Ironguard: Merchants and Business thread.

[Rex]

Orgoth

OK, I thought we were selling as a lot, but I will wait for SM to make a judgment before updating my sheet.

[Quonundrum]

Olde Worlde

Moriartus

The heavy holy symbol is weighed. "It might be better smelted than just dangling as a ripe peach waiting to be plucked." he suggests and after putting it on scales to come in at a healthy 5lbs 7oz, this baby rocks the cradle at 543gp, 15sp.

The curator is a bit hesitant regarding the priestly garb, concerned ancient warrior zombies might suddenly spring in him for orders.

"Imagine that?" he says, wiping sweat from his brow. Of course, to a Set cultist, the shawl and headdress may have a greater intrinsic value. On face value, he can offer 360gp the pair. "The leather is well worn but free of scratches or wear and tear, the seams unbroken and the moulding can be adjusted slightly though it begets a broader shouldered frame. It is heavy so weighs upon the neck muscles. The gilding is clear of scuffing, reflective but not dazzling. I would think a priest of high rank wire such an item."

He goes over the inscription, remarking with you that it pertains to the risen Mummy. Singing the chant has no ill effect in the shop. He cannot tell the specific name of the Master buried as a sapphire skulled set of bones in the statue plinth but could undertake a commission to study that, getting an apprentice to trawl the library and come back with more information if you wanted
[/quote]

"There is no need to worry about any zombie warriors. They are quite unintelligent and will only respond to one they can actually see wearing the raiments. I mean ... assuming you have no intentions of moving tons of rock and present yourself in person?"

"These are obviously quite old, ancient. It's likely you'll never see another example, at least in this condition. How about 1050gp for the whole lot ... or, 1000gp and toss in the commission to study the name of the priest?"

Charisma (17): [4d6]=9

[Quonundrum]

Gemsmiths and Appraisers

Moriartus

Moriartus goes shopping, offering up the ancient tree sap preserves and the emerald taken from the skull beneath the jet black jackal statue.

a human skull endowed with a sparkling emerald inset into its forehead.
probably worth several hundred at least.

In the other several ingot sized bars of amber tree sap.
there are 72 brick sized ingots, each weighing about 2lb in weight, appraised by Meatloaf at circa 30gp each.

Fydmar had prised the gem free of the skull. After inspection, the appraiser values it as a 400gp gem.

As to the amber ingots. By themselves, the small blocks are of base value. However as Sven has discovered, gum arabic pieces, especially those noted as inclusive (which means it has a grub, beetle, fly or creature trapped inside) are much sought after by mages as they are a principal element in casting Invisibility spells. They have a much higher value than Meatloaf the gnome (or even the GM) realises.

The Collegiate Arcanium bursar will approve a purchase for the blocks for 9,600gp and offer you as a mage a two-day tutoring to learn the spell yourself. With Sven reciprocating help in your merchant dealings, the 'spell of choice' (2nd level) is offered to him also.

He accepts 400gp for the sapphire.

He carefully considers the bursar's offer. "A very reasonable offer, indeed. However, this is amber from a barrow dedicated to the Green Man, himself. Only the absolute best examples would be included, I'm sure. Suitable for research as well as simple spell components. How about 10,600gp along with the spell tutoring?"

Charisma (17): [4d6]=14

[OGRE MAGE]

Would you like us to record the changes we are making on our sheets relating to these transactions?

If so:

Emerald and Gold Drakes removed from Sven's sheet.

544gp added to sheet.

(Gerdal and Isvands shares are being tracked in my Notes section)

Going off your spoilered rolls, am I correct in that there are a total of 37 110gp pearls available for purchase?

[OGRE MAGE]

Auctioneers & Appraisers
"Rust Monster egg?" (do you have it with you or left in Mazzah's care?)

Sorry!

I see now that I did mention leaving it with Mazzah.

He will just ask around wherever he goes to see if it has any value then.

[Spearmint]

Moriartus

How about 10,600gp along with the spell tutoring?"

after much consideration and another random roll, the mage can leave with bulging pockets or a strongbox containing several years worth of wages.

Sven

yes, please track and adjust the items and coins from your inventory.

yes, there are currently 37 pearls that could be used in Identify spells.

Rust Monster egg. Plenty of interest, just for curiosity value. But no one has tamed one, at least not in Ironguard though it has been known in the annals of history. The question is often asked, "what would one do with it?", especially if it goes around eating all the previous metals.

You leave details about it, along with other flyers. Perhaps someone will contact you later.

[Rex]

Orgoth

Are you OK with including Orgoth's Drakes in with Sven's transaction?

[Spearmint]

Yes, you can add your drakes to his offer.

[Rex]

Thanks. Sheet updated.

