CH. 6: Nobody Expects the Occupation

[djhyland]

"Better to be safe than sorry," Arulia replies. She looks around. "Where is everybody? Even at this hour, even with the occupation, I'd think there'd be more people here."

[JadedDM]

Haahqae, Gregeddin and Tulbas (Trade Guild Hall, Harbor District)
"Traveling expenses?" Karn repeats. "What traveling expenses could be needed to walk to the prefect's mansion? In any case, we don't have the funds to pay you, of course, because of the increased taxes."

"But it was very generous of you three to so kindly volunteer," Norris adds. "If we never see you again, we'll assume the prefect is the 'kill the messenger' type after all."

[HorizonsDream]

"Maybe the new taxes have something to do with it?" Kendra suggests. "Or they are too scared with the new army."

[BishGada]

Tulbas smiles at Norris, "Funny." Then he looks at the others looking for a merchant who showed the most leadership through their conversation and says, "Obviously you are short of money now, but once we deliver your requests and in case some of them will be accepted, your financial status will improve. So let's say you will owe us. Especially Gregeddin who is going to speak with the prefect. It could be money, goods or a favor." He waits for a second to make sure they all understand Gregeddin is not going to risk himself for nothing. "Now... let me have a look at your list. It should be reasonable, after all we are under occupation."

[mgbevan]

Gregeddin remained quiet for the moment while Haahqae and Tulbas spoke with the merchants. While he could use the money for rent, the increase in influence and having a group of people who share trust seemed a valuable thing to the bard. This was someone naive might even think he was doing this purely from the goodness of his heart. He supposed for a moment, that no person sling shots themselves into the upper rings of society by being good all of the time, dealing in favours seems like a more appropriate currency.

Without becoming embroiled in the squabble and trusting Tulbas and Haahqae's intentions, the bard prepares and makes himself ready to scribe a document as appropriate.

[JadedDM]

Haahqae, Gregeddin and Tulbas (Trade Guild Hall, Harbor District)
From Tulbas' perspective, the leader seems to be Karn, the blacksmith. Perhaps because he is the most diplomatic, he seems to have the respect of the other merchants, at any rate.

"We only have a single demand...err, request," Karn says. "To repeal the new tax immediately."

"Of course, we don't expect him to accept it," Norris adds. "I mean, if he does, all the better. But we're assuming he'll reject that. Then we can talk him down to reducing the new tax, by half if all possible."

"With the new tax at half, things will still be difficult, but at least most of the businesses should survive the winter," says one of the women.

[mgbevan]

Gregeddin nods and scribes as he listens to the dialogue. After some minutes of work he stands and reads aloud:

"Addressed to the Prefect of Haven.

We, the Merchants' Guild, write to you in light of the recent tax degree.

At an emergency general meeting, it was agreed that to avoid defaults on debts and to preserve the flow of trade through Haven as an important mercantile hub, the Guild requests the immediate revocation of the tax decree and to open negotiations to a new settlement.

The Guild hereby authorises, Gregeddin, as courier, representative and negotiator on the Guild's behalf.

Faithfully undersigned,
Merchants' Guild of Haven."

Placing the document back down, Gregeddin bushes off his hands and concludes "Now if you would like to endorse the document with your marks, I will be ready to wax seal and deliver this to the Prefect."

[djhyland]

Arulia nods as she makes her way towards a produce vendor. "You are probably right," she agrees. "But how can the army expect the town to survive if everyone is too afraid or too choked by the taxes? They must need this town to survive in some way, otherwise they would not have conquered it?" She shakes her head--such matters did not come easily to her, but her family lived and died by commerce and at least a little bit had rubbed off on her.

After paying the merchant for her family's meager allotment of withered vegetables, Arulia sets out for the fishmonger's stall. Keeping her voice low, she asks Kendra, "But even if things get better for Haven, it won't...elsewhere. What do we do?"

[HorizonsDream]

"Technically, they have conquered it," Kendra says as she walks along side Arulia. "The only difference here is that it went peacefully." The holy guard was basically on the way out, and the cults were about to take over. The army took care of that issue. "And, really, things here probably aren't going to get better," she says softly. "They are most likely going to get worse rather than better. As to what we can do, I really don't know."

[Haahque]

"Travel expenses like err.. wear and tear on my shoes, money towards my supper stuff like that. Oh, you don't have money anyways." Haahqae pouts a little, then perks up again when Gregeddin finishes his note. "Oh good, everything's all set now, let's deliver this message and hopefully not get eaten while doing so. Course we might get eaten afterwords. Hey 'Keep, if I get eaten during or after the delivery give all my stuff to Ismene OK? Or at least all the stuff that's not inside some sort of gnome eating monster."

[BishGada]

Tulbas looks at Gregeddin for a long while after he finishes reading the message. "Are you sure you want to go along with *THAT*?" He pauses for a moment. "It might be taken as impertinence. I would suggest more sucking up. Something like: 'The merchant guild acknowledges the Red Army need and would like to help. In spite of that, the recent occupation had deeply harmed business and the taxes on top of that would literally wipe out any possibility to recover from the loses. In that light the merchant guilde is seeking an arrangement that would benefit both sides... bla bla bla...'" Tulbas waits another moment then, "But this is only a suggestion. Anyway, let's conclude our business here and move on." Tulbas says feeling they had wasted their time here. 'Would the merchants be involved with the Belzorites.' he wonders and searches the faces of each one of them again. 'In any case we won't discover it today...'

[JadedDM]

Haahqae, Gregeddin and Tulbas (Trade Guild Hall, Harbor District)
As the various merchants sign the document, the Tankard innkeeper nods and says, "Oh, sure, I'll make sure to give your stuff to Ishmael, no problem." It's clear he has no idea who Haahqae is even talking about.

Tulbas looks around the room and searches the faces of the various merchants, but there's no evidence anywhere that even hints the Belzorites have anything to do with the Trade Guild.

Once every merchant has signed or added an 'x' to the document, it's passed back to Gregeddin.

[Haahque]

"Nono, not Ismael, Ismene. She's a gnome about yea tall, very pretty, travels around with a pet ferret. Quite a good conversationalist."

[mgbevan]

Recollecting the signed document up and sealing it with wax, Gregeddin whispers back to Tulbas, "I'll keep the writing to the point and hope to use my delightful voice to charm the rest of that context into the negotiations. That is if such a man, draconian, can be charmed." A wry hint of trepidation creeping into his voice. "But I've always thought of myself as more of an optimist." He says, a smile returning to his face, "Risky, but not quite mad, by some standards anyway."

"Ismene resides in the Masked Dragon." Gregeddin adds trying to help. He really is quite besot with her, under different circumstances how nice it would be to see their romance flourish.

With business seemingly nearing it's conclusion here, Gregeddin suggests to the others, "Should we proceed onto the library before curfew then?"

[BishGada]

"Yes! Finally!" Tulbass says a little bit too eager to leave. Trying to make it look like he cares about the taxes issue he adds "Hmm... when did you plan to go to the prefect? I tell you what, if we have some progress today tracking the Belzorites I might join you. If not to help, at least to admire your negotiation skills." a flicker of amusement shines in his eyes.