Gold and Treachery - A Trade Magnate Quest
- Thread starter Azel
- Start date
- Original
Vote closed
- Location
- Explosion!
Nearly had a heart attack cause the closed vote looked like I forgot to type - [Loan] Defer - so I scrambled to check that yes, yes I did remember to say that.
Whew.
And shoutout to Talon for asking GM/figuring out that we can wait on those two choices for later!
Whew.
And shoutout to Talon for asking GM/figuring out that we can wait on those two choices for later!
So, here's the long term plan. 1. Get married with (non) Muslims.
2. We trade with (non) Muslims.
3. We arrange festivals for the poor.
4. We convince (non) Masulman to attack the city.
5. Open the gate (literally).
6. Since we are such wonderful partners + married to their representative + know the life of the city, we are appointed governor.
7. PROFIT !!!
(P.s. sorry for google translat)
2. We trade with (non) Muslims.
3. We arrange festivals for the poor.
4. We convince (non) Masulman to attack the city.
5. Open the gate (literally).
6. Since we are such wonderful partners + married to their representative + know the life of the city, we are appointed governor.
7. PROFIT !!!
(P.s. sorry for google translat)
- Location
- France
Good plan, and we could even get some sweet Sorcery !
But I think this would be hard for us, our family already as a reputation as traitors.
So we need to convince the poor that we are not traitors, but those people who did not arrange festivals for them. (I would believe).
Our noble family showed a truly heroic deed and, in spite of the stained honor, went to negotiations with the enemy in order to save the city from ruin!
(P.s. sorry for google translat)
- Location
- France
Okay, we present ourselve as savior from an army ready to sack the city.
And don't worry for the google translate, as a non-native english speaker myself, I know that my grammar is absolutely horrible !
Turn 1 – Results Part 2
- Location
- Germany
Turn 1 – Results Part 2
[] Organize a simple banquet. (1 AP, 3 Wealth)
Invite your peers to a feast and a traditional symposium with music and poetry.
Invited Ghaliya bint Nur bint Hasna to the banquet.
Preparing a banquet was not all that difficult, or so you thought. Inviting the people you wanted to impress? Granted, that took some effort, even if it was mostly in the sense of having to know and memorize all the tiny little details of Alumahis politics, or at least what was publicly known. With an event as tiny as you could afford, it was rather important to make sure no guests were feuding too openly with on another. The event itself though should have been a straightforward affair. Just some food, some musicians and that would be that.
Luckily, your mansions staff managed to politely disabuse you of that notion long before it became a problem. You had honestly never considered if it would be difficult or not to get two hundred partridges for the first course, or in which precise order you would have to buy the cheeses for the symposiums snacks to make sure they were all ripened just right at the date of the event. It was showing that this was your first time hosting such a feast and you had much to learn in that regard. It took a good two months before the plans were fully drawn up and you spent more then one evening slaving over the finer details of everything, last but not least how to stretch your dwindling funds too.
And then you invited Ghaliya bint Nur bint Hasna, throwing everything into chaos. As word spread, people began to send notice that they sadly had to retract their acceptance, some politely dancing around the reason, others flat out stating that they would not dine with those they deemed enemies of the city. It was still early enough that you could adjust, cancelling some orders and stretching out others over the coming months. You were well and truly sick of the Firaspuran goat cheese whose order you had not been able to cancel in time before the banquet, yet overall, things were still looking well.
While some of the cancellations were unfortunate, such as the few people who at least had familial connections to the great houses, the number was much lower than you had feared when inviting the Ealim matriarch. There was no helping it though. When the feast was coming closer, the treasury emptied out near entirely and if it were not for Sarruts efforts to squeeze some more silver from wherever he could, you would have had trouble to even pay the musicians when the day came. No matter how much you fretted though, fearing to bring shame upon House Lipern by having overplayed your hand, it all was perfect when the time came.
The first few guests to arrive were all from the lesser houses, the people eager to congratulate and compliment you. It was easy to see that they had come to rub shoulders with those above their own status, though you could hardly begrudge them that desire. They made for a very good company though and when the bulk of the guests arrived there was already the smell of spiced wine and the buzz of pleasant conversation in the air. The hall had already filled nicely when the guest arrived that you had almost feared to overshadow you at your own banquet. And for good reason at that.
