The Bank of Acumin

[Loudmouth]

As you walk through the area of Acumin filled with shops and services you notice one of the signs had a picture of two piles of crowns standing side by side carved upon it. The sign is fresh and newly carved, the image of the coins is accompanied by the carved in words "Bank of Acumin". The building was small and comfortable, only one story tall with a basement beneath for storage. The walls are made out of twisted vines and trees into the shape a small building. The building is a half circle shape, with it's rounded roof of bent vines and protective rubbery leaves. The doorway is guarded only by a few crisscrossing vines which retract to let customers inside.

Within the building is a vault door among the wooden walls. Everything else adheres to the all natural building code. Flowers bloom from the walls as decoration, leaving a refreshing and fresh scent in the air. The ground is a rug of soft, brilliantly green grass that seems to only grow to a certain height. As you approach the desk made of twisted plant-life you see the clerk sitting at the desk, an older Human of about his 60’s. He looks up from his papers to greet you.

“Serale and welcome to the Acumin bank. How may I be of service to you?”

A small flyer was propped up on his desk by a few vines. The flyer advertised the uses of the bank, from exchanging crowns into bank notes to storing money and adding interest. Scrawled in loose handwriting below the services was a note that read "Now hiring clerks. Good pay.

Contributed to by GM Poe

[S'Lon]

Imperos 3, Autumn, Era XIV

Banks were places that rarely if ever saw the ranger. That was probably because he rarely had the money to put in them which was how he was happy to have it most of the time. Room and board or his time in barter for what he needed at that time was generally how he worked. Unfortunately there were times and places where crowns were the currency, and it was almost always the case in cities. He needed a good base of crowns to see him through at least part of the winter in one of the cities with an arcane academy. Since he had no intentions of taking his druidism to a high level, he intended to do the same with arcana as he did with his other skills and learn a good broad base.

"Serale", he replied to the greeting. "I was directed here by Matthes. I'm looking to earn some crowns, which isn't easy here, and he said something about caravans and talking to you." He smiled and cocked his head. "So, here I am."

He waited expectantly to see if there was a positive response before continuing.

[Lichen]

OOC: We're in the process of editing this writeup, so there's an NPC change

The woman running the bank was old and rather exhausted in appearance. She brightened somewhat at the sight of S’Lon, getting up from her chair and walking over to him. ”Yes,” she said, her voice cracked and shaky with age, ”we have need of guards for the few merchant caravans that go to and from these parts. Do you have any skill with weaponry?”

[S'Lon]

OKThat's fine, feel free to rewrite it from the ground up! :)

S'Lon bowed his head to the old woman, hoping that this place of all the places in Acumin might actually have some crowns and not expect him to take payment in barter.

"I have some skills with weapons yes, mainly with the bow. You can ask Matthes if you wish to check." He shrugged depreciatingly, but continued his smile. "I'm interested if you have something that you would need me for."

[Lichen]

The woman frowned. ”Well, lad, I wouldna asked you if I didn’t have a need for such things. I’m an old woman, young men such as yourself do not elicit my curiosity.” She passed for a moment, likely to let her scolding sink in, and then continued. ”As it happens, I do have need for men and women with skills. I’ve got a caravan leaving here in two days, full of honey, fruit and a sizeable amount of good wool, and I need some strong arms to help push it past the vyssies.” Her eyes, dark brown and narrowed, looked him up and down. ”You certainly don’t look like much. Tell me, what experience in fighting and scouting do you have? Be specific and brief lad, I’ve not much time for pleasantries.”

[S'Lon]

S'Lon's lips twitched as the woman very neatly put him in his place and he bowed to cover the grin which threatened to break past his control.

When he straightened he had recovered control of his face and could answer her seriously. "Well, no, I will admit that pushing wagons is not the skill that I'd put myself forward for, but it wouldn't be the first time." He smiled smoothly but spoke with assurance, even though he wasn't exactly the most experienced of caravan guards.

"I've trained under the Masters of the Ranger Halls of Narim, Daltina, Medonia, Natura as well as stood duty here in my time. I've hunted orcs and goblins in Sheria, rogue dwarfes in Abestat and tracked and killed slavers here in the Dolwoods."

"My main weapon is the bow, which I'm working on my Mastership of now. For close work I prefer my longknives. I'm also an Apprentice Druid, for whatever use that is in a fight. I work by preference alone, which is why I tend to work as a scout, but I can work in a team when the need arises."

