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Post by Ancelas on Oct 12, 2023 20:05:47 GMT -5
Arven was about to argue with Taliesin, but Sae's comment drew his attention. Ashara blinked and stared as well. Bosun Toloma's tail paused its twitching, and Diaz tapped the bowl of his pipe lightly on the table before placing it back into his mouth.
"...Well now," he murmured. "A heartstone with no ship. Would you excuse us, for a moment? I think it best to not be too hasty in composing a proper offer." He motioned to Ashara and Arven, and then three Captains stepped away from the table, moving a few feet away to discuss.
Bosun Toloma watched them for a moment and then looked back at Sae and Taliesin. "They see how much you would like a ship for your hunt and seek to exploit you," she said quietly, keeping her voice low. "They will come back with a counter offer that may seem fair... but you have more power here than they. If you have the ear of the Mareki, then you can tell them how the resources will be allocated, and the ship will be yours in a week. If you have a heartstone, then you can secure the ship at half the price they offered you."
Her yellow eyes were keen, though her posture revealed nothing of what she said to them to the eyes of onlookers. "As for the crew, you can ignore their dithering. Their crews may be loyal to them, but for those without a captain to serve, I am their voice - and I think we will be able to do business."
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Post by §~Samwise~§ on Oct 12, 2023 20:09:07 GMT -5
Taliesin marked the sudden change in mood following Sae's remarks, but said nothing. He continued to remain silent while the Captain's scurried off to talk and the Bosun opted to spill more beans to give them an edge.
He did give a small nod of acknowledgment to Bosun Toloma and then leaned to peak at the Captains and attempt to hear what they were saying. (Rolled Perception Nat 20+4+3=27)
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Post by redcoat on Oct 12, 2023 20:12:44 GMT -5
Sae nodded as the Captains stepped away, and looked to the Bosun with a smile.
"I like you. Have you ever considered being a Captain yourself? You've got a good head on your shoulders." It was said lightly- like she was simply asking after the Bosun's life plans... but the Bosun was very clever.
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Post by Ancelas on Oct 12, 2023 20:25:22 GMT -5
While their backs were turned toward Sae and Taliesin, Taliesin could make out bits and pieces of their quiet discussion. They were doing calculations on the fly, determining how much even a crudely repaired airship could fetch in port, as well as the profit that could be had with an already-etched airship heartstone. It seemed like the general consensus was that they were hoping to make more money off of the sale of the ship than it was reasonably worth, and being able to keep the heartstone to sell at port was a major opportunity they could exploit. It seemed the Bosun knew them well.
Sonya Toloma's tail curled a little and a flicker of amusement touched her eyes. "It is what makes me a good bosun. The captain may tell me where to sail, but they will get nowhere without my say so. I am comfortable with this arrangement."
The captains seemed to have come to an agreement. They turned and returned to the table, Diaz plucking his pipe from his mouth once more. "Alright then, we can shave a bit off the sale of the airship, considering you've got your own power source. Fifty-five hundred, and the ship's yours. Not much we can do on the time needed to repair it, but I think with a two-week turnaround and a discount that steep, it's mighty reasonable."
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Post by §~Samwise~§ on Oct 12, 2023 20:46:56 GMT -5
Taliesin was content to find that Bosun Toloma had been a straight shooter in the assessment she offered as he heard the Captains here and there. Following the Captain's offer Taliesin turned around to face away from them, but Sae could still see his face.
He grabbed the earring and whispered softly in elvish. "Straight-shooter, good read. They're looking to fleece us on the ship and make even more off of the Aetheric engine that they keep. Your lead on the haggling to get them to half that price or lower." He looked at Sae and then at the council. He knew Sae had it in her to speak business and get the deal they needed.
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Post by redcoat on Oct 12, 2023 20:52:32 GMT -5
Sae arched an eyebrow. "Fifty-five hundred for an airship without a heartstone? Or fifty-five hundred and our aetherstone for a completed airship?" She looked to Tali.
"Either way, I think we'll probably be taking the castle back to Astor- see if we can get a better deal there."
