Rastislav
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Arc 8 Chapter XIX: Of Falmer Merchants And Highborn Guests
🕑 Added 2024-10-26 22:05:45 +0000 UTCI shuffle through a stack of parchment with my usual unnatural speed as Eldor stands before my study table and fidgets nervously, my constant shifts in expression from approving to mildly annoyed to genuinely baffled no doubt making all his nerves stand at attention for a good ten minutes as I read through the entirety of his report.
Finally I place the last parchment back atop the stack and let out a light hum "That is honestly more nobles than I expected. They are usually more cautious about things, especially when it comes to large scale investment."
Grasping at the opportunity to stop just standing there silently, Eldor immediately catches on "While this would usually be the case, my lord, no high noble of Cyrodiil is quite so incompetent as to not seek information of the uprising in Skyrim." He smirks lightly "Word of your mechanical prowess has reached them long before you yourself did."
"No doubt helped along by your criers just accidentally starting their advertising exactly after the Elder Council meeting." I mirror his expression "Still, it is a good thing I am almost done with establishing the portal under the mansion. These orders are far larger than we originally expected."
"The market will do as it will." Eldor shrugs "The moment one of them saw their rivals and peers making a massive purchase most of the rest of them could not resist matching them lest they look weak in comparison."
A snort leaves me "Downright devious that."
"Indeed." He chuckles greedily while rubbing his hands "Aside from the slight... interruption from the Miners Guild everything else is in controllable order, as you have no doubt surmised yourself."
"Ah yes, the Miners Guild." I shake my head "Can't say their concerns are invalid, having their livelihoods usurped by unthinking and unfeeling automatons must be a thing of nightmares, especially for those whose entire families are in the business."
"A rather foolish concern, even if understandable." Eldor nods "To fully replace a mining workforce with your automata would be a rather ruinous expense."
"Quite." I hum "Even back in Silruhn Fell the mines aren't at full capacity yet. They are quite massive admittedly but it warrants mentioning even then."
"Besides, my lord, we are forgetting something quite important." The slightly feral looking Falmer smirks greedily "If they do start ruining their subjects' livelihoods in favor of efficiency and start oppressing them in any way, that just means easy leverage for us."
"You have learned well." I croak in a voice no one from this world would be able to place, before shaking my head in amusement and moving on "I see the Synod was among the largest participants?"
"Yes, the mages of the Synod." Eldor scoffs at the title, having been thoroughly indoctrinated into my own brand of magical mindset to utterly disdain the knowledge hoarders "While they did not purchase the greatest bulk of goods they did attain the greatest variety, everything from the rough terrain spider cart to the smallest of mining drones."
"No doubt hoping to dissect our work." I shake my head.
"Yes." Eldor chuckles "It is a real shame we won't be able to witness the explosions ourselves."
I look up at the ceiling "I am almost tempted to hire the Thieves Guild to infiltrate one of their bases and record it for us, but I am not dumb enough to give them access to the Orb™"
"Such a shame." The Falmer 'laments' with me.
"And speaking of shame." I straighten up in my seat and finally get to the point of irritation from the whole report "You agreed to a meeting with a trio of Counts without my approval. Explain."
His giddiness at the successful startup of our business evaporates as he instinctually attempts to look smaller under my looming gaze "A thousand pardons, my lord." He bows his head, remaining respectably composed "The purchases made by the Count of Chorrol were of the greatest magnitude even after the... staff measuring was done with and he wished to meet you personally to discuss gaining access to your combat models."
He takes a short breath and continues "I obviously realize that this is not merely business motivated and considering your emphasis on expediency..." He tilts his head "I found it best to arrange a meeting while you were busy in Leyawiin."
I stare at him for a while longer and he at least has the decency not to fidget "Acceptable." I say finally "Though next time do contact me before making such decisions."
He goes to (rightfully) point out how he has no way to contact me while I am away but is interrupted as he instinctually catches an Orb™ I tossed. The Falmer blinks in surprise before looking up at me with slightly widened eyes.
