[sblock=ooc]Gonna push forward here to try to avoid stalling at the gate.[/sblock]
The elven woman hesitates before answering Tyrien, her cold gaze assessing Ausk and Kanli, then eventually she gives a slight sigh and says, "Well, silence is legally assent, so I'll assume by your remaining that you agree. I expect you'll find your lives become quite a bit more ... complicated if you choose to start spreading House secrets in any event."
She moves, now a study in grace an fluidity, to the head of the table, then smiles delicately and bows her head slightly.
"My name is Finia," she begins. "For some time now, I have been in the employ of House Gabbiano. Once a rather prominent noble merchant house, several ... misfortunes lead to a fairly swift fall from prominence for my employer.
"However, Signore Umberto is often underestimated, and has recently come into possession of several elements with which we believe the House may turn its fortunes around again.
"You may have heard of the recent Fire Beetle outbreak near the docks, or the fire that rampaged through the city? I'm reasonably well-informed that the blaze wasn't nearly the threat to all life in Venza that many in the populace seem to indicate, and Fire Beetles are perhaps inaccurately named ... but the fact of the matter is, the Construction Guild cannot convince anyone to use wood for new construction within the city.
"As you might imagine, this puts House Boraga--" the word is nearly a curse the way she says it--"--at an immense advantage. Their monopoly on sand-mortar means they've a rather expensive stranglehold on the guild.
"And that's where you, and House Gabbiano, come in," Finia continues, smiling. Despite her poise, her excitement is evident.
"My master has been in communications with a small city in Heth which has quite the wonder in fire-resistant construction materials. A compound called middenstone. Combined with another acquisition for our House which has allowed us to massively reduce our shipping costs, an exclusive trade agreement between our middenstone source and House Gabbiano would not only break Boraga's hold on the Construction Guild, but be an immense boon to the future fortunes of my House."
It's clear she has more to say, but pauses briefly to make sure all present are following her.
[sblock=ooc]Rather than sblock a bunch of stuff in an already-long post, anyone who wants to make Know: Local, Know: Nobility, or Know: Engineering checks (or some other one you convince me is relevant), roll 'em, and I'll expand on elements above.[/sblock]
That is two rolls of 2 in a row.[/sblock]
