Having decided to travel out through the Seawards, the Rebman equivalent of the old Amber Golden Circle, Brita makes her way out from Rebma through the underwater shadows. After a week or two, she is well away from the city and into the rural areas where the Black Trench War was fought. There are still scars in the ocean floor and in the sea craters and mountains from those days, though, as in Amber, they have started to heal.
With money provided by the palace, Brita is able to stay in inns if she likes, or she can camp along the ways outside of the Shells that make up the Seawards.
Brita will only use the monies for absolute necessities and she does not consider a roof over her head necessary at this point, so she will camp lightly - finding natural features to ensure safety (coral overhangs, small kelp beds, etc) and leaving as little trace of herself as she can on the environs.
After a week or two of determined travel, Brita has reached the outermost Seaward Shells, one of the places where there are fewer landward style humans like Brita and more of other, more sealike forms of people (merfolk who aren't tritons, selkies, and the like, never mind the kraken and other forms of intelligences that roam the ocean depths). Out here, the Shells are less cities and towns and more fortress-style outposts of Rebman civilization.
(Things will ease again as she gets close to the Landwards, which is where she'll go ashore and take to the water with Skilbladnir, or so she has been told.)
But before she can make that transition, she is met on the road one morning after camping in the kelps by two guards, accoutered and armed in the Rebman style with Tridents, who ask her to accompany them to the nearby Shell. The Lady of the Shell would like to speak with her.
Brita agrees to follow them. 'I Have Been Traveling a While and am Unfamiliar With the Lady Rulers of These regions," she notes to the guards. "Whom will I be Addressing?"
"A very great lady, who will make herself known to you when you are presented to her." The guards are kind but firm on that point. They do not seem to be inherently hostile to Brita, but they really don't want to take no for an answer.
Brita had already agreed to go and bristles at being talked to as if she were a recalcitrant child. "This Very Great Lady had Best Train her Guard to have Better Manners with Guests," Brita notes in chilled tones as she gives the speaker an icy glare. She gestures for them to lead the way.
The Shell complex, which Brita can see at a distance in the shallow waters, is like a fortress. But the Rebman waters are breathable and it's not necessarily like she couldn't swim out if she really wanted to. After all, Brita is a goddess of the waters.
Brita will take note of the apparent exits and guards around the complex as they enter.
Brita is escorted deep into the fortress, into a central area that is well-guarded and in which there are few ways of entrance and exit. A fight in here would be an ugly, brutal mess. "Her Grace will join you in a moment," says one of the guards, before leaving her alone in the room and exiting the way they came.
Perhaps a minute later, the other door opens, the two halves of the pochette sliding apart to reveal an elegant older woman, not familiar to Brita at all. She is dressed in the Rebman style, and moves as a native of the waters. "I apologize for the necessity of all this subterfuge," she says, "but my location must remain a secret at this time for reasons you will no doubt understand. I am Rilsa."
"Lady Rilsa. You Requested an Audience." Brita's face is impassive.
"Yes," Rilsa agrees. "I am taking a position of neutrality in the war between my mother and my half-sister. My mother's choices are her own, but even when I disagree with them, you'll understand that I don't want to see her killed." She smiles tightly at Brita. "You are, I believe, oath-sworn to Amber, or at least to Random. Will you bear a message to him, and to my son Jerod?"
Brita's demeanor changes, softening. "Of Course, Lady of the Shells. What is Your Message?"
"I would have you tell Random what I have told you: that I am not joining in this war. That I have retreated to the Seawards for the duration, and have no intention of raising an army for either side. That I have no contact with my daughters--I believe Valeria is still in Xanadu, but I don't know Loreena's whereabouts--and no knowledge of their plans.
"And I would ask you to tell Jerod these things as well, and bear him my love, and tell him that if he must involve himself in this war--be careful."
Brita actually smiles at that. "If Cousin Jerod Joins a War, it is Others that must Be Careful. I Will Relay the Messages at My Earliest Ability. Would You Need Anything Else from the King or Prince? Would you Have Them Know Your Whereabouts?"
