07.14k A Novel Approach

The goings on of courts
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kitsunenotsume
Missing Some Marbles
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07.14k A Novel Approach

Post by kitsunenotsume »

The echo of footfalls precede the emergence of a crisply-dressed and bearded businessman from a dimly lit passageway and onto a bridge in the bustling heart of the Market Library*. With a sweeping glance Caelund takes in the cavernous expanse, looking for a reasonable area to begin his errands. Taking note of the possible vacancies or smaller stalls that might be 'convinced' to take up business elsewhere, he begins to stalk the catwalks with the practiced air of a cut-throat merchant not quite strong enough to be an apex-predator in this economic frenzy.

Engaging with every side-seller and passing vendor, the man plays every bit the part of the newcomer here to get into the ground-floor of the bustling market; his discussions make no secret of attempting to suss out the general content of the library and the current trends. Now and again, he will mention looking for various manga and anime - particularly those containing male characters with blue hair and red eyes** - as well as reputable records of attempted pattern walks.

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*: Previous appearances were from tours by Rogers and Jiga, and Abine and Alys.
**: You can find entire sites devoted to sorting anime characters by those features! If asked, he will mention the new Ht'gon Amberite and trying to be prepared. Anyone with blue-hair and red eyes is probably from an anime-inspired shadow, right?
Low-ranked psyche would suggest that the facts he shares are somewhat falsified or speculative and his true motives are for personal profit, while warfare would deduce that the information is deliberately framed in such a way as to provoke demand for the information about Jaeger.

~: Caelund has a few objectives here:
  1. Learn what he can about this new hunting grounds - topic distribution, market trends, notable players, etc. Whatever might give him an edge.
  2. Helping him find a good spot to maintain a presence. Given the variety of participants, talking to potential neighbors seems prudent.
  3. While he's at it, play the market into looking for 'nearly-right-but-not-quite" information on Jaeger. If the information-economy in the Market Library works anything like a stock-market, the gamble is that inflating the price on one commodity drops the relative price of others.
  4. Which in turn Caelund intends to capitalize on by collecting records of prior pattern walks at a more favorable price.
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Joshua
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Re: 07.14k A Novel Approach

Post by Joshua »

Your initial neighbor is Hare Batseer*. He's dressed a bit as a fop, deep purple tunic and loose-fitting acrobatic pants. With some basic warfare, you can spot his seemingly silly outfit strikes you as exceptionally deadly. He's got throwing daggers hidden all over his person, and everything from his belt to his goofy head-scarf are made out of near indestructible drider-silk. That doesn't take into account the minor enchantments that cover him like a Christmas Tree. Most of the other venders give him a wide berth, and that reputation does impede part of your initial setup. Your neighbor does have mid-priced copies of the first two books mentioned next.

Current books that are of interest** are: Don Quixote including a particularly rare variant where the title character isn't mad, but walking through shadow; Tristram Shandy, especially two variants that use the name Dworkin; Wilhelm Meister's Apprenticeship particularly variants that have more discussion of Shakespeare; The Art of War with extra points for a complete set of five (From No magic, Low Magic, High magic, High Tech, and Technomagic shadows); and "Anything Shen Ruuul has not seen before.***"

Lesser works are of interest to particular collectors, forming a web of wants and "not my thing". The larger your collection, the more your interests become major interests. That being said, there are a few goblins and a dwarf talking about manga and quality of art, while a number more are discussing if 'picture books' are actually literature.
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*: Translated from drow.
**: As in, produce one of these, become an instant 'player'.
***: A LOT harder than it sounds.
kitsunenotsume
Missing Some Marbles
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Re: 07.14k A Novel Approach

Post by kitsunenotsume »

After a bit of meandering* Caelund will return to the empty space with a small book-case and a box of books, making conversation while he assembles a claim. "It seems like you've been here a while," he comments with a motion to the drow's extensive collection. "Did your reputation drive the neighbors off, or am I just lucky?"**

The stall is assembled with obvious intent to expand, but with enough space between as to be polite considering the small current size.

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*: Sufficient to establish a decent mental database of the current supply-demand-web for the local vendors
**: The affect of a new and canny businessman certainly isn't going to admit to being threatened by the rumors around a foppish jester, but one still aught to investigate.
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Joshua
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Re: 07.14k A Novel Approach

Post by Joshua »

(OOC: While the demand-web is complicated and a bit of a mess, you have enough warfare and psyche to make a steady income on it if you devote time to playing the market. You can also avoid most attempts at casually ripping you off.)

"I negotiate in good faith." Hare* will say, absently twirling his scarf, which is weighted on both ends. "If good faith isn't given, I still take it. Shen Ruuul accepts it because I do not take more than what was verbally offered. The others take a less kindly view of being called on deceit. "

He will look over the newcomer and your stall. "A modest opening. New to the game, but intending to play. If you desire to spread interest, perhaps you can convince me of the merit of your thoughts**..."
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*: Da'url'jor ml'aenus Dragazhar (literally: Rat with the largest legs of the Sighted-bat clan.) goes by Hare in most cases. He does consider mispronouncing his name an insult, so finding his real name is a bit of a challenge.
**: He will take straight-up payment for that, but would be disappointed. He is more interested in the intrigue of it.
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