In reply to DM (msg # 116):

Zelona pulled a small purse out, counted 15 gold and set them on the small table in the room while she waited for Adoven to lay out his plans for Mivon.

In reply to DM (msg # 116):

Adoven shakes his head. "Not Lord Adoven. At least, not yet" he says, showing his ambition. "Adoven is fine for now. As for business opportunities,  I have expanded our local operations enough to influence some of the larger cities in this part of the world. It's time we looked to expand our purview. We are looking into means of establishing a water-based trade route with Restov, directly. I am interested in establishing a small local base, a jetty and some shallops we can build in Tusk. Aldori-Yitis already has a setup in Tusk, so they can reap the benefits of Trade. Perhaps someone local would also like a piece of the pie by the two of us extending mutual local presences in each other's territories?"

Peggy looks at Adoven blankly for a moment or two as he works though his proposals.  "You want to build a jetty in Mivon, so that you can trade with us using shallops?" the ex-sailor asks in confirmation. "The Lady of the Lake normally unloads at one the 'open' jetties - but that is because Helga knows that we are good at what we do and will be fair with her.  Your larger vessel normally ties up at the Yitis pier.  Presumably there is some sort of local arrangement ...."  In the background Helga nods her head along with everything that Peggy says.   "So I guess that the next thing you will want is a warehouse and an office, and then to grow them?"  he asks Adoven.

With an apologetic smile he turns back to Zelona.  "That shouldn't be too difficult, and I can probably set it up for tomorrow morning.  Are you going to be staying on The Lady?" he asks.
This message was last edited by the GM at 12:35, Sat 09 May 2020.

In reply to DM (msg # 119):

Adoven nods. "Just enough to handle Trade between us. I'm not looking to step on any toes by inserting us into the local markets."

"I am not sure that The  Merchants League will see it like that." Peggy responds quickly.  "Their main business is river trade.  It will be a difficult negotiation.   And, between them, they have relationships with most of the big Aldori houses.  Not small-fry like House Yitis. It will be take time and be expensive ..."


Then, hardly missing a beat, he scoops up Zelona's coin and calls  "Charlie? Sort out the visit to Yarki for me." A  man comes through the same door that Peggy used and nods a greeting, he takes  the coins from Peggy and leaves the same way as he entered.  "I always have some insurance" the ex-sailor says with a grin.

Zelona nodded, "yes... staying on the Lady seems like the best for me. Given my newness to Mivon, I would hate to attract... undue 'attention' of any kind staying in this section of the city and it seems like too much work to try to get up to another section and find a place. The ships seems the easiest for me."

"Tomorrow morning will be fine for me. Insurance is always a good thing, I try to have some for most times myself, though sometimes things still surprise..." she replied.

In reply to DM (msg # 121):

Adoven nods again." Perhaps. But the opportunity to establish a direct water trade route with Restov, without crossing others' territories, might be a fair inducement. Especially if that is granted to whichever major House wishes to establish a working relationship with V&A. And that House alone."

Peggy chuckles softly, "The major houses aren't interested stuff like that" he grins.  "Trade is beneath them.  And a damned good thing too, or us lot down here in the Low Quarter would have no chance.  That isn't the route to take ...."

Adoven snarls softly. So much for that idea. He asks "what would you suggest then? And for future reference,  what DOES interest the Major houses?"

Peggy  smiles at Adoven's response.  "The houses are interested in duelling, politics and war.  Sure they hire out smaller mercenary groups occasionally, but they are happier when they can send a large contingent to serve in  a war.  Different houses will serve on different sides, they don't mind that they are fighting other Mivonees.

As to what will work, I don't know.  Yet.  Somehow we have to stitch together a deal that doesn't upset anyone, too much.  First I will need to buy a  jetty, then I will have to get authority to transfer it to you - an outsider.  That isn't going to be easy.  Nor is it going to be quick.  It might even take a couple of years to sort it all out.  But I can start asking around and find out who I need to 'look after' when the time comes."

"Well, if it's a war they favor, that's good to know. Perhaps if troubles come to Midmarch you can curry favor with one or more of the major houses by convincing Henry and Tusk council to spend some coin on skilled Mivonees mercenaries to bolster our forces. You can even earn coin from the affair by charging the house, in turn, to transport their force up to Midmarch perhaps. Everyone wins and friends are made all around." Zelona said with a smile at Peggy.

"So... you'll have someone come get me for my audience tomorrow then Peggy? Who should I expect to retrieve me at the ship by name and description? I'd hate to go off with the wrong person in such a dangerous town as Mivon," she asked and said with a wink.

In reply to DM (msg # 126):

Adoven nods. "I expected some sort of long-term investment strategy. I suspect that in the coming year, V&A will have more political influence in the region than we do currently. And my training is reaching the point where I soon can be tested for the title Sword Lord, which might alter the equation. Peggy, I'm empowering you to act as my agent for this venture, for the usual cut."

Peggy smiles and nods at Adoven's decision.  "I'll get back to you when I have sounded people out." Then he turns to Zelona, "I'll send Jacky.  Helga can vouch for her."

Business with Peggy concluded, Helga leads the way out to the bar and orders a case of  ale sent to The Lady,   ”The boys know better than to open it before I get there.” she assures Adoven and Zelona.  Then on the way back, she directs the small party to a series of shopfronts and street vendors, where she buys a selection of street foods – some of which are carried back to The Lady by street children paid a copper or two.  ”I was like that once … “ she comments as she pays the kids off and sends them on their way.  ”That’ll keep ‘em fed for a couple of days.”

