Week 3: April 4th - 11th April

• -Zeiss personally involved- As soon as I learn about Qui-Gon's progress, I will change my approach. We're a business, so let's start by making a trade deal with the other Blocs: they need to sell their stuff and I have access to the Hub, my own caravans and the Blackbrine smugglers. The hidden goal is to make the other Blocs financially dependent on us, so we'll coordinate the routes for everyone in the Holtburg region, find the clients they need for them and even buy some of their stock if we can turn a profit. It will also allows us to standardize the shipping methods in this region. We'll start by sending representatives to these two Blocs we made contact with while Qui-Gon goes to meet other Blocs with the same offer. Zeiss' attitude: very diplomatic, straightforward and matter-of-fact. To fight each other would be a waste of resources and lives, so let's keep the peace.
  
• -Zeiss personally involved- Me, Gretta's men and my spy network will try to connect the letter we found in Huldar's camp to Myra of Hammersmith. Then roll knowledge politics (and anything else useful) to figure out how best to approach this obvious blackmail attempt. We will gather support from other people before "confronting her" if that's the best course to follow. Gretta is welcome to share her input if she can.
  

• -Zeiss personally involved- Hire X decent number of headhunters in each major city of Aluvia to recruit for me.
  
• -Zeiss personally involved- Lightmane has been gone from Holtburg a while now, so let's see if Zeiss can act like the new liaison for her supertransport magitek trawler's company. Maybe we can take over it if no one else has already done so. Zeiss will be careful and taste teh waters first... and use deception.
  
• -Zeiss the Delegator- Diversify our trade so we do not depend so much on the profits made from the food. If that's not too late, the Exchange and Gretta will set up a trade deal with the Olthoi like she previously suggested. Also, pursue other opportunities.
  
• -Zeiss the Delegator- We don't just "move" goods, we can also hide them for a certain period of time within the Veil. Let us become the "Wares' Bank" if there's a demand for it. We can also hide people... but not slaves. Because screw slavery.
  
• -Zeiss the Delegator- Look for companies, buildings or other properties that might be advantageous for us to acquire.
  
• -Zeiss the Delegator- I recruit new Guardians for the Holtburg "cell" since the others all left for Glenden Wood. Here's the philosophy: we won't just provide for the refugees (and anyone else in need), but we will also teach them what they need to know to survive; so let's recruit some teachers. For the moment however, we'll focus on the refugees, especially the Humans.
  
• -Zeiss personally involved- I start to recruit for my spy network in the other major cities of Aluvia following the model my organization's hierarchy (I added a link in my signature). While I travel around the country, I'll ask some of my competent acquaintances I made while I was with the Bloodied Flock if they want to join up (less risky, better pay). They would train my recruits and manage some of my stuff.
  
• -Zeiss the Delegator- Hire a ship big enough to transport the food from Kinz'Lizakh's warehouses to the harbour the Blackbrine pointed us at. We'll then move the food through this section of the Veil we weren't aware of. Send the standard corporate message to Kinz'Lizakh written in Serpent.
  

• -Zeiss the Delegator- The spy network will review the Exchange's employees to make sure nobody is working against us. It will also give them experience so they can "level up" at some point.
  
• -Zeiss the Delegator- Notify the family of the spy who died (CIA style) if he has any, and give them a decent stipend.
  
• -Zeiss the Delegator- Continue mapping the Veil.
  
• -Zeiss the Delegator- I thank the Blackbrine for their gift.
  
• -Zeiss personally involved- I take some time to talk with Antheol.
  

ooc:

ooc:

OOC:

Gretta's people:

Zeiss:

• -Zeiss personally involved- As soon as I learn about Qui-Gon's progress, I will change my approach. We're a business, so let's start by making a trade deal with the other Blocs: they need to sell their stuff and I have access to the Hub, my own caravans and the Blackbrine smugglers. The hidden goal is to make the other Blocs financially dependent on us, so we'll coordinate the routes for everyone in the Holtburg region, find the clients they need for them and even buy some of their stock if we can turn a profit. It will also allows us to standardize the shipping methods in this region. We'll start by sending representatives to these two Blocs we made contact with while Qui-Gon goes to meet other Blocs with the same offer. Zeiss' attitude: very diplomatic, straightforward and matter-of-fact. To fight each other would be a waste of resources and lives, so let's keep the peace.
  This new approach overall seems to be garnering a more positive response, though time will tell with regards to fruition.
  
