audio | username: raven master

[pulvisetumbra]

( Moaning, laughter, lewd innuendo — the fixtures of the House of Dew's channels. Until, a steeled voice cuts way: )

Tamaiu, if you please. Impress on your ladies the virtue of silence for the next hour.

( All too suddenly, betraying how often the mistress of the house listens in, the cacophony of sound dispels. He continues: )

Good afternoon. You’ve made rather a mess of things, haven’t you?

I made my first fortune in Sa-Hareth. Inevitably, through sales of salt. Now, this was before, when death was still a reliable constant, and trade margin weren’t unhelpfully eroded by the competition’s ability to deploy dead contingents that require no rest, no feeding, and minimal attendance while they operate the production line. I assure you, immortality is infertile ground for business.

( A moment, for amateurs to appreciate this economic downturn. )

At this time, I volunteer no name. You do not require it. Allocate me one as you please. I am a merchant, by trade. I am accustomed to a degree of discretion. But I have no guarantee that you would offer me the same courtesy in the event of your capture, and the ambitions of this enterprise frankly surpass you. It is of utmost importance that I survive.

It is of secondary relevance that you do the same. But my collaborators and I have allocated a not insubstantial volume of coin, sweat, blood and personal sacrifice to progress your escape and survival. The hope, the gain, and the only purpose of this operation is to remove you from Akhuras and direct you to pastures new. Any alternative allows for Unhalad, his siblings and their masters to utilise you in a war that has devastated our world.

( Another pause, measured. He is accustomed to the protocols of rhetoric. )

To be clear. You are not so naïve to assume our first efforts didn’t study the merits of your murder. We tested this on a batch. Regrettably, our enemies proved sufficiently apt to resurrect their captives and use them after.

We will therefore proceed with extraction. Some of the standing eastern portals still offer the possibility of transfer to other worlds. Although… most have not been tested in generations, and we may need to deepen our voyage east, if and when the beacons cannot accommodate us. The safety of portal transportation to your persons is candidly immaterial to us and remains your concern.

( Be that as it may. Another moment's hesitance: )

My part in this endeavour is to secure information on the portals and their location, along with facilitating transit, on occasion. You will contribute with coin, with labour, with discipline. Begin by assisting Haltham and Karsa as much as possible.

Now. If you attracted Unhalad’s attention, it is not unfair to assume you were all previously situated in a position of power. You are used to being heard, perhaps also heeded. Some of you may have commanded every room you stepped in.

Except for this one. I am master here. You are merchandise. I have no interest in hearing objections of stupidity, vulgarity or sentiment. Any other questions, proposals or comments may be submitted in an orderly manner.

( And perfectly civil once more: ) Tamaiu, if you please again. My thanks and regards to your ladies.

Comments

[pulvisetumbra]

On the contrary, Wei Wuxian. I am mentioning it before it is disclosed by one of our enemies or our associates. I am arming you with the truth, so that you may glimpse a fragment of who you are dealing with, and what we are capable of doing to meet our ends. Make of it what you will. I have no regrets.

[weifinder]

( he does snort at that. he's already heard this person Knows enough to name them all speaking so far. )

What saying to the contrary? I said you were direct, you repeat the same. Is that contrary?

You admit to the actions taken. You don't dress it as anything other than it was, and what's done is done. We move forward.

Their names and descriptions, please.

[pulvisetumbra]

I see no gain in revisiting ancient past.

[weifinder]

Yet the past informs present action, so as not to repeat it. We won't be surprised hearing of this, but if there are names which do, or appearances which mislead...

( he trails off pointedly.

it's not ask that he reacts to know, but no one deserves to pass and be contained and not be known to those who followed, no matter how equally unwilling. )

They deserve remembering, too.

( another pause. but still, even more practical concerns. )

Beyond that--our immediate direction eastward, what possible political, geographic landscape will we be walking into next? Secondarily, do you know of a discrete means of engaging with the upcoming auctions on any exclusive level? Haltham had some concept, curious if one from within the trade has wisdom to lend in guidance.

[pulvisetumbra]

The next destination will depend entirely on your course. I shall present our options, once our funds and security are more transparent.

( A pause, then, his first peal of laughter: )

You are asking a merchant, if he is familiar with the single most lucrative instrument of Sa-Hareth?

[weifinder]

( This is the super bright and cheery answer: )

Didn't make sense to ask the undead, so I figured, why not!

