Closed Looking For The Right Man [Theo]

[Cascade]

Winter 90th 512 AV, Morning Anchorage Flotilla, less than a day east of Syliras The Anchorage was busier than usual. The current year was ending soon, and it was the time where the Anchorage had most people. Aside from an upcoming festival, it was also because a great storm had recently caused a group of refugees to temporarily flee from the South. Valeria Whitewave, the Anchorage’s local and most popular employer, was busy speaking to a few refugees. Most of them were looking for a job, something to get them the resources they needed. However, most of them appeared to have decided to sail south as soon as possible. They wanted a temporary job, and that was not the most ideal hire to an employer such as Valeria. “You are all very skilled sailors, I can see that!” she told them. Her voice was loud but pleasant, and she seemed to know how to speak to a restless group without causing frustration. This was despite her words being not the best of news. “However, what I need right now is someone who will be staying in the north… someone I can rely on to bring goods between the Anchorage and the cities here in the north! I am sorry, but I cannot lean towards those who will head back to the south soon, I hope you all can understand that!” She smiled at the group comfortingly. Aside from wanting someone who would stay in the area, she also had a few other criteria in mind. If the right person stepped forward, she would have to analyze them and interview them further. Of course, the person she was looking for was supposed to be someone who could be trusted with money—in a race where ‘stealing’ was a norm, it could be understood why she was wary. Valeria knew her brothers and sisters well enough, and a trader was always a difficult position to fill. “Now that it has been stated that I am looking for someone who will be staying in the area, is there anyone still interested?”

[Theo Coaststrider]

Theo let out a loud yawn as me mulled about near the back of the gathered crowd. He hated standing about like a common gawker, but Valeria had caught his attention. Theo would normally have blown past this sort of spectacle, disdainful of the poor wages, tricky contracts and generally malevolent hearts of the majority of folk who come seeking cheap Svefran labour. It wasn't unusual for the wealthy folk of the cities that rimmed the Suvan Sea to show up at The Anchorage and gang-press as many Svefran as possible into their service. Theo's folk rarely had to worry about the dangers of piracy and were amongst the most naturally talented sailors in Mizahar so they made an excellent prize for any merchant who was wily enough to lock them away. Three things had caused Theo to break his stride and pay attention to Valeria. First, she was a Svefra which meant she wasn't foolish enough to assume she could ever own one of her own folk. If Theo was going to be forced to suffer the yolk of employment he felt it was best if it was at the hand of someone who could manage the more rebellious streak of his people. Second, if Theo could recall Valeria had earned a strong reputation for fair dealings. If the rumours were true, she had very little patience for the casual banditry of the Svefra but that wasn't a problem for Theo. He had spent long enough amongst the city folk to gain a basic grasp of property-rights and the integrity of a shipping contract. Finally, and perhaps less virtuously, there was a particularly attractive young Svefra girl attending to a stall not far away from the presentation that helped keep him within the general orbit of the throng. Theo recognized many of the men who had assembled themselves into a loose semi-circle around the woman. No small percentage of them were his own brothers and fathers, the men of the Coaststrider pod. There were a few semi-familiar faces, the refugees that had fled north with his family to escape the clutches of a nasty storm and, worrisomely, a small collection of hungry looking strangers. Theo could only assume that they were men from local pods, his yet unmet cousins. After listening *somewhat* carefully to the presentation Theo decides that it might be best to seize the initiative and chase off the competition. It isn't every day that a great opportunity like this falls into someone's lap, and he knew he couldn't allow his stomach to go empty and his ship to fall apart for a lack of resources. Besides, the young woman he had been eyeing had just drifted away and out of sight. Pulling himself to his full height he begins to push his way towards the centre of the crowd. His large, heavily tattooed frame able to cut a quick path to Valeria. As he bumps and shoves he lets out an amiable shout, careful to accent his tone with a teasing lilt. "Alright, shove off you band of knaves. You heard the woman, she needs someone talented *and* trustworthy and unless I'm mistaken, that leaves exactly one Svefra for the job. Go back to mending your nets, robbing foreigners, and suckling at the breast of your mothers, this job is spoken for." Breaking into the centre of the crowd he approaches Valeria, projecting all the confidence he can muster. Careful to position himself between her and the North Suvan Svefra, he extends his hand with a lopsided grin. "No need to continue your search, you've already found the most competent man in the entire Anchorage. Theo Coaststrider, at your service. I have my own ship, my own sword and I don't steal. How about we just step away from these shiftless layabouts and talk about the contract." Trying to block out the sounds of protest from the crowd behind him he does his best to steer Valeria away from the crowd. It's clear that his intention is to get her as far away from the other potential suitors before they can present their resume's, and drive down the fee of the successful applicant.

