[GM note: people can carry on with existing conversations and threads if they like, but I have to move the main time thread forward to keep up with the Chaossiders. Random will be arriving by Trump in the spring of Y6.]
[Ossian]
Oh. Cambina gets spookier and spookier with her predictions. :-)
[Timing note: When Robin arrives in Amber, it is late spring, after the Dedication of the Fleet. Conner arrives about four weeks later. I assume that the Three Caballeros are back from their little expedition by then.]
Robin and Conner both get introduced to the members of the advisory council on a near-term basis after their arrival. They'll be pressed into service to pick up whatever roles they like (Robin's presumably in Arden) as quickly as possible.
Folly makes sure to tell them about the regular family jam session and invites them to attend whenever they're in town, even if they don't play instruments.
[The "musical roster" for the rest of the cousins is in www.spatzel.net/alfrey/hoc/incidents.html, a little less than halfway down, if you're interested. Do Robin and Connor have any musical abilities or interests?]
Conner brings his flute to the first one but finds himself greatly outclassed by the other players of that instrument. On his next visit however, he brings his pennywhistle and with that he can keep up with them. On the whole though, he comes more to listen than join in.
Paige is happy to greet another full cousin and would be trilled if he'd be her guest for dinner at the Prince one evening...
Conner would love to. Just set the time and he will be there.
Perhaps Conner would like to join Paige over a long weekend at her home at Jones Falls instead? She can sketch and paint and they can talk with some privacy. She'll apologize to Worth, to whom she had promised the weekend, but explain that some of the talk might be for "family only"...
Paige's home is a large one room cabin with two lofts for sleeping and a large central fireplace. More of a hunting lodge than anything, decorated with heavy tapesties and lots of furs, it's just short of being overdone.
The one large window gives wonderful light and there's the easel set already with a canvas, currently covered by a cloth.
"Please, make yourself at home," she says to Conner.
"Liam, light the fire if you please, and let Horne know we've arrived."
As Liam runs off she smiles at Conner. "Of course, knowing Horne, he's already aware and fixing dinner out back..."
"Its a fine thing to have attentive staff." Conner smiles setting himself down in a chair by the fire. "Nice place you have here," he comments.
"Thank you." Paige finds herself the chair opposite him, she sheds her boots, rubbing sore feet immodestly before curling them up beneath herself on the chair. "As to an attentive staff, well Horne's an old busy-body who'll regale us with the local gossip later and Liam," she looks fondly on the young man emerging but only seems to see the huddled, starving child, "Liam's a dear. We've been together for years."
"So, by now you've heard the rumors of our parent's involvement in this whole fiasco, and that of Uncle Brand's as well, I'm sure." Paige's eyes become harder at the sound of that name, but she continues, "I'd like to hear your opinions. For just being a student of Brand's, Ossian came under some scrutiny early. No one's ever accused any of the cousins of complicity in the affair, but eventually our parents will return, the cards have shown me that much."
"Oh I am sure of that." Conner nods. "No doubts. As for our parents." Conner smiles. "Well it doesn't surprise me at all they got involved in forces they couldn't control."
"I suppose the question then becomes, where do we, as their children stand?" Paige asks plainly. "As allies to Brand's actions, even if they took measures to stop him later, the new King's justice may fall on them, too. Do we stand as loyal children, or loyal members of the crown?"
"Hopefully it will not come down to a choice." Conner smiles. "For a time at least."
[Paige]
"As, yes, the diplomatic corps. Ever evading the question, but ever so
pleasant company while they do."
Conner chuckles. "My dear cousin, you ask for a hard answer to a soft situation. So far I have served both Amber and Mother. With luck I shall continue to do so."
"So you knew more of the plans, also, eh?" Paige asks rhetorically.
"Not too much." He replies. "Mostly I was sent out of the way in Rebma to hone my diplomatic skills so I could aid in smoothing out the Golden Circle when they came to power. And information from the diplomatic corps tended to find its way to them first."
"I know Father had contact with the King before the attack on Chaos, and it seemed that there was no issue, that Father had redeemed himself in Oberon's eyes, but a new King might not see it that way." She rises and walks to the bar, pouring him a drink and one for herself. She doesn't drink from hers, but sets it on the easel and removes a pasteboard from behind the canvas, which she keeps covered.