"While I do not like having my schedule changed, you made the right decision." I tell him simply "You will be leading our business efforts in the city for the foreseeable future and unless you thoroughly fuck up long beyond even that. For that you need to show initiative, which you have done."
He just stares at me with an open mouth.
"Have a care not to swallow any flies." I deadpan "You aren't in the caves anymore."
My words wake him up from his stunned state and he immediately bows "I will do my utmost to prove your trust was not misplaced, my lord."
"See that you don't" My eyes darken threateningly for a moment "Now get going, I have only a few minutes to prepare for this meeting I just learned I am having."
He has the decency to scratch the back of his head sheepishly before bowing once more and strutting out of my study.
"Jackal." I intone as I make sure Eldor is far enough away, not even pausing as the Mephalan stepped out of a nearby shadow "I want an extra agent following his every move. Initiative is well and good but I don't want any more surprises."
The Dunmer bows and disappears without a word.
Now then, how best to kill some time...
Minthara is currently mingling with General Julius, Edrassa teleported back to the foundry, Alor is studying the situation in Skingrad... Anondor should be free right? Might as well get some practice in.
(General POV)
A trio of nobles with a pair of heavily armored or well robed guards each rode into the Elven Gardens district of the Imperial City, the seemingly jolly fat man at the head of their little group leading his poor horse towards a particular section of the district with purpose in his eyes.
"It sure has been a while since I was graced with the beauty of the district." Vitellius Tor pats his belly, seemingly not the least perturbed by the fact he had to ride in the sun like some peasant.
A sentiment not shared by his female companion "Why exactly did you insist we don't take the carriage? This sun is dreadful."
"Come off it Varina." The third high noble scoffs "He already explained himself."
"I know very well why, Julian." She enunciates his name as if it were an insult "But a lady has the right to complain about things she finds distasteful." Varina Esswood of Blackwood raises her nose with a huff.
"Ah, it would seem we have arrived!" The seemingly jolly Count of Chorrol calls out, his practiced eyes noticing a pair of red embers staring at their party from one of the windows of the manors bordering the largest one which belonged to their host.
"Finally." Varina grumbles, much to Julian's exasperation.
As they approached the provisionally named Dagoth Manor, they were greeted by the sight of a quartet of guards, two standing ramrod straight and wielding halberds while the other two wore white fur cloaks and were armed with repeating crossbows.
One of the halberdiers, wearing a particularly impressive set of embossed and no doubt enchanted plate armor, stepped forward, his masked face immediately zeroing in on Vitellius' "State your name and purpose." He said simply.
Before either Julian or Varina have the time to be offended by the terseness, Vitellius answers "And a fine day to you too, my good man." He smiles affably at the blank faced elf "I am Count Vitelius Tor of Chorrol, the esteemed personages accompanying me are the delightful Countess Varina Eswood of Blackwood and the youthful Count Julian Karis of Kvatch."
The elf simply stares at them for a blink longer before inclining his head ever so slightly "His Lordship has been expecting you. Your guards may remain in the reception area while we guide you to the gardens in the back."
"Ugh, more sun." Varina scoffs silently, going completely ignored by the guardsman.
"But of course" Vitellius once more preempts Julian "Lead the way my good man."
They are led to a stable where they leave their horses and through the admittedly rather impressive reception hall of the manor, their guards being offered food and drink, which Vitellius immediately approved of while the duo were forced to follow, lest they earn the fury of their guards at being denied the obviously mastery prepared food.
As they were being led through a long hall, Julian failed to contain his irritation "Denying us our guards?" He hisses silently "Does the elf seek to humiliate us?"
He immediately regrets it as the halberdier's gaze begins burning into his back but the fat Count rushes to the proverbial rescue once more "We are in the home of an archmage, Julian." He speaks just a tad louder than necessary "To even insinuate we are not safe under his hospitality would be a grave insult."
Julian scoffs but doesn't contradict him.