Ghaliya bint Nur bint Hasna was not at all what you had expected. She arrived in a swirl of Deucallin silk dyed a deep purple, but patterned after Alumahi fashion, on her shoulders a modest saffron veil and on her face an easy smile. Her greeting of you was polite, almost deferential, and she even brought a gift to thank you for the invitation, an Ealim water clock wrought from finely spun gold and clearest glass. As she began to mingle while you waited for the last few guests to arrive, you began to worry over the tales of her cutting tongue and sharp wit, but whenever you spotted her in the crowd, there was laughter and smiles around her. For someone whose mere presence had driven away some of your guests, she now sure seemed to look like the reason most of them had come.
The feast itself was almost an afterthought. The people kept talking all the while and the wine kept flowing, decorum and feuds all but forgotten as your guests enjoyed themselves. It was not until the symposium that you had a chance to interact with the Matriarch yourself. But after the two of you had discussed the intricacies of the clock she had gifted you before a crowd of curious onlookers, you took your chance and invited her to the balcony overlooking the sea for a chat.
The breeze was refreshing as you stepped out of the slightly stuffy hall, waiting a moment for the older woman to follow you. There was only so much you do when cramming so many people into one room for so long, but the warm breeze from the sea was all the more refreshing for it. Silently you walked on to one of the corners of the balcony where prying ears would not reach. "I hope you are enjoying the feast, lady bint Hasna."
"Would you accuse me of only pretending?", she replied with a small laugh, seeming to be endlessly amused by your dumbfounded expression. "Be at ease. The tension does you no favours when trying to broach a difficult topic."
In that moment, you were quite content to have a cup of wine to take a sip from. "That was not my intention, my lady."
"It was. Do not lie to me. It is rude and the truth always serves you better." To your relief, she did not seem offended though, even if most Ealim took even the whitest lie rather poorly. Instead, she gazed out to the dark sea, the moonlight drenched waves barely visible above the other mansions. "I know about the rumours surrounding House Lipern and I also know that they are far from baseless."
Your instinct was to defend yourself and the honour of your house, even though she sounded more commiserative then accusatory, but in that moment, you just could not. Too long had you already worried about the empty coffers. Too long had you felt as if a weight was ever so slowly crushing you. What you would have given in that moment to flee the banquet and to spend some time in the library. Just an hour or two to have the demons banished from your thoughts for a short while.
"You have done me a great favour by inviting me to this event. A rather masterfully executed one at that, I would like to add." For a brief moment longer, she drank in the sight of the sea, then turned to you with an expression you had not seen on the older woman's face so far. The pleasant smile was gone, leaving cold calculation and piercing eyes. "I am in the need of an ally in this city. One that I can depend on. Your house has the clout that I am looking for, if those rumours can be silenced."
The weight seemed to lift itself from your shoulders. It was easy to see where she was going. "I take it you have something in mind then." You did not dare to presume to know more of what was going on in the matriarchs head, but if you had to choose between being indebted to her or that goat Qaypanu, you already knew what answer you would give.
"Marry one of my adopted daughters, and I will make sure that the bridal price makes your worries disappear." If you kept your face under control at those words, you could not tell, but she made no sign that she noticed your surprise. "The people of Alumahi care nothing for our ways and traditions. To them, the adoption means nothing. They will see only who my daughter was before she joined my family and so they will see my Menodora as perfectly acceptable, Deucallian cattle. In the east though, they will understand, and you will find many doors open to you by tying our houses together."
Very slowly you sipped from your wine again, your thoughts racing with the implications. "And what do you expect in return?"
"Nothing.", she spoke without hesitation.
"Nothing.", you echoed incredulously.
Her faced twisted into a sneer as her gaze wandered towards the sea again. "We fought four pointless, bloody wars to tear down the walls of Alumahi. Five if you count that insanity in Qabwet, spending thousands of lives and ships full of gold just to be humiliated in Er Awyt and having the Demadi fight us ever since. I do not care how much those idiots in the Madrasas clamour for another round. There are other ways then the blade and I will remind them of that."
A year ago, you would have shocked at the brazen proclamation, but after all the time at the Madrasa, it was just another passionate speech of an Ealim wishing to see this city take on their ways. For once, words eluded you.
As the silence stretched on, she turned back to you, the sneer gone, but the fire in her eyes remained. "Think about my offer. And even if you turn it down, I will not forget the favour you did me tonight. A loan to see you tided over the unfortunate times your house is experiencing is the least that I can do."
And with those words she left, leaving you alone with your thoughts.