Is that good enough for you?" He put a little more emphasis in the last sentence just so that she knew that he'd not be pushed around. "If it isn't then I'll just move on and find someone else who will appreciate my skills."

[Lichen]

”Don’t be sassy,” the woman said complacently as he finished. ”Ain’t got many in Acumin can claim such skills as you just did, not without a good bit o’ drink and a pretty girl to guide their tongue. But I ain’t been such since I was a lass, and you don’t have the stink of drink about you,” she said and paused, eyes narrowing, ”and should keep it so, I don’t tolerate drunkards in my establishment.” The woman paused for a moment to let it sink in, then nodded firmly. ”If you’ve the will, I’ve a job for you. I’ve a caravan headed out brightening after next, and I’ll be needing hands to load her and guide her. You’d be working with 7 others, mostly merchants whose interest in their wares drives ‘em to bein’ busybodies.” She said this with a slight roll of her eyes and a cluck of her tongue.

”There are four other guards accompanying it. Caravan’s three wagons, full of foodstuffs, wool products, and honey in need of sale in the big city – not a tempting target for raiders, but with the vysstichi we can’t be too careful. I’ve a main need to get the wares to Primus Gaudeo, but if you wanted to stay on longer, your presence would be welcome. Caravan’ll be exchanging and trading all the way to Zinn’Sunn and back. Pay’s 40 crowns per cycle plus food and board paid, or 60 per cycle if you wish to pay for your food yourself.” She eyed him for a moment before extending a wrinkled hand. “Do we have a deal?”

[S'Lon]

S'Lon nodded slightly at her reprimand and he wondered briefly if she were the same with all who came here or if it was just him that needed telling.

"That sounds like something I could well be interested in. I'm not so sure though that the vysstichi will ignore it though. We all need food, and this sounds like the sort of thing that they might appreciate down in those caves of theirs." He hesitated but for a moment since this was the sort of thing that he enjoyed, and getting paid for it would be an added bonus, and even though there was danger, it was a job that needed doing and surely even She would not object to him taking on this job instead of dedicating himself to her, it was after all to allow him to improve his skills and serve Her better.

He reached out and took the hand, smiling and shaking it firmly. "We have a deal," he replied. Food would be an issue, but he needed the crowns, and he could probably borrow some staples from the Hall, and forage as they travelled to bulk it out. "I'll provide the food myself. How are you intending to make the payments? I'd prefer something up front so that I can make sure that I have everything I'll need to do the job properly." He guessed that she would see right through that, but it was a fair point, and she might see the sense of it.

[Lichen]

The woman crossed her arms over her chest, sticking her chin out slightly. ”Payment upon service, though you can be paid daily if you prefer,” she said meaningly. ”How long do you think you’ll be going with the caravan? Will we need to hire another guard in Primus, or are you the lasting sort of employee?” The arch tone said that she thought this last part was a bit unlikely – she didn’t seem to be the type whose glass was half full of relentless optimism. ”We offer a bonus for anyone who goes all the way and back again – don’t seem to get many of those types these days.”

[S'Lon]

A good bargain was something that S'Lon enjoyed as well as anyone else, and he wasn't about to be put off at the first objection. Of course, since what he really wanted was to be able to buy some food and save the odd crown by so doing, he needed to find a good reason for extracting a few crowns here and now.

"I've just come in from a patrol that had me out all Summer. With the best will in the world, even I can't keep all my kit and my windstepper in good condition for that length of time. In particular I could do with with replacing some of my arrows with new ones. There really isn't much point in hiring an expensive bowman if he runs out of arrows in the first attack. The general idea is to kill them before they get close enough to start killing off your merchants. And of course there are a few other bits and pieces that I could do with."

He paused and smiled. "Look at it another way. Thirty crowns up front against the final total will secure my services. Otherwise I might get a better offer before the caravan leaves, and it's only a few days to Primus on a good horse, and I have the best, so I'm sure I can find alternative employment there."

He crossed his arms and waited for her answer, adding at the last moment, "but yes, I intend to be coming back here."

