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[Maximum Spin]

Yes, we're selling for zero net gain either way. On the other hand, the value of the old-world goods doesn't seem to come out of our pocket directly, although I assume it will be frowned upon if we come back with under the estimated profit.

I don't understand the decisions made in St. Alonso at all. It's to be expected that, under normal circumstances, we can get company price for goods anywhere, so why the rush to sell off so much stuff and load up on seemingly random things (and not even a diversified portfolio)? Given the Blackspice charter we're under, it makes even less sense.

[notquitethere]

We were explicitly told Redleaf and Sugar were at a cheap price because they were in season, and so it made sense given the information we had been given to buy it. We do need to buy cheap and sell dear. As it happens, it was sort of the right choice to diversify away from the textiles and alcohol we sailed with, as there's a limit on how much of both of those we can sell at this port.

Also, I thought that "Company Guaranteed Values" was still a profit, albeit not a huge one- was I wrong?

[Maximum Spin]

Also, I thought that "Company Guaranteed Values" was still a profit, albeit not a huge one- was I wrong?

Well, in the ledger, there's actually no purchase price recorded for those, and instead they're marked as pure (estimated) profit with their company valuations. I have no idea how that's supposed to be interpreted, but I strongly suspect it means we are expected to bring home at least that much.

The problem with trying too hard to buy cheap and sell dear is that things are usually priced for intrinsic reasons, so you end up selling off all your good stuff and replacing it with less-good stuff. For example - we're not expecting to leave the sugar in the hold for a few months until it's out of season again, right? And even when it's out of season, we don't know what the price spread is, so we don't know if the price doubles or just goes up five ducats. (The next time we have a chat with a Company Man, we could ask what the highest and lowest prices he's ever seen for various goods are.) In general, low price often means low reward, unless you have some kind of edge on the market nobody else has, which we don't.
Maybe we could try to buy a warehouse somewhere we could store nonperishable goods in for months at a time to take advantage of price changes, but I doubt Haspen intended to account for that.

It might also be prudent to check - are all our starting goods alcohols and textiles?
... actually, are "Twosewn" and "Softfeel" textiles, as I am only speculating based on the names? If so, why are we transporting them in barrels?!

[Haspen]

All your starting goods are alcohols and textiles, with Twosewn and Softfeel indeed being the latter. Company Goods are the ones produced by the Company and the prices they're given are the expected values to be sold at.

[notquitethere]

Let's see what happens if we push negotiations. Might as well test out the mechanics early on, right?

A

[Haspen]

You decide to continue and try to squeeze a better deal.

4 vs 2; price higher
1 vs 5, price lowered
4 vs 3, price higher

The Market Keeper agrees to buy the Sugar in your hold for 65 Ducats per Sack, and that's his final offer.

A) Agreed!
B) No deal; let's sell (insert trade good here) instead!"
C) -

[notquitethere]

Well now we know how that mechanic works!

[crazyabe]

A.

[Maximum Spin]

A, works for me.

[Haspen]

You agree to the price of Sugar and the Purser sighs as he starts to scribble.

"That's 14.300 Ducats got, great deal Captain." He notes and then hums.

"Now that we have about 22 Shiploads of cargo free, ought we buy something?"

A) "Nay, we are finished here."
B) "Yes, let's buy... (insert trade good here)!"

[Maximum Spin]

Blackspice.
If we have an opportunity, let's ask around about likely resale prices in other ports before we fill up the ~six shiploads of ullage.

[Haspen]

"Blackspice!"

"All of it?" The Purser asks just to be sure.

"Of course, the Charter depends on it." The Purser nods while the First Mate twirls his moustache.

"All this Blackspice, we shall be rich Captain, I can feel it."

"Should we load up on something else, monsieur?" The Purser leans towards you.

A) "Yes, also buy... (insert trade good here)!"
B) "Actually, maybe sell some... (insert trade good here)!"
C) "Nay, we done here!"
D) Consult the Ledger.

[crazyabe]

C. We've got some blackspice, now to get some more!

[Maximum Spin]

C. We've got some blackspice, now to get some more!

I hate to waste space, but given the charter, this is probably the safest thing to do.

[Haspen]

"Nay, we done here!"

"Aye, sir!"

"And the Blackspice cost us two hundred fifty two thousand Ducats, sir, I have just finished. Once all the cargo is moved or loaded, we should be free to leave."

30th Early Winter

Morning

Sebastias, Isle of Sebastias

You hear voices on the deck and you leave your cabin to investigate. Much to your surprise, then chagrin, the ship is still anchored at Sebastias. You approach the Gunner, the Surgeon and the First Mate.

"I'm telling you, they got mugged." The Gunner says, bemused.

"Probably just drunk in a ditch somewhere." The Surgeon replies, unconvinced, before they all notice you.

"What is the matter here? Why have we not left Sebastias yet? The sun's high up!" The First Mate grimaces.

"Captain, we're short of four men. Sailors Rowley, Mauro, Alentera and Soviao are missing."

"How so? What have occured?"

"That we do not know."

"They went drinking and sleeping on land, like others, but failed to return to the ship."

"Mugged and knifed, I tell ye."

"Again with the pessimism!"

"Enough. What have you done about this?"

"We've already sent two groups of sailors to go look and ask for them. Both groups have returned and they failed to find any trace of the missing men. Sebastias is a large colony, but even then, this is strange. We three were discussing what to do - and where the sailors might be - and hoped that this dilemma can be solved before you wake up, alas!"

A) "Send more men to look for the stragglers. And prepare some whips! This sluggishness cannot be tolerated."
B) "We wait till noon, then we sail without them."
C) "If they failed to come back, then it is up for them to find their way back to Lusia. Lift anchor, set the sails! We leave right away!"