Brita cocks her head to one side as she thinks of something else to ask, "Also, Lady, have You Heard of the klybesian monks? They .... Killed My Cousin Reid. ....Harvested Blood from Him." Brita visibly has to fight down a fiery rage as she says this.
"I am sorry for your loss." Rilsa bows her head a little, a few loose tendrils of hair waving in the waters as she does so.
"Of the Klybesians, I know little. They were never inclined to work closely with Rebma, perhaps because we were perceived as being too close to Amber to suit their purposes. Also, they did not seem to have a high opinion of women in many cases." She smiles in a way that doesn't make it to her eyes. "I know there are magics and technologies that can be performed with the blood, but I cannot say how many of them the Klybesians have access to. I would assume many, since their tentacles are spread through many shadows. Even in the Seawards, they may have agents."
"If You Know Names of such Agents or Any Way to Distinguish their Tentacles, It would Be Considered a Boon," Brita notes. She is not totally distracted from the original questions however as she adds, "Your Part in Providing such Knowledge would be Kept Confidential until You Wish the Boon Rewarded.”
"If I knew any such agents for certain, I would gladly hand them over to you. Eric considered them a threat to himself and to Amber, and possibly to Jerod as well. When Oberon disappeared, Eric included them on the list of parties with reason and possibly enough power to have somehow incapacitated him. They are dangerous. But unfortunately I haven't successfully identified their agents here. They don't always wear their priestly tonsures and vestments." Rilsa's expression, on a lesser woman, might have been called a scowl, but in her it only reflects her disdain.
"If I find any, and it is safe, I will send word through Llewella, if it is safe to reach you that way."
Brita nods, "That is Acceptable. Do you Have Any Further Requests or Information you Wish to Impart, Lady Rilsa? I Must Travel Onward so I can Return Quickly."
Rilsa shakes her head in the negative, a gesture that works slightly differently underwater than above. "Not at this time. But I am in your debt, though I can little repay it at this time. I will not always be so constricted in my actions, however, and I have a very long memory, Lady Brita."
Brita gives a slight bow to Lady Rilsa, "No Debt for a Message Delivery, Lady Rilsa. Hopefully, the Next We Meet, Our Respective Concerns will have Dissolved and We can be More Free to Float as we Will. I will Take my Leave." Another small bow and Brita is ready to resume her trek to her mother.
Rilsa gives Brita a graceful bow in return.
When Brita leaves the chamber, two guards--different ones--appear and escort her out of the citadel through what is clearly intended to be a postern gate. Bidding her fair seas and good travels, she is released to make her way further out to the Seawards and ultimately to the surface.
The commonest way to reach the surface from the road Brita is on is through the shadow known as Gateway.
Brita continues on along the known path. She will attempt to utilize the Pattern as she goes to glean a slight greenish tint to her skin from the seaweed she passes by and darkening her hair from the red to a more muddy brown.
This sort of teaching about the Pattern is something Brita has gleaned from watching her relatives to the extent that she hasn't outright learned it from her mother and uncles. The shadows lie for Brita; her skin takes on the green of Rebma and her hair darkens to auburn, or so it seems as she moves on in the Seawards and toward the natural gate on the old shadow path that leads to Gateway.
Around the arch that is the gate to Gateway, there is a town and trading post built up. Most of it is inward facing, in the sense that it is to service the travellers coming through from landside rather than to assist travellers from the Seawards to Gateway. (Brita suspects it will be the other way on the other side.) There are people, more or less recognizable as human to Brita, and all sorts of semi-exotics of the Seawards, including some mermish types who might have Triton blood but are clearly not the same giant sort as the servants of the Queen.
There is a line of people waiting to go through the gate. It moves quickly. The right side of the gate seems to move from the Seawards to Gateway; the left side is for Gatwegians travelling to the Seawards. Many of them cough and sputter as the water hits their lungs. Beggars rush to their aid, asking for coin for their assistance.
