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Mighty & Esteemed Speaker Red Lips,

My strategy seems to be working. Thus, I would notify there's room to double our efforts.
Assuming our desired results would be bolstered by it.

If yes, let me know and I shall come to collect another.
If no, feel free to ignore this letter in it's totality.


Nathaniel Blackvale

Dear Zaheera,

Now that more pressing business has passed for me, I had time to rethink what's happened.

Suddenly remembered handing you a 1,000 for drawing a herocard of Arjuna Namahedu based on a sketch I'd never provided.

Either finish it, draw that murderer, or perhaps a lot more sensible, refund me.

You can send whoever to my stall in the real Ephia's Well. A lot of people come below!

Best regards,

Nathaniel Blackvale

Dear Ashley,

It's been a week or so since the bogus trial against me.
You defended me with honour, smarts and competence.

It's not your fault my arm's chopped off by a fat tick wielding a crimson djinn sword.

Alas, unlike what the Shadowhearts of the Above-Well think, I am currently thriving.

Life in the Creep, I call it the Real Ephia's Well, is a vast improvement.
There's a great lack of nepotism below. You are who you are. Your worth is determined by your abilities.

I'd like to invite you to come visit me and my stall of the Real Souk of Salt & Spice sometime, dear Ashley, I know you to be a competent alchemist. So if there's ever anything you'd want to make coin on, that you couldn't sell anywhere else, know that I am your loyal friend. Elsewise, simply check my stall, I have interesting pieces.

Best regards,

Nathaniel Blackvale

Dear Rajo, Wandering Blade,

It is Nathaniel Blackvale, the proprietor of the Real Souk of Salt & Spice located in the Real Ephia's Well (aka the Creep) writing you.

You are in rare possession of a spacious room in this domain and I desire it, because I have a bunch of Goods-filled crates I need to setup somewhere, and where else safer than what you presently occupy?

Of course I understand you'd not do so for free or out of the kindness of your heart.

So name your price, be it weekly, a percentage of my stall, a one-time fee.

By the way do you often frequent the Creep? How many of it's interesting denizens would you say are your friends? Just curious since I haven't seen you, I've got a couple spies, couple bruisers (including the feared killer of Alejandro, the Osric Locke) and couple more friends.

They'd all be happy if I can stash wares! Since the more I earn, the better I can pay their wage! Makes them *even* more loyal.

Looking forward to your offer. Have a fantastic day.

Nathaniel Blackvale

Malik of the Axe,

It is within my influence to arrange a duel between you and the hated Osric Locke.

For that parasite is my neighbor, not much I can do about it.

Would you be interested in such? I heard your many proclamations that you hunt him, want to kill him and et cetera!

Here to help like a good merchant ought.

Nathaniel Blackvale

[On a noticeboard inside The Creep occassionally obscured by hobos and madmen.]

Welcome to Real Ephia's Well

Your beacon of Light

The Above-Well as you well know is naught but a nepotism

Dark corruption resides on the streets, in the pyramid, the courts and most pressing of all, their hearts

It is here where we will rule and uphold law the way it is meant

Here the law needs no word, for we are the law, the strong, the free, we agents of light who will beckon the Pilgrim and usher in a new era of success and prosperity

No tyrannical guards
No corrupt magistrates
No lying legates
No monopolistic merchants
No fake heroes
No pompous bards

Real Ephia's Well is the city in progress that we all deserve

It is suited for any and all who stand against the shadowhearts above, it is fitting they are protected by The Shade

Orentids, Exiles, Sages, Spokes, Rebels, Contrarians, Religious, Merchants, Downtrodden, Thieves, Criminals, Killers

You. Are. Welcome. Here.

With love,

Interim-Legate Nathaniel Blackvale of Real Ephia's Well

[in my name.]

D.A.

Below are pending tasks. Complete them at your discretion.
Perform them professionally and with subtlety.

Report concrete steps to get paid.
Your performance will be reviewed.

Priority:

- Acquire for me a Key to enter the Deep Gutters. I can't reach the sending head.


Petition:

- The Banda Rossa or College of Balladeers for permission to enter their domain and empty my Krak des Roses room, which presently holds various crates valued at 500 per and wares.
warning: Time limit of approx 3/4 weeks.

- Legate Balstan to lift my exile and/or prosecute (the) Janissaries for corruption.

- The Circus Master to perform in the Creep in my name.

Rumourmonger:

- Ruin to the best of your ability Gedwyr's reputation.

- Ruin to the best of your ability Atticus's reputation.

- Ruin to the best of your ability Samton's reputation.

- Ruin to the best of your ability Sephdrida's reputation.
Tip: she and all the three Torchbearers stood by and watched Alejandro get slaughtered and enjoyed a safe boattrip back with Arjuna. Classirant being an Oathsworn is an insult to all of the Gods. Sephrida I hate the most, she testified. They already pre emptively said they did do something but its a fat lie. Their hypocrisy is so infuriating I might even hate them more than Gedwyr even though they wronged me much less!

- Improve to the best of your ability my reputation.

