6-26-1043 Anderson Sharug

[digitaljoel]

Semael arose early from his bed at the inn.  He hoped to get some time with Anderson Sharug before there were many people on the street.  He also knew that Anders always got an early start on the morning in order to get as much done as possible before he had to mind the shop.

 

In the common room Semael invited his companions along if they were interested, then grabbed a butt of fresh sour dough and a bit of sharp cheddar to eat for breakfast on the way.  The sun was just beginning to show above the trees as Semael began to walk down the street.  The town was still quiet.  Down the alleys a few bedpans were being emptied as people began to stir but was overridden by the smell of fresh bread coming from every inn and pastry shop along the road.

 

As he rounded the corner onto Smith street, the hammers and billows of the various smithies worked together sounding like an army fighting a heavy breathing dragon.  Half way down the street was the smaller smithy run by Anderson Sharug.  He was at the anvil working a piece of metal with surprising finesse, coaxing it into any shape he desired with a few strikes of his hammer.

 

Semael entered the shop, somewhat anxious about the reaction he would get, but of course none of that showed in his body language.  Anderson had taken a beating, and Semael felt partially responsible.  The wounds had healed some in the few days that had passed, but it was obvious there was lingering soreness.  Semael began to feel a little guilty for not coming earlier, but hoped Anderson would understand that it was an attempt to keep from betraying their professional relationship.

 

"Anders," Semael said between hammer strokes, catching his attention, "I was very concerned when I heard you had been kidnapped.  I managed to get what I believe is the story from another source, and I apologize if you feel that myself or my friends are responsible.  I hope that our taking care of Hacksaw will give you some reprieve.  I don't want to cause you any undue trouble or unwanted attention.  I would like to continue to honor our agreement if you feel it is still beneficial to you, but I understand if you feel the need to reconsider."  Semael said with the calmness, empathy, and sell assurance only a deva could manage.

Comments

[quickhorn]

Three more strikes of the hammer sounded in the small shop before Anders set his hammer down and reached above him to ring a bell. Only then does he finally look at you. But his mouth doesn't open.

"Only a few days ago, had you entered this shop, my father and I would have killed you." The voice emanates from a dark room towards the back of the shop. "We thought, perhaps," the voice continues as a young man, no older than 17, steps forward. "that you were with Archon afterall." He has a lithe build, sandy blonde hair, but he walks with a hidden confidence. "It definitely seems like you're benefiting from a well-placed patron, but your work speaks well for you and your comrades." Both men continue to stare at you for a considerable amount of time. Finally the older Sharug nods.

"Due to the considerable danger that working with your group will continue to present to me and my father, the deal has changed. You will continue to receive the discount, and we will continue to purchase at a lower price." The boy is all business, his voice does not shake as he continues on, "However, we will require that you purchase the property next door to this one and sell it to us at a 15% loss. At that point, we require that you and your companions assist in expanding this shop to include my potions shop."

He waits for a second for you to realize the cost of continuing with your relationship with them. Just as you begin to form a response he continues, he obviously wants to control the conversation "In addition, you will receive a 25% discount on any potions purchased from the shop. You will also receive a 10% discount on other various items of power sold at my shop. However, I will not be providing any increase on funds given to you for selling those items directly to me."

Again he pauses, but only for a second, "Please consider the new terms in light of the pain that your actions have brought my father, and the continued danger that you would put the two of us in." The words carry a finality to them and the older Sharug again begins working the metal in front of him.

AM 6-26-1043

[digitaljoel]

To say that Semael was disappointed with the response would be an understatement. A rush of anger was quickly doused with composure. He felt that there was something else going on here. This all seemed a little too rehearsed, almost like Anderson had been setup and wasn't really in control here. Despite his feelings, his Deva eyes never betrayed what was going through his mind.

"Mr. Sharug, I can understand your frustration, especially at seeing your own father tortured. Any normal person will be looking for justice, if not revenge in your situation. I'm sure you don't know this, but the instant I heard your father was kidnapped I did some research of my own in an attempt to find out what happened and how we could help."