[pulvisetumbra]

Yes, Wei Wuxian. I am aware of engaging the auctions.

[weifinder]

Do you have any recommendations for an approach doing so here? Particularly if what we're all hoping for is higher returns.

[pulvisetumbra]

An appropriate introduction could be made to a professional auctioneer. However, that would require paying a percental fee. Perhaps not your preferred course.

Your second alternative is to present a license to auction. Now, as you regrettably lack the twenty years of trade experience and the appropriate charisma to suddenly enrich your reputation, you might find yourself unable to earn the qualification. Some men of ill repute have been able to navigate this quandary, in the past.

Am I understood?

[weifinder]

Yes.

( Also: sure, he has faith in his ability to roll with the punches and make things up as he goes, but at the same time, he doesn't know this landscape or even this method of auctioning. Not just lacking the charisma to inflate a mercantile reputation he doesn't have, but no knowledge to fake it until he makes it. )

How high would you expect the percental fee to be?

[pulvisetumbra]

Hmmmm... a medium-cost regular item with popular appeal, I would imagine a two to three per cent.

But a highly priced exotic would require the auctioneer to curate the attendants, to confirm their funds independently prior to the event... I would imagine above eight per cent.

[weifinder]

Higher than ten?

[pulvisetumbra]

I don't know your wares to say. It would be cheek, but...

[weifinder]

Any recommendation on whose eyes here are more truthful than not in assessments? I don't pretend to be a merchant, so while certain people may not have issue finding ways around traditional means of entering specific markets, having independent success within it is a different thing.

[pulvisetumbra]

Are you a fool?

I am a merchant.

[weifinder]

Oh, good, does that mean you're volunteering?

( He says that nice and upbeat, followed by a sigh. )

I was not assuming you wanted to handle things more directly, but I appreciate if you do.

[pulvisetumbra]

I don't particularly care to assess your trivialities, but I imagine it would expedite.

What do you have?

[weifinder]

Is there a means to making this communication less public? Not that I fail to appreciate our lovely hostess's provisions!

( also: ffs he has to remember all this give him a minute )

[pulvisetumbra]

Momentarily.

( And now for a notable silencing of the channel. )

Proceed.

[weifinder]

( there are reasons wei wuxian has never been stated to be the most organised one, but he is at least Rallying. as you do. )

Thank you.

( And then he gives him the shortlist of what's on hand without the embellishments, but a nod toward what might be said, because you always gotta have a story, we all Know This. )

[pulvisetumbra]

( And then, minutes of review later: )

Are any of these characteristics or origin stories provably exaggerated or false?

[weifinder]

No. None have been given attributes that aren't self-proven in use, and the most outlandish would be from Mina, but with the qualities of her acid I don't know how similar the ah... alchemists? I don't know what you have here, as comparison. It's thick enough not to seem natural or simply made, even if it is exactly those things for her. The rest is factual, simply generic enough to be taken as they will, or with the stones, neither provable as true nor false.

[pulvisetumbra]

Very well.

The molten brew: I recommend you declare it as an exotic weapon or mining concoction. Ask for a starting bid of 4,500. Target 8,000 per bottle. Do not sell more than three, exclusivity will raise your price.

The crown: jewellery is mainstream. Your luck with this will depend on whether the forgers are coming in with new competing wares. Start at 2,000, aim for 4,500.

Shining orbs: assuming their... provenance, sell them as a rarity, start 1,000 per piece, aim for 1,500 by the end. The total should take you to a healthy 7,500.

More jewellery. Sell the pins with the crown, perhaps, start the floor bid at 200 and end at 500 a piece for the 3,000 total.

Paintings and the novel: artistic wares. If there is skill, and the artists are unknown, you may advertise them as exclusive. Start 2,000 a piece. Aim for 9,000 by the end of it. Art sells exceptionally.

[weifinder]

( this is the most helpful breakdown he's practically starry eyed with relief. as he said, he's not a merchant! he knows this, he can haggle down market prices all day but his eye for what this market sells? pfft.

although if Lan Zhan is anywhere nearby to hear the "art sells exceptionally," he will turn his way and gesture with quirked eyebrows and a half grin, all, "see! see!" )

Understood, thank you. This is immensely helpful, I'll do what I can from here. Is there an easier or more direct way to ensure funds reach where they need to, or are we keeping all this tucked away until we can hand it off for the greasing of mechanisms to get us out of here?

[pulvisetumbra]

You are welcome. For now, retain the coin.