In most cities and towns, there tends to be a major trading hub. A nice pce where all manner of sellers and buyers get together to trade goods. Usually, such hubs are located withiy ter where most of the popution visit. The problem here is that Breston has no city ter. Most of its popution lives around the floating crucible of an isnd- with the top of the isnd delegated to farmnd, water reserves, and the general very wealthy.
Because of this, three hubs of trade have formed and all are located at the rgest docks withiy. The first and arguably most diverse trading hub is known as the Basket. The Basket is where most corvettes are docked in a mahat maximizes the ship to space ratio. Many corvettes are nearly stacked up on top of each other and pced close enough you could hear the sexual activities of another's crew.
With the generally lower size and carry weight of a Corvette, a rge amount of very diverse products with plenty of petition are sold. The general popution tends to favor this hub far more than any others.
The hub, and arguably rgest in regards to the number of goods is the Fabricata. The Fabricata is located at the Frigate css docks. With the signifitly rger hold space of a Frigate- especially one designed for trade, the goods avaible here are of a quantity where [Traders], [Merts], [Smiths], and ah a shop frequent most exclusively. Granted, you’ll also find the average person looking for a deal, but those tend to be a minority.
The st hub is called Perditor. Perditor is where generally destroyer and hauler css ships are docked. This hub is the smallest hub of trading, primarily because of the rarity of ships made of such a size. For every destroyer css, there are five frigate csses or twenty corvettes css ships. But, what they make up in numbers is in quantity and quality of goods. With holds generally rger than frigates, they have a vast supply of bulk material. With rger hulls, more and stronger ons, these ships bee uargets for [Pirates]. Which means that the goods being traded be of a more expensive quality. It is at Perditor where the Timbergrove and Immi Huntress are docked.
“What do you mean it won't sell as much?” Cillian growls. He points at the Immi Huntress. “It’s a destroyer css. Destroyer csses sell for a huhousand trist!”
The man, an [Aueer] by the name Gerald, shakes his head. The man wears a rather formal and business-like coat that matches all of his attire and expensive jewelry. On his right eye is a piece of thick dark gss with a ruched on the side of it.
“And that's the crux of the issue. The Immi Huntress is not a Destroyer, but a modified Hauler for bat. It will not sell anywhere near a huhousand trist. That’s why I’m 15% and not 10%.”
Cillian frowns. He turns and waves Myers over.
“What is it?” Myers asks.
“This fucker says the Immi Huntress ain’t a Destroyer. That true?”
Myers nods. “It’s at the same weight css as a Destroyer, but it was built and designed as a Hauler, and then modified to carry more ons albeit without the thicker and reinforced hull of a destroyer.”
Gerald grins at Cillians growing disfort. “As you see by your experienced associate here, the ship is not going to sell at such a price as to offer a 10% ission.”
Myers strokes his beard ily. “On the trary, I believe the Immi Huntress very well make six figures. Haulers are much faster tharoyers on at of their lower weight- which allows them to outruroyers so long as their hulls aren't carrying any heavy goods like ingots. With the added ons from the modifications, the Immi Huntress outgun any Frigates that could keep up with its speed. I imagih [Captains] and [Pirates] would flock to buy the ship for those reasons alone.”
Geralds grin subsides into a grimace. He scratches his perfectly trimmed goatee as he stares at the ship again. “You fet that modifications lower the selling price of a ship.”
“Poorly made modifications do.” Myers quickly adds. “The Immi Huntress is not poorly modified. It would be simple to pay an experienced [Shipwright] to give his professional opinion in writing.”
Gerald frowns. “Still, that’s a financial risk on my part. Setting up the au, inviting experts, making reservations for viewing, on top of food and drink. These expenses hit very hard on my profit margins if the ship does not sell as well. On top of all that, I really doubt anyone is going to pay more thay thousand for the ship no matter how well I market it.”
Cillian chuckles. “Then we modify the pertages. If the ship sells for fifty thousand trist, then your ission is 15%. But, for every ten thousand additional sales, your ission decreases by 1% until it hits 10%. This way you are still making good profit with an iive to sell the ship for as high as possible.”
Gerald strokes his goatee in i. “That work… yes. It seems reasonable. I have a tract made and delivered by tomorrow.”
“Then it's a deal.” Cilliaends his hand.
Gerald shakes the hand. “It is indeed. I will see you soon.”
The [Aueer] walks off with a smile on his face.
“Damn, he fucked up.”
“Crivvens!” Cillian screams in surprise. He looks down to find Quasi smugly staring up at the Portly man.
“Oy, I almost wet me-self. When’d you get here?”
