"Right, right." Tragedy shuffles her chair closer to the man she is trying to persuade, tail flicking back and forth soothingly. "Mr Tu - Teswan, if I may be so bold as to call you that - I'm afraid 2% is looking a little stingy, to my keen eyes. You and I, we're friends, yes? And friends prefer to enter business contracts on good terms." She swirls the last of the wine around in her glass before finishing it. "So while I understand that you might have difficulty raising the percentage to a most agreeable amount, I'd be perfectly willing to accommodate your tight situation, and settle for 10%. Your thoughts, my friend?"

Persuasion: 5

(Far out, not the time to be rolling like that lol)

Laura listens to Mr. Tu´s story, but having never left the city of Baldurs gate she knows nothing of Vermillion, and very little of Candle keep.
"Well that´s an ominous title." She says as Mr. Tu finishes. "I can see why I would be needed to clear the mines of any squatters but why do you need experienced adventureres to rummage through a dreary library?"

"Mr. Tu, would you like to provide us with a map of the place? A map of the Southern Faerun will do if you don't have the map of Candlekeep. Then, one of us might be able to figure out the right trail."

Jimena asks Mr. Teswan Tu when she seems less interested in the terms and conditions of the contract, but more excited about the upcoming journey. Finally, she suggests that the party should hire a vehicle so that the members can reach the destination as soon as possible.

"If we can rent a Carriage or a Cart, I may volunteer to navigate it." 

"There´s no need for a map of Candlekeep, even I know it´s just south of Baldurs gate along the Sword coast, and Lilly here knows the place inside out, right Lilly." Laura says from her comfy chair turning to the deep gnome as she finishes.

"Inside mostly, but yes"

"Well, that makes everything much easier"- Jimena expresses relief to find someone who is familiar with the Southern part of Faerun. She eagerly listens to their employer offering them information regarding the exploration of the place. Then she decides to ask him about their agency:

"I assume that one of your employees will accompany the party till they find out the book which mentions the exact location of the mine. But, we still don't know the name of our potential travel partner, nor do we have the idea of what kind of agency you run here in 'Baldurs Gate'."

Jimena certainly wants to know the name of the agency under which the party will execute the responsibility and she makes her willingness explicit.

(A quick history check for the village, just in case it's Nat 20 time XD  ) 

18

(ooh, close) 

Teswan responds to Tragedy's question as you discuss the location of Candlekeep between yourselves, "No, I think not Ms Whispers. As a collective you could have held a 12% share, which was quite a generous slice our our pie. Two percent seems a fair valuation from my side and that is where the mark shall stay."

After Lilly outlines her long history in a manner marrying her stature Teswan addresses the other concerns, "Ms Vakaris, the search within candle keep has been left to you so that you have first hand access to the information that may support your search and no doubt recovery of the mine. We wouldn't want to waste your time or our resources by failing to uncover or pass on something that you, with your wealth of field experience would immediately identify as quintessential to you success in the endeavour."

"Regarding Ms Lenhareth's concern, we shall be awaiting word from you, by messenger from Candlekeep if that is the easiest, of where your search takes you. We have not seen the need to send an escort with you in this regard, so your party will be just as it is here. Locating and accessing the book within Candlekeep will be under your own merits, though I can certainly furnish you with a map, and a cart with draft animals for the journey if you wish?"

"Yes, I suppose your interest in an employer is as well founded as ours in you. I represent the Iron Coast, we operate from Luskan down to the south of Amn, and have interests in various inland areas as well. You can enquire about us at any miners guild house in the major cities, we will have a representative on hand or contactable through that forum. Our fellow in Baldurs Gare goes by the name Trefur, Vincent Trefur. I'd be happy to introduce you on the morrow if you felt the need."

"Well I heard what I need to to hear and just about as much business talk as my ears can take for one evening. I´ll have another drink in the bar now if anyone would care to join me. Shall we meet up here for breakfast at sunrise then?" Laura asks the others as she collects her things and heads for the bar.

