Sherian Post Office

[Vylle Fyrrialt]

On the Road of the Shvakkim, the commercial strip of Narim that stretched all the way from the harbour to the heart of the bustling port of sixty thousand denizens, there was a plethora of shops, inns, taverns, and offices. Among them was Mister Vylle ak-Fyrrialt's latest investment - a post office, the Narim branch of Sherian Post, a mail service that currently linked Narim to Taralon, and although it held no office there, did do deliveries to Vers at added cost. Perhaps even Ire, or Orckon as its own inhabitants named it, offered an opportunity, but that all depended on how efficiently the greed of merchants encouraged trade between the Orc city and the two metropolises of Sherian, Taralon and Narim. If that lust for gold was enough to settle racial tension, then perhaps it would prove a place as lucrative as Taralon for the mail network.

The building was five hundred and fifty square feet in the interior, and two stories tall, the main floor intended for the office, and a loft above it. It matched the architectural design of Narim, apparently Dwarven in style, rectangular and solid, without ornamentation and decoration - much to Vylle's chagrin. The Dwarven design was efficient, sturdy, and practical, but the merchant was not a man who appreciated the practicality of simplicity. He much preferred the taste of beautification in buildings. If his life had led him to the career of planning buildings, he would have included ample curlicues on door and window frames, patterns in the brick laying, perhaps mimicked battlements at the edge of the roof - anything that made the building stand out, that attracted customers because of how stunning it looked.

Hanging over the wooden door was a double-sided sign, with a piece of parchment with two wings on it painted onto the wood. It was meant to symbolize travelling paper - mail. If one did not catch the meaning, between the metal that the sign hung from and the top of the door was a plaque which read, 'Sherian Post.'

At first it remained vacant, just as uninhabited as if no one had begun to rent it. Then Vylle had started to receive the job applications he had advertised for. Out of them, he chose the two most apt courier, who, as requested, owned their own horses, two clerks, one for the Narim office, one for the Taralon office, and three mercenaries, to guard the courier on the road between Narim and Taralon, which was riddled with dangers, ranging from bandits to Orcs, and now, possibly even pirates from the coast. As advertised, each clerk was being paid fifty Crowns a cycle, the couriers also fifty Crowns a cycle (not to mention brightenings off whenever they were not travelling and had no mail to deliver), and each guard eighty Crowns a cycle for their services. And so Sherian Post finally began to function, after much too long.

The Narim clerk was an ordinary man, plump and round, and balding, the entire top of his head glistening in the light that came in through the storefront windows. He was used to clerical work, obviously, for his hands were not calloused from physical labour, and his figure certainly implied an inactive life.

He greeted everyone who came into the office cheerfully. There was a sign on his desk that proclaimed:

'1 Crown per Letter to Taralon,
2 Crowns per Package to Taralon,
2.5 Crowns per Letter to Vers,
5 Crowns per Package to Vers,
Special Deliveries to other Cities upon request.'

There was a crate where the letters were meant to go. All one had to do to send something was to put the letter of package in the crate, pay the fee to the man at the desk, and leave.

OoC: Note: The hiring of these NPCs has my approval.
Cheers,
GM Trinity

[S'Lon]

Thera, Brightening 6 of Cycle One of Imperios
Summer of Era I of the Celestine Mandate
Era X Post Fractum in the Age of the Darkening
Paradigm: Occupation of Jaedaxia

Sitting in his room at the Ranger Hall, S'Lon had finally started the next stage of the venture that he had thought about for so long. Many were the hours he had sat beside some babbling brook or beneath shady tree considering what to do with his future. It went without saying and he certainly did not spend any time considering it, that his main interest and main time would be spent as a Ranger. And yet, and yet, the position of Ranger was not paid and while the Ranger Hall would provide if necessary everything that would be needed, it went against the grain for S'Lon to merely accept charity like that. Had the job been paid, he could have committed himself to it without a second thought, but it was not and he was not prepared to spend much more time acting like a leech. It was bad enough that the Hall was providing all of his training for free but he could at least pay his way for his daily needs.

Several options had some to mind in those long hours of careful consideration and he was hopeful that it would be by a mixture of things that he could achieve his aims. No normal job would satisfy his needs, for his calling required him to practice his Ranger skills during the day and he could be out of the city for irregular periods. To make the task even harder he would need something that would compliment his Ranger skills. No tavern work or labouring if he could avoid it but he instead if he was lucky it could be done.

Already he was learning leather craft at Tev’s shop for this was a skill that could be used often and would help ensure that some of the skins of animals he killed for food and when forced to by his calling would not go to waste. Spurred on by the example of Tev with his shop, S'Lon had applied to the Aedile to start a shop of his own. The shop would be in the wine trade and once up and running should be able to operate without needing his constant attention. He paid well to ensure that the clerk could run the shop for him and partly as a result the shop itself generated no income for him.

