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Post by Alex on Sept 14, 2017 3:25:20 GMT
Francisco Caravello ran his hands along the embroidered edges of his robes dyed to a tyrian purple, straightening them so that his clothing was immaculate as he looked up at the grand building built by giants before him.
"This is the Auric Bank?" The aged Vinayan asked.
"Yes, my Patrician." An aide replied as he clambered out of the carriage behind him.
"And they're expecting us?"
"Yes sir."
"Hmph." The Patrician grumbled as he began to shuffle forward. "Let's get on with it then." He spoke as the pair, one the Patrician of the Caravello family and the other the former's aide, advanced onwards through the portal and into the bank proper. Their arrival announced by the sharp, echoing rapport of the Patrician's cane striking against the floor as he moved towards the closest Auric Banker that he could see. Matters of finance and economics awaited.
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Post by zurajai on Sept 14, 2017 5:55:05 GMT
"Mister Caravello," called a dwarf, waddling emphatically across the marble floor to intercept the patrician's advance, "It is an honor to meet with you at last; I have been looking forward to meeting for some time now. You may call me Gregan, if it pleases you; I am the Auric Financier of the headquarters branch of the Auric Bank, pleased to make your acquaintance. If you would be so willing, I would show you to my office so that we may discuss in greater privacy? It's just this way here."
Gregan of New Chord spoke with surprising accuracy, his command of the Vinayan language almost musical in tone. It was clear by his mastery of his voice as well as his fair hair and skin that he was of Thrumish descent, though not a hint of an accent besides the musical tone was audible.
"Please, take a seat if you wish," he cooed as he made his way into his officer. He made a beeline straight to the alcohol locker, pulling out a bottle of rich Vinayan red before pouring a glass for himself, the Patrician, and a third for the aide. "A drink, if you would like? Now, I would love to hear about your intentions with the Auric Bank."
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Post by Alex on Sept 26, 2017 2:37:17 GMT
"Ah, Gregan you say? Lead on master dwarf." Francisco spoke, shuffling after the emphatical dwarf of Thrumish descent. Following him into his office, the Vinayan settled into a seat opposite the Financier while the Patrician's aide remained standing by Franciscos side with documents clasped in his hands, moving forward only to pick up a glass with his free hand.
"I see you have a fine taste in wines, signor. Of course I shall partake." The Patrician spoke as he pulled a glass of the vivid red liquid towards himself. "I represent the Councils of Vinaya and their interests in the establishment of a Vinayan chapter-branch of this very bank. It is with much shame that for one as invested in the flow of gold as we, that we can not offer a customary donation as a show of our investment in the Auric Bank however, for you see at this current time funds are required for a ah, state project in the homeland." Francisco spoke between sips from his glass of burgundy. "Despite this and with a promise for future investment in the bank, the merchant councils of Vinaya would venture to open their doors to the Auric Bank if the venerable institution would have them in turn."
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Post by zurajai on Sept 26, 2017 3:09:27 GMT
"Worry not, my dear man," replied Gregan with a smile as he swirled the wine gently, "This is no problem; Vinaya is known for its wealth and, more importantly, its word. When you are capable of donating to the funds of the Auric Bank we shall be more appreciative but until then the Auric Bank sees no reason why a Chapter-Branch in your fine nation should not be formed right away. I trust you have a facility to hold such a bank, no doubt there are plenty of financial houses in your glorious nation worthy of such a facility."
Gregan stood just as he finished a sip of his wine, setting the glass done to grab the charter gingerly from its position on the secondary desk behind his. He laid it out across the tabletop, spreading the ends of the paper out to either side.
"This is the Charter that shall be requiring the proper signatures; yours, if you are fully able. A simple contract, one you're more than welcome to peruse before signing. I am so pleased you took up this offer; the Auric Bank grows with your glorious presence in this great plan. May I be the first to say, welcome to the Auric Bank."
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Post by Alex on Sept 28, 2017 23:22:30 GMT
"Ah, most excellent." The Patrician croaked, donning a pair of copper-framed eyeglasses across the bridge of his nose as he examined the charter laid out before him from his seat. "As one of their own, the Council of Twenty have given me their full power in signing this document. With this quill I speak for all of my kin." He uttered, his voice distant as if talking to himself rather then to any audience.
After some further inspection of the contract by both himself and the lingering aide, Francisco shifted forward to the edge of his seat with quill in hand and signed the document with his signature. A signature which in this case would stand for the assent of the entire league of merchants. Silently he wondered if his name would ever hold such power again.
"It is done." He announced finally.