While the two of the male nobles were discussing their apparent safety or lack thereof, Varina was too busy admiring the 'exotic' reliefs and murals crafted in the distinct style of Silruhn Fell and indispersed with older ones in the style of Morrowind.
She tried chatting up the guardsman about it but the elf remained pointedly silent, leading to the woman developing a frustrated pout as they were finally led out into the large back garden of the manor.
And right into the sight of a rather deadly looking spar.
Two heavily armored elves, one of them wielding a shield and arming sword and clad in gleaming moonstone plate, while the other wielded a single bladed sword with one hand while his other was seemingly left free for no reason, his magnificent robes combined with the ebony crown and plate making his identity rather obvious.
"How nice of our host to prepare a show for us." Julius comments only part snidely, his eyes barely managing to track the fight as they were led to a large pavilion.
Even as they were seated and offered drinks fitting to their stations none of them spoke, the 'spar' drawing too much attention to do anything else but watch attentively.
Five minutes later, the elf clad in moonstone blocked a sideways slash from his master, barely holding it back for a moment before being sent stumbling back and out of the circle they were dueling in.
"Your footwork has improved, my lord." The Falmer, as revealed by him removing his helmet "But your technique still remains flawed."
The other elf, Lord Dagoth no doubt, rolled his eyes and replaced his battle attire with a rather odd but still fashionable suit of black silk accented with purple "Yeah, yeah." He waves the snow elf off "I need to get more practice in but I've been too busy."
"He needs more practice?" Count Julian finds himself muttering in his incredulity "I could barely follow any of that and he obviously won."
"Julian my boy" His fat jolly companion shakes his head "While our host may be more powerful and could probably destroy the Falmer in seconds, his snowy subject is obviously the better swordsman."
"Fair enough." The Count of Kvatch nods "Still don't see why he wastes his time trying to mater the sword when he is already so powerful."
"And that dear Julian" Varina smirks at him "Is why you will not be slaying any evil gods anytime soon."
Before he can retort, their host appears before them without a sound, already seated and an odd alchemical concoction burning between his fingers, not a single bead of sweat or a smell out of place "Apologies for that" He spoke in a calm tone "I needed to kill some time and appear to have lost track of it."
(Reyvin's POV)
The fat man chuckles affably "You will find no complaint from us, young Dagoth." He raises his glass in faux cheer "The display was more than worth the wait if anything."
"Well then, I am glad to have entertained." I smirk slightly, summoning some chilled mead from Tolfdir's own village, apparently his clan could brew a mad keg when they put their minds to it "Pleasantries aside" I turn a bit more serous "I do believe introductions are in order?"
We go through the whole song and dance, each of them espousing the virtues of their holdings and apparent allies, and me offering some meager praise and nods when it was appropriate.
"So you plan on exploiting the mountains west of your city?" I raise an eyebrow at the obvious purpose of Count Vitellius' massive purchase "Not a terrible idea, even if you will still need someone of at least middling magical potence to oversee the whole effort."
"They will be paid more than well, you can be assured of that." The fat man nods along before meeting my eyes with a hidden glint behind his own "And as much as I do appreciate the small talk, I do believe it is high time we came to the purpose behind our visit."
"I was going to ask but didn't want to come off as rude." I smile at them, pretending to give a single shit about being rude or otherwise.
"Indeed." Count Vitellius smiles "And for your patience, I will be blunt. The combat automatons were of course just an excuse, even if I am quite interested in getting some of them." He chuckles "The real reason we are here is because it has become quite obvious who the next sovereign of our beloved Empire is going to be."
"A rater evident outcome, yes." I nod simply, drawing a smug look from Countess Varina and a grumble from Count Julian "Have you come to sell your support then?"
"I do so love it when a peer decides to skip the song and dance." Vitellius chuckles loudly while his two companions hold themselves back from being visibly offended by my choice of words.
"I see." I hum and lean back into my seat "Very well then, let us negotiate."
Time for some thoroughly high stakes bartering.