[Cascade]

Valeria raised an eyebrow as she watched the new arrival. He had been wordy in his introduction was swift to dismiss his other brothers and sisters. Some of those in the crowd gave a hearty laugh at Theo as he pushed his way through, while other grumbled and cursed at him, apparently not amused. In the end though, Theo had made his way to the front of the group. Evidently startled, Valeria allowed Theo to steer her away from the crowd. It was a confident action, one that she did not expect from a stranger who had appeared out of nowhere. It amused her though, to be faced with such a direct and adamant young man. A smirk rested upon her lips as she took a sideways glance at Theo. “Oh, petch you,” said another man as he spat on the wooden deck, his curse directed at Theo’s back. With a wave of a hand he turned around and began to walk away, clearly disdained. Others followed his footsteps, and most were not upset at Valeria’s criteria. After all, they were a happy go lucky race, one that seldom held grudges “Now then, there’s no need to walk around the entire Flotilla, we’re not here to explore,” Valeria said after being led away a considerable distance from the retreating crowd. “This will do.” She stopped in the middle of the deck they had been standing on. They were surrounded by merchants and traders who paid them no heed. The current ship they were on was a large one. It was an old and massive ship found on the inner parts of the Flotilla. “You are certainly a confident one. I hope you are not all talk. What’s your name, young man?” asked Valeria as she rested her eyes on him from head to toe. From the start, she was already judging him. “What do you know about being a trader?”

[Theo Coaststrider]

The mob could eat it for all Theo cared. He loved his folk deeply, but there was a time and a place to express it and this just wasn't it. He would pick up a barrel of ale at the next gathering and smooth over any hurt feelings. He covertly slips a rude message toward his most vocal antagonist and turns his full attention to the woman. Theo was, uncharacteristically, eager to please. With an impish grin, Theo feigned ignorance. "Theo Coaststrider, Miss. As for your questions about my confidence, I hardly know what you mean. You know just as well as I do that our folk aren't known for empty words. I take my obligations seriously, and I earn my right to boast." Well, he *mostly* earned his right to boast. A man was free to embellish slightly in the interest of a good story. He took a moment to adjust his stance while he considered his response to her next question. If he wasn't mistaken, that was going to be crux of the matter. He needed to determine to what degree he would be willing to ... enhance ... his story. He thought it was prudent to start with pure fact. "The Coaststriders have a certain pedigree when it comes to trade, as I'm sure you're aware. As a child I travelled with my fathers on trade missions to Sunberth, Zeltiva, Syliras and between the pods. I've even spent a few weeks on the Sebakem Ocean. I've heard the men negotiate, I've watched them manage their crew and, having sailed all my life, I can manage the winds of currents of any body of water in Mizahar. In the last few years I've done odd work as a courier. You can ask any captain in the entire South Suvan and you'll not hear a single negative word about my reputation as a courier." He considers his response for a long moment and decides to leave his resume at that. There was no need to lie to the woman, and he had already pushed his luck with his little show in front of his peers. This was, perhaps, a time for restraint and honesty.

[Cascade]

“Ah, a Coastrider,” said Valeria with an interested smile. Yes, that name did ring a certain bell. Being who she was, she prided herself in being up to date about the happenings in the sea, and that included its locals. This was especially true for the larger and more prominent pods. “Pleased to meet you, Coastrider. If you did not yet know, I am Valeria Whitewave.” She nodded as he told her about his credibility. Valeria had a knowing smile as she listened to him. Aside from being confident, he went as far as to say that not a single man would have anything negative to say about him. It was a bold statement, and she could not help but see what his reaction would be to her next question. “Perhaps the reason for why not many will say a negative word because there are not many who have heard your name?” she asked curtly. “I do believe you when you say you have done good work, but mentioning the entire South Suvan is a far stretch, don’t you think? It was not her intention to offend him; she was simply stating what she could see. Valeria could see that he was a young man. She had no doubt that he was telling the truth about his experience, for she knew his pod’s name and had a vague idea of their activities. “There is no need to embellish. I believe you when you speak of your experience,” she told him, her voice soft and serene. “And how long do you plan to stay in the north Suvan? I assume that you can find your way between Alvadas and Syliras?”