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Kho
Landed Knight
Posts: 140
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Post by Kho on Sept 30, 2017 0:05:57 GMT
Horkin Rassen, brows furrowed and an unconscious scowl on his face, made his way very slowly across the marble floor of the Auric Bank. News from back home was grim. Jotun to east of them, Sefti and Ikegami to south of them, and the endless Orcish hordes in the west battering against the resolute forces of His Sacred Majesty in an effort to make him go home. Though Eshara had enjoyed victories on all fronts, the dwarf felt the greatest unease. The letters he received spoke of the great anxiety at the Recimera's court, the feeling that Eshara had overextended itself with two wars, the feeling that the conniving Sefti were planning something terrible.
His heavy thoughts were interrupted by someone waving wildly to him. Looking around for a few seconds he approached the stranger. 'Mister Rassen?' he asked. Horkin nodded silently, and the dwarf smiled and gestured for him to follow him. And Horkin did. He had been told he would be met at the door by his contact - and so he had. It seemed these bankers, at the very least, had the organisation on point. It remained to be seen if they had the rest on point too.
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Post by zurajai on Sept 30, 2017 1:40:11 GMT
"Mister Rassen! I am so pleased to make your acquaintance!" Auric Financier Gregan bowed his head deeply before the foreign dwarf. The Thrumish dwarf spoke in his mother tongue, the sing-song overtones of his voice quite obviously audible.
"I am Gregan of New Chord, the Financier of the Auric Bank. I am entirely pleased to at last make your acquaintance! I am terribly sorry for any delay; I was quite busy. Do you enjoy baking, Master Rassen? I imagine not; most fellows in our line of work find it disappointingly pointless. I, however, find it entirely illuminating! Please! If you'll follow me, we shall away to my office."
Gregan turned on his heels and waddled below the great gantry that leaped across the huge hall with all manner of chandeliers and lanterns hanging from it to light the hall in addition to the natural light flooding in from the uncovered windows. His office was fine, albeit fittingly sized for a dwarf, and he immediately set to work procuring a drink. Two glasses of wine were set down in front of Rassen with one immediately grabbed up by Gregan, a smile already beaming across his face.
"A toast! To our meeting! Ever is it a fine day when two new peoples are met in common goals or otherwise. Now, what can I do for you today?"
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Post by talis on Sept 30, 2017 1:42:14 GMT
"Well, this has been most enlightening." Willowise said, putting down the remains of his drink. "I appreciate your patience and taking the time to inform me as to the particulars. We are certainly interested in your bank. However, at the current time Orcland is engaged in a war, and we would prefer not to divide our intention. Once the north calms and we have time to turn our mind to matters of peace, I will come again. Thank you for your time."
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Kho
Landed Knight
Posts: 140
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Post by Kho on Sept 30, 2017 2:36:33 GMT
The dwarf was irritatingly cheerful, and Horkin's immediate impression was that he disliked him with a passion. But the seemingly blissfully unaware banker turned around and was off - apparently not noticing Horkin's grimace at the mention of baking.
'Baking,' the Esharan muttered under his breath in Haiho as he followed the other dwarf. He made himself comfortable and just about managed to accept the cup of wine with a smile. He accepted the toast but did not take a sip - he was one of many Esharans who, after serious study, saw that the benefits of alcohol were far surpassed by its harms and so did not imbibe for near-enough religious reasons. 'Yes,' he agreed with the dwarf, 'that is always good.' Usually, he was able to open these discussions with ease, but today - though the sun shone and all was active and joyful here -, a cloud hung over the dwarf and he barely managed to keep his brows unfurrowed.
'Yes, what you can do for me. I sent word to His Sacred Majesty about this fine establishment of yours - before he set off on campaign, that is - and his response was altogether positive. I had been meaning to come see you sooner, but the war meant confirmation of this affair fell rather far from the pinnacle of the list of priorities - but anyway, I blabber. Her Sacred Majesty has permitted me give you notification of Eshara's interest in joining the bank. Our current preoccupations prevent us from making a donation, but it is Her Sacred Majesty's intention that a significant contribution be made once our treasury is less strained. Mister...' Horkin paused for a few seconds, attempting to remember the other dwarf's name, 'uh, well, while Eshara is very keen on joining, I would personally like it if I received a more detailed understanding of how this establishment will function. To whom does it ultimately defer? Who may or may not be an employee? A bank gives out loans, what measures will you - can you - take against those who default? What are the benefits to those who do join? And what, exactly, is the ultimate goal of a bank such as this?'
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Post by zurajai on Sept 30, 2017 16:24:41 GMT
"Worry not, Master Horkin," replied Gregan with a wry grin, "I find blabbering to be most enlightening about a fellow. Oh, but of course; an astute mind wishes to know all there is before making the plunge into the dark."
