Helix: The Rosy Quartz Jewellers & Moneylenders.

[Nordbo]

Cosmo

taken aback by the fantastic offer takes a few seconds to snap out of the vision of immense financial possibilities it would grant him, and politely corrects the evaluation expert: "Oh, my dear esteemed sir, if it only was so, but I have in fact only twenty-five gems to present to you - here." and displays the contents of his back pack. "Might I trouble you for an updated calculation based on this smaller number ?"

[Spearmint]

The Rosy Quartz

Counting out his apportioned share as others debate what to do with theirs, Cosmo inquires to current value as uncut gems.

"Well these twenty five, at an average of fifty gold apiece ... " cue some abacus shuffling, "I can offer you 1,250gp, bought as seen. It gives you plenty of coins in your pocket and me some room to mark-up.

If you want them cutting into more refined pieces, then I can engage an artisan to come from Ironguard for a month and spend that time reshaping and polishing them for 325gp. You can then take the finished products and hope to double or treble the enhanced value in Ironguard.

What do your prefer?"

[sastaz]

Gerdal's uncut emerald is currently valued at 525 gp

The gnome craftsmen give the same quotation, offering to "improve the overall cut of facets and exalt the brilliance while maintaining the sharpness and stone's integrity." At a price of course with no guarantee but a general expectation that cutting it will increase market value. "260gp more or less. Probably more, but then you get more return on investment." He scribbles notes detailing a gemsmiths wages, factoring in hourly rates and skill plus specific artisan tools, magnifier lens to use, obsidian sharpened blades, special.mineral water to clean it and so on. A months labour and a skill test to offset against the overall value.

After having given this a lot of thought, Gerdal accepts.

"It's only fair. I had to think about when I will be in town next time. Lots of travel in my profession you see" she says, laughing.

260 gp deducted for the work

"Thank you good sir and I will see you in a month, if not earlier."

Gerdal notices Cosmo standing next to her. She raises an eyebrow at the gnome's display of gems.

"Having visited the barrows I see?"

[Stirling]

Vann Hector

Sometime after agreeing to join the Adventurers Guild, June 10th or later ...

The elf walks in to the Rosy Quartz Jewelers. He looks around at the fine gems on display, "so much to steal" his mind thinks but he has already got his fingers burned.

Instead he is looking to sell, or at least appraise some values.

"Gur Hirwen, my fine friend. I came across this little beauty here, it sort of captured my attention and it fits my finger so well, don't you think. Anyway, I wanted to get it appraised. To know its value and worth. For insurance purposes of course."

He shows the gnome his newly acquired

wooden ring, made from dark ebony and inset with a large orange fiery tiger eye gemstone.

.

"No, just look at it. Under your scope. What radiance and manifestations of light or fiery glints can you tell.

If I were to buy this, or let's say a friend wanted to buy it. What is its value and nature?"

After the gnome inspects the ring, keeping it on my finger just in case he drops it and scratches it accidentally, then I will also get him to appraise my share of uncut gemstones taken from the sarcophagus of Magyar Varghoulis. I won't tell him where I got those, just in case of a double whammy.

"Fiery tiger eyes, hmmm", the elf says. He keeps looking in a mirror to check his own eyes have not gained such a feral glint.

[Nordbo]

Cosmo

while hovering by the counter, by mistake steps on the foot of Gerdal, also there on business. "I say, please excuse the clumsy foot, it belongs to Cosmo Snag, yours truly. I have just been almost to the underworld and back, a somewhat harrowing experience. You too look like you've been around but come out the better for it! How about a pint - I need to hear something else than the asthmatic wheezing of undead knights."

[Nordbo]

Cosmo

accepts the offer of 1250 GP gratefully. "Thank you sir, that is very generous. A pleasure doing business with you."

[Spearmint]

The Rosy Quartz Jewelers and Moneylenders.

Gur Hirwen inspects the ring that is sitting tightly and squarely upon the elf's tightly bunched fingers.

Vann Hector has a growing affection for the fiery tiger eye and is reluctant to even slide it off for a closer study, holding his hand at whatever odd angles can best suit the refractive tests and assessing the size, cut and clarity. "Well, I will have to just estimate the weight shall I?" the gnome says.