Banquet Attendance: 2 (Banquet Tier) + 1 (Reputation) + 1 (Special Occasion: Inheritance) – 2 (Ghaliya bint Nur bint Hasna invited) -> 2 + (-1 +1 +0 +1) = 3 -> Low Attendance
Banquet Quality: 3 (Accommodations Tier) + 1 (Wine Cellar) + 1 (Classical Education)-> 5 + (1 +0 +1 +1 +1) = 9 -> Event of the Year
Persuasion Check: 4 (Base) + 4 (Banquet Quality) -> 8 + (0 +1 +1 +1 +1 +0 +0 +1) = 13
Haggling Check: 3 (Base) + 4 (Banquet Quality) -> 7 + (-1 +1 +-1 +1 +1 +0 +0) = 8
Reputation Effect: 4 + (1 +-1 +-1 +-1) = 2
Rumours about bankruptcy lessened.
Malus for Ealim association removed for Trade Houses.
[] Look for a Wife (1 AP)
As the last known Lipern, it is up to you to make sure that your houses legacy does not end with you. Look for a prospective bride.
All year, you had carefully looked for women in marriable age and, if you were honest with yourself, who would likely have gotten you a decent dowry. There was definitely some eagerness among the lower ranked houses for the matter, some of them approaching you entirely of their own volition during the banquet, but none of the daughters of these houses struck you as a particularly desirable match compared to some others. In the end, there were five women which you were seriously considering.
Hiritt Sin
She is the sole heiress of a minor house of Demadi descent, owning a small settlement of fishers and divers on the Apagnu Islands. Her father passed some years ago without a male heir and she has since fought off many suitors, seeking to stay independent. By now though, she has apparently been worn down as many houses refuse to do business with her without demanding a marriage in return. You have not met her, but word is that she is a skilled administrator and negotiator, but somewhat lacking in social graces. If married, she would bring all her assets into the union, though it is hard to judge their value from afar. Word is though that she is sitting on a veritable hoard of pearls and precious coral that she was too stubborn to sell under their value.
Melite Diaxu
This daughter of the house Great House Diaxu has recently been accused of having slept with no less than three different men. Allegedly, whenever her father was debating in the Council with the other Sibu, she would try and seduce the heirs of other houses for nefarious purposes that ranged from intrigue to blood magic, depending on who was telling the tale. While many consider the rumours overblown, if not even completely manufactured slander spread by House Diaxus enemies, they have still tarnished her reputation irrevocably. If you were to marry her, it would be the first union between House Lipern and another house of Deucallian descent since the exile and while the rumours would hurt your reputation, her father has been heard to offer prospective grooms a rather preposterous dowry to make up for it.
Aiuru Sariti
While House Sariti is not overly prestigious or wealthy, they are still well respected. Aiuru is the current patriarch's younger sister and in the brief talks you had with her during your banquet, you found the rumours that she is shy to be grossly wrong. She is rather bookish, but was animatedly joining the discussion in the symposium and seemed far more attentive to events around her then many others, merely preferring to listen in while others did the talking. Her family is heavily invested in the coastal trade around Alumahi, making their money mostly with salt and foodstuffs. You carefully had indicated an interest to her brother and he seemed rather open to the idea, indicating only a modest dowry, but also a willingness to share business contacts.
Menodora bint Ghaliya bint Hasna
The adopted daughter whose hand you were offered by Ghaliya bint Hasna. While you had no chance to meet her, some people at the Madrasa have mentioned her when you had inquired about her family. Born as a third daughter to the Panikean House Tetaros, she left her family to study in the great Madrasa of Damerisu, where she met her future adoptive mother. She impressed the matriarch with the knowledge in strategy, seamanship and administration. By nature she seems to be a rather free spirit and values her independence greatly. If you were to marry her, Ghaliya bint Hasna has promised to get House Lipern a trade license for Damerisu, which would allow you to buy spices there directly, and a small trade galley with a hold full of myrrh, incense and pepper worth more then enough to set up a trade route immediately. However, marrying an Ealim by choice might still be ill received by the people of Alumahi.
Zayna bint Ghaliya bint Hasna
Or you could make this alliance as deep as possible, by marrying Ghaliya bint Hasnas trueborn daughter Zayna. In many things the opposite of Menodora, she has been groomed all her life to navigate courtly politics and allegedly has been acting as a spy for her mother more then once already. Others claim that is vile slander of a woman described often as the perfect and graceful princess found otherwise only in stories. While the dowry would be the same, your ties to House Hasna would be much tighter if you were to marry her, for good or ill. It would give you more leverage among the Ealim, but likewise would it be poorly received in Alumahi.
Current Wealth: 0
Outstanding Costs: 4 Wealth for loan interest
What do you want to do with the tenements?
[] [Tenements] Keep them for now.
