Post by Ellinda on Nov 23, 2007 20:00:50 GMT -5
Making Friends and Influencing People…
« Message sent on Today at 5:56pm »
(OOC: Gaea, is it possible to have this scenario posted in secrecy? The Smith has done so before with earlier scenarios of mine, so I presume that is okay? Let me know.)
Lord Varner waddled into the Free cities pavilions, in the guise of a plump Tyroshi merchant. Francis didn’t mind the pillows stuffed into his oversized finery, but the damnable beard itched something awful. He scratched the false beard idly, one fork of which was dyed red, the other dyed purple, and nodded politely to the two sell swords standing guard. Francis entered the tent of Dario Tarino, who ran a small but efficient merchant House throughout the free cities.
Francis had heard of Dario through his sources in Oldtown, the man was a competitor of the late Volanti Merchant Franz, who had seen to it that the man was locked out of the lucrative Oldtown trade.
A well received letter had led to the present encounter.
“A Lord E.W how very kind of you to visit us.” Francis nodded gravely. E.W was how he’d signed his letter. While Varner’s costume gave him a few pleasant looking pounds, Tarino was a whale of a man, lying reclined on a dais, smoking from a hookah. Three attractive young serving girls in bronze collars, and little else, attended him. Otherwise the room was empty.
“I had thought we would speak in private,” Francis said, his voice determinedly neutral.
”This is as private as you can imagine. Each of these young lovelies is as deaf as a post…some seek out mute servants, but I have need of these young ladies tongues.” The merchant gave a rumbling sound which might have been laughter. Or possibly a belch. Francis focused his willpower to avoid shuddering.
“So what can I do for you?”
“Well, as I said in my letter, I know that you were recently locked out of Oldtown trading thanks to your late rival’s machinations. But I am in a position to change that, and to re-open doors which are now closed.”
“Ah… and why should I deserve such generosity from one I hardly know?” The merchant said his voice as low and deep as the crashing waves.
“Because my friend, you have flourishing operations in all of the Free cities. While you have the largest stake in none of them, you have your fingers in all of them. This means you have able eyes and ears, and a keen understanding of events.”
“And you need someone’s eyes and ears in the events of the free cities I take it? Why would you need such a thing.”
“You needn’t concern yourself with that,” said Francis, “suffice to say I desire it, and as long as you provide it, than I can provide that which you desire, do we have an accord?”
“Yes, indeed we do, Lord W.” The man stretched out his meaty hand, which consumed Francis own hand, and gave it a shake.
“Over the next several days I shall provide you with the names of men who you will hire on in your operations. Your merchant holdings will provide the appropriate cover for their activities. I expect your utmost discretion in these matters.” Francis eyed the fat man carefully. The merchant took the warning as it was intended, and held up his hands. “I shall serve faithfully have no fear. I heard what happened to Franz, and I’d just as soon not follow his example. This will be a profitably business for me, I assure you.”
Results: Francis improves towards Grand Master Espionage. Francis improves towards Grand Master Persuasion. The Master of Whisperers establishes a network of spies in the free cities.
« Message sent on Today at 5:56pm »
(OOC: Gaea, is it possible to have this scenario posted in secrecy? The Smith has done so before with earlier scenarios of mine, so I presume that is okay? Let me know.)
Lord Varner waddled into the Free cities pavilions, in the guise of a plump Tyroshi merchant. Francis didn’t mind the pillows stuffed into his oversized finery, but the damnable beard itched something awful. He scratched the false beard idly, one fork of which was dyed red, the other dyed purple, and nodded politely to the two sell swords standing guard. Francis entered the tent of Dario Tarino, who ran a small but efficient merchant House throughout the free cities.
Francis had heard of Dario through his sources in Oldtown, the man was a competitor of the late Volanti Merchant Franz, who had seen to it that the man was locked out of the lucrative Oldtown trade.
A well received letter had led to the present encounter.
“A Lord E.W how very kind of you to visit us.” Francis nodded gravely. E.W was how he’d signed his letter. While Varner’s costume gave him a few pleasant looking pounds, Tarino was a whale of a man, lying reclined on a dais, smoking from a hookah. Three attractive young serving girls in bronze collars, and little else, attended him. Otherwise the room was empty.
“I had thought we would speak in private,” Francis said, his voice determinedly neutral.
”This is as private as you can imagine. Each of these young lovelies is as deaf as a post…some seek out mute servants, but I have need of these young ladies tongues.” The merchant gave a rumbling sound which might have been laughter. Or possibly a belch. Francis focused his willpower to avoid shuddering.
“So what can I do for you?”
“Well, as I said in my letter, I know that you were recently locked out of Oldtown trading thanks to your late rival’s machinations. But I am in a position to change that, and to re-open doors which are now closed.”
“Ah… and why should I deserve such generosity from one I hardly know?” The merchant said his voice as low and deep as the crashing waves.
“Because my friend, you have flourishing operations in all of the Free cities. While you have the largest stake in none of them, you have your fingers in all of them. This means you have able eyes and ears, and a keen understanding of events.”
“And you need someone’s eyes and ears in the events of the free cities I take it? Why would you need such a thing.”
“You needn’t concern yourself with that,” said Francis, “suffice to say I desire it, and as long as you provide it, than I can provide that which you desire, do we have an accord?”
“Yes, indeed we do, Lord W.” The man stretched out his meaty hand, which consumed Francis own hand, and gave it a shake.
“Over the next several days I shall provide you with the names of men who you will hire on in your operations. Your merchant holdings will provide the appropriate cover for their activities. I expect your utmost discretion in these matters.” Francis eyed the fat man carefully. The merchant took the warning as it was intended, and held up his hands. “I shall serve faithfully have no fear. I heard what happened to Franz, and I’d just as soon not follow his example. This will be a profitably business for me, I assure you.”
Results: Francis improves towards Grand Master Espionage. Francis improves towards Grand Master Persuasion. The Master of Whisperers establishes a network of spies in the free cities.
Hope you all are well and happy.