|
|
Post by talis on Apr 28, 2015 16:52:55 GMT
In desperate need of lumber for the construction of new villages and settlements the Firetooth had visited or contacted half the courts in the north. Now, will few alternatives available, they came to New Byrnis to negotiate with the local trade guilds. A letter had been sent ahead, and now Gormith Wargchaser yet again had the duty of traveling to places he had never been to talk to people he had never met and extract favors he was never owed in the first place. Just one warg, two bodyguards, and a writ from the Elder Council. Gormith suspected that the Council was a little too confident in his abilities.
"That's the building." He stopped his warg outside the trading house and handed the beast to one of his guards. He did not want the doorman's first impression to be the enormous may of a riding wolf. He approached the house and rapped swiftly on the door.
|
|
|
|
Post by aspenivan on Apr 29, 2015 16:23:05 GMT
Like many dignitaries of Northern lords before him, Gormith Wargchaser was allowed into the Merchant's Guild Hall with great respect from the doorman, but little fanfare. He entered the building's single great chamber to the sight of soft colored lights against cold stone, a tall and thin and long space illuminated by tall and thin stained glass windows in a long line along the walls. They were illustrations of Sujjid family exploits, mostly meetings and dealings among merchants but with the odd naval battle and many stories from Waentaer's Conquest among them.
Inside, the orc faced a long table sparsely populated with guild masters, and at the very opposite end of the chamber a man in exquisite garb of gold and orange and green in a style that had grown rare in the North. Elaborately-decorated shirt-sleeves puffed up between the shoulders and elbows, with leggings puffed up all the way from the thighs to the heels. A large feathered hat tilted sideways, with a finely-shaven mustache and goatee below it. This young man was a bona fide Lucentian.
"Saluti e benedizioni in nome di Aed," he greeted in his home language, allowing the building's natural acoustics to carry the words to the orc dignitary. "An honor and a pleasure to receive you, signore Gormith of House Wargchaser of Clan Firetooth. Your reputation runs before you." The man grinned and offered a bow with the flair one would have expected from the denizens of Lucente before the Imperial Conquest and the Goblin Migration. "If I may introduce myself, I am Fabrizzo Di Rivasud Sujjid, Patriarch of House Rivasud, rightful Doge of Lucente, and needless to say loyal husband of her Excellency." Fabrizzo bowed again, this time more deeply.
"As much as your renown needs no introduction, your mission does. What brings you to the Merchants' Guild of New Byrnis, noble Signore Wargchaser?"
|
|
|
|
Post by talis on Apr 30, 2015 17:15:23 GMT
The foppery is strong with this one. Gormith couldn't help thinking. Like most Firetooth merchants he wore clothes of fine but thick linnen, and a supple leather coat, with adornments such as the golden chain around his neck. It was perhaps not as... elaborate as the Lucentian style, but Gormith personally had no desire to strut around like a goose waiting to be plucked.
"It is an honor to meet you sir." He said as he gave as formal and grandiose a bow as he could manage. "Aed must smile upon me this day to have the fortune of meeting the Doge of Lucente on a mere business venture. I must pray that I have not expended too many blessings to enter your audience." He suspected that the Lucentian probably like compliments. It was blatant, but sometimes there was a sort of formal game that both parties embarked on, and it would be rude not to play the part.
"My mission is merely of some import. I am here on behalf of the Elder Council to arrange the purchase of bulk lumber for the construction of new buildings projects and villages for my people to occupy. Unlike some the Firetooth were not blessed with great forests from which to fell strong trees, and so we must make due by purchasing supplies from others such as your honored self."
|
|
|
|
Post by aspenivan on May 2, 2015 1:10:32 GMT
The flattery is strong with this one, thought Fabrizzo to himself. Had he come across too strong? It had been so long since he had held Court, he didn't always remember how to balance all the elements of proper presentation and etiquette. The one thing he would never lose, however, was confidence in delivery. And now that the pieces had been set, it was time to play the game one way or another.
"The blessing is as much mine as yours, Signore Wargchaser," De Rivasud replied with a shining grin. "And every missive carried by one of such esteem as your own to one of my position is surely worth the attention. Especially when it concerns the mutual prosperity of House Sujjid and Clan Firetooth.
