55
« on: October 12, 2016, 06:43:29 AM »
14:49:22 <Euphemia_> Flanked by Tora and her personal attendants, Lee walks purposefully through Inaba's docks. With repairs to the Sound-From-Fire organized and underway, there's not much left keeping her here save a desire to speak with local travellers- and, of course, a pre-arranged meeting at a harbourside teashop with the ever-helpful bureaucrat, Vol Kikure.
14:52:46 <Soppy> Vol is, of course, already waiting for her when the posse arrives at the tea shop. He seems to be making notes in some kind of book, which he sets aside upon sensing them enter. He stands and smiles to greet them, his usual green garb stunning in its drabness. "Lady Aaeiko, Sir Tora. Welcome." he gestures to his table for them all to sit. He must have some sort of system, because there's exactly enough chairs for everyone, including
14:52:49 <Soppy> Lee's attendants
15:01:01 <Euphemia_> "Good day anew, my friend," Lee says, whilst her party begins seating itself. "I was hoping to discuss some particulars with you, regarding how my folk shall occupy themselves for the next few weeks whilst we're away on expedition."
15:04:13 <Soppy> "Expedition?" he raises an eyebrow, coming to full attention. "I was aware that some excitement had proceeded Rishi and Khun's return, but an expedition? So soon? What brought this about?"
15:08:48 <Euphemia_> "Well, yes," replies Lee. "Lady Hakuki, Master Rishi, Master Khun and myself shall be departing for Nine Rivers within a week in order to offer our wholehearted support to the local deities when it comes to dealing with their Wyld-Forged nemeses. I expect it will take some time, you see, leaving the administrative affairs of Inaba in your kind and capable
15:08:48 <Euphemia_> hands."
15:09:33 <@AndrewRogue> Tora makes a sound but has no overall comment, sipping at his tea.
15:12:52 <Soppy> "... in my hands you say?" he seems fairly surprise, the first time you've seen anything approaching it on his face since you met him. "Well. I certainly have a Conversation to have with Lady Hakuhi." there's a bit of amusement in the voice, but it warbles ever so slightly. "I can imagine several scenarios that would bring this about, considering recent events, but do catch me up to speed Lady Aaeiko, if you would."
15:15:12 <Euphemia_> "It appears the entire region is undergoing a kind of invasion by the Fair Ones. Mobs of hobgoblins, abandoned villages, murderous mists drawing people towards the capital- and, of course, Master Khun has told me first-hand of areas taken over by the Wyld's terrible energy during his brief visits- burned libraries and so on. It's easy to see how, left
15:15:12 <Euphemia_> unchecked, such a menace could come to plague Inaba, but even more than that those creatures an affront to everything the values order and the right. As the Chosen, we have a duty and a power to intervene- don't you agree?"
15:16:30 <Euphemia_> *everything that
15:18:49 <Soppy> "I would indeed." he nods, sipping at the tea he had ordered. Tea is also brought out for everyone at this point. "It would be the best use of my abilities to leave me here to tend to business. Lady Hakuhi's decisionmaking is correct there... though I wonder what her troops will say."
15:19:41 <@AndrewRogue> "One would hope that they would heed the decision of their mistress."
15:22:28 <Soppy> "Oh one can heed such decisions to the letter. It is the spirit, Sir Tora, that makes all the difference." he chuckles. "I may have a few weeks of feet-dragging and grumbling ahead of me. No matter," he shrugs, "It will be good practice for my skills."
15:25:14 <@AndrewRogue> "It is the sad duty of the second to bear such things, Master Vol." Tira nods. "Behind every great leader stand a dozen beaurecrats who are despised and derided for their necessary talents."
15:26:10 <Euphemia_> Lee reaches for her cup and takes a brief sip. "My, the tea seems bitter," she remarks. "A unique blend?"
15:27:44 <Soppy> He chuckles and nods to Tora, turning to Lee. "One from my home, the Nexus. The tea of Suizasho tends on the more mild side, so I encouraged a little variety in the important. This one seems to have taken off at least." he nods.