This time was Semael's. He found it easy to maintain his calm, but he had to keep control of the conversation until he had made his rebuttal. Sharug Jr. had already made a grab for control of the entire situation, and it was time to put him in his place. Semael had to set him off kilter.

"Perhaps you didn't know that the beating your father took was for your sake, not mine. The people that visited him had no indication that myself nor my party were involved with him at all. They came to perform a regular shake down and collect protection money. It was when your father made a case for your new shop that things got messy."

A slight pause to let the words sink in before taking another knock at Sharug Jr's confidence. He had put forth a very confident front, and Semael wasn't sure how much of an effect he had had up to this point.

"You should know that the deal I made with your father was very fair to both parties. It may be that because of our deal we helped your shop grow fast enough that Archon's attention was turned your direction, but it would have come with or without us, and how you react to that pressure is entirely independent of our deal. The only effect we had was the timing. There was no part of it that said your father could not comply in order to preserve his business or his life."

"Now, perhaps it's the inexperience of youth, or per chance your emotions have overwhelmed your sense of reason, but I don't believe you have thought through the ramifications of your proposal. Please let me explain what you are really proposing, and then I will give you until tomorrow night to reconsider while I do some further investigation of the options."

Without waiting for even as much as a nod, Semael continued. His tone was factual, but not lecturing. He exuded confidence in his position without a hint of condescension.

"Constable Harken has access to all town records. He certainly knows, as I know, that the shop next door is not for sale. He also knows what type of business the shop does. So, if it is then sold to me, or one of my party, and THEN sold to you at a 15% loss, our alliance will be exposed to Constable Harken, and therefore to Archon. If you believe you had pressure before, then you are sorely mistaken. Your father hasn't said anything, and I can only assume the price he paid for wanting to help you start your shop was his tongue. There is certainly no reason to expose our deal until we have been able to clean up the streets even more to make it more safe for you and your family. My party and I have made every effort to keep our professional relationship private, and this would negate all of that."

Semael paused for a moment, allowing the blank stare of a Deva to unsettle Sharug Jr. The silence lingered for a moment before Sharug Jr. shifted a bit. At that moment Semael continued.

"I'll make no comment regarding you're proposition until I talk to the rest of my party, and I would expect you to do the same with your father, but know that the conditions you put forward are quite extreme."

Semael then turned to Anders, "I'm very sorry for the pain you have been through, and I pray to Bahamut for your safety and continued prosperity regardless of how our deal works out" he finishes with a respectful nod. He then takes a small throwing dagger from the display table, setting down enough gold to cover the cost and then some. "In order to maintain pretenses" he says, without turning around.

As the knife easily shaves his bites of cheese on the walk back to the inn, Semael's respect for Anderson's skill at the anvil only increases. This had not gone as expected at all. Semael had hoped to simply touch base and ensure Anderson was safe and ok, and then have him take a look at Hacksaw's sword. It looks like that will probably have to come much later.

Re: AM 6-26-1043

[quickhorn]

The elder Sharug stops hammering as the Deva responds to his son. He wasn't surprised that the Deva bristled at the requests that the two had put together, but he was desperate.

He listened intently, if there was anything he learned in his years at the House, it was how to read his opponents. As the Deva nodded at him, Anders knew at that moment that he, his son and the Deva were part of something larger he didn't understand.

"I knew they wouldn't do it," the boy relaxed as the Deva walked away with the knife he had just purchased. He walked over to the money and noticed that the Deva had paid significantly more than the dagger was worth. "And they seem like good people. I mean, we could really use the shop next door, but 15% loss? That's ridiculous."

The elder Sharug nodded and pressed his hand to the new necklace that hung across it. With a thought he responded "Trust me boy, Ruby knows what she's doing. I just hope that they are willing to take the deal. We'll need their help, as much as possible in what we're going to be facing soon." He finished and let his hands fall from the neck piece and finally thought to himself "Please know what you're doing Ruby".