A String and Bolt

[Azuloth]

Three figures approached the Mardok Duchy. A woman of partial elven descent, and two Skaldi. Clearly her body guards.

The woman was a representative of Kable's trade caravan. The two Skaldi were Brusk and Trusk, bastard children of Karvan, the Shadowscale Clan leader. They were absolutely huge in comparison to her, and she was tall for a half-elkagr. She had a playful smile on her face as she came across the forge. This must have been the place where the weapon was forged. She was here to secure a contract and that's what the blond would do.



The two Skaldi where just hanging around her person, looking particularly tough with their over sized weapons, and their actual armor, and their teeth and claws. Intimidating for sure. Masterfully intimidating. Kable employed some of the best Skaldi warriors.


-Brusk
-Trusk

The woman's name was Kaera Rathenfyre, and she was Kable's merchandise broker.

Standing outside of the Artificery, Kaera made her presence noticeable, but didn't shout out or anything.

[Tyr]

Tyr sat in the Artificery next to the forge, sweeping away old ash, wood shavings, and the debris of smithing. He'd let the place become a mess over the past couple days, and it was high time he took care of it. Plus it was also fairly cathartic, slowly seeing his own progress and passing the time in idle consideration of the future. Every now and again he stoked the forge a few times, keeping the fire hot and coals burning. He was thinking of hammering out a few more iron pieces later but for now his arms could use a break.

When the Duke finally looked up from the ground he noticed the shadow of a figure through one of the doorways, flanked by two much larger figures. They weren't doing anything though so he wasn't entirely concerned. Maybe some mercenaries here to see what they could get from the smith? He peered out with a hand over his eyes to cut the glare, but still only got a bare glimpse.

"Come on in," he called out, his voice carrying through the building easily. "We're open to everyone." Tyr set the broom down and waved for the people to come in. He dusted his hands off on his blacksmith's apron and leaned against the anvil, giving the appearance of one ready for company.

[Azuloth]

Kaera walked into the forge room with the two Skaldi following her closely behind. Her nostrils flared and she smelled the soot in the air. The ash and the fire. It smelled like progress. The half-breed enjoyed the idea of commerce increasing with new wares. Her passion for progress is what led her to join Kable's band. Selling goods people needed was progress, and this Mardok fellow might potentially have something worth selling.

"Hello there, I'm looking for the person that made a bow recently. Would that be you? I'm Kaera, with Kable's Trading Caravan."

The skaldi remained silent and intimidating. They kept both eyes on the Duke, watching him ever so carefully. It wouldn't do for the broker to get killed off. Kable might not be able to stay in business if he can't get new wares, and his competitors can.

Kaera was magical at sealing deals however, she had full binding authority to whatever terms that could be arranged. Kable didn't even have to sign off on it. That was how much he trusted her to make him money.

[Tyr]

The skaldi next to the lady were huge, but the high ceiling and open rafts accomodated them easily. Tyr enjoyed the sight of them personally, they were clad in gear that had obviously been made specifically for their size, and making something like that wasn't easy. It showed a craftsman's skill in the trade, and Tyr was almost inspired just by seeing it. He was so caught up in studying their equipment that he nearly missed the last part of the lady's sentence. A lord always kept track of conversations though.

"You work for Kable? Wonderful! How are Baila and Cera, are they well? Oh, where are my manners..." Tyr trailed off and started looking around for a moment, before holding a finger up and briskly walking over to his room. He disappeared for a moment then came back out with a hand carved wooden chair, placing it near the forge for Kaera to sit. He motioned to the nearby crafting tables for the Skaldi pair before leaning against his anvil. "Please, sit. I don't quite have chairs your size I'm afraid but the tables will hold you two, they're sturdy enough for 40 stone of iron. Wonderful to meet you Kaera, my name is Tyr, Duke of the Mardok Duchy. I did indeed manage a bow the other day, an oaken longbow in fact. Wonderful thing, though a bit difficult for me to shoot right now. I think the wood might be a bit stiff, and the string doesn't seem to have quite as good of a snap as I'd like, but you make do with what you have." Tyr was always overly critical of his own creations, always trying to find ways to better them.

"Ahh, but I'm rambling." He clapped his hands together, looking between the three with bright eyes. It was always good to meet new people. "You've found me, who might these gentlemen be and how may I help you?"

---

Tyr used 'be nice'! (Relationships I to set them at ease/make friends)


(44/45 SM)

[Azuloth]

The half-breed sat where she was bade, in the chair that Tyr provided. Far would it be for her to refuse bospitaly in any particular sense. Though he was nice, she did not think of him any better than she did the average citizen. He spoke a while, and that was fine, though he came off a bit forced and nervous to her. But that was just her perception. He spoke for a while, and that was fine, as Kaera was the quiet type. When he was done, she responded.