15:27:53 <Soppy> in the import
15:31:06 <Euphemia_> "Ah, and having heard of Nexus I thought it would be best to have nothing to do with it. Proven wrong twice in one moment," replies Lee, swirling the cup a little. "Now, we had best discuss practical matters. How can my people best employ themselves in Inaba?" she asks. "In the short term, of course, your generosity ensures our survival, but it cannot last.
15:31:06 <Euphemia_> To thrive, we must find a niche unfilled."
15:33:44 <@AndrewRogue> "Idle hands are a dangerous tool and, while out people are talented in their art, I suspect you and yours have little need of quite this many performers and musicians at this time. We wish to make Inaba our home, so we must bend and find a way to help."
15:34:46 <Euphemia_> "Though I can't say that performers don't have their practical uses outside the simple enjoyment of the finer things. Distracting bored, heavily-armed individuals from getting up to mischief, for example, is a time-honoured pastime..."
15:35:49 <Soppy> "I would say, being from there... our goods and trade are top notch, but the city itself can be avoided." he smiles softly. "And yes, a short-term plan is more necessary with the coming mission." He looks to Tora to listen then back to Lee. "While admittedly 90 of you is a little much, it can still be immediately helpful. Our docks are rather spare, as you've noticed. We are a minor stop on what is a multi-leg trade route. They stop, but
15:40:18 <Soppy> they do not stay, and they do not spend. A burgeoning art hall, strategically placed by the waterfront, would be an excellent start to leverage more coin out of the traffic wouldn't you say?" he smiles. "We would of course work out the details, and we will have to wait for the building materials to be replenished upon finishing your residences. Tell me, do you have any crafters in your midst? There is a niche to fill in finely made pottery
15:40:48 <Soppy> and dishware, rugs, and other such high end goods."
15:46:07 <@AndrewRogue> Tora clears his throat and casts a glance at his mother. "We do have a multitude of talents among our own, though I am less familiar with them than my mother."
15:48:01 <Euphemia_> "Darling, you are too modest. But still, a concert hall and a temple are one and the same, so I cannot object to that," muses Lee. "As for craftsmanship, why, woodwork for the most part. Our skills in that regard were put to use creating ornaments and furniture for temples- and instruments, of course, but the same kind of work goes into making things like,
15:48:01 <Euphemia_> oh, bowls, bows, and so on. Perhaps it would be most wonderful if we could reserve a large workshop for our use in that regard."
15:51:06 <Soppy> "Excellent. There are some more regional forms that are in demand inland, of which we have a few artisans to teach your people. Perhaps we can create a demand either inland or for export for your particular goods." he nods, having another sip. "It may perhaps be best to integrate the workshop into the housing plans, for efficiency."
15:53:09 <@AndrewRogue> "Not to be crass, but I must ask before we go further: what are the intents to repay the debt for the land and materials we will be using?"
15:53:20 <@AndrewRogue> *methods, not intents
15:57:19 <Soppy> "As I said before, long term loans with low rates of interest can be arranged for much of it. Taxes will be levied, of course, at a variable rate depending on your income once you get up and running. I can have someone to assist you with the books to ensure everything is tracked correctly, or I would be willing to do it myself if needed. Once we know the final bill, we can talk of that more though."
15:59:36 <@AndrewRogue> Tora takes a drink of his tea. "We will have to check those numbers before we can begin anything, of course."
16:00:01 <Soppy> "Of course."
16:01:48 <@AndrewRogue> "Will we able to do that in absence of your Lady?"
16:05:09 <Soppy> "I don't see why not. You've already begun situating yourselves here. The inertia of your arrival will keep you going far longer than you suspect. I don't think the locals or the Lady's troops are so undisciplined to move to kick you out so quickly."