  
• -Zeiss personally involved- Me, Gretta's men and my spy network will try to connect the letter we found in Huldar's camp to Myra of Hammersmith. Then roll knowledge politics (and anything else useful) to figure out how best to approach this obvious blackmail attempt. We will gather support from other people before "confronting her" if that's the best course to follow. Gretta is welcome to share her input if she can.
  Zeiss can forgery the letter to try and attach it to Myra of course, and Gretta mentions that this type of blackmail would be pretty dangerous since it could only result in one of two outcomes; The Lady Hammersmith coming after you guys with military might, or a few concessions.  This type of blackmail, in short, wouldn't be enough to oust her.
  

• -Zeiss personally involved- Hire X decent number of headhunters in each major city of Aluvia to recruit for me.
  This will take some time, but if Zeiss is willing to skim it a bit he can find one person in each of the cities except Lytlethorpe.
  
• -Zeiss personally involved- Lightmane has been gone from Holtburg a while now, so let's see if Zeiss can act like the new liaison for her supertransport magitek trawler's company. Maybe we can take over it if no one else has already done so. Zeiss will be careful and taste the waters first... and use deception.
  Zeiss discovers that the company's office is completely abandoned when he arrives, and most of their contacts (as well as her ship) seem to be gone.  Digging around a bit he learns that Ursolan of Prowler was partially responsible for evacuating the company, and Zeiss rolls well enough to learn that the ship was supposedly heading for the Republic.
  
• -Zeiss the Delegator- Diversify our trade so we do not depend so much on the profits made from the food. If that's not too late, the Exchange and Gretta will set up a trade deal with the Olthoi like she previously suggested. Also, pursue other opportunities.
  The Exchange can start leaning into illegal and smuggled goods with some of the backing it has now, which include all sorts of things including weapons, armor, Leyslice, poisons, and at the moment anything Naverre.
  
• -Zeiss the Delegator- We don't just "move" goods, we can also hide them for a certain period of time within the Veil. Let us become the "Wares' Bank" if there's a demand for it. We can also hide people... but not slaves. Because screw slavery.
  Fortunately Zeiss is well aware that slavery is not a thing in the region.  Because screw slavery.  The idea to act as a Repository Vault is actually quite a good one and will generate a decent amount of money, though long term... and the better defended it is, the more prestige and money it will generate.
  
• -Zeiss the Delegator- Look for companies, buildings or other properties that might be advantageous for us to acquire.
  Bad rolls this week, nothing really crosses the Exchange's attention.
  
• -Zeiss the Delegator- I recruit new Guardians for the Holtburg "cell" since the others all left for Glenden Wood. Here's the philosophy: we won't just provide for the refugees (and anyone else in need), but we will also teach them what they need to know to survive; so let's recruit some teachers. For the moment however, we'll focus on the refugees, especially the Humans.
  Recruitment efforts are ongoing, but by and large successful since non war-related professions aren't really in demand right now.
  
• -Zeiss personally involved- I start to recruit for my spy network in the other major cities of Aluvia following the model my organization's hierarchy (I added a link in my signature). While I travel around the country, I'll ask some of my competent acquaintances I made while I was with the Bloodied Flock if they want to join up (less risky, better pay). They would train my recruits and manage some of my stuff.
  This being done while traveling to the other Aluvian Major Cities for previous point to limit travel time.  Most of the Flock members aren't exactly obstinate, but most don't see the need to join up since the assassin business is booming right now.  Though there's some politics going on with the Flock being legally barred in several States of Naverre now.
  
• -Zeiss the Delegator- Hire a ship big enough to transport the food from Kinz'Lizakh's warehouses to the harbour the Blackbrine pointed us at. We'll then move the food through this section of the Veil we weren't aware of. Send the standard corporate message to Kinz'Lizakh written in Serpent.
  Will factor this into the weekly profits and losses.
  

• -Zeiss the Delegator- The spy network will review the Exchange's employees to make sure nobody is working against us. It will also give them experience so they can "level up" at some point.
  A total of 53 individuals are found within the Exchange who are openly working with other bandit and Bloc groups.
  
• -Zeiss the Delegator- Notify the family of the spy who died (CIA style) if he has any, and give them a decent stipend.
  40g expenditure.  The family doesn't take it particularly well.
  
• -Zeiss the Delegator- Continue mapping the Veil.
  Man, this Veil is huge.  It's almost like it's 60 square miles or something.  But seriously, this is an ongoing thing.
  
• -Zeiss the Delegator- I thank the Blackbrine for their gift.
  Standard gratitude given.
  

ooc:

• Attempt to convince Fahran of Silentblade to support the Exchange's efforts. We also agree that the war is unsustainable, but Aluvia will still need to do something to preserve its existence, which means we have to reform the economy. Fortunately, reforming the Aluvian's economy is one of the Exchange's main goals, but we will need to take control of the Undermarket's remnants to make it happen. Fahran's help would be most welcome. In exchange, we would also support Fahran's own schemes on the political field.
  