Picking up a brush and sucking on the brisltes as she opens a pot of color, she smiles again at Conner, warmly. Removing the brush, she suggests, "Please make yourself confortable."
Conner relaxes taking a sip from his drink.
"So, have you seen our 'Broken Pattern' yet?" Paige begins sketching lightly in a pale grey, just a shade brighter than the card itself.
"Not yet though I have heard of it of course." Conner replies. "It seemed voyueristic to go gawk at it."
"My studies with your mother were not as indepth as many of the cousins seem to have believed. I'd be interested in hearing your take on what could be done for it, or with it." She steps back and moves the curtain to admit a bit more light to the room.
"Sell pieces as souvaneirs?" Conner shrugs. "Fixing broken patterns wasn't on the main syllabus. Mother did tell me how one could be damaged but danced around the logical question of how to fix or redraw one. Never knew if she was hiding a secret or ignorance."
"So all you are is a receptacle for you mother's knowledge? You can't toss out some ideas of your own?" Paige sighs and sets down the grey, seeming happy with the quick sketch.
"I have many ideas of my own." Conner replies. "None of them happen to be about the Pattern or how to fix it."
Liam enters on cue and says, "Horne's preparing venison, Lady Sommers and says it should be read in half an hour. Do you need anything else?"
Paige smiles, "No, Liam." She tosses him a small purse of coins. "We can probably take care of ourselves. Why not enjoy yourself? Perhaps Posey will be at the inn," she hazards. "Go, get along."
She crosses the room and pours another drink and goes to start the fire. "Well, tell me about yourself cousin. I like to put a bit more into this than just a pretty face."
Conner smiles. "I love the sea and the shore and roaring fires. I love meeting new people and travelling all over. Both my naval and diplomatic careers fed those loves. I am as happy in quiet meditation or study as I am at a grand ball. Any particular questions you had?" Conner asks.
"How about the rumors about you and 'what's-her-name' from Gateway?" Paige asks with a devious smile as she heads back to her easel and starts preparing her palatte.
Conner smiles. "If you don't even know her name the rumor mill in Amber has sadly degenerated since I left." He chuckles. "Her name is Thalia and I truly enjoy her company." Paige can see his face has brightened at the thought of her.
"Well, that's nice enough a smile to keep. Tell me about her," she says. "Ambassador Harper only mentioned her in passing, truly."
"Is it something serious? Something my aunt might agree to?" she asks. Color's now going on in broad swaths, mixing to get the right skin tones, cutting tight to the sketched grey. The background is only rough lines framing the chair behind him and the fire to his right, the card's dexter. In his (currently) blob of a hand is a small glass, the contents a deep cerulan.
"Intelligent, resourceful, beautiful, both of us with a diplomat's mind and a love of the same games." Conner chuckles. "She actually discovered the plot against me before I did and then risked her own safety to aid me." He says softly. "Yes I think you can say it is serious. As for Mother, time will tell. She has never meddled in my love life before but that doesn't mean its sacrosant."
"It's nice to have someone like that, I suppose. I mean Thalia, someone who can be an equal, a friend." Paige looks wistfully at the easel, and come over to join Conner by the fire while the base colors dry.
"It is." Conner nods. "Though I wonder if knowing my lineage will change anything with her."
"In this place? It changes everything, but you've an advantage on me, having been raised in this social climate. You've not had to deal with women of questionable morals like myself other than in your gentleman's clubs, and then only if you had the right price, so such dealings were by choice."
Conner chuckles. "This atmosphere must be postively stifling for you after the freedom of Shadow. How do you manage all of the hens clucking their tongues?"
"As to parents, Father's never approved much of most of my relatioships. Hopefully he'll be home to disapprove again, soon."
"Daddy's little girl, are you?" Conner chuckles. "I know they'll be coming home. Have no fear of that." He says with a confident smile.
"Daddy's little girl? If by that you mean smothered by expectations and unwilling to submit to them for a man who didn't know me for the first century of my life, I suppose yes I am." Her tone is less acidic than the words.
"Well I had the advantage of being indoctrinated early on." Conner chuckles. "To be honest I've enjoyed being my own man for the last few years, even if I was trapped."