[Rex]

Orgoth

Orgoth will try and sell his necklace made from 109gp.

[Spearmint]

Orgoth will try and sell his necklace made from 109gp.

Orgoth is this the gold coins with the whole in them, threaded as a necklace? With the coins defaced and holed, not all places will take them as tender. With a bit of plugging with solder and coloured nickel, the hole could be filled and perhaps an inebriated customer might check his coins less. One unscrupulous merchant offer 90gp so he can make a little profit for his underhand dealing.

Sven, taking some jewels to a different appraiser.

Sven looks up at the gem merchant, moving his head back and forth as if he were thinking about the offer carefully. "I'll tell you what...... Give me 700 gold for the pair of sapphires and you have yourself a deal, sir."

The offer gets increased by 5% so the dealer counts out a stack of 630gp.

Sven barters with diamonds.

and the gem stone which is a large cut diamond worth a four figure sum.

this is from 'Pitfall Pete', you received a 3,000gp offer from Gur Huwen but declined that. Here was the appraisal.

Diamond from pitfall Pete [2d4]=3 x1000gp

New appraisal: +6,000gp

Diamond from pitfall Pete [2d4]=6 x1000gp

"My. Two hot potatoes these. Soul gems. Somebody's spirit trapped inside? Cannot tell, they don't radiate any benevolent or maleficent aura. My vault does not keep sufficient coins, export to the Citadel with these. Would think they could appraise two thousand each for a quick sale."

these are two diamonds from the Shadows' silver coffer.

The feeling here is that as 'normal gems' they could be sold 'as is', but as 'Soul Gems' they contain the essence of a person or spirit inside. There might be more to learn from such gemstones regarding their use and application.

Soul Gems [1d4+1]=3+1=4 x 1000gp.

with all these coins you are raiding from the vaults, you can hire some guards to carry you aloft back to Helix on their shoulders and drape rose petals and palm leaves in front of their every step.

[Spearmint]

Sven

Tapestry dealings:

"As is, face value now, I will offer a no quibble 9,850gp as a private sale. For auction, it is listed in the catalogue for 100gp advertisement fee, then goes under the gavel. We charge another 100gp plus receive a 10% return up to the first $10k of sale price and 15% on anything above that." so if sold at auction for 10,000gp you would receive 8,800 in return. And at your reserve price, you would collect 17,300gp.

The auction is a random roll, so success and price are not set.

Choose to take the offer, barter with a charisma check or chance the Auction.

[OGRE MAGE]

Gemsmiths and Appraisers

Sven is certain they made the right decision coming here after learning the value of their last diamond is actually double what he was offered in Helix. He tries not to show his excitement when he agrees to the price for both the sapphires and Plunging Pete's diamond.

6,630gp added to notes section to be split up between the gnomes/clerics/party once we return to Helix.

Again he hears that their diamond Soul Gems might be more than meets the eye, even though that is hard to believe, so he decides to wait on selling those for now until he has more time to investigate them. He starts asking around as to who might be the best sort of person to ask about such things, wondering if the high level mages at the library might know anything about them. He casts a Detect Magic on them again, just to be sure there is no evil monster trapped inside one or both.

I will write up something separate for the tapestry dealings when I get time.

Thanks!

[Quonundrum]

Olde Worlde

Moriartus

The heavy holy symbol is weighed. "It might be better smelted than just dangling as a ripe peach waiting to be plucked." he suggests and after putting it on scales to come in at a healthy 5lbs 7oz, this baby rocks the cradle at 543gp, 15sp.

The curator is a bit hesitant regarding the priestly garb, concerned ancient warrior zombies might suddenly spring in him for orders.

"Imagine that?" he says, wiping sweat from his brow. Of course, to a Set cultist, the shawl and headdress may have a greater intrinsic value. On face value, he can offer 360gp the pair. "The leather is well worn but free of scratches or wear and tear, the seams unbroken and the moulding can be adjusted slightly though it begets a broader shouldered frame. It is heavy so weighs upon the neck muscles. The gilding is clear of scuffing, reflective but not dazzling. I would think a priest of high rank wire such an item."

He goes over the inscription, remarking with you that it pertains to the risen Mummy. Singing the chant has no ill effect in the shop. He cannot tell the specific name of the Master buried as a sapphire skulled set of bones in the statue plinth but could undertake a commission to study that, getting an apprentice to trawl the library and come back with more information if you wanted

"There is no need to worry about any zombie warriors. They are quite unintelligent and will only respond to one they can actually see wearing the raiments. I mean ... assuming you have no intentions of moving tons of rock and present yourself in person?"