[] [Tenements] Sell them. (Gain 2 Wealth, modified by Bargaining check)
[] [Tenements] Demolish and rebuild the tenements. (Costs 3 Wealth and 1 AP next turn, new tenements will bring 1 Wealth per turn, takes 1 turn to complete)
[] [Tenements] Repair the tenements and add a business. (Always takes 1 AP and 1 turn to complete, income varies by type of business and random roll) Pick one:
-[] [Tenements] Tavern (Costs 2 Wealth)
-[] [Tenements] Brothel (Costs 3 Wealth)
-[] [Tenements] Gambling Den (Costs 2 Wealth)
Do you take the deal offered by Sillaniu Qaypanu?
[] [Loan - Qaypanu] Take the deal. (now 16 Wealth owed to Sillaniu Qaypanu with 1 Wealth interest per turn, the loan must be repaid within 3 turns)
[] [Loan - Qaypanu] Do not take the deal. (loan remains 8 Wealth owed to Sillaniu Qaypanu with 3 Wealth interest per turn
Do you take the loan offered by Ghaliya bint Nur bint Hasna? (only available if none of her daughters are married)
[] [Loan - Hasna] Take the loan. (gain loan of 10 Wealth owed to House Hasna with 1 Wealth interest per turn)
[] [Loan – Hasna] Do not take the loan.
Do you plan to marry? (Note: Dowry will be available immediately. Assets and ships will produce income starting next turn.)
[] [Marriage] Remain single for now.
[] [Marriage] Hiritt Sin (gain several businesses and at least 4 Wealth)
[] [Marriage] Melite Diaxu (gain 13 Wealth, potential Reputation loss)
[] [Marriage] Aiuru Sariti (gain 6 wealth, gain trade contacts in Alumahis hinterland)
[] [Marriage] Menodora bint Ghaliya bint Hasna (gain 4 Wealth, gain 1 Small Trade Galley on a trade route to Damerisu, gain weak alliance with House Hasna, potential Reputation loss)
[] [Marriage] Zayna bint Ghaliya bint Hasna (gain 4 Wealth, gain 1 Small Trade Galley on a trade route to Damerisu, gain strong alliance with House Hasna, likely Reputation loss)
AN: That happened. You just threw the greatest party of the year on your last dime, which massively boosted your marriage prospects. As a side note, while Oreipolos is not quiet cognizant of that fact IC, I have to point out that in any alliance with House Hasna, you will be very much the junior partner, so you should consider how much you trust Ghaliya bint Hasna before taking that option.
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Ghostdevil
The Devil of Ghosts
- Location
- United States
[X] [Marriage] Hiritt Sin (gain several businesses and at least 4 Wealth)
I like her attitude.
I like her attitude.
- Location
- Germany
Yes. Spice trade is making a lot of money and Ealim traders have a de-facto monopoly on it since they control every trade route going through at least semi-civilized lands.
egoo
Totally Not Creating Problems Where None Existed
- Location
- Russia
[X] [Marriage] Menodora bint Ghaliya bint Hasna (gain 4 Wealth, gain 1 Small Trade Galley on a trade route to Damerisu, gain weak alliance with House Hasna, potential Reputation loss)
Frankly, rep loss is not something we have to worry much, I think. We've started badly enough
The Wealth, and the Administrator she seems to be, are damn lucrative.
Mind, we can't trust her wholesale, but it's better to have a suspect but competent someone than noone.
Also, Spices.
[X] [Tenements] Keep them for now.
I'd like to rebuild and get a slow but steady Wealth trickle, but we don't have much Wealth at the moment to spare.
[X] [Loan - Qaypanu] Do not take the deal. (loan remains 8 Wealth owed to Sillaniu Qaypanu with 3 Wealth interest per turn
I don't think we can afford to get our economy off the ground while having a higher debt wth time constraints.
Frankly, rep loss is not something we have to worry much, I think. We've started badly enough
The Wealth, and the Administrator she seems to be, are damn lucrative.
Mind, we can't trust her wholesale, but it's better to have a suspect but competent someone than noone.
Also, Spices.
[X] [Tenements] Keep them for now.
I'd like to rebuild and get a slow but steady Wealth trickle, but we don't have much Wealth at the moment to spare.
[X] [Loan - Qaypanu] Do not take the deal. (loan remains 8 Wealth owed to Sillaniu Qaypanu with 3 Wealth interest per turn
I don't think we can afford to get our economy off the ground while having a higher debt wth time constraints.
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Ghostdevil
The Devil of Ghosts
- Location
- United States
Take the loan from foreign lady. Pay off loanshark and marry first girl for 4 wealth plus businesses. I would make vote but on phone.