"Baila and Cera? I was not aware that you were friends with them, not even mere acquaintances. I should have expected as much. They are fine, the road suits them in a way. Baila loves everything, whereas Cera is critical of everything. A foil for each. This is Trusk, and Brusk. Warriors on contract from the Skaldi Resistance Front. They are the children of Karvan, if you know him."

The two skalid growled at their father's name. They had, in the meantime, sat on the table and floor. One in front of the other. Trusk in front of Brusk. They were like that, one in front of the other always. It alternated, but it was never not the case that one would be more forward than the other.

It was a thing they learned before they were contracted out.

"This bow, it shoots though yes? There aren't many bows available on the market, and Kable would like to acquire a design for a bow. Would you be interested in a trade, a deal of sorts?"

[Tyr]

It was good to hear news of his friends, that wasn't a luxury the Duke was oft afforded. Being either busy, away, or otherwise occupied he didn't get to speak to the travelers of the road, much less those who knew of the various people Tyr had befriended. It tended to happen a lot and he rarely forgot his friends.

"Good to meet you Trusk and Brusk. Yes the bow shoots, though at the moment I lack arrows to properly demonstrate it with. I might be interested in trading the design for it, but what terms would you be willing to offer?" There were a few ideas he had in mind, but he wanted to see how they valued his bow. Besides, selling the design was a gamble. If the Kable Company started producing bows then he would lose customers to them for it, and that would make it harder for him to stay in business. Unless of course part of the contract was for some of his craftsmen to keep producing them.

---

(43/45 SM)

[Azuloth]

Kaera smiled. The two skaldi did nothing out of the ordinary for their kind. Fidget and stay alert. Free Skaldi were illegal. It was a ruse that they were slaves to the half-breed in the room. They were not slaves at all, but free and proud.

"The terms would be simple. For the design, it will function as a compound interest loan from you to Kable's Trade Caravan for the design, upon fulfillment of the financial obligation, the design is ours to freely reproduce, build upon, and trade away. As for the actual merchandise, during the term of the loan your duchy will have exclusive production rights. Prices for the bows will be set by Kable's Trade Caravan. Every unit sold will generate a 20% return for you until the term for the loan is complete, upon the term's completion a sixty forty split will take place. With Kable's trade caravan receiving sixty, and your duchy receiving forty percent."

Kaera took a breath and let all that sink in for Tyr.

"As the value of the design would be the basis of the deal. What do you feel it's intrinsic value is? 150?"

---

Though Kaera thinks he's friendly, she does not feel them becoming any closer from their conversation.
Rolls for Kaera's friendship are normal checks until business is complete.

68>20 - Failed.

[Tyr]

It was an interesting method of repayment that Kaera proposed, but money wasn't entirely something he had need of at the moment. Besides, it was such a small amount to be gained that there wasn't much for him to be enthused about. But the Caravan did have other things it could provide besides money. Taking a few moments to ponder the offer Tyr came up with his own counter proposal.

"The worth of a weapon's design is based entirely on how much it's used, as such putting a value on it becomes difficult. Almost any offer can sound too big for the buyer, and too small for the seller. Your offer gives me an idea though. I will loan you the design for three months. You will have free reign to reproduce the design and sell them for whatever price you deem fit, my Duchy will claim no royalty. Instead there will be a 15% discount on bulk material purchases from the Caravan, both in person and for the monthly shipments to my workshop here." It didn't seem like an overly extravagant deal to be getting on materials, and it would generate revenue for the Company anyway. As he'd figured when he set up the monthly shipment deal in the first place, it created a constant source of income regardless of what he did with the materials. Who would turn that down? But he had a kicker in mind too.

"The discount will be reduced to 10% if the Company can provide a suitable teacher of Sissak during the time frame. At the end of the three months the Caravan will have the option of terminating the agreement, making it permanent, or renegotiating terms." That last bit was based on his first bit. Should the bows sell handily he could see them agreeing to it outright. Too few sales and they might want to end the agreement. Somewhere in between though and it could easily be renegotiated based on the numbers they had then. He'd give Kaera some time to think it over, as she had him.

---

(42/45 SM)
Working on Negotiator I/Mercantilism I.

[Azuloth]

That offer sounded too good to be true. There was nothing stopping Kable's trade caravan from giving the design to an entirely different supplier and having the weapons made in bulk to be sold in bulk. And the Duke wanted no compensation for that? No clause to protect his interests? Kaera did not buy it. Not one bit.

"Let me be completely clear. All you want is the discount?"

Trusk and Brusk looked a tad confused. Normally the negotiation would be over price. This was no negotiation at all, it was merely Tyr just giving it up. There was nothing to gain but a short three month discount, which Kable would more than likely terminate immediately.

[Tyr]

Using Kaera's own words didn't seem to have the desired effect, Tyr figured there was something lost in translation here.

"Correct, all I want is the discount. In return you may make and sell bows. The design stays mine, we revisit the terms after three months." That was about as clear as he could make it, in as few words as possible. He really wanted to settle on the three month term, it let both parties determine just how much demand there would be from each side. Plus it would give Tyr some more time to set up shop himself and see how he wanted to let things move. If selling the design was in his best interest he could, if he wanted to keep it he wouldn't be bound by anything.

