Merchant Guildhouse

[Horas]

"Then if you can set up an appointment for tomorrow morning, my masters'd be much obliged."

[The Smith]

The clerk jotted it down, "It is arranged. Do have a nice evening."

[Horas]

Ser Ryon Redwyne and Ser Mandon Stonecrab arrive for their meeting with the Braavosi merchant lord slightly before the appointed time. A dozen servants haul in the wine and expensive gifts after them. They request to be led to the meeting room.

[The Smith]

The two men are lead through the guildhouse by two silent servants. They are admitted with a flourish to a large room with a solid wooden table, book shelves surrond the room.

In the room are four men of a similar age. A fat man wearing a sword that was worn, he sat at the table his bare feet propped onto the table. He had a mug of spiced wine, and half a vine of grapes he was feeding himself, ripping off half a dozen grapes with each bite.

A thin dark haired man wearing golden spectacles sat at the table ignoring every one else, focused on the book he kept in front of him writing slowly in a red ink. He too wore a sword, but it seemed to large for his wasted frame.

A tanned man with black hair sat at an easy chair staring into the fire. The only man with not blade he was adorned all in black, and his right hand was juggling two bronze keys in an unceasing loop.

The fourth man almost escaped notice. He stood between two book shelves his back to the wall. His sword was wrapped in a plain brown sheath, and its handle worn. He was the only one of the four men to look up and study the new occupants. In fact his dead eyes never left the two foriegners.

None of the other men paid any attention to the two Westerosi. The servants slipped from the room quietly closing the doors.

[Horas]

Ser Mandon Stonecrab looks well at ease; he had negotiated trade deals on behalf of House Redwyne before, and his honest, stolid face had helped him close many deals in the past.

Ser Ryon Redwyne is the younger of the two, wearing a pinched, somewhat wary expression. He is finely but unostentatiously dressed, with thread of gold picking out the detail on his coat.

Ser Mandon bows before the Braavosi group, then begins in the common tongue of Westeros. "Greetings my lords. I am Ser Mandon Stonecrab and this is Ser Ryon Redwyne, both of us of the Arbor. Do you speak Westerosi?"

Servants bustle in behind him with bottles, casks, and expensive gifts.

Relevant stats:

Ryon: 50 Cunning, 36 Knowledge (Languages)
Mandon: 60 Stewardship (Bargaining)

[The Smith]

The man righting in the ledge replies, "Some of us do, that is correct." He does not look up, but writes steadily.

[Horas]

"Very good," Ser Mandon says as the last of the gifts are rolled in and the servants depart, "Which one of you is Lord Julio?"

[The Smith]

"It is understood that you are here to discuss a deal of mutual benefience." The man with ledger said, "Is this the case, as it stands."

[Horas]

"Very much so," Mandon remarks. "But first we thought to present Lord Julio with gifts as a token of our appreciation for his time."

[The Smith]

"I will be representing the Lord at these negotiations. If you wish to present his gifts to me..." He paused, and looked up. His eyes were dark, and quite hard giving away no emotions.

[Horas]

"If you would be so good as to convey them to Lord Julio," Mandon nods agreeably. "Five casks of our finest wine," Mandon smiles, "Including the Gold from 455. An exquisite year. As well as a number of fine weapons fit for any collection," he gestures to a small pile of weaponry, obtained at great cost the day previous, including a Westerosi longsword inlaid with rubies and pearls, a Dothraki arakh with a dragonbone hilt, and a Myrish crossbow chased with gold.

Mandon bows slightly. "The Arbor produces the finest wine in Westeros. We sell more wine than any other vineyard, providing drink to every city on the continent. We believe there is a strong market for Arbor wine in Braavos as well, and we are looking for a local partner to sell to in bulk."

[The Smith]

The man ran a finger down the Myrish crossbow, and said, "Pour some samples for the lot of us."

[Horas]

In addition to the casks, the Arbor delegation has brought along five smaller bottles. Mandon pours four glasses of each, describing each wine as he goes. He begins with the rich Arbor Gold, the vintage House Redwyne is best known for. Next he pours the dry, fruity Arbor Red. After that is the sweet chilled summerwine for warm days, followed by a heated spiced wine for cold nights. He finishes by pouring the Arbor's potent strongwine, which Mandon notes, kicks like a mule. He steps back to allow them to savor their drinks, and make conversation among themselves if they wish.

Ser Ryon adjusts a crooked button on his cuff, but watches the Braavosi delegation carefully.

[The Smith]

The man leaning between the two book cases, does not try any of the wine.

The man with the ledger sips each one, and makes a note in his book after each.

The fat man drinks them all down in order, quickly. And then nods with admiration at the reachmen.

The man at the fire tries two, and then waves off the rest. He seems disinterested.

[Horas]

"I think you will agree that the wine is of the highest quality," Mandon says, "And that it can be sold well and profitably. The Arbor has no desire to sell to individual taverns, houses, and the like. We would much rather sell in bulk, for a reasonable price, to an experienced Braavosi partner, who can use his own connections and business to sell to these smaller merchants. Owing to his experience and prestige in such matters, Lord Julio was our first choice."