Quasi hops up on a nearby barrel. “Same time when you called Myers over- though the old man knew I’d arrive. I’m going to have to be sneakier ime.”
Myers ighe jest and instead stares at the disappearing [Aueer]. “You mentiohat the [Aueer] made a mistake with the deal. It seems like the deal is good for both parties.”
“The deal is good if the ship sells for fifty grand or more than a hundred grand. But, if it sells anywhere iween sixty and y grand, then we be more. At fifty thousand, we make 42,500 trist and he makes 7500 trist. At sixty thousand, we make 51,600 trist and he makes 8,400 trist. That's a 21.4% increase in profits for us and a 12% increase in profits for him. That single pert loss is the equivalent of 400 trist for him. At seventy thousand, our profit increase from sixty thousand is 18%, but his profits increase is 8%. That is another 700 trist less in his pocket and more in ours. At eighty thousand, he loses 500 trist, and then 300 trist at housand. If what he says is true and the ship only sells for seventy thousand, theill be from a minimum of 1,100 trist.”
Myers stares at the cats expnation and the smug grin on Cillians face. Then he shakes his head. “I would never want to be a [Quartermaster].”
Quasi and Cillian chuckle. Then Cillian notices it as a breeze passes by.\
“You look different. More puffy.”
Quasi grins. “Yup, I got a new skill from yesterday night's foray. By the way, how’s Boriss and Cy?”
Myers' expression hardens. “They’re both fine. But I o talk to you about setting some rules in regards to my grandson. I don’t want him to leave the ship in the middle of the night. I uand Boriss just wants to give him some fresh air, but it’s still dangerous.”
Quasi stares at Myers who looks upset but not angry.
“Do you know where they went?” quasi asks.
“A nearby tavern.” Myers sighs. “Which I wouldn’t mind, but not in the middle of the night.”
Cillian nods. “The old man is right. I heard there was a ret killing of five men near here. If the kid was near at the time, he might’ve been in danger.”
Quasi g the twnorant individuals. Then he shrugs. “I’ll punish Boriss ter. But first, I o know, have you transferred the ons from the Immi Huntress to the Timbergrove yet?
“Irmgard left earlier to hire some hands for the transfer.” Cillian says.
“Perfect. Certain things happened yesterday and I became the proud owner of several ons and a ballistae. We install the ons on the Timbergrove and sell anything else we don't need.”
Myers frowns. “You bought a ballistae?”
The cat rolls his eyes. “No, of course not. I legally and freely acquired everything within and on a soon to be aued Destroyer. So yea, if you see Irmgard, I wao take everything from the ship. Even the sails.” The cat pauses for a moment and then looks at the fused old man. “Actually, armor pting be removed too?”
“You were only gone for a single day.” The old man ighe question. “What exactly happened?”
“It’s plicated, but it involves the spilling of milk. Anyway, I’ll tell you the story ter.” The cat stretches on the barrel. “I o leave soon. But first; Cillian, I found a buyer for all the ons and armor we have. When you have the time, head to the castle and ask to speak with Janice. She’s a very affeate petter with deep pockets.”
Quasi hops off the barrel. “I’m going to be gone for a bit. If you need me, I’ll be at the Runic Ws store- the oh the Gemma.”
The cat rushes off and disappears into a crowd of people.
Cillian reaches on his hip, grabs a bottle holstered o his gun, pops open the cork, and takes a sip. “Did he mention what ship we’re to get the ons?”
“No.” Myers shakes his head.
“Shite.” Cillian curses. “I don’t suppose you know where this Runic W store is?”
“I… do. I’ve a friend there.” Myers turns his head and g the Timbergrove. “I’ll go meet him and find out about the ship from Quasi. In the meantime, you keep an eye on Cy?”
Cillian nods. “I do kinda havta go to the castle, but I wait until Irmgard returns.”
Myers nods. “Then I’m off. I’ll try to return before nightfall.”
__________________________________________________________________
Emma watches warily as her father heads dowreet wearing only pants. On his chest and ed around his back are several yers of bahe bandages aren't there to stop any bleeding - for the gemma are naturally resilient to such a thing. No, the bandages are there to make sure that the stone skin properly heal and close, otherwise there will be a oint in their natural armor.
“Dad, Should you really be moving already?” She asks. She adjusts the longsword on her bad the runed greaves in her arms. “It’s only been a day since you were injured.”
Her father does not react. Instead, she see the g look from her fathers eyes. “As I mentioned before, I have felt worse.” He raises his hand and taps his chest. “This wound is shallow and hasn't even touched my ans. I expect it to recover in a month's time.”
