How to Win Friends & Gain Enemies (Open, it is in a market)

[Deleted]

SPOILER: Click to show

I did not put this in the regular market thread as I did not wish to disrupt its simple flow of purchases with my paltry attempts at establishing trade connections in Morith. Anyone can join, it is a market afterall.

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If Jeshua was going to rebuild his enterprise, this is where he needed to start. Morith. A major trade hub for the country, vendors hocking their wares here and there, people bustling about as they were busy going from here to there. Utter chaos if chaos there ever was, Jeshua realized he was rather poorly outfitted himself, hardly presentable as the leader of a Merchant Company. So when one merchant cried out, "You there! You are dressed very last season! Come in and take a look at the finest clothing Humanity has to offer!" it immediately caught his attention.



Jeshua approached the man, "Don't I know it, I would love to be set up in current fashion." Jeshua entered the store, the String and Pen, a quaint name. The clothes however were fabulous, likely with price to match. Jeshua took the store in for a moment, taking a deep breath, as if he could somehow breathe the store in, before turning back to the clerk. "The name's Jeshua, and I just adore your store. What should I call you?"

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Relatinships I roll: Cha 10 + relationships I 5 + difficulty= range of 45-impossible JqYej4Jy (obvious failure)

[Deleted]

Despite Jeshua's warm personal introduction, all he received from the shopkeeper was a cold blank stare. Perhaps the shop-keeper didn't believe he was good for the coin, or perhaps he had a thing against half-elkagr. Jeshua gave him a moment to reply before speaking a bit less enthusiastically, "All right then, I'll just have a look around." He found the clothing was quite exquisite, if not a bit bulky, he would never go cold in those clothes, perhaps they were a bit out of season, but exquisite none-the-less.

He found a particular doublet that was quite in his taste, a cloak and scarf as well. Bringing them back to the shopkeeper he received the same cold stare. "So what's the damage?" Attempting to remain light-hearted despite the cold treatment he was receiving from the shopkeeper.

"Forty Ritz." A touch of contempt in his voice. 

"Forty?! You're kidding! I mean... surely we can come to some kind of agreement. I too am a businessman, I trade more in information than actual products. I facilitating the sale of products across the country and, hopefully soon, beyond. With such fine clothes as these you could surely make a much higher profit by making use of such a service as I offer. How about you cut the price in half, and I will waive your first month's fee's. If you don't like our services you can cancel at any time by contacting one of our representatives."

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Negotiate I +5, Relationships I +5, Mercantilism I +5, Economics I +5, Skill +10; Threshold 50-impossible. r5NntG3T

[Deleted]

"Get out of my store."

"But the clo..."

"OUT!!!"

"Fine your loss, you uppity bastard." he muttered under his breath as he left the clothing store empty handed. Hmmph he didn't need to work with the likes of him, the clothes looked hot and stuffy anyways and there were plenty of other stores around the market square. "Gems, Jewels, and Baubles" sounded interesting and the merchant was toting that their stuff was shiny, and who doesn't like shinies? Jeshua considered his previous interactions and decided he might want to tone it down.

Jeshua walked into her store, precious metals, stones, and jewelry made form the same were displayed in her shop. Jeshua wasn't too fond of the rings, most were more directed at the female audience, delicate little things (the rings, not the females). The others were not to his taste. Then he came to the moonstone and gold amulet. "Stunning, just stunning. This amulet, I must have it."

"Well, it'll be 80 ritz." She said in a somewhat friendly manner, not really sure what the mutt's game was, but not wanting to drive away a potential customer.

"Madame, it is well worth it." Pulling out his coin purse, county out 80 gold coins before passing them over to the shopkeeper. Donning the necklace as soon as his coin was accepted. He started to walk out of the store, but then turned back, "You know with such fine wares, I'm certain there is a market for them across the country. What if I could offer up customers from all over Cruinthe, with you never having to leave your shop?"

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The hard sell: x67y4jhN
Negotiate I +5, Relationships I +5, Mercantilism I +5, Economics I +5, Skill +10; Threshold 50-impossible.

[Deleted]

The shopkeeper grew quite the cross look on her face at the suggestion. She pointed to a sign in her shop, "No Solicitors, applies whether your a customer or not. I'd ask that you leave, now."

"Very well, but it's your loss." Jeshua was trying his best not to let it get him down, there were still a few more shops here he could try, he needed to more allow the pitch to come up naturally in conversation. Perhaps the shopkeepers here heard pitches like this every day, perhaps they were already frustrated with his kind. If that was the case, he couldn't bring it up without some trigger which would make it feel natural, not coercive.

Jeshua looked around the market for his next target. "Brakenworth's Leather Goods" sounded like a good place to start, perhaps he could pick up some new swag as well. As he approached, Brakenworth called out to the market square, "Bags, Clothes, Armor, If its made of leather, I've got it!" trying to bring customers into his store. Jeshua gave his nod to the man and stepped inside. The shop had that strong leather smell, something the shop-keeper was likely nose blind too. It took Jeshua a moment to get used to it.

"So what have you got in stock?"

"Right now I've got boots and gloves of plenty of sizes to fit most individuals. I've also got an assortment of medicine bags. I'm currently out of uncut leather, someone came in and bought my whole stock; so if you're looking to buy that you'll have to come back in a week or so."

Jeshua would have to ask about who purchased the leather, you didn't buy leather like that if you weren't a craftsman, "I've been wanting new boots for a while now, I'd like to buy a pair"

"Let me see your feet then."