The rest of the day passes quietly, there are few visitors to the Pier – and those are fishing boats unloading a catch, or boats from the swamp areas with reeds, game or other such things.  At one point Tom and Harriet go ashore carrying a sack, and then share some coin with Helga and Carin.  Nora, the new Halfling crew member, grills freshly caught fish over a brazier, there is pleanty of street food and a couple of bottles of ale each.  Not too bad a day – especially when it turns out that Carin can get a basic rhythm out of his panpipes and Tom is passably good with his penny whistle.  And it turns out that the new Halfling can sing a bit, so the three of them soon start running through a few simple songs that all three of them know.

Night, when it comes, passes quietly – but then there are guards on the pier gates and lookout perched on the end of the pier.  In the morning Tom and Harriet are sent ashore again, and they return with freshly baked flat breads, hard-boiled eggs that are still warm and a bowl of wild berries, while Nora uses her brazier to make a pot of onion tea to wash it down with.

When the three amateur musicians collaborate, Adoven joins them on lute, saying "sometimes I miss simple pleasures like playing just for my own enjoyment." He compliments Nora on her grilling technique and adds to the camaraderie being engendered aboard the vessel.

Zelona enjoyed her time listening to the amatuer musicians and then Adoven's more polished additions to the nights entertainments.

She passed the night meditating on the natural world around Mivon such as it was and how she found it. She pondered what her audience tomorrow would yield for Domitius or not.

With the morning, she at the breakfast brought on board and waited for the person who would lead her to that audience.

Later in the morning Jacky arrives.  Although she is clearly not an aristocrat she is dressed neatly with a dagger at her belt, and looks like a respectable member of the working classes – but in a way that doesn’t really attract attention to herself.  She carefully picks her way through the muddy streets of the Low Quarter as she leads you up the hill towards the better kept areas of the city.  The muddy roads and commercial buildings gradually give way to paved streets and  better housing, with even a few made of stone.

Just before you reach the Central District she turns onto a wide boulevard that runs along outside the inner wall, you can see the dwellings of the low district running down to the river, but on the other side are the more respectable, and larger, houses of Mivon’s middle class.  She takes you further round, almost to the Market, and then  through the gate to Central.  There are a number of Aldori there, acting as gate guard, and after she exchanges a few words with them – explaining that you have an appointment with Anada Yarki you are waved through.

There aren’t houses, in the normal sense, here – instead every property is a compound, with double doors leading into an internal area.  Those that are open have a couple of guards close by, many of who appear to be armed with Aldori duelling sword.  Yarki has one of the small compounds, and you are ushered through a courtyard and into a well-appointed receiving room complete with bowls of fruit and a servant ready to pour you a glass of a refreshing cordial.  Jacky stays respectfully by the door, as a good servant should,

A few moments later, Anada Yarki herself appears.  The Elf has passed her better years, but is still slim and is well-dressed in a highly decorated robe.  Her  beak like nose, sniffs slightly, and she looks quickly from one of you to the other, almost as if she is sizing you up.  ”You must be Zelona, and you must be Adoven, she says in clipped tones, as she takes a seat.  ”What is it that you want?”

Zelona had donned her nicer clothing, things that she wore when meeting Lord Henry or some of the other leaders of Midmarch socially. Hues and shades of deep forest greens and such. She kept her armor on, though she had chosen to forego carrying her shield with her into this meeting. Formal and armored, but not decked out to go dungeon delving.

She was a bit off put by the city and it's transitions from district to district. The abrupt changes in style, cleanliness, and wealth were like little mini-shocks to her system as they cross those visible and invisble borders.

She sized up the elven woman even as she was being sized up in turn.

"I am Zelona yes, thank you for allowing us some of your time. I understand you are a very busy woman," she said with a nod. Her eyes flicked to Adoven before she continued in the elven tongue, [Language unknown: "Ri wasan nopa ch O est a olfi onsom ortsantha. N waek herei ai Allicheaurut Nousdiioom. M a ev tinhouure u po latec. Ce no ouwiio k mawaon evho iepe beic trutic fine thi ellese oveel osntro usei isom. Stncha peha, weei pro ch ac ncdin p p ers sehi."]

Adoven remains stoic, not apparently understanding what was being said. This was Zelona's mission, after all.

Anada waves the servant forward to offer the fruit bowl around, while she considers the question.  "Please help yourself ..." she says in Common.

A moment or two later, Anada replies in common.

"I think he was last here about four or five years ago.  He was going to Kyonin for short holiday and to see his friends. He must have got there, because I had a reply to the note he carried a note south for me. But I haven't heard from him since."

Zelona took the offered fruit and enjoyed some of it.

"Would you have a way to reach out to people or contacts you have in Kyonin in a more immediate way to find out his status? My friend has sent messages but received no reply. I suppose for an elf whose lives span many centuries four or five years is not much, but to those with less of life expectation it can seem an eternity."

Adoven takes an apple and savors the crunch and natural sweetness.

"No." is the elf's concise, and brief, answer.

Zelona sighed quietly, she was going to be one of those people.

"'No' alone is such a terse and callous reply when the fate of my friend's father is unknown," she said in reply.

"'No, I don't have contacts or a way to reach them'? 'No, I don't want to help'? 'No, you have offered to recompense me for my services'? could all be wrapped up in 'no'." Zelona said with a smile. "I am willing to help you with coin or services if it will secure your help in tracking down my friend's father or new of him from Kyonin."