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((This thread is open to all who wish to do business with the Seven Sister's Trading Consortium...Buy, sell, trade, hire or just stop in to have a mug of ale.))
Anomanda slumped in her wobbly chair at the corner table in the common room of the Prancing Patron sipping at a leather jack of truly detestable wine while keeping an eye on the leather bags and strapped bundles were piled against the wall, the total sum of their initial inventory. She glanced around the dim interior taking in the soot stained and peeling plaster of the walls, rough hewn furniture and paucity of decorative embellishments. Every time her gaze passed over the barkeep, who was attired in a jerkin of extremely offensive yellow, he leaned forward and seemed ready to leap into action to fulfill her every whim. He reminded her of an overeager puppy, desperate to please. No wonder, she thought, in the two hours she?d been waiting, no other patron had entered and he was desperate not to see her leave.
The door swung open allowing a blast of rain and cool evening air to swirl into the room. Her partner, Kara, stumbled inside and leaned against the door until it closed. Waving off the barkeep, she hobbled over to Anomanda holding her arms across her midsection. Anomanda?s relief at finally seeing her companion turned to concern when Kara threw back her hood revealing a blackened eye and swollen, blood encrusted mouth. Dropping into the chair across from Anomanda, she leaned her head back with a sigh.
?Fortune!? Anomanda exclaimed, leaning forward across the table ?What happened to you??
Kara began to smile, then winced as the motion pulled open her split lip. Speaking carefully, she said ? I was doing a bit of business at the Exigo encampment, sourcing out the market for our goods, comparing prices and making contacts. Seems the Syndicate was not appreciative of my activities in their midst and a few of their guards expressed their displeasure rather stridently.?
Chuckling gently at Anomanda?s expression, she raises a placating hand. ?It?s not as bad as it looks, the guards are obviously professionals. They made their point without any permanent damage. Besides, when the time comes to get even, I?d rather hit them where it really hurts?on the bottom line.?
Anomanda settled back with a frown. ?As you wish, Kara.? Grimacing as she takes a sip of wine, she glowers about her ?Not that I question your decision, but are you sure this is the best place to set up shop? The Patron hardly seems to be at the center of happenings??
?Well, exactly!? Replied Kara ?Our friend, Master O?Malley,? Turning, she waved to the barkeep who smiled broadly and bobbed his head in return ?and I have come to an understanding. In return for us providing him with substantially better quality of ales and wines than he is able to acquire locally, he will provide us with a base of operations and act as our clerk, collecting and holding any messages that may arrive while we are out and about. While the surroundings may lack a certain level of aesthetics, the location could not be better suited for our needs.?
With a raised eyebrow and dubious look, Anomanda signals her thoughts about Kara?s decision. ?And where, exactly, are we supposed to acquire a steady supply of fine ales and wines for our?clerk.?
Kara waved a hand dismissively ?I shall make those arrangements with the network. Besides, finding wines and ales of better quality than the swill O?Malley serves should not be that difficult or that expensive. Now, on to business. I had the good fortune to meet a local priestess of Waukeen. She seems agreeable enough and I?m certain we can reach an accommodation on securing our funds at a reasonable rate. More worrisome is that, besides a few polite inquires about our current inventory and a passing interest in the future plans of the Seven Sisters, it appears that most of the veteran adventurers have established relationships with the Exigo or the local merchants.?
Anomanda shrugged. ?So we?ll focus on the newly minted explorers, those looking to grab their first piece of decent gear at a reasonable price. Hell, in the few days we?ve been here I?ve seen a constant influx of freshly scrubbed faces looking to make a name for themselves.? With a bark of laughter, she continued ?And I?ve passed their corpses on the trails through the hills. They?re our best form of advertisement.?
Anomanda slumped in her wobbly chair at the corner table in the common room of the Prancing Patron sipping at a leather jack of truly detestable wine while keeping an eye on the leather bags and strapped bundles were piled against the wall, the total sum of their initial inventory. She glanced around the dim interior taking in the soot stained and peeling plaster of the walls, rough hewn furniture and paucity of decorative embellishments. Every time her gaze passed over the barkeep, who was attired in a jerkin of extremely offensive yellow, he leaned forward and seemed ready to leap into action to fulfill her every whim. He reminded her of an overeager puppy, desperate to please. No wonder, she thought, in the two hours she?d been waiting, no other patron had entered and he was desperate not to see her leave.
The door swung open allowing a blast of rain and cool evening air to swirl into the room. Her partner, Kara, stumbled inside and leaned against the door until it closed. Waving off the barkeep, she hobbled over to Anomanda holding her arms across her midsection. Anomanda?s relief at finally seeing her companion turned to concern when Kara threw back her hood revealing a blackened eye and swollen, blood encrusted mouth. Dropping into the chair across from Anomanda, she leaned her head back with a sigh.
?Fortune!? Anomanda exclaimed, leaning forward across the table ?What happened to you??
Kara began to smile, then winced as the motion pulled open her split lip. Speaking carefully, she said ? I was doing a bit of business at the Exigo encampment, sourcing out the market for our goods, comparing prices and making contacts. Seems the Syndicate was not appreciative of my activities in their midst and a few of their guards expressed their displeasure rather stridently.?
Chuckling gently at Anomanda?s expression, she raises a placating hand. ?It?s not as bad as it looks, the guards are obviously professionals. They made their point without any permanent damage. Besides, when the time comes to get even, I?d rather hit them where it really hurts?on the bottom line.?
Anomanda settled back with a frown. ?As you wish, Kara.? Grimacing as she takes a sip of wine, she glowers about her ?Not that I question your decision, but are you sure this is the best place to set up shop? The Patron hardly seems to be at the center of happenings??
?Well, exactly!? Replied Kara ?Our friend, Master O?Malley,? Turning, she waved to the barkeep who smiled broadly and bobbed his head in return ?and I have come to an understanding. In return for us providing him with substantially better quality of ales and wines than he is able to acquire locally, he will provide us with a base of operations and act as our clerk, collecting and holding any messages that may arrive while we are out and about. While the surroundings may lack a certain level of aesthetics, the location could not be better suited for our needs.?
With a raised eyebrow and dubious look, Anomanda signals her thoughts about Kara?s decision. ?And where, exactly, are we supposed to acquire a steady supply of fine ales and wines for our?clerk.?
Kara waved a hand dismissively ?I shall make those arrangements with the network. Besides, finding wines and ales of better quality than the swill O?Malley serves should not be that difficult or that expensive. Now, on to business. I had the good fortune to meet a local priestess of Waukeen. She seems agreeable enough and I?m certain we can reach an accommodation on securing our funds at a reasonable rate. More worrisome is that, besides a few polite inquires about our current inventory and a passing interest in the future plans of the Seven Sisters, it appears that most of the veteran adventurers have established relationships with the Exigo or the local merchants.?
Anomanda shrugged. ?So we?ll focus on the newly minted explorers, those looking to grab their first piece of decent gear at a reasonable price. Hell, in the few days we?ve been here I?ve seen a constant influx of freshly scrubbed faces looking to make a name for themselves.? With a bark of laughter, she continued ?And I?ve passed their corpses on the trails through the hills. They?re our best form of advertisement.?
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