Patchwork Universe

liason · Posted: Tue Aug 03, 2004 9:43 am Post subject: How Best to Proceed

[Continued from Preparations for Trade]

Liason descended into the depths of the Imperial Foundry. At length, he was admitted to one of the Artisan chambers.

"I have good news to report from the lands around us."

"What news ?"

"I have located a number of sources of materials. There are possibilties for trade."

"This is good. We await the materials with anticipation."

"Before I depart I require trade goods. At least two-dozen low penetration rifles and at least half a dozen blunderbusses. I also have positions for three new salvage teams."

"We have only enough resource to permit a single additional salvage team. The rest you shall have."

"It is good that we are able to cooperate once more."

"New resource has begun to come in, though almost all of it is stone and brick. Also, one of our salvage teams is irreparably damaged."

"Which team ?"

"The one sent South."

"What is the nature of the damage ?"

"The team has become both incorporeal and insubordinate."

Ambassador Liason had no further comment to add, so bowed and left the room. It puzzled him that the peaceful village he had passed through had managed to so completely disable a salvage mob. Perhaps he would take more care on his return journey.

liason · Posted: Wed Aug 04, 2004 8:29 am Post subject:

Back in the upper floors once more, Liason sought out a suitable servant.

"Assistant ! I require a brief service of you."

"Certainly Ambassador. It is good to see you returned."

"Thankyou. The service is this: Take a light field pistol and two dozen rounds in a canvas bag to the guest in the West Recess customer lounge. He won't be expecting this. Offer to sell him the pistol very cheaply. Whatever money he has with him will be acceptable, but he must pay in coins. If he asks, I know nothing of this. If you need guidance during the conversation, aether-speak me."

"I shall."

Assistant bowed and left.

liason · Posted: Fri Aug 06, 2004 4:06 pm Post subject:

Some time later, Assistant returned with several small coins.

"Well done," Liason took the coins, "I shall be leaving again as soon as these are ready."

Walking to the other side of the room, he carefully deposited the coins one by one into a large metal drum suspended amidst a tangle of pipes, chains and small tools. A whirring, grinding noise began to emerge from the drum.

"May I go now ?" Assistant asked.

"Yes, thankyou, the duplication process may take some time."

liason · Posted: Sun Aug 08, 2004 12:45 pm Post subject:

Liason headed back up through the Foundry to wait by the South loading hall. The cart he had requested was already loaded and waiting. He checked the contents briefly and nodded to himself.

Now he just had to make one final decision. Should he take the last salvage team South to the Slums or across to the Zoo ?

liason · Posted: Tue Aug 10, 2004 11:17 am Post subject:

Various small carts and servants arrived one by one in the loading hall.

Finally, Liason was ready to depart, waiting only for the sergeant who was apparently being escorted here by one of the servants.

liason · Posted: Thu Aug 12, 2004 10:19 am Post subject:

[The sergeant arrives from 'Preparations for Trade']

Liason rose from where he had been resting.

"My apologies for the delays, let us now depart."

Larkin Quickgrip · Strong Joined: 21 Jan 2004 Posts: 254 Location: The Slums

The Sergeant strode over to the Liason, he had been spending the entire walk across the foundry working himself up into a bad mood, wondering what was going on.

Brandishing his newly bought pistol he said "Alright Liason, just whats going?. What's with the desperation to get a hold of my money? Theres no way that this, " he nodded pointedly at the weapon in his hand "is worth the money I gave you." He glared at the ambassador "Even the metal in the coins won't get you much."

He stopped and waited for the Liasons answer.

liason · Posted: Fri Aug 13, 2004 9:02 am Post subject:

This question came as something of a surprise to Liason. It wasn't so much that he disagreed with the sergeant's assessment. The problem was that Assistant had given him no indication at all that the transaction had seemed implausible.

Unfortunately, however much he sympathised with the sergeant, he couldn't tell him the truth.

"You are correct, sergeant, the weapon is worth more than you paid. However, the payment was of no consequence. Like yourself I follow the orders I am given and where I exercise my own judgement I am subject to rules and restrictions. In this case, I would rather have simply given you the weapon. To do so, regrettably, is forbidden. If, on the other hand, you are sold the weapon then I am permitted to price it based on your ability to pay. It is a curious loophole in the regulations that in this case you paid so little, but not really problematic. Establishing trade with Peerblind will be very expensive but potentially very profitable. This one weapon is the least of the Foundry's concerns."

Liason took the rope at the front of his cart and headed for the gate, which was even now being slowly winched open.

"I will discuss my plans in more detail if you wish, but we must do so on the journey. I am already late."

Larkin Quickgrip · Strong Joined: 21 Jan 2004 Posts: 254 Location: The Slums

The Sergeant tucked the pistol back into his belt again and glared suspiciously at the ambassador once more. But deciding that he would rather discuss things back in Peerblind he walked over to the cart and said "Lets go then."

liason · Posted: Fri Aug 13, 2004 3:29 pm Post subject:

Ambassador Liason and the sergeant left the Foundry and travelled South.

The wind had subsided somewhat and the mist barrier was so thin that they could see clearly through it to the village beyond.

[Both leave this thread for Burial Village: The Return Journey]