[OTA] Profit Mire

[offortune]

FORM: Sending Crystal
SENDER: Scipio & Rafael
RECIPIENT: All
WHAT: Two late departures for the Fallow Mire have an offer that surely no one can refuse.
WHEN: Firstfall 17
WHERE: Skyhold, the (not-so-)Fallow(-if-they-can-help-it) Mire
NOTES: Red text (the bulk of the message) is Scipio, the blue interjections are Rafael. Replies will come from both.

[ A helpful and compelling offer from two young entrepreneurs and general do-gooders with Antivan and Rivaini accents respectively. ]

As a service to the brave intrepid souls traversing the Mire and doing the good deeds of the Inquisition, we, your humble friends, would like to offer our services of providing goods for you good deed doers. Your tasks are varied, your work, it is so hard, and your resources few. But never fear! We are brave and stalwart, and will bring to you whatever you so desire or require. A new pair of socks, a flagon of your favorite ale from the Herald's Rest, the dagger you accidentally left behind-- whatever you need that can be gotten we will get.

For a price. A fair price, of course. A very fair price considering that we will be acquiring your desirables out of our own pockets and bringing them to you at great personal hardship, since otherwise we could stay here in Skyhold, warm and dry, but no! No, we will trek through rain and muck to bring you what you need, if only we can agree on really, a very nominal price for the service we will provide.

Each price will be negotiated based on the service provided. And we are, it should be noted, gentlemen of business, so goods of a tangible nature are preferable to services for services -- but all offers and arrangements will be duly considered. With the sole exception of poetry, which will never be considered, as it is no form of currency. Do not offer us poetry. Not under any circumstances, no matter what type of poetry. We reserve the right to decline any offer even if it does not involve poetry, and do not try to fleece us because we are-- unfleeceable.

Also try not to offer us fleece. It smells. And yet, because it is also warm, it is worth noting that, while we would prefer fur before fleece, fleece would be an acceptable form of currency in this trade that we offer. And fleece before feathers. No feathers at all, really. Unless they are on hats. Then, the larger, the better. But only one per hat. Or maybe two. But no more than two! Any more is ridiculous.

And while all offers would be considered, we here now humbly offer examples of other more than acceptable currencies that would guarantee most any trade: socks, cloaks, especially fur-trimmed, and scarves, but only whole scarves. Casks of wine. Olive oil. Dates, preferably the sort that are born of a tree, but the sort that are a social engagement would be considered. No social engagement dates that are born of a tree.[ Sotto voce but just audible through the crystal: ] The south is very strange, who knows! Figs. Meat, as long as it's unspoiled and nicely seasoned. Laundry services. Bracelets, gems, of course, and rings, potions... no torn trousers. We have been told this is a common barter item in some parts of the Marches but we do not believe it and in any case we do not want them. We have, in our past, been forced to duel a man over his insistence on selling us torn trousers and we will not hesitate to do so again.

And no poetry. Absolutely none.

Comments

[nadasharillen]

As per a conversation I had earlier...

[a small pause, and then she continued, rather embarassedly]

Boots? Leather. On the small side? I mean... I have regular sized feet. For an elf. I've never actually had shoes before. Never needed them. But this mire is... I don't really feel like getting the plague. Nothing quality, please, I'll definitely be burning them afterwards.

As far as payment? If you're willing to wait, I can get meat or furs to you back at Skyhold. [a pause, then a wry laugh] You don't want anything I could hunt up down here, I promise. I also do carving and engraving work, if that's of any value.

[bunko]

You are in luck, bella. Cheap boots, they are easy to come by. I do not promise comfort, and I can guarantee that they will be of no quality. We are well supplied with cheap boots.

But if you have not worn shoes, then you also should think to get socks. Not a requirement, only a humble suggestion. Do you know of blisters, on the feet?

[nadasharillen]

Oh--socks. That's a good thought, thank you, yes.

[after all, blisters would be likely to get infected as well.]

[bunko]

Very good. Cheap boots, and socks. And for that, we will take...

[Well.]

There is no chance at all, of payment up front? What is it that is so undesirable and yet can be hunted, in the Mire?

[nadasharillen]

Everything is either dead or plagueridden. Or dead and plagueridden. I haven't seen a healthy animal yet, which means you don't want meat or pelt from those.

As far as anything I have on me... I packed light coming to Skyhold and I packed lighter coming to the Mire.

[a pause, while she thought]

Since you're businessmen... could I interest you in an increase in value of something you already have? If you've a serviceable dagger, or somewhat else of metal or wood that's currently unadorned, I could... adorn it? Carved and engraved goods catch a prettier price than their plain counterparts.

[bunko]

[Yeeeech, and that reaction is quietly articulated aloud. Good point on the meat and furs.]

It is cruel indeed, that there would be such cold, and that I would be so hungry... and so much of what would cure these ills is unusable.

[And he sighs. SIGH. Moving on:]

But your suggestion, it is an interesting one. I have owned many pretty daggers and found them to be very fair to look on. But tell me please, does your carving add anything besides the beauty?

[nadasharillen]

Just the beauty. Could easily sharpen it for you, if you were looking for use rather than sales?

[bunko]

Use and beauty sells very well. But I would be no salesman at all if I could not sell a pretty dagger.

You have a deal. We will supply the boots and socks and dagger all at once. How quick is your work?

[nadasharillen]

Mm.

[a moments silence, perhaps as she thought of the design]

For disposable boots and socks, I can be done within the same day, provided I'm not needed. You needn't worry about my skimping on quality. I do have an artisan's pride...

Besides, what price can one truly put on avoiding the plague?

[bunko]

Very fairly put. A plague is a terrible thing. And I would not see you so ravaged by it.

[Which might sound very charitable, but really he might mean that he just wouldn't visit if there were a plague. Or maybe he means it charitably. That's how his tone makes it sound, anyways.]

For payment on the same day, we will provide you your boots and your socks in advance. And for our guarantee, we will only need to wait for the work to be done.

[nadasharillen]

[ooc: She'll agree, and then... transaction goes? :) Upon being given the knife, she'll settle down somewhere to add a simple but elegant design reminiscent of water currents to both sides of the blade (the two sides match very well for the time it takes), with a corresponding design on the top of the pommel). She says she's not aware of shem'len pricing, but it would certainly fetch a pair of boots and socks at the Arlathvhen.

Sound good? :D]

[bunko]

[SOUNDS PERF. and because the work is good but mostly because they take socks and boots very seriously, her crappy boots and socks will be a few steps (steps, get it) up from truly crappy. 8) ]

[nadasharillen]

[I see what you did there 8D]