Post by Wixspartan on Apr 4, 2022 10:05:11 GMT
co-written with Ian (Menace)
Silvia moves through the market quietly, looking for anywhere that may be able to provide her with what she needs. Suddenly she comes across the Merchant Bank of Port Ffirst. Perfect.
She slips into the front doors and almost seems to step into a vaulted tomb. It's quiet in here, the scratching of quills and quiet exchanges of rates and fees the only real sound in these still halls of commerce. The young warlock cringes only slightly at the white marble floors and large marble busts depicting "reputable" merchants who built said reputation on exploitation and crime. Seemingly countless clerks on identical desks sort through mountains of papers, each with their own personal identical ledger. She pushes past the merchants, curious as to the lack of coins being exchanged, and attempts to find someone to speak to. A young man in the black tunic of a clerk approaches her.
"Welcome to the Banking House of Teneveer & d'Argent. You seem to be new here. Do you have an appointment or would you like to discuss your financial planning? We are eager to help you achieve your dreams."
"I am very new here yes. I would like to discuss borrowing some money, what do you sorts call it, a loan?"
The young man - hardly a man at all, it seems - nods and bids her to follow.
"Then you have come to the right place. Our director is keen to meet all new prospective clients himself. This way, if you please."
He leads Silvia past the rows of clerks toward another door that leads off to private offices. He stops at one, knocks, and when receiving the muffled "come in" ushers Silvia inside, silently closing the door behind her.
The office of the director of the Merchant Bank is clearly built to intimidate, white-and-black checkered marble tiles reflecting the flicker of candles, and the darkwood paneled walls seemingly sucking all sound from the room. Behind an large desk, flanked by well ordered stacks of papers rising like towers and battlements, sits a red-skinned tiefling. His eyes are black as coals and he looks up at Silvia with an eager smile.
"Come, come! Welcome and good day to you. Any day I get to meet a prospective new client is a good day, in my books. I am known as Mace, and I have the honor of representing the interests of Teneveer & D'Argent in Kantas. Who do I have the pleasure of speaking to, and how may I assist you in your endeavours?"
She awkwardly takes a seat, less intimidated than likely intended but certainly out of place.
"I am Silvia, last name pending. I'm here to ask for some money, I've heard you have a small amount of that lying around."
Mace chuckles.
"Money lying around is no good. Money has to be put to work, like craftsmen, or it will grow dull and does no good to anyone. But I can certainly help with advancing a loan. What is it you need the money for? And how much exactly where you hoping for?"
Silvia mutters to herself.
"Advancing, who in their right mind called it advancing a loan..."
She looks up.
"Ahem, sorry, somewhere in the region of five and a half thousand gold, it's for a house."
Mace leans back, the easy smile not leaving his lips.
"A mortgage then? And a sizeable one too. But I understand, home-ownership is the foundation of a good retirement plan... And so few adventurers tend to have those." he throws her a wink. "You have the look about you. Tell me more."
She gives a careful look back.
"Not a retirement, simply a place to stay between jobs, a steady rock in a stream of chaotic events. And maybe it would be nice to have my own kitchen for once...
And why do you ask Mr. Mace?"
Mace steeples his fingers and looks the young woman sitting across from him straight in the eyes, taking in her full measure.
"You are asking for a significant chunk of money, Ms Silvia. I am trying to understand who you are and how likely it is that you will repay me. But I do appreciate your desire for a bit of stability. There usually isn't a lot of that in the adventuring life. I suppose, putting down roots will motivate you all the more to protect what is yours and repay the loan in a timely manner."
He considers her for a moment before continuing.
"I am inclined to help you. I think I have an idea of your motivation. But it is a significant sum you are asking for. Do you have any collateral you can put up, in the event that you fail to repay the loan?"
"I understand it’s a lot of money, a lot I don’t have. And a lot you do, this is why I’m here Mr. Mace. You will get your money back rest assured but I doubt I have any collateral that would appeal in this situation. My word? My life? Those are the two things I have freely to give right now and dead women don’t make money Mr. Mace"
He leans back and smiles at her last words.
"True enough. And where there is life, there is potential. I like your spirit, and I think there is opportunity in our mutual business. The Bank will lend you the 5500gp you ask for, at a fixed premium of 2750gp, repayable in installments at your earliest convenience. Of course, the usual terms and conditions apply. Should you fail to make sufficient progress to repay the loan in a timely manner, the Bank will repossess the house. And should it come to it, we may... incentivise you appropriately to safeguard our investment."
There is that smile again. It creeps from his lips up, but never quite reaches those cold, black eyes.
"But I think we understand each other. My assistant Carl will have the paperwork and funds ready for you to collect on your way out. I wish you all the best for your future endeavours. And do feel free to drop by when you are in town, I would love to hear of any news you can share with me. Good clients make good friends, and good friends are so hard to come by. But I can already tell, you and I will be the very best of friends..."
"Thank you Mr. Mace. Oh and when it comes to safeguarding the investment I doubt you have much to worry about. The Daring Heights Watch is quite competent and I am no slouch myself. Plus hopefully I won't be the only one around. Now I am off to go take some of your money, wonderful talking to you Mr. Mace."
She stands up and shakes his hand before leaving. On the way out she takes the large bag proffered along with the paperwork, signing it with a borrowed quill. She steps back onto the streets of Port Ffirst and breathes in the sea air.
