|
Post by Jonarth Dabrezzio on Dec 7, 2018 1:06:02 GMT
A pleasant female slave hands him a drink that smells like a tropical fruit drenched in sugary rum. “Hot weather and festivals call for proper drinks,” Jonarth said. “Artists should get works of art themselves. I assume you plan on business picking up with everyone running amok for this?” He asked. “Or has it been quiet for you?” He doubted that last part. People died here all the time. It was surprising the new colonists actually kept their numbers growing.
|
|
|
Post by Lord Aeradar Caltarys on Dec 7, 2018 2:58:09 GMT
Lord Aeradar's palanquin darkening the door (and windows) was the first sign of his impending arrival. His bodyguards, four scarred former pit fighters, were the second. The sharply dressed body slave literally announcing his presence was the third. Finally, the man himself entered. Most of his station would have simply requested the presence of Jonarth at his manse or ludus to conduct business, but Aeradar actually enjoyed visiting the Pearl.
|
|
|
Post by Jonarth Dabrezzio on Dec 7, 2018 3:06:44 GMT
“Lord Caltarys,” Jonarth said, then he turned to the apothecary. “Business calls my friend. I shall beg your leave.” He sent his prettiest girl to get a cup of his finest wine, straight from Volantis itself, and shook his head in mild amusement. He offered a polite bow. “I remember when that palanquin was but a third the height of the Pearl. I believe the Tyroshi call that magnificent contraption a siege tower.” He blew the body servant a kiss. “How may I be of service today?”
|
|
|
Post by Lord Aeradar Caltarys on Dec 7, 2018 3:41:28 GMT
"Well in the case I fear I must besiege your wine stores," the lanista replied, in excellent spirits. "The Lord Governor has ordered 7 days of game from my humble arena. That means 7 days of wine for highborn seats and box. Only the finest vintages. If you have a bed slave the same age as the cask, it's too young."
|
|
|
Post by Jonarth Dabrezzio on Dec 7, 2018 4:23:06 GMT
“Clearly you don’t know some of our compatriots’ tastes bedmates then,” he said with a crooked smile. “One hundred fifty true born descendants of Valyria drinking for seven days at eight glasses per person per day is...” he let the sound seem dramatic as a joke. They had both calculated the figure before speaking, the only variable the number of days being used. And how many glasses they figured would be averaged. “Eight thousand four hundred glasses.” He shrugged. “Shouldn’t be an issue. I’ve had five years to prepare after all.”
|
|
|
Post by Lord Aeradar Caltarys on Dec 7, 2018 18:14:49 GMT
Aeradar waited with a patient and somewhat amused countenance as Jonarth did his calculations.
"So six glasses to a bottle, two hundred and sixty seven bottles in a barrel, which comes around to thirty one barrels," he replied, after Dabrezzio had finished his own calculations. "So let's make it thirty five barrels to be safe and call it day. I expect a discount for buying in bulk and an additional one for my gladiators publicly touting the merits of The Pearl."
|
|
|
Post by Jonarth Dabrezzio on Dec 7, 2018 18:45:02 GMT
Jonarth laughed. “They better advertise pretty damn well, it’s not like I’m drowning in competition.” He rolled his head around to loosen his neck. “Thirty two barrels and the last three are my personal gift to House Caltarys,” he offered.
|
|
|
Post by Mavon Berreos on Dec 7, 2018 21:41:58 GMT
"Thank you, My Dear." Mavon said as he accepted the drink from the server, giving her a nod of his head as he enjoyed himself. It felt nice to have a bit of a break from it all, he had to admit. Dealing with the diseases this land had, had its own sense of fun and wonderment, but it was also very horrifying.