Brita gets in the line going air-ward. She watches the water-ward line with an occasional small smirk as her line advances. She'll take note of the type of people coming from Gateway and those in the line going to Gateway as well - rich/poor? Merchant? Families? Races?
Everyone, or almost everyone, coming into the Seawards from Gateway is a landlubber by dress and the way that they're responding to the water tells Brita that the far side of the gate will be air-breathing. If there are merchants, they are carrying light cargo: no caravans are coming through. The people are of all sorts ethnically, though Brita doesn't necessarily know enough about the peoples of Gateway to be sure of shadows of origin. There are a lot of families, and those seem to be carrying luggage.
The line going to Gateway seems to consist mostly of merchant-types with security and armed types, as best as Brita can tell. She advances to the head of the line relatively quickly; there are fewer going to Gateway than coming from it.
Brita will remain stoic enough to maybe pass as one of the security types, confident in her waiting as if this is all part of a contracted plan.
In due time, Brita passes through the gate and finds herself sputtering on the far side as her lungs readjust to air-breathing. There are people that Brita realizes rapidly are some sort of reception team present in the sunny outdoor courtyard that the gate empties into.
The line going the other way is long and moving slowly.
Once Brita has coughed out all the water and had a chance to dry off briefly, she's hustled into another line, which she can tell is some sort of travel registry. When she reaches the hed of the line, she's asked the same questions as everyone in front of her: Name, place of origin, purpose in entering Gateway, plans for departure (if any at present). Many of her comrades in line seem to be mercenaries here for hiring.
The merchants seem to have some arrangement to avoid this line.
Brita waits in the line with the rest and gives her name as Briena of Tellin (a small Seaward Shell that was third out on the Gateway side of Rebma). She had heard land travelers to the underwater realms might be looking for guides or security. She will remain here for a week or two at most to see if there are any viable jobs and then will likely move on.
This story sounds credible enough to Brita's questioners. They ask her where she plans to go when she moves on, but it's a fairly nominal question and the answer seems to be more of a requirement for bureaucratic completeness than because anyone really cares.
She says that her next destination will depend on rumors of work that she can pick up in the city if necessary. 'Landward' is the best she can do for now.
On her way out, one of the clerks calls her over and recommends an inn and a hiring hall, and tells her to use his name, Kyros, to get the best rate.
Brita suspects Kyros is going to get a referral fee out of her custom if she goes where he suggests.
Briena accepts the input with gratitude, but will make him work for his fee. "I would ask about the rumors I heard that there would be solid work in Gateway. The lines seem to indicate it," she gestures gracefully that way as if still in water, "but what are your thoughts?" her smile is bright with interest. "I am looking for a 'better class' of work, we'll say. Merchants or dignitaries or even Religious tend to pay better than families - especially ones with children." Briena gives a delicate shudder at the last word.
"Ahh, I know what you mean. Merchants and religious pay well, magi pay best, if you can get their custom." Kyros smirks. "Play your cards right at hiring hall, and you might be able to find the sort of work you're looking for, that will take you as far as Port Thule."
Which, Brita knows, is the capital of Gateway, where the Collegium and the centers of knowledge are. And probably where any evidence of anything that the Gatwegians were up to in the late war with Rebma would be.
Brita nods in acceptance of the advice, "I had not considered Magi - a good suggestion, but do you think they would be hard to deal with? I've heard they can be... flighty?" She is obviously searching for a better word.
Kyros thinks about Briena's word and sort of half-nods, slowly. "Ahhh--they have strange demands sometimes, and get ideas in their heads about how things must be. Flighty's not quite the word for it, but I can see why they might have that reputation." But then his grin grows crafty. "The other side of that coin is how much they pay for putting up with their strangenesses." He rubs his fingers together with his thumb to indicate the richness of the reward Briena could expect if she took contract with a magician.
Briena smiles wide, "Useful to know. I will definitely mention your assistance." She has palmed a coin of a size suitable to a guide looking for work who has just received some useful information and transfers it to him in a handshake before she moves to follow his direction and search for the hall.