• Find support to name one of our own as Lord of Holtburg (probably going to look up the current Lords) and negotiates the terms to make it happen. I imagine Aayndia of Floralwind would like to gain information on the Tumeroks, namely detailed sketches of some of their units and the tactics they used when they attacked Aphus Lassel. We would most likely give her one sketch of one of the smaller units to convince her with the promise of military support. But no matter what, we won't trade passage through the Hub.
  
• Kolson takes back his Exit materia from Higaide.
  

OOC:

Zeiss wrote:-Kolson's actions-

For the third week, Kolson will:

Attempt to convince Fahran of Silentblade to support the Exchange's efforts. We also agree that the war is unsustainable, but Aluvia will still need to do something to preserve its existence, which means we have to reform the economy. Fortunately, reforming the Aluvian's economy is one of the Exchange's main goals, but we will need to take control of the Undermarket's remnants to make it happen. Fahran's help would be most welcome. In exchange, we would also support Fahran's own schemes on the political field.
Find support to name one of our own as Lord of Holtburg (probably going to look up the current Lords) and negotiates the terms to make it happen. I imagine Aayndia of Floralwind would like to gain information on the Tumeroks, namely detailed sketches of some of their units and the tactics they used when they attacked Aphus Lassel. We would most likely give her one sketch of one of the smaller units to convince her with the promise of military support. But no matter what, we won't trade passage through the Hub.
Kolson takes back his Exit materia from Higaide.

Archengeia wrote:
The style of writing by Vesayen hands is noticeably cruder than most of those in the rest of the continent, and therefore distinct.

Quick note; Kinz'Lizakh is a Burun of the Sho Empire, and not the Republic.  However if Rory is simply petitioning to him that he try to make the Empire take in the refugees, this applies.  Assuming this is true; Rory will receive a letter in return by the end of the week from Kinz'Lizakh stating that he finds a large, relatively cheap labor force to be a beneficial thing and assuming the Republic's doors are closed, he has no problem arranging for their positioning within the Hebian-To District.

I still need to know how much that deal with the Blackbrine will cost
About 150g all told.

Rory has zero success finding anyone versed in White Magery (since it's been nationalized recently) or Red Mages (ditto), but he does find several Black Mages who are passing through and willing to settle in and teach rather than sell their services.  They don't come cheap though, and agree to work for 40g a week each.

Interesting approach.  Some of the recruits will take towards this barbarian approach, mostly the Stoneholders.

Just for fun I'd like Rory to try and describe, in or out of character, how he's going to convince the Mites that he is allowed to use the Hub given his violent disposition.

costs and contract:

• Attempt to convince Fahran of Silentblade to support the Exchange's efforts. We also agree that the war is unsustainable, but Aluvia will still need to do something to preserve its existence, which means we have to reform the economy. Fortunately, reforming the Aluvian's economy is one of the Exchange's main goals, but we will need to take control of the Undermarket's remnants to make it happen. Fahran's help would be most welcome. In exchange, we would also support Fahran's own schemes on the political field.
  The Lord Silentblade will consider the possibility of supporting the Exchange for reclaiming the Undermarket, but he makes it fundamentally clear that if he did so they'd be wholly subservient to him personally.
  
• Find support to name one of our own as Lord of Holtburg (probably going to look up the current Lords) and negotiates the terms to make it happen. I imagine Aayndia of Floralwind would like to gain information on the Tumeroks, namely detailed sketches of some of their units and the tactics they used when they attacked Aphus Lassel. We would most likely give her one sketch of one of the smaller units to convince her with the promise of military support. But no matter what, we won't trade passage through the Hub.
  As an aside, there is no Hub in Lytlethorpe, so transit down there will take some time. Regardless, this will take considerable time so more info to come.
  
• Kolson takes back his Exit materia from Higaide.
  

Essoje wrote:MM™'s guilty is determinated
MM™'s fate is as follows: As MM™ demonstrated having no qualms about his actions against the well-being of the town he was responsible for and the people living in it, he is to be placed under house arrest enforced by the White Scarves for the next twenty years, and all belongings that could be considered excess wealth are now Mallowmont's property, with a small part of it to be liquidated and the money given to the White Scarves to pay for the house arrest expenses.

OOC:

Potential recruit
Javan will inform the dwarf woman that because that's the nature of the changes he wishes to bring with the White Scarves', soon the dragoon won't have the luxury of avoiding open conflict as he has been doing until now, so she will have her wish by joining them.

costs and contract:

Archengeia wrote:The Lord Silentblade will consider the possibility of supporting the Exchange for reclaiming the Undermarket, but he makes it fundamentally clear that if he did so they'd be wholly subservient to him personally.