- Location
- Brazil
More importantly, she seems to have a marital focus, something we are awful at. Her other daughter has intrigue focus which is something we also are awful at.
- Location
- Explosion!
Hah! Don't they rightly regret now not participating at the best party, those rolls came back in full that's for sure!
Gonna hold on making a choice right away to try and go over the update a couple of times, make sure I don't miss something a second time, though my gut does say to go with the adopted Hasna. She can take good charge of our trade galleys, while we can handle the politics and contracting back at home.
That's not exactly the best thing until we are sure she loves us and isn't going to use said Intrigue advantage against us.
Gonna hold on making a choice right away to try and go over the update a couple of times, make sure I don't miss something a second time, though my gut does say to go with the adopted Hasna. She can take good charge of our trade galleys, while we can handle the politics and contracting back at home.
Ghostdevil
The Devil of Ghosts
- Location
- United States
I like the fist girl tho... Shes got gumption!
- Location
- Brazil
That depends on what we want. If it's just the monies from spice trade then Menodora is better. If we want to go all-in on Philosophy of Mathaqaf and help them subvert our nation then I'm sure we won't have to worry about Zanya.
- Location
- United States
Truth be told, I'm not a fan of totally saddling our horse to Ealim. Their philosophy is cool and all, but I'm not sold on it - and it's clear they demand everybody be, through one way or another. We can serve as their 'in' to the greatest city in the world without committing to a marital alliance, let alone one where we'd ultimately be beholden to them.
Let's pick a local to marry, lake the offered loan, and set our sights on taking back our ancestral homeland, not betraying our adopted one.
Let's pick a local to marry, lake the offered loan, and set our sights on taking back our ancestral homeland, not betraying our adopted one.
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[X] [Marriage] Hiritt Sin
[X] [Loan - Hasna] Take the loan.
[X] [Loan - Qaypanu] Do not take the deal. (loan remains 8 Wealth owed to Sillaniu Qaypanu with 3 Wealth interest per turn.
[X] [Tenements] Repair the tenements and add a business. (Always takes 1 AP and 1 turn to complete, income varies by type of business and random roll) Pick one:
-[X] [Tenements] Brothel (Costs 3 Wealth)
[X] [Loan - Hasna] Take the loan.
[X] [Loan - Qaypanu] Do not take the deal. (loan remains 8 Wealth owed to Sillaniu Qaypanu with 3 Wealth interest per turn.
[X] [Tenements] Repair the tenements and add a business. (Always takes 1 AP and 1 turn to complete, income varies by type of business and random roll) Pick one:
-[X] [Tenements] Brothel (Costs 3 Wealth)
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- Pronouns
- He/Him/His
[X] [Marriage] Melite Diaxu (gain 13 Wealth, potential Reputation loss)
[X] [Loan - Hasna] Take the loan.
[X] [Loan - Qaypanu] Do not take the deal. (loan remains 8 Wealth owed to Sillaniu Qaypanu with 3 Wealth interest per turn.
[X] [Tenements] Keep them for now.
"First Deucallian marriage since the Exile" fits well with that. It marks the coming of our house out of the cold, and puts us on a track to become Basileus.
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Ghostdevil
The Devil of Ghosts
- Location
- United States
[X] [Marriage] Hiritt Sin
[X] [Loan - Hasna] Take the loan.
[X] [Loan - Qaypanu] Do not take the deal. (loan remains 8 Wealth owed to Sillaniu Qaypanu with 3 Wealth interest per turn.
[X] [Tenements] Keep them for now.
[X] [Loan - Hasna] Take the loan.
[X] [Loan - Qaypanu] Do not take the deal. (loan remains 8 Wealth owed to Sillaniu Qaypanu with 3 Wealth interest per turn.
[X] [Tenements] Keep them for now.
- Location
- Brazil
[X] [Marriage] Menodora bint Ghaliya bint Hasna (gain 4 Wealth, gain 1 Small Trade Galley on a trade route to Damerisu, gain weak alliance with House Hasna, potential Reputation loss)
[X] [Tenements] Keep them for now.
[X] [Loan - Qaypanu] Do not take the deal. (loan remains 8 Wealth owed to Sillaniu Qaypanu with 3 Wealth interest per turn
S P I C E S
[X] [Tenements] Keep them for now.
[X] [Loan - Qaypanu] Do not take the deal. (loan remains 8 Wealth owed to Sillaniu Qaypanu with 3 Wealth interest per turn
S P I C E S