Florian's music grew progressively softer as the Palantus family home grew nearer.  After all, no doubt they would insist he play what they wanted to hear over what he was in the mood to produce.  He grew quieter still as voices wafted out, the music dying down mid-note.

"Can you hear that?"  He whispered softly to Quiquises, trying to catch a glimpse inside.  He rose high for a moment before ducking back down.  Did the lady mother have guests?  Or had the promised agents finally arrived to take over the family business?  While not usually one to be overly timid, Florian slowly inched closer, the clip of his hooves much more muffled than usual.

As Florian slowly let himself come in to view, his pipes slipped into his crude belt.  For a moment, the goatman fought the urge to bow ceremoniously, as had been his instruction for so much of his life, and instead offered a much more dignified tilt of his head at the newcomers, but said nothing to them right away.

Haakon nodded to Florian before shrugging and leading Swift to his rooms to fit the dress.  He had made the first fitting on the desk of a boat but now that he saw it on her he nodded.  "Looks real good Swift, My Lady.  Looks very good indeed."  he says.  "Why, if I weren't a happily married man..."

"Yes, I am staying with Lady Gondioque" she says as she slips off her armor down to her undergarments. She tries on the dress and looks at it. "It does look nice, I am not use to such finery." she grins as he says he is married. "I have not tried that yet, I like having fun too much"

Haakon smiled.  "I met my shadow in Tawna... we are not identical in interest but we compliment one another.  She's a wereweasel and so she has a certain reputation and yet she loves children.  She's a schoolteacher... in fact we opened a school but of course, the children are wereweasels so the school is also something more, just like my dressmaking.  We work together well."

He hands Swift her sword and makes a minor adjustment, showing Swift where the sword could be hidden.  "Here, put this on, let's see how well it's hidden."

Lady Daphne Palantus greeted Florian and Quiquises when they finally arrived.

Her first instinct was to set them to work.

"Florian, we have guests in the house, please..."  but that was instinct, she caught herself, and remembered.

"We're a bit short on kitchen staff and there's no way to accommodate so many, as we are now.  I'm going to see what we can find at the Harbor Market that's quick and convenient and will feed everyone.  Tomorrow I have arrangements made for lunch. I see.. we have a dressmaker here?  We'll have to introduce him to the Women's Market, get him registered.  Visigoths have their rules and they are strict about them.  I'll be back soon."

"Yes, I have yet to meet anyone like that. I am a werefox, so sneaking and scouting is my main interests. she continues to look at the dress "You are a wonderful dressmaker. I figure I am nimble a nuff to dodge well with out my armor if I am escorting the lady." she slips in the short sword and hides it.

Haakon stands back and examines his own work with a critical eye.  And let's be honest, married or not, he still takes in Swift's shape as he is doing so.  But of course, Haakon is a professional and so pride comes before lust in his vocabulary of sin.

10:28, Today: Haakon Pedlar rolled 15 using 1d20+9.  Hide the sword.
10:28, Today: Haakon Pedlar rolled 11 using 1d20+7.  Profession (Tailor).

He lets out something between whistle and sigh and says.  "It's adequate I suppose, but I can do better."  With sewing basket open and a needle in his mouth he began to make the adjustments to the dress as quickly and as carefully as he can taking care both with the aesthetic effect of the dress now that he has Swift's body to work with, and a more careful hiding of the sword.  "Over the months, I have learned to see as Tawna sees and it takes a lot to hide things from her but that has to be the standard, don't you think?"

On any task where you have all the time you need, you don't have to roll, it's just a "take 10".

But meanwhile...

We are going to move on to tomorrow, the Palantus Luncheon, since a lot begins there.


The Palantus Luncheon is set in the townhouse in the Old Town portion of Massilia.  The townhouse, like many others, is a three level structure, extended on the first floor to provide an enclosure around the atrium, which has an open roof above the small pool- the impluvium- which is both decoration and a catch basin for rain water.  The atrium is where the larger functions, like today’s luncheon, take place, being the largest, most accessible, and best overall space in the house.  Yes, it is open to the weather, but generally, here in Massilia, weather is perfect.  It can be cool at night but never gets down below freezing.

In addition to food, catered by two local establishments working together, there are several large books on the table, one being the inventory goods- current, thanks to the final work of House Palantus, assisted by Florian and Quiquises, the other being a ledger, of what has been paid out to whom.   This is important, as it lists the local buyers and sellers of goods.

