A & F Ventures, Sorath

[Allyria Allenmorde]

A & F Ventures, Sorath

A& F Ventures, Sorath branch offers financial services for people of all walks of life.

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Services:

Investments -- A & F Ventures will take coin given as an investment and return a payout after a set period of time to the investor. Investments fund the various pursuits of A & F Ventures.

Grants for Adventurers -- Startup Adventurers sometimes require money to begin their life of monster hunting, or treasure seeking. A & F Ventures can produce start-up grants for the individuals as a personal investment. Grants do not exceed 300 Ritz.

Grants for Academics -- Academics is a very expensive pursuit. A & F Ventures recognizes this and will gladly pay structured grants to a scholar for codices or missives on their findings. (Pending Service, A & F Ventures is seeking approval from the governor of Sorath for this service.)

Business Loans -- A & F Ventures can offer a competitive business loan to new businesses starting up Sorath and the surrounding region, or any other province within the Sovereign Kingdom of Cruinthe. A & F Ventures is backed by a wealthy Countess. All loans are enforced strictly to the law.

Personal Loans -- A & F Ventures believes in people and is prepared to offer small personal loans to individuals for a variety of needs. Inquire within.

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The office is located on the Ring Market, near the south east side. The building itself is a typical store. On the large pane window the symbol for financial services was stenciled in silver. Gold was decidedly too much by the owner. The store itself was a large room with an elegantly carved wooden table and matching chairs around it. There was a door to the back, but that was all the customer would see. A bell would ring every time the door from the street opened or closed.

[Deleted]

Ausoris 21st, 200ATD

Midmorning

Coming back to the Ring Market after the business from a few nights ago seemed incredibly foolhardy. Despite that, having guests had made it quite plain that our financial situation was absolutely untenable. We were poor, povertous even. Our food was the poorest quality, and there had nary been money scraped together for any of our direly necessary expenses. I walked along the southern part of the Market alongside my wife, Astris as we made our way to the financial offices. I'd heard about it from a warehouse master, she'd heard about it from someone in her social circles, and we decided that a loan in the pursuit of starting stable business would not only be a quick way to climb out of the hole our parents had left us in, but the likeliest way.

The bell rang cheerfully as I held the door open for my wife. Looking in, I was relatively unimpressed. There was a door, a table, and some chairs. Not as I had expected, certainly. I would have been better assured had the obvious displays of wealth been put up to greet patrons. I knew exceedingly little about loans, only that you would need to pay back more than you received—and in addition you may not receive a lot if your business seemed risky or untrustworthy. I needed neither of these things on our backs.

[Deleted]

Astris walks in, looking around the room. To be truthful, she was unsure about the idea of going into debt to be wealthier, however she knew that without some sort of liquid assets they were going to sink. The Manor, run-down and horrible as it was, had merit and potential. If she could get the orchard going, and the nearby field producing...well..that was in the future. Right now, they needed the ability to begin their own business. Ikram's father, merchant lord that he is, was not going to help in that endeavor.

She heard the bell ring overhead as she entered the area proper. Perhaps negotiations would not take long and they could see to other matters today as well. It was worth a hope.

[Allyria Allenmorde]

Was that the bell?

That was the bell... you going to wake up?

That couldn't have been the bell... let me sleep more, I didn't get a lot of rest.

There it is again, the bell. People are here.

Oh shit... people are here.

-"Vekkia! Vekkia, get the fuck up. We have customers."-

Allyria shot up off the backroom couch. The room was still stuffy as it was poorly ventilated. The summer heat and humidity had made it unbearable. She got up and started to go in all directions. First over to a pile of papers and a quill, plucking those up, then over towards the door, all while Vekkia was talking to her. That woman had been up for a while. She was sitting at small folding desk, her legs crossed under her on a pillow on the floor. Sweat was beading down her body, just like Allyria. She had a large leather bound ledger in front of her. Vekkia's face was a growl, where Allyria still had drool in the corner of her mouth.

-"I know... I've been up for hours. Looking over your abysmal business practices. Your personal wealth is, thankfully, enormous enough that this isn't going to have an impact on us. Stop! You're still naked, get dressed. Hanneth are easily embarassed by that for whatever dumb reason."-

-"Oh right."-

She wiped the drool from the corner of her mouth and found a red button down shirt and put that on, then slid a pair of black breeches over her legs, tying a traditional sarong around her waist. Then she pulled on some boots, tucked her pure hair back straight and let it fall on her back.

-"You should start dying your hair again."-

-"I should. Green... or maybe red. I'll think about it. How do I look?"-

-"Passable. Don't keep them waiting."-

She looked great. Somehow she cleaned up perfectly. Perhaps a glamour was at work? Or magic of another kind?

-"Right right. Because I'm the boss."-

Allyria passed through the door to the backroom and came out to the front where a man and a woman were, waiting. If they hadn't sat already she'd gesture for them to sit, and then she'd take a seat across from them at the head of the table. She had not forgotten the papers, the quill, or the inkpot. They were blank, but not for long. She dipped the pen's tip into the ink pot and drew a line across the top of the document as she spoke and looked her new customers over.