He fingers his abacus (and his nose), huffing and puffing before offering, "I would say the gemstone itself is worth several hundred gold, the purity of the chatoyancy is high. The wood is a very rare Rosewood grain. Found in ancient rainforests. Not around here anymore, perhaps a thousand years ago. Adds to the overall lustre. Take it from a Rakshasa did you? Evil masters of illusion. Us gnomes know a thing or two about the artful crafts but are mere apprentices to such innovative connesieurs." he looks up with an air of knowledge that suggests he may have been able to detect magic upon the ring though he cast no verbalised spell.

As asked he provides a 'certificate of authenticity and appraisal', stamping it with his waxed guild seal. He appraises the ring as worth 1,000gp.

the value comes from his overall suspicion the ring has a magic effect. On a natural scale a tiger eye inset upon rosewood ring might not be more than 10% of that appraisal.

Assessing your collection of uncut gems stones, he reasons with the market being flooded after buying in Cosmo's lot, he can only offer you 90% of what he offered his fellow gnome. +1125gp if you want to sell. As requested he lists those stones on a certification as well and both ring and uncut gems appraised, you take your leave. -25gp his accreditation reports.

[Stirling]

Vann Hector

Thanks Gur Hirwen at the Rosy Quartz Jewelers and Moneylenders and sharks enterprise. He is happy with his ring assessment though concerned regarding the comment it may have come from a Rakshasa. I have little knowledge of them apart from being tiger-people?

Maybe that is the connection to the gem and the rare wood is from their homeland but why have one buried in the tombs nearby?

He takes his uncut gems and certificates. Signed and sealed as they are, (perhaps I could study a bit of forgery) sly thought ... taking them in his cloak.

[sastaz]

Cosmo

while hovering by the counter, by mistake steps on the foot of Gerdal, also there on business. "I say, please excuse the clumsy foot, it belongs to Cosmo Snag, yours truly. I have just been almost to the underworld and back, a somewhat harrowing experience. You too look like you've been around but come out the better for it! How about a pint - I need to hear something else than the asthmatic wheezing of undead knights."

"Why yes I guess you could say I have! Our latest trip was not to the Barrows though, but to another nefarious cave: the home of vile snake men and their naga queen. Are you a scholar of the arcane by the way? I'm currently conducting some research related to said naga queen. I believe their essence holds the key to acquire the ability to breath underwater. Let us get that pint, and I will tell you more!

Cosmo can choose between the Pheasant and the Strumpet

[Nordbo]

Cosmo

to Gerdal: "The Strumpet it is! Ahem...have you heard about the tattoed beggar...." he begins chatting as they leave this establishment.

[sastaz]

Cosmo

to Gerdal: "The Strumpet it is! Ahem...have you heard about the tattoed beggar...." he begins chatting as they leave this establishment.

Gerdal follows Cosmo to the Strumpet [conversation continued in that thread...]

[Monsieur Rose]

Sir Dewey

Enter The Knight.

He pulls his share of the Rosy Quartzes and places them on the counter. "I hear you're full up on these. But the life of a Holy Knight is not a profitable one, and I find myself in need of a modest amount of funds. Might I be able to sell a handful now, and pay for the rest to be cut? Most of the profit would go to the church, of course."

[Spearmint]

The Rosy Quartz

The charismatic paladin bids for a good deal, his pouch of uncut gemstones examined.

"On an individual basis, I will give you
forty eight gold pieces each. Whatever you want cutting can be set aside and worked on. That will cost sixteen gold per gem and take a full day each, plus a couple of days to bring in my cousin artisans."

Sir Dewey can work out what you sell and what you leave to be cut. (A suggestion is selling 10 stones for 48gp so 480gp then using half that profit, 240gp to cut the remaining 15 gems and pocket +240gp. The gems could then be picked in in approximately two weeks and sold elsewhere as cut gems with a possible double or treble increase in value).

[Monsieur Rose]

(A suggestion is selling 10 stones for 48gp so 480gp then using half that profit, 240gp to cut the remaining 15 gems and pocket +240gp. The gems could then be picked in in approximately two weeks and sold elsewhere as cut gems with a possible double or treble increase in value).

This. Thanks.