The coin isn't particularly familiar to Brita, but of course Briena has chosen the right compensation: enough to light Kyros' greed to assist her but not enough to make her a potential target if he's also allied with thieves. He grins appreciatively at her as he takes the coin, and then she's on her way.
His directions to the hiring hall and the inn are both good; she has no trouble finding either. The hiring hall is full of mercenaries like Briena: men, women, and other beings of all sorts. Looking at the wares, as it were, are a variety of merchants, what look like guard leaders, and the occasional cloaked figure who might be a mage.
To obtain a position, Brita (or Briena) will need to register; there will be no fee to her. Whoever she contracts with will pay the hiring hall.
Briena registers as appropriate, noting her skills in weapons, scouting, and provisioning. She notes a preference for travel towards Port Thule. After registering, she will watch the interaction of those looking for services and those providing them - are the other mercenaries showing off any or just loitering?
There is some supervised sparring, but not all of the mercenaries are participating in that activity. Some of them may be waiting in line for a chance to show off to the potential clients; others are already engaged in active negotiations. The procedure seems to be that the clients will look over the records, perhaps observe a fight or two, and approach one or two likely-looking prospects to discuss terms. Sometimes these discussions are short, and one party or another moves on. But if Brita watches for a little while, she sees some negotiations come to terms and the hiring hall paid by the employers.
Briena can sign up to spar if she likes. One or two prospects seem to be eyeing her. No mages yet.
Briena does sign up. She watches some matches but also wanders around a bit. When her turn comes, she ops for hand to hand sparring, using the evasive techniques taught her by Master Ngyuen to wear her opponent down for a bit before switching to more aggressive moves. She puts a hint of pattern into her movements - arcing into the flow of the katas to make it seem like a seamless dance. She feels the probability is high that some of her motions look like spell gestures.
Briena's sparring is graceful, like a dance, like a matrix of power worked through her body. Though there are superior fighters in this hall, gathered from many shadows, Brita could defeat any of them she's seen easily, and her current opponent is no exception. With the power she has in her hands and body, the mercenary she's sparring with can't even come close.
Several cloaked, hooded figures seem to be watching, and they move to the registry during the spar, as if perhaps seeking to find out who she is.
A tall figure with a red cloak eventually turns out to be the victor in whatever contest there is for Briena's services. He puts a sack of coin on the registry table and comes to meet Brita as she steps out of the combat ring. "Well met," he says, pushing his cloak back to reveal swarthy skin and a bearded grin. "I am called Walder, and I'm travelling to Port Thule. I would like to offer for your services for protection along the road," he hesitates before finishing with, "Briena."
A slow wide grin forms at the hesitation and Brita's eyes sparkle with anticipatory delight. "Well met," she responds although what is 'meet' or fitting is not as clear. "I am unclear of the custom here - is it acceptable to Jump at the first offer or does that seem too Desperate for work?" She cocks her head to the side and smiles broadly.
"A warrior such as you are can make her own custom, I think," Walder replies, sounding, perhaps surprisingly, more friendly than portentous. "I won't consider you desperate. I'll settle your fee with the hall, with a bonus direct to you of a quarter again on completion, for your time and effort in guarding my person and goods to Port Thule. If you're agreeable, we'll leave in the morning after breaking our fast, early--and I advise spending the rest of the day in obtaining some warm clothes, as I believe a winter storm may be coming on."
Briena nods acceptance, "Sounds fair. I'll be ready in the morn, Master Walder." She grins, "Now for some shopping!"
Briena heads out from the Hall. Brita will gather a few necessities for land travel - a new set of clothes, still somewhat loose but ostensibly warmer (although she doubts she will need the warmth - 'winter storm' indeed). She gets a couple of light throwing knives to add to her accoutrements as well.
The power of the Pattern means that Brita's purse is always full, and that she never has any trouble finding things to fit her, even in shops where the goods would normally require custom manufacture to fit so well. (She might even be able to find boots that fit without them being made to a custom sole, which is extremely unusual, but anything can happen.)