"Good day. I'm Countess Allenmorde. What can I do for you today?"

---

Mercurial Lamp
-2 MP, Ikram
-2 MP, Astris.
Charge: 4/200

Sudden sight
tDeCyNWw

[Deleted]

I feel a need to take the initiative here, ushering Astris towards our seating and out of the heat. Unfortunately this only brings her and I into a stuffier heat. Windows could do to be opened. I offer a small, polite smile, before my face returns to neutral and sitting. I take a brief but slow moment to try to collect my words before spitting them out.

"Good day, Countess Allenmorde." I look to Astris, then back to the proprietor of the establishment. "I am Lord Ikram Wylmont, and this is Lady Astris Wylmont. We are new residents." I remind myself, as Astris had told me, to not speak of our financial straits, as it might lower the confidence of our loaner. "Of Sorath." I add, almost as an afterthought.

"We are looking to..." I knit my brow in concentration to recall my script. "...acquire liquid assets towards our estate." I think I got that right. A bead of sweat rolls down my brow. I hope I got that right.

"We understand that you can be of assistance to us in this regard." I almost roll the last sentence off of my tongue. It took exactly one breath, in fact. Making this Countess nervous could spell disaster for our estate, which is not calming my panicked mind.

[Deleted]

Astris sits as proffered, glancing at Ikram. Really, she knows it's hot in here, but Ikram's sweating is more to do with own nerves than the heat itself.

She smiles at the woman, easily faking a practiced, easy confidence she truthfully did not feel. She had been prepared to negotiate with an older man, or even woman. One who was was familiar with the terms of loan contracts. The fact that she sits across from the financier herself, means she's gone into this business on her own. Things could go in unpredictable directions.

"Lord Wylmont is, as always, straight to the point." She says with a slight chuckle. "I had heard of your business through an associate who was heading some repairs on our home. You were spoken of quite highly, it is a pleasure to meet you. As stated, we are interested in liquid assets, rather than just the collateral we have currently. We plan to breathe fresh life into our recent acquisitions and set them on a greater productive path. Immediately, we would like to know our monetary limits of the personal and business loans you provide, as well as what rates you can suggest."

She punctuates her speech by setting out a neat ledger, quill, and ink, finishing by folding her fingers neatly on the table with a smile.

[Allyria Allenmorde]

Allyria sat there and wrote on the paper a bit. Words that she would recognize herself. Drokagr was her more comfortable hand, so she slipped into it accidentally and effortlessly. Personal and business loans huh? If they wanted two loans they'd probably be crippled by the interest alone. It was worth seeing what kind of business they were getting themselves into anyway. Perhaps a grant would be more along the lines of what they would need. Allyria picked her eyes up from the paper and looked at the woman, then back to the man. Lord and Lady Wylmont. They didn't sound like any land owners she knew.

"That depends on the type of business you're involved in and your ability to pay back any loans you acquire. What is the business you're involved in exactly?"

A simple question, but something that could take some explaining from the pair. It wasn't like Allyria was going to just give them money if they weren't going to be able to pay it back, or be useful to her in a different capacity. Vekkia would kill her. She had already received death glares about her business practices. She had to make some actual profit to make up for all of her ludicrous expenses.

She twirled the sharp quill between her fingers slowly. Playing with the small drop of ink at the tip and keeping it balanced on there.

---

mercurial Lamp
-2 MP, Ikram
-2 MP, Astris.
Charge: 3/200

Sudden sight
Hh2USiwc

[Deleted]

I could feel heat rising to my cheeks. Something about the Half Drokagr woman seems amused and at once bored with our presence. It made me uncomfortable like my father's tests could once do. I sigh and center myself, watching the woman regard her quill tip like a cat watches a bird. She had no want or incentive to give anything unto us. And worse, I would be useless for half 9f these negotiations. I found myself feeling bitter, yet that would work counter to our goals. I lift my chin, a presentation of equal footing to Cruinthe nobility.

"We are here today to seek out greater finances to establish our estate. Our humble home was gifted to us upon our wedding by my mechant father, though we must still purchase it away from him. We will, regardless of what your offer, build a considerable wealth in the course of the next year. Your money would directly fund our immediate estate. For this, we seek personal loans. Is this not what they are for? Our home needs the coin for renovation. We also have varied business interests pertaining to our land."

"Agricultural production from an ancient orchard. Moreover our land has good lumber, which will need to be felled and transported. My father, Lord Wylmont made his wealth peddling less. For these pursuits, we seek a business loan. I believe that is for what I described."

I lay silent a moment. "You could collect well, and profit. All we need know is what you offer, what to pay back and when."

[Deleted]

Astris looks at her husband and his outburst for a moment, then starts writing on her ledger as he speaks. When he is done, she turns the ledger around and proffers it to the Countess. "What my husband says is true. We do have good land and the potential to see a profit. Outlined is a rough estimate of what immediate resources are available. As mentioned, there is a great deal of good lumber as the lands have sat for quite some time. A return on that alone would make a significant repayment, and we would be clearing the space anyway for the agriculture we intend to cultivate. Then there is the matter of the orchards which, admittedly, would require repair before they would create a return. As for collateral, we have of course, the Manor itself, as well as some small personal assets which we could go over as needed." She gambles on the idea that the Countess is business minded, not emotional. Staying factual may be the only way to keep this petition on course. Of course, it may not hurt to give the Countess the subtle inclination that Ikram is temperamental for a reason.