When Ossian and Conner determine the place to which the other Rebman stairway corresponds and investigate, they find that there is nothing unusual in the corresponding place in Amber.
Not even in moonlight? (Ossian will check that.)
Not even in moonlight. Good thought to check that, though.
Stout's trial is put off until into the new year (after winter) because of legal maneuvering by his attorney. Meanwhile, he produces another new book: _A Lady's Guide to Manners and Propriety_, written by A Lady. Can you all say "antifeminist backlash"?
Paige picks up a copy only for herself this time, and reads it with possibly more of a critical eye than the others.
It's all about how good ladies mind their home, their husband, and their family. They avoid business and money, which is vulgar. Women who spend too much time and effort outside the home are of questionable morals, etc.
The book is written as if it were the advice of an older lady to her daughter at the age of marriage. The introduction is written by the author's husband, who cites her reluctance to publish as proper womanly modesty.
The midwife and herbalist that Lucas has procured for Solace prescribes quite a bit of bed rest for her. Although her pregnancy is clearly wearing on her, she does not seem to be in any danger. Solace is due not long after the anniversary of the Sundering. Her mother, the redoubtable Lady Vesper, is still angling to stay with her daughter in the Castle.
[Lucas]
Yay!
What about Lady Vesper? Solace doesn't want you and her mother to fight. It upsets her, and the midwife doesn't like that.
Lucas won't fight with her in public. He'll be kind, gracious and wonderful. He'll do other things to deal with her.
Such as? Paige has come up with one idea, but I'm always interested in more.
(You can send it on private to the GMs if it is a particularly nefarious plot, of course. ;)
Paige has brought a few babies into the world in her day, and is happy to look in on Solace if needed, and will do so every once in a while even if she's not needed...
Solace is grateful for Paige's company, but confides she wishes her mother weren't so insistent on coming up with excuses to visit the castle, since it makes Lucas so unhappy. Can Paige help her come up with any ideas for dealing with her mother?
"I'll do my best," Paige offers. "I suppose just barring her entrance would be too extreme, no?" She sighs.
Paige makes a bit of time to visit Lady Vesper. "I was hoping you might be able to be of some help, Lady," Paige asks. She sets a paper wrapped package on the table before them as she accepts the offered tea. "It's been noted often that I am at time lacking in the local social graces that should adhered to as befit on of my station. Most recently there's been a new book published on the subject." Paige indicates the wrapped package.
"I know your time is precious to you, but while I support much of the educating of women in what I believe to be practical purposes, well... some of these books have gone entirely too far. One must take small steps before one can walk and even consider running." Paige sips at the tea.
"To come to the point, I was wondering if you might be willing to look over this for me and perhaps come up with a commentary on it. Solace has spoken so well of the advice you gave her on a lady's decorum that I felt you had to be one of our best resources."
"Unfortunately the Regent has plans for me to head out on another voyage shortly. Could we perhaps speak on this within the next day or two?" Never giving Harmony the moment to decline, Paige rises and smiles, "Wonderful. Send a message to the Castle if you would when you're ready and I'll make sure to make time for you. I'd prefer to meet here in town if you don't mind, but my page Liam will know where to find me."
This certainly will keep Lady Vesper busy for a while. She'll take a week to finish the book, then some long time to write commentary on it. Solace is grateful, and so, I'm sure, is Lucas.
Folly stops in regularly, both to help look after Hope (who by now is probably mobile enough to get into all sorts of mischief) and to keep Solace company.
Hope is grateful for the attention. She's clearly old enough and smart enough to understand that something is wrong with her mother, and it makes her a little nervous and temperamental.
Folly brings Sandra with her on at least one occasion (more if Sandra and Solace both seem to enjoy the visit): Solace will probably appreciate a little music to ease the boredom of bedrest, and Sandra can get more comfortable with her new high-society social skills.
Solace is a gracious hostess and she makes Sandra at home. Vialle and Felicity approve of the friendship, and enlist Solace in the great marry-Sandra-off plot.
Folly tries not to roll her eyes too much when the subject comes up. :)
Baron Kaliq reports that the Golden Circle Ambassadors are getting restless yet again.
Kaliq's financial problems seem to be a little better, although he probably still spends more than he ought to on evenings out with the Thrush Pack.