It's hard for Brita to tell if the weather is unseasonably cool for Gateway. People are bundling up some but it's unclear what that means.
Arrangements for the night are easily made, particularly if Briena takes the advice she was given about where to stay. She has no difficulty making the appointed time for meeting, and she finds Walder there, waiting for her.
Brita does stay at the Inn recommended by Kyros and dutifully mentions his help in finding this fine establishment. After a restful night, she arrives ready to travel carrying a small pack on her back. She stomps a foot in her new long boots with the fancy fur cuff, noting, "These may take some getting used to, but the shop owner assured me they are comfortable. Are we ready to depart Master Walder?"
"Indeed we are, Briena." And together, they head out of the encampment, the town, really, that houses the Gate that brought Brita to this shadow.
Walder is a pleasant companion. He carries a blade, sheathed, and a heavy wooden staff with metal endcaps that he uses both to walk when needed and carries on as if it's a weapon. He has horses for the journey, both excellent animals as far as Brita can tell, and saddlebags full of goods and, presumably, some fodder for the horses as he's expecting winter weather. His conversation is light and veers between the practicalities of their journey and esoteric matters that Brita suspects are more up her mother's and uncle's alley than her own.
It takes her a while to realize it, but by the evening of the first day, Brita has reached another conclusion about Walder: he smells familiar. That is to say, like family.
Brita gives a quiet snort of laughter when the smell registers in her brain. Of course, she thinks, I'd get Stuck with Kin.
As she helps Walder pick an appropriate camp site, she asks "What Takes you to Port Thule, Master Walder? Do you travel There often? What can you Tell me about what we may Expect?"
For all that he's a magician, Walder sets up his tent by hand just like any other Amberite. "It's been a long time since I've been to Port Thule. I've been travelling the spheres for--I've lost track. I don't expect brigands to attack us or any such thing, though there are still places where wild animals and such might come on us by night if we end up sleeping outside."
He pulls the sleeping bag down from the back of his horse, who is already tethered for the night. "And I go to fulfill a binding oath."
Breena-Brita cocks her head at that terminology. "Do you mean the Oath is binding or that it is About binding - like a marriage? If it is the former, are you Free to discuss it, Master Walder? I Would ask if it poses any Additional risk or threat to our journey or if Any would wish to stop you from completing it."
"I don't think anyone in Gateway save you knows of this oath, Mistress Briena. If they did, I would expect there to be trouble before we get to Port Thule. But as it happens, the only serious trouble I expect is from the wild things on the road, and that is why I bought your contract for this. Or one of the reasons, at least." Walder grins at her as if they share a secret that he's not going to speak aloud.
Another thing Brita has noticed about Walder: his blade is plain, but as fine as any she has ever seen, with the possible exceptions of the ones her brother and her uncles bear. His scabbard is as plain as plain can be, but the quality of the leather and the craftsmanship are excellent.
Brita acknowledges the secret with a Conner-quality grin of their own. "Lionfish, Tiger Sharks and Seabears - oh, my!," Briena quotes. "I heard that in a child's play once. Well, I can Handle a mundane Wild Animal or three although You seem like you could handle Those Yourself," Brita nods at the blade.
"A man has to sleep at some point. And there are many things it's easier to do by the power of muscles instead of the power of sorcery."
As they travel, Walder asks Brita many questions, and tells her some details about himself. He's a widower, as it happens, with two children, both estranged, which he seems to expect as a commonality among wizards. Though he hopes they'll both see sense in time. He seems to be interested enough in Briena's story without being interested enough in poking holes in it.
Walder does perform some magic but it's mostly low-key. He's keeping his full ability under wraps, or so Brita thinks.
By the time they approach Port Thule, the weather is chill and rainy. The city is surprisingly un-busy given that it's the capital; there are few ships in the harbor and not so many on the road. Once they're inside the gates, Walder hires two rooms for them in a decent inn, and then pays Brita in local coin: all that he agreed to, with a generous bonus.
"There's trouble in the air. Can you smell it?" Walder asks.
