to explain each in detail."

At Jacques' acquiescence, they fetch a variety of papers, pens, and ink; laying them out for inspection, alongside a squat green candle.

"Indeed; I have a whole list of standard concerns of that sort," suggests Mr Cards with a nod, "In keeping with those policies, you are of course free to examine the materials I intend to use to confirm that they are satisfactory. On a related note, what are your preferences for contract enforcement? I have a variety of such measures at my disposal, from those which simply make contract violations apparent, through self-enforcing penalty clauses of increasing severity, to an ancient curse suitable for destroying any oathbreaker."

"That is a peculiar consequence from enhancing strength indeed. And it not being unprecedented does leave quite the flavour to this Art."

"Do the materials have special powers themselves? And in any case, we shall perform our own diligence."

Mordessa does some casting gestures with their hands, activating Detect Magic. They take a good, focused, arcane and investigative look at the material, empowered by both Detect Magic and True Seeing. Light physical examination is also done, ascertaining that the materials are what they look like they are, and not encapsulating hidden other materials inside.

"Stories of London do also hold our interest, but it does seem purposeful to now focus on handling the negotiation first."

"Hell does also have access to means of enforcement, including but not limited to making contractbreaking effectively impossible by the signatories. A standard option is to take the signatorys soul, either immediately or as collateral, which guarantees access of sorts. With the secrecy clause, as long as it is worded optimally strictly taking into account the risk and variance of outcomes, a strict enforcement clause would seem appropriate. Whereas with the trading itself, a lesser clause would work."

The materials are what they appear to be. Mr Cards doesn't often pull contract tricks; their reputation is valuable, and so few targets are deserving of such treachery (a list topped by the "Manager of the Royal Bethlehem", who unfortunately has far too experience as a fraudmeister to be taken in by even most complex deceptions). Even among those who are, so few Devils are individually worth scamming (in the absence of an aristocracy, few Devils are unusually wealthy by Hellish standards), and when they oppose the machinations of Hell, they have preferred to deal honestly with individual Devils, and thereby gain sufficient trust and flexibility to harm Hell as an organization... on rare occasions when they found themselves able to do so.

With regards to the paper itself, there are a number of checks that they would consider standard which Mordessa does not do... but then again, some of the checks she does perform are unfamiliar to Cards, and she is able to see under the hood of their cloak. Even if they had come to this meeting prepared to enact a 'the real contract was the one in invisible ink' scam, they would hesitate to enact such. Still, though it is occasionally worth checking if one's counterparty is a fool, the ideal time to do so is not on the first preliminary negotiation.

"No power not otherwise possessed by paper, ink, iron, and wax from the Neath," they assure the devils, "Though certain Correspondence-related safeguards would be more efficacious if performed using Violant ink; I find such ink often dispreferred for any contract intended to remain valid for more than a year or two; even paper treated to be resistant to fire tends to smoulder slightly when marked with Violant sigils. Given this issue, and as strong and lasting enforcement is desirable in this case, I would instead prefer to add an additional material of unusual potency."

They carefully produce a small glass vial, three inches long and one in diameter, half-full of something sticky and orange, and stoppered with a cork. Keen eyes may note that, while Mr Cards has been rather casual about displaying many of their possessions, they are somewhat more careful of this one, and they continue to keep a close eye on it even after they set it down on the table for inspection.

"This is the Sap of the Cedar at the Crossroads; a Kataleptic Toxin, whose terminal dose is a single drop, mixed with the ink in which a contract is signed. It is harmless, unless used in such a way, and its presence acknowledged, before the terms are later breached... in which case, the oathbreaker's end is swift and certain. I consider this a sufficient guarantee to satisfy my enforcement concerns."

"As for the use of a soul as collateral," here Mr Cards is slightly embarrassed, a genuine reaction that would ordinarily be hidden under their Robe, but which is rather more obvious to Mordessa's sight, "I must at this point regrettably inform you that I sold mine long ago, when I was younger and considerably more naive about such matters, to a most persistent Devil of my then acquaintance. Understand that I almost never disclose this fact to those unaware of the matter. This is both on account of the discrimination against those who have made such agreements by certain sections of society... and the fact that, as I understand it, my soul has become rather more valuable in the interim. As I generally understand that contracts in which one party proffers collateral that they do not legally possess are null and void, I presume that it is either the case that this prior sale satisfies your requirements, or that an alternative method is required."

(All true; they did in fact sell their soul, they regret having to give up such a juicy bit of personal information, especially an embarrassing one like the fact that they made such a significant deal at such a trifling price. Also true are the fact that they generally keep this information hidden, and the stated reasons are both good ones not to bring it up under most circumstances. Critically, however, they Mithridatically omit any mention of the fact that they regained possession of their soul thereafter... but that fact would be inconsistent with the presented narrative, making it seem even less plausible than whatever prior the Devils might already have for such a recovery.)