"Quality lumber is easy enough to acquire from the vast, strong forests of the South, but the distance necessarily imposes some extra costs. I feel deep regret that I cannot offer your renowned self, on behalf of your even more renowned Liege House, a better price than four-thousand jiien per tonne of lumber."
|
|
|
|
Post by talis on May 2, 2015 4:08:19 GMT
Gormith blinked. Four thousand jien was not an unheard of price, but it was certainly more than he was going to pay. He knew better than to accept the first offer of any merchant, peacock-strutter or not. "Perhaps you misheard me, sir. I speak not of petty purchases or bothersome custom orders, but of bulk purchase of raw goods. Surely such a great House as yours must possess some economy of scale? For six tonnes of lumber I cannot imagine a fairer price than twelve thousand jien, accounting for the great savings and benefits of shipping such a large order."
|
|
|
|
Post by aspenivan on May 2, 2015 19:22:40 GMT
"Good and noble Signore," replied the Once-Doge, eyes widening in feinted surprise. "As much as I would that I could offer your honorable self such a price, I am afraid the distances involved simply do not allow for it. Perhaps if you were to increase the size of your order to ten tonnes, I could offer you a rate of 2,500 jiien per ton for a total of 25,000 jiien. Any smaller order, and I must regretfully insist on a rate of no less than 3,000 jiien per tonne if House Sujjid is to make even the barest of profits on this trade."
|
|
|
|
Post by talis on May 2, 2015 19:40:22 GMT
"For ten tonnes I would expect a price of no more than twenty thousand jien." Gormith countered hotly, wearing his indignation like a fine cloak. "Perhaps I shall go speak with Signore Haerk's House down the street." He turned and began marching for the door, but then stopped in his tracks, as if an idea had just struck him.
"Although perhaps Signore Sujjid would be willing to trade in favors instead of coin?" He turned spun around swiftly, still standing by the door. "House Wargchaser has its own connections, particularly within Thundercrown. A place that Signore Sujjid's ships have not traveled yet. Perhaps if Signore Sujjid is willing to offer lumber at the right price, he might find a port reserved under his name, should his ships travel there. No bidding, no competition, no fees - simply expediency and profit. Such an offer would be worth a good deal of lumber."
|
|
|
|
Post by aspenivan on May 2, 2015 22:12:09 GMT
Now that was an interesting offer Fabrizzo truly hadn't expected. As much as his instincts told him to keep pushing for more, the deal Wargchaser was offering was simply too good to pass up.
"You drive as hard a bargain as I would expect from one of your high reputation," De Rivasud conceded, allowing his grin to soften into a moderately pleased smile. "Fifteen thousand jiien and exclusive Sujjid access to a trade port in Thundercrown, and the ten tonnes are yours." It wouldn't do for his mercantile reputation not to haggle at least a little, after all.
|
|
|
|
Post by talis on May 2, 2015 22:32:55 GMT
"Twelve," Gormith countered, deadly serious now. "And the Elders will hear of the great generosity of Signore Fabrizzio and the House Sujjid, clearly the finest trading House from the South, and worthy business partners in any endeavor."
|
|
|
|
Post by aspenivan on May 3, 2015 22:02:25 GMT
Fabrizzo De Rivasud Sujjid knew when a deal was reaching the culminating point of "the best you're gonna get." Nevertheless, he made a great show of pondering the matter, lips scrunching from side to side and eyes looking off at this or that corner with a hmmmmm every now and then to punctuate the performance.
"Very well," he finally agreed after he felt satisfied with how long he had made the orc wait. "Twelve-thousand jiien, exclusive access to a trade port in Thundercrown, and your words for the Rivasud-Sujjid family's good character for ten tonnes of lumber." The merchant lord extended his hand -rough and weathered in contrast to his ornate finery in dress- for a handshake. "We have a deal?"
|
|
|
|
Post by talis on May 4, 2015 0:14:20 GMT
"Deal." Gormith took the Doge's hand in his own and shook it firmly. It was a good deal, and would bring more trade to Thundercrown as well as enough lumber to last the cast for years.
"I will be in town for a couple weeks. If you would care to join me for dinner at the Iron Signore tavern later I would be honored." He suggested.
|
|