"I Smell Many things," Brita notes. "Is it Usual that the Capital is so... Lacking? It Seems more like an Outer Shell than a Hub," Briena looks at Walder in question. "What is your Direction Now, Master Walder?" Brita plans to explore a bit.
"I intend to take the lay of the land, since you're right, Briena--it's much changed. I had heard there was war, or at least politics of the deadlier sort, in Port Thule, but I had not reckoned how quiet the place would be." Walder flashes her a smile. "And when I have found out what I need to know, I will be fulfilling my oath."
Something about that smile suggests to Brita, if she hadn't already decided this was the case, that the binding oath was probably going to constitute a very bad day for whoever was on the business end of it.
"I, Too, plan to explore. Do you Wish Company or Isolation, Master Walder?" Brita is showing through more.
Walder considers this question from several angles before answering it. "You are welcome to accompany me, but--I warn you: my path from here may be dangerous, and moreso than the road we've been on. There may be a time when associating your name with mine will serve you badly in Gateway, Briena. I would not wish you to take that risk unknowing."
"Danger is... Acceptable. I am Here. Might as well take some Risk," Brita smiles brightly.
"Let's go down to the harbor to see what we can see there. I believe that answers to at least one of my questions will be found there." Walder smiles enigmatically at Brita and gestures to her to join him on the way out.
They head down toward the harbor, through the market, and Brita catches the scent of family on the wind. Walking around in the market, looking for something, is her cousin Captain Raven.
Brita is following Master Walder's lead here although she noted, "I Believe that is an Amber Captain over there. I met him at Court once when I had Occasion to be there. I thought the Ship looked a bit of Amber Origins."
Walder looks at Raven briefly and then back at Briena. "A sell-sword who goes to court--" he doesn't specify which one, since she didn't "--and is acquainted with Amber captains. You're quite unusual, Briena." His expression softens a little, as if something has just occurred to him. "If you'd rather spend time with him, I certainly understand that."
"I Barely Know him," Briena notes. "But I am Flattered he Appears to recognize Me." Brita raises a hand in greeting to Raven.
Meanwhile Jerod and the Port-Captain meet. Jerod is offered coffee, which is nearly like coffee, and whiskey to put in it, which is of better quality than the coffee. Looking at the environs of Thule, neither crop is from this climate zone.
Turns out that Port-Captain is much like 'Mayor', at least in this town. He talks briefly about opportunity, freedom, goods and materials that Thule can offer, items they would want. He wonders how frequently ships could come here and if it was possible to generate a sustainable trade with the Vale and her trade routes.
Jerod can tell there's more to the subject, but that the Port-Captain is somehow sounding him out.
Jerod's discussion with the Port-Captain, in his persona as Master Cambric, will be quite frank. Jerod doesn't need to lie in anything he speaks of with regards to trading opportunities, nor does he need to fudge his emotions. He is quite clear to the Port-Captain that he sees Thule and later all of Gateway as a substantial opportunity. He questions the Port-Captain closely on what is most highly desired at Thule, vs what is "needed". He asks after the economics of Thule in relation to the Gate as well.
Thule is effectively a boom town. It's the farthest north outpost that has a 9-month port, and most settlements beyond it are magically sustained. Thule has boom town needs. People need to be fed and clothed and to sell what they've mine d for currency that can pay for their lodgings.
It was the northernmost garrison that did not fall in the black circle wars. The citadel turned out to be impregnable.
It has the resource colony's needs and goals. Some wish luxuries, others look for ways to become rich or richer. Good workers are what is most desired.
The Port-Captain suspects that some of the more far-flung towers in the area practice slavery, but he has neither troops nor proof. It used to be illegal, although who knows what is illegal these days.
All of this is totally valid in Jerod's mind, because if he is success in his objective, he sees no reason why Gateway, and Thule, would not benefit from increased trade. And Jerod would certainly be looking to prop up the local communities by arranging to use the information he gets and spreading it around to traders he would know he can find in Paris, Xanadu and Rebma, reliable individuals who would be able to meet these trade needs.
