Silvered Tongues and Honeyed Words

[Deleted]

"Half."

"Half?!"

"You're lucky that I'm not asking for seventy-five percent. You require our resources in order to make your goods. Without us, you have nearly nowhere else to go besides seeking trade with the Sovereign Kingdom. Looking at your remarkably inhuman ears I'd say that's going to be fairly difficult for you to accomplish without establishing a network of intermediaries who will, just as I am, gouge you on the price. The difference here is that I don't have you bent over a barrel like those other traders. I'm offering an even split in which we share the profits of both of our labors. We're going to be diverting a third of our steel to you. That means one in three mines will be working for you. The miners need to be paid, the cost of mining and shipping the ore needs to be paid, and we need to make a profit. If we don't make anything there's really nothing in this for us."

"We'll be making weapons to fight the Sovereign Kingdom. Are you honestly putting a price on our freedom?"

"No, I'm putting a price on my steel." Alduin Al'asard folded his arms over his chest as he eyed the Elkagr before him. The man was visibly shaken by Al'asard's shrewd nature and had completely forgotten that they were in a mock negotiation. Al'asard played the part of a Korasus Trade Commissioner while the Elkagr was filling in the role of an Alliance Emissary. Al wasn't sure how he had managed to get roped into the mock negotiations, some promise of refreshment and coin more than likely. All he knew that he was now stuck haggling over his "country's" steel mill production. He watched as the man turned and looked over a sheet of paper that had been given to him by the woman presiding over the class. It held information on prices, goods, and services that could help the man along when he felt stumped. In his other hand was an abacus that he'd only looked at once. He'd fumbled with it for a moment before forsaking the counting instrument. Al'asard had a bit of an unfair advantage seeing as he, until several months ago, actually owned a large portion of shares in one of Korasus' largest steel mills and handled several accounts of other's who dealt with the steel trade on a regular basis. He hadn't even looked at his cheat sheet. "Coin is coin, if you can't make our demands I'll simply go to someone who can. Even if it's King Julgrava."

This seemed to be the final straw to break the man. He looked up from his paper and frowned. Looking to the woman leading the class he sought some sort of hint as to what he should do. The woman's face was near unreadable, a stony mask of indifference. The man hung his head in defeat. "We will pay what you ask," he mumbled halfheartedly.  

"Well, that's surprising. I was willing to go down all the way to a quarter of the price. If this was the real thing I'd probably have pocketed the difference." The man's jaw dropped as he stared at the former banker who now bore the first real smile he'd worn in weeks. "Oh come now, do you really think I'd have sold steel to the King? The King doesn't need to buy, he takes."

---

Hacklung Roll:
Resist: None Active
Threshold: 10
e6jtVf3C

[Deleted]

The Elkagr's look of defeat quickly changed to ire and disgust. He threw his parchment and abacus to the ground before Al'asard's feet and marched back towards the other students. Al simply gave a slight chuckle as he watched the mighty High Born brought low by a darkling. This was the third time today that Al had bested the students of the class. Each of them feeling the sting of his brutal negotiations. He wondered who might have been next but none of the four stepped forward. Instead, it was the woman who moved to meet him. A tall human who had the look of a scholar about her. Her hair was pulled back into a tight bun making her face take on a taut look. "You've done this before," It wasn't a question but an observation. Al'asard gave a nod. "What were you before coming here? A merchant of sorts?"


"Of sorts," Al'asard said vaguely meeting her gaze. "I worked in a counting house for a number of years before the King gave his orders." It was close enough to the truth to satisfy the woman who gave a nod of affirmation. 

"So you're accustomed to this sort of thing." The woman looked over Al'asard before scowling, the first show of emotion since he'd laid eyes on her. "You don't seem to be particularly skilled at making friends. Every student I've set you against has stormed off in a huff. I wouldn't be surprised if at least one of them wished you some ill will." Al shrugged as he looked towards the four men who had begun to talk among themselves. The Elkagr that he had just outmaneuvered looked back, making a rude gesture towards the half-drokagr. 

"I'm not in the business of making friends."

"That's a shame. In the Alliance, our negotiators aim is to forge alliances that can be mutually beneficial. We could certainly use a man of your talents but you seem to be a bit too... belligerent for us. You'd be a great asset in procuring goods and services but I fear that you'd treat near everyone like you've treated your fellow classmates." 

"I'm not here to join the Alliance."

---

Hacklung Roll:

Resist: None Active

Threshold: 20
BOMEMozp
Pass

[Deleted]

"Then whey are you here? What purpose do you have talking circles around untrained men?" The woman met Al's gaze evenly, her eyes practically boring into him. He shifted, uncomfortable with the sudden attention he was receiving. His aim had only been to hang around long enough to secure a meal. He'd forgotten that once he began the mock negotiations. It was invigorating to step back into a familiar role. To systematically tear apart the men's offers and to counter with his own outlandish demands. It made him feel almost like himself again. The woman seemed to see that, her question bearing connotations that others would not have heard. The disgraced figure scratched at his stubble lined cheek and shrugged. 

"I heard there'd be food for those who attended the class." his words were weak and his eyes were trained on the ground. The woman continued to stare at him before snorting in an unladylike manner. 

"If that's what you say... If you'd like you may continue to attend the class. You've proven yourself a sufficiently daunting obstacle for my students to overcome. They don't often encounter someone who uses such hostile tactics. I doubt any of them would threaten to barter with the king to make a profit. If you continue to come I'd appreciate it if you would actually try to form alliances. The objective of your last negotiation was to arrive at a happy medium. You ended up gouging the Republic on steel prices. We aren't here to turn a profit, we're here to win a war." Al'asard gave a slight nod as he lifted his head.

"I suppose I can try that."

"Good, now, Rowan, it's your turn to negotiate with our former clerk here. This time you'll be acting as the Royal Justean Guard, clerk, you'll be playing the part of the Republic. You are to negotiate the terms of the Guard providing adequate security for the established trade routes of the Alliance. Currently, we do not have the appropriate means to defend all of our highways making trade dangerous. At the same time, we cannot divert too many men from the front line. You will have to find a happy medium for the two factions to work in concert. Clerk, begin."

"The few trade routes that we control are the veins and arteries of the resistance. Without them, our rebellion will stagnate and die. We must devote appropriate resources to their defense otherwise we'll see the Alliance collapse under the strain of its own weight. We face a two-pronged assault here, from the front and guerilla tactics that see our means of supporting our troops ripped from our grasps. Without quashing these ambushes and thefts..." Al'asard trailed off as he began his negotiations with the other man. He was in his element again and it made him feel alive.

For this first time in months, he felt like Al'asard. 

---

Hacklung Roll:

Resist: None Active

Threshold: 30
wnqTq3UM
Pass

[Azuloth]

Quest Complete
Rewards:

Broker II, Alliance I, and Negotiator II
+5 Stat points