"These are obviously quite old, ancient. It's likely you'll never see another example, at least in this condition. How about 1050gp for the whole lot ... or, 1000gp and toss in the commission to study the name of the priest?"

Charisma (17): [4d6]=9

Sensing the man's hesitancy at the thought of a zombie retinue appearing suddenly at his doorstep, "I assure you, those zombies and everything else related to these artifacts are quite buried now under several tons of collapsed rock and earth."

[OGRE MAGE]

with all these coins you are raiding from the vaults, you can hire some guards to carry you aloft back to Helix on their shoulders and drape rose petals and palm leaves in front of their every step.

I suppose I could remind you that this is getting split between seven shares, and that every trip we have gone on so far, we’ve gone nearly broke again about two days later. Magic Users seem to need a LOT of gold in this game.

So with the cost of everything in Helix skyrocketing from inflation, we will be lucky to come out of this with a few first aid kits and some holy water.

[Spearmint]

Auctioneers and Appraisers.

June 2nd 1066.

Opting to stay a little longer in Ironguard Motte so that they can enter the tapestry into the Citadel auctions rather than take the offered bid, Sven and Orgoth take a seat and watch the auctioneer charm the crowd with a verbal presentation to provoke their passions for art and relics of antiquity. Held firm by two porters who adjust positions so as to make the illusory image of Ossithrax in flight, the jet black dragon beating wings above the verdant forests and rising mists over his Barrow Moor realm.

The opening bids are paltry, half of the offered amount but it soon passes a reserve and then as bidders drop out, the more serious Acquisitions Incorporated agents of the Crown or noble merchant families start raising and bluffing.

I decided to start with an initial valuation based on Valeron's assessment that the tapestry, once dirty and grimy but fixed with spider silk threads sown with golden needles, might reach a five fold plus tally of the investment spent and initial assessment made. So that pitched the tapestry at 6,500 as a base value then added into that the investment to learn the Mending spell, cast it twice, create the 3D flying effect which upped the value to the 9,850gp sale offer.

Randomly seven patrons bid using a macro which added a bonus dice if the first rolled 'Aced' or scored the max number for the die type. An average roll would generate a total between 9-12, so here goes ...

After a flurry and beating of competition, three agents remain, the Silver Standard owner, the assayer for the Duchy and the agent for the Bishop of St Ygg's.

After almost doubling in price, the Silver Standard lower their flag, this tapestry will not hang in their staging hall. This leaves the Crown and the Church to fight it out, levelling under the raised gavel at 19,000gp each. One more bid of a grand extra from the church is topped by three extra from the Duchy and (using taxpayers money of course!), Duke Kell Aerik has a fine new tapestry to take pride of place in his banqueting hall.

Sold at auction for 22,000gp.

Bidder 2: [1d4]=4 ace? + [1d4]=3. [1d6]=3 ace? + [1d6]=6 [1d8]=7 = 17,000gp

Bidder 5: [1d4]=2 ace? + [1d4]=2. [1d6]=6 ace? + [1d6]=5 [1d8]=6. = 19,000gp

Bidder 6: [1d4]=4 ace? + [1d4]=4. [1d6]=4 ace? + [1d6]=1 [1d8]=4Bidder 6: second Ace bid roll [1d4]=3 =19,000gp

Bidder 5 vs Bidder 6: [1d4]=3 if Ace [1d4]=1 vs [1d4]=1 if Ace [1d4]=2.

Resolution: Bidder 5 (agent for Duke Aerik) bids 22,000gp vs bidder 6 (agent for Bishop Blowers).

Minus auctioneers fee and administrative costs, you make +19,000gp.

[Rex]

Orgoth

Orgoth takes the 90gp offer.

Sheet updated.

[OGRE MAGE]

Sven’s eyes get a little wider with each passing bid, seemingly thrilled that all the money and effort they put in to sell the tapestry for maximum return has paid off swimmingly.

He looks to Orgoth once the final gavel lands, smiling from ear to ear. “That went much better than I thought it would. Come on, let’s try to get in on the celebration.”

Once the action is over, Sven makes his way to the agent for Duke Aerik, hoping he can get a word in with the buyer.

“Congratulations good sir! I think the Duke will be thrilled to own such a fine textile. I would love to see where this beauty is displayed before we leave town again. Is there any chance we could get a tour of the hall and maybe a quick meeting with his Lordship?”

I suppose this means a significant tax will be due upon our return. Kinda hard to hide this sale from LK and his staff.

Thanks Spearmint! That was a long, fun ride!

[Rex]

Orgoth

"I had no idea it would go that high. I think we may have to watch our back after that."

[Quonundrum]

Moriartus

Purchases a silver holy symbol of Arcantryl (50gp).

He also searches for any reference books and lexicons of the bugbear language.