A few are surprising.  Commerce finds ways across the lines of war, and House Palantus still has some contact not only with Human traders who come down from Burgundy, but Dwarves of the Dwarven Massif, and even a few who come from the Elven Savoy kingdom- though the latter do so very discreetly, not wanting to trigger the inborn hatred of Elves that seems common in Orcs.

The way it works is this:  unlike House Mercator, which has its own “distribution network” with Mercators posted to other cities, this is the “regional terminal” for Palantus’s  trade routes.   Traders who know House Palantus will come to visit periodically, buying and selling.  Of course, business will slowly trickle off unless some “schmoozing” is done, relationships maintained, and new buyers and sellers sought out, but then again, House Palantus is really just being maintained as a base of operations from here on out, making a profit is strictly and added bonus.  House Palantus buys local products, such as Dwarven iron, Elven cloth and wine, Burgundian wine, and food from Gaul, and sends it on ships to the east.  Ships coming from the east bring silk, rare spices, dyes, gems and cotton, which is sold to the buyers.  Quite simple.

Trading all comes down to schmoozing.    For those unfamiliar with the term:

Schmoozed or shmoozed; schmoozing or shmoozing
intransitive verb
: to converse informally : chat; also : to chat in a friendly and persuasive manner especially so as to gain favor, business, or connections

Of course, to keep up appearances, the existing clientele must be maintained. This includes some types that ordinarily, characters might not seek out to associate with.  Existing Buyers and Sellers include:

Halfcrash:  A reckless, chaotic Visigoth Orc chieftain who also happens to be a sorcerer.  No real schedule, drops in when he pleases, but pays well for Bitumen which is imported from the East.  Bitumen has a few important uses, but being an Orc chieftain he’s probably more into flaming weapons than waterproofing.  The less we know the better.

Pendlir:  An aggressive, eager young human male trader who likes to be treated like a prince, sells iron and buys all sorts of luxury goods.  Can be hard or easy to deal with depending on mood.

Sedla:  An Elf woman.  Keeps her visits quiet, buys gems and muslin cloth.  Probably spying, too, but on the Orcs.

Sinopus:  A Rhone River trader, a Human man who deals with Wine and Burgundian goods, and buys silks and spices.  Getting old and looking to pass his business on.

The remaining House Palantus members are here, but right after this, they get on their boat, and they are leaving.

Haakon will spend the party schmoozing everyone but particuarly Sedla (she's a spy and she has elven cloth); Halfcrash (he pays more for bitumen than anyone else, so he's a useful customer); Pendlir (iron is useful in the East).  He doesn't so much schmooze Sinopus but chat about Burgundy.  Haakon once had [ooc or still has, I don't know whether his sale of the shop was after the retcon] a shop in Vesontio and so they may have met.  He is also going to try to interest him in his own wares - silken garments rather than raw silk.

The buyers and sellers are not here, they are just on the list in the book, so the party knows who they are in advance.

The cast is here, and so are the Palantus's.

Swift will grin at Haakon "Its not like I have a lot of body to hide things on plus this outfit is a bit revealing. It is not normally something I would wear but I do like it" she as she looks in the mirror if there is one.

Quiquises looks a bit sheepish when called out by name- a bit like a stagehand caught onstage during a show.

He takes a quick look at the guests, and then prepares to see off the last of the House as they departed.

'Guest.'  That was not a word Florian found himself associated with himself often, and especially not in the Palantus home.  His purpose in social events such as these were typically diverse, but rarely had anything to do with anyone being interested in him beyond music or his knowledge of the family trade and business or whatever he was in the process of serving.  No polite chit-chat, no jokes - his knowledge of etiquette only involved silence until requested otherwise.

While social in the right contexts, this was a nightmare.

Clean and relatively dressed up, there was no mistaking Florian as a bearer of even moderate means.  His simple clothing was clean and repaired, but there would be no mistaking it as new, quality, or fashionable.  A nervous hand hovered awkwardly near an odd shape at the side of Florian's hip, and periodically his pipes would peak through the folds.

Eventually, the pipes came out in full, and Florian found a safe corner to amuse himself from with a medium-paced tune; not too bitter, but not too sweet.

At last Haakon is satisfied with his work.  "Shall we?" he asks, offering an arm for the return downstairs.  "And remember," he says, "Should anyone ask, it's a Haakon Pedlar original."

Swift takes Haakon arm "This feels weird, not that I am modest but I normally not so fancy." The dark blue dress she is wearing is like a halter top that wrap around her neck and crosses over her chest, barely keeping in her bust line.  The top flows down to a long flowing skirt, that is slit all the way up to her waist, showing off her leg on the right side.  She has on a pair of soft low black boots that allows her to more around quietly. Her long dark red hair hangs down her bare back in a long braid.