16:05:35 <Euphemia_> "I see! Then, may I ask something?" asks Lee, answering her own question. "The Sound-From-Fire, our ship, will be used during the upcoming Inaban expedition to Nine Rivers... as well as a number of my people acting as sailors, along with the contributions of my own person to the diplomatic effort, of course. Although I, how to say it, struggle quite heavily
16:05:35 <Euphemia_> to put a value on my presence, I feel that negotiating with spirits and godlings is a speciality of sorts of mine worthy of compensation.
16:05:35 <Euphemia_> "I do not need much in the way of money for myself, and it pains me to make such a request, but I would hope our efforts in that regard might contribute to offset the overall fiscal burden placed upon my people."
16:07:57 <Soppy> "I can account for fair value of the services, yes. Would you like payment in advance, or subtracted from the final bill for construction materials?"
16:12:03 <Euphemia_> "Oh, whatever Tora wants, I don't need to hold the silver in my palm to know it was used properly, though," replies Lee, finding the topic of money rather boring and doing little to hide it. "I am quite sure you will come to a fair and equitable arrangement regarding funding." She cups her chin. "I do hope I can continue to contribute directly to the
16:12:03 <Euphemia_> well-being of Inaba. Ah, that reminds me," she adds, thoughtfully. "I heard there was a disused shrine in the region?"
16:17:55 <@AndrewRogue> Tora clears his throat. "We can, of course, discuss how that will factor in as well, yes."
16:18:50 <Soppy> He smiles to Lee, trying to boost her out of boredom. "I am sure you will, Lady Aaeiko." he chuckles, sipping again, "For the shrine I've heard of the same, but Lady Hakuhi would be the one to ask about that. Or the local shrine near the northern exit."
16:21:31 <Euphemia_> "Certainly. We'll see that it's done," muses Lee. "Ah, now, there's something else I wanted to ask! I wish to find instruction in the local language," she tells Vol. "Of course, I'll be with Lady Hakuhi for the forseeable future, and Master Khun as well, so I'm sure I'll get plenty of opportunities. I don't suppose you could help us with some formal
16:21:31 <Euphemia_> education in the matter, though? We're going to need to be able to talk to one another to blend in... and without knowledge of the Tongue of Dragons, we will have some difficulty securing the patronage and respect of the learned folk."
16:23:21 <Soppy> "Ha. Of course, Lady Aaeiko. I myself am going through the same process. I will refer you to my own tutor, recommended by Lady Hakuhi. She is quite skilled, if strict. We can see about bringing in more tutors from inland as well."
16:26:05 <Euphemia_> "Strict, hmm?" Lee lowers her eyes for a moment. "Of course. That's what you want out of any teacher. I expect it will be a humbling experience, starting from the beginning in a new topic," she muses. "Do you know, most people never learn anything new after they reach adulthood? It's a truly shocking thing, when you consider it properly."
16:27:00 <Soppy> "Yes, I have heard that. It surprises me immensely, when you consider the amount of truly fascinating things out in the world."
16:28:12 <@AndrewRogue> "Thankfully our people are not as most others and will no doubt take to the challenges of learning the Tongue of Dragons."
16:30:14 <Euphemia_> Lee reaches to sip her tea again. "Bluntly stated, true, and yet..." she muses. "Most people are not educated as we are to begin with. You can't learn if you haven't been given the tools to learn, and you certainly can't acquire the tools to learn when your masters refuse to bestow them upon you."
16:31:29 <@AndrewRogue> Tora looks suitably abashed. "No offense was intended, of course. We were a... blessed people given many opportunities."
16:32:53 <Euphemia_> "We certainly aren't intending to compare ourselves to Suizash..ans? Suizashoans?"
16:34:16 <Soppy> Vol's expression eases watching the family interplay, quietly sipping his tea so as not to interrupt. He studies the expressions of Lee's silent attendants in the meantime
16:35:32 <@AndrewRogue> The three of them seem suitably bored by the the discussion of the nonsense that Tora is generally left to handle.
16:35:59 <@AndrewRogue> They are mostly focused on the tea.
16:36:40 <Soppy> "Is the tea to your liking?" he asks, prodding them into conversation
Show Posts