She looks at her husband, then back at the Countess before continuing. "Also, in addition and separate from this matter, I believe my husband has had some interest in the surrounding countryside, including exploration and slaying of some of the more dangerous creatures. He is a capable warrior."

[Allyria Allenmorde]

Allyria at first thought the man was quite rude to speak to her in such a manner and infer that they were equals. She stood her ground. To her the woman was more respectful. But his anger made sense. A family that gifts you burdens for your nuptials to the point where you needed help from others was something to sympathize with them about. Allyria frowned and pit the quill in the ink pot.

"Interesting. It sounds to me that your father gifted you problems and debt. For the purposes of getting your family and land on their feet I should be able to grant you a loan. The chief factor on that is the price of the lands and all that is upon it for you to gain total ownership. If you can quote an amount I can have the numbers worked."

She did her best to sound sympathetic. But the mention of Lord Wylmonts propensity for combat excited her.

"I have a proposal for you in regards to your expeditions concerning monsters and the old places of the world if you care to hear it."

---

Mercurial Lampe
Ikram: -2 mp
Astris: -2 mp
Charge: 2/200

Sudden sight
bEuX4wTQ

[Deleted]

Upon the mention of any propensity I had to combat, I was given pause. I looked first to my wife, until the Half-Drokagr woman began speaking. I care none, really for matters of business. In truth, I would have rather been anyplace else. Listening to the woman, proprietor of this business, I found myself shocked with her politeness and calm way. With her quick words, she had dissected a majority of issues our family had faced with startling alacrity, putting words to concerns I did not know how to voice. I felt shame.

Then she mentioned expeditions.

"Oh, no, please, I..." I stumble over my words. "I-I am trained—yes. I have no equipment to pursue such... such things, and I'm... what sort of proposal?" I lean forward. My face is a mixture of confusion and interest. At this point I would be willing to face a den of wolves if it could elevate our estate financially.

[Deleted]

Well, there it goes. The entire negotiation utterly diverted. This was to discuss a business loan, was it not? Perhaps bringing up Ikram's training was not particularly the wisest of decisions, but it seemed to perk the Countess' interest. This is starting to become exhausting for reasons I cannot explain. At least she appears sympathetic. But sympathy only goes so far.

She looks from her husband, tripping over his words, to the Countess. "What my husband intends to say is that we are, of course, open to any reasonable proposal Countess." She attempts to keep the her personal stress of the word 'reasonable' out of her inflection. But the last thing she needs is her husband going off and getting killed just because he is eager to prove himself. Exploration and cautious search is one thing, using her husband as combat fodder is quite another.

[Allyria Allenmorde]

"Of course. We can discuss that when we're finished with the loan terms. Do you have an amount for what you'll need to pay for ownership?"

Allyrias asked picking up the quill again. She scratched some words in Drokagr on the page. Detailing that it was for the purchase of land, a suggested interest rate, and time frame. As well as how often it would compound. Though Vekkia would look it over and make alterations. That was what she was hired for. Allyrias would ultimately have to be comfortable with the terms though.

---

Mercurial Lampe
Ikram: -2 mp
Astris: -2 mp
Charge: 1/200

Sudden sight
XnlsNs8S

[Deleted]

Astris nods and responds quickly. "Of course. As I'd mentioned, there is a great deal of potential and expanse. By my own estimate, three thousand ritz is the sum total of what would be necessary to put the land on it's feet and jumpstart it's productivity in all areas." She's aware its a fortune, but the logic is sound.

She lets the amount hang in the air for a second, then says "My husband and I are determined people, Countess. I know that will mean little to you personally, but in reality, this is an investment that would pose little threat. We have the potential to lose everything, whereas our lands are being put up for collateral. Even if we renege, which would ruin any chances for our future, not to mention our credibility, you would be left with a great deal of land. But these are facts of which I am sure you are aware."

Of course she is. She wouldn't be in the loan business otherwise. But it is important that the Countess doesn't dismiss this out of hand because she feels we are unaware of the gravity behind it. It would be what she'd look for if she were in the Countess' position.

[Deleted]

At this point, I take a back role and think to myself. What is a 'Ren Egg'? Some kind of a bird, most likely. I don't understand how it would work in the context. This is something I'll need to ask Astris after. That said, I managed to follow most of what was said afterwards. My goal was to leave the Half-Drokagr in a situation where it would be bad business to turn down our proposition. It was, however, my wife who brought the threat to credibility.

Still, the woman was reasonable. She seemed sympathetic, and as though she had insight into the unspoken things that threatened us and worried me. I felt perhaps too trustful. In my more lax state, my shoulders slumped and I sat further back in the chair to listen to my wife. This negotiation was well out of my hands, but it would be false if I wasn't suddenly interested in the mysterious proposal.