- Discredit Ephia's Well's government.

- Improve the reputation of the Creep and it's residents.
My goal is to create a new socieity seperate from the Demon Well.

Spy:

- Everyone/Anyone important.
The goal is to find out who hates who, and who might be inclined to hire troublesolvers.

- Find out if there's possibility to contact Iakmes. We could give the Demon Well back to the Orentid and live under Iakmes for a spell (Feel free to refuse).

- Find me killers Justicars to work for my Real Hall of Jurisprudence. Many criminals to catch and deal with.

Other:

- Advertise my store.

- Find someone to purchase a rather potent Djinni scimitar. Suited only to folk of enough foul and lawbreaking intent.

- Find someone who'd purchase a Djinn summoning tome.

- Anything you deem advantageous for me and my cause. You should be rewarded for.

-
You know who wrote this.

Legate Balstan,

The Purples resided over the prosecution and judgement.

Naturally they found me guilty in a sham trial.

Guilty of attempted murder of Recluta Skatterhawk while she cut down innocent people. In reality I just wanted to subdue her and save lives.

Guilty of Capital Theft regarding Gedwyr's misguided anger for me. No witnesses place me near his home. No witnesses saw me with his goods. Guilty because 'there is motive'.

Legate Balstan, there is only one hope for Ephia's Well in regards to successful diplomacy, rule and Law. It is Gold in color.

I am currently exiled and without left forearm.

Lift my exile and allow me to do what is right for us. To prosecute Samton, Colmes for corruption or any way shape form that you deem fit.

I am innocent and unbroken.

Loyal ever to Gold,

Nathaniel Blackvale

Dear Dragon,

the trial I faced that's saw me exiled and my forearm chopped off by what can only be considered a demon sword- was a complete bogus. A fraud! It was not based on evidence in the slightest. It was a popularity contest as all things in Ephia's Well. This person knows that person. This one sleeps with that one. You know full well how it goes.

In any case, clearly, I have no career left in the Above-Well as I now call it. But, well, a man of your boundless ambition that eclipses EVEN mine... Surely has some use for someone or perhaps someones! (Okay: Someones. I have people here) that have little to lose.

Send some coin, some goods, some words, some promises. Give give give.

And then we shall stab, stab, stab.

Or whatever else! Really!

Mind you, I am not desperate, I am making sales in the Creep already.
Coin comes on it's own!

Nathaniel Blackvale
The Herald of Justice in the Creep

Give Exiles upon being Exiled a mark that has a couple of Enhance Ability / day stuff that gets revoked when exile is lifted. I am writing this now that I am exiled, but if to prove a point you could give this out in the future and not me now, that'd be great. I just think if you are solo exiled, life's way too difficult and most likely involves zero questing and is more a quest for revenge or solo entertainment fighting monsters/npc's whatnot. A small up id reckon.

could it be made possible to filter active players on their league color and faction?

Dear Niranye Auvreathil,

what'd it cost for you to create a painting of Arjuna Namahedu strangling a purple Eagle?

Make it heroic looking, like, at the top of a mountain peak for example, or perhaps more suitable, on a ship! Not the crow's nest or anywhere silly and unsuitable for royalty. Perhaps at the front, near the ram or somewhere, I don't know how ships work.

It's supposed to be a surprise for him from me and it'll just be placed within his Manse.

The sooner the better please, life's short!

Nathaniel Blackvale

// Dear new reader, scroll to bottom! //

the goods, wares and pearls are offered by the Court of Prince Arjuna Namahedu, son of the Maharaja, diplomatic envoy of Qadira-on-the-Sea, operated by High Merchant Nathaniel Blackvale. Please view the selection of highly exclusive artefacts and contact the High Merchant for any bids you'd like to make.

Joke bids are collected for a wall of shame measure.

THE PEARLS



Our extraordinary commodities, hard-earned and exquisite.


Legendary Goblet of Greatness



A goblet made of pure gold, slightly tarnished by the passing of time. It shimmers clearly with Noble intent. Pour your liquid into the goblet and Drink. You shall be imbued with great meaning.

This goblet was appraised by experts such as Sisters of the Priory and found to be an unique and potentionally powerful object that should be shared in a final toast before a great battle or gifted to a mythical hero. None were able to discern the effects but experts think it's either a great battleboon or a permanent transformation of body, soul and mind.

You shan't find it's like because it was claimed from the clutches of a dark, terrible threat, of which the likes won't be seen again.

Should you raise a toast, raise it also to the man who died in this fight.
Darius of the Axe. Martyrs keep him.

The Band of Four Elements



A fabled and known artefact for around one of your fingers. It halts with great success all known elements and is a stepping stone to ultimate resistance. It is not a matter of ''could it save your life?'' it unequivocally will. Pair it with another, pair it with the next pearl, the gloomchains, you will command the vanguard and be able to face the Orc shamans and even worse purely alone.

Gloom Chains of The Khilgez



Mythical chains to withstand all elements much like the fabled artefact prior. Enchanted to be sturdy. It also looks most fashionable and will beyond doubt see you many Djinni and Orcs. Destroy Ephia's Well's enemies that of Qadira also!