But this discussion leads him to where he really wants to go, which is a discussion of the current political and governmental landscape. As a trader, he would be willing to risk a lot for the chance for good, long-term trade, because that yields the greatest wealth. But Master Cambric isn't foolish...he takes risks when he knows details. Thule can benefit for sure, since know he has begun a relationship with the Port-Captain, but what about the rest? Who is in charge in the Gate? Who is on the outs? He has heard of unrest but details are unclear. Knowing these things tells him who to speak to, who to cultivate, who to avoid, and more importantly, why. The movers and the shakers of this realm.
So his questions, comments and mannerism will be honest, forthright, inquisitive and completely sincere...
He just won't mention that other little detail about how the information he receives just happens to be what Prince Jerod would need to begin his coup d'etat. After all, no reason to lie when you don't have to.
Port-Captain Flavian reviews the political situation briefly. The Thaumacracy still holds sway, but the Ivory Tower has withdrawn their support. Expansionists such as Flavian want to build power and influence by old fashioned methods, getting everyone rich in the process. Isolationists are having difficulty, but still hold some sway, especially in the Northwest. The triumvirate has lost some amount of momentum since Dexamene disappeared from view, but they still have the reins of power.
What they don't do is project it this far north, much. They technically command the citadel, but the commander and Flavian are close.
Flavian wants Jerod to set up trade with Thule, bypassing the Gate. It is too chaotic and political there. They should get rich without the southerners.
Jerod nods at the appropriate intervals, agreeing that Thule is the best choice to establish a firm, even primary economic presence. He also makes careful note to determine who in Thule would also benefit from this set up of trade, but he is very clear that he doesn't believe working solely in Thule would be of maximum benefit. If the political situation is too chaotic, it possible that if Thule becomes too rich, it could attract undesired attention. And Master Cambric dislikes undesired attention. Better to blunt it carefully, with suitable economic inroads, gifts to prominent individuals, quiet meetings to gather information about who is open to more traditional advancement such as what Flavian proposes, and those who do not.
One thing that Master Cambric does state clearly is that a trade route needs to be established as soon as possible in Thule. He intends to beat any of his competitors, thus ensuring good trade for both sides, along with a healthy profit margin for those involved.
He will request a list of immediate goods to be procured that would be most useful, followed by long term trade good goals to be established in staggered time increments.
The details of trade are discussed. The region has three main resources to be exploited -- lumber, furs, and mountain copper. Lumber is labor intensive and there are no mills, but individual ships have exploited it here. Furs are always profitable, but they depend on the local trappers. Mountain Copper is the reason the South has an interest here. It's said to have magical properties.
Flavian's goal is have Jerod buy off some of the Mountain Copper. Jerod gets something rare to sell to his people, and the shortage in supply drives up prices for the rest. Magicians will pay whatever they need to for the stuff.
Jerod is always agreeable to increased profitability, so long as it's worth the opportunities that will arise. He is curious as to this mountain copper's magical properties and asks after a sample. He will state, very clearly, that should it be viable, he would be willing to negotiate for a shipment of trade goods, to be determined by Flavian, to be brought in to Thule in exchange for the copper.
After that, Jerod inquires as to whether or not Flavian might be able to make suitable, and very discrete, introductions in the south for him.
The Port-Captain opens a safe, which looks to be remarkably flimsy, and pulls out a stone. "The is the Orichalcum ore, the mountain copper is refined from it. It makes very strong weapons and has some resistant properties, making it useful for non-Magicians."
Jerod can think of a dozen shadows that would pay dearly for this, including Bellum. Of course, Bellum would use it to invade Asir Island, so it's perhaps best kept from them.
Jerod takes it in his hand, studying it, feeling it for its reality, its variance to and from Gateway. He does not summon the Pattern to study it, that would be a bit too much right now.
The best that Jerod can tell, without tools or the Pattern, is that this rock was probably relatively deep in the earth at one point. Especially if the Mountain Copper at one point flowed as a liquid.