Emma pouts at her fathers answer. She see that every step causes him pain, but he is far too hard-headed to just sit and wait until the wound is more manageable.
Eventually, they arrive at their home. Her father activates the rune, opens the door, aers. She follows inside.
“e.” He orders. She follows him all the way to the back of the store and where they store all of their supplies. He walks towards an old vertical wall sce. He grabs it, and then turns it horizontally to reveal a hidden rune. He pces his finger on the Ruhe room shakes for a moment, followed by the ushing untg oher side. Her father then pushes the Sce like a knob to reveal a dark staircase leading downard.
“When did you build something like this?” She asks in wonder.
“When you were too heavy to walk.” He begins to desd. She follows him after a short pause. When they arrive at the bottom, she is met with only darkness except flowing rune. Her father pces his hand on the rune, and theire room bursts into light from a runic delier hanging from the ceiling.
She ehe room and looks around. Shelves upon shelves of runic armor, ons, and crystals lihe walls of the room alongside plenty of dust. The ons are of very good quality; most of which rank Unon, though a det amount of Rare are also present.
“Everything here is what I created when I traveled with your mother… for your mother.” He stops in front of a chest in the back of the room. “Until she outleveled what I made.”
She stops o him, staring at the chest covered in runes.
Name
Durable Chest of Preservation
Rarity
Rare - 4 runes.
1(Durability)1(Air barrier)1(Liquid Barrier)1(Lock)Description
This durable metal chest protects all internal tents from minor air and liquid particles. This chest is rune locked.
Sustain
2131/3700 Mana
-0.008 Mana degeion per minute.
He kneels down slowly without a grunt. But she catches his eyes close from the pain.
“This is your mothers old equipment and the best I’d ever created.”
Wheouches the chest, she hears a click. Then he opens it. A full set of armor is revealed to her.
Name
Metal-Scale pte
Rarity
Exceptional - 8 Runes.
2(1-Durability)3(1-Lightweight)1(1-Muffle)1(1-Pierg Resist)1(1-Crush Resist)Description
This armor is built with interlog metal ptes that is +40% more durable, +60% lighter i, +100% quieter, +50% more resilient to Pierg, and +50% more resilient to Crushing.
Sustain
0.08% Mana regeion per minute.
Name
Crystal-Steel Baset of Night Vision.
Rarity
Exceptional - 6 Runes.
1(1-Durability),1(1-Pierg Resist),1(1-Crush Resist),1(3-Night vision)Description
This armor is +30% more durable, +50% resilient to pierg, +50% crushing, and grants the wearer the ability to see in darkness.
Sustain
0.10% Mana regeion per minute.
Name
Metal-pted Leather Gaus of strength
Rarity
Exceptional - 6 Runes.
1(1-Durability)1(1- Pierce Resist)1(1-Crush Resist)1(3- Enharength)Description
This armor is +30% more durable, +50% resilient to pierg, +50% resilient to crushing, and grants the wearer +10% strength.
Sustain
0.08% Mana regeion per minute.
After reading the three pieces, she looks down at the final pie her arms.
Name
Greaves of Silent Stomping
Rarity
Exceptional - 6 Runes.
1(6-Sound suppression)Description
This armrants the wearer the ability to suppress any sounds made from impacts.
Sustain
0.11% Mana regeion per minute.
He notices her frown as she gazes at the greaves in her arms.
“That's my best piece,” he ents. “A single ruh a very powerful effect.”
“How are you not an Expert yet?” She asks, fbbergasted.
Though he does not react, she see the sadness a in her fathers eyes.
“The differeween level forty-nine and fifty is vast. It is a step very very few are able to overe- and not without signifit risk. If I want to gain that st level, I would o put my life on the line.” His head turns to her. “That’s a risk I’m not willing to take right now.”
She looks away from her father as a wave of guilt flows through her.
“Because of me you’re still an advanced css.”
“No.” He says softly with what seems slightly less gruff than usual. “It is because of you that I no longer hunger for levels. I am far happier and tent watg you grow.”
She looks back at him as his eyes. Eyes that radiate happiness and pride.
“S-so, did you just want to show me my mothers armor?” She quickly ges the question.
His eyes move away from her and back to the chest. He leans forward. “The armor is made for your mothers body. Since you have her proportions, I give it to you.” He grabs a bag hidden underh the chest piece. “More importantly, if you want to level from making those gaus, then yoing to o use this.”
He pces the bag on the floor and then opens it to reveal a glowing green core.
Before either react, a cat swagger between them and pces a paw on the orb.
The cat snorts. “Mines bigger and brighter.”