Bulwark of the Captain



A famed, fabled, truly legendary equipment with powerful enchantments to turn your speechcraft to higher levels aswell as your capability to make agile dodges and react proper.

It is however not plate, it is banded armour, this is the only downside to an otherwise completely unique and spectacular piece. Because of it's rarity and powerful enchantments, unique in their being, it is rightfully listed as a Pearl.

Thus concludes the current inventory of true Pearls of Qadira.

Yours Sincerely,

Nathaniel Blackvale

For loot dividing it could be good to turn a potion stack of 3 into 3 single potions to place them on the floor. Maybe it's easier to create this now with the potion stacking script?

I notice most people are not engaging in actual roleplay when it comes to engaging a merchant. It feels unnecessarily robotic and gamey on the part of the customers. It's not just about game stats, I'm sure your characters also have preferences regarding fashion, flavor, jewelry, how fancy or prestigious something is and whatever else. And it'd be nice if people attempted to haggle more (it's a bazaar) and strike up conversation. I'm sure I personally could do more to make it engaging and I shall aspire to do so, but I'm a little worried about how lackluster / low motivation the roleplay is on the customers end of things. This is a RP server and the merchant isn't a NPC with a inventory tab, it's another player to play the game with.

Anyway I don't mean to rant it'd be good to read some opinions, tips, tricks, self-reflections. Discuss! :D

Caw-Caw Alejandro,

Client thinks 10,000. For the difficulty undergone of procurement and safekeeping.

Send reply, be brief and undetailled.

- White Eagle
(Krak des Roses)

[A scribbled notice flies with the wind and lands at your feet.]

Best possible wares for a shieldbearing barbarian - find Nathaniel Blackvale of the Qadiran Prince court.
Find him with at least a thousand coin to your name for the are no better wares than these.
Great wares, of the BULWARK aspect bless'd be the stars.

His Royal Highness, Prince of Qadira, Sir A. Namahedu,

It is with anguish that I must caution you about the Dwarf named Gedwyr.
You've shown him affinity and despite that, he slighted your Court and your Father the Maharajah.

Yesterday a Raja guard commissioned us to locate a Qadira convoy carrying precious cargo. The company was about twelve individuals including yours truly, Osric, the Cupbearer and Gedwyr.

Whilst traversing the dune towards the Windblown Camp, I spoke fondly of your Highness, the Court and Qadira and Gedwyr said something most disgracious that I dare not repeat in defiance to your excellence. I called him out on it, calling him uncouth and he spoke physical threats in return. The upstart barbarian!

When I asked Osric a moment aside and gave keen advice to watch the Dwarf in case of violence. The Dwarf grew deadly afraid at the sight of us speaking with hushed words. As result, he rescinded his aid and instructed others, with success, to do the same and defy you, your Court and your Father the Maharajah.

You know my talent for diplomacy but it is impossible to reason with arbitrary and irrational barbarians, we should be glad my testing of the man exposed his corrupted nature before he was able to cause real harm.


I have the honour to be, Sir, Your Majesty's humble and obedient servant,

High Merchant Nathaniel Blackvale

[The journal of Nathaniel lays privately hidden.]



NATHANIEL BLACKVALE

This book exists for me to process my thoughts. I feel clarity after I've written my thoughts, they become easier to memorise. Furthermore, it is a great way to process my emotions. I don't reckon I'll have many earnest friends in this path I've set foot on. Even if I felt I did, I'm convinced they'd fall victim to lures and spill all my beans. So I've none to count on and none to speak my genuine thoughts to.

Ephia's Well is a viper nest. It lacks the larger than life figures I've met in the wastes and in the other cities I've (briefly) visited. These are killers, hardened politicians, snakes. The Prince of Qadira appears not the same, he's driven by emotion and ambition. I'm not saying it's the best course to make it across the sea, but I am saying it makes for a far more entertaining life. He has a soul. I don't know if I could say the same for most others. Still, it's early, perhaps too early, for me to judge Ephians so. But first impressions stick a while.

What I find most odd is my ability to remain this harmonious despite my most sudden entrance onto the political landscape and being given a prestigious title as ''High Merchant''. Even the Vizier of Ephia's Well addressed me as thus, obviously to please the Prince and not I, but still... Not. Too. Shabby.

SIEGFRIED WOLFHARD

In my homeland of golden hills and verdant grasslands with pine trees scattered throughout I was a LEGEND.
Every village maiden knew the name Wolfhard. As did every Noble across the Kingdoms. I have dreamt of my homeland many times and I know this to be true.

My impeccable combat prowess, charming moustache, swift steps through the sands...
Sharp and pointy rapier, one hand on my back, focused eyes...
The predator's look at my opponent...
A confident inspiring wink at my closest ally... the hopeful tear that flows from their eye...

There is nothing I can do wrong.

This desolate wasteland I have awakened in...
They ask of the Wolfhard, are you ready?

I ask thee.

Are you?