Representatives of a number of gentlemen's clubs come to Gerard, asking that the restrictions on the clubs be loosened. They would like to be able to lend money at interest to distressed gentlemen who will otherwise be unable to retain their memberships. When word of the request gets out, the usury question is revived, and Gerard's restrictions on interest are again controversial.
Paige is supportive of the loosening of restrictions if there is accountability on where they can lend money and for what measures.
What kinds of restrictions, Gerard wants to know? As a former club owner, Paige's input into any new edicts will be invaluable.
What are the specifics that the clubs are looking for? Paige is leaning toward writing an exemption for such loans only toward membership issues. She hates to keep it that narrow, but the Regent's worried about back room politics, so he prolly has a point. What do others think? Perhaps if the full membership rolls are kept available and all loans are recorded by the courts.
[Vere]
If we don't keep it that narrow than the exemption will be used for other
matters. Human nature.
Folly thinks Vere has a good point. If the clubs want additional exemptions, they can always bring their appeals to us as the issues come up, as they did in this case.
Under Folly's tutelage, Sandra begins to compose her own tunes. They're in the traditional mode, but they're new and unique. (Celtophiles, think Archie Fisher's _Witch of the Westmerelands_ or Eric Bogle's _Campbell's Daughter_) And under the tutelage of Vialle and Aunt Felicity, she is also learning ladylike skills that will serve her well as a gentleman's wife.
Reid keeps a distant eye on Sandra's progress.
Sandra will never be as gifted a composer as she is a singer, but her gifts as a singer are such that this is no bar to her success as a songwriter either. Since Reid is familiar with different versions of some of the traditional tunes known in Amber, he probably finds her composition of new ballads much less sacrilegious than some of the strict Rein traditionalists.
Paige will commission a song for Folly to be a present with that new Lute she ordered a year ago... I think the Sundering celebration would be a great time to give it to her.
Yay! Folly is thrilled with the gift.
Ossian suggests to Folly that Sandra could join one of the family jamming sessions, or a smaller jamming session with only Folly and Ossian if she feels too shy.
Folly likes this idea. She thinks of the family session as being strictly for family, though, so she arranges something separate. All the cousins who want to attend are invited, though.
[Who joins in? Martin will attend.]
Need I say that Ossian shows up?
Conner comes to this as well to join in or listen as he feels comfortable.
Reid will make a showing.
Vere will attend and play harp. He is very much doing background, catching the mood of whatever piece is being played and weaving around the melody, intensifying the emotional experience produced by the music. He smiles quietly at Sandra whenever she looks at him,but otherwise doesn't acknowledge her presence unless she speaks to him first.
Sandra is a little nervous at the thought of large numbers of royals; Folly thinks she's still concerned about getting above herself.
Paige will only attend if it won't overload Sandra, but only as audience... perhaps "happening into it" after it's begun and Sandra's had time to acclimate to the Royals already in attendence.
Vialle complains to Folly and Paige that she's suffering from occasional nightmares. She doesn't remember what she dreamed, only that it frightens her a lot.
Folly confesses that she, too, has been having nightmares, although they've gotten less frequent since Martin and Brita returned.
Paige will ask in detail as to what Folly can remember, and choosing an appropriate Fortune to signify Vialle, will ask if she can cast cards one evening while Vialle sleeps. Does she hear anything, or do the cards, which are becoming reliable again, show anything interesting, if Vialle accepts.
Vialle thanks her for the offer, but no thanks. Paige feels Vialle must be taking her own steps to deal with the matter.
"Folly and Vialle? Cambina, you're as sensitive as any, more than most. Have you had any similar instances? Most of my nightmares are personal and probably have no bearing," Paige smiles. "They all happen waking..."
Folly feels certain that her own dreams are related to her personal fears rather than to any sort of prophetic sensitivity. She doesn't provide any further detail in front of Vialle, though, for some reason.
[Cambina]
"My dreams often trouble me. Moreso now that I cannot go to Tir and see
them, waking."
Sir Archer reports to Gerard that violent crimes against persons are down, but petty theft seems to be up.
Reid visits Wrack again, taunting Lope with additional promises of gold, not that it's necessary.
Wrack explains it's the economy; everyone is poor, and the risk of victims fighting back is too high. Silent theft is the safest way to keep oneself fed.