"Right. Time to go buy a house..."
Silvia moves through the market quietly, looking for anywhere that may be able to provide her with what she needs. Suddenly she comes across the Merchant Bank of Port Ffirst. Perfect.
She slips into the front doors and almost seems to step into a vaulted tomb. It's quiet in here, the scratching of quills and quiet exchanges of rates and fees the only real sound in these still halls of commerce. The young warlock cringes only slightly at the white marble floors and large marble busts depicting "reputable" merchants who built said reputation on exploitation and crime. Seemingly countless clerks on identical desks sort through mountains of papers, each with their own personal identical ledger. She pushes past the merchants, curious as to the lack of coins being exchanged, and attempts to find someone to speak to. A young man in the black tunic of a clerk approaches her.
"Welcome to the Banking House of Teneveer & d'Argent. You seem to be new here. Do you have an appointment or would you like to discuss your financial planning? We are eager to help you achieve your dreams."
"I am very new here yes. I would like to discuss borrowing some money, what do you sorts call it, a loan?"
The young man - hardly a man at all, it seems - nods and bids her to follow.
"Then you have come to the right place. Our director is keen to meet all new prospective clients himself. This way, if you please."
He leads Silvia past the rows of clerks toward another door that leads off to private offices. He stops at one, knocks, and when receiving the muffled "come in" ushers Silvia inside, silently closing the door behind her.
The office of the director of the Merchant Bank is clearly built to intimidate, white-and-black checkered marble tiles reflecting the flicker of candles, and the darkwood paneled walls seemingly sucking all sound from the room. Behind an large desk, flanked by well ordered stacks of papers rising like towers and battlements, sits a red-skinned tiefling. His eyes are black as coals and he looks up at Silvia with an eager smile.
"Come, come! Welcome and good day to you. Any day I get to meet a prospective new client is a good day, in my books. I am known as Mace, and I have the honor of representing the interests of Teneveer & D'Argent in Kantas. Who do I have the pleasure of speaking to, and how may I assist you in your endeavours?"
She awkwardly takes a seat, less intimidated than likely intended but certainly out of place.
"I am Silvia, last name pending. I'm here to ask for some money, I've heard you have a small amount of that lying around."
Mace chuckles.
"Money lying around is no good. Money has to be put to work, like craftsmen, or it will grow dull and does no good to anyone. But I can certainly help with advancing a loan. What is it you need the money for? And how much exactly where you hoping for?"
Silvia mutters to herself.
"Advancing, who in their right mind called it advancing a loan..."
She looks up.
"Ahem, sorry, somewhere in the region of five and a half thousand gold, it's for a house."
Mace leans back, the easy smile not leaving his lips.
"A mortgage then? And a sizeable one too. But I understand, home-ownership is the foundation of a good retirement plan... And so few adventurers tend to have those." he throws her a wink. "You have the look about you. Tell me more."
She gives a careful look back.
"Not a retirement, simply a place to stay between jobs, a steady rock in a stream of chaotic events. And maybe it would be nice to have my own kitchen for once...
And why do you ask Mr. Mace?"
Mace steeples his fingers and looks the young woman sitting across from him straight in the eyes, taking in her full measure.
"You are asking for a significant chunk of money, Ms Silvia. I am trying to understand who you are and how likely it is that you will repay me. But I do appreciate your desire for a bit of stability. There usually isn't a lot of that in the adventuring life. I suppose, putting down roots will motivate you all the more to protect what is yours and repay the loan in a timely manner."
He considers her for a moment before continuing.
"I am inclined to help you. I think I have an idea of your motivation. But it is a significant sum you are asking for. Do you have any collateral you can put up, in the event that you fail to repay the loan?"
"I understand it’s a lot of money, a lot I don’t have. And a lot you do, this is why I’m here Mr. Mace. You will get your money back rest assured but I doubt I have any collateral that would appeal in this situation. My word? My life? Those are the two things I have freely to give right now and dead women don’t make money Mr. Mace"
He leans back and smiles at her last words.
"True enough. And where there is life, there is potential. I like your spirit, and I think there is opportunity in our mutual business. The Bank will lend you the 5500gp you ask for, at a fixed premium of 2750gp, repayable in installments at your earliest convenience. Of course, the usual terms and conditions apply. Should you fail to make sufficient progress to repay the loan in a timely manner, the Bank will repossess the house. And should it come to it, we may... incentivise you appropriately to safeguard our investment."
There is that smile again. It creeps from his lips up, but never quite reaches those cold, black eyes.
"But I think we understand each other. My assistant Carl will have the paperwork and funds ready for you to collect on your way out. I wish you all the best for your future endeavours. And do feel free to drop by when you are in town, I would love to hear of any news you can share with me. Good clients make good friends, and good friends are so hard to come by. But I can already tell, you and I will be the very best of friends..."
"Thank you Mr. Mace. Oh and when it comes to safeguarding the investment I doubt you have much to worry about. The Daring Heights Watch is quite competent and I am no slouch myself. Plus hopefully I won't be the only one around. Now I am off to go take some of your money, wonderful talking to you Mr. Mace."
She stands up and shakes his hand before leaving. On the way out she takes the large bag proffered along with the paperwork, signing it with a borrowed quill. She steps back onto the streets of Port Ffirst and breathes in the sea air.
"Right. Time to go buy a house..."