Still, it never hurt to be too careful, and Mavon looked into the mixed concoction before him to see if anything appeared amiss. Paranoia a necessity in his multitude of professions as he finally decided it was safe, and took a drink.
|
|
|
Post by Lord Aeradar Caltarys on Dec 8, 2018 21:04:51 GMT
Jonarth laughed. “They better advertise pretty damn well, it’s not like I’m drowning in competition.” He rolled his head around to loosen his neck. “Thirty two barrels and the last three are my personal gift to House Caltarys,” he offered. "Then on behalf of House Caltarys, let me assure you that the generous gesture will not be forgotten." He offered a bow of his head in gratitude. "I will have the honors ready upon delivery." "Now that the business is settled, I feel a drink or two is in order, if only to remind myself of the quality of your wares."
|
|
|
Post by Jonarth Dabrezzio on Dec 8, 2018 21:46:42 GMT
“A drink is always called for,” Jonarth agreed, sending a slave for a bottle that’s reserved for people such as the young lord, a bottle he wouldn’t even open just for himself. When it’s brought he pours two glasses and proffers one. “To the games,” he said, “and for five more years of a prosperous Linyanti.”
After the drink, he leans in. “So come now, between friends, what sort of extravagant surprises do you have prepared?”
|
|
|
Post by Lord Aeradar Caltarys on Dec 8, 2018 22:22:38 GMT
He takes the glass and raises it to the worthy toast, taking a long quaff and seeming to judge it worthy of his noble palate.
"Now now, it would hardly be friendly of me to cheat you out of the surprise," he replied to the inquiry, with an entertainer's twinkle in his eye. "But keep pouring and we'll see what you can worm out of me."
|
|
|
Post by Jonarth Dabrezzio on Dec 8, 2018 22:28:52 GMT
Jonarth chuckled and poured another drink. “I’ll leave you your talent to amaze,” he said. “What else is going on in the grand game of life? New fortunes? New books?” He knew better than to mention women. The pit’s master was not one to move on from that. “I’ve been looking into growing an orchard outside the city,” he said. “One day have our own wine to send back to Volantis.”
|
|
|
Post by Lord Aeradar Caltarys on Dec 9, 2018 18:01:39 GMT
"Of course, you know as well as anyone that in business if you are not constantly growing, you are stagnating. Much like with these colonial efforts, we must always look to the next horizon," he said, not really answering the spirit of the question rather than its specifics. "An orchard though, not that is a fine notion. If you need a benefactor in the venture, I would be amenable to such a proposition. After all, clearing the jungles for arable farmland is not a simple endeavor, for nothing is in this strange land." He left unsaid that the political wheels of Linyati would need to be greased as well.
|
|
|
Post by Jonarth Dabrezzio on Dec 9, 2018 18:13:57 GMT
Jonarth modded. “When I have finalized my plan I shall be sure to see what you think,” he agreed. “It’s important to have firm allies this far from the homalnd. It’s fascinating really, the very land here opposes our presence. Taming it could take centuries.” He shook his head. “But in truth I think the value we’ll gain from it is never going to far exceed ten or twenty miles inland. The land is fertile here but...” he waved a hand, “there’s no warrior who can destroy these mosquitoes.” He rubbed his jaw. “I’ll need workers too. Should you have slaves who become useless for their task in your pits I can find a use for them here. I dislike using my...” he gestured to some of the prettier servers, “finer slaves’ time away from the floor.”
|
|
|
Post by Lord Aeradar Caltarys on Dec 9, 2018 18:45:44 GMT
"And here I thought you had vision, Dabrezzio," the young lord chided. "In a few years the dragons in the settlement will be grown and what is a mosquito before dragonflame? The breadth of a continent is a trivial thing to those with the Blood of Valyria coursing through their veins." He said this with the certainty of a man that never planned to set foot outside the city walls himself, but have others bleed and die for the forging of this new empire.
"As for the workforce, I will help you make the necessary political inroads with the governor when the time comes. The Kindly Mother can provide the workforce so that your delicate slaves can toil where their unique talents can be put to better use. And the Maltalos have no shortage of hardy slaves in their mines. I have a feeling it will not be a terrible ordeal to get everyone to work together towards the common goal of a readily available source of a strong libation."
|
|