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The Shopkeeper's Daughter

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Dreamweaver
Aug Member 2003

Dreamweaver

Posts: 3,790 Adamant Posts by user Forum Profile RuneMetrics Profile
"And this was their true goal. The couple really wanted to see the world, to get away from the local shores and trade among the islands; perhaps even more distant lands still. Finally, with Reisende, they were truly an ocean-going outfit. Markus had the head for merchanteering, keeping a close ear on the supplies, demands, needs and fluctuating prices of commodities between the ports. They would run the Miscellanea route twice a week sometimes, weather permitting, making a handsome profit for themselves and their crew of six almost every time. Ellena by contrast would be thinking about the bigger picture. She always showed herself to be a true tactician. So while they were making a name for themselves trading, Ellena was researching the possibility of entering the protection business, whereby they would offer their services to transport well-paying clients safely between ports. This was best done under the guise of trading, Ellena reasoned, because the traditional method of using galleons armed to the teeth and escorted by fast cutters was both extremely expensive and akin to flying a big red flag atop the mainmast that read, 'Lots of money and someone worth a significant ransom onboard. Attack us if you dare!'

"But upon enquiring among notable local officials, the responses were typically doubtful.

"'You have no history of defending yourselves in the open ocean,' the prospective clients would say. 'If we ran into trouble we would be on a boat with no cannons and no proven expertise in either outrunning a fast ship or defending against a heavy one.'

"'However,' some of these same officials would say, 'I would be very interested in paying you to hide some documents aboard ship on your next trip if you would promise to deliver them personally at the other end.'

20-Feb-2012 20:07:25 - Last edited on 24-Jan-2013 04:47:48 by Dreamweaver

Dreamweaver
Aug Member 2003

Dreamweaver

Posts: 3,790 Adamant Posts by user Forum Profile RuneMetrics Profile
"Markus and Ellena debated long and hard between themselves on this new business proposition that they were being offered. They were concerned that if word ever got out that their voyages sometimes included the delivery of additional hidden cargo -- and it was bound to eventually -- they would invite unwanted attention from the pirates that had thus far ignored their harmless trading activities.

"But fate stepped in for the young couple in an extraordinary way. Two quite remarkable events came to pass that would change everything.

"First, Ellena became pregnant with their first child. This had the immediate effect of completely changing their outlook on life. Settling down and making a stable home for the family-to-be was now the top priority, which they looked into most earnestly. If they sold their boat, paid off the loyal crew and emptied their account at the local bank they would have enough to buy a small house and store as a going concern right here in Rellekka, but barely. They would be struggling to stock it and if it did not turn a profit right away life could be hard. This leads us to the second extraordinary event.

20-Feb-2012 20:07:52 - Last edited on 24-Jan-2013 04:49:39 by Dreamweaver

Dreamweaver
Aug Member 2003

Dreamweaver

Posts: 3,790 Adamant Posts by user Forum Profile RuneMetrics Profile
"In Miscellanea, the king and queen were celebrating 25 years of rule: their silver jubilee, as the jewellery-makers were all so quick to point out. What was unknown to all but a very few was that the elder dwarves of Keldagrim, as a token of long friendship and support, had commissioned the crafting of two silver crowns, fashioned in the amazing filigree work that only those dwarven artisans can achieve. Dwarves may command the occasional ferryboat, but when it comes to the ocean, none are less suited and they would be the first to admit it. Unfortunately they also do not share the closest of ties with either the faeries or the human wizards, so although they considered asking both to teleport the crowns to Miscellanea via magic, they knew that they would be charged an exorbitant fee for the service. Similarly, arranging a huge protective flotilla would have been prohibitive in cost. Thus the most unlikely of solutions presented itself. Markus and Ellena, who had never drawn any significant trouble or attention in their years of trading, were offered the job of taking the crowns, as long as a few careful arrangements were made.

"First, no one outside the sole dwarven contact who was to hand over the crowns and Markus and Ellena themselves were to know a single thing about this top-secret cargo. Secondly, a secret compartment was to be constructed in the main cabin of the ship by the same dwarf contact, who would then reveal its location and workings to Ellena and Markus alone. The crowns would be stowed there in total secrecy, just in case the Reisende was boarded. And finally, it was insisted that a multicannon be provided and lashed securely on the fore deck, just in case of attack. The official story would be that it was simply part of the cargo too, but ammunition was to be kept close by, and training was to be given to Markus and Ellena in its use.

20-Feb-2012 20:08:11 - Last edited on 24-Jan-2013 04:52:34 by Dreamweaver

Chuk

Chuk

Posts: 14,177 Opal Posts by user Forum Profile RuneMetrics Profile
To my bitter disappointment, I've yet to actually read this. I've been quite busy the past month or two, and hardly checking in on the forums at all. But no worries, reading shall commence as soon as it can be managed!

21-Feb-2012 03:20:16

Chuk

Chuk

Posts: 14,177 Opal Posts by user Forum Profile RuneMetrics Profile
I think you are much more adept at being prompt than I am, Dream. I really do.

That said, I would read this now, if it weren't 7am the morning after staying up all night. I don't think I'd be able to comprehend any of the humor that makes your writing so enjoyable, so it'll have to be put off yet again.

Glad to see you posting, too, since I haven't seen you ingame for a while. ^_^

21-Apr-2012 15:26:52

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