The Bold Adventures of Poins--On the Town

[jkason]

Weel flushes at the merchant's offense.

"If we could just have a few private moments to confer?" he asks, then steps further away, hoping he's finally out of earshot of Granthus' clearly excellent hearing. Still, his whisper is even softer this time as he leans into the others.

"Seems strong enough, though I'd be better judging an actual building. The only other question is how such a tent might go over back at camp. Most of those seemed to be the low-end variety. Would we be seen as putting on airs if we go with the upgrade?"

 

[Bloodcookie]

"Seems strong enough, though I'd be better judging an actual building. The only other question is how such a tent might go over back at camp. Most of those seemed to be the low-end variety. Would we be seen as putting on airs if we go with the upgrade?"

"Hmm, that is cause for concern... however, we will likely be using it for quite some time; better to not need a replacement every couple of months, not to mention its value once cold weather sets in. I don't think we should sacrifice our welfare simply for the sake of appearing humble. Besides, this seems quite a cosmopolitan lot - there are royals about, after all - I wouldn't think a slightly above-par tent would attract much attention for long." He shrugs, and chuckles, saying, "I guess that's my long-winded way of saying I think we should buy the nice tent."

 

[jkason]

Weel nods. "Sensible, as I should have been. I suppose I'm a bit jumpy about the impressions I'm making, since I seem to be making so many of them poorly. We'll get the better tent, though I'll leave it to your expertise to haggle the price down."

 

[Ranger Rick]

OOC: I have a sense motive +5, did I sense the shopkeeper was lying and cheating us?

 

[Rhialto]

(Reply--he's definitely looking to make the most profitable sale he can, but he seems reasonably honest about it.)

 

[Ranger Rick]

Alan whispers, "let us go as high as 6 gold. So we should start at 2 gold. However, I only have the one coin given by the paymaster. So I will need to borrow money and pay you back the next few paydays."

 

[Bloodcookie]

Caradoc considers his companions' advice, and, summoning up his haggling wits and giving a silent prayer to Oghma, purposefully steps toward Granthus.
"Well, sir, my compatriots and I agree that your wares are certainly of a high caliber, and we shall happily do business with a man of your character. So, keeping in mind the rather desperate and utilitarian nature of our current circumstances," he says, gesturing to indicate the surrounding encampment, "how can we carry out this transaction so as to reap maximum benefit for all concerned? Might we discuss what an acceptable price would be?" Caradoc reaches into his coin purse and casually lays two gold coins on the counter.

 

[Rhialto]

Granthus arches one eyebrow into a look of patrician disdain. "A proper price would be those two coins right there--and eight more just like it." He curves his lips into something that would best be called a smile. "Understand my friend--you are not dealing with some backwater vendor of goods. You are dealing with the Merchant's Emporium. We have controlled the vast majority of trade on two continents. We alone maintain the paths to the Isles of Spice. When we state our price--we've stated our price."

 

[jkason]

Weel's first impulse is to hand over the rest of the gold, but of course, that's why he asked Caradoc to do the negotiating. He bites his lip and waits for the merchant's son to make the judgment with his much better diplomatic skills.

 

[Bloodcookie]

Caradoc nods in response to the merchant, weighing the chance that he's making himself out to be more secure than he really is, but keeping in mind the fact that the group will soon be on the selling-end of a transaction with him. He decides to try and throw Granthus off-guard in hopes of feeling him out better.
"Of course. Now, not to change horses in mid-stream as it were, but I just recalled that we have a number of items - Weel, would you show him the wand and greatsword? - that we would be willing to sell, the quality of which has been verified by the magus Ventruli of Ritter Helm's retinue. A fine blade, and a wand which may invoke Aurelian's Magic Missle; I'm sure you regularly trade in such equipment, this being a military establishment - what would you give us for either of these?"