Sir Dewey

The Knight takes the deal and thanks Gur Hirwen for the exchange. +240gp, 15 soon-to-be-cut gems

[Darkmane]

Moorheeth

Entering the Rosy Quartz as well, Moorheeth pulls forth a pouch of gems and says, Gur Hirwen is it, my name is Moorheeth cleric of Arcantryl, I've heard you've been able to increase the value of these by cutting?


If Gur Hirwen agrees ill take the same deal as Sir Dewey.

[Spearmint]

Moorheeth , sure, take +240gp and in a fortnight come back to collect the remaining 15 cut gems to sell elsewhere.

[Darkmane]

moorheeth

Happily caching the 240gp, Moorheeth thanks the proprietor: thank you good sir, I’ll be back in a fortnight, if they finish early I’ll be at the inn.

[Spearmint]

Rosy Quartz

house keeping

Cosmo sells all his uncut gems, Vann Hector uses his as a peace offering, Sir Dewey and Moorheeth cash in some and take +15 cut gemstones to sell in Ironguard, Sigrid has yet to decide, so should add hers to character sheet.

[Cwreando]

Durgo

Durgo quite proud of his recent adventure takes his geodes over to the rosy quartz to see what kind of deal he can make.

"Hello again. Just got back in to town with some goodies." He places the bag where instructed gently and opens it up to take out the items.

"I gotta say I went through an ordeal to get these back here to say the least. I'm hoping for a good deal. Bless St. Ygg.

[Spearmint]

The Rosy Quartz

Hmmm ... I expect the market to be flooded soon with these." Gir Huwen comments to Durgo.

You look around the shop and spot some other geodes, assets liquidated by the miners probably who drink and gamble their profits away no doubt.

Each character has 'a small sack of geodes' as a personal claim. The geodes have a random worth. A small sack contains 40lbs in weight of rock which could yield dusty, worthless crystal grains or precious crystals worth hundreds of gold as base uncut gems.

"What Determines The Value Of A Geode? What kind of crystals are found inside the geode.
Scarcity of the minerals inside the geode.
Symmetry of the geode. Condition of the geode.
Is the geode cracked or intact. Overall weight of the geode." the gnome says, inspecting each under the gaze of his thick lensed glasses and tapping each rock in turn with a little hammer and placing a tuning fork upon it to assess the inner vibrations resonating inside a hollow interior.

"An amethyst geode is priced much like a colored gemstone. The tone and saturations of the amethyst crystal being the most important factor in determining its price.

The crystals displaying the deepest purple tones with strong color saturation are considered superior geodes. The quality decreases as the amethyst crystals lose their saturation and become lighter purple or reddish-purple hues.

The second factor used in grading is the symmetry or the outside shape of the geode itself. The most symmetrical geodes command the best prices.

The third factor used is its weight vs its dimension…the proportion of the geode crystal viewing area to its weight. Since geodes are priced by weight, after grading its color and symmetry, a geode with very thick sidewalls or an extra heavy base would be downgraded since the extra weight is not adding anything to its beauty. Yet the weight is still being sold to consumer.

Very thick walls and base decrease the area or the window view of the amethyst crystal field.”

The artisan knows his craft. The rocks you have remain uncracked. He weighs risk and reward up to make an offer whilst you can inspect some of the geodes brough in earlier for a comparison. Some glint with clean deep purple quartz and amethyst, others contain brittle black flakes that crumble into glittery dust when touched. One swirls in multi colours, offering ornamental agates that look like stripey boiled sweets.

Each crystal needs working from base uncut form to cut and shape before mounting into rings and jewellery pieces or they can be assessed as 'uncut gems, value ???gp.

"On a straight up deal, unseen and unbroken, I will offer 300gp for the sackful. Out of that I might find half the rocks are pretty but petty in value and those with workable crystals need hours of labour to double their value, then Silver Standard export costs, insurance .... Then again one rock might split open and like clams offer a prized pearl or in this case a prized amethyst and be worth half that all by itself?

What do you say? Three hundred as is or we crack some open and then barter the results?"


actions Durgo you can respond, Gur is known to be a fair but wily customer, certainly keen on making a profit for himself but not wanting to see custom go elsewhere. Of course in Ironguard you may get a better deal yourself, the Citadel offering more customers.

You can try to bargain a better face value deal with a [4d6] Charisma check.