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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Olgar Shiverstone" data-source="post: 3979474" data-attributes="member: 5868">Thalas returned to his rooms at the Hunter's Rest to get a good night's shut eye and try and forget bug-eyed monsters and talking frogs for a bit.  The next day he wanderede by the Harbormaster's office to do some research before returning to the Vanderboren Manor to divide up the spoils from their advantures.Lavinia had paid their 200 noble monthly stipend, as well as gifting them the contents of the armory as a bonus.  There were some interesting items, but nothing Thalas thought he could use, so he contented himself with a couple of potions and a magical ring that promised some sort of protective benefit, along with a share of nearly 1500 gold nobles once the remaining equipment and unwanted weapons had been sold.  That gold would buy plenty of inks and scrolls to expand his spellbook as well as keep him in luxury for some time.  The group agreed, together, to chip in to have Lavinia's halfling servant reincarnated -- a reasonable gesture, Thalas figured, given her generosity with the armory.  Unfortunately, the woman was less than pleased, returning to life in the body of a dwarf.  At least she's alive, and shaving will keep ahead of the facial hair, Thalas mused.  Besides, I have more important things to work on."I've got an idea that will make us all fantastically wealthy," he proposed to the others."Money is the root of all evil," Arjan replied, wiping pink frosting from his mouth."Noted," Thalas turned his back on Arjan. "Anyway, I've been doing some reserach.  Assuming that ship is still there in Kraken's Cove, we can sail back to reclaim it in a day.  It may cost us some gold or sweat equity, but we can get her ship-shape again in no time.  We'll need a crew of seven to run the ship, and have to hire a capatin, but I figure we can sustain the ship for about 30 nobles each, per month, investment.  With that, we'll have our own ship to run cargoes and make profits.  We could go into business for ourselves, and become merchant princes!  Never have to bow and scrape to a noble in Sasserine again!""But Lavinia's been good to us!" Arjan protested."Why not bring the ship back and sell it?" Kithkanan asked.  "I need a little bit more gold to get my sword enchanted.  Unless you want to loan me 300 nobles.""I checked on that, too," Thalas responded.  "A merchant ship like that we might be able to sell for 5,000 gold.  Maybe as much as 12,000 if we mount weapons and sell it as a warship.""Flip that ship?" Kithkanan asked.  "Sounds like a nice profit.""Yes, but we could probably make more in a couple of voyages," Thalas countered.  "Sell the ship and we are still beholden to Lavinia.""I like the idea of buying some weapons," Moderas added.  "We could pimp the boat out, smuggle some cargo, shake down some pirates ..."Though they rolled their eyes at Morderas' suggestions, the others quickly agreed, and soon they were on their way to the wharf to hire a boat and crew to return to Kraken's Cove.  The trip went without incident and they soon arrived at the Cove where the Sea Wyvern rode at anchor, undisturbed.  The ship was in poor shape but could be sailed with the skeleton crew they had brought, and it was soon at dock in Sasserine with a crew of newly hired sailors going over every inch of her.Thalas spent most of the next month going over every inch of the ship in between bouts of experimenting with his spellbook, copying scrolls, and practicing his fencing on deck.  He kept his rooms at the rest, though he was half-tempted to move on to the Wyvern permanently.  They hadn't hired a captain, and most of the others were content to lounge at the Vanderboren estate while he made plans for a run down to Kraken's Cove to scour the jungle for exotic animals to sell as exotic pets.About a month had passed and Thalas had finished  stocking the ship for his journey when a summons came from Lavinia.  He rolled his eyes, but decided to respond.  If for no other reason, he'd attend out of sheer curiosity and the opportunity to get his merchant princedom established.Lavinia assembled them all in the newly redecorated dining room.  The effect of returning her wealth to her was obvious, with all the newly hired and liveried servatns about the place."I've been going through my mother's journal," she announced.  "It seems that four years ago she and my father took a long sea voyage south in the Blue Nixie and established a small colony called Farshore on a large archipelago known as the Ilse of Dread.  They planned to control the trade with that colony, for the island was rich in gems, spices, and exotic animals, and thus secure their source of wealth. My parents returned, but were murdered before they could return to resupply the colony.  I plan to take up my parents' plan, and return to the island to reestablish the colony and its trade.  I could use some help -- are you interested?""Is Vanthus there?" Moderas asked.  "There's still the business of his untimely demise, you know.""I have no idea where he is," Lavinia admitted. "But this might keep you occupied for a while.  It will be a six-month journey, near enough, and we'll need to secure a second ship to go with the Blue Nixie."Thalas suddenyl saw a bed stuffed with platinum dragons.  "I know where you can hire a ship," he offered, "and it comes cheap."Lavinia smiled.  "Yes, I've heard about your ship, which is why I thought you would be interested.  I'll insist on providing my own captain, though I'll pay her salary.  You'll travel on your own hip to look after it while I am on the Blue Nixie."Thalas considered.  He knew that his experience sailing a dinghy around Sasserine wasn't the same as captaining a sailing ship, but he was reluctant to give up his dream of merchant princedom.  Still, a captain's salary was expensive."We'll agree, but we'd like something in return.  You say we're going to establish trade.  Well, for providing 50% of the ships, albeit with your supplies, we'd live a cut of the Farshore trade -- say 20%."Lavinia shook her head.  "We don't know what we'll find there, nor when we'll return with trade goods.  I don't know what we'll be bringing back.""Fine.  Then how about unlimited trading rights with Farshore for ourselves.  You keep your share, but we'll run our own cargoes."  Thalas countered."What?" Morderas whispered."I'll explain later," Thalas responded in hushed tones.Lavinia considered, then agreed."We'll need armament, in case of pirates," Moderas put in at then end.Lavinia reluctantly agreed to fund one ballista, on loan, and they all agreed to meet two days hence at the docks, once the ships were provisioned and the weapons mounted.Only Arjan protested.  "It isn't safe, Lavinia!  You should stay here!""You just want to stay in the lap of luxury, and don't want your source of cupcakes to leave," Thalas pointed out.  Arjan pouted, but finally agreed to come as well.</blockquote>

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