Gregan set down his glass, which he himself did not drink from as he watched the dwarf in front of him with keen eyes. He immediately set to work pulling out a number of tomes, scrolls, and even several stone tablets, thunking them down onto the tabletop one by one. His gaze danced back and forth from the objects and Horkin, taking in his response before finally pulling out one last document. A bright light came on behind his eyes, as if he was madly in love with the piece, just as he set it before Rassen and spun it around to face him.
"This is the document I was presented with when I was first hired by Master Ataman upon the banks founding. It is a glorious written writ of service that explained my position and the bank to a tee. How could I resist such an offer, coming from my old works beneath the mountains of my birth? Yes. To spare you from reading its frivolities, I should say it is a most secure piece of writing; the Gurhim language is most effective at elucidating concepts of wealth and its dealings. The Auric Bank will function on an elective system; each Chapter-Branch will vote on matters involving the overall function of the bank. Each Chapter-Headquarters, where ever it may so be founded in its mother country, will be equal say in this election process. As outline by this document, several things may NOT be voted on; for instance, the bank's overall headquarters MUST remain in Mog Bhelnom; it is in the name, after all.
Any documented citizen of the mother-countries may be hired by the bank, as is the right of the Auric Banker of each Chapter-Branch. The bank gives out loans based on the gold it has requisitioned from the Headquarters here in Mog Bhelnom based on the ability to find lenders; if a branch is unable to produce adequate numbers in repayment than the quantity of currency requisitionable by them shall be reduced. If the buyer defaults, a vote can be taken by the Auric Bankers to decide the best course of action. The benefits are simple; easy access to the great deal of wealth held here in the bank. Already our coffers contain more wealth than some countries make in two years, and this is just at our founding. These loans given out to members will have lower interest rates and higher limits, allowing for greater works for cheaper prices to help grow the economies of our mother-countries. And, at last, the ultimate goal of the Auric Bank is to shift economic parity to the North and well away from Southerners who have for too long dictated policy through direct rule or otherwise. A better, closer North."
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Kho
Landed Knight
Posts: 140
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Post by Kho on Sept 30, 2017 23:50:30 GMT
'Fascinating,' Horkin said, bringing the document closer and examining it. 'Would it be quite alright if I keep this copy? I would very much like to have it translated to the various Esharan languages and distributed to some of my trusted colleagues in Eshara. They have a very keen interest in all matters financial and will - as it is almost certain that Eshara will be joining - most likely be involved in the establishment of a branch in Eshara. When will the bank be permitting the construction of such branches? Or does such a privilege vest with a nation immediately on joining? I'm sure it's all in the document, but what is the bank's policy on lending to a nation embroiled in war? Would it lend, for instance, to a non-member state embroiled in a war with a member state and vice versa? Would it lend to two member-states warring with one another? If country X defaults and subsequently refuses to recognise the authority or right of the bank to demand its money back, what options are available to the bank? I don't ask here about procedures and votes, I ask about what the bank can actually do - would it, for instance, hire a mercenary army and engage in war with the defaulter? Would it seize territory by way of repayment? Would it install its bankers in country X's government to manage its finances and pay back the bank over time? Would it call on member-states to protect the authority and integrity of the bank? Or would the United Kingdoms, being home to the bank's headquarters, be duty-bound to protect the bank's authority where country X refuses to recognise it? I don't ask what would the bank do, I ask what can the bank do.'
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Post by zurajai on Nov 9, 2017 2:43:59 GMT
The United Kingdoms makes the request for a loan of 40,000 Uryen with a proposed repayment of 50,000 Uryen to be paid in six months time. The intention of the loan is to support the developing economy of the newly integrated Kingdom of Ontare. The representative of the United Kingdom requests two affirmative votes from two other chapter-branches to remain impartial and transparent in these dealings.
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Post by Tylonius on Nov 9, 2017 5:29:57 GMT
Tha Kalmari Chapter-Branch agrees to the specified loan and repayment scheme.
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Post by Alex on Nov 13, 2017 0:21:41 GMT
The Vinayan Chapter-Branch joins the Kalmari Branch in voting affirmative for the proposed loan and repayment scheme.
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Post by Alex on Nov 16, 2017 2:05:42 GMT
The Serene League of Vinaya puts forward it's own request for a loan of 30,000 Uryen, proposing that upon the end of the Vinayo-Elonese War a repayment of 40,000 Uryen to the Auric Bank will be made. Taking into consideration the potential length of time involved, Vinaya also proposes that for every 6 months which passes following the granting of the loan until it's repayment, 2,000 Uryen will be added to the debt. For the sake of transparency, the League also wishes to make clear that this loan is to be used in part to support the current war effort the Serene League finds itself involved in.
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