Reid and Ossian are still seeing a slight decline in the quality and number of their students. Kermit and Ever report that their business has declined again as well, but not enough to be a threat to the business.
Reid takes the opportunity to concentrate on his own music and art in the times when he is without student.
Heap sends a messenger to Vere one day in the summer to say that a new manuscript by a gentlewoman has arrived. Since M's people have been oddly unable to catch the messenger to date, this is interesting. It's a different messenger, says Heap, but he does have the handwritten manuscript to show Vere. The title is _A Guide to Business Negotiations for Ladies_.
Vere will go to Heap's shop and confiscate the manuscript. He reads it over carefully, analyzing both the text and the handwriting, before deciding whether to return it to Heap or not.
It's difficult to tell anything about the handwriting.
Since many people in Amber are still illiterate, handwriting is still a valued skill and those who have it generally are trained in formal penmanship. While it wouldn't be true to say that only scribes know how to write, most people who write write like scribes. Sloppy modern penmanship is almost unheard of, and there's no science or pseudoscience of handwriting analysis known in Amber.
The text is similar to those Vere has read before, written from the point of view of someone who has obviously done some negotiating. although Vere, who has experience in trade negotiations, thinks the author hasn't had a lot of experience in that particular arena. Again, the book is written from the point of view that seems to assume that anyone who deals with you will cheat you. A few sections of the book are written in a different voice, also as before. The handwriting is similar enough that it's either a scribe's writing or a fair copy by the author.
Does Vere return the manuscript?
Does he show it to anyone else?
Vere brings the manuscript to dinner that night and passes it around. "Please," he says, "I would like your opinions upon this matter. My sister wrote the first of these, but someone is continuing the 'series,' and whoever it is appears able to bypass some excellent hunters of men. I cannot determine what the motive is, and I do not have a firm opinion upon what we should do about it. I welcome advice."
Lucas flips through a couple pages. "Interesting work. What is it you would like to do? Stop the printing of feminist materials? Stop someone from impersonating your sister? Stop the smuggling of literature?"
Vere smiles. "None of those, actually, although I am somewhat personally offended by the thought of someone impersonating my sister. No, I wonder if I am missing something here. Someone is going to a great deal of effort to have these books published, and they are very effectively evading some extremely efficient watchdogs. This leads me to suspect that the person doing this is someone to be wary of. Therefore I am led to wonder what the exact motive is, and if it is something that we should be opposing or supporting. Is it possible that the ever-increasing message of these books that society is a constant struggle, and that one must always be on one's guard or one will be taken advantage of, intended to destabilize Amber's society?"
"Perhaps," Folly suggests, "since we can't determine a motive, we should examine the results instead. Do you think these books are destabilizing Amber's society? Do you think they're doing more harm than good? If not, I see no reason to do much about it, save continuing your efforts to locate the author and get more concrete information."
Vere nods. "I am leaning in that direction, although my failure so far to find such information has me concerned. I am concerned about ceding the initiative to an unknown party, which is why I have brought this matter to the Council's attention."
Lucas shrugs and passes the book on. "Well, if you figure out who she is, let me know. I should certainly like to meet a woman who could thwart the likes of you." He says the last with a note of respect, though it's unclear who it's for.
[GMs]
Vere has expressed a concern that the mysterious author is out to
destabilize Amber. Folly and Lucas seem to disagree. Other comments? Does
Vere ever give the manuscript back to Heap?
[Ossian]
"I think we should allow those books.
"But on the other hand an underground movement could be nice." there is no trace of irony in Ossian's voice.
Having not heard any opinions backing up his concerns, Vere will return the manuscript to Heap and allow him to publish it.
Which Heap does immediately. It doesn't sell as well as some of the others did, but that reflects the general softening in the market for luxuries such as books.
A number of gentry and nobles of Garnath complain to Lucas that the tax collector is skimming off the taxes.
Paige doesn't get to spend as much time as she likes at her home at Jones Falls, but has she heard anything on this?
How much time does Paige spend interacting with the local gentry at Jones Falls?
At best she keeps one groundskeeper in service there and might have Liam accompany her, so I'd assume that perhaps if not the gentry as much as more of the commoners, in ensuring provisions for the cabin and such. She's a likable enough neighbor, and when they're Council business trips, she more than likely invites some of the locals to dinner.