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Post by Ancelas on Oct 13, 2023 7:07:05 GMT -5
Arven looked up at the castle with a pensive expression while Ashara huffed. Diaz remained calm, gesturing with his pipe as he spoke. "Now, there's no need to step away just yet. No, you can keep your heartstone - if you have one, that's a mighty good find, and asking for a ship without one's a solid negotiating tactic. Absolutely solid. But that castle, now.... that belongs to a giant, I hear. I've no doubt you've got a good relationship with him, but it's still his, while we're discussing something that's yours - there's a lot of pride in that, knowing you're free to go when and where you please.
"Tell you what. We'll knock it down a peg, it can be yours for five thousand even. Now you ask any captain, that there's a bargain of a price."
Toloma crossed her arms unobtrusively, quietly displaying four fingers on one hand.
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Post by §~Samwise~§ on Oct 13, 2023 8:14:35 GMT -5
Taliesin had stopped when Diaz spoke up trying to slowly haggle down. "You're crazy. I can get a ship in the same condition with a missing Aether Stone for under two thousand gold anywhere else. You'd have to come down pretty steeply from that price for your convenience fee." He began to turn away again with Sae as even the small change in the asking price was far too high.
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Post by Ancelas on Oct 13, 2023 8:18:55 GMT -5
Ashara barked out a sharp laugh. "Then you were being sold a hole-ridden dinghy. Two thousand is an insulting price, and would only be offered to someone who truly knew nothing of proper ships."
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Post by redcoat on Oct 13, 2023 8:26:53 GMT -5
Sae shrugged her shoulders, looking to Taliesin and then back to the Captains.
"Four thousand, we get pick of the litter, and the repairs will be done within a week."
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Post by Ancelas on Oct 13, 2023 8:39:54 GMT -5
Arven clenched his jaw and Ashara, who had just laughed at Taliesin, scoffed. Diaz, meanwhile, rubbed at his chin.
"Mm... you're driving a hard bargain, ma'am. Four thousand is well below its value... but considering we'll need to bring it up to code anyway. Mind you, there's only two ships available, and one is in worse condition than the others - I was preparing to offer the better ship, but if you want the more damaged one, we can't promise anything about the repair time. You're welcome to inspect both, though.
"Repair work though will depend on other factors, now. If you think you can get some of our resources re-assigned, that's certainly one thing, but the work crews-"
"-Will be part of a separate negotiation," Bosun Toloma added calmly. "I will speak with them. If the Mareki wish the Gunslinger's ship to be prepared ahead of schedule, I will smooth things over to ensure there is no disruption for the Council."
Diaz looked over at Toloma and stared for a long moment. Ashara blinked, as though taking note of the Bosun for the first time. Arven grunted. "Well," the dwarf said, "I suppose the others will be fine with this arrangement, so long as we can get back to work on these plans. Diaz?"
The halfling looked away from Toloma and back to Sae. He placed his pipe back into his mouth and gave it a puff. "Four thousand for a ship without a heartsone," he said. "Ya'll can inspect the ship first. I trust the Bosun - if she thinks she can get it done in a week, and you can get the Mareki off our back on it..."
He extended a hand over the table.
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Post by §~Samwise~§ on Oct 13, 2023 8:50:56 GMT -5
Taliesin turned back to regard the Captains as they reacted to his suggestion and then to Sae's. A small smirk played on his lips as Bosun Toloma interrupted the Captains to set them in their lane. With everything on the table he moved aside some so that Sae could more readily shake on the deal, if she felt like taking it of course.
He actually looked forward to dealing with Toloma alone as she seemed more level headed and certainly would make a great Captain of their airship. Not to mention how well she would get along with Valor Company as a whole.
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Post by redcoat on Oct 13, 2023 10:04:27 GMT -5
Sae inclined her head, shaking hands on the deal.
"Would you like it in gold, goods, or a combination there of?"
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Post by Ancelas on Oct 13, 2023 12:39:50 GMT -5
Ashara grumbled and turned to head into the office the Captain's Council had claimed for their own. Arven Laand remained, still intrigued by the conversation, and Diaz... chuckled.
"Well, if you've got useful objects for trade, then let's discuss what you can part with..."
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