At the first opportunity, he will be summoning the Pattern to study it in more detail. This has piqued his interest.
The only other thing that Jerod learns from Flavian is that the material was not available in these parts before the Black Tides.
His face is expressionless as he turns it over in his hand, sifting and thinking. Then he smiles slightly. "Let us dicker on a price, shall we," he says finally.
He returns the smile. "Of course."
[OOC: It's naturally a fire/water kind of task, this dickering. The Port Captain seems to have honest but sharp goals: He wants to drive up the price he gets in Gateway (the city) by selling a significant chunk of the ore out of this shadow. Any decent return is fine.]
He names a price that, while steep, is within bargaining range of reasonable. In exchange for bargaining, he wants to be assured that Master Cambric has no plans to sell the ore on to Gateway, which would prevent his price raising scheme from working. He also asks about long-term establishment of someone representing Master Cambric's interests in Thule.
Master Cambric would also want assurances of steady supply, at least by percentage of total amounts mined, to ensure that should the quantity of material mined drop, he would not be cut out in favor of higher prices from Gateway. As for a factor to cover Master Cambric's interests, Jerod is considering his secretary, currently cooling his heels with not much to do after being emigrated from Amber. This might just do the trip to keep him occupied. Assuming the supply assurances can be arranged, then Master Cambric is prepared to agree to a "steep but reasonable" price.
The dickering is hard, but the basic agreement, with adequate guarantees on either end, is made.
Flavian recommends a celebratory dinner and he'll send out word tonight that Master Cambric will buy the Mountain Copper at the price stated, starting tomorrow. His captain will have his hold filled quickly.
Jerod wants to see if he can get away for a few minutes. He wants to do a quick Pattern check on the ore sample to see what he gets. More importantly, he wants to trump call the boss and get a couple of things arranged. After that, then he'll be going to look for the Camouflage Cartel.
It's hard to tell from the sample, but the rock may not be originally from this shadow. Jerod can't say why he thinks that, but it's somehow not like other things from Gateway.
It's not sorcerous, but it is unusual.
Having done his pattern check of the sample and made his tentative identification, Jerod will break off a small piece of it prior to the trump call. Once the call is initiated, he brings Random up to speed:
(a) They've got a starting point for infiltration in Thule, and details are provided.
(b) Jerod needs a ship sent with goods for Thule (the list of said goods is provided), false-flagged or suitably done to keep suspicion down, under the ostensible leasing of Master Cambric. Jerod also requests that his secretary who is currently cooling his heels be sent along as the official factor for Master Cambric. He will arrange to keep the trade flowing for this and maintain the connection as well as serve as a conduit for communications where needed (and not trump urgent). The crown, of course, will receive its official percentage from all trade. He indicates he'll be arranging more long term trade options later but needs to get this started for the cover.
(c) Jerod provides the partial sample of the ore (keeping the other piece for himself), indicating this is what is being bought. He advises it's not from Gateway, and wasn't around before the Black Road/Tides. It's also very useful.
Barring questions from his Majesty, then Jerod's off to get into more trouble.
Random's only question is "did Jerod lay a shadow-path or will the King need to order a cousin to take a sea-voyage?" He's leery of sending Marius, but otherwise is open to suggestions. Maybe he'll send Garrett. Is it safe enough for Garrett? Or close enough to safe enough?
Jerod has laid a path from Paris, not Xanadu. He'd recommend starting from there initially - crew could be obtained that would be a bit less "Xanadu-ee" and thus make sure people don't start connecting stuff together too early. That should be close enough for Garrett to be able to deviate as is needed and not attract untoward attention. Setting up the long term trade would involve include the path from Xanadu, which would go forward assuming Jerod doesn't need to turn Gateway into a smoking rubble pile.
This is fine, or fine enough except that Random likes shadow-paths to his shadow, in general, especially those that are laid by someone doing royal business. However, Garrett can use the experience and he'll enjoy getting out of the city
The king will have someone look at Jerod's rocks.
Jerod declines to follow up on that thread (unless she's very cute).
Last modified: 17 June 2015