Jeshua removed his current boots, they were rather tattered from years of wear in the delta and the travel down the long road to Morith. Brakenworth took a look then tossed a pair of boots at him, "Try those."

Jeshua tried on the boots, the man had a good eye because they fit perfectly. "I love them, How much?"

"They'll be six ritz, and well worth it."

Jeshua looked at the gloves, perhaps he should get a pair? Yes, definitely. "How about the gloves there?"

"Also six ritz." He looked at Jeshua's hands then grabbed a pair, handing them to Jeshua to try on. They too fit nigh perfectly.

"You sir, are a genius. They fit perfectly. Your business must be doing quite well with such fine products and such an amazing eye for size."

"I do well enough I suppose."

"You wouldn't want to..." His voice trailed off before he spoke again, "Nevermind, I shouldn't. This is your place of business."

"I wouldn't want to what?"

"Well the thing is, I'm in charge of a trade company, we facilitate the exchange of goods across Cruinthe. I'm looking to set up shop here in Morith, any vendors who sign a simple agreement and pay our fee will suddenly have access to customers across Cruinthe."

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Negotiate I +5, Mercantilism I +5, Economics I +5, Skill +10: median threshold of 25, max of 55.

The hard sell: T1HoqD9W (10, success unless it is a difficult task!)



Admin
-Brakenworth is a Difficult Test -15
-Threshold: 10
-Roll: success

[Azuloth]

"Interesting, but it sounds too good to be true. What's your fee? And how do you 'suddenly' have access to customers all across Cruinthe? Do you have some kind of illegal magical transportation system?"

Brakenworth chuffed. The deal did sound too good to be true, and the man was a hard sell and skeptical of this guy's pitch. His big concern was how high that fee was, and if he could ever get out of the contract if things went sour.

[Deleted]

"Magic? Lords no, don't touch the stuff. I have associates in the various cities who receive lists of available items from my trade companies members with associated costs. You would pay a 10 ritz monthly membership which you can terminate at any time, and my associates receive a list of your goods with prices, and suddenly you have access to those markets. Customers pay your price plus a small fee for delivery, and our company pays you for the requested items and delivers them."

Jeshua gave Brakenworth a moment to process the terms before continuing. "Additionally, as a member you would have access to any suppliers of raw materials who are members with discounted delivery costs. We have other plans to expand the benefits our members receive, but those are what we offer as my company currently stands."

[Azuloth]

"So basically you've set up a trade network with people sending and receiving mail and making deliveries on the behalf of other shops. You collect a monthly fee, and a delivery charge. Do you pay dividends to your members? Otherwise I see no profit in it for me. I already have access to the finest leather goods The Cahalian and Selbrian Traders have to offer."

As I said. Brakenworth is a hard sell. He saw no actual profit in it for him just by expanding his market. He could already ship goods if he wanted to. All he had to do was contact Kable's Trade Caravan, an easy thing to do, and he could ship goods anywhere in the country for ten gold per hundred stock items. This guy's monthly fee just for access to the services was ten gold. Brakenworth could see himself paying out the ass and losing money, all the while he sells goods to others.

[Deleted]

This was the furthest Jeshua had gotten today. He didn't want to blow the deal. He reached into his jacket and produced a parchment. "If you would like to read over the specifics, I have our standard membership agreement here. As you can see there is opportunity to invest and get returns on the investment, and to gain at least part of your membership fees back. It also details what we would be doing with the money you provide us, both for fees and investments."

Jeshua handed the agreement to Brakenworth, "I'll let you look it over." Then he took a step back, giving the man some room to go over the document.

[Azuloth]

Brakenworth looked it over carefully. He read every word. He read every word again. He thought about it for a bit. It was a sizable investment. 120 ritz a year. That was more than he paid in taxes. That was more than he made the in the past month. He wasn't sure if he could foot that kind of bill and not get any returns.

No. It'd be best to wait. He decided.

"This seems like a really good deal. I'd like to speak with someone else who has signed on to it. If you can get someone else to give you a recommendation for this, I'll sign on."

[Deleted]

Jeshua watched as Brakenworth went over the document several times. He didn't expect a choice like this to be made promptly so he waited patiently. When Brakenworth finally replied it wasn't quite what Jeshua had hoped to hear from the man, but it was still a damned sight better than the response he had received from the other businesses in the market.

"Fair enough sir. We are just now expanding into Morith, so it may be a bit before I can provide such. As soon as I can get someone in the area, I will have them come talk to you." Jeshua counted out the twelve coin he owed for the boots and gloves and then three more. "Here's the coin for the gloves and boots, and a few more for your time. It was nice doing business with you."

Jeshua turned to leave, but then it hit him... he looked at the contract. It was a relic, a thing from a time when the East Cruinthe Trade Company had some clout, well before it had been reduced to its present sad state. Jeshua turned back to face the man, "Mr. Brakenworth, I would like to apologize. I just realized I am trying to sell you a name that no longer carries the worth it once had. That contract is a copy of the one we once offered, back in our heyday. I'm rebuilding the company after decades of neglect. I doubt anyone outside of Delta even remembers us. I would like you to consider my new offer: everything in the contract, but no membership fees. You simply state your desire to join, sign the contract and we provide you with the stated services. We can make our coin off of delivery fees until our name means something again."

[Azuloth]

"Then be on your way, sir. I do perfectly fine on my own. Perhaps when you do have that clout I'll sign on."

Brakenworth went back to his business. Putting out new stock of gloves and boots, as well as some other leather goods. He had quite a lot of experience making such goods and his sons were doing well learning from him. In no time they'd be able to put together a good duster, or some armor. That's when he'd be making the decent money.