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[Devastator]

Sounds like time to go with the porcelain plan.

I want to check in with a spirit reader. My gut feeling says priests are not the best option for this.

You spend time haggling with incoming merchants.  You find yourself a little bit outmatched, as artisan names are thrown about that you don't know, local phrases for glaze styles are thrust at you, and you overpay for a nice blue phoenix design that catches your eye too much.

However, you make it up on the return by selling them for some pretty inflated prices right back.  The blue phoenix design goes to a desperate young poet for good money as you endure some of his excruiciatingly poor poetry.  You also manage to pick up a good location for the walking traffic, and get some purchasers bidding against each other.

At the end of the day, you open your purse, and find that you've made a profit of one silver.  That's a good result given your relative inexperience in the field.


Time to consult with a spirit reader.  There are plenty of them in town, but mindful of your efforts to raise money, you look up one with a back-row shop who should be cheaper than usual.  Inside you see the usual paraphanelia, the astrological tables, the chalks and the candles, and the hat with dangling corks.

When you come in, you mention that you've had strange dreams, and you ask him about the spirits.  He says he's can do a reading, and asks for one silver.  You pay the man and he begins.

First, he has you sit down in a chair bolted to the floor, and he places two bronze minatures on small shelves to either side of you.  Next, he sits in a similar chair facing you.  He then puts an engraved copper rod in a slot in the top of the back of the chair, and sits down.  He then begins a recitation..

There's a loud sound, and the next thing you know, the lamps in the room have went out, the statues have fallen off the shelves, and the spirit reader is sitting there struck dumbfounded.

After a quiet moment, he recovers, and tells you that you definately have spirits watching over you, powerful ones, although he was unable to gather any information about them.  He exhorts you to make an appointment for next week, where he can bring in some more powerful charms, and make another try at piercing their veils.  He also says that he can deliver you a charm to grant restful sleep, but with how powerful the spirits are, he would have to make it specially for you.

What is your response?

[AoshimaMichio]

I don't think benevolent spirits have habit of knocking stuff off the shelves and I worry how they feel about this invasion of privacy, thought they have already invaded our privacy.

I vote for getting appointment for next week, but don't go on it with my vote only. How much the charm is gonna cost?

[TheBiggerFish]

How much is the appointment going to cost?

[Radio Controlled]

Yeah, check cost of new appointment and charm.

Also, we'll want to start thinking if we wanna give up our job. Loosing the basic income is annoying, but gaining 3 whole actions per week is pretty substantial, and we have some money to survive off of.

(Also, I always thought 'abhors' meant something like 'hates, regards with disgust'?)

[Devastator]

(Also, I always thought 'abhors' meant something like 'hates, regards with disgust'?)

Doah.  Meant 'exhorts'.  Damn brain typo, there.

[Egan_BW]

I think we should probably come up with some idea of what we're doing before we quit our job. My eventual goal is to become an epic adventurer and kill a bunch of bandits or something for xp, and that would be hard to do while having a job, but we don't really have enough information or experience to go down that path yet.

[Devastator]

Yeah, check cost of new appointment and charm.

"I'll need most of a day to get ready, and have to close the shop.. call it four silver for the appointment.  And five silver for the charm.  I need to get special materials... spend hours making it..."

Is there anything you'd like to do to help with negotiations?

[AoshimaMichio]

That's a bit more than I would be willing to spend. Do we have anything that would make acceptable exchange instead of money? Trinkets, cheap jewelry...?

I think we can go without the charm.

[Radio Controlled]

Getting 3 more actions would in general just allow us to get more stuff done, in terms of finding money making opportunities, making the right connections, making plans etc. If we aren't wasteful with our money, we should be able to live for quite some time off of what we have. We could wait with quitting of course, but if there's an invisible doom counter ticking down, we might need to really commit ourselves.

I also think we can forego the charm for now, though it'd be good to keep it in mind if we ever start facing problems from sleep problems. As for negotiations, maybe try to get the price down by pointing out that he'd earn quite some reputation if he can successfully commune with such powerful spirits, and maybe the promise of future business if he does a good job.

[Devastator]

Seems to be a no to the charm.  Do you want to try and be polite, or try and be intimidating?  Or something specific?  And do you have any more questions for him before I end the week?

[AoshimaMichio]

I personally prefer civility. There's no need to play aggressive hand with guy who's already being helpful. But some haggling should definitely take place.

As per questions, what is his gut feeling about those spirits on our back? Yay or nay? Should we be worried? I know we should be, but external opinion is always nice to have. It gives some perspective.

[Devastator]

You try to bargain him down, but he's having none of it, talking about material requirements and how he needs to prepare for a more robust probe.  Four silver is the best he can offer.

As for your questions, he's a bit evasive about the details, but you manage to get him to admit that he's genuinely baffled, and the spirits were superior enough to his effort that he learned nothing about them, save for their power and existance.

He does add, though, that spirits that powerful are highly unusual, and there must be a serious motive behind it.

[Devastator]

The next week comes in with the heavy rain quitting, in favor of a period of cloud with occasional sunshine.

It seems the charm was unnecessary, as your sleep is restful.  You recieve no more strange dreams or visions.

Things have quietened down in the merchant quarters, as travellers and trade resume normality.

This is the week of the flower festival, and there is a good degree of merriment, and lovers are much in evidence, along with the gardeners showing off their talents, and the well-to-do showing off their finery.  As you are a servant, you are still required to work as normal.

Other than that, there is a story running through the streets about a famous alchemist who has been arrested for poisoning a magistrate with a draught.  There are rumours of her being hired as a poisoner, mixing the potion while drunk, or the magistrate being some kind of supernatural being in disguise.

Spoiler:  Status (click to show/hide)

Week 4.  Time available, two actions.

Assets and Abilities:
Prestige = 0
22 silver.
Employed as a servant with Huan Zhang.
Appointment available with spirit reader for 4 silver.

Allies:
Huan Zhang, diplomat, 2 prestige, 0 favor

[AoshimaMichio]

Well then, path to greatness is long and painful.

1. Let's take up appointment with the spirit reader.

For second action there's few alternative options
1. Gain more money
2. Gain power (fast)
3. Gain connections

I would go with money because money is power. "Scout for alternative secure long term money source" or alternatively "search for someone to teach us art of investment".

[Devastator]

Just announcing that I'm throwing this open to all suggestions.  Updates will be once a day, starting tomorrow morning, or in about 18 hours from this time.