[Theo Coaststrider]

Theo couldn't help but give the woman a bashful chuckle. It seems that he was made, and on such a clumsy embellishment. While it was true that he had been on almost all of the major trade routes in the South Suvan, claiming he knew the whole sea was a tall order. Realistically, had he known every bay and inlet in the whole South he wouldn't be forced to beg for work. "Well, in a way, I know the entire South Suvan. If I find myself in strange waters Laviku can teach me all I need to know in an instant. The ability to acquire information is a form of knowledge, isn't it?" He took a moment to chew on the jab and decided that it would be wiser to let the comment slide. To be honest, the woman had a fair point. He wasn't exactly the triumphant champion of Laviku, and if she decided to take him on his word and cast too wide a net of inquiry, there was no telling what mischief she might come across. After all, boys will be boys. "I'm glad you'll take me at my word, Valeria. To be honest, I was happy to hear that you were looking to hire. You have a good reputation among my pod as a fair dealer, and that's no common accolade." For a moment, Theo looked out at the sprawling Anchorage. It had swollen to almost pre-Djed storm size since his own folk had fled the South. The markets were positively booming with life and colour and the fields of sails were snapping pleasantly in the breeze. He could see himself staying here for a little while. Besides, after the struggles of the journey North he wasn't sure that his mother, the Coaststrider Lia, was particularly enamoured with his presence."To be honest, I'm in no hurry to leave. I'm sure my folk will be heading south in a matter of days but I often travel without them. I'm no great fan of the heavy hands of the knights in Syliras, but I like the city well enough. I'd also love a chance to take in Alvadas." To say that he was 'no great fan' might have been a touch of an understatement, but he didn't see his disdain for the thugs presenting any particular problems. He could keep his nose clean when the situation required it. At the mention of a chance to travel to Alvadas a broad grin spread across his face. He did his best to disguise his pleasure at the thought of travelling to the city. His people often avoided Alvadas, the complexities of its relationship to the natural world a source of fear and wonderment, but Theo couldn't be happier for a chance to buck the trend and explore the city.

[Cascade]

Valeria gave a hearty laugh when she heard his thoughts about Syliras. It was not surprising considering the nature of the city. Not many of their race was fond of Syliras, but she was glad that he was willing to spend his time there for work. “Syliras is a difficult city for our kind, yes,” said Valeria. “But Syliras has been kind to us. As for Alvadas, just be sure not to get lost, for you may not find your way back.” She said the last words stoically, and it was difficult to know if she was joking. The woman turned to face Theo and looked at him straight in the eyes. She looked serious but her lips was curved into a smile. “Here is what is going to happen… I will have you hold money. It will not be much, but it will be enough,” she said. “You will use this money to trade from Syliras, Alvadas, and you will get good deals and gain us profit. So aside from being a good sailor, you must be a good speaker. Assuming from our meeting though, I understand you have no problem selling yourself. Perhaps be more… convincing, though. You make it too evident that you are overselling. The traders of the cities know when their legs are being pulled. You need to be a good negotiator, not someone who sells what is not there. I hope I am making sense.” He was confident but he had not much skill in rhetoric or persuasionno hard feelings, I’m going by Theo’s skill set , and while he gave good effort, one such as Valeria could see right through it. “You will see me by the end of next season and we will see how well you have done, but roughly a percentage of the profits will be given to you, so it depends on how well you do,” she said. “Tell me if this is satisfactory to you. Also, now is the time to ask questions.”

[Theo Coaststrider]

Theo pondered the offer for a pregnant moment. He had no problem the details of the plan as they had been laid out. Hold money was, in these situations, standard fair. He knew better than to bicker for much of an increase on the initial investment, she didn't know him from Laviku and merchants didn't get rich by opening their purses wide for random Svefra on the merits of their bragging alone. He would have to see what the hold amount would be before he knew looked too deep into the mouth of this particular gift-horse. His second question was slightly more burning, she had mentioned "a certain percentage of the profit" would be his to keep. While that sounded good, the overall acceptability of that clause would vary pretty significantly based on the percentage of the profits. Theo suspected that negotiation might require some small amount of tact on his part. "I do appreciate the advice, Valeria. Both about Alvadas and the arts of persuasion. It would be foolish to deny that my particular pod is not known for it's great guile, but we do know how to barter. I'll be sure to bring you back your profits."

If you were to ask Theo, he would normally have said that almost all Svefra lack any form of real guile, but standing in front of a merchant who seemingly held herself, and her abilities, in high regard didn't seem like the best time to start discussing that particular topic. With a wink and a chuckle he decided to take a swing at a few questions. "Now, Valeria. Before I sign, what type of goods am I going to be shipping from Syliria to Alvadas? I suspect some of the job is up to my discretion, but given the directness of your suggested route I have the impression that you had something in particular in mind? Beyond that, I suppose my only real question is if you have any contacts pre-arranged for me to meet in the cities, or if I'm supposed to sniff out my own leads? Either way, I have no real issues. I might even be able to drum up some of my pods old contacts in the cities, if that's what the task requires."

