The God-king stands, suddenly stern, hand outstretched to halt the conversation. He frowns at Liltar, then first turns to Bruce.
"While I appreciate your zeal and loyalty, young one, I do not need your protection in this instance. This one has a perceived grievance with me which I must address. Please calm yourself while I do so."
Then he focuses again on Liltar, and the Worldhewn endures a level of scrutiny which she is nearly unprepared for. The force of his gaze and will is nearly overwhelming, as though the entirety of her essence is being painlessly vivisected and examined. Then the pressure lessens, and he nods slowly. "My apologies, lady Liltar, I had to... make certain of your loyalties.
Your grievance is based on a fundamental, and faulty assumption. I did not, how did you say, 'lavish them with gifts'. That was not the purpose of my actions. Rather, it was a beacon, one whose purpose was to call both the ancestral spirits, and those which had the capacity to be vessels for them, to me. Your presence here is proof of its success; the fact that you were previously joined, without my intervention is irrelevant.
As for gifts... For that which I am going to ask of you, of all of you, there will be suitable compensation. If any of you have specific requests, I will do what I can to honor them... Liltar included. Please, I ask that the rest of you do not hold her tone of voice against her; she is as necessary to my plans as each of you.
Are there any other issues which any of you would like to raise, before we get to the purpose of this meeting?"