(OOC: What would be the travelling time to Candlekeep by horse or carriage? Is Laura aware of the requirement for entering Candlekeep? Knowledge with help from Darius if needed:6  :-P )

"Iron Coast. Aren't you the ones that fabricated that iron shortage out of Nashkel in the 1300's?" Lilly says unashamed.

She turns at the mention of breakfast "That reminds me, I must get some cheese while we're outside of the keep. Wards against mold at the keep make it hard to properly spoil the milk"

"So far so good. Since our friend 'Lilly' seems quite uncertain about the surrounding areas of Candlekeep, a map might be handy for the travel"- Jimena confirms the necessity of the acquisition of a map. She has been listening to the conversation between Lilly and Mr. Tu regarding the history of 'Iron Coast', but she decides to keep her mouth shut.

"A cart and draft animals will do. I don't want to complain about the arrangements as long as my team-mates agree with everything. When do we start?"

Intelligence: History 14 (To recall something about the 'Iron Coast')

Tragedy listens closely to the suggestions of the employer and the replies of others. "Yes, a cart and draft animals would be good. I'm sure it would be proper for us to meet Mr Trefur tomorrow, too. Please, do tell us more about the Iron Coast first though." She pauses, but when another gap in the conversation appears she adds: "Regarding the payment, I'm still unsatisfied. If a 12% share is the highest you are willing to let go of, then collectively give us that. Take the payments out of that for those who wish to receive only the short term gain, then split the rest up. Depending on how many choose to take the single payment option, that should leave the rest of us with slightly more than 2% each, without costing your company any more than you were already going to give. Finally, if any are happy with the 2%, then split the remainder of the 12% up between those who will not accept the 2%, so we can receive more. This is business, after all, and I would prefer that my services are not underpaid for. Would that be satisfactory?"

(Let me know if I need to roll anything again for this :) ) 

Jimena interrupts the telepathic link with the businessman, and re-establishes the 'Mind Link' feature to speak telepathically with Tragedy:

"Would you like to spare the rich guy from encountering further embarrassment?"

The kalashtar woman chuckles faintly, then attempts to deliver a message to the party members. Although relaying the proposal takes more time to deliver correctly, she's willing to take a risk:

"We're wasting valuable time here. Tern the ark"- she makes physical gesture that implies the idea of cutting something with scissors.

"What if another group of adventurers beat us and find the mine before we do? Greedy bandits of Baboonic civilization! Hibmun beben ryn too bu owning the things sab toeo rafen."

The last sentence is accompanied by a set of hand gestures, it seems more like holding onto something and putting it inside the sack. If someone inspects her eyes, he/she/they will find that the 'thing' she's been mentioning must be something precious and shiny.

Laura tries to order something in the bar while waiting for the negotiations to be concluded in the next room, having the feeling that the negotiations had gone on for days now without making much progress.

Teswan digs into his bag and pulls out a rolled parchment, handing it to Jimena. "This should cover your needs. I don't believe it is drawn as accurately as some more recent works, but the general directions are still sound."

Turning to address Tragedy's questions, he begins with a brief summary of the Iron Coast. It is a consortium of successful merchants, who commonly choose to work together on business ventures. They have financed independent niche retailers who lack the contacts to distribute imported goods, funded exploratory adventures, and invest into other businesses as they see fit. The principle fact is the members share each other's expertise which allows them a wider range of investment and ventures  to expand their own portfolios and each individual member has established their own credentials before being eligible to join. The consortium was founded on iron mining activities about 30 years ago, and that still remains their strongest line of income and profit. Ruturning to his negotiating poise, Teswan continues, "Our offer of a share in the production comes at the cost of those interested funding their own initial investment. Where we are now expending capital that comes out of our operating budget and impacts our setup costs. We return the my earlier point that should we offer you the long term benefits and also give you the initial capital payments, we are at a loss in both areas. Your suggestion is that we give away the maximum total percentage and the initial capital expenditure. I shall offer, and only you, this accommodation, upon completion of the contract, we shall issue you the flat 75 gold single payment. If you wish to then take on the future share option, we shall consider the 75gold an advance on your takings, to be balanced at a reduced rate of 1% per four tenday, which will allow us to put forward the investment in the mine at a marginally improved rate. Once your advance is balanced, we will increase your share to 3% with a retainer that you perform up to one tenday's work for the consortium every six months. That is my final offer, or you can walk away now and seek your coin elsewhere." 