She will walk down with him, looking proud, like she always is.
This message was last edited by the player at 00:50, Wed 12 Sept 2018.

Gondioque arrives, having rented a horse. She introduces herself to her host(s) and/or hostess(es). Seeing what kind of group is here, she checks her rapier by the atrium.

She scans the group. Seeing Swift and dress (cloth and skin showing about half-and-half), she remarks Attractive. To Haakon she observes Skillful...and economical. Attend me at your early convenience, if you will; and well discuss something suitable for me.

She hears the faun playing and makes herself an audience of one. After listening a while, she asks House Cabreus, where I'm staying, has an attendant...she has a lot of moving parts...who likes to dance. Another patron of the establishment is interested in a musician who can do the music. Interested?
This message was last edited by the player at 13:19, Wed 12 Sept 2018.

Haakon nods and sketches a formal bow.  "Of course, My Lady."  Then to the others he said, "I am sorry I did not greet you as I should.  Please forgive me.  I am Freiherr Haakon Pedlar, known in too many places from Basilia to Lucimburic and beyond, as 'the Dressmaker'.  As you can see, I was a trifle busy.  I am proud of what I have produced and thank the Norns for the skills they have lent me."

Armeus Agris married into the Mercator family- a social step up for him, but one that had him taking orders from distant relatives in more senior positions.   He was never entirely happy with being sent to Massilia years ago, after marrying Daphne's daughter, and resents being among the last to leave.  But now, with the ship on the tide, he seems happy.

He enters, already a little tipsy, patting people on the back whether he knows them or not.

"Tis good that I leave this place of Orcs," he says.  "Orcs should not rule over humans, they have not the sense.  Even they know, we all prosper most when their hand is lightest.  Let us drink a toast to them, and to those who have to face them now that we are finally going back to the finer lands to the East!"

For a moment he looks for a servant... don't the servants generally pass around the wine?  But there is none, just the table set out with the bottles and cups.   He pours a big cup of wine.

"And may you prosper in our well deserved absence," he adds.  "I would curse the Orcs to the Infernal Abyss, but I have learned they actually look forward to that fate.  So I toast their prosperity, too!"

Gondioque says mildly Thank you for your good wishes and hospitality. Since you are so looking forward to your trip East, why not go and board the ship right away? It'd be a pity if you were to be left at the dock.

Florian let the tune end in a few rough, ill-fitting notes at the disturbance.  He let his irritation remain as a prickling of his hackles.  Even if he wasn't a slave anymore, he was not so barbaric as to allow himself to be rude when annoyed.  "I don't usually have accompaniment....  Perhaps it would better the both of us, and the dancer as well."  He replied in a practiced meek.

Armeus' abrupt, blatantly treasonous toast was rather alarming.  The orcs killed for less.  "A moment, missus."  He quickly bid Gondioque, and quickly made his way beside the drunkard, pipes at the ready.  Between the two odds were good for Florian's pipes to drown out the other, which was clearly what he intended to do.  For the sake of decorum, at least, the music he picked was joyful, light, and perfect for dancing.  Even if Florian was going a little ruddy playing it so loud.

Gondioque explains. Forgive me for failing to make myself clear. The person whom this attendant, a woman called Bryon, is to dance for wants he to be acdcompanied by a single musician. You sounded like a versatile player.

Swift bows and grins at Gondioque "Yes Mistress, he did a wonderful job. I am glad you like it"

She thinks for a minute "Yes, it is odd to toast orcs, it is hard to understand them and how they do things"

Haakon sighs, knowing as he does that orcs are people too and that not all are in thrall to demonkind but on this occasion, just for once, he keeps his big trap shut.  Tawna would be proud.

One of the Palantus children, Remus, has grown up here in Massilia.  Only fourteen years old, but he knows one does not speak ill of Orcs in front of strangers.

He intervenes.

"Why don't we talk about something more pleasant and exciting," he says.  "There are plenty of good things here our new... new House agents?... have to look forward to.  The traders and masters of the great houses all say Massilia is prosperous this year. The olive groves are good, and... so is the fishing, right?"

He steps in front of his father and continues, to whomever is nearest.

"Do you like to fish?  People go to the breakwater and fish in the dark.  They say the harbor lights draw fish.  Isn't that interesting?  Have you ever heard of fish being drawn to lights?
 But it's one of the busiest places in town after dark.  Street vendors and performers, too, very nice."

Haakon nods.  "That does indeed sound very interesting young one."