The commoners aren't so interested in the matter of the tax collector as the gentry and nobles. If Paige isn't dealing with them (and that has been Lucas' turf, and to some extent Martin's), it's unlikely she'd hear significant grumbling.
[OOC: Since the subject of Crown finances comes up from time to time, perhaps now would be a good time to ask -- for those of us (or, perhaps, the one of me) who don't know squat about such things -- what kinds of taxes are collected, and where do they go?]
[You'll get this digression in another post, but reading the web site pages on politics will give you some of the information you're looking for.]
I set a task force to investigate it, and should there prove to be actual wrong involved I will have the tax collectors balls. (God bless you, Niccolo).
OK, we'll be getting back to you on that.
Cambina, in her position as minister of public works, reports that several businesses that burned down in the previous winter have not been rebuilt, either through the poverty of the former owners or because the owners have vanished. She mentions to Ossian, who is still assisting her part-time, that many other buildings are not being maintained.
Ossian will check the owners of the non-maintained buildings. How many owners have vanished?
Checking the records, Ossian finds that about owners of 20% of the burned buildings are missing. Does he investigate further?
Yes. He tries to learn when the owners disappeared. He also investigates the economic state of the missing owners at the approximae time of their departure (if that is possible) How is the geographical distribution of missing owners? Are their families also missing?
There's some correlation between vanishings and burnings down, although of those that happen at roughtly the same time, about half the time the vanishing happens before and about half the time after.
The owners who vanish tend to fall into one of several classes: economically marginal in some way, seriously affected by the Sundering, or seriously affected by post-Sundering changes such as the usury laws.
The missing owners are mostly from middle-class areas. Some families are missing, but in others the families were left behind. Some of the families left behind are convinced the missing relative killed himself. In one case, it looks like a married couple ran away together, abandoning their small child, who was taken in by a neighbor.
Ossian presents his findings to Cambina and Vere. "So what can we conclude? People are vanishing. We already knew that."
"But those people really seems to have a reason for leaving; that could indicate that people leave by their own choice, and not by some meta-physical randomness. On the other hand it might be that people we neglect vanish...
"We should probably give some thought to how we can transfer the ownership of houses and other stuff from people who have vanished to people who are still present. We might even want to declare some people as dead."
Ossian asks Paige if there are any laws dealing with missing, not necessarily dead property owners.
Paige will try to remember what she can on that and when in doubt will turn to her faithful Lorring. Perhaps abandoned buildings could be taken on by the Crown and used for Folly's schools, what's the law say on said things? If not maintained, does the Crown have a leg to stand on for that?
Paige knows that deserted properties whose taxes remain unpaid for a certain number of years are forfeit to the Crown, but the time varied depending on the property, the taxes involved, the suspected whereabouts of the owner/taxpayer, and the whim of the Crown. Paige also knows that property belonging to those presumed dead without heir escheats to the Crown as well, under similarly variable circumstances.
It's way too soon to reasonably declare any of these people dead. Even if someone were to, say, fall off the side of a mountain, you'd wait at least 11 years before declaring them legally dead.
What about leasing the properties from the estates, (which if never reclaimed will fall back into the Crown's pockets anyway?) Maybe ask Octave to act in the missing leasors' stead? Comments from the Council? OR if they're in disrepair, raze them as asfety concerns and buy the properties from the estates with the same end result?
Sounds quite reasonable to Conner. The main trick of course is who under law can act for an absentee landlord. A person not there can't sign an agreement to anything and the power of attorney hasn't been passed on. A new law or two may need to be passed.
Ossian suggests razing most of the buildings in disrepair, planting trees in their place. "We don't want ruins in our city, I think, and I don't think we need all the buildings. We cannot afford keeping all of the in shape either. But razing buildings without replacing them with something is like leaving parts of the canvas unpainted." Ossian shudders.
If we've got uses for the buildings, leasing a few sounds like a good solution, Folly thinks. But -- how are the Crown's finances at the moment?
In the cases of poverty, Folly will see whether the army of good works can offer any assistance in rebuilding and getting the owners back on their feet.
Ever suggests that a subscription might be taken up to buy some of the buildings and put them to good use in the community.