It was to change the last that this current venture was aimed, for what he desired was to bring in more unusual and expensive items to sell in the shop. Sourcing these items was something that he could do while on his travels as a Ranger, but while he was training his travels were restricted and so instead he had decided to write to the Aediles of certain cities to enquire if they would give him some information on their exports and also if they were willing to give him the names of merchants specialising in those items.

Now he had arrived at the offices of the Sherian Post Service with his letters and he hoped that even though his target cities were outside the normal delivery of the Service they would be willing to send a courier for him. Pushing through the wooden door, he received the cheery greeting of the clerk and replied. ”Serale, my good sir, I wonder if you could help me. I have these letters and I wish to arrange for a courier to deliver them for me – they are all addressed to the Aediles of the following cities; Daltina, New Coldmoon, Port Alyxandrya, Zinn’Sunn and Mystique. I would hope for replies from all so I need your courier to tarry in Mystique for the reply, but no more than a day and then to return to each of the other cities collecting responses as he goes.”

He looked towards the clerk to gauge how his response was being taken and lifted the letters and held them out to the man. Anyone who read them would see that they were quite simple and merely contained these words:

Serale,

I am a merchant in Narim and I am hoping that I will be able to set up some trade with your city. I would be obliged if you would be so kind as to supply me with information as to whether your city would be able to sell me any of these items or others that you think would be interesting to me. In addition, if you could supply the names and contact details of any merchants who would be able to supply these items then that would also be appreciated. The items I am interested in are; spices, cheese, fur, coffee, teas, fine ales, wine, glass and fine jewellery.

I am able to supply the following goods if you are interested in a new source of supply; gems, pearls and precious metals.

My courier will return shortly to collect your answer and I thank you in advance for spending your valuable time.

”That’s quite a list my friend” the clerk replied, lets see, it would take 24 days in all, 12 there and 12 back, possibly 1 extra day lost spent waiting for the response. The price will be 35 crowns per city.”

S'Lon took a breath at the sum quoted but it would take more time than he had at present to visit all these cities so he just nodded and dug out the sum requested and handed it and the letters to the clerk. Nodding and raising his hand in farewell he left the office.

OOC: let me know if the price was wrong - I couldn't quite follow your calculations in the end, and if you want to reply for the clerk I will edit as necessary,

[Vylle Fyrrialt]

After S'Lon had left the shop and paid the appropriate fee, the rotund clerk wrote a note addressed to the proprietor of the post office and his employer, Vylle Fyrrialt, informing the entrepreneur of the special courier request. On the next courier run from Narim to Taralon, the letter was delivered to his loft in the capital of Taralon. Although he was in the midst of making preparations for his trip to Frigid River to take on the position of Exchequer of Lauryl in Governor Pirvan Kaldres' new government, Vylle did not discard this request. Instead, in the return letter, he told the clerk to post up another 'Employee Wanted' poster on the door of the Narim office, and informed him of the qualifications all applicants would require.

The clerk, Reuben was his name, did as instructed, and after a few brightenings an acceptable applicant came up, and he was hired to take the five letters to the Aediles of Daltina, Port Alyxandrya, New Coldmoon, Zinn'Sunn, and Mystique. The courier, a middle-aged man who went by the name of Isaac, had his own horse, and agreed to do the job for one hundred and twenty Crowns. He was sent off on his errand with sixty Crowns, and the promise that he would be paid the remaining sixty, which he was upon returning to Narim twenty-five brightenings later.

[Vylle Fyrrialt]

(OOC: I'll add the letters to this post as they're made.)

Twenty-five brightenings later, Isaac returned with the responses from all of the Aediles of the different cities that S'Lon had sent the missives to.

From Mystique:

Serale,

I believe The Cornerstone would be intersted in any business regarding gems and would be the same proprieter in regards to your request about jewelry. At present there is known to be a small surpluss of cheese, green tea and spices at the General Store which acts as a storehouse for the city. Unfortunately wine and ales are in demand here and I am unaware of the situation regarding glassword. Furs however are impossible to obtain due to trade cut-off's of such goods from Frigid River and High Peak's being blocked off. I recommend markets in Enamoria rather than seeking business with traitors to the Imperium.

Sincerely, Aedile Zeralus Minette

[Vylle Fyrrialt]

The letter with enclosed instructions had just arrived from Mister ak-Fyrrialt. Reuben stared at them incredulously. His employer wanted to find a ridiculous amount of people to work for Sherian Post. He rubbed his eyes, put on his pair of spectacles, and double checked the numbers. Yes, he had been seeing correctly. A hundred couriers and a hundred and fifty accompanying guards. He was also to employ five people to make copies of an ad which was in the envelope, and then post them around Narim, each to be paid fifty Crowns for their services. That was the easy part. Then he had to interview all these people, and probably accept most of the applicants, if there were even enough. This would take a while. The ad read as follows:

'One hundred couriers. Must be spry and young, without families or anything tying them down to the city. Doesn't mind travelling for long periods of time. Preferrably already in ownership of a fit riding horse, but optional. Pay: 70 Crowns a cycle.

