The Duke's office, with Agnad
Alecto smiled coolly, looking at the merchant with evaluating eyes. After a moment, he seemed to be satisfied with what he saw, and he replied with a neutral, if polite, tone.
"I am looking to settle in a partnership with you, M. Nallbrine. I would like to have a merchant company founded in my city... Something similar to the Hollins, Braggs and Croaker company, but with interests a little more aligned with mine."
He returned to the end of the table, where he started moving around the documents laying in front of his seat - looking for one in particular, it seemed. His speech remained unperturbed all the while.
"The idea in itself is relatively simple. I find a merchant who is not affiliated with any of the big companies, and I give him the capital to start up his own - by financing his first two trade posts, free of charge, and thus allowing him to become quite rich. In exchange, I have the merchant sign something, which binds him to make all of his trade flow through Kol'Thelos - and I do mean all of it - and to respect any embargo enforced by Kol'Thelos. Essentially, your company would remain independent and capable of dealing with whoever it wishes; however, you would not be able to sell it to another merchant without my written acceptance, and you would only be able to set up trade between Kol'Thelos and other cities.
Because of this, the deal would be to our shared advantage. You get the necessary capital to found a merchant company ten times the size of the one you currently own, and I get the assurance that you will be there to stimulate my city's economy. I may even give you grants every so often if you can manage to organize trade between Kol'Thelos and another state manufacturing a product I currently require."
His smile grew slightly wider, and slightly warmer.
"So what do you say, M. Nallbrine? Do we have a deal?"
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At the meeting with Tsujochi
The city gates opened once again, and a company of men got out. At their head was the Duke, who like the knight he had sent at the previous meeting was the only man present in a steel armor, although he wore no helmet. He had roughly half as much men as the man in front of him; a traditional Thelossi sign of trust, signifying that the one coming to the meeting did not feel the need to match the other's bodyguards with his own. Arriving before the tribe leader, he inclined his head in a sign of respect, and smiled.
"I salute you, Windborn leader. My name is Alecto Vanheim, Duke of Kol'Thelos. You called to honor our alliance, and I have answered."
Once the traditional words were said, he spoke no more, waiting for the tribe leader to explain why he had convened the meeting.
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The Duke's office, with the Varanasi twins
A knight showed the twins inside after a few minutes' wait. He lead them to the Duke's office - which was also the war room - where the city's lord was waiting at the end of a long table. A smile colored the man's face, while his eyes indicated a certain curiosity.
"Sir Tankred, Lady Alessandar. What a pleasure to welcome you in my office. If I may ask, what made you desire to honor by palace so by visiting it?"
It was a polite way of asking why they had wanted an audience. It was extremely rare for the Duke to be impolite.
"And, while we still deal in pleasantries, will you have some wine?"
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Topic: Blackwater Coast IC Thread (Read 9139 times)