Messages

Client is open to bids.

Ten thousand is not set in a stone tablet.

- White Eagle
(Krak des Roses)

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)

It's unbelievable the sacrifices I make for the betterment of Ephia's Well. I defy the wishes of my Royal Prince for them and attempted to create possibilities and ways forward. Despite my efforts, it is all in vain and is in my estimation the failure of Ephians.

They are met with a Prince of Royal blood who is clearly a brute and has plenty ego (but rightfully so as nobility). He hails from Qadira, a land of freeroamers, corsairs, bandits and other such scum.

Their initial diplomacy suggests a tactic of not taking him serious and putting him down a notch. I won't pretend that I know why because really I don't. Even if this is a stage of exploration and if they were not yet informed of the fact the Prince's father is ten times more unreasonable than this man, it is far too risky to earn the Prince's ire.

Which they definitely earned. The Prince felt scorned and mistreated, that while Qadira-on-the-Sea was already the insulted party on the account of Sergeant Samton & cohorts illegal invasion of Qadira to apprehend a murderer- and the ensuing failed diplomacy of Legate Nasreen. Oh and I remember fondly the time I spoke to Legate Cadaver one-on-one and he said ''Qadira has no law, of course we invaded this sovereign nation to apprehend a murderer what is there to complain about?" okay Cadaver, sure. Makes sense....

Once they learned the Prince is capable of moving Qadira in a manner of benefit to Ephia's Well, they began negotiating in earnest. I counseled to treat the Prince, Royalty, with respect and stroke his ego, so that wounds unnecessarily caused may begin healing over time and a charm campaign would've worked nicely. There's always the chance that this could backfire into larger demands but if I had to make an educated guess, manipulating the Prince through this manner would've been effective.

Instead they resume insults, call him unreasonable, yell at him, delay negotiations, even during clear flares of emotion from the Prince, they say ''The cogs turn slowly. I can't schedule." the Prince wishes a Council position. Rather than saying it is granted on the conditions of this or that, the answer is ''I am a Legate but my hands are tied''. When the Prince utters words of warning and even utters the word WAR (a catastrophy) he is met with ''be patient, you can't just barge into my schedule''... "Ugh the Prince keeps changing his demands"... Well of course he does, he's getting pissed the Hells off. The Prince is no politician! He is no negotiator! And he definitely NOT a subject of Ephia's Well! YOU are meant to be the professional. These demands wouldn't come and go, if certain people kept their ugly traps shut! If certain people made quicker pace and avoided scorn. But that is not the objective, the objective is- piss Qadira off to the maximum they are capable of and definitely not take Qadira seriously. Imagine if they did, pirate scum? Ah-ha-ha, posh librarian laughter! Let's see who laughs when Iakmes makes short work of Ephia's Well and the Qadirans maybe launch a raid or two. You stupid imbecible imbred undeserving cadaver idiot of a once-man!

Vizier Bashir and the few Sisters attempted charm and attempted to be reasonable. Even if Bashir at times was quite neutral and boring in his demeanor, he was the best of them.

All of this could have easily been resolved if Ephia's Well's tactics weren't so insulting and based on their ego, their pride, their religion.

The Court's spies, the Prince, threatened my life in my own home. For my attempts at diplomacy, they noted I am working much more in favor of Ephia's Well than Qadira. And that I speak ill or at least not with the positive grandeur I usually exhibit, of the Prince of Qadira. It is all true! But I hid and lied well and managed to survive through it. Nonetheless, it came close. Too close. Closer than I'd ever wanted.

I pissed, literally, myself and found myself crying and drinking myself to sleep after the fact. Now I write this entry...

I give up on Ephia's Well. If they want to scorn the Prince of Qadira and ruin everything with clumsy self-absorbed diplomatic ''strategy'' (they have no strategy) they are free to pursue this course into the Maelstrom and find themselves at the bottom with the pearls.

Legate Balstan will be a great boon to the Qadiran cause. If Marcellus is the only obstacle, well... Obstacles can be removed. Qadira shall win in grand fashion, it is unavoidable with this government.

See if you cannot have the Sultan send you reinforcements to defend you. He probably will pull you out of the burning fire, out of necessity. Purples exhibit this attitude, Sultan will save us, we don't need Qadira. DONT YOU UNDERSTAND THAT THE SULTAN DOES NOT WISH FOR THIS? THAT YOU WOULD DISSAPOINT HIM. THAT YOU WOULD HAVE DONE HIM DISSERVICE? HE IS OCCUPIED!!!!! PISSING OFF YOUR RULER IS THAT SOMETHING TO BRAG ABOUT?

What would the Sultan rather, you butter up Qadira and have Qadiran spend resources on the defense of Ephia's Well or you insult Qadira because they don't Sultan scrape enough? BY THE WHEEL.

I levy the greatest possible insult to the incompetent and disgustingly arrogant Ephian government. Orcs and Qadira devour you all, I do not care!

[An anonymous note was scribbled and left around the Souk.]

Selling band of the four elements, 20,000 dinar no negotiaton.
Leave message in the Krak for Fire Bird.

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

it appears I have forgotten to score Darius the Axe in my last letter to you.

Darius, the Axe

Competence: 0 out of 1000
Loyalty: 0 out of 1000
Importance: 0 out of 1000


Let it hereby be corrected. Deep apologies.

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

High Merchant Nathaniel Blackvale

[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,

I have decided to supply you with information required for you to solidify your rule and keep a royal finger to the pulse. You do not have the ability to be omnipresent, allow my advice to illuminate you.