'One hundred and fifty guards. Must have some training in some weapon, capable of defending the courier they are accompanying. Doesn't mind travelling for long periods of time. Must own a horse. Reliable in battle, and able to fend off groups of Orcs and brigands long enough for their charge, a courier, to escape. Pay: 80 Crowns a cycle.

'Twenty-five managers. Must have at least three patterns business experience. Pay: 100 Crowns a cycle.

'Apply at the Narim office of Sherian Post.'

Soon this would be plastered throughout the cities of Narim and Taralon, at a cost of five hundred Crowns, straight from the pocket of Vylle ak-Fyrrialt.

[Vylle Fyrrialt]

"Mr. Bordoir,

If it is necessary, hire one or two more managers to ease the workload of the whole. Though it will cost us, it may ultimately be less dear to have efficient and unstressed managers than managers who are overworked and hasty. A mistake may cost more than another two managers, and only half the office space I rent for them is occupied.

To contend the couriers in the regions on the souther coast, re-alocate guards from the Narimite Valley and Black River regions. They are stable, for they are in the shadows of Taralon and Narim.

I will take your suggestion, and leave the regions too near to Ire unserviced. Even the mountain regions, which are more sparsely populated, may be expendable, but unless there are no couriers willing to take the route at the current wages, keep them on. The southern coast, however, is too valuable. Do whatever is necessary to keep them on at current capacity.

Also, I would that Sherian Post established an office in Vers. At first I deemed Vers not worth the office, for it would not generate enough revenue, but with Sherian Post's expansion in the countryside, there is now need for an administrative centre in Vers.

Sincerely,

Vylle Fyrrialt."

In response,

"Mr. Fyrrialt,

There have been some reported attacks on couriers by victims of the Raiders. All guards from the Black River area have been relocated to the south coast regions.

I have employed two new managers, and their presence is helping. I have also sent several managers to the office in Narim, converting the apartment above the post office into offices for the managers. Administrating the Narimite Valley from the Taralon offices was too cumbersome and inefficient.

Sincerely,

Remy Bodoir."

[Vylle Fyrrialt]

Another letter from Lauryl arrived for Remy Bordoir.

"Mr. Bordoir,

It has come my attention that should the city of Alleria Prime, the capital of the Allerian Empire and by far the largest metropolis, open up from behind its magical barrier, there will be a flood of letters being sent in and out of the city. Assuming that the original inhabitants are still alive, correspondence between friends and family long separated by the magical barrier of the Ancient Allerians will explode.

If the magical barrier opens, news will reach Taralon far sooner than it will Lauryl. Therefore, I give you these instructions:

If the barrier around Alleria Prime opens while I am not in Sherian, establish a mail route to Alleria Prime immediately, diverting as many couriers as demand requires without disrupting mail flow between Narim and Taralon. Then have those couriers collect mail in Alleria Prime to be sent to Sherian.

If the building still stands, I own a building in Alleria Prime's Mercantile District, formerly an adventuring shop. If the barrier opens and Alleria Prime is deemed safe and open to the Empire once more, immediately send a clerk to the address herein enclosed, with directions to put up a sign declaring it a post office. When the couriers from Sherian arrive and have delivered all the mail, have them bring the mail from citizens of Alleria Prime to Sherian.

Also, on an unrelated note, it is essential that you open an post office in Vers. To this immediately.

Sincerely,

Exchequer of Lauryl, Vylle Fyrrialt."

[Vylle Fyrrialt]

A sign went up on the door of Narim's Sherian Post office:

"LOOKING TO HIRE:

1 Manager, for Sherian Post's new office in VERS

1 Postal Clerk, for Sherian Post's new office in VERS

3 Stablemaster's, for tending to Sherian Post's fleet of horses in Narim, Taralon, and Vers

APPLY WITHIN"

Beneath it was another new notice.

"NOTICE: To the Citizens of Narim.

Due to the rising dangers on Sherian's highways, Sherian Post can no longer guarantee the arrival of any letters sent via Sherian Post. We cannot be held responsible for the loss of any packages or letters due to:

1) Attack by Orcs
2) Attack by Brigands
3) Attack by Pirates
4) Attack by Gnomes
5) Death of the Courier by Any Means while en route
6) Mugging of the Courier while en route
7) The Destruction of the letter and/or package by fire, water, Arcana, or Divine Act of a God, Planetar, or Demi-God
8 ) Death of the Horse of the Courier by Any Means while en route
9) Attack by Army
10) Any other Circumstance

By sending your letter via Sherian Post, you are agreeing to these terms.