7.05a: Exploring the City

[Wyvern]

Alys smiles at Nathaniel, and shakes her head, "Humiliating you would be petty and pointless; had you accepted, I would have aimed for something more educational - you would have learned a new trick or two, and I would have learned more precisely where your limits are; there's only so much I can tell from stance alone."

Then she turns back to Trina, and asks, "Shall we?"

(OOC: Assuming the answer is some variation on "Yes"...)

The match lasts for about a minute and a half of blindingly fast swordplay (Alys, at least, is fighting at a warfare level of around 15-20). A quick bind early on demonstrates that Alys has (or chooses to apply) superior strength, but she doesn't push that advantage, instead leaving the fight as an evenly-matched contest of skill and speed. At the end, Alys steps back and puts up her blade.

"It seems this won't be decided quickly; and I have other things to be doing today. Draw?"

[Brian C]

"Draw indeed. I'm impressed. Meet you sometime this afternoon or evening for coffee?"

[Wyvern]

Alys will shake Trina's hand and make arrangements for an appropriate time and place to meet for coffee.

Then she turns back towards Nathaniel. "Where shall we go first?"

[Joshua]

Nate will bow lightly to Trina. "Mi'Lady.." Then adress the rest of you, "I wasn't sure if the docks, the mage guild, the merchant district, or the bad part of town would be best to start with. Simple artisans have their own workshops, but the stores are where the action occurs." He pauses, "Danger, lecture, intrigue or interviews?"

[Wyvern]

"Well," Alys looks towards Ruben, "if there are no objections, I think the merchant's district would be a reasonable place to begin."

[Ruben]

I agree -- that's where the grievances originate, no?

[Joshua]

The trip there is fairly easy... A carriage ride down a wide (but twisting) path down the mountain. Snow has fallen over the city, and it's still new enough that it makes a winter-wonderland scene. There are some stone constructions being done, but most of the larger buildings are wood as that's what could be built quickly. Once you get to the city, you can see lots of shops and happy villagers. (Almost as if this road were frequented by nobles and Amberites.)

The Merchant guild is currently based out of a large wooden lodge-like structure. There's a grand cathedral-style building being built next door, but those take decades to build properly. This is in the good part of town... and the lodge has a strong set of double wooden doors and some nice windows (with proper glass).

Nate will talk a little on the trip, "Overall, we're dong okay. The dwarves trade a little, and we even have some agreements with the elves from the floating castle. The mages guild has an agreement with the merchants, but that only really benefits the larger merchants. Small merchants like my father get pushed around. The docks are equal-use due to you, Ruben, but it's a small part of the operation, and sometimes it's hard to recover expenses."
(Yay totally unregulated market!)

[Ruben]

Ruben squints down the passing alleys to catch glimpses of life outside the bubble, mostly weary mothers and grandmothers watching children scramble on the slippery stones. While not quite as happy as the bustling shops on the main road, he's satisfied that the activity doesn't betray any deep deprivation.

Without looking directly at Nathaniel, he distractedly replies, "well, perhaps you need to aim higher than your father's station?"

[Joshua]

"Well, getting you involved might help me do that. If we can setup something proper. Perhaps something that allows smaller traders to get a leg up as well." He shrugs and opens the doors for all of you.

Inside the guild-hall is a series of corridors with a directory listing room numbers and places. General meeting halls and departments of specific sub-guilds are listed as well as a few meeting times of regulars.

Nathaniel asks, "We should be able to talk to the head of the merchant guild without much of an appointment, or we could meet some of the smaller things like the jeweler's guild, the shipping guild, or almost any facet you can think of."

[Wyvern]

"Perhaps send a message to the guildmaster that we'd like to talk to him at his earliest convenience - and then spend the time until then talking to the people you mentioned? Oh, and whoever's in charge of security."

OOC Translation: Alys would like to talk to some of the smaller people - the two Nathaniel mentioned sound good - but sees no need to insult the guildmaster by not at least offering to talk to him first.