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Post by Learned Hand on Feb 3, 2008 10:29:43 GMT
As soon as he gets a spare day, Orcos heads down towards the salt mines. He intends to meet the spirits of each of the mines. After some wandering around with Spirit Detecting Glance active he finds the sanctum of one of the spirits. He begins to shape Open the Spirit Door with a sigh.
'I hope I don't have to bathe after this meeting'
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Post by Learned Hand on Feb 8, 2008 17:07:07 GMT
20 Minutes later Kairos emerges from the spirit's sanctum not feeling dirty so much as incredibly, incredibly, annoyed. Whilst he sits in the shade of the rocky outcrops, waiting for his anima to disperse he reflects on the fact that he now has to visit the sanctums of the other spirits of the other two salt mines both of whom are almost certainly as annoying as the wretched being he just dealt with, and go through the same banal negotiations. There just has to be a charm that lets him kill those little bastards.
It takes most of the day to locate the sanctums, meditate to ensure his essence remains high, and talk to the spirits (who are, if anything, slightly more annoying than their cousin). But the deals are struck: as long as he can increase production he'll be able to produce salt more cheaply than anybody this side of the blessed isle.
The next morning Kairos Orcos obtains an audience with The Queen. He intends to persuade her to accept the use of slaves in her kingdom but gets bored so tricks her into thinking that she has already agreed to the use of slaves. On his way to the coach house, to begin his journey to the local Guild HQ, he starts to talk to some of the locals about supporting the slave trade, and even spends some time in one of the local taverns. As he presents his arguments he delights in limagining the golden essence pouring off his tongue, coating his words and travelling into people's ears and thence to the their brains. By the time he returns the few drops he has spread here will have multiplied into a flood; every brain in the town melded to his will.
The guild are happy to accept an exclusive contract to the salt produced cheaply in his mines, which is unsurprising since in these parts he is the guild. (Although there was no need to let them know just how cheaply it is being produced). The first delivery of 5 dozen slaves will arrive in the next few weeks. One month after that more slaves, or simply silver, will arrive. If he was going to make this his home, then he'd be damned if it wasn't going to be the richest kingdom in the East.
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Post by Learned Hand on Feb 11, 2008 10:49:46 GMT
[this may be skipping ahead a bit too much in the timeline but meh]
Kairos walks up the path to the shrine with a heavy heart, muttering to himself repeatedly 'don't show the hate'. Hopefully, the love for him he inflicting on the gods last time will benefit him now.
He casts the spell to open the door and enters the sanctum, laying down the offerings in what he worries is a too-reverent way.
'The extra workers for your mine are here. Now, it is time to finalise the deal. Now as you came to realise last time we met, you must agree to a 4% salt rate -a rate, which will entitle you to more tribute and more praters, including an annual festival in honour of the 3 salt gods. Moreover, I shall name one district of Tredemin's market after you, guaranteeing a spread in your power and function. I do this because, I love you as you love me. If you refuse, then I'm afraid I will not be able to protect you. The workers will simply refuse my requests, and they will work in one of the other mines. You will continue to receive 16% of nothing, which is, of course, nothing, and the mine will be shut down; you will be forgotten and without power.
'You have a choice, friend, I simply pray that you will choose wisely'
[casting memory reweaving discipline to make him think that these are his only 2 choices]
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bravesirrobin
Geek of Geeks
Post-Whore
He bravely turned his tail and fled
Posts: 1,453
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Post by bravesirrobin on Feb 11, 2008 13:28:40 GMT
"Lies!! Lies lies lies. Lies from the lying liar. No love, no more love. Oh poor little Ickin, he has lost his love. No more love from the Solar man. Wants to steal the salt. Steal steal steal. Thief man. Thief solar man. Pretty face, pretty tongue, lying tongue. No deal. No deal.
Lower percent, more production, you said. Percentage goes down only if offerings go up in total. No market, market dangerous. Bad plan, bad plan."
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Post by Learned Hand on Feb 11, 2008 13:59:17 GMT
As you wish. I shall not spread your function. At the moment, I've calculated that you are offered one quintal a month. Shall we suggest a flat rate of 1 and 1 quarter quintals a month?
Percentages vary. I am guaranteeing you a rise in your offerings.
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bravesirrobin
Geek of Geeks
Post-Whore
He bravely turned his tail and fled
Posts: 1,453
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Post by bravesirrobin on Feb 11, 2008 14:10:57 GMT
CHEAT! CHEAT! CHEAT!
Steal Steal Steal.
I will give lower rate. But not that low. But not flat rate. No creature could think of such a thing.
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Post by Learned Hand on Feb 11, 2008 14:18:25 GMT
How's this sound then. We increase the rate by -wait for it- we increase the rate by 1%. That's for free. That's because I honour you and the gifts you may bestow upon us. Then, if I provide double the workers, you halve the rate. This means you get the same amount of tribute as you did before i.e. an increase of 1%.
We can then simply tie the rate to the number of workers. If the number goes down, you get more salt because you get more of the salt they take. If the number stays the same, you gain 1% anyway. If the number goes up, you win, because you get an increase in your sacrifices commensurate to the increase in production.
Forgive me if I have offended you. My hands are tied by the city.
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bravesirrobin
Geek of Geeks
Post-Whore
He bravely turned his tail and fled
Posts: 1,453
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Post by bravesirrobin on Feb 11, 2008 14:22:55 GMT
Ickin considers slowly. Doing some calculations in his head.
Fine. Fine. Fine. Solar man is wonderful and kind. Solar man is generous and true. We will have many many happy times together. Celebrate! Celebrate!
He starts doing a strange jumpy dance thing. Clearly expecting you to join in.
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Post by Blackrat on Feb 11, 2008 14:24:29 GMT
[Fox, elsewhere entirely, suddenly gets the urge to dance. He capers around in his room for about half an hour, then collapses on his bed, panting gently.]
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Post by Learned Hand on Feb 11, 2008 14:28:46 GMT
:
'We hereby agree to a salt rate at x[16?]%. The salt rate shall vary inversely with the number of workers in the mine, such that halving the number of workers shall double the salt rate, and doubling the workers shall halve it'
'It has been a pleasure Ickin'.
Leaving the domain Kairos sighs. He must now repeat this with Bickin and Cickin.
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bravesirrobin
Geek of Geeks
Post-Whore
He bravely turned his tail and fled
Posts: 1,453
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Post by bravesirrobin on Feb 11, 2008 14:33:50 GMT
Ickin agrees to the oath. The rate was already at 16%. You've arranged a rate so that it varies inversely from 17%.
The blessed isle rate is currently at 6%. Nowhere else currently has lower than 9%.
Bickin and Tickin make the same deal.
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Post by Learned Hand on Feb 11, 2008 14:37:08 GMT
[but I know how to halve 16 up to 3 times! Half of 17 could be anything! This is a disaster]
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bravesirrobin
Geek of Geeks
Post-Whore
He bravely turned his tail and fled
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Post by bravesirrobin on Feb 11, 2008 14:39:38 GMT
If you're free you could attend my Y11 lesson which starts in 13 minutes. It's on proportion.
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