Folly really likes this idea, and suggests that perhaps one of the buildings could be used for a community school. "Some of the women who lead reading circles at the Grouse could be excellent teachers, I think, and I don't see much of a downside to teaching the kids to read and do maths, do you?"
Ever thinks the school idea is great; it will help children prepare better for their apprenticeships. Maybe some of the other buildings could be put into business of some sort. There aren't really any masters in need of expanding their shops, but surely Folly can come up with some new businesses for people to have. A trade that would bring in money, perhaps something that could be sold outside Amber?
If you're going to produce a tangible product, Folly muses, you'd want something that relied on raw materials available in Amber, so that future trade problems wouldn't severely impact production. If we get llamas (and they work out better than the sheep have), making llama-wool yarn and knitted items might be a good choice. Some sort of not-very-perishable food item might be a good choice, too. Does Amber have maple trees? A nice maple syrup cottage industry might not be bad. (Of course, Folly's opinion on this matter may be colored by her fondness for waffles.)
Folly's player can go do the research on maple trees, since she is a Google Queen. ;-) I am Not A Plant Person, so I am not likely to have an idea. IIRC, though, one of the previous suggestions was tobacco farming, and we thought that would work, which suggests to me that Amber isn't necessarily maple territory.
With the expected surge in literacy, another really good possibility would be papermaking. I'm guessing the high-quality books from Heap's and Stout's shops are printed on high-rag-content paper? It might be worthwhile to try for a cheaper form of paper for everyday use, one that could use the (low-cost) waste materials of Amber's shipbuilding industry -- sawdust and other scrap -- as the major component. Inkmaking, with a focus on naturally available ingredients, would be a natural companion project.
Sounds like more research projects for Folly's player.
It occurs to Folly that if Connor is really itching to put his science skills to work, he might enjoy figuring out a low-cost, wood-based papermaking process. :) She mentions the idea to him.
And maybe Conner's player too. :-O
Where will Folly get the money to buy vacant buildings?
Who owns the buildings? Would those interested in joining the new business venture still fall far short of the asking price if they pooled their resources?
Buildings are normally owned by individuals, and Folly would have to ask around to find out who owns them. Some of the buildings may be in legal limbo if their owners have disappeared.
Reid gets together with Stoat to tour some of the run down buildings and see if it looks like they were left in a hurry or not.
Reid and Stoat spend a few days and investigate a half-dozen buildings. Generally, the buildings have seen little care: they may have suffered foundation or wall damage in the Sundering that took several years to come to light. There are no signs of recent abandonment, although Stoat's investigations indicate that some of them have housed squatters.
Vere suggests to the Council that this is additional evidence for the theory of a slow "fading away" of population from Amber.
Sometime in the early summer, Paige notices that her cards, while still not cold to the touch, are now making sense when she spreads them.
She'll start experimenting with spreads, trying to see what's giving truer answers... She'll also do a NotTrump of Conner to see if it reacts differently than the other NotTrumps she's done until now, if he's willing to sit for it.
Conner is happy to sit for it and requests she does an extra one for him.
Not Trumps are still not trumps.
The successful spreads are fitful at first, but come more regularly as the year draws towards its end. Paige cannot immediately determine a common factor.
Captains of the fishing fleet tell Worth, who reports it to Vere and Ossian, that the catch is poor this year. Both the number and size of fish is down.
[Reid]
It appears that the fish are going wherever everything else is going.
Paige will order more grains when out to dinner with Worth... [g]
"How much do we know about the catch of fish historically. Could this be within the natural variability?" Ossian asks Vere.
A moment later he adds: "Did I say that? Natural variablilty? " Ossian makes an ugly face "All this bureaucracy is getting at me."
Vere smiles. "I see nothing at all wrong with such a term," he says, "Nor do I see any incompatibility between the use of such terminology and your standing as an artist. Consider it an expansion of your horizons. As for your question, I do not know the answer offhand, but will discuss it with the captains of the fishing fleet."
Ossian smiles and shakes his head. He pauses, looking out through the window for a minute or two.
So, allowing for a fisherman's natural tendency to exaggerate, what is Vere's feeling about the decrease in the take? Is it within natural variability?
Vere believes that the take is within natural variability, but at the extreme lower end of what he might expect. If the trend repeats next year, it would be a cause for concern.
Last modified: 14 Feb 2002