[Lichen]

She scowled, wrinkles deepening at the declaration. ”And I canna afford to go out giving crowns to lads whose reputation is unknown at best! This isn’t the Principality, son – money doesn’t grow on trees, and I’m not willing to risk crowns on the hopeful thought you won’t purchase yourself some arrows and run off on your own.” She fiddled with the shiny gold band on her left hand. ”Now, if you can find someone to vouch for your strength of character, as it were, I might be willing to reconsider. But I know the Dolwoods done struck fear in the hearts of men whose balls outweigh your own by a good 10 pounds, and I’m not willing to risk the word of a man I do not know. You need arrows? I need references.”

She scrunched her face up and added, ”no better deal here in town for a man of your skills, and I imagine you know that or you wouldn’t still be here.”

[S'Lon]

She was a tough bargainer, as tough as he could recall. She pinched on the deal like it was her own money. He was tempted to laugh with delight, but somehow he stopped himself.

Instead he assumed a sober and somewhat irritated expression, and his voice was as cold as he could make it. "The rangers have assisted Her in protecting this town since She put the shield in place. I don't recall them being paid in crowns but neither have they either been distrusted. Your suggestion is insulting, and it raises grave doubts in my mind as to how much I can trust you to make the payment at the end, though I can assure you that failure to do so would be a mistake. If you are unable to place trust in me then you should not be hiring me."

"While it's true that there aren't many other alternatives here in this town, I'm not stuck here. If you want me to stay then I expect to be paid as I asked, otherwise I'll seek employment with people who understand the value of trust."

[Lichen]

”You think the rangers aren’t paid?” she scoffed, white eyebrows fading into her hairline. ”You think they live off air and the service of the Goddess? Nah, lad, even they get paid ev’n if it isn’t in crown. And you’d best remove the air, lest I have you removed not merely from my building but from my town,” and here she did not sound amused or pleased in the slightest, intensely serious, and her hand had slipped down towards the knife she carried at her side, hovering without motion but ready should the man prove any more aggressive.

”If you’ve doubt as to my ability and inclination to pay you at the end of your service, then ask around – I, unlike you, can provide references for my trustworthiness. And lad, you can mock and complain and force forth false examples all you want, but lest you find someone to provide a reference for your strength of personality, I will not be giving you coin in advance. And if you ever,” she gritted her teeth, ”make the mistake of threatening me again, I will not be giving it to you at all. Choose your words more carefully sir, lest I mistake them. This is not Primus, and I am a woman of great repute and respect. I will take your insults, but I will not be bullied.”

[S'Lon]

If there was someone more unreasonable in their haggling, S'Lon couldn't remember the last time that he'd had the displeasure to meet them. She rebuffed him without thought of the consequences, and if she expected anyone more reputable than him to appear to help her then he would be very surprised. It seemed that she would rather lose the caravan to raiders than lose one part of her face here, and he had no doubt that such a loss would be conveniently be passed onto those unfortunate enough to be guarding it.

He held up his hands, showing the palms of them to her to alleviate the tension a little. This was what happened when you allowed women into positions of power, he knew that. Not that he hadn't known quite a few women who he'd gladly place himself into the hands of, but this one wasn't one of those. This one needed a firm hand, and frankly she was too old to be worth the bother. Great repute and respect indeed! He bit his lip.

"Enough! It seems that you would rather the caravan left here without proper guard than risk a silver to change that. That is your choice." He wondered if those whose goods would travel on the caravan understood the terms on which they risked their goods.

"You are fortunate that I am currently in no hurry, nor do I seek coin for the sake of it." He wondered if she would take that as an insult or a compliment, probably the latter. "Nor am I in a mood to satisfy your whims by asking Matthes to give you the reference that I've already offered." It was a snipe that he regretted the moment that the words were out of his mouth. She twisted his words and he shouldn't have given her the satisfaction of it.

"I will take the payment on the terms that you've offered it. Where and when will the caravan form up?"

[Lichen]

”Matthes Aleander? That old horse crap?” she snorted, but the whiteness faded from her knuckles. ”That draconian dingleberry wouldn’t know an elf from a cats’ poop-shooter, he’s so addled in the head. But,” she said, her scoffing giving way to thought, ”he isn’t a bad judge of character, despite lacking such himself. He says you’re to be trusted, I’ll give you the money in advance. Caravan leaves here two brightening from now, 3 candlemarks before dawn. Come to me tomorrow afternoon after I’ve a chance to hunt down that moronic piece of excrement, and I’ll give you your advance payment.”