Then again, Tyr had no idea whether or not Kable employed any craftsman. If he didn't, then this deal wouldn't work. Alternatively he could just offer a permanent trade instead of the termed one, since they could, and would, probably just hire out someone to produce the bows for cheap.

---

(41/45 SM)
Still workin' on that Negotiator I/Mercantilism I.

[Azuloth]

Kaera chuckled a little. He was a sort of naive negotiator. With permission to make the bows, they could glean the design, and sell the license to craft those later once the deal was over.

"Deal. Shall I draw up the papers? I assume you can read and write."

Though that might not be polite. She assumed anyway. Brusk shuffled about, lowering his bag onto the floor and pulling out a large sheet of parchment, a feather quill, and an ink pot. He handed each item to Kaera and waited. The half-breed started in a short and stick like hand that was clear and easy to read.

Contract of Sale

"Now do you as an individual own the design, or as your duchy?"

Important question, she needed to name the parties involved.

---

[Tyr]

Well that was easy.

"I can, but please feel free." He wasn't the most well informed with the legal wording of things, or heavily knowledgeable about all the various laws of the land actually, so it would probably go a lot smoother if she did it. Hopefully she wouldn't know that though and intentionally miswrite the contract to benefit the company. Tyr wasn't really hoping for this deal to massively benefit his duchy, he just wanted to make progress with the Kable Company and see how well they worked with him.

"Both actually." It was a unique position to be in, head of a workshop and Duke of the territory said workshop was in. Plus it would, potentially, protect his people if something were to come down. Or, not? He didn't know. Maybe that was something he should learn now that he was in charge of things.

[Azuloth]

Contract of Sale

Kable's Trade Caravan (hereafter known as Seller) shall enter into this contract with Duke Mardok and the Mardok Duchy (hereafter known as the Owner) for the purposes of trade of a Longbow Design (hereafter known as the Goods).

The Goods are the property of the Owner on loan to the Seller for a period of exactly three months from the 5th of Floras to the 6th of Heultrios (92 days). The compensation from the Seller for the Goods to the Owner shall be a discount at the Seller's shop. The discount shall be 15% of the sales price of the Seller's merchandise on bulk purchases (more than 3 items) in person or by letter order.

Provision: Should the Seller provide a teacher of the language Sissak to the Owner, the discount is reduce from 15% to 10%.

Seller's Signature: Kaera Rathenfyre, Kable's Trade Caravan, 1/5/200

Owner's Signature:______________________________

Witness: ______________________________

---

"Is this acceptable? If so, sign and date where it says owner. And I'll have Brusk make a mark as witness to the agreement."

Brusk came over and stood there waiting for Tyr to sign it. If he did so, he would dip his finger in the ink and scratch a T and an X onto the paper on the witness line. Kaera would fill in the date for him. Then she'd write an exact copy and they would all sign and date it again, followed by a third copy. Two of the copies would go with Kaera, one to be filed with the central government, who wouldn't care and would lose it eventually, and the other to be kept by Kable's Trade Caravan.

[Tyr]

Tyr read over the contract and started to gleam some insight to the world of business and law. Mainly the phrasing of everything, it boiled the whole deal down into simplistic language almost anyone would be able to understand. Well, provided they could read that is. Satisfied with his side of the deal Tyr accepted Kaera's pen and signed his name on the first contract, waited for the two copies to be made, and then signed those too.

"Well I'm glad we could reach a deal on this. Is there anything else I can help you with while you're here? Tour of the shop, refreshments from the town, commission request for equipment?"

---

Roll for friendship following a successful deal! Relationships I being used.

[Azuloth]

Kaera blinked for a second at the offer. Tour of the grounds? Refreshments? Most nobles would just strike the deal and escort the caravan representatives out. Most did not like the traveling caravan. They would park outside their land or on their land, unannounced, and sell their wares, flashing their fancy license whenever questions were asked. Nevermind that sometimes they were the only way an area was going to get fed supplies. There was just too little to go around these days.

"Oh. I won't decline this kind of offer, sir. Anything you like, tour, or refreshments. So long as Trusk and Brusk can follow. I don't like to leave them out of things."

"GrrrrSsssahh." A growl of affirmation from Brusk. Trusk was the quiet one.

Brusk rolled up the two copies of the contracts that they would be taking very carefully after making sure the ink dried. He put little leather bands around them and slid them into a slot of his bag with a few other scrolls, keeping them protected.

"I must say, your road is very well placed. After passing through the royal lands outside fordeth we head west, and reach Mardok. Then we can head west or south west or south depending on demand. Quite a good location."

They were ready to be shown a tour of the place, or brought to a place of refreshments. Kaera had a good opinion of Duke Mardok.

---

Kaera and Tyr are friends!
-Fanfare, confetti-