With the business concluded, Teswan informs you that he will pay for rooms at the Prancing Faun, should you require them for the night. Alternately you can return to your own lodgings and meet him at the second hour after dawn in the guildhouse, giving you directions to it, between the Wide and Heapside areas of town.

Lilly will stay at the inn. Since her current home is their destination.

Unless joined at the bar Laura has another glass of wine together with a long and interesting conversation with Darius, who is thrilled about them going to the fabled Candlekeep as it it is said be the home of an abundance of dark and forbidden knowledge. Eventually she will retire to one of the rooms at the Prancing Faun, probably meeting at least Lilly for breakfast.

Tragedy grudgingly agrees to Teswan's final offer, sensing that she won't be able to push any more coins out of him. She also accepts the offer for a room at the Prancing Faun for the evening.

When she hears Jimena's message directed at her, she quietly laughs, and if she gets the opportunity to reply out-of-earshot of anyone else, she says sends back a telepathic message with an amused tone: "Well that depends. Would he like to spare me a few more coins?"

Not understanding some of the rest of Jimena's messaging, Tragedy ignores it. 

Jimena will reply telepathically:

"He's unpredictable. That's why I suggest that we take whatever we find on the way to the completion of the mission through legitimate means. The contract doesn't bar us from doing so."

In fact, she's been attempting to take advantage of the loosely connected and vaguely described conditions of the contract. She accepts the map from Mr. Teswan Tu after thanking him for his generosity and calls it a night, then decides to occupy a room at the Prancing Faun.

With your business concluded for the evening, to more or lesser degrees of satisfaction amongst the group, you all retire to teh bar are where Laura and Darius have been partaking in the passable wine that the Faun offers. Teswan take a moment or two to pack away his belongings and shuffle his various papers into their proper place, taking extra care with the signed contract terms. He wanders through the bar, bidding you all a pleasant evening as you hear the sounds of a carriage drawing up outside. Teswan disappears out the front door and after a small pause you hear the sound of hooves on the cobbles fading into the distance.

A cursory inspection of the map, for those of you that took an interest puts your travel time around seven days by wagon, less if you were to push. The roads are well travelled and another wagon on the road should do little to the flow of traffic and people that are coming or departing Baldurs Gate. 

Laura & Jimena

 You all retire to your rooms for the night, and apart from a vicious attack of something biting (4)  in the night, you all enjoy a full night's rest and rise safe to meet the next morning enthusiastic to be making your way to Candlekeep, or at least getting out of the Faun.

As you all gather in the tap room, some early enough risers to enjoy a spot of breakfast, others a little later, you have time to discuss among yourselves your thoughts on the proposal of the night before and your myriad feelings towards your erstwhile employer. Without too much delay you make your ways down the streets of Baldur's Gate, following the directions provided through the streets of Heapside towards the large market area of the Wide. Turning the last corner you reach a large, solidly built and well-maintained building, proudly displaying an ornate plaque on the wall 'Iron Coast Consortium | Traders, Merchants, and Entrepreneurs'.

 Outside the building is a single large wagon with a convas cover stretched over metal framework, and a team of two draft horses are being walked into place ready to be hitched and blinkered. Porters appear to have just started loading some supplies into the back, and as you approach one of the men put their load down and wave over to you. As he approaches another of the porters picks up the deposited load and seamlessly continues the loading operation.

"A fine morning to you all. Teswan certainly nailed you all in his description. The names Vince, and I look after the Coast's concerns here. I took the liberty of getting you a large wagon for the journey and some better fayre to indulge in. For sitting through an interview with Teswan all evening it's the least I can do." The warm smile and friendly hand shake he extends to each of you are a stark contract to the business-like demeanour of Teswan. "If you need anything else before you depart, I can have the lads run into the market for you, unless you want to shop for yourselves? I'd recommend getting on the way soon though, can be mighty slow crossing the bridges if you aren't there early."