His major questions levelled he took a moment to plot his next move. The process of negotiation and persuasion was a fun one, and the young Svefra enjoyed the playfullness of it. As he chatted he tried to remember the lessons his family had imparted to him while he was growing, but that was no easy task to perform on the fly. He knew that his father Jal'El had always compared the art of bargaining to a brawl, a matter of manipulating the emotions of your opponent and knowing when to elevate your own aggression and seal the deal. His mother had always been much cooler, comparing it to a drawn out game. She had insisted that the key was to plan 4-5 moves in advance and to cut off your opponent before they could deploy their own strategy. He hadn't realized how badly their advice clashed until exactly this moment.

He would have to forge his own strategy and wrap his mind around their tactics later. "Before I sign anything, would you like to see my ship? It's as good a place as any to finalize the details of our arrangement and it will give you a chance to know who you're working with."

He felt his proposition was reasonable enough. Theo kept his Casinor in the tip-top condition and he thought that a few moments spent aboard the ship might help seal the confidence of his investor. Plus, if he had to breach the sticky topic of Return on Investment it would be best to do it with a confident business partner *and* on home turf. He gave the woman is brightest grin pointed to the opposite end of the pier where he had moored his vessel. It truly was only a hop and a skip away.

[Cascade]

“Those are splendid questions. And yes, I would like to see your ship, that is a good idea. Please lead the way.” They started to walk back to his casinor with him leading the way. As they did, she gave him the answers that he needed. “There is a meat shop in Syliras. It is run by the Alban Family. You need only mention that you have been employed by me. That would be a good place to start in for meat is always something many will trade for. Since the travel to Alvadas will take many days, you best purchase salted goods. I suppose that would be clear without me saying it though.” Valeria paused for a while and seemed to think for it for a while. She kept her eyes on the horizon as she scanned her choices. Finally, she glanced back to Theo. The red-haired Svefra gave him a sweet smile. Theo would realize that she was actually much kinder than most thought, for while she was a good judge of character, she also liked to give freedom to her employers. Mostly it was to test their ability, but these were the Svefra, and they enjoyed the liberties. “Of course, you are free to experiment. You say you your pod has contacts in the city, then you may ask around for what would be a commodity to Alvadas. I suggest food, for Alvadas needs food most of all after Winter. As for Alvadas, it is a trade city. It would not be difficult to look for a buyer. In that sense, you may purchase tradegoods from them to bring back to Syliras. It does without saying, but what I really push for is the profit—understand what would be valuable to the other and take advantage of it.”

[Theo Coaststrider]

The Svefra used his large frame to cut through the thick crowd with ease. It took only a few short moments of shuffling and jostling before he was able to point out his pride and joy to Valeria. Sitting beneath a well kept series of canvas sails was a proud looking Casinor. The teak vessel rocked gently on the calm sea, the aged lumber sporting a proud grey-ish lustre that caught the winter sun well. Theo would often chuckle to himself about the contrasts between his gracefully ageing vessel and his own tempestuousness. Theo might be considered many things, but "grey" was not yet one of them. With a final long stride he hopped aboard the vessel and absent-mindedly sprinkled a pinch of salt over the side of the deck while he waited for Valeria to board.

The deck of the ship was sparsely occupied, but tidy. Theo wasn't one to hoard or gather, and it gave the deck of his ship a spartan appearance. His lines were clean and well-kept, though the spare loops of rope he always kept on hand had been lost during the great storm and he would need to make a few purchases before setting out. "Well, Valeria, welcome aboard "The Defiance." I'm sure she is pleased to make your acquaintance. She's a stately little vessel, if I do say so myself, and much sturdier than she has any right to be. Built by the hands of my own folk out of the most wondrous lumber. Natural oils in the wood more or less maintain the ship by themselves, any attempts to polish or finish it do more harm than good. It's also naturally slip resistant. Can't find it outside of the warmest shores of the southern-most South Suvan. If I didn't know my own parents I'd say it was magic, but they know better than to dabble in that nonsense."

Theo let out a long chuckle and opened the door to his cabin. It would seem the spartan was indeed the theme of his vessel. The ship had a small table, large enough for two, bolted to the right wall of the cabin and a modest but comfortable looking bed against the fore-ward wall. The rest of the cabin was generally lacking in decoration. Notable in their absence were the usual litany of bells, beads, buttons and nick-nacks that his people collected so greedily. Theo motioned towards two crude little stools that were bolted down near the table with a wide smile. "Please, take a seat! I'd offer you something to drink or eat but we've been ... lacking ... since we fled the storm. I haven't had a chance to fully restock since our arrival."