THE PRINCE OF QADIRA'S EPHIAN COURT

Osric Locke, Priest

Scores

Competence: 650 out of 1000
Loyalty: 600 out of 1000
Importance: 700 out of 1000

Brief summary: Osric Locke has the ability to launch a charm offense to the following of the Warrior and bestow onto his Royal Highness many blessings. There is opportunity to propagate your favorability. However, there appears to be little effort made. He seems to favor you over most other Warriors in the Ephia's Well and disloyalty is not a worry. He has no title and that's as boring as he himself. Unlike you, who's entertaining even to Colossi and Sultans.

Boffin, Cupbearer

Competence: 750 out of 1000
Loyalty: 700 out of 1000
Importance: 500 out of 1000

Brief summary: A fairly skilled cutter with little ambition. This makes for a loyal subject and she is fitting enough to test your wine for poison indeed. She does call the Dragon her ''boss'' affectionately and one wonders who she'd die for- you or the Dragon- if forced to choose. I am also worried that she might break her back holding the cup for you because she's so small and you are so majestically tall.

Caprise, Corsair

Competence: 700 out of 1000
Loyalty: 800 out of 1000
Importance: 500 out of 1000

Brief summary: Caprise is stupid. But he cuts well and with ferocity. His sealegs are a boon to any maritime efforts required to aid Qadira to earn your Father's blessings. Has absolutely no reason to favor Ephia's Well over you and is likely to refuse bribes. Still, he's replacable. Of course his sealegs pale in comparison to your royal maritime expertise.

Iskandar, Herald

Competence: 900 out of 1000
Loyalty: 800 out of 1000
Importance: 100 out of 1000

Brief summary: A master on the battlefield who's songs inspire the best of the worst parts of humanity. He seems to favor you greatly as a warrior and I think there's little competition. Besides, he does not strike me as anyone that would break vows. However, he's barely around and hasn't written a single ballad to your name. Silly man. He could learn how to be important from you, your majesty.

Argent, Wyrm of Avarice

Competence: 999 out of 1000
Loyalty: 100 out of 1000
Importance: 999 out of 1000

Brief summary: The Wyrm is a shrewd politician that's manages to wrap everyone around his magical little fingers, his words are gold in the ears of many. He has grown so powerful, that he secured Balstan's victory and is promised to become Prelate. He is instrumental to our diplomatic success because through him the city's coffers and policies may be utilized in ways we deem fitting. However, he does not need you, my Prince. He could achieve all of this without you. There is nothing that tethers him to you and he demonstrates nothing in the form of servitude to you. He displays nothing and has proven nothing. I warn you Prince, beware this dastardly Dragon! He could be taught a lesson of loyalty from you by how much you love Qadira-by-the-Sea.

Nathaniel, High Merchant

Loyalty: 1000 out of 1000

My Prince I live to serve you!


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

High Merchant Nathaniel Blackvale

The lack of recognition for my top-notch politicking is aggravating. It becomes apparent that the Prince lacks the mental acuity to realise the importance to weed out insubordination. Were it fully up to Arjuna, he'd be surrounded by brute louts who beam disloyalty simply because he recognises Qadira in them. There are threats to his power in many of the men that surround him. Yet it is me that he distrusts, because of my brilliant courtly expertise and lack of swinging big sword. The brute does not understand. I will have to make him see truth, elsewise all my effort is for naught. I am in this for Dinars and for Prestige. Qadira-by-the-Sea is nothing but a glorified dock.

Seeking a skilled painter for a commission, will pay well! - Nathaniel Blackvale

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

You've undoubtly been occupied with matters of great importance and thus I write you now with a friendly reminder that you've not yet been able to formulate an answer.

The issue of our citizenship remains unsolved. Please, whenever your Highness has time, resolve the matter.

Besides, after this, I have other pressing matters to register with you.

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

High Merchant Nathaniel Blackvale

Maybe I should kill the Prince of Qadira.

[massive ego]

They do not understand my mannerisms are purposeful. I am testing everyone around me and more importantly their loyalty. If they cannot handle me and if they cannot handle showing a bit of righteous servitude to our Prince who is of Royal blood, they are liable to betray us. Competency is an important measure but not the most important measure. That is and always will be loyalty.

Such I am glad to have uprooted Gedwyr's treachery early. He isn't of the Court, but I remember the conversations he was a part of inside Bashir's the Prince's manse. Clearly he is unsuited to hear such delicate manners.

Aside from him... I expected the Dragon (ridiculous title for a ridiculous man) to be liable to rebellion and defiance because of his massive ego. But he is thus far showing himself a capable asset.

But I must be wary of the Prince's associates not gaining too much favor because it'd jeopardize my own position and potentional reward. I must remain his favorite advisor no matter the cost.

Elsewise I'll gather as much information as possible and just sell it to the Consulate or something. As long as I win, it doesn't matter.

Writing these entries feels good. Keeps my mind off from what I saw.

I saw nothing.

[This journal gathers dust, it's pages wither and evnetually are forever gone and lost to Ash, much like the writer.]

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

Regarding something completely different...

I've been politically attacked twice on the question of my and our court's citizenship. We need to formulate an answer. The question is whether we of the Court are citizens of Qadira or citizens of Ephia's Well.

In my personal opinion we should remain citizens of Ephia's Well and present ourselves to be such. I believe it strengthens your position if you are in company of Ephians that are willingly serving a Prince of Qadira.

The current Legates could use this against us however, with charges of treason or whatever else their corrupted minds could conjure. So we should seek Balstan and other candidates with a possibility of success beforehand so a new Legate favor our stance and not seek to use it against us in the future.

Should we be persecuted or exiled however, my Prince, I would like to ask of you, to make us citizens of Qadira officially, so we aren't nomads on paper. Just in case.

Hopefully through skilled diplomacy any such sort outcome may be avoided. It'd make them look quite tyrannical in any case, even more so if we keep up our charm offense on the populace. Because for now, my Prince, it looks like we're succeeding.

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

High Merchant Nathaniel Blackvale